to Margaret LaMotte Torrence

The work of an interim pastor has a beginning and an end, and Margaret’s time with us is drawing to a close. Her last Sunday will be SUNDAY, May 22. We will celebrate her ministry with one combined service at 10:00 a.m., followed by a reception. 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.

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.

The session is delighted to announce 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.

Abby Clissold will graduate from Suncoast Polytechnical High School and attend the Tickle College of Engineering at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Abby’s parents are Rebecca and Ed Clissold.

Colin Frost will graduate from Mission Viejo High School in CA. He will be attending Indiana University. Neal and Diane Price are Colin’s grandparents.

Sophia Mae Higgins is graduating from Rutgers University with degrees in Psychology and English. She is planning to attend Fordham University. Pat Higgins is her grandmother.

Connor Landers will graduate from the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, with a Bachelor of Music in Horn and Performer’s Certificate. In the fall, he will attend Rice University Shepherd School of Music in Houston, TX, to pursue a Master’s Degree of Music in Horn. Connor’s parents are David and Denise Landers.

Hazel Landers will graduate with honors from Braden River High School in Bradenton and attend Rice University Shepherd School of Music in Houston, TX, to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Musicology. David and Denise Landers are Hazel’s parents.

Sarah Lankford will graduate from Shorecrest Prep in St. Petersburg. She will be attending Texas A&M University where she’ll be a member of their swim team. Sarah’s grandparents are Tom and Bonnie Lankford.

Nathan Pantling will receive his Associate’s Degree from Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, NH with a degree in Applied Sciences/Advanced Manufacturing. Sue Pantling is Nathan’s grandmother.

Amanda Sabin will graduate from California Polytechnic State University with a Bachelor’s  Degree in Anthropology. Amanda is the daughter of Scott and Nancy Sabin, and granddaughter of Katy Sabin.

Eva Schulz will graduate from Fairfield Ludlow High School in CT. She plans to attend Penn State University. Eva’s grandparents are Diane and Neal Price.

Jason Chen and Elly Selden are familiar faces at our 11:00 a.m. service, and regular volunteers on Thursdays at the All Faith’s Food Bank food distribution.

Elly grew up in the Philadelphia area. She is a retired nurse, who worked in the crisis unit of a state hospital. Before she married Jason, Elly was widowed for 15 years.

Jason is from Kinmen (also known as Quemoy), off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Before moving to Florida, he lived in Chicago, where he worked for Motorola and for Merck.

A graduate of Rhodes College and the Savannah College of Art and Design, Charles Watson taught visual arts and art history in Houston and Atlanta before moving to Florida. As an artist, designer and educator, he brings a wealth of talent to our community. When not in the studio or classroom, he can be found coaching on the soccer field. He and his wife Shelley (who joined in December) are the grateful parents of Oliver (7) and Lachlan (5).

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.

Sarasota Music Club presents the Suncoast Music Scholarships 2022 Winners Concert this Saturday, May 14, at 3:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota in the Fellowship Hall. The Sarasota Music Club has been promoting music education, appreciation, and performance since 1930. Visit https://SarasotaMusicClub for more information.

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

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.

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 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!

We are delighted to welcome Ari Jack Fokianos, born May 7, 2022, at 1:33 a.m., 7lbs. 1 oz. to his happy parents, Kara (Steinman) and Nick Fokianos, and big sister, Lyra, age 2. The proud grandparents are Kay and Dick Steinman. Your congratulations may be sent to the Fokianos family at:

We send a fond farewell to Betty Hastings who has recently moved to Georgia. She will be missed at FPC Sarasota. Please update your records with her new address and send her a note!

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.

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.

First Presbyterian Preschool Website firstprespreschoolsarasota.org

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.

 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.