Join your FPC family for the Palm Sunday worship service LIVE outside at 10:00 a.m. (masks and social distancing required). There will be a number of special elements to the service with a vibrant combination of traditional and contemporary styles. All are welcome!

Registrations for our Sunday, April 4, Easter worship service at 10:00 a.m. are approaching our “socially distanced” capacity, so we have decided to offer a second Easter service at 8:00 a.m. Both services will be in the sanctuary and identical—filled with the sights, sounds, and glorious message of Easter, with special guest musicians and a sermon from Margaret.

We would love to keep attendance at the two services as balanced as possible, so that we will have room to accommodate unexpected guests. If you already have signed up to attend our 10:00 a.m. Easter service, but would be willing to shift your registration to the 8:00 a.m. service, please call the church office by Monday, March 29, and let us know of that gracious choice. If you have not registered, we would love to have you join us.

We have been worshiping (masked and distanced) in our well-ventilated sanctuary since mid-February, while also simulcasting the service into the homes of members and friends. It is such a blessing to be together again. We would love to have you join us, as you feel ready.

Please click on either button below to register. (Registrations for each service will be capped at 90 persons.)

In Easter joy,

The Session and Staff of FPC Sarasota  

If you would like to purchase lilies or hydrangeas for the Easter worship service, please click on the link below to print and complete the form and return it with your check (marked with ‘Easter flowers’ in the memo) to the church office. The order final deadline is TOMORROW - Saturday, March 27. 

A congregational meeting has been called for the purpose of electing a deacon to fill an unexpired term in the class of 2022. All FPC members are asked to participate in this brief meeting so that a quorum is met. (Zoom weblink coming in next week's News@First.) Click on the link below to read the biography of nominee Barbara Chase.

via ZOOM, THIS Monday, March 29,

6:30 p.m. is the most important date on the 2021 SURE calendar. At this Nehemiah Action, State Attorney Brodsky will answer questions he has been given in advance concerning establishing adult civil citation in Sarasota County. 

SURE has been working to be SMART on CRIME. We are not soft on crime. SURE wants to alleviate arrests, not consequences, for people committing minor misdemeanors. SURE wants no one branded for life with an arrest record for making a foolish mistake.

Be with us as SURE's 23 Sarasota congregations come together to make a strong impact on this community. We want to influence our elected officials to make positive change as they see the large number of people in attendance who desire equity and justice.

Click on the link below to register in advance for this important meeting. Your presence matters!

Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

(No Sunday School classes March 28 or April 4.)

All families are encouraged to participate in the Palm Sunday (March 28) and Easter (April 4) special worship services at 10:00 a.m.

There will be an exciting array of musical styles with guest musicians. Children and families will be given fun activity bags. All safety measures will be in place to ensure your family's health.

We will be safely meeting in person following this Sunday's Palm Sunday worship service--March 28, around 11:00 a.m.--to begin planning the Youth Sunday Service.

There will be donuts. We hope to see you there!

If you can't make it this Sunday, please email Lydia by the end of day Sunday, March 28, letting us know what element you are most interested in working on to facilitate planning (check out the outline below).

Our Cuba Partners Network has alerted the presbytery and session that the Cuban Presbyterian Church (IRPC) is facing the most desperate economic crisis that the network has witnessed in its more than twenty years of existence.

If you would like to augment these funds with a personal donation, please make your check to First Presbyterian Church, with “Cuba” in the memo line, or make an online donation through our website (www.firstpressarasota.org) to Mission-Designate General with “Cuba” in the memo. The network has secured a legal and very low-cost way to transfer the funds, but time is of the essence, as funds will be transferred by Easter (April 4). Please contact Elder Dave Householder or Finance Manager Lisa Garcia with any questions.

First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota strives to be a strong, member-led congregation. Please help us continue to grow our ministry by sharing recommendations of possible nominees for the office of elder, deacon and Church Officer Nominating Committee (to serve beginning in January 2022) with our current Church Officer Nominating Committee. When suggesting a name, please indicate for which office you believe the potential nominee is best suited, the nominee’s involvement at FPC (i.e., committees, ministry teams, social activities) and the reasons you feel they would be a good leader (specific qualifications and personal qualities). Below are basic requirements for nominees:

For additional information, the links below give more detailed information on the position description for each office.

All names submitted will be prayerfully considered. Please send your recommendations to the Nominating Committee co-moderators:

Lisa Saba (riclissaba@aol.com) and Dick Clapp (rtclapp@gmail.com).

Lisa and Dick would also be happy to speak with you about any questions you may have regarding the nomination process or the particular officer position descriptions.

Please submit your recommendations to Dick or Lisa no later than April 5, 2021. Thank you for your participation in this important process.

·       Distributing supplies to our homeless community

·       Cleaning up our beaches and parks

·       Planning tree-planting service

·       Planning an Easter meal project

·       Joining the Great American Clean Up

The trees that are available include Red Maple, Bald Cypress, Live Oak, Slash Pine, and Mahogany. Information on how large these trees get is available on the Treejuvenation Florida page. Before you select a tree please be sure to pay close attention to the information on how much space each tree will need and how often new trees need to be watered (e.g., daily for the first two weeks and weekly thereafter, in the absence of rainfall). 

