This Sunday is the first day of Daylight Saving Time.

Please join us THIS Sunday, March 13, as we welcome the Rev. Dr. Susan DeWyngaert back to the pulpit! Susan served as the senior pastor here from 1997 to 2011. She recently retired from Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, Maryland. We are delighted to have Susan lead us in worship again.

1680 18^th Street, Sarasota

Upcoming FPC Sarasota Blood Drive

The SunCoast Blood Mobile will be at First Presbyterian Sunday, March 20, 8:30 a.m.- 1:15 p.m. Please contact Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse, to reserve your space: 4tracks@comcast.net; (941) 320-3828.

You may use the Quick Pass below to begin the blood donation process on the day of your donation.

Access Quick Pass at https://suncoastblood.org/donate/quickpass/

The Annual Report

is available online (click on the link below). Printed copies are also on Sunday as you enter or exit for services, and in the church office during the week.

When someone is unkind to you, and you are kind in return, you have offered grace.

We believe that it is God who calls us to worship. God’s love comes first. Our love is a response. You will notice at the beginning of most of our services that there is a “Call to Worship,” usually a short passage of scripture, reminding us of God’s love. Notice the Call to Worship each Sunday at church.

The complete Lenten devotional guide is available by clicking on the link below for your family to use at home. Printed copies are also on hand as you leave the service.

Continuing NEXT Tuesday, March 15 - April 12  

Lent is a time to focus on the cross as a central symbol of Christianity. Ever since early Christians began to reflect on the death of Jesus Christ, they found the cross had the power to change lives forever, through the forgiveness of sins and the new life that comes through the power of God.

Biblical and theological perspectives are being explored to understand why and how Jesus’ death is so crucial to our faith. This class is led by Elaine Barnett via Zoom and held Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. continuing March 15. For information, email Elaine at ewbarnet@me.com

Lesson titles are:

Mar 15 - The Cross as Necessary?

Mar 22 - Accessing the Presence of God

Mar 29 - Picturing the Atonement

Apr 5 - The Cross in the Tradition of the Reformers

Apr 12 - The Invitation to Live into the Way of the Cross

Six-Week Adult Education Class Offered via Zoom

The class is on Wednesdays at 12:00 noon by Zoom, taught by Doug DeCelle, retired minister, and Hal Serrie, anthropologist. They are presenting the biblical evidence that God’s intention is to preserve all living things, bringing them to perfection and a joyous, harmonious existence. We are considering the nature and destiny of the whole created world.

Members and friends of First Presbyterian Church are invited to participate. For details about this unique class, visit Doug DeCelle’s website:

Click below for the Zoom link to participate in this class:

OUT OF CHAOS, HOPE

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) UPDATE on humanitarian response to UKRAINE

To support the response by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, make your check out to First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota, with “Ukraine” in the memo. You can also give online via our church website or by texting giving. Please select “Psby.Dis.Asst.” fund and “Ukraine” in the optional memo.

A heartfelt thank-you goes to those who have already contributed. We sent a check for $1,325 this week from last week’s contributions.

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.

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

JUST COME! There is no need to sign up!

To learn more, contact Jinny and Ron Miller at (941) 371-2750, ext. 554 or email jinnyron@gmail.com. They would be happy to hear from you. The students and teachers at Brentwood are waiting for YOU!

On Tuesday, April 5 at 11:30 a.m. all women of the church are invited to meet for lunch at the Breakfast House for a time of fellowship. You need not be an active member of PW to attend. Guests are welcome, too. The restaurant is located at 1817 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. There is ample parking and both inside and outside seating is available. No reservation is needed to attend. The Breakfast House menu featuring soups, sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items can be found on their Facebook page.

Please pray for those who are experiencing particular health needs and consider sending a note of encouragement. Click on the link below for the prayer list:

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!

Lamar Matthews, a member of this congregation since 1991, died March 4, 2022. His memorial service will be held in our sanctuary on Saturday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m., with a reception to follow at the Field Club.

Janet Clark, a member of this congregation since 1997, died March 5, 2022. Her memorial service will be held at Sunnyside Village at a later date. Notes may be sent to Janet’s sister, Ellen Millar:

Female composers throughout history take the stage front and center. Celebrate Women’s History Month with this unique program devoted solely to works by female composers. Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Hildegard von Bingen and many others are featured in this program with Thea Lobo, mezzo-soprano and Francisca Mendosa, violin. Purchase tickets online: ChoralArtistsSarasota.org (adults $35; students $5)

All are invited to participate in the Run for the Turtles sponsored by Mote Marine Laboratory Saturday, April 2. Adults $40, children $30. For questions, contact Sue Hargis Spigel at hargisspigel@yahoo.com or (941) 735-8786. Links to the run signup and Mote’s program are below:

Church Life is an app that is available to church members with iPhones or Androids. You can search for members and view phone and address information, photos, and family members. You can send a text or call with a simple tap on the phone number. You can even send an email. Also, it is a quick way to give online.

1) Download ACS Church Life from your App Store using either iPhone or Android (Blackberry and other mobile devices can enter www.churchlife.mobi from any mobile browser).

Be on guard for emails that appear to be from a friend or relative, asking for money or gift cards. It may have a subject like: “Asking for a favor.” It is most likely a scam—from someone trying to financially take advantage of you.

Due the significant decline in COVID rates in our area, masks are now optional for worship and while in any buildings on campus for those who are fully vaccinated. 

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.