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NEWS @ FIRST
July22, 2022
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All are welcome at
First Presbyterian Church!
We hope that you experience
the love of God
and of this congregation
as we worship, celebrate,
and serve with one another.
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SUNDAY, JULY 17
TWO WORSHIP SERVICES
9:00 a.m. NewSong contemporary service
in the Fellowship Hall
11:00 a.m. traditional service
in the sanctuary
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Online access beginning at 11:00 AM | |
Rev. Craig Miller's Sermon Manuscripts
Sermon manuscript copies from the previous Sundays are available on the church website or by clicking on the links below. There are also printed copies available on Sunday mornings.
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Let's look together to the future by completing the following sentence:
My dream for our church is . . .
Click below to either reply through church email, or you may print card, complete, and place in the offering basket, mail it, or drop it by the church office
2050 Oak St, Sarasota, FL 34237
Your input is important!
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The PC(USA) has published a very helpful summary of discussion items and decisions made at the 2022 General Assembly. You may click below to read or print this summary: | |
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One Book One Community
Sundays, July 24 & 31
10:00 a.m. - Fellowship Hall
Netflix Film Showing of
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Sunday, August 7, 6:00 pm
in the Fellowship Hall - pizza provided!
Sarasota County introduced the One Book program in 2003. The Sarasota selection for 2022 was The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
Our Education and Formation Committee has encouraged our congregation to read this book and talk about it during the fellowship hour between Sunday services during the month of July. Discussion activities are available in print and online. Contact Carrie Mills, Emily Weitekamp, or Molly Horner with any questions.
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During the film showing on Aug. 7 there will be programming for younger kids as well, including reading the children’s book version, doing an activity/craft, and having time to play on the playground.
Check out the weblink below that offers a description and film rating:
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Fellowship Hour - Sundays Between Services
Are you hungry or thirsty, and looking for conversation between the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services? The Membership and Fellowship Committee invites all church members and friends to come and enjoy fellowship and refreshments every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Enjoy hot and cold drinks along with a multitude of baked goods, fruit, crackers, and cheese. This is a good time to reconnect with people you haven’t seen for a long time and to meet new people. Also, you can join the conversation about the summer book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
If you would like to help the team on occasion with setup, cleanup, or bringing snacks, speak to anyone you see setting up or clearing up, or contact Joanne Simons, SimonsJC1@gmail.com, or Sue Hargis Spigel, hargisspigel@yahoo.com.
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Pavilion Construction Progress
Progress has been slow in recent weeks because the gutters and the TREX wrap delivery has been delayed.
We are working closely with the contractor to finish the pavilion as soon as we can. We look forward to be using our new pavilion very soon.
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Inter-Generational Activity
Sponsored by First Presbyterian Church’s
Membership and Fellowship Committee at
Mothers Helping Mothers
5933 North Washington Blvd. Sarasota
(2/10 of a mile south of University Blvd)
MONDAY, AUGUST 1
9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Mothers Helping Mothers is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization providing basic necessities, such as clothing and baby items (cribs, car seats, strollers, formula), free of charge to families in Sarasota, Manatee, and surrounding counties. They are a valued partner with Family Promise.
Mothers Helping Mothers needs our help! We are going to help on Monday, August 1. Join our FPC inter-generational group of volunteers from 9:00 a.m. to noon as we sort donations, stock the shelves, and work to improve their store. All ages of volunteers are welcome.
There will be tasks appropriate for youth and adults. For more information contact Joanne Simons SimonsJC1@gmail.com or (703) 798-7330.
Use the link below to sign up to help Mothers Helping Mothers
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Backpack Blessing
Sunday, August 7
(9:00 & 11:00 am services)
Children and youth! Be sure to bring your backpacks Sunday morning, August 7, for a special blessing as the new school year begins.
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Invest in Children
Volunteers Needed
Our Invest in Children initiative is looking for volunteers to reach out in mission to the children of Brentwood Elementary School.
YOU can be one of those volunteers who serve at least one hour a week in a variety of ways such as . . .
