NEWS @ FIRST
December 4, 2020

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE
Online access beginning at 7:00 a.m.

This Sunday we will be celebrating communion.
Please be prepared with your own bread and cup
to participate in the worship service.
Results of the Congregational Survey
Click on the Congregational Survey link below to read a report from the FPC Session and Re-Opening Task Force with the findings from the recent "Join the Conversation" survey.
Most Recent Message from the Designated Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (DAPNC)
The latest letter of update from the DAPNC, dated November 17, 2020, may be accessed by clicking on the link below:
All Communication from the Administrative Commission
All communication from the Administrative Commission, including the most recent letter dated October 28 2020, can be readily accessed on First Presbyterian’s website home page, using the link below:
A Message from Your Stewardship Team
The pandemic has meant new patterns for all of us, but virtually every day new pledges arrive in the mail at the church office. We are so encouraged by that steady stream. Here’s where we stand as of November 30:
As you can see, we are making progress, but still have significant ground to cover. Pledges can be made online, or by calling Lisa Garcia in the finance office, or by filling out a pledge card. Please call us at (941) 955-8119, if you need one mailed to you. With so much uncertainty in the world, the faithfulness of this community means so much. We are grateful for your persistent witness.
We want to see YOU at our virtual Coffee Hour
Hope: The Anchor for Your Soul
Virtual Adult Education Class
Led by Elaine Barnett

The Church confesses that Jesus Christ is its hope and is itself a community of hope. This study presents the basics of Christian hope in Christ. God is making a new creation, a new beginning for human life and for all things. We live on the strength of that promised new creation even when the times are tough and hope is difficult. Through biblical and theological insights, the participants explore the hope that is within us, the hope that does not disappoint us, and the hope in which we can rejoice.

The class meets for one more week next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
via Zoom. Join us!

December 8: Living Hope in Church and World

To register for the class
email Elaine Barnett at ewbarnet@me.com
Sign up now!
Pre k - 2nd Grade Sunday School
Leaders: Rebecca Clissold, Lydia Chapdelain, Haleigh Smoot
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mornings
3rd - 5th grade Sunday School
Leaders: Sue Nurczyk, Mariah Martin, Lauren Reasoner
9:15 - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mornings via Zoom

Leaders: Scott McLeod and Sandi Soper
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mornings via Zoom
We all have to wear them--why not show off your church and support the youth! The blue masks with FPC logo are just $5. The proceeds go to benefit youth ministries. Contact the church office to pick one up or have it mailed
to you.
Snap-Shots of the FPC Advent Event
The campus of FPC was bustling with Advent activities last Sunday afternoon, November 29--the first Sunday of Advent. Participants of all ages came, grouped by family, social distanced, and masked. There were a variety of stations outside in the courtyard and labyrinth--including a center for Advent craft activities, a planting table for Paperwhites, a festive photo booth, a pick-up area for Advent-in-a-Box, a table of Trade products, and a stage set and costumes for those being filmed in the sanctuary for portions of the Christmas Eve intergenerational Nativity service via Zoom at 4:00 p.m. Many thanks go to Lydia Chapdelain and her team for planning and providing this wonderful event for our congregation!
Katie and Eleanor McCausey
David Householder]
Abby, Caroline & Daniel Clissold
The Alsum Family
Margaret LaMotte Torrence and Joanne Simons
Emily, Charlie & Wells Weitekamp
Molly, Pam & Jim Harding
Charlotte Chapdelain
Henry, Carrie & Alice Mills
Family Promise
of Sarasota

Family Promise is asking for help with its newest project, Home for Good. Unable to house client at churches due to COVID-19, Family Promise is focusing on preventing evictions and homelessness.

There will be many opportunities for volunteering as the program develops. Right now, they are asking for volunteers to assist clients with budgeting, computer skills, resume writing, job applications, and preparing for job interviews. These services would be delivered virtually (by telephone, Zoom, Facetime, etc.) so there would be no safety issues impacting our volunteers. Please contact Joanne Simons (SimonsJC1@gmail.com, 703-798-7330) to share your skills.

