NEWS @ FIRST
April 22, 2022
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
Online access beginning at 11:00 am
YOUTH SUNDAY IS COMING MAY 1
Families, Youth Sunday is just around the corner!

This Sunday, April 24, we invite all children and youth to meet in the chapel during the 10:00 a.m. Sunday school hour to find out how they can participate.

 Contact Molly Horner at mhorner@firstpressarasota.org with questions.

We hope to see YOU!
Considering Church Membership?
If you are interested in becoming a member of this congregation, please speak to Margaret or let the church office know of your desire (941) 955-8119. Whether or not you choose an official affiliation, we are delighted that you are here!
OGHS Special Offering - Still Time to Give!

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is the single, greatest way that Presbyterians come together every year to build God’s household and welcome our neighbors in need around the world. We provide relief from natural disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed. Each gift to OGHS helps to improve the lives of people in challenging situations through three impactful programs:

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: Works alongside communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters.

Presbyterian Hunger Program: Takes action to alleviate hunger and the systemic causes of poverty so all may be fed.

Self-Development of People: Invests in communities responding to their experiences of racism, oppression, poverty and injustice and educates Presbyterians about the impact of these societal ills.

This special offering is still being received. You will find envelopes at the entryways. If we all do a little, it adds up to a lot!
Recommendations for Officer Candidates
It is our privilege and responsibility as Presbyterians to elect our own leaders, and the Nominating Committee is organizing for the work of the coming year. They would like to know names of members whom you believe to be gifted for service as elders, deacons, or members of next year’s Nominating Committee.

Position descriptions and nominating forms are available in the entryway (along with a box for you to submit completed forms). The due date for submissions is Sunday, May 8. Please be in prayer for the committee as they undertake this work of discernment.
Kids Against Hunger
Food-Packing Event:
THIS Sunday, April 24, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Benefiting Ukrainian Residents
and Refugees 

Meal-packing events have been well supported at FPCS in the past. THIS Sunday, April 24, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, we will package 20,000 meals to be transported into Poland and Ukraine. 

The sponsoring organization, Kids Against Hunger, has worked out a special price of 34 cents / meal. All shipping costs are being donated. Volunteers will package highly nutritious, vitamin-fortified soy-rice casseroles, which require only water and heat for preparation.

This is a great event for people of all ages and all abilities. We have had tremendous support by volunteers. You may join in as well!
All Ears Mobile Hearing Services
THIS Sunday, April 24

All Ears will be at First Presbyterian from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. providing hearing evaluations at no charge. Appointments are required. Please contact Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse, for questions and to reserve your space, 4tracks@comcast.net, (941) 320-3828.

The Ears Mobile is a full service mobile office featuring the latest state-of-the-art technology. The unit is equipped with custom steps and handles for assistance into the mobile office. There are amenities found including: sound booth for hearing testing, comfortable seating for private consultations and most hearing aid services.
Now Showing:
Stage and Screen

THIS Sunday, April 24, 6:00 pm
at Church of the Palms

From TV favorites to classic westerns, and songs where audiences can hum along from a diverse repertoire. The ringers have selected a few original pieces to show off the amazing music composed specifically for handbells. Website for ticket purchase is below:
Volunteer Day Trip to Beth-El Farmworker Ministry
Sponsored by the Mission and Justice Committee
 
NEXT Wednesday, April 27
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.
Recognition of Graduates
Parents, grandparents, and students, please email Molly Horner mhorner@firstpressarasota.org), Children and Youth Coordinator, with the name of your graduate, school graduating from, type of degree obtained, and a brief description of future plans (i.e., entering [name of college] in the fall), by Sunday, May 8. We would welcome news of impending graduations from high school, college, technical training programs or graduate schools. There is so much to celebrate!
The 2022 Giving Challenge
From noon on Tuesday, April 26 to noon
on Wednesday, April 27

Sponsored by The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Giving Challenge is an exciting 24-hour online giving event that connects 700+ nonprofit organizations with passionate donors and community members to support diverse causes and create enduring impact in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.

Through The Giving Challenge, you can donate to many of our mission partners, including Family Promise, All Faiths Food Bank, Resurrection House, Dial Hope and S.U.R.E. Anyone with a credit card and access to the internet can donate. You can also visit www.GivingChallenge.org on your mobile device. Donations of $25 or more are accepted and are 100% Tax-deductible.

The Patterson Foundation will provide a 1:1 match for all unique donations, up to $100 per donor, per organization made online with a credit or debit card. There is no limit to the number of nonprofit organizations a donor can give to and still get matched. Click below for the giving link:
SURE Social Justice Corner
SURE network members invite you to the Annual SURE Celebration to be held at our church on Monday, May 2, at 6:00 p.m. All SURE congregations will be a part of this event. If you are planning to attend the SURE Celebration on May 2 and have not made a reservation, please do so by contacting the church office this week (941) 955-8119. 

We are looking for volunteers for the Celebration to greet and serve. Please contact Dorothy Murphy by emailing her: jamesmurphy@comcast.net.
Presbyterian Women  
The 2022-2023 PW Horizons Bible study guide, Celebrating the Sabbath, by Carol M. Bechtel is now available to order.
If you would like one ordered for you and are not already on the list, please contact Flossie Paul at way2goflo@gmail.com. Copies cost $10. Large print costs $15.

One way that we are hands and feet of Christ in the world is through the Annual Birthday Offering received each spring. This year the Birthday Offering observes a century of generous giving totaling almost $37 million to-date. It is an annual tradition for givers and receivers around the world.
Each year, the Birthday Offering awards grants to up to five programs. This offering supports domestic and international ministries, focusing on areas such as:

agricultural development
childcare
community organization
criminal justice
drug counseling
economic justice
elderly care
employment training
homelessness
literacy
violence
women’s concerns
 
Donations for this year's Birthday Offering can be sent to the church office. Checks should be made out to Presbyterian Women with Birthday Offering in the memo line. On May 8, special envelopes will be in your church bulletin, and a collection table set up at the church entrances to receive your donation. For more information, go to presbyterianwomen.org/birthday.
NEW Adult Education Zoom Class:
“Only By God’s Grace”
Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m.
May 17 – 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 will explore what it means to live out the grace of God and perceive God’s amazing grace around us. This class will be led by Elaine Barnett via Zoom and held Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. beginning May 17. Please register through the weblink below.

Lesson titles are:
May 17 - The Bible Teaches about God’s Grace
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
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!

Our next blood drive at First Presbyterian is Sunday, June 12, 8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Current COVID Guidelines On-Campus
Due the significant decline in COVID rates in our area, masks are optional for worship and while in any buildings on campus for those who are fully vaccinated.
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.