April 30, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,  

In the heart of the Easter Season, as we celebrate the joy of the Resurrection, and the beauty of God’s creation bursting forth, we wanted to send you a pastoral letter regarding the progress of this past year. Easter Day saw the sanctuary filled twice with over 3000 worshippers, and in the last two months we’ve received 50 new members into our Church family, with 5 young adults baptized into the faith. We’ve been making great strides in implementing the Strategic Plan that the Session adopted in the Fall, with our emphasis on being a relevant Servant Church, being actualized on Palm Sunday when we received over 800 Service Commitment Pledges. Our Programs and Ministries continue to run well, with strong support from our members and friends. And even though we’re still striving to reach this year’s Pledge Goal, the entire staff has worked hard and successfully to keep our costs well under budget for the 1st quarter, and all finances are under constant and vigilant supervision and review by your elected officers. The core of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church remains vital and strong, and we have so very much to be thankful for as we journey together into the continuing excitement of this Bicentennial year and the wonderful events honoring our great heritage of faith.

Our Pastoral Nominating Committee is doing a wonderful job and is hard at work seeking the next person God is calling to be your new

PNC Journal
March 2, 2008: Senior Pastor Nominating Committee
Your PNC is a well-bonded team meeting and praying regularly. Like any loving family discussing their future, sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree; we present differing opinions openly without fear of ridicule;

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Soul Food
Join the Pastor Nominating Committee in readings of guidance and sustenance during the search for new leadership for our congregation. Please read the following passages:
Psalm 8
Psalm 1
I Kings 19:1-18
I Kings 3
II Samuel 12:1-25

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Forms
Mission Review Report
Church Information Form
FAPC Strategic Plan
PNC Members

Senior Pastor. The committee is in the interviewing process, and is very excited about the candidates they have been interacting with to date. Surely this process will bear fruit not too far down the road, and Fifth Avenue Church will enter an exciting and energizing new chapter in the life of our dynamic faith community!
  
Be aware though that the PNC has only been elected and working for less than a year. And in our system the process normally takes on average 18 months to accomplish from the time of their formation. And while it may seem that this transition is taking longer than usual, don’t forget that the lawsuit filed against our Church, Presbytery and former Sr. Pastor in the Fall of 2005, delayed the normal progression of things by some 18 months. Once the case was resolved, we have moved forward with all due speed, and now find ourselves on the cusp of this new beginning.
  
So live in hope, friends! God has blessed this Church mightily in the past, continues to bless our ministry and mission in NYC in the present, and has great plans in store for us in the future. May the promise of this Easter Season, fill all of us, with great excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead, just around the bend!

Yours in Christ,

Roland P. Perdue, III, Interim Pastor	Paul T. Rock, Associate Pastor
Katharine C. Dunn, Temporary Supply Pastor	Randolph L.C. Weber, Associate Pastor