First Presbyterian Church

of Philipstown

(FPCP)

"The Church of the Open Door"

Looking Ahead to Holy Week:

Palm Sunday, March 29

10:30 worship with procession for all from outdoors

7:00 pm Labyrinth Walk, social hall

Maundy Thursday, April 2

"Dinner Church" remembering the last supper of Jesus with his disciples, social hall at 7:00 pm

Good Friday, April 3

Ecumenical service at St. Mary's, noon

Torchlight Ecumenical Stations of the Cross, Graymoor, St. Anthony's Chapel, 8:00 pm

Holy Saturday, April 4

Movie "Jesus Christ Superstar" social hall, 7:30 pm

Knowing that all community is a gift of God,

we affirm there can be no exclusiveness about the body of Christ.

We welcome into our community and membership all people of God, regardless of ethnic heritage, national origin, age, gender,

marital status, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic standing;

and we encourage the full participation of all

in the life of our congregation.

Adopted by the session, March 9, 1995

Join us this Sunday

March 22, 2026

Fifth Sunday in Lent

worship at 10:30 am

(in person or on zoom)

Rev. Ekama Eni will be in the pulpit,

Tom McCoy at the piano, our choir will be singing,

Kate Dayton will be the reader, and

our young people will be in class with Rachel Emig.

All are Welcome!

Click HERE for this Sunday's Bulletin

Sunday Evening Lent Bible Study

"Into the Wilderness"

with Rev. Ekama @ 5:30 pm

last meeting March 22

Pastor's Page

Prophesy to the bones!

This is one of my fave verses of scripture. I just really feel so connected to this call of God to our lifeless bodies to get on up and MOVE and allow the Holy Spirit to move within us and wake us up. To me, when I hear this mandate, I think I hear God telling us to dance. So much so, I have a couple of dancing skeletons tattooed on my arm (a fun/chaotic tattoo experience, a story for another day perhaps).

Both of our texts this week invite us to the possibility and the miracle of bodily resurrection. I know for a fact we all lay of various lines of the theological spectrum on this biblical/spiritual understanding and comfort when it comes to resurrection, but there’s something I think that resonates deeply with the possibility of new life. In a world of death and destruction, I know I need the possibility of resurrection. In this last weeks of Lent, our texts are preparing us to look for Jesus amongst the living. Are we really ready to take on this work?

-Ekama

Click HERE to email Pastor Ekama

Order your Easter Flowers Now!

You may purchase daffodil or tulip plants for decorating our sanctuary on Easter Sunday, then take home the plants you have purchased following the service.

Click on the button below for the order form.

Click HERE for the flower order form

One Great Hour of Sharing:

A PCUSA Special Offering for Holy Week and Easter

Look for the special envelopes in the bulletin next week

A Prayer for the Common Good

by Rev. Cameron Trimble

God of all life,

You created us not as isolated individuals

but as members of one human family.

Awaken in us a deeper commitment

to the well-being of the whole.

Give us courage to resist systems that diminish human dignity.

Teach us to build communities

where compassion is stronger than fear

and justice stronger than greed.

May our lives contribute to a world

where every person has the opportunity to flourish.

Amen.

PHILIPSTOWN FOOD PANTRY

serving those in need in our local community

845-612-2040

Food Pantry Coordinator, Kiko Lattu

The Food Pantry is now accepting food donations

and doing set-up on Fridays 12:30- 2:00 pm

The Food Pantry is open on Saturdays

8:30 - 10 am

click here to contact the Food Pantry

March Book Group Meeting

Friday, March 20, at 7 pm

at the church,

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

All Are Welcome!

YOGA with Leslie Leonard

THURSDAY NIGHT YOGA CLASS:

March 26 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in the social hall.

Click HERE for our MARCH 2026 CALENDAR

Midnight Run Update:

Our next run will be on

Saturday, March 28

click below for the food sign up link

Items may be dropped off on Friday March 27 between 12:30 and 2 pm

or Saturday March 28 between 9 and 11 am

click HERE to donate food for the March Midnight Run

Update from Ron:

The GoFundMe page is still open for donations.

Alberto is currently housed, thanks to the generosity of donors, but he recently suffered a heart attack, after helping out on our last Run. I'm concerned that it may interfere with his ability to find a job.

Click HERE for Ron's GoFundMe

Scenes from last Sunday...

Our Young People... pretzels, prayers and emojis!

Also this past Sunday...We were annointed, as in the story of David,

with oil and with the words from Pastor Ekama,

"Remember who God has chosen you to be in this time and place"

The Altar created by our Lent group this week

You can use our QR code to donate to the church

or the Food pantry,

and also make a recurring pledge.

We need your support and appreciate your generosity!

Click HERE for the 2026 Estimate of Giving Form

Around Our Community:

Donations Accepted thru Saturday.

Sunday is a sorting day! Help if you can!

Coming to the Philipstown Behavioral Health Hub:

Email the prayer chain

Did you know that we have an email Prayer Chain?

Email your prayer requests and a group of people will be praying for your concern. Also email if you'd like to join the group and add your voice to the prayers!