Since we observed All Saints’ Day last Sunday with communion. the Lord’s Supper will next be served on December 5, the Second Sunday of Advent.

· Masks will be optional for those who are vaccinated.

· Masks will continue to be required for those who are unvaccinated. 

· With the exception that the preschool board will have the autonomy to make masking decisions affecting the preschool. 

The PW Thank Offering is collected in the fall of each year to celebrate the blessings in our lives. The offering funds projects not included in ongoing General Assembly mission support. This year's grant recipients include twelve organizations across the country and beyond (see link below for complete list). The PW Thank Offering will be received in the worship services this Sunday. Checks may be made out to Presbyterian Women, with "Thank Offering" in the memo line. You may also drop off your check or mail it to the church office.

- Beginning THIS SUNDAY, November 7, In-person

This in-person Sunday morning class will be taught by Dr. John Parks on Sundays at 10:00 a.m., in room 223, November 7, 14, 21, and December 5, 12, and 19.

Come for stimulating interaction with these timeless themes. Stories to be discussed are posted on News@First and provided as printed hand-outs in the class and the church office one week prior to discussion. Be sure to print out and read the first two stories below for discussion this Sunday!

Presbyterian Women is sponsoring an     

Next Tuesday, November 9, at 9:30 a.m.

Hope Seeds International Inc.

– Final Class Next Wednesday, Nov. 10 1:00 p.m. via Zoom

New Adult Education Zoom Class - “Advent: The Season of Hope and Expectation”

– Begins Tuesday, November 23  

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Church celebrates Advent. This season gets its name from the Latin term adventus, meaning “coming.” It is a season when the Church prepares for Christmas Day—the great celebration of God, the Savior, coming to us in Jesus Christ. In this time of waiting and anticipation, we will focus on what Advent brings as Christ comes. The class will discuss together the rich biblical and theological terms centering on the message we proclaim as we tell the world of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Family Promise celebrated the grand opening of “Francis House”—a shelter for pregnant and recently delivered homeless mothers. The first year’s rent on this two-bedroom, two-bath house was provided by First Presbyterian Church with funds from our Imagine the Future campaign. The home was brightly painted and comfortably furnished by volunteers. Francis House, named after Doug Francis, the former Family Promise board chairman, will provide a safe environment for two mothers at a time for up to three months after their baby’s birth. Other young children in the family also stay with their mothers. Mothers will receive counseling from Family Promise, and will be assisted in finding long-term stable housing.

Family Promise is so grateful for everyone who has the heart to give and chooses to donate to Family Promise and the families it serves. You may donate to Family Promise through our annual Thoughtful Giving Booklet and anytime on the giving page on the First Presbyterian Church website. Go to https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx?sn=91629 and select “Family Promise” from the drop-down menu. Family Promise and its clients are blessed by all you do. 

Join our fun team of volunteers and help distribute food to our community neighbors Thursday mornings, 9:15-11:30 a.m.

A special thank-you goes to everyone who donated supplies and worked on the fidget blankets and breast surgery recovery pillows (pictured at right). 

 

We are grateful to our team of We Care poster artists who creatively design poster-cards for our church members when they are hospitalized. Special notes, prayers, and well wishes are written on the cards by our congregation on Sunday mornings, and the cards are mailed out.

On the link below is a list of those who have recently received a We Care poster-card. Consider how you might support them through a prayer, a card, or a phone call. Thank you for being family for one another!

 

The library book cart in the narthex offers 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.

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.

“Fast Forward” Film Screening:

Sign up for this FREE event! Fast Forward is a unique documentary that takes a proactive look at aging. Call (941) 955-1212 to attend. 

The CDC has issued a list of recommendations to help minimize COVID-19 exposure during holiday gatherings. The best possible way to maximize protection and minimize the spread of COVID-19 is to get vaccinated! The CDC also recommends you get your flu shot, readily available at many   locations throughout the community and at your doctor’s office. There are several variations of the flu shot available, including a flu nasal spray, the high-dose version for individuals aged 65+, and an egg-free version. You can visit the CDC website to access a COVID-19 and flu vaccine finder. 

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.

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.