Thursday, February 19, 2026

​

NEWS FOR THE PEWS                                                           

 

FROM THE PASTOR

Dear Friends,

Scott and I had a refreshing experience at the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship Psalms 150 conference earlier this month. We got to attend workshops with musical artists like Bellwether Arts, Celtic Psalms, and Rawn Harbor. We heard contemporary folk, Gospel choir, traditional choir, blues, jazz, Irish, and First Nations music. We watched artists respond to the Psalms with paint and were invited into embodied responses with a worship dance artist.

​

The Psalms are a rich resource for the church and for us. In them, we find voice for all of the varied emotions common to our human experience. We see traces of God’s work in history through the Hebrew people. And we are invited to celebrate the creator with all of creation. We find joy, sorrow, love, anger, fear, hope, and peace.

​

We can learn from the Psalms, too. Stop by my office to take a look at the children’s picture book published in Spanish and English called, At Psalms School, and featuring the illustrator and worship themes we experienced in Grand Rapids.

​

Do you need anything? Need a home visit? Want home communion? Or would you like to get out of the house for a visit, book club, craft and chat, or simply share coffee? Give me a call—I’d love to get together.

​

Join FPCT for worship this Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 10:30am in person and livestreamed on Facebook. With “Grounded in the Baptismal Covenant—Called into the Wilderness,” we begin the next Grounded and Growing series from Reformed Worship as we celebrate Lent. Scriptures this week include Genesis 9:8–17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18–22; and Mark 1:9–15. 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

​

​

Grounded & Growing: Lent
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.

​

Prayer Covenant Group
Our weekly 20-minute prayer gathering begins next week on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 10:00 am in the Chapel. This service will also be hosted on zoom using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85361454899?pwd=1psjkyqIF1sPS1SRYG2k51aPMh2bsm.1

You’ll be able to watch a recap of the service through our website and YouTube channel in the near future. A copy of the prayer service is attached, and printed copies will be available in the church.

Annual Meeting
Printed copies of this year’s Annual Report will be available for pickup at church on Sunday, and will be emailed to our church email list this week. Please take the time to read over the reports and note any questions you may have. We won’t be repeating contents of each report during the annual meeting on March 1, but will allow time to ask questions of each of the submissions.

New Grant Opportunity
The Calvin Institute for Christian Worship is offering another grant opportunity that Session has agreed to apply for. The term will be 12 months, July 2026 through June 2027. We are choosing as a theme: God’s Story/Our Story: Telling the stories through song. This project will include custom-written songs by our musicians, as well as church-wide and community-wide opportunities to participate in music that reflects themes from scriptures, especially the Psalms. We’d like to include art responses as well.
Can you help? The proposal is due mid-April, so we have two months to plan and prepare a budget and proposal. Talk with Pastor Rebecca if you would like to be on the grant team.

​

Session Shorts
Clerk’s Report included approval of the housing allowance for Pastor Rebecca for the calendar year 2026 and all future years unless otherwise provided. The Annual Meeting was called for March 1, 2026 following worship.

Finance Team reported December 2025 income was $15,051, with expenses of $17,903. The year-to-date income through December 2025 was $158,474, with year-to-date expenses of $191,442. The investment balance at the end of December was $331,103. Treasurer Tom Dugan presented the 2026 Operating Budget which included small increases in hourly employee wage to reflect increases in minimum wage. It also included a small increase for substitute musician fees and adjustments to reflect anticipated increases in utilities. The approved Operating Budget is $201,597.

Property Team brought a motion for additional AA meetings to be held at First Church. It was approved.

The Pastor submitted a written report summarizing her activities and future plans for programming and grant possibilities. Planning is underway for the annual meeting and Leader Training Retreat. Pastor Rebecca is currently attending a 10 week book study: Creating an Incarnational Theology and she will be attending a Calvin Psalms Conference Feb 5-6 in Grand Rapids.

Worship Team discussed making Upper Room Devotionals available in large print. They also discussed changes in collection of empty communion cups to avoid congestion in the aisle. They planned future communion dates.

Deacon Team discussed sunshine activities, coffee hour, homebound list, the Tonawanda School Project, the Body and Soul food pantry and Easter flowers. Deacons were assigned to various projects.

Leadership Search Committee is encouraging Session members to identify potential nominees for leadership positions.
 

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.

 

Prayer Covenant Group

Our weekly 20-minute prayer gathering begins next week on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 10:00 am in the Chapel. This service will also be hosted on zoom using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85361454899?pwd=1psjkyqIF1sPS1SRYG2k51aPMh2bsm.1

You’ll be able to watch a recap of the service through our website and YouTube channel in the near future. A copy of the prayer service is attached, and printed copies will be available in the church.

 

Annual Meeting

Printed copies of this year’s Annual Report will be available for pickup at church on Sunday, and will be emailed to our church email list this week. Please take the time to read over the reports and note any questions you may have. We won’t be repeating contents of each report during the annual meeting on March 1, but will allow time to ask questions of each of the submissions.

