Congregational Meeting 2026

2) Healthy Rhythms of Rest this Summer -  In order to make sure we enter the Fall rested and ready to run, we want to simplify things this summer.  Here’s the plan: 

  • Come Back together in One service for June and July - process how things have gone & rest our staff, volunteers…really everyone.  

  • Prioritize only key programming:  Sunday Worship & summer small groups

  • Eric is going to take July to rest, refuel, & be ready to run for Fall

3) What we are asking from everyone:  

  • Pray: for the Fall Ministry season at Parks - Ministry to Families, Adult Discipleship, Neighborhood Engagement, Ministry of Sunday Worship

  • Rest: come for Sunday Worship with your Parks family, but try to slow down a bit otherwise

  • Spend unhurried & un-agenda-ed  time together:  We like to say that our heart as a church is to be “always growing but never big” so that we can truly know each other.  So if there are those at Parks that you don’t really know, take some time this Summer to get with them, hear their stories, and share yours.  

  • Give:  Here’s how Eric said it…. “I wanna be clear here – I don’t see/know what any one family gives. But from our giving reports, it appears that as a whole we have a congregation where almost everyone gives - amazing!  But we also have a congregation where a much smaller percentage tithes.  In the Bible, the tithe was a “floor/base” level that was used as a starting point for believers.  I just want to pose a “what if” challenge for us as a church for the summer - what if we all committed, all of us, 100%, to tithe from May-July - 3 months….and see what God does…how he provides secure footing for Parks going into an exciting new ministry year, how he grows our faith and meets our needs, how he establishes potential long term habits of generosity we thought impossible.  Jesus spoke more on money than most any other topic, not because he was obsessed obviously, but because he knew it was such a thermometer of our hearts, measuring the temperature of our spiritual health & love. 

God has given us such a sweet fellowship. Let's not take it for granted. Let's worship, rest, pray, and prepare for what's ahead. May God continue to bless Parks Church.

Watch the full video of the meeting below

What We Discussed

If you missed the congregational meeting on Sunday May 3rd, take a minute to watch the video below.  

We voted to ordain and install Conan Hawkins and Sam Grayson as deacons! Sam will be ordained and installed on Sunday, May 10th and Conan on Sunday, May 17, both during the 2nd services.  

Eric also shared a few key things for the Summer:  

1) Preparation for Fall - For the remainder of May and into June we will seek to solidify plans for some exciting and key ministry areas.  We have had an extremely encouraging Spring with both internal and external growth.   We have also identified key areas that need attention and are excited about the fruitful ministry ahead of us.  

For more detailed updates on ministry initiatives feel free to reach out to these staff points of contact: Scott: meeting space and church partners; Melissa: ministry to families; Eric/Annette - discipleship & neighborhood engagement; Katie: volunteers & fellows.