NEWS @ FIRST
December 31, 2021
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
January 2 - One Combined Service
10:00 a.m. in-person combined worship service
in the sanctuary with communion
Online access beginning at 10:00 a.m.
COVID Masking policy UPDATE
Due to rapid increases in COVID cases in our area, we will be returning to mandatory masking on the church campus and in worship starting Sunday, January 2. Disposable masks will be available at the door for any who need them. 

Epiphany of the Lord
Sunday, January 9
One service only at 10:00 a.m.

This year we will celebrate Epiphany in worship on Sunday, January 9, at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. In keeping with our practice, each worshiper will receive a star-shaped piece of paper on which will be written a single word. The word you receive will become a “star to follow” for the coming year—a particular way for you to watch for God at work in the world and in your life. If you would like a star mailed to you, please call the church office (941) 955-8119 or click on the link below or email Rachel Martin at: RMartin@FirstPresSarasota.org--she will be happy to mail you a star.
If you have a story to share of what it meant to follow your star in 2021, Margaret would love to hear it! Just give her a call (941) 955-8119 or send her a note (mltorrence@firstpressarasota.org).
January 30 (note date change) we will gather in the fellowship hall for a reception to honor Lydia Chapdelain, who is stepping back from an official staff role as our Children and Youth Leader. Lydia will continue to be an active member and parent in our community, but we want to celebrate the heroic work she has done in the last couple of years. Please come and share your thanks in person on January 30 (we’ll have a basket available to receive any notes you may want to share with her).
Mark Your Calendar for
Upcoming FPC Sarasota Blood Drives
Sundays, March 20 and June 12
8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
 
On Sunday, December 19, 24 life-saving units were collected—potentially saving the lives of 72 people. Thank you to all who donated!
Contact Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse, to sign up for March 20: (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/
Presbyterian Women
Please join us in the fellowship hall NEXT 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.
If you have any unused postage stamps to share, please leave them in Mary Webb's mailbox in the church office or bring them to our January meeting. We will be addressing birthday cards to our circle members.

Saturday, February 5, 2022 - Peace River Presbytery PW Annual Gathering at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Ft Myers from 9:30am - 1:30pm.

Worship service with special music and communion, business meeting and a biblical fashion show followed by lunch. The cost to register is $15.

Please contact the church office no later than Monday, January 10 to register and drop off your registration fee for Mary Webb. Please make checks out to Presbyterian Women and put "annual gathering" in the memo line. Mary will then submit the one required registration form with the names of our attendees. Scholarship funds to cover the cost of registration are available for anyone who attends and requests it. Contact Flossie Paul at (941) 779-6055 or Pamela Lamb at (941) 210-7478 if you wish to carpool or have any questions.
Contributions for 2021
Today is the last day of 2021! The last day to receive contributions to be credited towards this year is TODAY. It's not too late to place your donations in today's mail; they must be postmarked no later than December 31.
New Eight-Week
Adult Education Class
“Every Living Creature:
God’s Design for Animals”

Jan. 16, 23 & 30; Feb. 13 & 20; March 6, 13 & 20
In-person, 10:00 a.m.
 
Most of us who have had pets intuitively understand that animals are wonderfully noble and have a capacity to love that only can come from God. However, we never hear much in church about animals—why God created them or what God intends for them. The scope of grace is vaster and more creative than we had once thought. Bible verses such as Colossians 1:15-20, which speak of God’s interest in all things, in fact abound in the Old and New Testament.

Several academic theologians are beginning to think freshly about all living creatures as players in God’s plan. This class will draw on their work and set before the participants the biblical evidence that God’s intention is to preserve all things, bringing them to perfection and a joyous, harmonious existence. We will consider the nature and destiny of the whole created world.

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:
FPC Mission Partnership
with All Faiths Food Bank
 
Join our fun team of volunteers and help distribute food to our community neighbors Thursday mornings, 9:15-11:30 a.m.
 
The food distribution is by drive-through with volunteers loading cars as clients circle in the parking lot (between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.) Volunteers are needed each Thursday. Task options include sorting and distributing food, setting up, cleaning up, and directing traffic.
 
For information or to sign up,
contact Bob Kirkpatrick: rkirkhv@aol.com or (941) 355-0809; or Dave Householder: dphouse47@gmail.com or (724) 462-4235.
Volunteer Day Trip to
Beth-El Farmworker Ministry
Sponsored by the Mission and Justice Committee

NEXT TRIP: Wednesday, January 26
Work at Beth-El: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
 
You are invited to be a part of the group from First Presbyterian, Sarasota, that gathers at Beth-El Farmworker Ministry in Wimauma to volunteer sorting food or related activities on the last Wednesday of each month. This mission partner distributes food to help 600-900 folks each week—a lot of help is needed. To sign up or for more information, please contact Dave Householder at dphouse47@gmail.com; call or text (724) 462-4235. Let us know of your interest in carpooling. Come and make a difference!
Featuring
Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo
Venezuelan eco-theologian and PC(USA) pastor and co-founder of the Angelic Organics Learning Center, a farm-based nonprofit organization, Dr. Astudillo connects people with food, farming and caring for the earth across the U.S. and Latin-America.
 
We will explore faith-based solutions to the environmental and climate crisis. The CLEO Institute out of Miami will also be part of the Saturday presentation. In addition, several hands-on art and plant-related activities will be offered. Following Neddy’s presentation a $10 boxed lunch will be provided. Be sure to sign up for the lunch in advance by calling the church office (941) 955-8119 with your reservations.

Neddy will also be preaching in the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. worship services on Sunday, February 6.
Remembering Our Church Family in Prayer
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 Care Poster 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!
Farewell to Sexton Rob Ostermann
We are grateful to Rob Ostermann for serving as our sexton for the past five years. His last day with us will be January 7, 2022. Our prayers and best wishes go with him. Notes of appreciation may be sent to Rob at the church:
Rob Ostermann
First Presbyterian Church
2050 Oak Street
Sarasota, FL 34237
Tech Team Members Needed!
Are you interested in learning to operate our sound equipment, cameras, or media? You can have a ministry of tech support for our in-person and live-streamed services. This is an exciting time in the life of our church as we use technology to grow our congregation’s outreach. To get involved, call or text Jimi Camastro, our Tech Team Leader, at (941) 779-6754.
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.
Giving Options
Please continue to mail your contributions to us at the church or donate online. Your gifts make a great difference during this challenging season.

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.

Former FPCS Pastor
Rev. Susan DeWyngaert Retiring
 
Our former pastor (1997-2011), Rev. Susan DeWyngaert, will be retiring after 39 years of ordained ministry.
 
As a celebration of Susan’s life and ministry, Susan’s daughters, Sarah DeWyngaert Bumgarner and Rachel DeWyngaert Workman, are putting together a book of notes and photographs from people who were impacted by her life. Please write a note to Susan to be included. It can include a favorite or cherished memory, a photograph, or a note of gratitude. Be sure to sign your name! Please include a photo if you can. If you are interested in sending a video format, please email Sarah in advance to make arrangements.
 
Please send your items by January 30. You may email a copy to Sarah Bumgarner at: sarahkdbum@gmail.com, or mail a printed or handwritten version to Sarah at 693 Counsel Drive NE, Marietta, GA 30068. 
Our Session's Current COVID Mask Policy
As long as daily new cases of COVID remain under 10 new cases per 100,000 in Sarasota County:
· 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).  
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.