As part of World Wide Communion Sunday, October 6, we are offering non-perishable food items for our pantry as a symbol of our commitment to feeding the hungry. Please bring your canned or boxed goods to the table in the front of the sanctuary when you arrive. Before the service, we will have the opportunity to participate in letter writing for Bread for the World, ensuring that our voices are heard for this bi-partisan commitment to ending hunger. We also look forward to worshiping with Mary Baldwin students and families this Sunday.

Please join us for our Stewardship Luncheon Sunday, October 13, immediately after worship in the Fellowship Hall. We hope to see you there!

New Church Office Hours The office hours have changed to 9:00 am-12:00 pm, 12:30-2:00 pm Monday-Friday, closing for lunch for 30 minutes each day between 12-12:30 pm

Weddings
Interested in having your wedding at First Presbyterian Church?  Please see our updated guidelines here.

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: 11:00 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 
 
This week's Bulletin-> Click here

Please welcome our new Music Director and Organist!  -> Click here

This month's Newsletter -> Click here

Visit the Shenandoah Presbytery Website -> http://shenpres.org/

Visit the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Website - > http://www.synatlantic.org/

This month's birthdays - > Click here

 
Pastor’s Letter

September 2019

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

September upon us.

Weddings had.

Children schooled.

Choir back.

Stage packed.

God in his heaven and all right with the world.

Wait?  What?!

    “God may be in his heaven, but all is CERTAINLY not right with the world!!” you may answer.

     We all have the list.  Your particular personal pain, your concerns for your country, for your church, for your world.  No need to duplicate pencil leads here.  The pundits will do it for us.

     In Wednesday’s bible study, we have been studying Revelation.  (PS.  We know how the story ends.  Jesus rules.  God reigns.  Love wins. So we are brave about looking at all that symbolism.)

     Our study has taught us some solid truths: 

1)  There have always been times that people thought was the end.  Every generation has the four horsemen.

        2)  For every limitation of the world in wickedness –     there is the final word of God in graciousness.  Example?  Not just 140,000 of the chosen few saved, but people from every tribe and tongue and nation.  Salvation belongs to God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb. 

3)  Thanksgiving and worship is the appropriate response to God in the best of times, and in the worst of times. For what is impossible for us is not impossible with God.

    So here’s the thing.  Times like these, we’ve got to be a little bit like the “Airplane” movie and “Get a grip!!”   As the saying goes, “Everything will be OK in the end.  If it’s not OK yet, it’s not the end yet.”

     And, Beloved, we are still called to Christian action.  That in the best of times – and maybe especially in the worst of times, First Presbyterian should stand as the City on the Hill.

     That means we need to major in the majors, not major in the minors.  Let’s use our energy to love our God, with all our heart and all our soul and all our mind and all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself.  

     I hope you each will open yourselves to the beauty and grace of fellowship in the Lord.  Let me know how I can facilitate that for you.  God is good, and God intends the joy of fellowship and discipleship for everyone.



Blessings,

Karen