First Presbyterian Church of Bismarck

Click here to view our WORSHIP SERVICE
from Sunday, November 23, 2025
10:00AM service
(please make sure the video is not muted)

Pastor David’s Message for the month of December 2025:

“Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of

great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city

of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

(-angel to the shepherds) Luke 2:10-11

What an amazing gift announced to the shepherds

Good News, a great Joy, a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord!

What do you want for a gift this Christmas? Do you remember sending your gift wish (maybe a whole list!) in a letter to the North Pole - years ago? Or, maybe you announced it to

Santa Claus while sitting on his knee. Or, maybe you were

simply pleading to your parents for that special gift that you really, really, really had to have. Can you still picture what

that gift might have been?

Well, how has your gift-requesting evolved over the years?

Has it become more modest and practical? Or, has it gone in

the other direction - more expensive and exotic?

Or, maybe - just maybe, your gift aspirations have become more focused elsewhere. Have they turned and reached

beyond yourself? Toward other special people in your lives?

Or, maybe way beyond - toward people, groups of people,

needs, causes, charitable organizations, even relief efforts

where the needs are desperate? Even life-or-death crucial?

Gifts can encompass a huge range.

My wife Brenda is one of the all-time best gift-givers. She has an uncanny sense of thinking of the perfect gift, for the exact right person, for the most ideal timing and situation. Any time

of year - whether a special occasion, or an ordinary occasion made special by her gift. Whether for our grandkids, our adult “kids,” friends, relatives, strangers, or anyone she thinks of.

And, of course, church stewardship goes without saying.

There are not enough special offerings to suit her!

She naturally recognizes needs - sensing the right person(s),

the right timing, the right gift. Just ask the young man from the nearby half-way house, who started worshiping at her church,

in the summer heat of August. Very soon he found himself

gifted with a new air-conditioning window unit.

Over all, her meeting-the-need accuracy is at least 95%. While

my accuracy at recognizing needs is usually somewhere

in the “hindsight category.”

But there is another important factor in the gift-giving formula. It’s when someone asks us: “What would you like for a gift?

What can I get you? What do you want? Do you know what

the most unhelpful response is?

“Oh, nothing. I really don’t need anything. You don’t have

to get me anything.” (my usual response) What a drag of

an answer that is! That just may result in the wrong gift.

Or no gift!

Thank goodness that our living and loving God is a

Gift-giver extraordinaire, far beyond our abilities to understand or conceive. Whether our request of God is for a gift that is so outlandishly exorbitant, extravagant, expensive, exotic - or

is so ridiculously modest, practical, understated, and underestimating of God’s love for us and nature of

generosity - our God handles it just right.

The angel introduces God-the-Gift-giver as one showering us with good news, great joy, and the arrival of one who is Savior, Messiah and Lord. The ultimate Gift is coming our way: the gift

of Jesus! The One who will provide exactly the Salvation, the Shalom, the Holiness, the Restoration, the Forgiveness, the Cleansing, the New Birth, and inseparable Love for all eternity. Exactly what we each, and every human everywhere needs!

What a Gift! What Good News! What great Joy!
Wishing you a Blessed Advent and a Glorious Christmas!
Pastor David Reiter

2025 SCHOLARSHIPS

The Scholarship Committee of First Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce the availability of a limited number of scholarships for our church community.

To be eligible for consideration to receive a scholarship,

a student must be an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Bismarck

or must have been an active participant in the

life of First Presbyterian Church of Bismarck for at least three years.

The awards are given for students at any level of study beyond high school.

Four years is the maximum for receiving scholarships: these need not be consecutive years. Graduate students may apply for scholarships,

providing they are within the four year maximum.

The deadline to apply is Friday, May 16, 2025

ARE YOU WILLING TO HELP?

We encourage you to continue to love your neighbor well at this time. Hebrews 13:16 challenges us to “dowhat is good and to share, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”Thank you for being the Church.

WAYS TO GIVE:

For those who are unable to worship with us in church, here are a few ways that you can continue to give:

1. Online bill pay with your banking institution.

2. Click on the "Give Now" button above to donate today.

3. Mail checks to First Presbyterian Church, 214 E Thayer Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501.

Click here to enjoy our annual St. Andrew's Day Service this year FPC Mandan hosted!

SECURE METHOD TO DONATE Now Available!!
Click on the button below and donate!

Click here to download the 2025 Scholarship Application

Click here to view the BULLETIN for Sunday, November 23, 2025
10:00AM service

Click here to view the BULLETIN for Sunday, November 30, 2025
10:00AM service

Click here to view our WORSHIP SERVICE
from Sunday, November 30, 2025
10:00AM service
(please make sure the video is not muted)

We welcome you all to come worship

You can visit us at 214 E Thayer Ave. or

tune in at 10:00am Sunday to our Live Feed on Facebook

CHECK OUR CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES/SERVICES