We are a curious, inclusive, and diverse gathering of imperfect people united by our common hope in Jesus Christ. Through worship, study, and service we seek to know and show the transformative love of God found in the pages of scripture and revealed in the person of Jesus. No matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey, know that you are welcome here.  

New Song 9:00 a.m. Worship

Livestream Update

Live streaming of the New Song service is temporarily suspended while we work to resolve ongoing technical issues. We look forward to resuming the livestream once the issues have been resolved and the system is working reliably.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

This Sunday we welcome Maria Robayo to give the Moment for Discipleship. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in medical technology and a master’s degree in health administration. She worked at the Duke Health System as a Microbiologist and later served as a Public Health Educator with Wake County in Raleigh North Carolina, where she worked to empower individuals and families to improve their health and quality of life. She currently serves as Chair of the Immigration Justice Coalition of SW Florida, where she works with community partners to advocate for immigrants' rights, dignity, and access to resources. 

Also, as a community partner of the Immigration Justice Coalition, we are being asked to share the attached flyer with the congregation. 

Rise Against Hunger 
Meal Packing Event

Sunday, September 20,

 from 1:00–3:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

We are getting ready for another Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event! Join us for this intergenerational opportunity to serve together as we work toward our goal of packing 20,000 nutritious meals for communities in need around the world.



This is a wonderful opportunity for all ages to roll up their sleeves, work together, and make a difference. Sign up today and be part of this exciting mission opportunity!

Sunday, September 20 from 1:00–3:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

New Adult Sunday School Class: Aging as a Spiritual Journey



Beginning this Sunday, September 13, Dent Davis and Mary Ziegler will lead a six-week adult Sunday School class, Aging as a Spiritual Journey.

As the Bible reminds us, "Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom" (Job 32:7). Aging is more than a physical process—it is also a spiritual journey filled with opportunities for growth, reflection, and deeper faith.

Together, we will explore stories from the Bible, history, and literature, drawing on insights from gerontology and psychology to discover how spirituality enriches the aging experience. Participants will also have opportunities to reflect on their own journeys and gain practical wisdom for navigating the joys and challenges that come with growing older.

Aging brings both gains and losses, joy and sorrow, meaning and uncertainty. Since aging is a journey we all share, there is much to learn from one another.

The class meets Sundays from September 13 through October 25 (no class on October 4) at 10:00 a.m. in Room 203.

All are welcome.

Help Fill Two Suitcases for Cuba

Help us fill two suitcases for Juan G. Hall! Sue Hargis-Spigel will take the supplies to Cuba for the Cuba Partners Network Gathering on October 2. Donations are needed by September 15 and may be left at the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, or church office. Items that don’t fit will go with our mission team in February.

Needed: Medical and first-aid supplies, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, bandages, ointments, creams and syringes, as well as Christian education and craft supplies such as crayons, markers, pencils, glue, scissors, craft paper, and Spanish or bilingual Bible story books, games and puzzles. Use the link below to order from the Amazon wish list.

Monetary donations are welcome. Please make checks payable to First Presbyterian Church with “Supplies for JGH” in the memo line.

Youth Group: Connect, Serve & Grow!

New Youth Group Events Begin 
Sunday Evening.

Middle School and High School Youth Group events will be held on the first and third Sunday evenings of each month beginning this week! Contact Tim Walsh with any questions: timw@FPCsrq.org or (941) 356-0801.

September 20th: Middle School and High School Youth are encouraged to fast from something for the morning (no food? no phone? no games? ) and then help out at the Rise Against Hunger church-wide event from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This fun an impactful event will see kids join forces with adults in our congregation to help pack 20,000 meals in an effort that supports nutrition, education, and economic empowerment projects worldwide. At 3:00 p.m. Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers will head up to the LOFT to break our fast together with some pizza and a discussion on sacrifice and food insecurity in our community. The event ends at 4pm. 

Horizons Bible Study: United Through Christ, Bound to Each Other

It’s time to begin a new season of Horizons Bible Study: United Through Christ, Bound to Each Other!

This monthly Bible study, held on Zoom and led by a different volunteer each month, is a wonderful way to meet other parishioners, explore Scripture together, and deepen your connection with our church community.

Try something new—it’s good for your brain!

Our first session will explore Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. The church in Corinth was culturally and economically diverse, and the challenges of finding unity within the church are ones we continue to experience today.

Join us on Wednesday, September 16, at 10:00 a.m. as Becky Loomis leads us in exploring how, by walking with Jesus, we can find community and unity in our church.

