NEWS @ FIRST
May 20, 2022
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THIS SUNDAY, MAY 22
ONE WORSHIP SERVICE at 10 AM
with reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall
to honor Margaret LaMotte Torrence
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Online access beginning at 10:00 AM |
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Saying Goodbye to Margaret
It is with grateful hearts that we say goodbye to Margaret, who has led us as our Interim Pastor for the past 21 months. She has provided comfort and healing for our congregation and staff with grace, understanding, and care. She has been a calm and stable presence and has enhanced the life of our church with creativity and inspirational preaching.
Our prayers go with Margaret and Lee as they return to their home and family in the mountains of North Carolina.
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.
Please join us in the Fellowship Hall following the service this Sunday for a reception for Margaret. There will be a basket available before the service in the sanctuary narthex and in the Fellowship Hall after the service for those who wish to leave a card or note for Margaret.
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The flowers in the sanctuary this Sunday are given to the glory to God and in honor of Margaret’s ministry with us.
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Rev. Dr. Carlos Emilio Ham
May 29 Guest Speaker
The Rev. Carlos Emilio Ham will be our guest preacher 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).
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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. 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. We are 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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A Message from Your PNC
We would like you to know that we continue our discernment with conversations with several candidates. Please continue to pray for us and the candidates as we discern who God is calling to our congregation to be our next pastor / head of staff.
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Monday - Friday
JUNE 13-17, 2022
Please email Molly Horner
Children and Youth Coordinator
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:
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Beth-El: Volunteer Mission Day Trip
Postponed until Wednesday, June 29
Mark your calendar for the next group trip to Beth-El to work on tasks that help feed hundreds of farm workers and their families. Individuals may also go on their own any time; just check with Angel (angel@beth-el.org) for the best time. For more information on FPC group trips, contact Dave Householder (724) 462-4235 or(dphouse47@Gmail.com.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Adult Education Zoom Class:
“Only By God’s Grace”
Continuing Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.
May 24 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 classis 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 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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Church Office Volunteers Needed
Do you enjoy offering a friendly face to greet people, direct phone calls, and handle basic office tasks such as assembling packets and stuffing envelopes? We have several positions open for weekly half-day volunteers to assist our FPC administrative support staff.
To find out more, call Rachel Martin, Operations Manager (941) 955-8119 or email RMartin@firstpressarasota.org. We’d love to have you join our office team!
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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.
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Session COVID Policy
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 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 20, Sarasota County is rated “medium.”)
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!
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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.
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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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