NEWS @ FIRST
July 9, 2021
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
10:00 a.m. in-person worship in the sanctuary
Online access beginning at 10:00 a.m.

(Sunday School for all ages is in summer recess.)
Welcome Rev. Casey Aldridge
Guest Preacher This Sunday
 
Our guest preacher, Rev. Casey Aldridge, is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Casey is originally from Concord, North Carolina, where he was baptized and confirmed as a member of First Presbyterian Church of Concord. 
 
Casey studied History and Religious Studies as a Levine Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he first began to discern a call to bivocational ministry in the church and in academia. Casey then attended Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey and interned with the Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Casey has just finished up a one-year term as the Stated Supply Pastor for Youth Ministry at Pennington Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, and serves as a member of the steering committee on the Israel-Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Casey and his partner—who is also an ordained Presbyterian minister—are in the middle of a move to Tallahassee, Florida, where Casey will begin a PhD program in Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy at Florida State University this fall.

Please wear your FPC name tag to church services for the benefit of our worship guests and new Children and Youth Coordinator, Molly Horner, as she gets to know us!

Returning to Two-Service Worship Format August 15
We will return to a 9:00 a.m. contemporary worship service in the Fellowship Hall and an 11:00 a.m. traditional service in the sanctuary, beginning Sunday, August 15. Sunday school classes for all ages will be offered at 10:00 a.m.

Called Congregational Meeting Sunday, July 25, 11:15 a.m.
There will be a brief called congregational meeting following the 10:00 a.m. worship service on July 25 for the purpose of electing an elder to fill an unexpired term in the class of 2022. All members are asked to participate so that a quorum is met. Click on the link below to read elder nominee Carrie Mills’ biography:
It's not too late to time to sign up!
We want to hear your thoughts and opinions at a Mission Study Team small-group meeting.

Calling our next pastor is a detailed and deliberate process. Our Mission Study must be completed and approved by the session and presbytery before we will be ready to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), to search for our next pastor. Once the PNC is elected (likely in October), they will develop a Ministry Information Form (the MIF, or “position description”)—which will be informed by what we have learned in our mission study. We want that form to accurately reflect this congregation’s history, faith, and sense of calling. In order to get that right, we need to hear from you. 
 
Add your voice to this process by signing up now for one of the small group meetings, either face-to-face or via Zoom, by calling the church office (941-955-8119), or by clicking on one of the links below. Be part of the planning for the future of FPC!

We thank you for your input and your prayers as we go forward.
 
Your Mission Study Team,
Elaine Barnett, Chair
Ed Clissold
Michael Fingerle
Frank Frey
Janet Olshewsky
Joanne Simons
Emily Weitekamp
Margaret LaMotte Torrence, ex-officio
Meetings by Zoom
Meeting In-person
New 6-Week Adult Education Elective
Following Jesus Today:
Challenges and Opportunities

Beginning Tuesday, July 20
11:30 a.m. via Zoom

Jesus told his disciples: “Come, follow Me.” These three words provide opportunities and present challenges to each of us. In this class participants will consider what following Jesus means—in our personal lives and for the church. We will reflect on both the challenges and opportunities of modern-day discipleship in light of the great ends of the church.

Elaine Barnett, an Elder and a Certified Christian Educator, will be the class leader. You can sign-up by emailing Elaine at ewbarnet@me.com
 
July 20: Words and Deeds
July 27:  Embrace of God
Aug 3: Worshiping God by Walking Backwards
Aug 10: What is Truth?
Aug 17: Show and Tell
Aug 24: A Costly Commitment to Love
Presbyterian Women
All women are invited to attend the annual summer luncheon for a time of fellowship and reconnection at Der Dutchman Family Restaurant, 3713 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota next Tuesday, July 13. Please plan to arrive by 11:30 a.m. Reservations not required.
Questions? Contact Pamela Lamb at: bmalp54@gmail.com.

