The month of October begins 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 Open - With Conditions
We resumed Worship Services in the sanctuary in September, while continuing to stream the live service on Facebook and YouTube - all at 10:00 AM Sunday mornings.
Those of you who have compromised immune systems or are in a vulnerable population group are encouraged to stay at home and watch from there, especially during this very concerning time during the pandemic. If you can log into Worship services from home, we ask that you do so.
If you would like to attend in person, this is how you do your part to love your neighbor at church:
1. You must reserve a spot by contacting Sam Clem or the church office.
2. You must wear a mask for the entire service.
3. You must be screened at the sanctuary doors with a temperature check and a questionnaire. Please leave plenty of time for this to happen before worship starts. Elder Dr. Bill Engle will be conducting the screenings. If it's raining, bring an umbrella in case you need to stand in line. If you have a temp, cough, or have been exposed to Covid, please just stay home.
4. You must be conscious of leaving six feet between you and the next person in line or in the aisles.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Pastor Karen or any elder.
Office Hours: Heidi is in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings.
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:
Or https://www.youtube.com/channel UCKHIfTGhCeY9LqfE7xftS1A
 Weddings Interested in having your wedding at First Presbyterian Church? Please see our updated guidelines here. Most of the following activities are not happening in person for now due to the pandemic (except for Worship, on a limited basis per the above). Many church activities are now provided online - 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: 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 Visit the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Website - > http://www.synatlantic.org/ | February 2021 Letter from the Pastor Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, God is for us. “Well it certainly doesn’t feel like it.” Beloved, God is for us! If you have a child, and that child falls off their bike, it’s not because you’re not for them! If you have a son, and he gets into poison ivy, it’s not because you don’t love him! If your little girl gets stung by a bee, it’s not because you told the bee to go get her! Jesus says, “Which one of you, if your child asked for a fish, would give him a snake instead?!” Each of these childhood pains has a natural antecedent that is part of our gorgeous earth: gravity, flora, pollinators. Our pain from Covid is “natural” too. It’s not here because God isn’t for us. It’s just here because of our natural world (talk to Elder Mary Meade for great info on viruses!) But in the midst of - God is for us as the Great Physician. God is for us as the source of strength and comfort. God is for us by granting knowledge to our scientists who created vaccines. God is with us in this pioneer time. God is also for us through the civil unrest, with assurance and a call to remain faithful to the Kingdom in the midst of the struggle for earthly powers. Listen to a section of Isaiah that comes right before the Christmas prophecy: Isaiah 8:11-9:7 (abridged for space) 11 For the Lord spoke thus to me while his hand was strong upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall regard as holy… 19 Now if people say to you, “Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living, 20 for teaching and for instruction?” Surely, those who speak like this will have no dawn!...they will be thrust into thick darkness. 9 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish…2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined… 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders;…7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness… That’s our commonwealth, brothers and sisters. We have to remember that we are “citizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19) and continually look to the Lord our God as we work together and pray for the welfare of this country. May you be blessed as you set your mind on the things above, and use your God-given gifts to proclaim his love in word and in deed to everyone you come into contact with. Blessings, Pastor Karen |