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News from First Presbyterian Church!
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Our theme this Lent is seeking: honest questions for deeper faith.
 
Our friends at A Sanctified Art have provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Lent devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/928029194/

Events this Weekend

Join us Saturday, March 25, 1:00-3:30.
Walking a Sacred Path: Discovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool
 
First Presbyterian Church is launching its Labyrinth Ministry with our new Chartres 36ft labyrinth!
 
Join us Saturday, March 25, 1:00-3:30 for a workshop to introduce people to the labyrinth and the spiritual practice of walking it. Pastor Miriam, a trained labyrinth facilitator, will facilitate.  Come find out more about this ancient spiritual tool and have the opportunity to walk on the new First Pres canvas labyrinth.
 
Another introductory workshop will happen April 15, 9:30-12:00.
 
We hope that you will carve out time for this workshop. Sign up with Jamie in the church office (449-7332 or info@firstpresalbany.org).  If you have any questions, please contact Miriam at the church office (449-7332 or mleupold@firstpresalbany.org).

 
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Join us Sunday, March 26,
for education, worship and fellowship!


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Join us for Christian Education 
on Sunday 9:15-10:15 

Godly Play Preschool Class
Sunday School for Kindergarten through Grade 5
Adult Education (in the Rose Room and via zoom)

The Adult Education class is “Teach Us to Pray.” Ellen Eisenbraun will lead the class and we'll listen to pieces of a podcast and talk about our own experiences with prayer.


Join us in the Rose Room or via Zoom
Zoom invitation – Adult Education

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 884 9949 5143
Passcode: 500445
Worship Service at 10:30am.
Join us for worship together 
in the sanctuary and livestreaming on Facebook.



Click here for bulletin
Click here to connect on Sunday.
Serving you this Sunday.

 
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After the service, join us for  Fellowship Time 
in Assembly Hall.

Come enjoy conversation with one another!


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As a church open to all and as an intergenerational community of faith,
we want to do our very best to be a welcoming, healthy place for all generations.
Mask wearing is optional

Thank you for your patience and kindness to each other.

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Albany County’s CDC Community level is green, 
so we’re following the green protocols on Sunday.
Here are the revised chart.


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Please send any prayer requests to Jamie 
so that we can include them in worship on Sunday.

Offering of Our Gifts

You can mail offering to: FPC, 362 State St, Albany, NY 12210
Or go on line to donate (www.firstpresalbany.org/donate/)
Thank you for your continued support of FPC ministries.

Opportunities

  March 28 | Book Review at the Washington        Ave branch of the Albany Public Library at 
  noon
| African American Freedom Journey in 
  New York and Related Sites, 1823-1870:
  Freedom Knows
No Color by Harry Bradshaw
  Matthews.  Reviewer:  Roger Green, MLS,
  retired librarian, NY Small Business
  Development Center, & board member, FFAPL.
  (Note: this is the same presentation given in
  February at an Adult Education class.)


 

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  Join us each Wednesday during Lent,
March 29,
for Taizé worship at 6:30 p.m.
in the Sanctuary or livestreaming on Facebook.
Here is the link and here is the bulletin.

 

Our traditional Taizé services include simple, meditative songs,
scripture, prayer and silence.  The liturgy for these services originated
with the Taizé community founded in France in 1940.
This community is an ecumenical, intentional community
with a twofold purpose: to seek communion with God through personal
prayer and the beauty of community prayer;
and also be a leaven of peace and trust in the midst of humanity. 
Come spend time listening to God and be renewed for your journey.

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Potted Easter Lilies will decorate the chancel for Easter Sunday.  They may be purchased in honor or in memory of a person or event at a cost of $16. per plant.  To sponsor a lily, please fill out the cards available in the pew racks or call Jamie in the church office at (518) 449-7332.
 

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Easter Breakfast- April 9
9:15-10:15 am in the Fellowship Hall
This popular First Pres tradition and Youth Fundraiser is back!
Celebrate with family and friends before worship. Enjoy a delicious spread of warm breakfast casseroles, fresh fruit, and a chocolate fountain!

