We are a curious, inclusive, and diverse gathering of imperfect people united by our common hope in Jesus Christ. Through worship, study, and service we seek to know and show the transformative love of God found in the pages of scripture and revealed in the person of Jesus. No matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey, know that you are welcome here.  

Sunday, April 7

Sunday School will resume this week, see you at 10:00 am

This Sunday, April 7, we welcome Graham Hart and members of the Cuba team to lead us in worship as they share “Being church and bearing witness in Cuba. ”

Cuba Partnership

Over the next several months, our Cuba team looks forward to sharing some of our experiences. The following is the next in our series.



Last week I shared about the dream that the leaders of Juan G. Hall Church had for starting a sewing program to make clothes to sell, and how the mission team was able to take three sewing machines in February. Now I’m happy to share that the dream has become a reality. The storage room has been converted into a sewing room and the sewing machines are up and running. Something as simple as providing sewing machines to support a ministry can change people’s lives.  

Carol Papa

The ten-member team was Graham Hart, Linda Hart, Ken Papa, Carol Papa, Sue Hargis Spigel, Elaine Moffitt, Dick Clapp, Rick Foltz, Nancy Wellinghoff, and Jay Swick.

The serger sewing machine.

All three sewing machines in the recently converted sewing room.

A Deeper Dive…

New Adult Sunday Class

with Beth Knopik



Each Sunday in April, starting this week, from 10:05 am – 10:50 am* (between services) in the chapel, we will explore topics/questions related to Beth Knopik’s memoir, A Grace Disguised, A Mother’s Journey Through Grief to Grace. Beth will lead us through an interactive discussion, delving deeper into each topic. One does not need to read the book to participate.

Weekly topics:

April 7 - Where is God during our trials and tragedies? Why does God often seem missing or absent? How is our faith tested when our prayers (seem to) go unanswered?

April 14 - What is grace? How can we identify it? How does it lift us through trying times?

April 21 - What is the difference in perspective between asking the question, “Why me?” vs “Why not me?”. In what ways do those differences affect our faith and/or our response to loss?

April 28 - How might tragedies transform our faith in God? Our lives?

Beth Knopik is a deacon and Stephen Minister of First Presbyterian Church who tragically lost her 16-year-old daughter, Leanna, in 2012. Beth’s memoir was released in October ‘22. The weekly questions for this class were relevant and transformative in Beth’s loss.

*Choir members are welcome to join following their Sunday morning rehearsals.

The Bible, The Church, and Social Issues

Tuesdays 11:30 AM via Zoom

April 16- May 21, 2024

While Christianity is a personal religion, it is also an eminently social religion. We are never Christians “on our own.” Our faith takes shape and is expressed in the context of the Christian community, the church. The church lives its mission and ministries in the context of social communities, wherever they may be. Christians in the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions have emphasized that the church must engage issues in society. One of the “Great Ends of the Church” is “The Promotion of Social Righteousness.”  Society is where God is at work. This class will be led by Elaine Barnett, a member of FPC, an Elder and Certified Christian Educator. 



Register by emailing Elaine at ewbarnet@me.com.

April 16 - Session 1 “On the Promotion of Social Righteousness: What Does the Church Have to Do With Social Issues?”

April 23-Session 2 “Discipleship in the Public Sphere: Shaping Christian Identity and Vocation”

April 30 - Session 3 “Practicing Public Life: How Christians Engage Social Issues”

May 7-Session 4 “On Sin: Embracing Limitations and Brokenness in Social Engagement”

May 14- Session 5 “On Hope: Participating in God’s Work of Transforming the World”

May 21- Session 6 “Food and Faith: A Case Study on the Church and Social Issues”

Pastor Tim's Bible Study

WILL RESUME APRIL 10

Pastor Tim is offering a noon-time Zoom Bible Study on Wednesdays.

   Each class you will be studying the text for the coming Sunday’s sermon.  

ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK DONATION NEEDS

Boxes for donations are available at the entrance to worship

Peanut Butter

Jelly

Canned meats, Tuna, Chicken, etc.

