Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
Congratulations to Howard Persinger, and Beverly Pratt who were married on July 7.
Sympathy of the Congregation is extended to the family of Joan Ellison, on her death July 15
Next Week’s Sermon will be given by Bob Newman.
Lives that are hurting don’t stop in the summer. Here at First Presby we continue to provide meals to the hungry, work on a disabled veteran’s home, provide counseling opportunities for those whose lives are racked by addiction, divorce, depression. AND nourish all souls with weekly worship of Jesus Christ. Who makes this possible? You do. Our ministry required $60,000 in June, but only received $36,000 in gifts from all of our membership. Our lives our busy, we travel, but our devotion as disciples is constant. What we are called to do, we do; and we believe what we need will be provided. You can be a part of ministry year-round, even when you are not in the pew, by setting up a monthly recurring gift directly from your bank account or credit card. Go to firstpresby.com and click on “Giving,” or call the office for help in setting it up. While they can’t do in person, the 59 people a day, every-day, who receive food for their family from the pantry here will thank you.
Cents-Ability Offering is received Today: Cents-Ability is a small first step in the battle against hunger and poverty. Member of all ages of our congregation are encouraged to contribute a few cents at every meal to give to this offering. This simple act is an expression of thanks for what we have received. It is a commitment to share with others in response to Jesus’ command “You give them something to eat.” One half of the Cents-ability Offering goes to the Presbytery of WV, one quarter to the General Assembly and one quarter to the Covenant House Food Pantry – all in an effort to alleviate hunger. Together “let us make a joyful noise unto the Lord” as our coins and financial gifts are received today.
Enjoy Singing: If you enjoyed singing or listening to the offerings of the Family Choir this summer, pray and ask the Lord if this is your year to become part of the Geneva Choir. Music literacy and perfect attendance are not required, but a sense of humor is certainly helpful. There’s room for singers of all voice types and levels of experience. Rehearsals will begin on Thursday, September 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Choir Room.
Please pray for the FPC Lyres Club as we minister in music to the residents of Eastbrook Nursing Care Center this Tuesday evening, July 25. Gig Sheet 108 has been e-mailed to all harp players.
Traveling this summer? Take a First Presby greeting card with you to drop into the offering plate of the churches you visit; cards are available in the office or at the bulletin board in the hallway. Bring home a worship bulletin, leave it in the church office (be sure to include your name!), and we’ll “map” you on the bulletin board in the hallway. Soon we’ll be connected through worship to brothers and sisters all over the world!
This Week’s Food Pantry Needs: Canned & Dried Milk, Cereal and Peanut Butter.
More about the Music: Below is an excerpt from “Glory to God: A Companion” about this morning’s opening hymn, “Here In This Place”: “This North American hymn is a prayer to God on behalf of the community of believers, as the author’s title (‘Gather Us In’) indicates. It is rich in biblical allusions, both explicit and implicit. The opening references to ‘new light’ and ‘darkness vanished’ both recall the first day of the creation narrative in Genesis 1:1-5 and suggest Paul’s declaration that anyone who is in Christ is a ‘new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Later in the first stanza, the roll call of those desiring to be gathered in reads like a synopsis of Christ’s parables and healings, culminating in an allusion to the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45).” 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.
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.
Open Date for Flowers. If you would like to place flowers in the Sanctuary in memory or honor of a loved one, Sunday, August 6, is an open date. Please call 304-343-8961.
Lay Academy continues Poetry Readings, every Wednesday, 5:30-7:00 p.m., Room 203 in the Activities Building. Come and share your inspirations, or those of others. Remember our word “poetry” comes from a Greek word, POIEO, which means to create. Jesus encourages each one of us to love our God and each other arising out of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.This means our spiritual experience, our insights, our hopes and dreams are so very important to God and each other, we need to practice sharing how we feel, how we witness to God’s love as often as we can. Come and share. Bring a friend or neighbor. Refreshments. For more information, please call the Church Office, 304 343-8961.