If you’d like to help, please sign up to contribute to the menu (casserole, fruit, juice, hot cross buns, croissants) items to be dropped off 8:30-9:00 am Sunday, April 9, or during office hours April 2-7.

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Please fill out your Time and Talent card
and return to the church.
Surface mail to FPC, 362 State St. Albany, NY 12210
Take a photo of this sheet or scan and send to
Jamie in the Church Office 


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The Tuesday morning Bible Guys, who meet weekly on Zoom at 9 a.m., are looking for new members. If you are interested, please get in touch with Roger Green at rogerogreen@gmail.com.
 

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Fresh Flowers for the sanctuary on Sundays may be donated in honor or in memory of a person or event. The cost is $80.  A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board outside the main office. You may contact Jamie directly at 518-449-7332 or info@firstpresalbany.org.

 

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FOCUS Available Assistance & Volunteer Opportunities

 

FOCUS Breakfast Soup Kitchen: Hot egg sandwiches, coffee and more! Join us 7 AM - 8:30 AM every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State Street. All are welcome! Local community organizations are here to serve our guests with information about housing, healthcare and job training.

The FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry: open five days a week (Mondays through Fridays) from 10 AM - 12:45 PM. It is located at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 275 State Street. To place an order, please call: 518-443-0460, ext. 1.

Want to volunteer? FOCUS Churches is seeking volunteers to help at our Breakfast Soup Kitchen (Tu, Wed, Th; 6:45am to 8:45am) and our Interfaith Food Pantry (Five days a week, M to F, 10am to 1pm). Can you help us one day a week? Join us as we offer lavish hospitality for our Food Pantry and Breakfast guests.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact FOCUS Volunteer Coordinator Belinda Quaye: belindaq@focuschurches.net or call: 518-443-0460, ext. 2.

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The Outreach and Mission Committee is collecting needed articles for the Giffen Elementary School’s “Clothes Closet” which goes beyond just clothes. Articles may be left in the box in the Assembly Hall designated for this purpose.  Items Needed: hoodies for little kids, 6-8, 10-12; small sneakers 8c, 9c, 10c, 11c and 12c; sweatpants for little kids, 4t, 5t, 5, 6, 8,. 10; hand sanitizers. Recently given out: 8 pairs of boys underwear and sweat pants; approx. same number of girl’s leggings; 6 pair of socks and 4 pair of boots.
 

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Please Sign Up to Provide a Meal for the Youth Group!

We’re asking that families please sign up to take a turn to provide a meal for our regular meetings.

Click the link to sign up→ Meal Train for Youth Lunches

 

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Got a Favorite Recipe?

A small group of members of First Pres Church and Walls Temple AME Zion Church have been meeting to form a friendship between our two congregations that we hope will produce a partnership to stand against racism together.

As part of this effort, our congregations will be gathering on Saturday, May 20
, to share food at a getting-to-know-you picnic potluck outside in the afternoon. We thought that a great way to do this would be to invite everyone to share a favorite recipe in two ways. One is bringing that dish to the picnic potluck and the second to send in the recipe to be included in a joint cookbook that we will hand out at the picnic.

We hope that you will find this as exciting as we do. Please send your recipe to Jamie by April 15, so it can be included in the book. More information will follow as we get closer to the date.

Advocacy Work


We are headed to Albany next Monday, March 27th for Fair Pay For Home Care!

New York’s population is aging rapidly — but the state is facing the worst home care shortage in the nation: we don’t have enough home care workers to care for the state’s older adults and people with disabilities. A recent survey found 20% of state home care positions are unfilled due to staff shortages.

Last year's state budget included a small wage increase for home care workers, but this year Gov. Hochul has proposed eliminating it and returning home care to a minimum wage job. This is unacceptable - and thankfully both the Assembly and Senate rejected the governor's cuts to home care in their budget proposals last week.

It's critical that we keep the pressure on the governor and legislature in these last two weeks of budget negotiations to raise wages for home care workers to a true living wage, ending the home care shortage in our state. That's why we're joining the Fair Pay for Home Care campaign at the Capitol in Albany next Monday, March 27th!

