The logo of the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove, which is a hand-sketched outline of the church with some of the trees around it.
A Note from Pastor Lance
Pastor Lance Hurst, a white young adult with a large smile, a brown beard and brown hear, wearing a clergy collar and starting in front of the door of FPC of Glen Cove.
To the members & friends of First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove:

We have come to the end of our time with Jill White, the regional mission interpreter who helped us get our visioning process off the ground. We started by exploring the programs that we currently have, the programs that we wished we had, what we liked about our church, and what we wanted to do differently. Then we looked at everyone’s answers and determined mission priorities based on the responses. And after that we looked at data from the surrounding neighborhoods and towns to help us understand who is actually around us and what their needs are. And lastly, we discussed how we put it all together into a strategic plan. It’s been quite the journey with Jill! 

But the truth is that this is not the end of our visioning journey! Jill is like the mother bird pushing her babies out of the nest so that we can take what we’ve learned and fly. It is now our great joy to actually create our strategic plan and implement the changes that we’ve agreed upon. It’s going to take time, intention, people, and resources. It is not always going to be easy (there will be hard learning moments); yet, I believe that if we commit to this process of transformation, it will be worth it.

Change also requires rhythms of rest, play, and work. I hope that you have found time for your own rest this summer. Speaking of rest, Lucas and I will be going on vacation for the next two weeks to get some of that rest and play. We’ll be here this Sunday, August 8th, and then you’ll get to hear from some other amazing preachers over these next two weeks!


Peace,
Pastor Lance (they/them/he/him)
Upcoming Events & News
Last Church Table Talk of the Summer Is on Sunday!

We have loved having these different opportunities to worship in new ways. The theme of this Sunday is "Who is God?". Please feel free to bring something beautiful for the altar we will build together. Flowers, pine cones, twigs, books that mean something to you – whatever strikes you.
Pastor Lance on Vacation; Office Closed; Information about On-Call Pastoral Care

Lance will be on vacation from August 9th-23rd. The office will be closed from August 11th-24th.

Our communications manager, Rev. Emmie Arnold, will be available for pastoral emergencies from August 9th-17th. Betty Ann will be available for pastoral emergencies from August 18th-23rd. Emmie's number is (908) 219-9137 and Betty Ann's is (516) 384-8543.
Emmie's Reflections on Her Ordination

I became the Rev. Emmie Arnold at 4:49 PM on Sunday, July 25th. The first time someone called me "Rev. Arnold", my hands went to my face in shock. It was such a powerful moment for me - a literal name change after 4 years and 3 months of work to get there. I now can officiate baptisms, communion, and weddings. I'm honored and humbled beyond all words that I've learned in my lifetime so far, and I pray that I'm always surprised with joy and sincerity when someone calls me by my new title.

If you want to watch the service sometime, you can find it here on my home church's YouTube page. I had a lot of fun putting it together, and my pastor and mentors had powerful messages for me in the midst of it.
Who Will Be Preaching in Pastor Lance's Absence?

We're excited to welcome our communication manager, Rev. Emmie Arnold, on the 15th and have Father Patrick Flanagan return on the 22nd!



Adult Education paused until September 12th

We look forward to its return! We'll continue reading Diane Butler Bass' Christianity After Religion. For more information, contact Betty Ann Roel.




Social Media Series On "Pray Away" Documentary

We imagine that some of you have heard about the "Pray Away" documentary on Netflix, which focuses on the pain of people who have been through conversion therapy or taught harmful - even deadly - theologies about sexual orientation and gender identity in the Christian tradition. We'll be having a social media series on our Facebook and Instagram pages with some quotes and themes that strike us. It is an important documentary, and we know that it hits too close to home for many of us, so this is an opportunity either to supplement or engage more sparingly with the content. Content warnings for potential triggers will be placed on each post.
On a blue and white background, there is white sans serif font that says "Give" and there are two hands, one of which is passing coins to the other.
Online giving

We are connected to an online giving center for churches called tithe.ly. You can give a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift by clicking here.

Please also consider giving memorial flowers so that we can add more beauty to our services. You can sign up by clicking here.

Looking to pledge?

Why does pledging matter? Pledging helps us develop a realistic financial picture and plan our ministries for the year ahead. When you pledge, you're letting us know what you're planning to give for the whole year (not each week or month). Whatever amount you can commit to will help!

Click here to fill out your pledge form.
Looking for info on the Covid-19 vaccine?

Everyone over the age of 16 is now eligible to get the vaccine, and many places have walk-in appointments. If you need help finding a location, please let us know, and if you feel nervous or unsure about getting it, we encourage you to ask friends and family members the reasons why they have taken it.
We are incredibly grateful to all of the frontline workers and researchers who are making vaccination distribution possible. Here's to a new future!