Thursday, June 25 2026​

​

NEWS FOR THE PEWS                                                           

 

FROM THE PASTOR​

​

Dear Friends,

We all know the Serenity Prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. I think about these three prayers more when I’m counting my troubles than when I’m counting my blessings.

​

How long, O Lord? This prayer from Psalm 13 is one that comforts me when I begin to worry about things that I cannot change: world peace, the economy, large scale political movements, diseases. How long will we need this serenity and this courage? And how long until wisdom comes?

​

Kiran Young Wimberley, author and lead singer of Celtic Psalms, has given us permission to use her music in worship this Sunday. Here’s a link in case you’d like to preview the song that speaks to our scriptures and sermon this Sunday: https://youtu.be/FtcNHKc0qSA

​

I look forward to exploring new music with you over the next year as we continue to immerse ourselves in God’s song through the Psalms.

Would you like prayer? I’m happy to meet with you at home or at church and lift you and your family up in prayer. God wants to hear from us, and God wants us to support one another. Reach out, or join me for Prayer Covenant on Tuesday.

​

Join FPCT for worship this Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 10:30am in person and livestreamed on Facebook. We’re following the Psalms this summer as we read David Taylor’s Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life. This Sunday our sermon title is “How Long, O LORD?” Scriptures this week include Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; and Matthew 10:40-42. Join us to pray together, hear stories from scripture, and find your home, here at First Presbyterian Church of Tonawanda.

See you soon,

Pastor Rebecca

​

Summer Book Club: Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life, by David Taylor

Chapter 3 of our Summer Book Study talks about the history of Psalm use. The author points to the many references to and quotations of Psalms in the New Testament scriptures. Jesus is quoted using language from the Psalms throughout the Gospels, and Luke continues to refer to the Psalms in Acts as the early church formed. The Epistles contain multiple Psalm quotations as Paul continued this practice, “And as scholars frequently point out, the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, cannot be rightly understood apart from a clear understanding of the psalms.”[1]

​

Church leaders from the earliest days advocated regular psalm reading and singing in public worship as well as in private devotions. For Martin Luther… “the psalms were ‘the record of the spiritual struggles through which he was constantly passing.’ Luther once described the human heart like a ship on a wind-driven stormy sea… [and wrote]: ‘The Book of Psalms is full of heartfelt utterances made during storms of this kind.’”[2]

​

What’s your history with the Psalms? David Taylor suggests one thoughtful question to consider: “When you review your own personal history, in what ways have specific psalms tapped into your life experience?”[3]

​

What were your insights into chapter 3 in our summer book club read?

​

As you continue to read this book on your own and discuss it together in one of our gatherings, I’d love to hear your answers to some of the author’s questions for reflection. Will you share your thoughts with us? Next week, I’ll write about chapters 4 and 5, the themes of prayer and poetry. Please send me your thoughts to include in next week’s News for the Pews. Or share in worship during our Faith Story Moment.

 

Prayer Covenant Group

Our next weekly 20-minute prayer gathering is held on Tuesday, June 30, at 10:00 am in the Chapel. We gather in silence as music plays, entering the chapel when we are ready to pray. We are invited to light a candle and use the praying in color materials as you wish.

 

Thursday Night Book Club and Knit-along

Tonight at 5:30 join us for knitting and a discussion on Chapter 3 of our summer book club, Open and Unafraid. If you’d like to join us via zoom, use this link. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83046037168?pwd=pSsR7bVnC2aeU9aoFPUikBtZA9qZip.1

 

Sunday Morning Book Club

Gather with us Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the Parlor, where we’ll be tackling Chapter 4 this coming Sunday. The Thursday gatherings are a second opportunity to discuss the same chapter. Feel free to attend one or both.

 

Office Admin Opening

Our Office Administrator Judy Winters is retiring at the end of June, with June 30 as her last work day. She plans to continue being active as a deacon and worship team leader, but enjoy more time with her family and her hobbies. We wish her well!

