THIS SUNDAY, MAY 8
WORSHIP SERVICES at 9 & 11 AM
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Online access beginning at 11:00 AM |
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Flower Dedication
“Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.”
- Cheryl Lacey Donovan
This Sunday's flowers are given to the glory of God from the Membership and Fellowship Committee, wishing everyone who has mothered in any and every way a very blessed Mother’s Day!
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Reverend Craig Miller
to Serve as Bridge Pastor
The session is delighted to announce that the Rev. Craig Miller has agreed to serve as a short-term bridge pastor/head of staff. We anticipate him serving from the time that Margaret leaves until our new pastor is called.
Craig obtained a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1980 and recently retired from full-time ministry after serving churches in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Florida. He is a member of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay and served Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in Tampa for twelve years. The Millers live in Sun City Center and attend Peace Presbyterian Church in Bradenton. Because they are committed to being part of the FPC community while Craig is serving here, they have found a summer rental on Siesta Key. We are delighted and grateful to have Craig and his wife, Donna, joining us for the homestretch of the Pastor Nominating Committee’s search. Craig was not looking for a position but was willing to follow the Spirit’s prompting when it came. (He comes highly recommended by all who know him, including Elaine Barnett!)
Craig’s official start date will be June 1, 2022, but you may see him and his wife, Donna, in worship before then! Please welcome them and begin to introduce yourselves as opportunities arise.
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Saying Goodbye to
Margaret LaMotte Torrence
The work of an interim pastor has a beginning and an end, and Margaret’s time with us is drawing to a close. Her last Sunday will be May 22. We will celebrate her ministry with one combined service at 10:00 a.m., followed by a reception. Margaret has requested that no love offering be taken; she would be delighted for any contributions in her honor to go to the FPC General Fund. Please note “in honor of Margaret” in the memo line.
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Presbyterian Women
Presbyterian Women understands that scripture asks us to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. One way we do that is with the Birthday Offering. Received in the spring each year, it gives us a tangible way to celebrate the blessings in our lives.
This year the Presbyterian Women Birthday Offering observes a century of generous giving totaling almost $37 million to-date. Launched in 1922 to honor the 100th anniversary of the Woman's Auxiliary in the Presbyterian Church in the United States, the Birthday offering is an annual tradition for givers and receivers around the world. Each year, the Birthday Offering awards grants to up to five programs. Primarily making possible capital improvement projects, this offering supports domestic and international ministries, focusing on areas such as
agricultural development
childcare
community organization
criminal justice
drug counseling
economic justice
elderly care
employment training
homelessness
literacy
violence
women’s concerns
Use the special envelope in your bulletin this Sunday for your offering. A collection table is set up just outside the church to receive your donations. Birthday Offerings can also be mailed to or left in the church office. Checks should be made out to Presbyterian Women with “Birthday Offering” in the memo line.
For more information and a list of organizations receiving grants this year, go to:
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Considering Church Membership?
If you are interested in becoming a member of this congregation, please speak to Margaret or let the church office know of your desire (941) 955-8119. Whether or not you choose an official affiliation, we are delighted to have you worship and fellowship with us!
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Recommendations for Officer Candidates
It is our privilege and responsibility as Presbyterians to elect our own leaders, and the Nominating Committee is organizing for the work of the coming year. They would like to know names of members whom you believe to be gifted for service as elders, deacons, or members of next year’s Nominating Committee.
Position descriptions and nominating forms are available in the entryway (along with a box for you to submit completed forms). The due date for submissions is THIS Sunday, May 8. Please take a moment to submit your suggestions before you leave, and please be in prayer for the committee as they undertake this work of discernment.
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Update to COVID On-Campus Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now has a tool which assesses COVID-19 risk on a county-by-county basis. According to the CDC, “Levels . . . are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.” They then assign a low, medium, or high risk.
At its April 26, 2022, meeting, the session decided to adopt the CDC’s community-level risk assessment tool as our guide for masking requirements on the FPC campus.