Canned Vegetables and Fruit

Canned entrees, soups, stews, pasta etc

Cereal

Shelf stable milk

Dry mixes for cooking or baking

Rice and Beans

Specialty items for “walkup” neighbors

Peanut butter and Jelly in small containers

Canned meat with pop-up lids, Tuna, Chicken, Vienna sausage, Spam, Sardines

Snack packs, Crackers, Granola bars, Protein bars, cookies

Shelf stable Drinks

Canned or packaged entrees with pop-up lids

Canned fruit with pop-up lids 

Financial donations can be made to the church designated to All Faiths.  

 We need your help!

We serve over 150 families per week!

Volunteer at FPC's Weekly

All Faiths Food Bank Distribution

Join us on Thursday mornings to volunteer. We start packing food at 8:30 a.m. and serve from 9:30 A.M.-11:00 a.m.

You don't need to stay the whole time -- any help is welcomed.

2024 Giving Challenge

First Presbyterian Church is bubbling over with excitement to be participating in the 2024 Giving Challenge- a 24 hour online giving event, April 9- 10, noon to noon! The 2024 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation. The Patterson Foundation will generously match donations of up to $100 for each unique donor.

Our goal for our first-ever Giving Challenge is to have 100% participation- all donations are a blessing regardless of the amount!

Funds raised through the 2024 Giving Challenge will be used to:

-Create a Developmental Therapies Scholarship

This will assist families whose children need developmental services not covered by their insurance and who don’t qualify for free early intervention services.

- Offer Additional Attachment-based Programs for Parents

Circle of Security-Parenting is an evidence-based parenting program that unveils the architecture of the caregiver-child relationship. It helps parents gain insight into behaviors that arise within their caregiver-child relationship, and think about what they are doing and not yet doing to further feelings of security with their child.

- Offer Intergenerational Yoga Classes for Caregivers of Infants, Toddlers, Spouses, and/or Other Relatives or Adults

Self-care is important for everyone. It is especially important for those responsible for caring for others- be they infants, toddlers, children, teens, spouses, other relatives and/ or adults. Yoga has multiple benefits and can be a healthy self-care choice for caregivers.

- Offer Additional Parenting Support

One of the intangible treasures of First Presbyterian Preschool is the community of support it offers. Our preschool encourages parents to reflect on their parenting, child’s development, and age in their experiences as a mom or dad. It’s in this secure space with caring administration and staff that parents feel comfortable to ask questions, wonder with parenting educators, and grow in ways that have lasting benefits in their relationship with their child and discover ways to propel their child’s development.

First Presbyterian Church is a 501 (c )(3) organization. 100% of your donation is tax deductible.

Use the QR code to The Giving Challenge site and search for

“First Presbyterian Church (First Presbyterian Preschool)”

FPC Arts Advocates Training Session

We are taking the next steps with our Arts Advocates program. You are invited to attend a training session on Thursday, April 25 from 5:00 to 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary. In this session Steven Phillips and Rachel Martin will familiarize hosts with our facilities and will outline best practices related to concerts on the FPC campus. Please call the church office at 941-955-8119 to sign up. 

Women's Bible Study

“Through her faith, leadership, and resources Lydia and other women like her, helped Christianity grow and thrive.” In Lesson 8 of the PW Bible study, Sacred Encounters, we will be studying the passage in Acts when Lydia responds to the preaching of Paul. Merle Chorba will be leading the discussion of lesson 8, “ Lydia Encounters Jesus in Worship”. Join us via Zoom on April 17 at 10:00 am. All are invited to join us in this study of sacred encounters. The study guide is optional. However, Elaine Barnett can scan you a copy if you would like one. Also contact Elaine at ewbarnet@me.com to get the Zoom info, if this is your first lesson.

In 1922 a group of Presbyterian women decided to support the mission of their church by each giving one dime for every year of their lives in a special offering they called their Birthday Offering! Because of inflation, that 1922 dime would equal $1.85 in 2024!

In the years since, through two or three generous Birthday Offering grants each year, Presbyterian Women Churchwide have shared over $37 million dollars for vital mission projects dedicated to improving the lives of women and children. 

