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, except 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 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 Chancel Choir Rehearsal: 7:30 pm Visit the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Website - > http://www.synatlantic.org/ | May 2021 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Ps. 32:8 “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” Pr. 15:3 Someone’s Watching The medieval monk, Thomas A Kempis, said “whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.” Easter Sunday we had quite a lot of eyes. We had the eyes of 10 people in the Garden as we flowered the cross and sang together for the first time in over a year. We had another 35, masked and spaced in the sanctuary, rejoicing in the risen Lord. They were watched by 216 views on Facebook, who were watching one person on Zoom. That one person on Zoom would be our new member Alexandra Spencer-Lowell, proclaiming the reaffirmation of her faith. We don’t know how many people 216 views represents, because Scott and Sharon Wilson watch together, and Betty Kegley and Mary Huffard Kegley watch together, etc. And then there was our new friend Geneva Davenport, in person, who drove all the way from Lexington to celebrate Easter with us. After worship, we saw another visitor who was in the back pews. Elders had made their way to greet him. His name was Peter. From Australia, now living in New York, he works for the international paper, the Financial Times. He had been sent – with other reporters to other towns – to find out how “ordinary” Americans were weathering the storm on this first anniversary of Covid – et al. He chose Staunton. He chose First Pres. We had a conversation. Then we had a long phone call when I was in Pawley’s visiting my bro. So now, my friends, it’s not just as we (somewhat crassly) say, “butts in the pews.” It’s butts in the views and butts in the news. Internationally. The Financial Times is a Japanese owned paper with offices all over the world – Berlin, Tokyo, Paris, New York, Britain. Peter says folks in Britain are particularly interested in how the American people are weathering the tides of pandemic, politics, economy, life. Beloved, God is our raincoat and God is our rainbow. How can we in this new day take advantage of the distance God is sending us electronically to spread the good news? How can we make personal connections that carry the balm of healing to all the corners of the world? That has always been the great commission. We ”ordinary Americans” are in the same boat with the “ordinary fishermen” that were first called. Somewhat afraid, looking to Jesus to still the storm, wondering if we might try to walk on water without our faith failing us. No matter – Jesus reaches to us and pulls us up. And sends us again. Your sister in the journey, Pastor Karen |