Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!’ - Genesis 28:16

Hi! I’m Natalie Owens-Pike, the first Director of Ministry to the Online Campus here at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. I started here on August 1st, shortly after I earned my Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School. I’m thrilled to join Fifth Avenue in this season, jumping in to serve what is already a growing ministry.

I’ve lived in many regions of the U.S., from growing up around the urban lakes of Minneapolis to years spent teaching public school in the rural South to time out West with my in-laws. Now, my husband and I are making our home in the Northeast. I hope you will connect with me to share where on the wide map of Fifth Avenue geography you call home.

To help make those connections, we’ll have two ongoing chances to meet. The first is in our weekly virtual coffee hours. Coffee hour is an important time in the life of any church, where members and clergy enjoy refreshments and build fellowship in a relaxed setting. Starting on September 10, Homecoming Sunday, we will host a virtual coffee hour every Sunday at 12:15 pm EST. This will be a great way for our online members to get to know one another and for me to get to know you! I’ll send out a Zoom link to all the members in our online campus. If you would like to learn more, please email me at [email protected].

We can also connect at my weekly virtual office hours. Starting this Wednesday, August 23rd, from 5:30 - 7:00 pm, I will host open appointments over Zoom that you can sign up for. This will be a great way for me to learn more about you and your experiences with Fifth Avenue. Come as you are and bring whatever is on your mind and heart. Please email me at [email protected]. to set a time. I look forward to meeting you!

We all have a story to tell. We all got here by different paths and we live throughout our wide world. Just as our members and friends found their way across distance to worship in our midst, we too are forging new paths toward our extended community. With your help, our weekly virtual coffee hours and my weekly office hours will build and strengthen that community. 

No matter where you are, if you are a member of Fifth Avenue, we stand beside you. If you are new, we welcome you. If you are interested or curious, we are ready for you. No matter what, we can’t wait to speak with you. Please come to our online coffee hours and my office hours. You’ll get to know each other and our church better, grow in your faith, and contribute your energy and imagination to the flourishing of God’s kingdom here on earth.

See you soon!