Click HERE to RSVP by this Wednesday to join the PPC contingent! Transportation help is available!

Youth News

Upcoming Events:


Sunday, April 2 (Palm Sunday)
12:00-2:00 pm- Lunch & Program in Youth Room

Sunday, April 9 (Easter)
Easter Breakfast hosted by Youth Group 
8:15-10:15 am - First Shift
8:45-10:45 am - Second Shift

Sunday, April 16 
10:10 am -Youth Usher for Worship

Sunday, April 23
12:00-2:00 pm- Lunch & Program in Youth Room* note this is the 4th Sunday, instead of our usual 3rd Sun mtg.

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Summer Service & Reflection Trip 
Washington, D.C. July 30-Aug 5
Total Cost: $850 per student ($283 3way-split between Family/Church/Fundraising)*
Ages: completed 6th -12th grade
 

On this trip, we will stay blocks away from our Nation's Capitol at Washington Seminar Center at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church. Youth will serve alongside a local agency addressing food insecurity or homelessness. We will also visit our NY State Representative’s offices on Capitol Hill and visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Participants will help design the itinerary. We will prepare our own meals and bring our own bedding, & towels.

To register your 6th-12th grader for this trip, please contact Molly. 
A $50 deposit will secure your spot on the trip.

*additional financial assistance is available

 

Upcoming Events at First Pres

Upcoming Events at First Pres

April 9 – 9:15 Easter Breakfast
April 16 – Labyrinth Dedication
April 23 – Earth Day Celebration
April 30 – Sundae Sunday
May 7 – CROP Walk
May 21 – Confirmation
June 4 – More Light Sunday
June 11 – Pride Parade
June 18 – 9:30 summer worship time begins

Calendar

Saturday, 3/25   1:00pm   Labyrinth Workshop

Sunday, 3/26      9:15am   Preschool Education 
                            9:15am   Children’s Education 
                            9:15am   Adult Education
                            9:15am   Confirmation Class
                            9:30am   Soloist/Choir Rehearsal
                          10:30am   Worship Service in the sanctuary and                                                                 livestreaming on Facebook
                          11:45am   Fellowship Time

Monday, 3/27    1:00pm   Covenant Group

Tuesday, 3/28       9:00am   Men's Bible Study via Zoom
                              6:30pm   FOCUS Board Meeting

Wednes., 3/29    6:30pm   Taizé Service in the sanctuary
                                          and livestreaming on Facebook

Thurs., 3/30       7:00am   Men's Bible Study
                            5:30pm   Albany Presbytery Meeting
                            7:00pm   Soloist/ Choir Rehearsal

 Sunday, 4/2       9:15am   Preschool Education 
                            9:15am   Children’s Education 
                            9:15am   Adult Education
                            9:15am   Confirmation Class
                            9:30am   Soloist/Choir Rehearsal
                          10:30am   Worship Service in the sanctuary and                                                                 livestreaming on Facebook
                          11:45am   Fellowship Time
                          12:00pm   Youth Group
                         12:00 pm   Choir Rehearsal

Tuesday, 4/4       9:00am   Men's Bible Study via Zoom
                            1:15pm   Staff Meeting

Wednes., 4/5     6:30pm   Choir Rehearsal

Thurs., 4/6         7:00am   Men's Bible Study
                            6:30pm   Choir Call Time
                            7:30pm   Maundy Thursday Service in the Sanctuary and                                                 livestream on Facebook

 
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Contact info: church office: 518-449-7332  info@firstpresalbany.org

March Birthdays

Lydia Green                                  Elaine Popner
3/26                                                 3/31
Ben April                                       Paige Fitzgerald
3/27                                                 3/31   
                                                                                          

If your birthday is this month and it's not listed, please let Jamie know so we can update our records. 
First Pres website First Pres website
FPC Youth FPC Youth
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Our mailing address is:
362 State Street
Albany, NY 12210

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First Presbyterian Church · 362 State Street · Albany, NY 12210 · USA

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