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NEWS @ FIRST
November 23, 2022
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Stewardship
Thank you to those who have stepped forward in faith with your 2023 pledge. If you have not made your pledge, it’s not too late! All pledges are needed—you can return your pledge card to the church office or pledge online through the church website: www.FirstPresSarasota.org and select member login.
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If you haven’t seen this year’s stewardship video, you may view it by clicking on the link below: | | |
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Reign of Christ Sunday, Nov. 27
A Day of Celebration!
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Last Sunday, we welcomed six new members into the congregation, including Tony Cherolis, who was baptized by Pastor Tim.
A merry group also teamed up for the Hanging of the Greens to decorate the sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall for the Advent season. Thank you to each one who helped!
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Advent Workshop This Sunday
in the Fellowship Hall and Courtyard
We are excited to begin Advent with a special workshop THIS SUNDAY at 10:00 a.m. This is an intergenerational opportunity for you to connect with your church family. There will be lots of activities for all.
One way to teach children about watching and waiting— but not waiting in vain—is with flower bulbs. Special thanks go to Pat Feeney for coordinating the supplies you will need to plant your own paperwhite and watch it grow at home.
Join the fun and fellowship and make some amazing holiday crafts—including Advent wreaths for your dining table, front door, or to give as a gift. We have fresh greens, ribbon, decorations, and candles for your family to create your own beautiful Advent wreath! We hope to see you there!
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Advent Devotional Booklets
Attending to Advent: Poetry, Prose, and Prayer
The weeks leading up to Christmas can be hectic and full. The opportunity to pause and attend to Advent can get lost amid preparations for the big holiday, vacation plans, or end-of-year work. This daily devotional, which includes submissions from poets you have read in the pages of the Presbyterian Outlook, invites readers to pause and reflect on narratives in the Christmas story. Each week, the devotions address a different theme. Daily readings will take us deeper into the scriptural story of the birth of Christ and explore contemporary subjects that include the many ways God’s incarnation can be experienced.
Advent booklets are available at church starting THIS SUNDAY, and can also be printed at home with the link below:
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Thoughtful Giving Booklets – coming next week
Each year we look forward to giving financial gifts in honor of our family members or friends to one or more of our mission partners. Sunday, December 4, these booklets will be available for you to consider your giving opportunities.
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Come to the Blessing Trees!
They are full of gold stars for Brentwood Elementary School families who are in great need.
You’ll find stars for gift cards for the 55 children we are helping, stars for grocery gift cards for the 20 families in need, and stars to support the Blessing Tree Project including the Celebration Dinner on Sunday, December 18 and related supplies.
Check the flyer (below) to read more information about how you can be a blessing to these precious children and their parents. Thank you in advance!
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SURE Research Kickoff
Tuesday, December 6, 6:00 p.m.
We welcome you to join SURE’s efforts in Sarasota County. Dedicated, hard-working research groups are helping make change. Being a part of SURE’s Research Kickoff means coming together to do what it takes to make affordable housing feasible for many. The SURE research teams of Criminal Justice and Restorative Practices in our elementary schools are looking for additional research members. We’re excited for SURE’s ministry in 2023.
Everyone is invited to attend the SURE justice ministry Research Kickoff on Tuesday, December 6, 6:00 p.m. at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, 6135 Beechwood, Sarasota, FL 34231. We need you—please join us!
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Volunteer Day Trip to
Beth-El Farmworker Ministry
Sponsored by the Mission and Justice Committee
Work at Beth-El Last Wednesday of Month; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
NEXT Wednesday, November 30
Be a part of the group from FPC that gathers at Beth-El Farmworker Ministry in Wimauma to sort food and related activities. This mission partner distributes food to help 600-900 folks each week.
To sign up or for more information, contact Dave Householder at dphouse47@gmail.com; call or text (724) 462-4235.
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FPC's Weekly All Faiths Food Distribution
We have expanded our food offering and are now averaging over 100 families per week!
Join us on Thursday mornings to volunteer. We start packing food at 8:30 a.m. and serve from 10:00-11:30 a.m.
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Inter-Generational Activity
at Mothers Helping Mothers in review
Sponsored by FPC’s Membership and Fellowship Committee
On November 21, a group of 15 volunteers from FPC spent three hours at Mothers Helping Mothers in Sarasota—an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization that provides basic necessities for families and baby items free of charge to families in the area. FPC’s volunteers worked sorting and hanging a mountain of donations, mostly clothing. The items are first evaluated to confirm they are in good condition, and then categorized by size and gender before being placed on racks.
Thank you to a wonderful, spirited, inter-generational group from our congregation: Barbara Chase; Rebecca and Caroline Clissold and Caroline’s friends Madison Schmidt and Annabelle Hill; Janet Griffiths; Pam Mathes; Carrie, Henry, and Alice Mills; Joanne Simons; Sandi Soper; Sue Hargis Spigel; Sarah Walsh; and Beverly Wright and her grandson, Zach. Well done!
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Ways You Can Provide Hurricane Ian Relief
There are many ways you can join with fellow Presbyterians in the efforts to help our neighbors as we move to long term recovery from hurricane Ian.
· Give to our own First Presbyterian Sarasota Ian Relief Fund. Our mission committee will use it to support work being done by and for our sister churches and members in Peace River Presbytery.
· Give to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance or the Florida Chapter of PDA (FLAPDAN)
Make a note on the memo line of your check.
· Volunteer for work teams through Church of the Palms and their partner Praying Pelicans https://www.ppm.org/pcusa. Teams are transported to specific jobs then returned to the church. Tools and supplies are furnished.
· Contact the Peace River Presbytery partner Inspiritus at (239) 560-1554 OR Kathy at Fla.pdan@pcusa.org who can also assist with placing volunteers.
· Recruit a First Presbyterian work team. Teams could be for yard work, cleaning out houses, or rebuilding.
Dave Householder is trying to keep up with activities our presbytery and its churches are working on and will try to help you, or a team find a place to work. Dphouse47@gmail.com
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Toys for Tots is looking for volunteers on December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12
You can sign up for a 4 ½ hour shift, between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Hours are eligible for school volunteer credit. Contact April Miller at (941) 536-4576 for more information.
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For questions, call Jean Martin (941) 544-4474 or email: jean.martin4474@gmail.com | |
Cowden-Smith Library Hours
Library open Monday – Friday
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sundays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
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.
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Ushers Needed
After a number of weeks of maintaining a low risk level for COVID in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, we are now planning to return to receiving the Sunday morning offering by passing offering plates or baskets during the services.
We are excited to return to giving our offerings as a response of the Word during the worship services. To make this possible, we need a team of ushers! Please contact Denise Landers by calling (941) 587-7992 or emailing: davidanddenise@tampabay.rr.com if you are interested in being a part of this rotating team. Training will be provided. It’s a great way to serve!
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Memorial Service
Our sister, Joan Maxwell, died October 17, 2022. She and her (now deceased) husband, Judge Francis Maxwell, became FPC members in 1991. Memorial donations may be made in Joan’s memory to First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak Street, Sarasota, FL 34237 (memo: Joan Maxwell memorial).
Joan’s memorial service will be Monday, November 28, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) by Zoom.
You may join the Zoom meeting using the following link:
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Meeting ID: 854 2477 5073
Passcode: 989702 One tap mobile: +17193594580
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Prayer List
Click on the link below for the prayer list. Thank you for praying for healing and encouragement for these dear ones.
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We Care Poster-Card Recipients
We appreciate 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!
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Pastoral Care
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.
We’re Here for You!
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.
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