First Presbyterian Church Fort Dodge

In light our conversation at the recent annual meeting about our staffing model moving forward, I figured it would be good to outline some of the changes in responsibilities you’ll see around the church. I’ll list various staff the ways the use of their time has changed.

Austin is leading the large group time on Wednesday afternoon elementary group gatherings, as well as helping to lead activities, music, and small groups. Austin and Augusta are leading Sunday evening middle school group gatherings, and are both working with Anne Marie Webb of First United Methodist Church to organize and lead the senior high youth group.

Sara is organizing the curriculum for elementary youth group gatherings, helping with activities throughout the Wednesday afternoon program, and is taking more of the pastoral care load of the church. Sara will be available as needed to help lead other youth programs when Austin is unavailable.

Chris is helping with Wednesday afternoon activities, planning games, and taking up regular visitation of church members. From time to time, he will also take a more active role in worship leadership on Sunday mornings and he will be available to fill in for middle and high school youth groups.

Gabriel is organizing and teaching music for our elementary school students, and incorporating them into our Sunday morning worship services as well. In addition, he is helping with Wednesday elementary youth group activities and leading a small group. He also is available to lead worship times for middle and senior high youth groups, and will be involved in leading worship sessions during Vacation Bible School.

Mary participates in Wednesday elementary programs by running the sound/tech, and documenting all of the activities for posting to our website, newsletter, e-news, and social media accounts. She is also coordinating with Abigail for our communication to families about upcoming events.

Amy is helping on Wednesday afternoons with crafts and leading a small group. She also works with Abigail and Jessica to help picking up KidZone kids while Cooper Elementary is undergoing renovations. In addition, Amy is taking on more preliminary budget and insurance responsibilities that Chris used to do. She will also be taking a more active role in IRS reporting since the Foundation has been reclassified with the IRS.

Abigail coordinates with Amy to plan and lead craft activities on Wednesday afternoons with the elementary school kids, reads to the preschoolers, and also helps to pick up KidZone kids as needed. Abee also handles communication to families via text messages, group emails, the newsletter, and the creation of fliers. She handles registration for events, too.

Our youth ministry intern, Augusta, works with Chris to lead games on Wednesday afternoons, and she helps lead the middle senior high groups on Wednesday and Sunday nights. She also organizes and leads children’s church on Sunday mornings, while helping with any other preparation work as needed.

Linda works to cook meals on Wednesday evenings and other special events, while providing a snacks for all the youth groups as well.

And our custodians, Joe, Paula, and Chris, help keep our facilities beautiful and set up for all these events.

As you can see, this is a team effort, and it is exciting to have everybody working together on these and so many other events!