· Reading buddy
· Small group assistant
· Art room and art projects helper
· Science Lab supporter
· Computer supporter (helping students log in and stay focused)
· Clerical helper (filing, cutting, copying etc.)
· Lunch buddy
· Media center helper
· One-on-one mentor, . . . and more!
Share your interest or questions with Jinny and Ron Miller by calling them at (941) 371-2750 (ext. 554) or email jinnyron@gmail.com.
The children need YOU!
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FPC's Weekly All Faiths Food Distribution
We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a $3,000 Capacity Expansion Grant from All Faiths Food Bank that will help us more effectively run our weekly food pantry. We have expanded our food offering and are now averaging over 100 families per week!
Thanks to the funds from the Imagine the Future capita campaign, and the generous donation of time from our FPC volunteers we will continue to run our drive-through pantry.
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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Join the FPC Mission Trip
to Our Partner Church in Cárdenas, Cuba
February 9 – 15, 2023
Interested individuals and families may now sign up for the planned trip to Juan G. Hall Presbyterian Church in Cárdenas, Cuba, in the province of Matanzas. Some members of our congregation visited in two previous trips, and Pastor Alison Infante Zamora spoke here in 2017. COVID delayed us from building on the relationship that we had started—but we are ready to begin anew.
The purpose of this trip is to meet and continue to develop our personal relationships with members of Juan G. Hall and to learn about their culture, trials, and achievements while sharing our own. A detailed itinerary is on the link below and in August Cross Connections. We anticipate the cost of this trip to be about $1,500 (US dollars). Financial assistance from the Mission and Justice Committee will be available.
For specific information about the area and what it’s like, contact Sue Hargis Spigel, hargisspigel@yahoo.com or (941) 735-8786, or Graham Hart, 2grahamhart@gmail.com, for information about their experiences in Cuba. For details about the Cuba Partnership go to https://www.cubapartnersnetwork.info/. To get a feel for Juan G. Hall go to their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Iglesia-Presbiteriana-Reformada-Juan-G-Hall-en-C%C3%A1rdenas-1096173980413073/?ref=br_rs
A planning group (Dave Householder, Rachel Martin, Jay Swick, Sue Hargis Spigel, Karen Olson, and Graham Hart) is working out the details. Talk to any of these folks to learn more. We will need both “senders” (folks to pray, help get things ready, and provide transportation to and from the airport, etc.) and “goers” to make the trip possible. To sign up, send a note to Dphouse47@gmail.com with what you would like to do.
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College/Continuing Education/
Technical School Scholarships
Scholarship money is available for the upcoming school year. Interested students and families should go to the website www.firstpressarasota.org, go to “Grow” tab and select “Young Adult” and print application. The application and transcripts must be received by Wednesday, August 31.
Transcripts, including those from the spring 2022 semester, should be included or forwarded as soon as available. Returning applicants need only to have their transcript sent and update their contact information. All college and technical school students are encouraged to apply. Please send applications to the church, attention: SCHOLARSHIPS.
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Volunteer Day Trips
to Beth-El Farmworker Ministry
Sponsored by Mission
and Justice Committee
Work at Beth-El
Last Wednesday of Month 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Resuming August 31
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 phouse47@gmail.com; call or text (724) 462-4235
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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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FPC Blood Drive
Anyone who donates twice from June through September will receive a $20 Amazon gift card!
Mark your calendar for our next blood drive Sunday, September 18.
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COVID Update
On July 22, 2022, the CDC assessed Sarasota County’s COVID risk level as “high.” In keeping with our current session policy, masks are required of all worshipers. (Worship leaders may choose to lead without masks, since being maskless makes it easier for those persons to be understood.)
Thank you for doing what we can to slow the spread of the virus. When we return to a “medium” or “low” risk assessment in the county, masks again will be optional for those who are fully immunized.
Below is an easy-to-use CDC link to show current risk assessment by county:
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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-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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Staying Connected with the Pastor and Church Staff,
Session Members, and Deacons
By clicking on the link below you can easily access a printable document with the names and positions of your church leaders. Use this list when you want to contact them, send a word of encouragement, or pray for them!
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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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