Please contact Jinny Miller at jinnyron@gmail.com for the Zoom information and a copy of the lesson, if needed.

Inquirers Class –

Sunday, September 27



Are you new to First Presbyterian Church or interested in learning more about who we are and how you can get involved? Join us for our Inquirers Class on Sunday, September 27, beginning with worship in fellowship hall at 9:00 a.m.

Following worship, we will move to the Parlor at 10:00 a.m. We’ll spend time together getting acquainted, learning about First Presbyterian Church, the ministries, and opportunities to get involved. We’ll also take a tour of our campus before moving to the fellowship hall for lunch and the second part of our gathering.

Lunch is from 12:00–1:30 p.m. and is an important part of the class. It will be a relaxed opportunity to continue the conversation, ask questions, and get to know Rev. Tim Boggess, along with other church leaders and members of the FPC community.

We’re trying a new format for our Inquirers Class! This one-day class is designed with busy schedules in mind, especially for people with families and those who may not be able to attend a multi-day class.

Everyone is welcome! Let us know if you will need child care. To sign up, of to find out more contact the church office at (941) 955-8119 or Janet Olshewsky at (941) 376-4431.

You can also watch the Sunday sermons on our YouTube channel

Join Our Tech Team!


We're looking for volunteers to help support our worship services by serving on our Tech Team. Opportunities include running slides, operating cameras, and assisting with sound and live streaming. No prior experience is necessary—we'll provide training.

If you'd like to use your gifts in this important ministry, or would like to learn more, please contact Jimi Camastro jimic.thesoundlounge@gmail.com

Your help can make a meaningful difference in our worship each Sunday!

Hurricane Season Preparedness

Hurricane season is here, and now is the time to prepare your family, home, and neighborhood. Create an emergency plan, know your evacuation level, and stock a disaster supply kit with enough essentials to last at least seven days, as extended power outages are possible and emergency responders cannot assist once winds reach 45 mph.

No two storms are alike, so preparation is essential. Find preparedness guides, checklists, and evacuation information at scgov.net/beprepared.

Chapel News

“Solitude is the place where our own hearts discover our deep yearning to be loved unconditionally and to love with our whole beings… it is the place of the great encounter from which all other encounters derive their meaning.”

-Henri Nouwen

 The Chapel is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

We Need Your Help!



Each week, First Presbyterian Church’s All Faiths Food Bank distribution serves more than 200 families—and volunteers are essential to making it possible. As many of our regular “snowbird” volunteers head out for the season, we especially need extra helping hands right now.

Join us on Thursday mornings in the south/back parking lot. We begin packing food at 8:00 a.m., and distribution runs from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. You don’t need to stay the entire time—any amount of help is truly a blessing.

Our drive-through food distribution continues to grow as we respond to increasing needs in our community. Each family receives a generous mix of dry goods, fresh produce, bakery items, dairy, and meat.

Ways you can help:

Volunteer:

We would love to have you join us Thursday mornings to help pack bags and serve our neighbors. No experience is needed—we’ll show you everything. Individuals, couples, families, and students needing service hours are all welcome.

Donate:

Every gift makes a difference. Donations may be made to FPC with “Food Bank” in the memo line.

Thank you for helping us be the hands and feet of Christ as we serve our neighbors with compassion and care.

🗓 When: Thursday mornings

⏰ Food packing begins: 8:00 a.m.

🌟 Distribution: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

📍 Where: First Presbyterian Church, south/back parking lot

Even an hour of your time can make a real difference.

Dear First Presbyterian Church Family,

This week, we welcomed our families to the brand-new school year, and we are beyond grateful to you all and to First Presbyterian Church for all of the support you provide for our school!

While our classrooms, playgrounds, and activities are important, it's really the relationships we build with children, families, and one another that make our preschool feel like home.

This year, our theme is Building Our Village, because we believe children thrive when they are surrounded by caring adults who work together to support their growth. Raising young children was never meant to be done alone. It takes all of us: families, teachers, and our preschool community, working together to help children feel safe, confident, curious, and deeply loved.

We are grateful for many things and for countless people who make it possible for our village to be here. First and foremost, we thank First Presbyterian Church for being our home and for building our village. First Presbyterian Preschool has served the children and families of our Sarasota community since 1947, when Sarasota didn't yet have a kindergarten. Nearly eighty years ago, the church saw a need and opened its doors, creating a safe and loving place where young children could learn, play, and grow. What began as a small but important ministry has become a lasting part of our community and the lives of generations of families.

