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NEWS @ FIRST
September 16, 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, September 18, 2022
TWO WORSHIP SERVICES
9:00 AM & 11:00 AM
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COVID Update
On September 16, 2022, the CDC assessed Sarasota County’s COVID risk level as “medium.”
Thank you for doing what we can to slow the spread of the virus. Since we have now returned to a “medium” risk assessment in the county, masks 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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TOWN HALL MEETINGS
TODAY - Sunday, September 18
Come at 10:05 a.m. or 12:15 p.m. Fellowship Hall
AND
Wednesday, September 21
Join in by Zoom at 1:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.
Recently the congregation was asked what their dreams are for our church. The responses have been very helpful in guiding the session and Stewardship Ministry Team. Together, we are holding four town hall meetings to share the responses of our dreams for the future of FPC:
· TODAY, September 18 at 10:05 a.m. and at 12:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall
- Please make every effort to participate in one of these meetings!
· THIS WEDNESDAY, September 21 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., both by Zoom
- There will be two additional town hall meetings this Wednesday by Zoom. You can participate at 1:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.
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Farewell Reception for Craig and Donna Miller
Next Sunday, September 25
10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
Let’s gather together to express our appreciation to Craig for serving as our Bridge Interim Pastor these past four months! He has been a gift to us during this time.
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The Education & Formation Committee wants to hear from you!
Planning is underway to offer our entire congregation a year of opportunities to learn about and grow closer to God. The Education and Formation Committee is looking for your ideas. Please complete the brief online survey using the link or QR code below to contribute your opinion. The survey will remain active until the end of September, although we are beginning to review responses as they are received. Please reach out to Emily Weitekamp or Carrie Mills with your questions.
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Children and Youth News
Sunday school began September 11. For the first four weeks, we are learning about the practice of “making peace,” looking at where it shows up in the Bible, and how we can practice it in our own lives. See you there!
We are making plans for a fun-filled and meaningful fall together! Please fill out the Information & Permission Form below for each child or youth who will be participating in Sunday School and/or other programs.
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FPC Blood Drive: THIS Sunday September 18
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Anyone who donates twice from June through September will receive a $20 Amazon gift card! Please contact Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse to register, (941) 320-3828, 4tracks@comcast.net
You can now donate platelets on the bloodmobile due to the high volume of need at the SMH Cancer Center, Moffitt Cancer and Florida Cancer Centers. Every time you donate platelets, you get a $25 Amazon gift card.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now removed the referral guidelines for potential donors who were deferred from donating blood because of Mad Cow Disease. This means that many who were ineligible to donate blood because they spent time in certain European countries during particular years are now eligible to donate blood at SunCoast Blood Centers! (Read more in the following link.)
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Come Paint a Rock!
As part of this stewardship season, we can help to continue the tradition of welcoming those who seek to grow in God's love and grace.
There will be an intergenerational rock painting activity Sunday, September 25, during the fellowship coffee hour starting at 10:00 a.m. Paint pens and rocks will be provided, or you can bring your own rock. All levels of talent are welcome!
Each rock will be labeled with our church logo, QR code, and "All are welcome here!" Once painted and labeled, the rocks will be placed around town, inviting those who find them to discover FPC.
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Fellowship Hour - Sundays Between Services
The Membership and Fellowship Committee invites all church members and friends to come to Fellowship Hall on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. to enjoy a multitude of baked goods, fruit, crackers, cheese, hot and cold drinks, and fellowship. This is a good time to connect with old and new friends, and learn more about what our church is up to. Last Sunday, SURE Executive Director Dai Thao met with church members about 2022–2023 plans. This Sunday, September 18, you can grab some refreshments and join the town hall meeting at 10:05 a.m. Another meeting will be held at 12:15 p.m.
Don’t miss September 25, when we say thank you to Craig and Donna Miller for their four months of service here as Craig has been our Bridge Transitional Pastor.
If you would like to help the team on occasion with setup, cleanup, or bringing snacks, speak to anyone you see setting up or cleaning up, or contact Joanne Simons, SimonsJC1@gmail.com, or Sue Hargis Spigel, hargisspigel@yahoo.com.
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PW Bible study meets next Wednesday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom. We will begin the Horizons Bible Study "Celebrating Sabbath." Elaine Barnett is leading the first lesson. The study guide is not necessary to join and all women are invited. Contact Elaine (Email: ewbarnet@me.com) for the Zoom link. | |
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Peace and Global Witness Offering
The Peace and Global Witness Offering supports the efforts of the church at every level and provides witness to God’s gift of peace in the world.
Gifts to the offering are divided as follows:
25% retained by First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota for support of our own peacemaking ministry; 25% used to support presbytery and synod peacemaking efforts; and 50% forwarded to the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.
We will receive this special offering on World Communion Sunday, October 2.
We hope everyone can participate in this important sharing of our treasure.
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Volunteer Day Trip
to Beth-El Farmworker Ministry
Sponsored by
the Mission and Justice Committee
Wednesday, September 28
Work at Beth-El: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
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. To sign up or for more information, contact Dave Householder at dphouse47@gmail.com; call or text (724) 462-4235.
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FPC's Weekly All Faiths Food Distribution
We have expanded our food offering and are now averaging over 100 families per week!
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.
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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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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Donate Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids
Look for the Lions Club box located in church office to donate eyeglasses and hearing aids you no longer use. The box will remain in the church office. Contact Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse for more information, (941) 320-3828, 4tracks@comcast.net
Mental Health First Aid Refresher Class
If you took the Mental Health First Aid class April 2019 at First Presbyterian and would like to renew your certification, First Presbyterian will be hosting the class Friday, September 30, 9:00a.m. - 11:00 a.m. There will be no charge if you would like to attend the class without certification. $30 for certification. Tracy Daniels, BayCare Behavioral Health Educator, will be the instructor. Please contact Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse to register by Monday, September 19, (941) 320--3828, 4tracks@comcast.net
NAMI Walks Your Way - October 8, Payne Park
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is sponsoring this walk in Payne Park, FPC’s neighbor. The event is to promote public awareness of mental health and reduce stigma, raise funds, and build community.
• REGISTRATION: 8:00 a.m. • WALK KICKS OFF: 9:30 a.m.
• CLOSING CEREMONY: 11:30 a.m.
The walk features food vendors, raffles, DJ, face painting, fire truck, specialty T-shirts, and community resource tables. Register today using the link below:
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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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Changes to Church Life App
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.
Beginning November 1, 2022 the Church Life app will no longer be available in your cellphone’s App Store. If you want to use the online directory via the Church Life app, please download it now from your App Store for your IOS and Android’s phones. If you have the Church Life app now on your phone you will not lose the app, but you cannot reinstall it once it has been deleted after November 1. After the November deadline you can go to Churchlife.mobi using the search engine of your choice and you can log in using your email address and password.
Here’s how to access church member information:
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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