As always, Family Promise is happy to receive your monetary donations which would be used for small household needs and emergency expenses. You can give by sending your donation to First Presbyterian Church and putting "Family Promise" on the memo line.
Investing in Children
Even though we can’t be helping in person at Brentwood Elementary School, our congregation has continued to support them in other ways. Because of the generosity of some of our members, the FPC Invest in Children steering committee “adopted” two classrooms at Brentwood Elementary School this fall. This week we received a large poster and a smaller thank-you note from one of those classes. The note we received from the preschool class and their teacher, Mrs. Farber, is below.
We need your help! A lot of $30 gift cards are still needed to help some of the families at Brentwood with the greatest need. See the Blessing Tree flyer below for the details. Thank you for your continued support by providing gift cards for families who are struggling during the holiday season. Because we still need more $30 gift cards for the children, we are extending the deadline to Monday, Dec. 7.  
We would be grateful for your help!
PW Monthly Bible Study

The monthly PW Bible study led by Jean Luker meets via Zoom next Tuesday, December 8 at 10:00 a.m. We will study the third lesson in the 2020-2021 Horizons study, Into the Light: Finding Hope Through Prayers of Lament. All women of the church are welcome to join the meeting. The study guide is not required to join. Deborah Circle meets immediately following for fellowship and PW updates.

The information to join the Zoom meeting is as follows:

Meeting ID: 914 9271 3566
Mary-Martha Circle
Mary-Martha Circle meets via Zoom on Wednesday, December 16
at 10:00 a.m. for Bible study and fellowship. All are welcome to join the meeting. The lesson will be on John Calvin and Reformed Traditions led by Merle Chorba. The study guide is The Protestant Reformations by Donald K. McKim and can be purchased online from pcusa.org. Contact Elaine Barnett at ewbarnet@tampabay.rr.com to request the Zoom meeting invite.  
Beth-El Farmworker Ministry Food Drive 

Saturday, December 12 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

FPC's Mission and Justice Committee is hosting a drive-up, drop-off food collection of canned foods only, paper products, and diapers sizes 4 & 5-only, plus baby wipes.
Let’s generously share God’s love and care to these valued members of our extended community by providing for some of their basic needs! Financial donations may also be given with checks made out to First Presbyterian Church (“Beth-El” in the memo line).
FPC’s Mission Partnership with
All Faiths Food Bank
Our partnership with All Faiths Food Bank as an emergency food distribution site is going strong.
The food distribution is by drive-through with volunteers loading cars as clients circle in the parking lot during the allotted time.
Please consider becoming a part of this exciting ministry
to our community!
Sign up NOW to volunteer at First Presbyterian's
ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK
EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITE  
   
Volunteers are needed each Thursday.
Task options include sorting and distributing food, setting up,
cleaning up and directing traffic.

Volunteer Times

First, third and fifth Thursdays: 8:45 am - 11:30 pm

Second and fourth Thursdays: 3:45 – 6:30 pm

All safety measures are in place:
Masks and closed-toe shoes required for volunteers;
gloves and hand sanitizer provided;
masks required for walk-up food recipients

FOR MORE INFORMATION contact
Bob Kirkpatrick, rkirkhv@aol.com or (941) 761-2455
or Dave Householder, dphouse47@gmail.com or (724) 462-4235

TO SIGN UP, click the link below
Preschool News
At First Presbyterian Preschool, we Nurture Strong to #GrowStrong! Our classrooms offer a variety of dramatic paly centers such as kitchens, farms and fire stations to encourage role-playing for our students. When children role-play, for example, pretending to be a parent, they develop language and communication skills and an understanding of how someone else would feel or react in a situation. Teaching empathy in these early years helps children grow into empathic adults.
2021 Offering Envelopes
2021 offering envelopes are here! If you are a regular user of envelopes we have ordered them for you, but please check with the office to make sure, before you make a trip. Since the cost of mailing the envelopes is expensive, we are asking that you come to the church to pick them up. They will be available in the parlor at any event we are having at the church during Advent or you can come to the church Monday - Friday from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. starting December 7 through December 18. Please call the church office (941) 955-8119 (ext. 101) to let us know you are coming.   


