Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
The cross on the chancel is made from three Christmas trees. It symbolizes the connection between cradle and cross as we celebrate the gift of God’s Son and His sacrifice for our salvation.
This Week’s Sermon is “Forgive One Another” by Bill McCoy. Sermon Lesson: Ephesians 4:25-32.
Next Week’s Sermon is “Whatever Happened to Archippus?” by Bill McCoy. Sermon Lesson: Colossians 4:17.
Manna Meal Sandwich Making: The Elementary Age Children will make 200 sandwiches this Sunday morning and along with fruit, will deliver to Manna Meal. Adults’ are welcome helpers. Meet in the chapel at 9:15 a.m.
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.
Presbyterian Coffee Project: Make sure to stop by the main church hallway this after worship to sample scrumptious muffins, healthy oat bars, coffee, tea and cookies all made from the Equal Exchange products that we stock year round here at First Presby. Linda Elliott has been a champion for the Presbyterian Coffee project for over a decade and year after year our church leads the nation in the sale of Equal Exchange products. Come out to show your support of this project and the tremendous effort that Linda gives to fair trade and making financial resources available to people throughout the world.
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Cereal & Peanut Butter
The Lay Academy continues to study “The Addictive Brain” this Sunday, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the dining room. Dr. Thad Polk lectures (DVD) on “The Science of Poppies, Pleasure and Pain.” Leading our discussion will be Dr. Elizabeth Scharman, Director of the West Virginia Poison Center, and Professor, WVU School of Pharmacy. Dr. Scharman is also Board Certified for Pharmaco-Therapy and Toxicology. The beautiful poppy plant is the source of opium, from which comes morphine, codeine, heroin, and several other popular prescription drugs which are very effective pain killers but also highly dangerous, because they are potentially addictive. Everyone is welcome to learn and join in discussions. Bring a friend or neighbor. For more information, please call the Church Office,304-343-8961.
Bells and Bars Music Academy will take place Tuesday-Friday, May 30-June 2 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Sunday morning, June 4. All students who have completed Kindergarten and older are invited to participate. We will learn music for chimes, hand-bells, Orff instruments and drums, and we will lead worship with our instruments on Pentecost, Sunday, June 4. Register online on the First Presby website, or fill out one of the registration forms on the table in the hallway. The materials fee is $30, with a family maximum of $75, and scholarships are available. All the music will be custom-written for each student, so let us know as soon as you decide to join us!
More About the Music: Below is an excerpt from Glory to God: A Companion about this Sunday’s final hymn, “Lead On, O King Eternal!”: “The author wrote this hymn for his 1888 graduation from Andover Theological Seminary. This context helps to make sense of many of the phrases in the first stanza: ‘day of march’ (graduation), ‘fields of conquest’ (congregational ministry), ‘your tents’ (church buildings), ‘days of preparation’ (years of seminary), ‘battle song’ (a poetic extension of ‘battle cry,’ a short shout before heading into battle, not a song to be sung while fighting). From a rhetorical perspective, the first stanza with all its bellicose imagery has actually been developed in order to be disowned, as the second half of the second stanza makes clear. The third stanza describes a more balanced and tempered resolve.” For more tidbits about our music and hymn texts, visit a church copy of Glory to God: A Companion by Reverend Carl P. Daw, Jr. M.A., M.Div., Ph. D in our church library, or look through the copy on the piano at the front of the sanctuary after worship.
The May Luncheon of the Presbyterian Women will be held on Thursday, May 18, at noon in the church dining room. Installation of PW officers for 2017-2018 will take place. Also, presentation of the 2017 Honorary Life Membership/Service Award will take place. Make a reservation for the lunch through your Circle Leader or by calling the church office, 304-343-8961. PW Sunday will be held on May 21.
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!
Presbyterian Coffee Project: Coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolates, raisins, and nuts continue to be available for purchase after worship and the week days during church business hours.
Youth Mission Trip: A high school mission trip in West Virginia is planned for July 30-August 3. A $50 deposit towards the total trip cost of $260 is due with your reservation. Contact Payne for more information and to reserve your spot on this work and fun-filled trip for rising ninth graders through graduating seniors.
Attention Graduating Seniors & College Graduates: High school seniors, college graduates, and post graduate students will be honored in worship on Sunday, May 14. If a member of your family will be graduating this spring or summer, please send a current picture, their school of graduation and degree if applicable, and their future plans if known, to Payne Warner at youth@firstpresby.com. Deadline to be included in the bulletin is May 8.
Walking Community! Join us for a weekly walk on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. We meet in the parking lot by the activities building for a one hour walk and time of fellowship. If the weather is good we walk outside, and if it is poor we 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.
Open Date for Flowers. If you would like to place flowers in the Sanctuary in memory or honor of a loved one, Sunday, May 28, is an open date. Please call the church office for additional information.