The Women's Conference “Word Wise: Encountering the Word That Draws Us In and Sends Us Out” is a retreat for women, both young and young-at-heart, at Montreat Conference Center, Friday evening, August 13, through Sunday morning, August 15. PW will reimburse the cost of registration, hotel and meals while at the conference for any church member attending. For more information including leadership, workshops and schedule, visit montreat.org/events/wc2021. Contact Pamela Lamb at bmalp54@gmail.com if you have questions or to request an application for reimbursement.
FPC Volunteers are needed for
CARITAS at HERRIG CENTER*

to interview clients needing emergency financial assistance with 
utility bills, prescription medicine, work boots,
 SCAT tickets, food and clothing.
All clients are interviewed privately in the Herrig Center,
1645 Fruitville Rd.
CDC guidelines will be followed and all will be masked. 

FPC operates with 2-3 volunteers on the
1st, 3rd & 5th Thursdays each month, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

If you are willing and able (or need further information) please contact
Brian Bowen: Call (941) 360-6717 or email bbowen38@verizon.net

*Caritas is a coalition of five churches in downtown Sarasota. Its primary purpose is to provide temporary emergency assistance to those who find themselves in acute financial need. 
Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network (FLAPDAN)
Hurricane Preparedness Tips

Read these important recommendations, restock your supply kit, and be aware of our church’s communication protocol.  
FPL Assistance
CARITAS is offering FPL assistance up to $100
for Sarasota County residents.
 
The CARITAS office is currently closed for in-person interviews, but you may call (941) 366-5620
Monday through Friday
from 9:00-11:00 a.m. for assistance.

Please have your SSN
and your FPL account number ready.
Remembering Our Church Family in Prayer
Thank you for upholding members of our congregation with special prayer needs during this time. Click on the attached link for a complete list:
We Care Posters
Click on the list below for a list of those who have recently, or are currently, hospitalized from our congregation who have been sent a personalized We Care poster-card on behalf of our church family. Please keep them in your prayers and consider sending a message of encouragement.
In Life and In Death We Belong to God
Rev. C. James Hinch, who served as Senior Pastor at FPC Sarasota in the early 1990s, died June 20, 2021. A Princeton Seminary graduate, Jim served churches in NJ, NY, FL, MT and CA. He and his wife, Joanne, retired to CA in 2009, where they have been living at Monte Vista Grove Homes,  a retirement center for Presbyterian ministers and missionaries. The memorial service will be tomorrow, Saturday, July 10, at First Presbyterian Church, Great Falls, Montana. Notes of condolence may be sent to
Joanne Hinch     
2889 San Pasqual Street
Pasadena, CA 9110

Please keep Joanne and the family in your prayers. 
First Presbyterian, Sarasota, hosts Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Mondays, 7:00-8:30 p.m., in room 203. Family and loved ones may attend. Call (727) 410-1569 to register. (https://dbsatampabay.org)
 
NAMI Family Support Group hosted by FPC Sarasota beginning July 15, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Forum every third Thursday of the month, for adults with loved ones with mental health conditions.
Visit NAMISarasotaManatee.org or email info@namisarasotamanatee.org
 
SunCoast Blood Mobile will be at FPC Sarasota Sunday, August 29; more details to follow.

American Heart CPR Course taught by LifeTech Instructional Services will be at FPC Sarasota Wednesday, September 22, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon; more information coming soon.
The Cowden-Smith Library
Library open Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
and on Sundays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

There is a library book cart in the narthex with a varied selection of our newer books from which you can choose, including some children's books. No due dates; simply return when you finish with them. A sign-out sheet is on the cart.
Giving Options
Please continue to mail your contributions to us at the church or donate online. Your gifts make a great difference during this challenging season.

Online: If you are interested in giving electronically through our secure e-giving process, please visit FirstPresSarasota.org and select the online giving button.

Texting: Are you interested in the convenience of contributing by text message? Text FPC2050 to 73256 to donate via text. Standard rates may apply.

Mail In: All mail, including contribution checks, securely arrives to our church office.
Pastoral Care
When you or a loved one is hospitalized, it is important that you contact the church or one of the pastors to inform us directly and inform the hospital that you are a member of our congregation and would welcome a visit by one of our pastors. Hospitals will not contact the church. We have also discovered that some will no longer even list a patient as our church member on their internal records unless the patient is careful to note their relationship with our congregation. Thank you for your assistance.

We’re Here for You!
The FPC care team, Stephen Ministers, deacons, elders and church staff continue to be available for you. Please feel free to reach out to Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse (941) 320-3828 or call the church office (941) 955-8119 if we can be of support to you.