We are deeply grateful to the church for believing in children and families then, and for continuing to believe in them today. Because of that vision and generosity, First Presbyterian Preschool has had the privilege of welcoming thousands of children through our doors, helping them build their first friendships, discover the joy of learning, and take their first steps into the wider world. We are honored to carry that legacy forward.

Before welcoming your children back to school this year, our staff gathered for our back-to-school in-service training. Together, we explored this year's theme, Building Our Village: Relationships at the Heart of Our Work. We reflected on the four relationships that support every child in the classroom: teacher and child, child and child, child and their environment, and teacher and family. These relationships are the foundation for everything we do and the heart of every meaningful preschool experience.

Over the past week, we've already begun building those connections through Orientation, our Boo Hoo-Yahoo Breakfast (a heartfelt and enormous thank you to our Preschool Board members, Lauren Bridges, Lyndee Smuts, and Shelley Watson, and our brand new Director of Christian Education, Tim Walsh, for helping make it such a special morning), and our first days together on our beautiful campus and in the classrooms. Watching our students walk through our doors with excitement, courage, and wonder is always one of the greatest gifts of the new school year.

Our teachers always greet our students with warm smiles, celebrate little victories, comfort big feelings, encourage new friendships, and help each child know they are loved, capable, and important. In the first few weeks of school, they will build relationships with each child and with your family, because we know that all learning happens in the context of relationships, and children learn best when they feel safe, seen, connected, and valued. Those everyday moments may seem small, but they are the foundation for everything else children learn.

Throughout the year, we build this partnership in many ways. Our classroom whiteboards will give parents a glimpse into what their child will be exploring each day. Through Brightwheel, we'll share meaningful moments from their child's day, not just what they did, but what they were discovering and learning. Our student's portfolios tell the story of their growth throughout the year, celebrating friendships, creativity, confidence, curiosity, and the many milestones that make their preschool journey unique. These are more than communication tools. They help us stay connected, celebrate our students' growth, and share a little piece of their day with their families.

The preschool years are such a short season, and they leave a lasting imprint on a child's heart. During these early years, children begin to discover who they are, how to be a friend, how to solve problems, and how exciting it is to learn something new. We don't take the privilege of being part of that journey lightly, and we are so grateful that our families have chosen to share it with us.

Thank you for being part of our village, and thank you for allowing us to be part of the stories of so many families.

We are honored to be part of the First Presbyterian Church village, and we look forward to a year filled with learning, laughter, friendships, and joyful memories.

With love and heartfelt gratitude,

Clare Carter, Lydia Chapdelain, and your First Pres. Preschool Family

Cheryl's Monthly Health Awareness ........

When it Comes to Sepsis, It’s About TIME

Sepsis is your body’s life-threatening response to an infection. Sepsis damages vital organs and can cause death. In other words, it’s your body’s overactive and toxic response to an infection. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Your immune system usually works to fight any germs (bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites) to prevent infection. If an infection occurs, your immune system will try to fight it. It might be able to fight it alone or you might need help with medications.

Unfortunately, for reasons researchers don’t yet understand, sometimes the immune system stops fighting the “invaders,” and begins to turn on itself. This is the start of sepsis.

Some people are at higher risk of developing sepsis because they are at higher risk of contracting an infection. These include the very young (infants), the very old, those with chronic illnesses or malnourished, and those with a weakened or impaired immune system. 

People are diagnosed with sepsis when they develop a set of signs and symptoms related to sepsis. Sepsis is not diagnosed based on an infection itself.

Sepsis progresses to severe sepsis when – in addition to signs of sepsis – there are signs that one or more organs aren’t working properly. This is called organ dysfunction and can include difficulty breathing (problems with the lungs), low or no urine output (kidneys), abnormal liver tests (liver), and changes in mental status (brain).

Septic shock is the most severe stage and is diagnosed when your blood pressure drops to dangerous levels. These patients are treated in the ICU.



Sepsis is the number one cost of hospitalization in the United States. Costs for acute sepsis hospitalization and skilled nursing are estimated to be $60 billion annually. And, sepsis is one of the primary causes of readmission to the hospital.

Until a cure for sepsis is found, early detection and treatment is essential for survival and limiting disability for survivors.

 Updated August 5, 2026. Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis.org

Pastoral Care

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

We’re Here for You!

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