Fellowship Breakfast: Please join Fellowship and Recreation and Mission Division for a breakfast on Sunday, May 21 from 8:30 to 9:15 p.m. in the dining room. We are going to focus on the upcoming Barefoot Sunday, June 11.
Children for Chicks Challenge final number is in and it is AWESOME! Our congregation very generously gave $1,884.83 and a donation from the Presbyterian Coffee Project of $615.17 brought the total dollar amount to $2,2500.00. This will enable PC(USA) to purchase a family of chicks (5chicks) for 100 families. This is an incredible and life sustaining gift to so many families who suffer from lack of nutrition and healthy protein. Thank you to the entire congregation for your support of the outreach project and support of our Elementary age children as they show their love and support for families all over the world.
Thanks to Our Child Care Volunteers this Sunday in our nursery, toddler and preschool rooms. All child care rooms are equipped with live video feeds of the worship service. Do you love children and babies? Call the church office,304-343-8961, to volunteer in this special ministry.
Act of Faith: We are reminded that all we have comes from God. Please remember to name the First Presbyterian Church as a beneficiary of your will, your retirement plan or of a life insurance policy in order that we may carry out God’s wishes and continue his work in our community and in the world.
Opportunity to Serve: Van or Bus drivers are needed for a collaborative effort to benefit children and youth on the West Side of Charleston. Your time of 3-4 hours, 3-4 times per year is needed to make cultural experiences and live art performances available to children who may never otherwise get that experience. This is a collaborative effort with St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. Other churches are being asked to participate as well. The van or bus will be provided by St. Christopher’s. Will you please give consideration to being a vital part of bringing fun and worthwhile experiences to the lives of children who will benefit greatly by your service. If interested and for more details, please call Sue Webster at 304-343-8961 Ext. 139 or sue@firstpresby.com.
Youth will meet this Sunday from 6:00-8:30 p.m. in the Dining Room.
Covenant House is in need of items for their Clothing Closet and Drop-In Center. Items needed are men’s, women’s and children’s socks and underwear. You may leave your items at Covenant House,
Church Fellowship Dinner, May 10-6:00 p.m.
Please make reservations by 4:00 p.m. Monday.
Please contact the church office (304-343-8961) for reservations.
Hosts: Deacons & Covenant Sunday School Class
First-time visitor, be our guest—no charge!
PRICE FOR DINNER
Adult/$7; Child 12-under/$3; Child under 3 is free
Menu: Salad and Potato Bar
(Please note this is the final Wednesday Dinner until Fall)
This Week at First Presbyterian
Sunday, 5/7
Blood Pressure Check-Cablish Room
9:15 Sunday School
9:15 Manna Meal Sandwich Making
10:00 Music Warm-up
10:30 Worship
1:00 Confirmation Picnic
4:00 Lay Academy
6:00 Youth Group
Monday, 5/8
8:30 Aerobics
5:30 First Presby Walkers
Tuesday, 5/9
9:30 Bible Study Group
4:00 Trustee Meeting
5:30 FPC Lyres Club
6:00 Sunday School Leaders
7:00 Boy Scouts
Wednesday, 5/10
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
5:00 Youth Group
5:15 Confirmation Class/Session
5:15 Finance Division
6:00 Church Fellowship Dinner
6:00 Rebecca Dinner Circle
6:45 Session Meeting
Thursday, 5/11
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
12:00 Martha Circle
5:30 Capella Bells Rehearsal
7:30 Geneva Choir
Friday, May 12
7:00 Men’s Group
8:30 Aerobics
10:00 Women’s Outreach Bible Study
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Vacation Bible School June 9-June 11: As we have the last few years, we join with our neighboring Presbyterian churches for a VBS to remember. This year we will be hosted by Bream Memorial Presbyterian at their church. Mission focus this year is the environment and nature that surround us.
Barefoot Sunday June 11. Each year we partner with an organization to provide shoes for those in need. This year our mission partner is “Free Your Footwear” under the umbrella of Bridge Ministries.
Tasty Tuesday: During the summer we choose a Tuesday to prepare and serve a free community meal to all who stop by. This summer Tasty Tuesdays are: June 20, July 18 and August 15.
Mission Work Days: Stay tuned for details of our congregation-wide Community Mission Weekend. We will work under the direction of the organization West Invest to refurbish a home/homes on the West Side.
All Church Breakfasts & Lunches: Meet a friend-share a meal. Alternating months, you are invited to the Dining Room for either a Sunday breakfast or lunch. May 21, Breakfast; June 11, Lunch; July 16, Breakfast; August 20, Lunch.
Art Camps
Three different Weeks
Week 1 Ages 4 years to grade 5 June 12-June 15
Week 2 Youth, grades 6-12 June 26-June 29
Week 3 Adults July 17-July 20
All camps have a $20 supply fee due at registration.