To the members & friends of First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove:
As I sit to write this letter, it is one of the funnest days of the year (at least in my book): May 4th. So to my fellow Star Wars fans and even the non-fans, I say, "May the 4th/Force be with you...Always." We also have officially moved past the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice and change is in the air all around us. We can feel it as we walk out our front doors and breathe in all of that fresh pollen. But seriously, there seems to be a lightness that is coming with the warmer weather, more sunshine, and a growing number of people getting vaccinated.
And just as the earth is changing around us, we are watching as the church is changing in front of us. We are going to be looking at dates in the coming weeks to begin our Strategic Planning & Visioning Process. As we look to the future of the church, it's essential that we get clear about what our values are, what needs we are trying to meet, and what strategies we want to employ in order to meet those needs. It doesn't mean that we'll always get it right or that we'll feel like winners on day 1 or even day 100 of the process, but it does mean that we are moving more cohesively with a greater understanding of who we are and what we're trying to do together. Make sure to stay tuned for updates about this process. We want as many people to be involved in these conversations as possible! Membership is not a requirement—just an investment in the future of our church.
As we move forward into this new and brave future that will be both scary and exciting, I invite you to start seriously thinking and praying about what you see for the future of this community. When you think about the church 1 year from now, what do you see? What does the sanctuary look like on a Sunday? What does it sound like? What's going on in the church during the week? What about 5 years from now? 10 years from now? While we cannot predict the future, we can be more intentional about our present. So let's move in that direction and let's do it together. And remember, the force is with you... always.
Peace,
|
|
Pastor Lance (they/them/he/him) |
|
 |
Church Table Talks
As we move into the summer months, we're trying something different! Once a month, 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.
Make sure to mark your calendars for May 9th, June 6th, July 11th, and August 15th.
|
|
|
|
The First Church Table Talk: THIS SUNDAY the 9th
In Honor of People Who Mother
|
Our first Church Table Talk will be focused on people who have played a mothering role in our lives. We'll build an altar together in honor of those people so bring a photo or an object that connects you to those people to help us build our altar. |
|
|
|
Emmie loved coming to visit you in Glen Cove!
Cheers to wonderful conversations, tasty food, beautiful sights, and whenever the next time is.
|
|
Office Manager Beth is retiring!
We are so grateful for all the work that she has put into keeping this church afloat amidst all of the transitions over the last few years. On Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd, we will be collecting an offering to say thank you to Beth and bless her on her way out. If you’d like to donate, please make sure that you designate your offering for Beth; you can do this online, too.
This also means that we are going to begin searching for a new office administrator. If you know someone who is looking for a part-time job and is proficient with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and Quickbooks, please let us know.
|
|
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. Some episodes will be interviews about people's spiritual journeys, some will be biblical reflections and story-telling, and some will be topics and ideas we haven't even thought of yet.
Click here to listen to the podcast, here to watch it on YouTube, here to like Glenwood Table on Facebook, and here to follow on Instagram.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pentecost Sunday Outdoor Coffee Hour on May 23rd
Weather permitting, we are excited to have coffee hour together once again! Throughout the summer, we'll have various outdoor coffee hours so if you'd like to host one at your home, please let Pastor Lance know.
Make sure to bring a sweet treat.
|
|
|
|
Bible Study
9 AM on Sundays
|
|
|
|
Do you have ideas about how our 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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
Lucas' reason: To work towards herd immunity so that those most vulnerable will be safe.
We are incredibly grateful to all of the frontline workers and researchers who are making vaccination distribution possible. Here's to a new future!
|
|
info@fpcglencove.org | (516) 671-0258
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