Kelsey Burns will cover her position for the summer months of July and August, and we’ll be seeking to fill the position permanently in the Fall.

This job is a 15-hour per week job at $18/hr. If you know anyone interested reach out to Pastor Rebecca to learn more about duties, hours, and skills required.

 

Coffee Hour Retirement Party This Sunday

Join us this Sunday following worship for a chance to celebrate with Judy Winters. The Session hosts a continental brunch in thanksgiving for the great support Judy has provided us with.

​

Session Shorts:  May 11, 2026

Pastor Rebecca provided a summary of Pastoral care visits, worship services and gatherings.  She reported that approval for the God’s Song, Our Song grant was still awaited. 

 

Finance stated April income was $12,256.  Expenses were $17,092, resulting in a monthly deficit of $4,836.

 

Property reported that no excavation was necessary for lead pipe abatement as our lines meet the code.  Also, the inquiry regarding a church renting space in our building was rejected. 

 

Christian Ed noted that the last day of Sunday School would be June 7, the same day as the picnic.

 

HR Ministry proposed hiring Kelsey Burns as temporary administrative assistant.  Session approved at $18 per hour for up to 15 hours a week effective July 1.  Billy and Mike will work on identifying candidates for a permanent position starting September 1.

 

Questions about our work?  Ask a Session member!

​

​

 

​

​

[1] Taylor, W. David O.. Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life (p. 28). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

[2] (p. 29).

[3] (p. 35).

​

 

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Prayer Covenant Group

Our next weekly 20-minute prayer gathering is held on Tuesday, Mar. 17, at 10:00 am in the Chapel. We gather in silence as music plays, entering the chapel when we are ready to pray. We are invited to light a candle and use the praying in color materials as you wish. This service will also be hosted on zoom using this link:

​

This year, Reformed Worship, published by Calvin Theological Seminary, offers us a year-long worship series called Grounded & Growing. This series offers us resources for worship throughout the year with a theme that converges with our own theme of Growing in Faith Together, and our adoption of the image of a tree planted by water, from Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.

Joyce Borger offers this reflection in her introduction to this week’s Grounded and Growing theme:

“The Lenten road is not an easy one. It runs through wilderness and weariness, through confession and costly trust. But at some point in the journey, something unexpected happens. The season pauses to let hope show its full face.

“The people of Israel are worn out by the desert, tired of wandering, tired of manna, tired of trusting. They are inveterate complainers (just like us). They are stubbornly rebellious (like us). And they suffer the consequences of their own impatience. Still —in the midst of their trouble—God makes a way of healing: a lifted sign. This is a mercy they did not earn and could not manage or manipulate.

“Then Jesus reaches back into that old story and says, That is what my life will be like—lifted up, given away, offered for the healing of the world. The Son of Man will be raised not first in glory, but in suffering, and through that suffering, life will come.

“And Paul is clear: we are not saved by our effort or our moral muscle. We are saved by grace: a gift. This is what it means to be grounded and growing in the middle of Lent—to remember that even here, in the dry places, God is still at work, coaxing life out of hard soil and bringing green shoots out of ground we thought was spent. Today is a day to lift our eyes, to take heart, and to trust again in the healing mercy of God.”

During our Lenten journey through the wilderness we will pray, 

Holy God, ground us in your grace.
Grow us in your love.
Lead us in your way.[1]

 

​

This year, Reformed Worship, published by Calvin Theological Seminary, offers us a year-long worship series called Grounded & Growing. This series offers us resources for worship throughout the year with a theme that converges with our own theme of Growing in Faith Together, and our adoption of the image of a tree planted by water, from Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.

Joyce Borger offers this reflection in her introduction to this week’s Grounded and Growing theme:

“The Lenten road is not an easy one. It runs through wilderness and weariness, through confession and costly trust. But at some point in the journey, something unexpected happens. The season pauses to let hope show its full face.