- If Sarasota County’s risk is determined to be “high,” masks will be required of everyone who is indoors on campus, unless that person is alone in a room. (An exception will be granted to the preschool, which determines its own policy regarding masking.) Communal meals/receptions will not be held indoors when Sarasota County’s risk level is considered “high.”
- If the risk level for the county is considered “low” or “medium,” masks will be optional for all who are fully vaccinated.
Regardless of assessed risk-level, it is the session’s desire to create a mask-friendly environment, in which anyone who chooses to wear a mask will feel supported in that decision.
Here’s an example of the kind of screen you might see at
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html
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Thank you for the flexibility and concern for your neighbors that you have demonstrated since the earliest days of the pandemic. You continue to be an inspirational community!
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is coming BACK!
Monday - Friday
JUNE 13-17, 2022
Please email Molly Horner
Children and Youth Coordinator,
First Presbyterian Church is excited to bring back FPC Day Camp in partnership with Cedarkirk’s Traveling Day Camp! A few years ago Cedarkirk decided to bring their camp programs on the road to different Presbyterian churches in the area. This is such a fun and amazing way to get the "overnight" camp experience but without spending the night.
These camps range from age Pre-K to 5th grade with volunteer opportunities for middle and high school youth. Be on the lookout for registration and volunteer opportunities available soon!
Please check out Cedarkirk’s website at https://cedarkirk.org:
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Recognition of Graduates
Parents, grandparents, and students, please email Molly Horner mhorner@firstpressarasota.org), Children and Youth Coordinator, with the name of your graduate, school graduating from, type of degree obtained, and a brief description of future plans (i.e., entering [name of college] in the fall), by Monday, May 9. We would welcome news of impending graduations from high school, college, technical training programs or graduate schools. There is so much to celebrate!
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Sarasota Music Club presents the Suncoast Music Scholarships 2022 Winners Concert this Saturday, May 14, at 3:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota in the Fellowship Hall. The Sarasota Music Club has been promoting music education, appreciation, and performance since 1930. Visit https://SarasotaMusicClub for more information.
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SURE Social Justice Corner
Thank you to the many of our church family, as well as all the SURE congregations, for being a part of the Annual SURE Celebration held at our church last Monday evening. It was exciting to celebrate the accomplishments of SURE and its members this past year!
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NEW Adult Education Zoom Class:
“Only By God’s Grace”
Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m.
May 17 – June 21
As Christians, our worship, theology and way of life all emerge in response to the grace of God. The Church proclaims the grace of God; and as members of the body of Christ, we endeavor to share God’s grace with others: by word and deed, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In this class we will explore what it means to live out the grace of God
and perceive God’s amazing grace around us. This class will be led by Elaine Barnett via Zoom and held Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. beginning
May 17. Please register through the weblink below.
Lesson titles are:
May 17 - The Bible Teaches about God’s Grace
May 24 - Grace through Christian History
May 31 - Reformed Understanding of Grace
June 7 - Gracious Lives of Others
June 14 - Practicing God’s Grace
June 21 - God’s Amazing Grace
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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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Remembering Our Church Family in Prayer
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:
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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!
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Our Condolences
Jean Fulton, following the death of her niece’s husband, who died in his sleep on April 20 at the age of 47. Jean asks that we remember her niece, Patty, and their three girls in our prayers.
John and Valerie Schaub, following the death of John’s brother-in-law, David Leestma, who died April 27, leaving his wife, Cathy, their children and grandchildren.
Darwin and Carolyn Goldsmith, following the death on April 29 of Darwin’s sister, Donna Strassburg, in Washington State. Darwin is our new sexton.
May these beloved ones rest in peace and rise in glory.
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Our next blood drive at First Presbyterian is Sunday, June 12, 8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
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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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Get Easy Access to Church Member Information
Church Life is an app that is available to church members with iPhones or Androids. You can search for members, 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. Here are two simple steps:
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).
2) Log in. Use the same username/email and password you use for your member login on our website.
You can bring your phone into the church office and Lisa Garcia, Finance Manager, would be happy to help you navigate getting Church Life on your phone. Please call (941) 955-8119 to set up a time.
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