A New Plan for Joining
First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS
Effective September 5, 1999

• 1. You may mark on the "Friendship Registration Pad" the item that shows that you are interested in joining First Presbyterian Church. Please fill out completely and clearly the information on the pad. After we receive this information, a brief follow-up visit will be scheduled at your convenience.  Also, a prospective member information packet can be picked up or mailed to you prior to the visit.
  
  
• 2. Or you can meet with the elders, ministers, staff, and church members after the morning worship services each Sunday. They will be available to greet you and answer your questions at an informal gathering held in the Session Room (located through the door next to the pulpit).  At this time, a prospective member information packet will be made available to you. After  indicating your interest in membership, someone will contact you within the next few days to set up a convenient time for a visit.
  
  
• 3. After the visit, all those interested in membership will present themselves to the Session at the next designated meeting. These meetings are held six times a year at 5:00 p.m., prior to the 6:00 p.m. worship service, on the second Sunday in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December. An elder or staff member will remind you of the date and location of the next meeting. Since you will have already filled out and handed in the information from your prospective member packet, you will just have to answer the five questions of membership at this meeting.
  
  
• 4. On the following Sunday, after having been received by the Session, you will be publicly received during the morning worship services. The questions of membership will be asked and answered, and the right hand of fellowship will be given.
  
  
• 5. Following the 11:00 a.m. worship service on that Sunday, we will have a luncheon for our new  members and their families in Miller Hall.

Personal Stewardship
Every believer that God places in the church has a responsibility to give of himself in personal commitment to the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).  This involves the personal stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.

Time and Talent
 God has given each believer gifts to use for the equipping of the saints. The church assists by providing ministry and service opportunities for every member of the congregation to build up the body of Christ.  As God commands us to set aside time to worship, we must also set aside time to serve.

Treasure
God established the pattern for the giving of money, and each member is urged to worship Him through regular and systematic giving as God has prospered. The Bible teaches that the tithe (10%) should be the base. By giving back to God His tithes and our offerings, the work of the Church is able to go forward.

In addition to their commitment to give to the church’s regular budget, many members participate in Faith Promise giving for missions. This is a method of promising to give an amount over and above the tithe, believing in faith that God will provide that amount.