If you are interested in membership with this vibrant congregation, please contact Margaret LaMotte Torrence, Transitional Pastor (mltorrence@firstpressarasota.org)

or call the church office (941) 955-8119.

The in-person presentation from the team is THIS Sunday, September 19, at 10:00 a.m. between worship services in the Fellowship Hall. There is also the option of participating in an online chat with the team via Zoom this Saturday, September 18, at 11:00 a.m., or next Thursday, September 23, at 1:00 p.m. A sign-up link for the Zoom conversations is available below, or you may call the church office at (941) 955-8119. You are warmly invited to join in one of the meetings.

The Mission Study Report is now available. It has been emailed to the congregation earlier this week. It can also be accessed through the link below.

The report is available on the church website: https://firstpressarasota.org/ You may receive a paper copy of the report at this Sunday's Mission Study Team presentation, pick up one after the worship services, or request a copy by calling the office at (941) 955-8119.

We need 40 volunteers!  Set-up starts at 11:30 a.m., with the start of the event at 1:00 p.m. We welcome children and well as adults to come and help package over 12,000 meals. We will be masked and practicing social distancing during the event.

 

The mission of Rise Against Hunger (RAH) is to end hunger by providing food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable populations. RAH offers meal-packaging events to create fortified, dehydrated, shelf-stable meals that are transported by RAH to identified areas of food insecurity. This will be our fourth meal-packing event. Last year our event was canceled due to COVID. This year the Rise Against Hunger staff has put a system in place to keep us safe and healthy while we package the meals.

 

Sign up to participate through the link below.

following the World Communion Sunday Worship Service

All church members are asked to participate in this important meeting. Both in-person and Zoom participants will be able to vote. (The Zoom link will be in next Friday’s News@First.) This is a milestone moment as we elect the PNC that will conduct the search for our next pastor! 

· Weaving Exhibition in 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. worship services

· Weaving Expo at 10:00 a.m. - An array of intergenerational activities with a weaving theme will be offered in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m. between services. Watch a weaving demonstration, create your own weaving with materials provided, write a card to another member of the congregation, and more! Youth are encouraged to contact Lydia or Molly to volunteer to assist children with table activities.

· One Combined Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

· Dedication of Pledges

· Congregational Meeting at 11:15 a.m.

· 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 in the following manner: 25% designated by our Mission and Justice Committee, will go to PC(USA) / Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and Haiti ; 25% will be used to support presbytery and synod peacemaking efforts; and 50% will be forwarded to the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

We will receive this special offering on World Communion Sunday, October 3. We hope everyone can participate in this important sharing of our treasure.

Children and Youth (K-12) will meet their Sunday School teachers this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service. Classes will head upstairs together for the Sunday School discussion.

Elementary 1: We will consider what Jesus says about being great and celebrate that they can be great in God's Kingdom.

Elementary 2: We will discuss what it means to live arrogantly and humbly and ponder Jesus' encouragement to serve others first.

Youth: We will reflect on the disciples' quarrel over who will be greatest and broaden their idea of popularity and power though Jesus' work.

These concerns will be presented and voted upon at the Community Problems Assembly, November 9 to determine what research teams are needed for the coming year. The FPC SURE house meetings will be held via Zoom. Please register in advance for one of these meetings through the links below:

On September 26, beginning at 10:10 a.m., the Fellowship Hall will be transformed into a WEAVING wonderland!

Lydia Chapdelain, Children and Youth Leader: lchapdelain@firstpressarasota.org

Molly Horner, Children and Youth Coordinator: mhorner@firstpressarasota.org

New Adult Education Class

This class via Zoom will be taught by Elaine Barnett beginning on Wednesday, October 6 at 1:00 p.m., and continuing Wednesdays through November 10. You may sign-up by emailing Elaine at ewbarnet@me.com.

Though visitors and volunteers are currently not permitted on Sarasota School District campuses because of COVID-19, we can support our mission partner, Brentwood Elementary, a Title 1 school, by Adopting a Class. By giving $100, all of the gift goes to the class to purchase extra resources—from dry erase markers to computer software, learning centers, books, and more! When the school year began in August, Invest in Children “adopted” four classes, made possible because of donations from four of our generous families.

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

NEXT TRIP: Wednesday, September 29

Peace River Presbyterian Women’s autumn retreat is on Saturday, October 16, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers. Registration due by September 30 (form in News@First). Network with other Presbyterian women in our presbytery and learn what their groups are doing to further the mission of PW. Lunch served. Contact Pamela Lamb at bmalp54@gmail.com if you want to carpool.

PW Service Project Workshop - Tuesday, October 12,

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., making breast surgery recovery pillows and fidget blankets (for dementia and Alzheimer patients for restless hands). No special skills required. Bring a sack lunch. Donations of construction materials needed by October 10 (see list in News@First). All welcome! Click on the link below to read all the details!

Our brother, Cullen Sabin (age 90), died on September 10, 2021, following a recent illness. Cullen and his wife, Katy, have been active members at FPC Sarasota for over 20 years. Memorial service details are yet to be determined. Notes of condolence may be sent to Cullen's wife:

Katy Sabin

4208 Plumosa Terrace, Bradenton, FL 34210-1243

American Heart CPR Course taught by LifeTech Instructional Services will be at FPC Sarasota Wednesday, September 22, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Be a life saver and register for a CPR Class in the Fellowship Hall. The cost is $25 for a 2-year certification from American Heart Association. Healthcare provider card: $40. 

A special thank you goes to all that came out to donate blood in honor of Cullen Sabin! 33 units of much needed blood were collected and there were 10 first time donors!

Mark your calendar for our next SunCoast Blood Drives, October 24 and December 19. 

Sarasota County Public Libraries offers a virtual class Wednesday, September 29, 4:00-5:30 p.m. to help us be better stewards of our own mental health and the collective mental health of our community. We will also discuss mindfulness and the healing power of nature. The speakers are Dr. Kathleen Moore, Executive Director of the Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) at the University of South Florida, and Dr. Amanda Sharp, USF faculty member affiliated with FMHI. Link for registration in News@First.

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 Thursday, September 30. Transcripts, including those from the spring 2021 semester, should be included or forwarded as soon as available. Returning applicants need only to update their grades and contact information. All college and technical school students are encouraged to apply.

There is a library book cart in the narthex with 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.

Online: If you are interested in giving electronically through our secure e-giving process, please visit FirstPresSarasota.org and select the online giving button.

Texting: Are you interested in the convenience of contributing by text message? Text FPC2050 to 73256 to donate via text. Standard rates may apply.

Mail In: All mail, including contribution checks, securely arrives to our church office.

Masks are required of all persons (over the age of two) who are on our campus, including outdoor gatherings. An exception is granted for fully vaccinated adult groups who are working outside (with no children present). Such groups may decide together whether they intend to mask.

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.

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.