“The people of Israel are worn out by the desert, tired of wandering, tired of manna, tired of trusting. They are inveterate complainers (just like us). They are stubbornly rebellious (like us). And they suffer the consequences of their own impatience. Still —in the midst of their trouble—God makes a way of healing: a lifted sign. This is a mercy they did not earn and could not manage or manipulate.

“Then Jesus reaches back into that old story and says, That is what my life will be like—lifted up, given away, offered for the healing of the world. The Son of Man will be raised not first in glory, but in suffering, and through that suffering, life will come.

“And Paul is clear: we are not saved by our effort or our moral muscle. We are saved by grace: a gift. This is what it means to be grounded and growing in the middle of Lent—to remember that even here, in the dry places, God is still at work, coaxing life out of hard soil and bringing green shoots out of ground we thought was spent. Today is a day to lift our eyes, to take heart, and to trust again in the healing mercy of God.”

During our Lenten journey through the wilderness we will pray, 

Holy God, ground us in your grace.
Grow us in your love.
Lead us in your way.[1]

 

​

This year, Reformed Worship, published by Calvin Theological Seminary, offers us a year-long worship series called Grounded & Growing. This series offers us resources for worship throughout the year with a theme that converges with our own theme of Growing in Faith Together, and our adoption of the image of a tree planted by water, from Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.

Joyce Borger offers this reflection in her introduction to this week’s Grounded and Growing theme:

“The Lenten road is not an easy one. It runs through wilderness and weariness, through confession and costly trust. But at some point in the journey, something unexpected happens. The season pauses to let hope show its full face.

“The people of Israel are worn out by the desert, tired of wandering, tired of manna, tired of trusting. They are inveterate complainers (just like us). They are stubbornly rebellious (like us). And they suffer the consequences of their own impatience. Still —in the midst of their trouble—God makes a way of healing: a lifted sign. This is a mercy they did not earn and could not manage or manipulate.

“Then Jesus reaches back into that old story and says, That is what my life will be like—lifted up, given away, offered for the healing of the world. The Son of Man will be raised not first in glory, but in suffering, and through that suffering, life will come.

“And Paul is clear: we are not saved by our effort or our moral muscle. We are saved by grace: a gift. This is what it means to be grounded and growing in the middle of Lent—to remember that even here, in the dry places, God is still at work, coaxing life out of hard soil and bringing green shoots out of ground we thought was spent. Today is a day to lift our eyes, to take heart, and to trust again in the healing mercy of God.”

During our Lenten journey through the wilderness we will pray, 

Holy God, ground us in your grace.
Grow us in your love.
Lead us in your way.[1]

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​
 

This year, Reformed Worship, published by Calvin Theological Seminary, offers us a year-long worship series called Grounded & Growing. This series offers us resources for worship throughout the year with a theme that converges with our own theme of Growing in Faith Together, and our adoption of the image of a tree planted by water, from Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.

A flourishing faith is one that is both deeply rooted and reaching outward—grounded in scripture and growing in understanding. Colossians 2:6–7 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (NIV).

Throughout the year, we will dwell in this theme of grounded and growing. We started in Advent when we saw the shoot from the stump, a promise of future flourishing. Epiphany brought the promise of a branch grafted onto that stump.

Now we find ourselves in Lent where we follow Christ into the wilderness. The wilderness can be a scary, desolate space. In scripture, it is a place of testing and preparation for living the life to which we have been called. Those who survive the wilderness are those who are grounded in Christ, receiving nourishment through him, and continuing to grow in his ways. This process of growth often includes a time of refinement, branches need to be pruned and become ashes. What is diseased is cut down but yet the promise of Easter is that out of the ashes and decay life will arise. 

In Lent we confront death and decay, the ashes of burnt branches and trees, making way for new life. During our Lenten journey through the wilderness we will pray, 

Holy God, ground us in your grace.
Grow us in your love.
Lead us in your way.

