Weekly News — January 18, 2023

Contents

This Sunday

  • Scripture Readings
  • Sing a New Song: Contemporary Worship Song for January
  • New Time for Contemporary Worship

News

  • Rev. Cupp on Vacation - new
  • Women’s Bible Study - new
  • Christian Faith & Issues - new
  • Youth Summer Trip Dates - new
  • Chancel Flowers Request
  • New Members Class - new
  • Spiritual Connections: Women’s Book Read
  • Annual Fund Update
  • Food Drive - items for January
  • From the Office

Preaching and Prayers

This Sunday, January 15

Sunday Scriptures

This week’s lessons are from Psalm 27 and the Gospel of Matthew. The Rev. Ann Garrou Dickey is preaching.

Lyndsay Spaziani and Miranda Nilan are featured musicians in the 9:00 worship service.

We are rebranding this feature, with a nod to the Psalms. Each week, we will provide a link to a song which will be used in the Contemporary Worship service at 10:45. Some of these songs will be repeated as “songs of the month” to allow the congregation to learn them more easily. Others will be used for only one Sunday. These songs will be in addition to other songs the congregation has sung in the past.


The first of these new songs is “The Words I Would Say,” by Sidewalk Prophets, and will be introduced on January 22. Here is a link.

New Year, New Contemporary Worship Time

By action of the Session, in recognition of last fall’s survey of the membership, the Contemporary Worship service will begin at 10:45 on Sundays. While we still love the sentiment of John 10:42 (“And many believed in him there”), this slight adjustment gives a little breathing room between services.

Weekly News

Vacation Time


Caroline Cupp will be out of the country from Saturday, 1/21 – Friday, 1/27. Please forgive a delayed response to non-urgent messages. Rev. Phoebe Kitson (former Associate Pastor) and Rev. Ann Dickey (Parish Associate) are available for any critical issues that may arise. They can be reached by calling the church office (610-696-0554). Thank you!

Women’s Bible Study

All women are invited to a five-week winter study that will meet on Thursday mornings beginning February 2 in the Chapel. Come for coffee and pastries at 9:15, and we’ll start the study at 9:30 a.m. We'll be reading through Jen Wilkin’s In His Image. Please sign up here.

Christian Faith & Issues

This class for adults has begun a schedule of hour-long meetings on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The class will meet in person this Sunday with an option for remote participation by Zoom. We are watching videos from Jim Wallis’s Sojourners website series Justice for the Poor. On Sunday, January 22, we will watch the second video, called “Is There Something Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel?” The video is about 15 minutes long, leaving time for discussion. In person, we will meet in room 109 (the green conference room), past the pastors’ offices. For the Zoom option, email Dan Campbell.

Summer Youth Trips Confirmed

Summer trips are one of the highlights of the First Pres Youth Program, and this summer will be no exception! High schoolers should save the dates of July 9–14, when they will be heading to Hilton Head, SC for another great week at Fun In the Son. Middle schoolers should save the dates of August 1–5, when they will be heading to North Bay Adventure Camp in Maryland. Registration info will be coming out very soon, families should watch for the weekly youth email on Thursdays for more details.

Sanctuary Flowers

On the first Sunday of every month there is an opportunity to place flowers on the chancel in memory or in honor of a special person or persons, group, or event. The cost is $50 per dedication; there can be more than one dedication per month. In order to participate, you may fill out the website form or call the church office.

New Members Class

If you’re interested in joining First Pres or learning more about membership, please join us for the next New Members class on Sunday, January 29. We’ll meet at 6:30 p.m. over Zoom. Please reach out to Elizabeth Hess to sign up.

Spiritual Connections

Spiritual Connections starts a new book on Monday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m. Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for Searching People edited by Dorothy C. Bass. How can we live faithfully and with integrity in a world where the pace of existence is so fast and life’s patterns are changing all around us? Can we conduct our daily lives in ways that help us not just get by but flourish—as individuals, as communities, and as a society in concert with creation and in communion with God? This book stimulates the imagination. All women are encouraged to join the discussion to consider and reflect. Meetings are held via Zoom on the first and third Mondays at 6:30 p.m. A limited number of copies of the book are available through Carol Sinex Schmidt. Contact Ellen Endslow with questions or to obtain the Zoom link.

Annual Fund Update


Let us run with perseverance 

the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:1

 

Thank you to everyone who has made a financial commitment to First Presbyterian Church for 2023! As of today we have received 220 pledges for a total of $889,936, which just matches our pledges from 2022. The stewardship goal is to reach $935,000, representing a 5% increase over last year, helping us provide raises for our hard-working staff, and funding our ministries in the year ahead. Please consider the work of the church as you consider how God has blessed you this year.


It’s never too late to pledge! Click here to complete the estimate of giving form.

— Bob Smith, Stewardship

January Food Drive

This month we’re collecting two sets of items, one for the West Chester Food Cupboard and one for our Wednesday Lunch program. Donations to either are deeply appreciated. Items can be placed on the table in Fellowship Hall.


WCFC Item: Peanut butter and jelly

Wednesday Lunch Items: Sugar packets, disposable utensils (forks).

For several months, business manager Jeff Somers has been planning for a long-anticipated conversion of our financial system (accounts payable, etc.) to a modern, web-based version of the Shelby software that is the backbone of the church’s membership and financial records. Fingers crossed, the final conversion will be successfully completed in a day or so! While we hope you’ll never notice the difference, it’s a big deal for Jeff, Claire, and David.

Preaching and Prayers

Upcoming Preaching Schedule


January 22 - Ann Dickey

January 29 - Natalia Marandiuc


The 9:00 service each week is broadcast over WCHE at 11 a.m. each Sunday at 1520AM and also at 95.3FM.

Thursday First Pres Prayers

A new format:

We will focus on a specific ministry or initiative of the church each month, so all the month’s topics will be related to it. This month’s topic is Youth Ministries.


This Week’s Prayer Topic:

Pray for the lay leaders who continue the ministry with youth, and pray for the search for new leadership.


Each week we pray for our congregation at 12:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

Set an alarm or schedule it in your calendar to join us! You don’t need to only pray for the topic of the week, but you can continue to pray for previous topics as well or anything that God lays on your heart.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to add a prayer (in joy or in time of need) to our Prayer Band, complete the website form, send an email, or call the church at the number below.


First Presbyterian Church | 130 W. Miner Street | 610-696-0554


GIVE | Visit firstpreswc.com

Pledge for the 2023 Annual campaign 

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