Congregational Meeting Sunday, June 27
A congregational meeting is called on Sunday, June 27 immediately following worship for the purpose of voting on incorporation of the church. We hope you can join us!
Campaign To Support Our Church
The month of October began our Campaign To Support Our Church. 2020 will go down as one of the most unique and challenging years of our church’s history. Instead of despair, we found focus, resiliency, innovation, and a sense of togetherness despite the challenge of social distance.
We have added a “Donate” tab to our menu bar on the top of the page. This now allows the church to benefit from your financial support by accepting credit cards for payment. You will be asked to register just once by filling in your information and then you will see a page that will allow you to provide your credit card information (encrypted) to allow the church to benefit from your generous support. Thank you.
First Presbyterian Church Is Taking Steps Toward a Full Reopening
In light of the most recent CDC recommendations, we are progressing with small steps toward a full reopening and are hopeful that we will not have to take steps back.
SO PLEASE COME TO WORSHIP IN PERSON SUNDAY!
1. You do NOT need a reservation.
2. You DO need to wear a mask inside, unless you are vaccinated and when you are partaking of communion.
3. The CDC says vaccinated people may sing in an indoor chorus.
Following is a link to the full CDC visual chart on what is safe and what is not safe for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals:
If you have selected not to get the vaccine, please be especially careful with your exposure, and check the chart to evaluate your level of risk.
We WILL be continuing the Facebook broadcast as we have extended our reach during this last year, but there is nothing like getting to see each other, and I am looking forward to laying eyes on you!
Office Hours: Heidi is in the office on Monday through Thursday mornings until 12pm.
Our Food Pantry will remain open Monday and Thursday of each week. To stay in the loop, everyone is encouraged to sign up to receive emails at stauntonfirst@gmail.com.
Current Activities:
- Sunday Morning Meditation at 10:00 am on Pastor Karen's Facebook page (Karen Henn Allamon)
- Nightly Story Time at 7:00 pm on Pastor Karen's Facebook page
- Weekly Bible Study Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am in person and via Zoom - please notify Pastor Karen if you would like to join
- Also, feel free to contact Pastor Karen at any time.
Where Can I Find….
Sunday Worship Live
10:00 am on https://zoom.us/ (Open free account, Pastor Karen will send weekly invitation and liturgy)
Or https://www.facebook.com/karenhennallamon
Or https://www.youtube.com/channel UCKHIfTGhCeY9LqfE7xftS1A
Or https://www.youtube.com/channel UCKHIfTGhCeY9LqfE7xftS1A
Sunday Worship Recorded
https://www.facebook.com/FirstPresbyterianChurchStaunton/ Or
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKHIfTGhCeY9LqfE7xftS1A
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
10:00 am in person in the Library and remotely via Zoom: https://zoom.us/ (open free account, Pastor Karen will send weekly invitation and study passage)
Children’s Nightly Stories at 7:00 pm
https://www.facebook.com/karenhennallamon
Shepherding Calls from Elders/Regular Information Emails
If you have not been contacted, please call Pastor Karen with your current phone and email.
COVID-19 Theological Think Pieces
https://thebellsofthehorses.wordpress.com/
Private Pastoral Care
Contact Pastor Karen at karenallamon@yahoo.com to arrange an appointment via phone or Skype.
We will update everyone as new information becomes available.
 Weddings Interested in having your wedding at First Presbyterian Church? Please see our updated guidelines here. Some of the following activities are happening in person and online as we are gradually and carefully moving toward reopening. Please see the top of our web page for details on our online activities and continued Food Pantry hours. Thank you! Sunday Worship Book Study Class: 9:45 am (snacks at 9:30 am) - Library Adult Sunday School 10:00-10:45 am (now meeting in church parlor) Youth Sunday School 10:00-10:45 am Elementary Sunday School 10:00-10:45 Church Nursery: 10:30 am-12:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal: 10:30 am Morning Worship: 10:00 am
Youth Group 12-2 pm (alternates with Youth Sunday School, please call to check times)
Wednesdays Bible Study: Wednesdays at 10:00 am in the Library and via Zoom Chancel Choir Rehearsal: 7:30 pm Visit the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Website - > http://www.synatlantic.org/ | June 2021 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: By now you probably know we are moving along with a progressive re-opening of the sanctuary according to the new CDC guidelines. Here's what you need to know: For the Sanctuary: 1) You DON’T need a reservation; just come! 2) Worship is at 10:00am. 3) IF you have had BOTH your shots, you do NOT need to wear a mask. 4) You can choose where to sit IF you have had BOTH your shots. 5) You do not need to “pass muster” at a check-in table. 6) Dr. Huff may begin to invite choir members to sing from the loft IF they are comfortable and IF they have had BOTH their shots. 7) If you have NOT had your shots, you are vulnerable and we love you. Please wear a mask to protect yourself and choose a seat in the quadrant of the sanctuary that is still partitioned. If you have had your shots but still feel vulnerable, you may elect to do the same. For Bible Studies: Church Bible Study is from 10-11:15am Wednesdays in the Library. If you have had both your shots you may come in person without a mask. If you have not had your shots, we love you! Please wear a mask and practice social distancing. We are currently finishing a deep dive on the Gospel of John. This is a highly participatory group. The Retreat Bible Study in Fishersville is from 10:30-11:00am Thursdays at the Retreat in Fishersville. You must wear a mask to enter the building but may remove it once Bible Study starts. We meet in the small dining room and study the lectionary text for the coming Sunday. This is a teacher-led group. Gypsy Hill Place Bible Studies will be starting soon. There will be a weekly Bible Study in the afternoon, day of the week yet to be determined, in the Club Room (entrance off of the old Gym). We will be starting with Genesis. There will also be a small group gathering once a week in the evening to study Forgiveness. The studies at GHP will be highly ecumenical. We even have a participant joining us who is a “none.” YAY! If you would like to be part of any of these Bible Studies, please let me know! Coming Up Later in June: Leadership Retreat Looking Toward the Future All officers will be meeting this summer for a weekend retreat to participate in discerning the future of the church; dates to be determined based on availability. June 27 Congregational Meeting A congregational meeting is called on June 27 immediately following worship for the purpose of voting on incorporation of the church. Our denominational Book of Order states that where churches may be incorporated they shall be. Our previous Trustees worked extremely hard getting everything laid out with a lawyer. The document will be sent to you prior to the meeting along with a FAQ sheet prepared by our Trustees. The day of the meeting, our incorporation lawyer will be present to answer any questions you may have. You must be a full member to be able to vote, and you can attend by remaining in person after worship in the Sanctuary or you may Zoom from home. Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82044779605. We will be able to take questions and answers and vote from the zoom link as well as in person. Thanks to all of you who worked so hard to keep everything going the past 15 months: Elders, staff, trustees, pantry workers, and participants. I look forward to seeing where the Lord leads us in the next 15! Blessings, Pastor Karen |