 

​

This year, Reformed Worship, published by Calvin Theological Seminary, offers us a year-long worship series called Grounded & Growing. This series offers us resources for worship throughout the year with a theme that converges with our own theme of Growing in Faith Together, and our adoption of the image of a tree planted by water, from Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.

A flourishing faith is one that is both deeply rooted and reaching outward—grounded in scripture and growing in understanding. Colossians 2:6–7 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (NIV).

Throughout the year, we will dwell in this theme of grounded and growing. We started in Advent when we saw the shoot from the stump, a promise of future flourishing. Epiphany brought the promise of a branch grafted onto that stump.

Now we find ourselves in Lent where we follow Christ into the wilderness. The wilderness can be a scary, desolate space. In scripture, it is a place of testing and preparation for living the life to which we have been called. Those who survive the wilderness are those who are grounded in Christ, receiving nourishment through him, and continuing to grow in his ways. This process of growth often includes a time of refinement, branches need to be pruned and become ashes. What is diseased is cut down but yet the promise of Easter is that out of the ashes and decay life will arise. 

In Lent we confront death and decay, the ashes of burnt branches and trees, making way for new life. During our Lenten journey through the wilderness we will pray, 

Holy God, ground us in your grace.
Grow us in your love.
Lead us in your way.

 

​

 

​

 

​

 

​

This year, Reformed Worship, published by Calvin Theological Seminary, offers us a year-long worship series called Grounded & Growing. This series offers us resources for worship throughout the year with a theme that converges with our own theme of Growing in Faith Together, and our adoption of the image of a tree planted by water, from Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.

A flourishing faith is one that is both deeply rooted and reaching outward—grounded in scripture and growing in understanding. Colossians 2:6–7 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (NIV).

Throughout the year, we will dwell in this theme of grounded and growing. We started in Advent when we saw the shoot from the stump, a promise of future flourishing. Epiphany brought the promise of a branch grafted onto that stump.

Now we find ourselves in Lent where we follow Christ into the wilderness. The wilderness can be a scary, desolate space. In scripture, it is a place of testing and preparation for living the life to which we have been called. Those who survive the wilderness are those who are grounded in Christ, receiving nourishment through him, and continuing to grow in his ways. This process of growth often includes a time of refinement, branches need to be pruned and become ashes. What is diseased is cut down but yet the promise of Easter is that out of the ashes and decay life will arise. 

In Lent we confront death and decay, the ashes of burnt branches and trees, making way for new life. During our Lenten journey through the wilderness we will pray, 

Holy God, ground us in your grace.
Grow us in your love.
Lead us in your way.

 

​

 

​

 

​

This year, Reformed Worship, published by Calvin Theological Seminary, offers us a year-long worship series called Grounded & Growing. This series offers us resources for worship throughout the year with a theme that converges with our own theme of Growing in Faith Together, and our adoption of the image of a tree planted by water, from Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.

A flourishing faith is one that is both deeply rooted and reaching outward—grounded in scripture and growing in understanding. Colossians 2:6–7 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (NIV).

Throughout the year, we will dwell in this theme of grounded and growing. We started in Advent when we saw the shoot from the stump, a promise of future flourishing. Epiphany brought the promise of a branch grafted onto that stump.

Now we find ourselves in Lent where we follow Christ into the wilderness. The wilderness can be a scary, desolate space. In scripture, it is a place of testing and preparation for living the life to which we have been called. Those who survive the wilderness are those who are grounded in Christ, receiving nourishment through him, and continuing to grow in his ways. This process of growth often includes a time of refinement, branches need to be pruned and become ashes. What is diseased is cut down but yet the promise of Easter is that out of the ashes and decay life will arise. 

In Lent we confront death and decay, the ashes of burnt branches and trees, making way for new life. During our Lenten journey through the wilderness we will pray, 

Holy God, ground us in your grace.
Grow us in your love.
Lead us in your way.

 

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​
​