Our Lenten class will deepen your faith and enhance your understanding as we take a closer look at the Lord’s Prayer. During each session we are discussing one part of the prayer and considering what it means for our everyday lives. All are welcome to join in this exploration together.

The final class will be held next Tuesday via Zoom at 11:30 a.m. for one hour. The class is led by Elaine Barnett.

In Isaiah 58, God issues a call and a challenge—to love one another more deeply by sharing what we have with those in need. Together, we become the household of God where those seeking shelter, food and renewed hope are welcome.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: Works alongside communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters.

Presbyterian Hunger Program: Takes action to alleviate hunger and the systemic causes of poverty so all may be fed.

Self-Development of People: Invests in communities responding to their experiences of racism, oppression, poverty and injustice and educates Presbyterians about the impact of these societal ills.

This special offering will be received on Easter, April 4.

Everyone who is comfortable, feeling well and is not with a weakened immune system is invited to Walk Your Faith this Holy Week by experiencing The Stations of the Cross, Good Friday, April 2, outside.

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: During this time when the church campus is closed, all mail, including contribution checks, securely arrives to our church office.

Panelists:

Walter Gilbert, Harold Young, Terrill Salem and Jacqueline Woods 

Co-Moderators:

MIBC Founders, Dr. M. Vicki Wacksman and Mrs. Janet Olshewsky

MIBC Mission: The mission of the Manasota Interracial Book Club is to provide residents the opportunity to define racism by studying the root causes of racism in America. The goal is to enhance articulation, social policy analysis, faithful reflections, and public actions on moral issues impacting our society as well as enhancing interpersonal interactions between the races.

Please join us for our Zoom program on Tuesday, April 6, at 10:00 a.m. when our church's new liaison, Joanne Simons, shares how the organization has changed and the challenges faced by Family Promise during this pandemic. All members and guests of the church are welcome to any of the PW activities.

Sisters of the Road gathers weekly at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays via Zoom for one hour to pray and study the Bible together. We support each other in any way we can. Please join us. If you have prayer requests, just let us know. To learn more, please contact Pat Feeney at (941) 228-4805 or patfeeney21@gmail, or Janet Olshewsky at (941) 376-4431 or janetolshewsky@verizon.net.

On this Palm Sunday, our church rejoices in the joyful news from Brentwood Elementary School students and their families, teachers and administrative staff, who . . .

• deeply appreciate the Christmas gift cards and stockings

• are grateful for our gifts to adopt several classrooms

• love the water bottles we shared, and

• look forward to seeing our volunteers on their campus.

Due to COVID restrictions preventing our IIC volunteers from returning to the school campus to assist the students and teachers, they . . .

• miss our volunteers a LOT

• must wait to see our volunteers until at least the fall!

Thank you, First Presbyterian Church, for the many ways you have “marched” in this mission outreach “parade,” making a positive impact in the lives of those at Brentwood Elementary.

The bloodmobile is coming to First Presbyterian this Sunday. We are grateful to the many who give this important gift of life.

Please contact Cheryl Track, 4tracks@comcast.net with any questions or to register. 

We need 40 volunteers—all ages!

Set-up starts at 11:30 a.m., with the official start of the event at 1:00 p.m. and lasting about two hours.

We will be practicing social distancing during the event. We welcome children and well as adults to come out and help us package over 12, 000 meals.

The mission of Rise Against Hunger is to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable populations. RAH works with other interested parties to offer meal-packaging events to create fortified, dehydrated, shelf-stable meals that are transported by RAH to identified areas of food insecurity.

This will be our fourth meal-packing event. Last year our event was canceled due to COVID. This year the Rise Against Hunger staff have put a system in place to keep us safe and healthy while we package the meals.

Sign up NOW to participate in this high impact intergenerational event!

It’s time for a kayaking trip with your First Presbyterian Church family!

“Put-In” at Jiggs Landing Preserve at 12:30 p.m. 

Bring your own kayak or rent one. A single kayak is $30 and a double is $40.

Please RSVP by contacting Rachel

Reservations are not confirmed until payment is received. You can pay through the church website, under Online Giving select Fellowship Events or mail a check to the church office. The deadline is firm: Wednesday, April 21.

Please bring your own snacks and beverages. Wear water shoes, clothes that can get wet, a hat and plenty of sunscreen.

Check out Jiggs Landing - https://jiggslanding.com/ or on Facebook at Jiggs Landing Outpost, 6106 63rd St. East, Bradenton, FL 34203. For the best driving directions, please use your GPS or Google. 

If you are not a kayaker, please come to Jiggs Landing for a time of fellowship. They have a snack bar and live music from 3:00 p.m. until sunset. 

Thursday Mornings ONLY: 8:45 - 11:30 am