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                                                                                                                                   January 16, 2025

Dear Friends,

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I had my first zoom call with the Calvin Worship Institute grants team. It was so good to meet other grant recipients and hear about a few of the other amazing projects that this program is funding. Between their grants to worshiping communities like ours and their grants to seminary teachers and scholars, they are currently managing 150 grant projects.

 

How will you contribute to this 2025 worship grant project: God's Story/Our Story?

 

Our first event is a 6-week Godly Play training series. Participants will gather in our church and zoom with trainer Mary Hunter Maxwell. There will be homework (reading and preparing to tell stories), and each one will learn several stories from the Godly Play core stories. The 18 contact hour training will be delivered in 3-hour sessions on Mondays, 6:30-9:30, beginning in late February. This is open to anyone from our church, as well as others. We are looking for people interested in storytelling for all ages or in Montessori faith formation for children. The cost of this program for members is being underwritten by our grant. After Easter, Mary Hunter Maxwell will join us to speak to our congregation one Sunday.

 

This Sunday, we welcome musician Adam Beiter to play in Kurt's absence. Pastor Rebecca preaches.

 

Join FPCT for worship this Sunday, January 19, 2024, at 10:30am in person and livestreamed on Facebook. Continuing our 2025 storytelling theme with “The First Miracle.” For his first public miracle, Jesus transformed an ordinary element for purification into an element for community celebration. What’s the story for us? Scriptures this week include Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, and John 2:1-11. Join us to pray together, hear stories from scripture, find your church home, here at First Presbyterian Church of Tonawanda.

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See you soon,

Pastor Rebecca

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​ANNOUNCEMENTS

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​​​​​​​1.  **For pastoral care while Pastor Rebecca is out of the office, feel free to send her a text, or reach out to Marilee Mathias, Diane Charsley, or the church office. Her surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning, January 21, at ECMC, and she hopes to be back to responding to your calls, texts, and emails within a few days.

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2​​​​​​​.  Our Pastor's Study book group continues on the 2nd and 4th(or 5th) Wednesdays at either 11:00am or 7:00pm. These discussions will be offered in a hybrid format, meaning you can join Pastor Rebecca in the Parlor for the study, or log in from home via Zoom. Here is the book, and the dates we will discuss it:

• Wednesday, January 29, 11:00 am or 7:00pm, when we will discuss Tish Harrison Warren’s Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work, or Watch, or Weep, 2 of 4 (Part 2: Chapters 3, 4, 5)

• Wednesday, February 12, 11:00 am or 7:00pm, when we will discuss Tish Harrison Warren’s Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work, or Watch, or Weep, 3 of 4 (Part 3: Chapters 6-12)

• Wednesday, February 26, 11:00 am or 7:00pm, when we will discuss Tish Harrison Warren’s Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work, or Watch, or Weep, 4 of 4 (Part 4: Chapter 13)

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• Book is available in Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback, Hardcover, and Used formats from booksellers. Click the image for the Amazon link.

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WEEKLY ACTIVITIES:

• Church Stretch  -  Exercise for Body and Soul:  Mondays at 6pm

Diane Charsley leads light exercise and stretch sessions on Mondays for men & women of all fitness abilities. Come pray with your body and soul!  

 

• God Loves Me Storytime – Tuesdays:  10am-11:30am

Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to a weekly story time with stories about God’s love.Free play and crafts will be available along

with a snack and a prayer.  ​

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Body and Soul Pantry:

The Body and Soul Pantry is up and running again thanks to a new structure built by Brian Burns.  Many thanks to Brian for building the closet.  If you have any questions, please contact Marilee Mathias.  The pantry could use the following items: 

• Deodorant

• Shaving Cream (5oz)/razors

• Bar soap

• Toothpaste/Toothbrushes

• Toilet paper

• Cereal/instant oatmeal

• Pasta

• Canned vegetables/fruit

• Canned soup with pop-tops

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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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 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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Adult Sunday School   

Please take a few minutes & read the appointed Lectionary Readings that we are using to find YOUR special message.

Our class meets at 9:30am each Sunday morning

 

                                                                                                      PLEASE JOIN US!

                                                                             Isa 62:1-5   John 2:1-11   1Cor 12:1-11   Ps 36:5-10

 

How Do These All Come Together?

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Using the GIFTS you have been given:

*Isaiah’s GIFTS were that of prophecy, dedication & FAITHFULNESS. We see that as he prayed for Zion to be established in the city of Jerusalem.

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* John showed us the very first time Jesus used His GIFT of POWER & MIGHT when He turned the water into wine. It was used to share God’s LOVE with the people & strengthen the FAITH & TRUST in those who followed Him.

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*Paul spells out that each of us are given GIFTS as we accept Christ as our Savior. These GIFTS are to be used together with other believers; our GIFTS to serve the people & share God/Christ’s LOVE.

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*The Psalm gives us a picture of Zion as we understand how, as we use our GIFTS together, we are witness to, “Your unfailing love. O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.” 

 

Question for You:

What are your GIFTS & how are you using them?

                                                        

                                                 

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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

Thursday, Jan 16  

9:00am – 2:00pm     Office Hours

10:00am                    Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

6:00pm-8:00pm       Choirs Practice

 

Saturday, Jan 18

10:00am                    Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

 

Sunday, Jan 19

9:30am                       All Age Faith Formation (Parlor)

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

11:30am                     Worship Team Meeting

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

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Monday, Jan 20

10:00 am                     Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

6:00pm                        Church Stretch

7:00pm                        Session

 

Tuesday, Jan 21          

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

10:00am-11:30am      God Loves Me Storytime

 

Wednesday, Jan 22    

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

 

Thursday, Jan 23   

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

 

Saturday, Jan 25

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

 

Sunday, Jan 26

9:30am                        All Age Faith Formation (Parlor)

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

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

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​​​List of Officers

SESSION 2024-2025                                

Diane Charsley & Clerk of Session

Tom Dugan, Treasurer

Michael Barry

Nancy Rolando

Sue Schurr

Billy Welch

           

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DEACONS 2024-2025

Betsy Crocker, Moderator

Linda Barry

Gail Borycki

Laura Marohn

Bonnie Sibley

Associates:      Lynn Hyland, Treasurer

                        Marlene Tyrrell, Sunshine

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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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