Weekly News — April 10, 2024

Contents

News

• Note from Caroline - new
• Single Worship Service on April 28 - new
• New Member Class
• Easter Letter to Getsemani - new
• Youth Summer Refresh - new
• Youth Arts and Crafts Night - new
• Young Adult Beach Retreat - new
• Pie and Hymn Sing - new
• New Lunch and Learn Program - last call
• Men's Retreat
• Streaming Volunteers Needed
• Red Cross Blood Drive - new
• Chamber Concert - new

Prayers

Note from Caroline

Greetings First Pres! On Monday, 4/15 I’ll be undergoing routine knee surgery. My plan is to recover at home that week and then be back at church the following one, but I’m not certain how quickly I’ll be back on my feet so that timing may shift. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with church-related things (or advice for knee replacement recovery!). For any urgent issues the week of 4/15 please reach out to Andrew or the church office. Caroline

Single Worship Service on April 28

On Sunday, April 28, all members of First Pres are invited to gather for a single worship service in the Sanctuary at 10 am. The message that day will be the story of Jonah, as told by our wonderful children's choir! They have been working hard all winter to prepare this "whale of a tale" to share with everyone. Jesus teaches us the joy and importance of welcoming children and we hope the pews will be packed as we all gather to learn from our children, celebrate their accomplishment, and share the joy of worshipping together.

New Member Class

This class will be Sunday, April 28 from 11:15 am - 1 pm in the Chapel. If you’d like to find out more about membership at First Presbyterian, please reach out to Elizabeth Hess (ehess@firstpreswc.com). 

Easter Letter to Getsemani

There is a traditional at First Pres where we send Easter greetings to our sister congregation in Guatemala. This is the English version of what was shared with them during Holy Week.

Our Dearest Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace be yours in our Savior Jesus Christ! We are thinking of you as Lent comes to an end and Holy Week appears before us. We pray that the Lenten journey in which we celebrate Christ’s ministry has brought the Gospel stories closer to your lives and sense of mission in his name. Our focus at First Pres. has been to ‘Wander and Wonder.’ We have encountered Christ in his own temptations and been challenged to be the overcoming people Christ came to inspire us to be.

Now Palm Sunday approaches and we proclaim again, “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!” As we wave our palms with shouts of “Hosannah” on Sunday we will know that we do so along side you, in celebration of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We will also recognize what these affirmations mean in the cost to Christ as the week unfolds. In our shared faith and journey we will be one with you in sharing the bread and cup of the New Covenant of love at Christ’s Last Supper and impending betrayal. We will grieve together as we witness once again his suffering and death on the cross for our sake. Then our joy will know no bounds as we hear again the good news from the women at the empty tomb that he has risen from the dead even as he said. Death has no more dominion over us. Life and love have conquered even the worst that could ever happen.

We pray that as Iglesia Evangelica Presbiteriana Getsemani gathers through this Holy Week, all that is of utmost importance to us as Christ followers will be a source of greater understanding of Christ as Savior. We pray that reliving these events of sacrifice and joy will touch you in ways that deepen your faith in him. May the events of Holy Week strengthen your commitment to a life lived without fear and follow the command to love all people even as Christ does. We will seek to be even more convicted by faith even as you are. To God be all glory, honor and power forever!



With hearts full of love for you our Sisters and Brothers in Christ, we seek God’s blessing upon you now and always,



Your Friends and Fellow Followers of the Christian Faith, the members of First Presbyterian Church, West Chester.

Youth Summer Refresh

All youth in 7th-12th grade are invited to join us this June 21st-23rd for an incredible weekend retreat in the Poconos! Join us for worship, hiking, swimming, and much more. The trip costs $150 if you sign up by April 16th, and $175 if you sign up by June 16th.

Youth Arts and

Crafts Night

All youth in 6th-12th grade are invited to join us for a fun and creative evening on Sunday, April 21st from 4-5:30 pm. Invite a friend, we hope to see you there!

Young Adult Beach Retreat

All young adults are invited to join us for a refreshing beach retreat from June 28th-30th! The cost is $75, sign up by June 21st. We would love to have you join us!

Pie and Hymn Sing

All are invited for a fun spring evening on Tuesday, April 30, at 6:30 pm for a hymn sing in Fellowship Hall – and pie! Click here to bring a pie. All ages welcome!

New Lunch and Learn Program

Have you ever wondered about the lesser-known people in the Old Testament? Many of their stories are so brief and so buried that we miss knowing their stories and their lessons. Join your fellow wonderers this spring for a new lunch and learn series called "Unknown Saints and Warriors." Our first session will take place this coming Sunday, April 14, starting at noon in Fellowship Hall. We will order in lunch from Couch Tomato and enjoy a meal together while learning about Deborah, the only female judge named in the Old Testament. Future programs will take place on April 28 when we will talk about Absalom and on May 19 when we will talk about Miriam. Since we are ordering lunch, we need to know who is attending. Sign-up through the button below and talk to Sara Pantazes with any questions.

Join us for a time of faith and fellowship April 19-20. We’ll gather as men of faith on Friday night to share food, drink, and get to know one another, and on Saturday we’ll learn and converse about the ways in which our faith can be a means of bridge-building in our relationships and our daily lives. This is for men of all generations, and a wonderful opportunity to invite people from our church and outside of our church to join us!

Streaming Volunteers Needed

Many members and friends of First Pres are able to engage in worship and other activities remotely through the live stream feed and recordings that are posted on the website. There is a team of dedicated volunteers who assist with making this happen week after week. If you or someone you know would like to sign-up or find out more about this way to serve within the church, please contact Sándor Kádár for more information.

Thursday First Pres Prayers

This Month’s Prayer:

As we walk through the Easter season, we pray with gratitude for the ways that resurrection is made known in our church, our community and the world. We give thanks for resurrection joy in our worship, in the sounds of music, in the voices and faces of children, and in the quiet signs of your presence all around us. We pray for those places in our lives and our world that remain enshrouded by the tomb, and ask for the power to be Easter people, filled with your hope, compassion, and love, in all the places we go. In the name of your Resurrected Son we pray, Amen.



Each week we pray for our congregation at 12:00 pm on Thursdays.

Set an alarm or schedule it in your calendar to join us! You don’t need to only pray for the topic of the week, but you can continue to pray for previous topics as well or anything that God lays on your heart.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to add a prayer (in joy or in time of need) to our Prayer Band, complete the website form, send an email, or call the church at the number below.

First Presbyterian Church | 130 W. Miner Street | 610-696-0554

GIVE | Visit firstpreswc.com

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