Save the date! We hope you can join us for our Picnic at the Park Sunday, July 15, at Gypsy Hill Park Golf Pavilion at 11:00 am. We hope to see you there for great food and fellowship!
Weddings
Interested in having your wedding at First Presbyterian Church?  Please see our updated guidelines here.

Sunday Worship
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 

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

What's up?


Haiti Education Foundation School Fundraiser Ends June 30  -  Our fundraiser to support our adopted school, St. Thomas, ends at the end of this month.  Your funding ensures that the students of St. Thomas can continue their education and hopes for a brighter future in a country with no public education system and widespread poverty.  Thank you for your help and prayers for St. Thomas school and all the teachers and children in Haiti!



Can you help the Food Pantry? Items currently needed for our pantry include egg noodles, cereal, and grape jelly.  Canned fruit and canned vegetables (especially peas), are always welcome.  Donations may be brought to the church office or placed in the canvas hamper in the narthex.  Please remember to check the expiration date on donated food!



 
        St. Thomas School students in Lavanneau, Haiti.

July 2018

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we come once more to the celebration of America’s birthday, I certainly hope everyone has a “happy and safe 4th of July,” and I want much more than that for this congregation.

Most of the time, we in this congregation live together in a peaceable kingdom. Republicans and Democrats fellowship at the same table. Liberals praise God with the same songs as conservatives. The lion lays down with the lamb, and a little child leads us.

But, every once in a while, we lose track of our calling.  Every once in a while, we assume being an American and being a Christian are synonymous.  Or worse, being a member of
a political party and being a Christian are synonymous!  Beloved, we are Christians. And not just Christians first.  We must be Christian first, last, and always.  “You cannot serve
two masters (Mt. 6:24).” Nope. Our leader is Jesus.  Our marching orders are his teachings. Our citizenship is in heaven.

While I think we’re all pretty lucky to be living in a place with things like running water, education, and Wright’s burgers – it’s most important, especially with the current competition judging degrees of patriotism – that we all remember that we are citizens of
a heavenly kingdom, and that our fidelity is to the kingdom of our God.

Hebrews 13, the beautiful discourse on the faithful says, “14 People who say such things show…they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

As we enjoy this fun time of year, let’s remember that our freedom is in Christ, our citizenship in heaven, and our goal to live out our lives in such a way that our fellow travelers see the Gospel in our actions.

Blessings,

Pastor Karen