FPCH Tower Light

Worship Service

10:00 a.m.

August Newsletter Deadline:

July 27th

Please send submissions via email

Join us for worship online live Sunday morning (or later) on our Facebook Page.

Or find up close versions of our sermons later on our Website.

From the Pastor's Desk

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another. (Galatians 5:13)

One of the most important and quintessential human rights is freedom. The ability to determine one's own destiny and to have full control over one's bodily autonomy. These may sound like foregone conclusions, however, we know that they are not since chattel slavery has been a major part of our history.

Earlier in this passage from Galatians, Paul reminds his church to never again submit to the yoke of slavery. This can be interpreted in many different ways, to be sure. Yet, we know that Christ himself would have included literal slavery on the list. As well as any time when a person's ability to self-determine was taken away.

This most basic human right - to be free and to be able to have a say in what happens to us - is at the heart of the national holiday we will celebrate this weekend. It is not something that every human within our borders has had throughout our history. Nevertheless it is something that many have fought and bled and died to ensure. Sometimes fighting in battles and sometimes fighting with nonviolence and simply a willingness to stand up and refuse to be moved because we too are full humans, fearfully and wonderfully created by God, and deserving of full rights.

Freedom cost blood and sacrifice - something Christ paid two thousand years ago. Not so that we could lord it over one another and select some as better than others, but in order that we would become just as willing to give of ourselves in sacrificial love until all our fellow humans are free.

Strive for the freedom that Christ died for - one that is for all of God's children. The one we are meant to seek every day. And light up the sky with that brilliance and beauty for all the world to see.

Blessings, Pastor Janie

Together In Worship

Holy Communion

This month we will celebrate the Lord's Supper on Sunday, July 3.

Did you know?

For those of us who are theological descendants of the Reformed reformers, like John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, there are two essential elements that must always be present in worship: the Bible and the Sacraments.

First, God's word written must always be central to our worship, for that is the key way that we learn about Christ and God's work throughout history here on earth. By the work of the Holy Spirit we are guided in our learning together to a deeper understanding of how God continues to move and shape our world even today.

Second, the Sacraments must always be visible, even when we do not celebrate them. In our tradition, we have only two - Baptism and the Lord's Supper (or Communion). The two that Jesus himself instituted. These are the word of God enacted. One visibly welcomes us into the family of faith and the other gives us sustenance for the journey as we are drawn together around Christ's table. On the weeks that we do not celebrate either or both of these sacred rituals, we nevertheless ensure that the symbols of their presence are there to remind us of their importance in our lives. And by doing so, the Sacraments always draw our minds back to the real presence we have of Christ in our midst through God's Holy Spirit.

Summer Sermon Series

Our summer sermon series continues...

July 10: The Greatest of All

July 17: A Ha-a-a-a-py One

July 24: Tenacity

July 31: Power Up

August 14: A New Dominion

August 21: Binding All Together

And to help you catch up:

(click on an image to hear the sermon)

Down in My Heart

Like a River

That Favorite Virtue

Learning Together

Vacation Bible School - Travel Report!!!

Click on the picture to watch our travel video now!

Summer Nursery

We have childcare available for our youngest children (ages 0 through those who have completed Kindergarten), from 9:50 a.m. until ten minutes after worship ends, in our nursery (catty-corner to the Pastor's Study) throughout the Summer.

Worship Bags Available!

For our children who are staying in the sanctuary, we have restocked our "goodie bags" with coloring sheets, monkey noodles, and other quiet sensory toys to help keep little hands busy so that their ears and eyes can pick up on what else is happening in worship. Check near the organ pit to borrow one for your little one this weekend!

Together in Fellowship

The knitting and crocheting group of First Presbyterian continues to do needlework for the benefit and enjoyment of those in the church and in the community.

Most recently, the group crocheted afghans for the newly-graduated high school seniors. These afghans were crocheted in the seniors' high school colors.

The group also held a fundraiser at the Presbyterian Village, where projects were displayed and could be purchased for a donation. This fundraiser earned $80.00, a portion of which was given back to the Presbyterian Village and the remaining amount was donated to the Tiger Backpack program.

There is currently a display of knitted and crocheted items on the table in the back of the church Parlor. These items may be purchased for a donation. "Prayer Squares" are included and may be a small gift for anyone in need.

Knitters and crocheters of any ability are welcome to join the group on Wednesdays in the Knitting Room at 3:30 p.m. Any person, who has a charitable idea in mind for the group to work on is also welcome to bring that suggestion to the group. Thank you!

Join us every Sunday morning after worship in the Church Parlor for fellowship, coffee and cookies!

We want to thank everyone who joined us for First Nights @ the Park this summer! They were a great success and we look forward to many more fellowship events to come in the future!!!

Caring Together

Please hold in prayer members of our church family and friends who are in special need: Reggie Arford, Roy Bailey, Ann & Laird Benton, Barb Beveridge, Joseph & Rebecca Bledsoe, Craig Brumbaugh, Nancy Buchanan, Eleanor Carson, Chris Clarke, Fred Crawford, Theresa DeGenaro, Kathy Draskoczy, Anne Forsht, Joyce Gingrich, Rodger & Sally Hammond, James Hammonds, Jenny Harkins, Paula Heim, Ticky Hendricks, Jere Hess, Bobbi Hill, Lanse Hyde, Kantak & Day Families, Leo Kawtoski, Ron Kennedy, Dee Kissell, Karrie McCall, Norma McPhee, Betty Meyer, Vicki Nyland, Sarah Ocker, Janet Orcholski, Ray Overdorff, Pat Parnell, Ed Pratt, Jill Reigh, Aleta & Brad Reist, Bruce Ross, David & Judi Rhodes, Lilliandil Robledo, Rhonda Shawley & Family, Kate Sillman, Mike Sims, June Slep, Charlie Smith, Christie Socie, Doug Soisson, John & Diane Stultz, Marlene Wagner, Reed & Marilyn Walker, Bill & Deb Wandersee, Shirley Weyandt, Zach, Casey & Avery Marie Wineland.

Please also hold our troops in your prayers, including Trent Sipes, Kyle Gardner, Andrew Rosamilia, Cameron Sellers, and Harrison Heim, who are directly related to our congregation. Pray for our leaders and the leaders around the world as they are making decisions in the coming days. And please pray for all those who find themselves in harm's way that they may know God's presence and that they will have what they need.

Serving Together

This month, from Sunday, July 10 - Sunday, August 7, we will be collecting items to help Blair County United Way's annual Stuff the Bus!!! We will have bins in front of the church office to collect the following school supplies:

Pencils

Colored Pencils

Pens

Construction Paper

Crayons

Erasers

Folders

Glue Sticks

Notebook Paper

Kid’s Scissors

Markers

Notebooks

Pencil Boxes

Rulers

Scissors

Back Packs and Clear Back Packs

Everything needs to be at the church by Sunday, August 7 so that they can get to the families in time!

Giving Together

What does FPCH mean to you?

FPCH is the place where I come to get spiritual guidance on all the challenges that life throws at me. The people here provide support, compassion, and friendship. They also assist me in raising my children to be productive members of the community.

Brandon Burns

Session Member

Did you know?

Have you ever heard of the envelope challenge? Well, if we had a wall full of envelopes, let's say 425 envelopes, numbered from 1 to 425, and each adult member took at least four of them - filling and returning one per quarter (a 5 with $5, a 200 with $200, etc.) - we would break the deficit completely.

So, consider picking four numbers (between 1-100, between 101-200, between 201-300, and between 301-425) and writing one time checks to FPCH on top of your normal giving between now and the end of the year. Imagine the difference it could make!