Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
Next Week’s Sermon will be given by Bob Newman.
Many ways to support our ministries: In addition to traditional cash and checks in the offering plate, you can give on our website firstpresby.com via your computer or smart phone, through our mobile app “Church Life” (you must first set up a user profile on our website to use the Church Life app.) or by texting 73256 and typing “firstpresby” in the message line. Use the QR code card in your pew rack to go directly to our giving page. God loves a Cheerful Giver.
The Cents-Ability Offering is Received Today: Perhaps one of your New Year’s resolutions was not to forget to be thankful for each meal the Lord provides you – at least a few cents’ worth of thankfulness. This is a New Year’s resolution well worth keeping throughout the year. Your habit of showing gratitude to THE one who gives us our daily bread, goes a long way to help feed those who struggle to have enough to eat.
Lay Academy begins studies on “The Addictive Brain,” today at 4:00 p.m. in the Dining Room. with lectures by Dr. Thad Polk (DVD) who uses Neuro Science to teach us what is going on in the Opioid Epidemic, which involves us all. Dr. Polk uses case studies to demonstrate how ordinary people all too easily can become involved in dangerous addictions. He explains the differences between Use, Abuse, Dependency, and Craving of controlled substances. This Public Forum meets for twelve weeks, with Easter Sunday off. For more information, please contact the church office at 304-343-8961.
World Day of Prayer is Friday, March 3. This year, each of us at First Presby is invited to dedicate a portion of this weekend to spending time with God in prayer. From noon on Friday, March 3 through worship on Sunday, March 5, we’ll join with one another and with other Christians around the world for a weekend of intentional, focused prayer. You can pray for our church, for the city of Charleston, for our city/state/country/world leaders, for healing of broken relationships, for those who are grieving, or for whatever God lays on your heart. The command to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) can only be obeyed in community. We must take turns, because we all need to eat and sleep, too! You can participate in First Presby’s Prayer Weekend in your home, at your workplace, here at church, or wherever you are. Encourage your friends throughout the weekend from wherever you are, by using social media and email, #fpcprayerweekend. Together we’ll blanket our whole region with prayer! Look in the hallway for more information about how you can join the community of First Presby’s Praying People.
Ash Wednesday Service, March 1: Everyone is invited to a light dinner at 6 p.m. followed by Ash Wednesday Vespers at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. There is no LOGOS, but children are encouraged to attend dinner and Ash Wednesday Services with their parents. (Use the tear-off form to make a reservation for dinner.)
Youth will meet tonight from 6:00-8:30 p.m. in the Dining Room.
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Spaghettio Type Canned Foods
Celtic Hymn Sing: Please join us next Sunday, March 5, at 4:00 p.m., for a Celtic Hymn Sing at First Presbyterian Church as part of Charleston’s Celtic Calling (www.celticcalling.org) weekend. Come and raise your voice in singing great Welsh, Scottish, Irish, and English hymns amid solos and duets arranged for organ and bagpipe solo. This is a time to experience a Celtic sound like never before in a sacred space surrounded by Celtic readings and prayers. A unique combination of music and talent, Joe Marchio will be here on First Presby’s magnificent pipe organs and will be joined by his wife Sarah on the great Highland bagpipe.
More About the Music: This morning, the Geneva Choir sings an anthem by William Byrd, one of the premier English composers of the Renaissance. “Holy Art Thou, God Our Lord” comes from his 1605 setting of the Gradual, which is liturgical music for specific feasts, in this case the Feast of the Body of Christ. With apologies for spelling from the period, following is an excerpt from Byrd’s list of “Reasons briefely set downe by th’auctor (the author) to perswade eveuy one to learne to singe,” published in 1588. It ends with a couplet worthy of Shakespeare: “The exercise of singing is delightful to Nature, and good to preserue the health of Man. It doth strengthen all parts of the brest, and doth open the pipes. It is a singuler good remedie for a stutting and stammering in the speech. Since singing is so good a thing, I wish all men would learne to singe.”
Geneva Choir for youth and adults’ welcomes sopranos, altos, tenors, basses, and everyone in between. No prior musical experience is required; just a servant heart and a sense of humor. We rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Choir Room at the top of the stairs above the Susie Early Room. Come sing with us!
Sojourners’ Class begins a new series of studies on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m, in Room 411 in the Education Building. This new study series is called “Painting the Stars” and explores the promise of evolutionary Christian spirituality, investigating how our faith can grow when we are open and willing to listen for new wisdom and guidance from the Spirit who invites us to step out into new surprising and exciting dimensions of love for God and each other. These lessons will help us to support the work of our Session’s Strategic Planning Group. Everyone is invited and welcome to share these learning experiences.