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: During this time when the church campus is closed, all mail, including contribution checks, securely arrive to our church office.
Good News of Great Joy - Christmas Joy Offering
The PC(USA) offers you the chance to bring Good News of Great Joy to the poor in circumstance or spirit. Your gifts to this special offering will be distributed to retired ministers and missionaries in need and our Presbyterian racial-ethnic colleges.
We will be receiving the Joy Offering on Sunday, December 20.
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 Poster Recipients
Select the link below for the names of our members who were recently in the hospital and received a We Care poster-card on behalf of the congregation. Please keep these members in your prayers for healing and consider calling or sending a note of encouragement.
Our Condolences
Our prayers are with the family of Rev. Bob Brightman, one of our beloved retired clergy. Bob died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving wife, Carol, and their daughter and son on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. Bob and Carol have been a part of our FPC family for nearly seven years. Notes of condolence may be sent to

Carol Brightman
207 Diamond Head Drive
Bradenton, FL 34207-5402
Reckoning: Race in American Theatre
Thursday, December 10, 2020 11:00 a.m.
America's scars of racism run deep--both North and South of the Mason-Dixon Line. Hear from playwrights Rachel Lynett and Kenneth Jones about their works in progress, tackling America's history of division and inequality with undeterred honesty. Lynett's play, Carry Me, based on real events, centers on two wealthy Black Suffragists from Philadelphia who face a challenging decision about the politics of progress. Jones shares about his play, Last Call at the Old Slave Quarters Lounge, a bold new work set in a popular Mississippi restaurant steeped in unsettling history. When long-buried secrets are unearthed, they challenge the status quo of three generations of a family of restaurateurs, revealing conflicting views on heritage, community and responsibility.

All forums are free to attend, though registration is required. Sign up by calling the FST Box Office at (941) 366-9000.

This FST Forum will be held exclusively online. After registering, you will receive an email the day before the event from Florida Studio Theatre containing information about joining the online Zoom event. This will be a separate email from your confirmation email. If you have any issues with registering or accessing the conversation, please call the FST Box Office at (941) 366-9000. 
Preparing for Flu Season During COVID-19
Getting a flu vaccine this fall can reduce your risk of getting the flu and help save medical resources needed to care for people with COVID-19. It’s important for everyone to do their part to stay healthy this flu season.

Prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses by reminding each other to:

Mask Up: Cover your nose and mouth with a mask when out in public.
Lather Up: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
Sleeve Up: Roll up your sleeve to get a flu shot.

CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.

Flu season peaks between December and February.

It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection.

Children (aged 6 months to 8 years) who need two doses of vaccine to be protected should start the vaccination process sooner, because the two doses must be given at least four weeks apart.
FPC Blood Drive
THIS SUNDAY, December 6

The SunCoast Blood drive is THIS Sunday, 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at FPC. Be sure to contact Cheryl Track, (941) 320-3828, to reserve your space.
First Presbyterian Preschool GROWING STRONG

The preschool staff and the families are very grateful to the individuals and families who have contributed to our preschool community. If you have not had the opportunity to donate, please consider how you can help offset the decrease in needed income due to lowered enrollment this fall (from the impact of COVID-19). You can be a part of helping our preschool continue to GROW STRONG with gifts over-and-above your regular church offering.
 
For online donations, use the weblink below. Thank you again for keeping our church / preschool community STRONG!

Grace and peace,

Clare Carter, Preschool Director
We’re Here for You!
The FPC care team, Stephen Ministers, deacons, elders and church staff want you to know we are here for you. Please feel free to reach out to Cheryl Track, faith community nurse (941) 320-3828 if we can be of support to you.