What is a Deacon?  According to the Book of Order,

The office of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons
of spiritual character, honest repute, of exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgment should be
chosen for this office.

It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith.

They shall assume such other duties as may be delegated to them from time to time by the session, such as leading the people in worship through prayers of intercession, reading the Scriptures, presenting the gifts of the people, and assisting with the Lord’s Supper.

First Presbyterian Church is divided into small groups known as parishes.  Deacons communicate with people in their parishes, telling them about what's going on in the church, listening to their concerns, and helping them when they're in need.  Deacons are the glue that holds our family of faith together.

If you have a problem you'd like help in coping with, or know someone who does, please let your Deacon know.  We are all called to be ministers in Christ's service.

If you, your family members, or your friends are in the midst of career change (job loss, returning to work, and other career transitions), remember this resource & ministry. FpcWorks meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm in the Annex (across the hall from the Sheffield Room). If you are looking for work, join us. If you know of a job opening, let us know! Members of this group encompass a wide variety of skills and backgrounds. You can contact us at fpcworks@gmail.com, or by phone at 418-1317. We share leads, encourage one another, and talk about recent job search experiences. Attendees are welcome even if they are not members of FPC. The fpcWorks brochure (available at the Welcome Table in the Narthex) is designed to be given to prospective employers and contains a list of skills represented in the group. They have previously helped with writing resumes, interviewing successfully, using Linked In, and networking. Members of fpcWorks attend other job groups and bring back more information.

FPC offers a special, confidential, caring ministry. St. Stephen was the first lay person commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need, as recorded in Acts 6. Our Stephen Ministry is comprised of regular church members specially trained and prepared to give Christian care to hurting people in and around FPC. What sort of situations? This is one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps our pastors and all of FPC provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it. All conversations and support are confidential.

Stephen Ministers have a lot in common with close friends. You can depend on them; you can trust them; you know that they'll keep confidential whatever you tell them. They'll be there for you and help you through a rough time.

But the Stephen Minister's role is different from the role of a close friend. A Stephen Ministry relationship is one-sided. Stephen Ministers listen, reflect thoughts and feelings, and care. Stephen Ministers don't share their own problems with you as a friend might. They focus only on the hurting person's issues, and they bring in their own experience only when they sense that they might be able to shed some light on their situation. But such sharing is rare and always geared toward the receiver's needs, not the Stephen Minister's.

Want to help in the Stephen Ministry? Know someone who needs the help of a Stephen Minister? Contact Pastor Sam Riccobene for more information.

Our stained glass windows are famous for their beauty and are an important part of the welcoming spirit of FPC. In the old church location downtown, most of the stained glass was in the sanctuary and the vestibule area. And there were more windows mounted high over the organ. Some of the pieces are nearly a century old. These beautiful windows have endured some of the harshest Texas summers and winters on record. In 1978, the congregation moved to its present location on Mesa Drive. After being stored for seventeen years, the pipe organ and many of the stained glass windows from the downtown church were installed in the new Mesa location. Our stained glass windows, the tracker organ, and the original cornerstone from the 1890 stone sanctuary were thoughtfully incorporated into the design of the new building.

Today perhaps no other architectural feature at FPC is as breathtaking and eye-catching as the montage of stained glass windows filling the west wall of the sanctuary facing Mesa Dr. (and more windows are installed in other areas). Many visitors cite the lure of the windows as the reason for their visit. Many of us have grown up with the windows as part of our wonderful church experience. Now, some of the windows are in desperate need of repair. Without restoration, they risk being lost forever. Fortunately, efforts to preserve them are underway. More information about the Save Our Windows Project is available from the church office. Prayerfully consider what these windows mean to you, your family, and this congregation’s history, and how you can support their restoration. Please help save First Presbyterian’s beautiful and historical stained glass windows for future generations of worshipers.