Manna Meal Sandwich Making Next Sunday: The Elementary Sunday School Children will be making 200 sandwiches next Sunday, March 5, during the Sunday School Hour. Adults are always welcome to assist with this project and to help deliver the sandwiches and fruit to Manna Meal. Meet in the chapel at 9:15 a.m.
Preschool Enrollment: Enrollment forms for weekday preschool classes are now available for the 2017-2018 school year beginning in August. Brochures can be found in the information hall or on our website www.firstpresby.com. If you know of a child that may benefit from preschool classes, please direct their parents to the website or have them call the preschool office at 304-343-8961 ext. 128 for enrollment information.
Next Sunday, March 5, student pharmacists from the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy will be in the Cablish room directly following worship. They will be providing information for Script Your Future, a campaign regarding safe medication practices and pledging to take your medications correctly. In addition, blood pressure screenings will be offered.
New Walking Community! Join us for a weekly walk on Mondays at 5:30 pm. We’ll meet in the parking lot by the activities building for a one hour walk and time of fellowship. If the weather is good we will walk outside, and if it is poor we will walk in the Activities Building. This is a great way to jump start your week with some exercise and time for reflection. But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. Micah 4:5.
Lenten Growth Groups
Sign Up Sheets are on the Table in the Church Hallway
Bible Journaling, An Easter Journey
- Saturdays, March 4- April 8–11:00 a.m./location pending
Kim Lemons - Peter, His Pre and Post Resurrection Life
Wednesdays, March 8-29-10:00 a.m.- A-201
Mary McLaughlin - You’ll Get Through This
Sundays, March 5-April 9-3:00 p.m.-Ruffner RoomJoann Daley
- John, the Gospel of Light and Life
Sundays, Feb. 26-April 9-9:15 a.m.-A-201 (the class)
Jim McCain - Pray and Color
Wednesdays, March 8, 15, 22-11:00 a.m. E-301 (Art Room)
Jackie Taylor - Death’s Divide
Thursdays, March 9-April 6- 7 p.m. -E-219
Doug Jenkins - Painting the StarsSundays, March 5-April 9-9:15 a.m. Sojourner’s Class Also: Wednesdays: March 8: 7 p.m.-A- 203Bob Newman and Lyle Sattes
- The Addictive Brain, Lay Academy
Sundays, March 5-May 21-4:00 p.m.-Dining Room
Bob Newman - Who is Christ?
Tuesdays, March 14-April 11-9:30 a.m.-A-203
Kay Lamb
Ongoing Studies: Wednesday Men’s Group, 11:45 a.m. at Bistro; Friday Men’s Group, 7:00 a.m., Church Dining Room: Bible Study of the Sunday Sermon Text; Thursday, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Shoneys.
Church Fellowship Dinner, March 1- ASH WEDNESDAY
Please make reservations by 4:00 p.m. Monday.
Please contact the church office (304-343-8961) for reservations.
NO LOGOS
Hosts: Session & Sojourners Sunday School Class
Wednesday Dinner –March 1, 2017– 6:00 p.m.
First-time visitor, be our guest—no charge!
PRICE FOR DINNER
Adult/$7; Child 12-under/$3; Child under 3 is free
MENU: Soup and Sandwiches
This Week at First Presbyterian
Sunday, 2/26
Cents-Ability
9:15 Sunday School
10:00 Music Warm-up
10:30 Worship
11:45 Service of Healing
4:00 Stephen’s Ministry
6:00 Youth Group
Monday, 2/27
8:30 Aerobics
5:30 First Presby Walkers
Tuesday, 2/28
9:00 PW/Peruvian Coffee
9:30 Bible Study Group
5:00 Church League Basketball Banquet
5:30 FPC Lyres Club
7:00 Boy Scouts
Wednesday, 3/1
Ash Wednesday
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
11:45 Wednesday Men’s Group
5:15 Property Division
6:00 Church Fellowship Dinner
6:30 Worship (Ash Wednesday Vespers)
7:15 Board of Deacons
7:15 Personnel Division
7:15 Worship Division
Thursday, 3/2
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
10:00 PW Coordinating Team
11:30 Bible Moderators
5:15 Coordinating Council
5:30 Assoc.Pastor Nomin. Comm.
5:30 Capella Bells Rehearsal
7:30 Geneva Choir
Friday, 3/3
7:00 Men’s Group
8:30 Aerobics
10:00 Women’s Outreach Bible Study
5:00 Middle School Retreat Overnight
Saturday, 3/4
Middle School Retreat Overnight
10:00 Archery