 

New Grant Opportunity

The Calvin Institute for Christian Worship is offering another grant opportunity that Session has agreed to apply for. The term will be 12 months, July 2026 through June 2027. We are choosing as a theme: God’s Story/Our Story: Telling the stories through song. This project will include custom-written songs by our musicians, as well as church-wide and community-wide opportunities to participate in music that reflects themes from scriptures, especially the Psalms. We’d like to include art responses as well.

Can you help? The proposal is due mid-April, so we have two months to plan and prepare a budget and proposal. Talk with Pastor Rebecca if you would like to be on the grant team.

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.

 

Prayer Covenant Group

Our weekly 20-minute prayer gathering begins next week on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 10:00 am in the Chapel. This service will also be hosted on zoom using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85361454899?pwd=1psjkyqIF1sPS1SRYG2k51aPMh2bsm.1

You’ll be able to watch a recap of the service through our website and YouTube channel in the near future. A copy of the prayer service is attached, and printed copies will be available in the church.

 

Annual Meeting

Printed copies of this year’s Annual Report will be available for pickup at church on Sunday, and will be emailed to our church email list this week. Please take the time to read over the reports and note any questions you may have. We won’t be repeating contents of each report during the annual meeting on March 1, but will allow time to ask questions of each of the submissions.

 

New Grant Opportunity

The Calvin Institute for Christian Worship is offering another grant opportunity that Session has agreed to apply for. The term will be 12 months, July 2026 through June 2027. We are choosing as a theme: God’s Story/Our Story: Telling the stories through song. This project will include custom-written songs by our musicians, as well as church-wide and community-wide opportunities to participate in music that reflects themes from scriptures, especially the Psalms. We’d like to include art responses as well.

Can you help? The proposal is due mid-April, so we have two months to plan and prepare a budget and proposal. Talk with Pastor Rebecca if you would like to be on the grant team.

Session Shorts

Clerk’s Report included approval of the housing allowance for Pastor Rebecca for the calendar year 2026 and all future years unless otherwise provided.  The Annual Meeting was called for March 1, 2026 following worship.

 

Finance Team reported December 2025 income was $15,051, with expenses of $17,903.  The year-to-date income through December 2025 was $158,474, with year-to-date expenses of $191,442.  The investment balance at the end of December was $331,103.  Treasurer Tom Dugan presented the 2026 Operating Budget which included small increases in hourly employee wage to reflect increases in minimum wage.  It also included a small increase for substitute musician fees and adjustments to reflect anticipated increases in utilities.  The approved Operating Budget is $201,597. 

 

Property Team brought a motion for additional AA meetings to be held at First Church.  It was approved. 

 

The Pastor submitted a written report summarizing her activities and future plans for programming and grant possibilities.  Planning is underway for the annual meeting and Leader Training Retreat.  Pastor Rebecca is currently attending a 10 week book study:  Creating an Incarnational Theology and she will be attending a Calvin Psalms Conference Feb 5-6 in Grand Rapids.

 

Worship Team discussed making Upper Room Devotionals available in large print.  They also discussed changes in collection of empty communion cups to avoid congestion in the aisle.  They planned future communion dates. 

 

Deacon Team discussed sunshine activities, coffee hour, homebound list, the Tonawanda School Project, the Body and Soul food pantry and Easter flowers.  Deacons were assigned to various projects. 

 

Leadership Search Committee is encouraging Session members to identify potential nominees for leadership positions.   

 

UFO (Unfinished Objects) - Wednesday, March 4 – 12pm-3pm

UFO will meet again on March 4th 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. 

Sunday School For All Ages

Faith Formation at 9:30 in the chapel and the Adult Study Class is in the parlor at 9:30.

 

Church Stretch  -  Exercise for Body and Soul:  Mondays at 6:00pm

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

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.

 

Prayer Covenant Group

Our weekly 20-minute prayer gathering begins next week on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 10:00 am in the Chapel. This service will also be hosted on zoom using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85361454899?pwd=1psjkyqIF1sPS1SRYG2k51aPMh2bsm.1

You’ll be able to watch a recap of the service through our website and YouTube channel in the near future. A copy of the prayer service is attached, and printed copies will be available in the church.

 

Annual Meeting

Printed copies of this year’s Annual Report will be available for pickup at church on Sunday, and will be emailed to our church email list this week. Please take the time to read over the reports and note any questions you may have. We won’t be repeating contents of each report during the annual meeting on March 1, but will allow time to ask questions of each of the submissions.

 

New Grant Opportunity

The Calvin Institute for Christian Worship is offering another grant opportunity that Session has agreed to apply for. The term will be 12 months, July 2026 through June 2027. We are choosing as a theme: God’s Story/Our Story: Telling the stories through song. This project will include custom-written songs by our musicians, as well as church-wide and community-wide opportunities to participate in music that reflects themes from scriptures, especially the Psalms. We’d like to include art responses as well.

Can you help? The proposal is due mid-April, so we have two months to plan and prepare a budget and proposal. Talk with Pastor Rebecca if you would like to be on the grant team.

