All ages are invited to gather outside in front of the fellowship hall to sing Christmas carols on Sunday, December 20 at 4:00 p.m.

For Christmas caroling, we encourage everyone to purchase a special singer’s mask, available at numerous online sites. Because of rising COVID rates, we ask that everyone remain masked during our time of caroling.

email Elaine Barnett at ewbarnet@me.com

Please drop by the church anytime between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. this Sunday, November 29 for an intergenerational Advent workshop, most of which will take place outside, where we can maintain safe distances while still sharing the joy of the season!

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.

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. The deadline is next Saturday, December 5! 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.

Tuesday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom

All women of the church are welcome to attend. We encourage you to show everyone a Christmas item that has special meaning for you such as an ornament, a creche, a Christmas decoration and tell us the story behind it or you can share a special family Christmas tradition. Click on the Zoom link button below to participate.

The monthly PW Bible study led by Jean Luker meets via Zoom on 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:

EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITE  

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 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.   

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.

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.

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 - December 6

The SunCoast Blood drive is on Sunday, December 6, 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at FPC. Be sure to contact Cheryl Track, (941) 320-3828, to reserve your space.