To the members & friends of First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove:
Summer is upon us! It's a time for celebrating, for slowing down, and embracing the warmth of the sun (or the coolness of the air conditioning). As we move into June, we find ourselves with all kinds of reasons to celebrate. This month, we specifically look towards celebrating Juneteenth and Pride.
While it may seem like these are two separate celebrations that have little to do with each other, they are both about freedom. And they are intimately connected to our understanding of what it means to be human and exercise agency. If you don't know about Juneteenth, click here for a brief synopsis. And if you want to know a bit more about the history of Pride and why we celebrate in June, you can read about it here.
This Sunday, we'll dive into this theme a bit more by exploring what it means for us to be a community of emancipation. The concepts of freedom, liberation, and emancipation are deeply woven into the Christian narrative. These are not ideas that suddenly emerged in the liberation movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. And yet, these movements have much to teach us as a church about why we exist and for whom we exist. These movements serve as a prophetic call to us to press forward in our liberation as individuals, as a community, and beyond.
Of course, freedom necessarily involves change. It implies that something that once bound us no longer has power over us. This begs the question, "What things still limit us? What prevents us from being free?" That question will shape our conversations as we move through this month and think about our future as a church.
So, for this Sunday, I invite you to bring an artifact (maybe it's a book, or a photo, a CD, or something else) that represents a turning point in your own journey towards freedom. What has helped you become the you that you are today? We'll have a chance to hear from each other as well this Sunday.
And we're also looking to the end of the month when we'll begin our Strategic Planning conversations. We'll ask similar questions and share our hopes for the future of this community and I can't wait!
Happy Pride, my friends! Here's to freedom for all!
Peace,
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Pastor Lance (they/them/he/him) |
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Church Table Talks
Once a month this summer, we will gather in the Parish Hall for a different kind of worship service where we can sit around tables and have meaningful conversations about a variety of topics. We loved our first one and are excited for our second (details on the right)!
Make sure to mark your calendars for June 6th (this Sunday!), July 11th, and August 15th.
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The Second Church Table Talk: THIS SUNDAY the 6th |
Our second Church Table Talk will be focused on what emancipation looks like for us. We would love it if you brought an object or photo that represents something that carried you through and brought you forward in your journey towards freedom! |
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Upcoming Meetings to Envision Our Church's Future Together
A few weeks from now, everyone is invited to take part in a Vision and Strategic Planning Process. We’ll be meeting with Jill White from the UCC Buildings and Loans Fund to help us develop a plan for the next 3-5 years of our church. All sessions will be held on Zoom.
If you cannot attend one of the sessions, please let Pastor Lance know – you can write up your priorities and still be included in the conversation. More details coming soon!
Session 1: Information Gathering (2 options, 1.5 hours): June 25th, 2 PM-3:30 PM or June 26th, 9 AM-10:30 AM
Session 2: Review & Prioritize (4 hours): July 10th, 9 AM-11 AM, 12 PM-2 PM
Session 3: Understanding Our Surrounding Community (1-1.5 hours): July 20th, 7 PM
Session 4: Optional Session for those who want to help write Strategic Plan (1-1.5 hours): July 27th, 7 PM
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Adult Education on Sunday Mornings at 9 AM
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New Things Happening on The Glenwood Table Podcast and Their Social Media Pages |
Glenwood Table, one of FPC's partner ministries, has started a podcast and a YouTube channel to create spiritual resources for people seeking faith for the 21st century. Their series include:
- "Lectionary in a Human Voice", a weekly reading of the four lectionary texts
- Interviews with people who have gone on spiritual journeys and experienced transformation
- Pastor Lance's and communication manager Emmie's writings about faith and life
- Faith in action conversations when political situations arise, such as the increased fighting in Israel and Palestine
Their Instagram and Facebook pages are full of spiritual content. They feature:
- A series of reflections and questions about the Lord's Prayer
- "Sunday Love" from Pastor Lance
- "Everyday Moments" with Emmie
Click here to listen to the podcast (or search "Glenwood Table" on your favorite podcast app), here to watch it on YouTube, here to like Glenwood Table on Facebook, and here to follow on Instagram.
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Goodbyes
We are deeply grateful for the impact that Beth and José will leave on the church. Their dedication and love have made a mark on all of us. We will miss having them on staff dearly, and we look forward to whenever they come to visit!
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& Hellos!
We are excited to announce that Lynda Hickey will be serving as our sexton and Lucas Saucedo will be serving as our office manager. We are grateful for the skills they will bring to their work and the joy they will bring to the church as staff members!
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Do you have ideas about how we can make the area behind the pulpit more warm, inviting, and beautiful?
The session is building a task force of church members who are interested in helping imagine what the wall behind the pulpit can look like. If you are interested, please email Lance Cheney at lance@brush.com.
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Online giving
We are connected to an online giving center for churches called tithe.ly. You can give a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift by clicking here.
Please also consider giving memorial flowers so that we can add more beauty to our services. You can sign up by clicking here.
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Looking to pledge?
Why does pledging matter? Pledging helps us develop a realistic financial picture and plan our ministries for the year ahead. When you pledge, you're letting us know what you're planning to give for the whole year (not each week or month). Whatever amount you can commit to will help!
Click here to fill out your pledge form.
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Looking for info on the Covid-19 vaccine?
Everyone over the age of 16 is now eligible to get the vaccine, and many places have walk-in appointments. If you need help finding a location, please let us know, and if you feel nervous or unsure about getting it, we encourage you to ask friends and family members the reasons why they have taken it.
Lynda's reason: to be able to see friends again and be part of the solution of ending this terrible virus.
We are incredibly grateful to all of the frontline workers and researchers who are making vaccination distribution possible. Here's to a new future!
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info@fpcglencove.org | (516) 671-0258
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