First Presbyterian
Church of Tonawanda

Live Worship Steaming available and Service in Church

at 10:30AM Sundays!!!

It will be streamed on Facebook Live on our Facebook page

www.Facebook.com/firstprestona/live

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NEWS FOR THE PEWS                                                                                                                                 

FROM THE PASTOR                                                                                                                                   May 16, 2024

 

Dear Friends,

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We are Created with Spirit! Created to Create!

 

Sunday is Pentecost, when we celebrate the Holy Spirit. Wear red, or any color that reminds you of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is often seen as flame, as wind, as breath, as a dove, as water... be creative!

 

Are you interested in learning more about the Lilly Grant proposal we submitted? If so, bring a bag supper and join me between 5 and 7 on Monday, May 20, before Session. I'll be prepared to show and tell about the 5-year plan we propose that continues our partnership with the resource center, CCG WNY, to provide All Age faith formation to our congregation and neighborhood, as well as to all the 86 churches served by the CCG WNY.

 

Join FPCT for worship this Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 10:30am in person and livestreamed on Facebook. “Created with Spirit” celebrates Pentecost, the birthday of the church. Scriptures this week include Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, and John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15. We celebrate the gift of being created by the Spirit for spiritual creative living. Join us to pray together, hear stories from scripture, and find your home here at First Presbyterian Church of Tonawanda.

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See you soon,

Pastor Rebecca

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming Activities:

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Godly Play Taster Demonstration

On June 8, we are so excited to welcome Mary Hunter Maxwell, a certified Godly Play trainer from Atlanta and member of the Godly Play Foundation board. She will offer two 2-hour complete Godly Play storytelling and response activity sessions, with a break in between for lunch and Q&A.

 

Please register with Pastor Rebecca so we keep each of the two class sizes manageable. We'll create a circle of up to a dozen participants in each circle, and it's open to all ages.

 

I especially encourage the session members, CE teachers, and other interested adults to come and learn more through this experience. Parents and Grandparents are also invited. Come and see how your family might benefit from this Montessori method of Sunday School and Faith Formation.

 

We are also holding a church yard sale at the same time. Come to volunteer for part of the time, and attend a morning or afternoon Godly Play session!

 

Annual Congregational Meeting  -  Sunday, June 2

The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, June 2 immediately following worship.

Reports are due May 21 for the Annual Report. We'll get copies to you by May 25, and then we'll see you Sunday, June 2, for the Annual Meeting, Scholarship Award, Teacher and Choir recognition, and Church Picnic, catered by Theresa Rayner and sponsored by Circle 2.1.

 

UFO (Unfinished Objects) – Wednesday, June 5 at 12pm

UFO will meet again on June 5th from 12pm-3pm in the dining area.  Come and enjoy the fellowship and fun even if you have no UFO to work on.  Bring lunch if you wish; cookies and coffee will be provided.  Your UFO may be needlework, scrapbooking, organizing photos or recipes, or anything else you want to do.  Any questions, call Pat Loeswick. 

 

Outreach and Mission Activities:

 

Elementary School Project

One of the programs that the Deacons are sponsoring is the Elementary School Project.  These items are used by the elementary school nurse when there is an accident which makes a change of clothing necessary.  Your donation of underwear, socks, sneakers, and shorts or pants can help make a child comfortable after an uncomfortable event. See the attached list for sizes needed.

 

The Warrior Clothes Closet is also in need of adult and child size clothing, new or gently used.  This is at the high school and is available to anyone in need. 

Body and Soul Pantry:  The pantry closet is up and running again.  See the attached list for needed items. Many of these items can be purchased at the Dollar Store.  Any questions, contact Diane Charsley or Marilee Mathias.

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SHOPPING LIST OF ITEMS FOR OUR MISSION PROJECTS

(TOTES ARE IN THE NARTHEX)

  Elementary School Project

• Underwear  -  boys and girls sizes 6 and 8

• Socks – boys and girls socks for shoe sizes 12-3

• Sneakers – kids sizes 12-3, new or gently used

• Clothing – boys and girls size 6 and 8, stretch waist shorts 

or stretch waist summer weight pants

 

Body and Soul Pantry

• Men and Women’s socks

• Shaving Cream (5oz)/razors

• Bar soap

• Toothpaste/Toothbrushes

• Toilet paper

• Mac & Cheese

• Peanut butter (16-18oz)

• Cereal/instant oatmeal

• Pasta

• Canned vegetables/fruit

 

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​* Discord church server

Reach out to Billy or Pastor Rebecca to be added to the Discord server. We're beginning to use this to share CE files and curriculum, as well as offer an open space to chat and share.

