NEWS @ FIRST
May 27, 2022
THIS SUNDAY, MAY 29

TWO WORSHIP SERVICES
9:00 a.m. NewSong contemporary service
in the Fellowship Hall
11:00 a.m. traditional service in the sanctuary
Online access beginning at 11:00 AM
COVID Update

On May 27, 2022, the CDC assessed Sarasota County’s COVID risk level as “high.” In keeping with our current session policy (details at end of this e-newsletter), masks are now 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.
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Scenes from Cuba
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Rev. Dr. Carlos Emilio Ham
Our Guest Preacher This Sunday
The Rev. Carlos Emilio Ham will be our guest preacher this Sunday, May 29. He is President Emeritus of the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) and has served as a pastor of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba for more than 35 years. He held several staff positions with the World Council of Churches (WCC) before serving in the role of Programme Executive for Diakonia and Latin America-Caribbean until 2013. In 2015 he was installed as the Rector Professor of Mission and Diakonia at the Matanzas Evangelical Seminary of Theology.

Carlos received his first degree in theological studies at Matanzas (1984), his Doctor of Ministry degree at the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas (1999), and his PhD, in the area of Theology with the Free University of Amsterdam (2015).

Be sure to give Carlos a warm FPC welcome!
Pentecost Sunday – June 5
On Pentecost Sunday, at First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota, we will

  • welcome Rev. Craig Miller, our new bridge pastor, on his first Sunday at FPC,
 
  • share in communion with individually sealed cups,
 
 
  • come to the Meet-and-Greet in the Fellowship Hall between services (10:00-10:45 a.m.) to meet Craig Miller and his wife, Donna,
 
  • and please wear RED—and your name tag!
Reverend Craig Miller
to Serve as Bridge Pastor
The session is delighted that the Rev. Craig Miller has agreed to serve as a short-term bridge pastor/head of staff beginning June 1. We anticipate that he will serve 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. We are grateful to have Craig and his wife, Donna, joining us for the homestretch of the Pastor Nominating Committee’s search.
Pentecost Offering - June 5
The Pentecost Offering received on Sunday, June 6 benefits children at risk (10 percent), as well as the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program (25 percent), and the Presbyterian Youth Triennium (25 percent). The remaining 40 percent allows congregations to give to local ministries that benefit vulnerable children, youth and young adults. Our gifts to the Pentecost Offering connect us with children, youth and young adults and offers them opportunities to build futures of hope, and lives of vibrant faith.
Pavilion Construction
has Begun
The remaining supports from the old pavilion between the sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall have been removed and staging is in place to build the new roof. The wood from the original pergola did not hold up well in our harsh Florida conditions. 
 
This adaptation will create a wonderful versatile outdoor covered space. We have lacked an area on our campus that offers protection from the hot sun. The new pavilion will give us a shaded place that will be used year ‘round for gatherings, receptions, and other events. It may even be a space for a class or a concert—the possibilities are endless. 
 
This building project was funded with $25,000 from a Linnie Dalbeck grant, with the remainder from the J. Barr Trust designated account. Construction is scheduled to last four to six weeks. You will continue to be updated on the progress.
Monday - Friday
JUNE 13-17, 2022

Please email Molly Horner
Children and Youth Coordinator
mhorner@firstpressarasota.org, with any questions
 
First Presbyterian Church is excited to partner with Cedarkirk’s Traveling Day Camp! As they bring their camp programs to FPC and other Presbyterian churches in the area. You can check out Cedarkirk’s website at https://cedarkirk.org, and contact Molly Horner with questions.
 
These camps range from age Pre-K to 5th grade with volunteer opportunities for middle and high school youth. There are full-day camps, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ($100), half-day camps (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon ($50), and other options for consideration. You can quickly access online links for registration, payment, volunteer sign-up or making a donation to the program:
Reusable Grocery Bags Needed 
for Weekly Food Pantry
We are grateful to our faithful team of volunteers that distributes food for All Faiths Food Bank to our community neighbors each Thursday on our campus. One year ago an average of 35 family units received food; currently, an average of 80 individuals or families are served.
 
You can support this ministry by contributing sturdy reusable grocery bags with handle straps. Please drop your donations off at the church office. 
Invest in Children
YOU ARE NEEDED! A unique opportunity has come from the Sarasota School District for volunteer reading mentors for elementary students in Title 1 schools during the Summer Dive into Reading program. Our Invest in Children Initiative urges members of our congregation to consider investing in children like our own Bob Bittner does (pictured below). Read all the details on the flyer!
PW Triennial Gathering
The Synod of South Atlantic (SOSA) Epworth PW Triennial Gathering is Friday, October 21, through Sunday, October 23. Located in St. Simons Island, GA, Epworth by the Sea is a beautiful and peaceful retreat center.

The gathering theme is “Plug In and Recharge.” There will be some exciting speakers, plenary leaders, and a special Saturday night guest, along with time for shopping, learning, worship, and fellowship. 

Our PW has funds available to cover the cost of transportation and registration fees as well as lodging and meals while at the event. If interested in attending, contact Pamela Lamb at (941) 210-7478. More information can be found at pwsosa.com.
Adult Education Zoom Class:
“Only By God’s Grace”
Continuing Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
May 31 through 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 are exploring what it means to live out the grace of God
and perceive God’s amazing grace around us. This class is is led by Elaine Barnett via Zoom and held Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. Please contact Elaine to register for the class: ewbarnet@me.com

Lesson titles are:
May 31 - Reformed Understanding of Grace
June 7 - Gracious Lives of Others
June 14 - Practicing God’s Grace
June 21 - God’s Amazing Grace
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.
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:
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!

As we donate blood next at First Presbyterian, Sunday, June 12 (8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.), please remember the 49 persons who lost their lives during a mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando June 12, 2016.
 
Please contact Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse, to reserve your space, 4tracks@comcast.net, (941) 320-3828.
Session COVID Policy
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 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 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. (As of May 27, Sarasota County is rated “high.”)

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 the CDC website:
 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html
 
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!

First Presbyterian Preschool Website firstprespreschoolsarasota.org
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.
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.