NEWS @ FIRST
June 17, 2022
Last week's campers and staff enjoyed Cedarkirk's Traveling Day Camp at FPC

SUNDAY, JUNE 19
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
Rev. Miller’s Sermon Manuscripts Available
Rev. Craig Miller’s sermon manuscripts from the previous Sunday are posted on the church website and available in print as you enter or exit services. Feel free to take advantage of this wonderful resource—and share it with your friends and family. Click on the link below to read last Sunday's sermon:
Sanctuary Flowers
“Fathering is not something perfect men do,
but something that perfects the man.”
                        – Frank Pittman
 
This Sunday's flowers are given to the glory of God in honor of Father’s Day. The Membership and Fellowship Committee wishes everyone who has fathered a very blessed day.
Please Wear Your Name Tag
Don’t forget to wear your church name tag to Sunday services. Seeing your name will help provide a welcoming environment for all. It will also help our new bridge pastor learn your name.
COVID Update

On June 17, 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:
In Review: FPC’s Day Camp This Past Week!   
     
                   A big thank you goes to Molly Horner,
Children and Youth Coordinator, and
Elders Emily Weitekamp and Carrie Mills, Camp Facilitators
 
First Presbyterian Church was happy to partner with Cedarkirk’s Traveling Day Camp as they brought their camp program to FPC last week.
 
Thank you for supporting our children and youth ministry! We are also grateful to the volunteers who provided snacks and dinners, too!
 
The camps ranged from age pre-K to 5th grade, with middle and high school youth volunteers. There were full-day camps and half-day camps.
 
Below are photos of the campers and their leaders.
Stories of Faith and Difference: The Sequel
Next Friday, June 24, 6:00 p.m.
You are invited to an evening of inspiration and enlightenment led by our own LGBTQ+ members, held this Friday in our Fellowship Hall. We’ll share stories, laugh, cry, and celebrate the glorious diversity of the human family. We’ll also learn from special guest Christine Grossman, the Outreach Coordinator for AlsoYouth, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ teens and families.
 
This open conversation will focus on how we can better nurture and support our LGBTQ+ children and youth, and also how our congregation can better welcome persons of difference into our church. A generous time will be allotted for questions and reflections. Suggested donation for dinner is $10 per adult and $5 per child. Call the church office at (941) 955-8119 to let us know you are coming. 
Adult Education Zoom Class:
“Only By God’s Grace”
Last Class This Tuesday
June 21, 11:30 a.m.

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 on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. Please contact Elaine to participate: ewbarnet@me.com The final lesson title is 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:
Our Condolences
Our brother, Andrew Millar, son of Cindy and Glenn Millar, died May 17, 2022. The memorial service will be Saturday (tomorrow), June 18, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota. Click HERE for the obituary. Notes of condolence may be sent to
Glenn and Cindy Millar
736 Shorecrest Drive, Sarasota, FL 34232-2490

Our sister, Beverly Koach, died June 1, 2022. The memorial service will be Monday, June 20, at 10:00 a.m. at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch, MAC Room 1. Notes of condolence may be sent to Bev’s son:
 Randy Koach
 
Our brother, Charlie Proctor, died May 29, 2022. The memorial service will be Thursday, June 23, at 11:00 a.m. in the FPC chapel. Click HERE for the obituary. Notes of condolence may be sent to Charlie’s wife:
Ann Proctor
6852 Corral Court, Sarasota, FL 34243-3857
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!
Pavilion Construction Progress - NEW PHOTOS!
Progress continues with the new courtyard pavilion. This week the roof shingling was completed and we passed the electrical inspection.
Next, the tongue-and-groove ceiling will be installed. The pavilion is scheduled to be completed in mid-July.

This building project was funded with $25,000 from a Linnie Dalbeck grant, with the remainder from the J. Barr Trust designated account.

First Presbyterian Preschool Website firstprespreschoolsarasota.org
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!
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.