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* Church To-Do list has been moved across the narthex to the Outreach board for easier access. Be sure to check to see what you can do!!

 

Church T-shirts - All orders have come in. If you need a different size or color, sign up on the sheet or let us know in the office.

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Adult Sunday School                  

Please take a few minutes & read the appointed Lectionary readings that we are using for May 19, 2024 to find YOUR special message.

Come join us Sunday at 9:30am to discuss the lesson.

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                                                    Ezek 37:1-14  John 15:26,27; 16:4b-15  Acts 2:1-21   Ps 104:24-34

 

How Do These All Come Together?

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God’s POWER & His GIFT

*Ezekiel’s vision with the “dead, dry bones” shows us just what God’s POWER can do! He can take us as “spiritually dead, dry bones” & breathe life into us again. We learn of how that’s possible in John thu God’s GIFT.

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*Jesus’s gives us God’s POWER & His GIFT to care for us, to give us life in our “dead, dry bones” after He leaves. He, “…will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of truth.”

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*Luke describes that day the Advocate/the Holy Spirit arrived to those present on the day of Pentecost. What a spectacular display of God’s POWER & His Gift thru visual & verbal messages!

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*The Psalm reminds us of how awesome God’s POWER & His GIFT is in the world & in our own lives.

 

Question for You:

Do you rely on God’s POWER & His GIFT to get you thru those “dead, dry bones” days?

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REMINDERS​​

•  The Deacons are organizing coffee hour every Sunday after worship.  Please join in for fellowship and coffee; the sign-up sheet is in the Narthex.  

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 PRAYER CONCERNS

If you have a prayer request, please contact Pastor Rebecca at 315-317-6140  or the church office at 716-692-1319.   

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CALENDAR

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Thursday, May 16 

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

6:00pm                        Hearts4Worship

6:45pm                        Bell Choir

7:15pm                        Choir

 

Saturday, May 18

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

 

Sunday, May 19

9:30am                        Faith Formation (All Ages)

10:30 am                     Sunday Worship for all ages (Sanctuary) 

11:30am                      Coffee Fellowship for all ages (Parlor)

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Monday, May 20

10:00 am                     Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

5:00pm-7:00pm          Lilly Grant Q&A

7:00pm                        Session Meeting

 

Tuesday, May 21        

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

 

Wednesday, May 22

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

 

Thursday, May 23 

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

6:00pm                        Hearts4Worship

6:45pm                        Bell Choir

7:15pm                        Choir

 

Saturday, May 25

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

 

Sunday, May 26

9:30am                        Faith Formation (All Ages)

10:30 am                     Sunday Worship for all ages (Sanctuary) 

11:30am                      Coffee Fellowship for all ages (Parlor)

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​​​List of Officers

ELDERS

            Class of 2024                                                         Class of 2025                                                Class of 2026

              Betsy Crocker                                                         Tom Dugan                                                    Michael Barry

              Patricia Loeswick (One Year)                                Nancy Rolando

              William Welch, IV

           

DEACONS

            Class of 2024                                                          Class of 2025                                                Class of 2026

             Mike Donovan                                                                                                                                 Linda Barry

              Lynn Hyland                                                                                                                                    Gail Borycki

             Alvin Marohn                                                                                                                                   Laura Marohn

             Marlene Tyrrell

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 TREASURER 

  - Tom Dugan 

 

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Church Parking Lot

Please, if you are able to walk, we would appreciate if you would park on the surrounding streets near the church

and leave the spaces in our parking lot for our folks who need them most.  Thanks very much.  

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Hunger Sunday:   

Don't forget that the third Sunday of the month is Hunger Sunday.  Food and cash donations are welcome

and proceeds are donated to the Twin Cities Community Outreach.  Any food items may be dropped off at Donna and Bruce Blinston's front porch at 25 Elmwood Park West.  Thank you for your continued support.  

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