Valbona (Val) Blinishta grew up in an isolated area of Albania, and was taught to read by a Christian missionary from the U.S. She has lived and worked in Chicago and New York, and is currently employed by Amazon. She and her husband, Klod Shehv, have a 2-year-old daughter, Clara, and a 4-year-old son, Edrian.

Marije (pronounced much like “Maria”) Blinishta, Val’s mother (also from Albania) is a retired nurse. She lives near her daughter and helps to care for Edrian and Clara. Her English is limited but her smile says it all!

Shari Greenberg is one of two Presbyterian PKs (preacher’s kids) in this class of new members. Retired from teaching, she has acted professionally in hundreds of plays, directed many church programs, and is a talented addition to our choir.

Jennie Harrod lives much of the year in Lockport, Kentucky, with frequent stays at her home in Bradenton. Jennie has been attending FPCS since 2018, and is welcomed by the choir any time she is in town. While in Kentucky, Jennie helps to tend a family farm and serves as the elected attorney for Henry County.

James Jordan grew up in Staunton, Virginia, where his father was the pastor of Olivet Presbyterian Church. After nearly three decades as Ballet Master with the Kansas City Ballet, James accepted the same position with the Sarasota Ballet in 2014. James also manages the house for Sarasota Estate Auction. Meeting Steven Phillips led James to First Presbyterian.

David Purdy hails from Kentucky, where he was an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Owensboro. David now splits his time between Kentucky and Florida. Widowed after 48 years of marriage, he was introduced to FPCS by his former neighbors, Bob and Ellen Forbes.

Jenn Stutler is a Construction Management Consultant, who has lived in Sarasota for the last 20 years. She is married to Denver, and has 14-year old daughters, Jaidyn and Kaitlyn. Jenn was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. Michelle and David Young first encouraged the Stutlers to visit FPCS.

Denver Stutler, Jenn’s husband, is a civil engineer by training, but he also has experience as a professional referee. From 2003 to 2005 Denver served as the Chief of Staff to Governor Jeb Bush. In 2005, he was appointed and confirmed as the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation. In 2011 he co-founded U.S. Submergent Technologies. Denver has two grown sons.

Shelley Watson and her family (husband, Charles; and children Oliver, 7, and Lochlan, 5) found their way to the church through our preschool. Shelley is an attorney by training, though she is currently at home with her sons. We are grateful to have Shelley serving on our preschool board.

Suzanne Waxman formerly served as a registered nurse, but is currently working in the field of commercial construction. She is a dedicated equestrian who has called Florida home for  35 years.

The Horizons Bible study is on Wednesday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom. Jinny Miller is leading the fourth lesson on Ruth and Loyal Love in the study guide. Everyone is welcome to join; the study guide is not required to participate. Contact Elaine Barnett at ewbarnet@me.com to get the Zoom link.

Please join us in the fellowship hall on Tuesday, January 4 at 10:00 a.m. Our guest is Cindie Moore from the Association of Mam Christian Women for Development. She has been to Guatemala recently and will give an update on the Mam, an indigenous people living mainly in the western highlands of Guatemala. For our enjoyment, Cindie will also be making a fruit punch similar to one the Mam women serve.

Save these dates and watch for details in the coming weeks. Scholarship funds are available to reimburse you for the cost of attending any of these events.  

Sarasota Music Club invites you to a free, open to the public, concert in the Fellowship Hall on Friday, December 17, at 10:30 a.m. This Christmas program titled, “Together for the Holidays,” will present a variety of Christmas and Hanukkah songs led by Julia Dadekian and Constance Bulawka. All are welcome to attend! 

THIS Sunday, December 5, and next Sunday, December 19 there will be a table set up for you to pick up your 2022 offering envelopes. Please pick up your envelopes so we can avoid the cost of mailing.

We are extending the deadline for gift-giving for the Blessing Tree until next Monday, December 13, at 4:00 p.m. because there are still some stars on the trees yet to be received. Please help provide gift cards to all the intended children and families by picking up a star today. Their needs are great and your gift will brighten their Christmas. Please drop off your gift cards or write a check with “BES Christmas” in the memo line, returning either to the office by 4:00 pm. Thank you so very much!

 

Continues This Sunday, Dec. 12 in Room 223

This class taught by Dr. John Parks continues this Sunday, and finishes December 19. Stories are posted below and on the church website under the “Grow” tab.

Adult Education Zoom Class “Advent: The Season of Hope

and Expectation”

– Continues Tuesday, Dec. 14  

You can sign up for the class by emailing Elaine Barnett, class leader, at  ewbarnet@me.com.

This class will be taught by Doug DeCelle, retired minister, and Hal Serrie, anthropologist. For more details about this unique class, visit Doug DeCelle’s website:

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

During this Advent and Christmas season, please remember in your prayers the families of those in our congregation who have recently died. Pray also for those who are experiencing particular health needs. Click on the link below for the prayer list:

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!

Thank you for the ways you love and support 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.

Thank you for your financial generosity. For 2022 pledges to date, we have received 88% of the total amount that was pledged for 2021. We need to finish strong in order to prepare for the coming year. If you have not had a chance to complete a pledge card, we need you! Your gifts will make such a difference, as we prepare for a new season of ministry and service. Won’t you join us?

Electronic pledge cards are available through the church website (www.firstpressarasota.org), or you may call the church office to request a new stewardship packet. Thank you for all the ways you embody the hope that is within you!

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 19.

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.

· 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. 

If daily new cases rise above 10 cases per 100,000, masks will again be required when inside (for both the preschool and other church groups).  

Contact Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse, to sign up: (941) 320-3828; 4tracks@comcast.net. You may use the Quick Pass to begin the blood donation process on the day of your donation. Access Quick Pass at: https://suncoastblood.org/donate/quickpass/

 

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.