Please wear your FPC name tag to church services for the benefit of our worship guests and new Children and Youth Coordinator, Molly Horner, as she gets to know us!

We will return to a 9:00 a.m. contemporary worship service in the Fellowship Hall and an 11:00 a.m. traditional service in the sanctuary, beginning Sunday, August 15. Sunday school classes for all ages will be offered at 10:00 a.m. We appreciate all who offered their responses in the recent congregational survey. Many indicated a preference for two distinct worship services. We also look forward to creating occasional opportunities to gather for worship together as one unified congregation. Thank you for your support and resilience during this transition!  

It’s time to sign up . . .

so that your thoughts and opinions can be heard at a Mission Study Team small-group meeting.

Calling our next pastor is a detailed and deliberate process. Our Mission Study must be completed and approved by the session and presbytery before we will be ready to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), to search for our next pastor. Once the PNC is elected (likely in October), they will develop a Ministry Information Form (the MIF, or “position description”)—which will be informed by what we have learned in our mission study. We want that form to accurately reflect this congregation’s history, faith, and sense of calling. In order to get that right, we need to hear from you.

Add your voice to this process by signing up now for one of the small group meetings, either face-to-face or via Zoom, by calling the church office (941-955-8119), or by clicking on one of the links in News@First. Be part of the planning for the future of FPC Sarasota!

Elaine Barnett, an Elder and a Certified Christian Educator, will be the class leader. You can sign-up by emailing Elaine at ewbarnet@me.com

All women are invited to attend the annual summer luncheon for a time of fellowship and reconnection at Der Dutchman Family Restaurant, 3713 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota on Tuesday, July 13. Please plan to arrive by 11:30 a.m. Reservations not required.

Questions? Contact Pamela Lamb at: bmalp54@gmail.com.

The Women's Conference “Word Wise: Encountering the Word That Draws Us In and Sends Us Out” is a retreat for women, both young and young-at-heart, at Montreat Conference Center, Friday evening, August 13, through Sunday morning, August 15. PW will reimburse the cost of registration, hotel and meals while at the conference for any church member attending. For more information including leadership, workshops and schedule, visit montreat.org/events/wc2021. Contact Pamela Lamb at bmalp54@gmail.com if you have questions or to request an application for reimbursement.

CARITAS at HERRIG CENTER*

*Caritas is a coalition of five churches in downtown Sarasota. Its primary purpose is to provide temporary emergency assistance to those who find themselves in acute financial need. 

Last Wednesday, June 30, six volunteers took an SUV full of your donations of supplies and $880 in financial contributions to Beth-El Your gifts were greatly appreciated. Our group--with the help of a couple added volunteers--prepared over 350 bags of dry goods to be distributed to some of the over-600 folks who will come to the food bank this week. Thank you, FPC, for your generosity!

Family Promise has a volunteer opportunity for high school students looking for community service hours.

Resurrection House is open each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There are still a few volunteer spots available. If interested, please contact Joe at rhlucero@verizon.net

First Presbyterian, Sarasota, hosts Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Mondays, 7:00-8:30 p.m., in room 203. Family and loved ones may attend. Call (727) 410-1569 to register. (https://dbsatampabay.org)

NAMI Family Support Group hosted by FPC Sarasota beginning July 15, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Forum every third Thursday of the month, for adults with loved ones with mental health conditions.

SunCoast Blood Mobile will be at FPC Sarasota Sunday, August 29; more details to follow.

American Heart CPR Course taught by LifeTech Instructional Services will be at FPC Sarasota Wednesday, September 22, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon; more information coming soon.

There is a library book cart in the narthex with a varied selection of our newer books from which you can choose, including some children's books. No due dates; simply return when you finish with them. A sign-out sheet is on the cart.

Online: If you are interested in giving electronically through our secure e-giving process, please visit FirstPresSarasota.org and select the online giving button.

Texting: Are you interested in the convenience of contributing by text message? Text FPC2050 to 73256 to donate via text. Standard rates may apply.

Mail In: All mail, including contribution checks, securely arrives to our church office.

Pastoral Care

When you or a loved one is hospitalized, it is important that you contact the church or one of the pastors to inform us directly and inform the hospital that you are a member of our congregation and would welcome a visit by one of our pastors. Hospitals will not contact the church. We have also discovered that some will no longer even list a patient as our church member on their internal records unless the patient is careful to note their relationship with our congregation. Thank you for your assistance.

The FPC care team, Stephen Ministers, deacons, elders and church staff continue to be available for you. Please feel free to reach out to Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse (941) 320-3828 or call the church office (941) 955-8119 if we can be of support to you.