Session Shorts

Clerk’s Report included approval of the housing allowance for Pastor Rebecca for the calendar year 2026 and all future years unless otherwise provided.  The Annual Meeting was called for March 1, 2026 following worship.

 

Finance Team reported December 2025 income was $15,051, with expenses of $17,903.  The year-to-date income through December 2025 was $158,474, with year-to-date expenses of $191,442.  The investment balance at the end of December was $331,103.  Treasurer Tom Dugan presented the 2026 Operating Budget which included small increases in hourly employee wage to reflect increases in minimum wage.  It also included a small increase for substitute musician fees and adjustments to reflect anticipated increases in utilities.  The approved Operating Budget is $201,597. 

 

Property Team brought a motion for additional AA meetings to be held at First Church.  It was approved. 

 

The Pastor submitted a written report summarizing her activities and future plans for programming and grant possibilities.  Planning is underway for the annual meeting and Leader Training Retreat.  Pastor Rebecca is currently attending a 10 week book study:  Creating an Incarnational Theology and she will be attending a Calvin Psalms Conference Feb 5-6 in Grand Rapids.

 

Worship Team discussed making Upper Room Devotionals available in large print.  They also discussed changes in collection of empty communion cups to avoid congestion in the aisle.  They planned future communion dates. 

 

Deacon Team discussed sunshine activities, coffee hour, homebound list, the Tonawanda School Project, the Body and Soul food pantry and Easter flowers.  Deacons were assigned to various projects. 

 

Leadership Search Committee is encouraging Session members to identify potential nominees for leadership positions.   

 

UFO (Unfinished Objects) - Wednesday, March 4 – 12pm-3pm

UFO will meet again on March 4th 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. 

Sunday School For All Ages

Faith Formation at 9:30 in the chapel and the Adult Study Class is in the parlor at 9:30.

 

Church Stretch  -  Exercise for Body and Soul:  Mondays at 6:00pm

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

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.

 

Prayer Covenant Group

Our weekly 20-minute prayer gathering begins next week on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 10:00 am in the Chapel. This service will also be hosted on zoom using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85361454899?pwd=1psjkyqIF1sPS1SRYG2k51aPMh2bsm.1

You’ll be able to watch a recap of the service through our website and YouTube channel in the near future. A copy of the prayer service is attached, and printed copies will be available in the church.

 

Annual Meeting

Printed copies of this year’s Annual Report will be available for pickup at church on Sunday, and will be emailed to our church email list this week. Please take the time to read over the reports and note any questions you may have. We won’t be repeating contents of each report during the annual meeting on March 1, but will allow time to ask questions of each of the submissions.

 

New Grant Opportunity

The Calvin Institute for Christian Worship is offering another grant opportunity that Session has agreed to apply for. The term will be 12 months, July 2026 through June 2027. We are choosing as a theme: God’s Story/Our Story: Telling the stories through song. This project will include custom-written songs by our musicians, as well as church-wide and community-wide opportunities to participate in music that reflects themes from scriptures, especially the Psalms. We’d like to include art responses as well.

Can you help? The proposal is due mid-April, so we have two months to plan and prepare a budget and proposal. Talk with Pastor Rebecca if you would like to be on the grant team.

Session Shorts

Clerk’s Report included approval of the housing allowance for Pastor Rebecca for the calendar year 2026 and all future years unless otherwise provided.  The Annual Meeting was called for March 1, 2026 following worship.

 

Finance Team reported December 2025 income was $15,051, with expenses of $17,903.  The year-to-date income through December 2025 was $158,474, with year-to-date expenses of $191,442.  The investment balance at the end of December was $331,103.  Treasurer Tom Dugan presented the 2026 Operating Budget which included small increases in hourly employee wage to reflect increases in minimum wage.  It also included a small increase for substitute musician fees and adjustments to reflect anticipated increases in utilities.  The approved Operating Budget is $201,597. 

 

Property Team brought a motion for additional AA meetings to be held at First Church.  It was approved. 

 

The Pastor submitted a written report summarizing her activities and future plans for programming and grant possibilities.  Planning is underway for the annual meeting and Leader Training Retreat.  Pastor Rebecca is currently attending a 10 week book study:  Creating an Incarnational Theology and she will be attending a Calvin Psalms Conference Feb 5-6 in Grand Rapids.

 

Worship Team discussed making Upper Room Devotionals available in large print.  They also discussed changes in collection of empty communion cups to avoid congestion in the aisle.  They planned future communion dates. 

 

Deacon Team discussed sunshine activities, coffee hour, homebound list, the Tonawanda School Project, the Body and Soul food pantry and Easter flowers.  Deacons were assigned to various projects. 

 

Leadership Search Committee is encouraging Session members to identify potential nominees for leadership positions.   

 

UFO (Unfinished Objects) - Wednesday, March 4 – 12pm-3pm

UFO will meet again on March 4th 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. 

Sunday School For All Ages

Faith Formation at 9:30 in the chapel and the Adult Study Class is in the parlor at 9:30.

 

Church Stretch  -  Exercise for Body and Soul:  Mondays at 6:00pm

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

​

​

​

​

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​