West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry (“WVIRM”) is an organization of volunteers from many faith communities in Charleston WV, whose mission is striving to improve the lives of refugees. In preparation of two families that will come to Charleston in November, volunteers are needed to teach English as a second language to incoming refugees. An ESL training course is being offered on August 18th and 19th (Friday evening and all day Saturday). It is free and sponsored by the Literacy Volunteers of Kanawha County. The training will be at the YWCA “Angel Place” which is behind Piedmont Elementary. It covers Culture Shock, Language Learning, Vocabulary, Dialogues, Listening, Pronunciation, Grammar, Reading, Writing, and Lesson Planning. If you are interested in this opportunity to provide help and hope to arriving refugees, please contact Sue Webster.
Thank You to ALL for your incredibly generous gifts of donations and time given to make our second Tasty Tuesday a wonderful event! Approximately 160 meals were served to many in our community who were so grateful to come into our building out of the high heat and relax, cool off, and enjoy a delicious meal. The salads prepared were beautiful, the desserts were a huge hit and the nutritious meal of spaghetti and garlic bread was raved about! Several of our Deacons were present to lend a listening ear and words of love and hope to those who came to eat. Bodies and souls received physical and spiritual nourishment! As usual, all who came to prepare, serve and clean-up shared fellowship and fun. If you have not been a part of Tasty Tuesday, you don’t want to miss out – our next event is August 15. Make plans to be part of this wonderful mission outreach!
This Week at First Presbyterian
Sunday, July 23
Cents-Ability
9:15 Covenant Class
Sojourners Class
10:30 Worship
11:30 Ruffner Room Refreshments
Monday, July 24
8:30 Aerobics
5:30 First Presby Walkers
Tuesday, July 25
Wednesday, July 26
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
8:30 Aerobics
5:30 Poetry Club
7:00 Worship Music Team
Thursday, July 27
7:30 Shoney’s Group, Downtown
Friday, July 28
7:00 Men’s Group
8:30 Aerobics
August Scripture Lectionary Readings
Tuesday, August 1
Mark 6:30-46
Wednesday, August 2
Mark 6:47-56
Thursday, August 3
Mark 7:1-23
Friday, August 4
Mark 7:24-37
Saturday, August 5
Mark 8:1-10
Sunday, August 6
John 1:43-51
Monday, August 7
Mark8:11-21
Tuesday, August 8
Mark 8:22-33
Wednesday, August 9
Mark 8:34-9:1
Thursday, August 10
Mark 9:2-13
Friday, August 11
Mark 9:14-29
Saturday, August 12
Mark 9:30-41
Sunday, August 13
John 3:22-36
Monday, August 14
Mark 9:42-50
Tuesday, August 15
Mark 10:1-16
Wednesday, August 16
Mark 10:17-31
Thursday, August 17
Mark 10:32-45
Friday, August 18
Mark 10:46-52
Saturday, August 19
Mark 11:1-11
Sunday, August 20
John 5:30-47
Monday, August 21
Mark 11:12-26
Tuesday, August 22
Mark 11:27-12:12
Wednesday, August 23
Mark 12: 13-27
Thursday, August 24
Mark 112:28-34
Friday, August 25
Mark 12:35-44
Saturday, August 26
Mark 13:1-13
Sunday, August 27
John 8:12-20
Monday, August 28
Mark 13:14-27
Tuesday, August 29
Mark 13:28-37
Wednesday, August 30
Mark 14:1-11
Thursday, August 31
Mark 14:12-26
UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS
AUGUST, 2017
Sunday, August 6 Worship-Communion Served
Tuesday- August 15-Tasty Tuesday
Sunday, August 20-Lunch & Sundae Sunday after Worship
Youth Group Begins at 5 p.m.
Wednesday, August 23– LOGOS and Fellowship Dinners Begin
Sunday, August 27-Cents-Ability Offering
Wednesday, August 30- LOGOS and Fellowship Dinner
SEPTEMBER, 2017
Monday, September 4- Labor Day—Church Offices Closed
Tuesday, September 5-Christian Education Committee
Wednesday,September 6- LOGOS and Fellowship Dinner
Property, Personnel, Worship and Deacons Meetings
Thursday, September 7,Coordinating Team, Handbells and Geneva Choir
Sunday, September 10-RALLY DAY-Sunday School Classes Begin
Church Picnic after Worship on Church grounds
Wednesday, September 13-LOGOS and Fellowship Dinner
Finance and Session Meeting