On April 14 you have the opportunity to celebrate your own birthday by giving a gift to the Birthday Offering. Your “Birthday” gift would help support two unique mission projects in Missouri and Kentucky this year! Make checks payable to FPC with "Birthday" in the memo line Please give as you have been blessed, prayerfully and generously!   Happy Birthday!  

PROVIDE A SHOWER AND SHOES FOR SOMEONE

The Resurrection House needs men’s athletic (tennis) shoes that are clean and in good repair. They also need hotel-size toiletries for the folks who come in for showers and supplies. If you have some unused shoes in the back of your closet or can collect some unused toiletries as you travel please bring them to church. There are collection bins at the entrances of the Fellowship Hall, Sanctuary, and at the office. Someone will be grateful.  

Be the first to wear a Love is First shirt!

Youth sizes are available! Shirts are Sport Cool Dri fabric perfect for all activities!

Shirts are blue and white or white with blue letters (in the order app, the blue lettering is white but will be blue when printed)

Click on the link below to place and pay for your order online and have the shirts sent directly to your house (for an extra fee) or shipped to the church for easy pick up.

Short sleeve shirts are $16.00 and long sleeve shirts $21.50

Orders close on April 8

First Presbyterian Church Sarasota is now live-streaming on YouTube every Sunday.

Prayer List

Click on the link below for the prayer list. Thank you for praying for healing and encouragement for these dear ones.

First Presbyterian Preschool

from the desk of Clare Carter,

FPC Preschool Director

Cheryl's Monthly Health Awareness ........

You Can’t Take Them With You. Consider Organ Donation

I became an organ donor a few years after working as an ICU nurse. I realized the need and signed up when I renewed my driver’s license. It makes me happy knowing that when I die, I may be able to help up to 75 people!

Today, there are over 100,000 people nationwide on the organ transplant waiting list hoping for a life-extending donation. Unfortunately, 8,000 people on this list die each year waiting for an organ. Despite 42,000 lifesaving transplants last year, there is still a significant shortage of donors. To help bridge this gap in supply and demand, Donate Life America has designated April as National Donate Life Month.

April is devoted to raising awareness about organ donation and encouraging people to register.

Misconception plays a major role in people’s choice to register for organ donation, and National Donate Life Month helps to clear up these myths. Right now, despite 95% of adults in the United States supporting organ donation, only 58% are registered donors. There needs to be a drastic shift in perception of organ donation to fix this problem, and that starts with education.

It’s important for people not to assume that they can’t be a donor for a variety of reasons. Most people can donate something, whether it’s an organ or tissue, which can save dozens and dozens of lives down the road.

Luckily, registering as an organ donor has never been easier. Many states allow people to register upon getting their driver’s license, making the information easily accessible moving forward. In addition to helping the lives of strangers in need, this decision can also aid loved ones in the event of an accident. It’s a lot smoother for the family to know that their loved one wanted to donate.

After this impactful decision is made, it goes a long way. One donor alone can save or drastically improve the lives of eight or more people, and donations don’t always have to occur postmortem. Living donation serves as a viable option, especially in cases of kidney and liver transplantation, and saves the life of both the recipient and the next person on the waiting list.

National Donate Life Month helps tie all the facts and benefits of organ donation together, and serves as an important stepping stone to solving the issue of donor shortages. Learn more about how to register to be an organ donor at DonateLife.net and to register to become a donor at RegisterMe.org

Taken from UFHealth, 4/16/2020, Facts and Benefits of Organ Donation

ACS Church Life App is Still Available

   for Download at Your App Store

We just found out that the ACS church life app is still available for download from your app store (Apple and androids). For those of you not familiar with Church Life, it is an app that is available to church members. 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. Download it now before it is no longer available through your app store.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Garcia, finance manager (941) 955-8119.

Pastoral Care

When you or a loved one is hospitalized, it is important that you contact the church or the pastor to inform us directly and inform the hospital that you are a member of our congregation and would welcome a visit. 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.