Weekly News — April 29, 2026

Contents

News

• Matthew 25 - UPDATED
• Church Grounds Clean Up - Thank You
• May Moms Group This Sunday - NEW
• Office Closure Notice - May Dates - NEW
• Porchfest Volunteer Opportunity - NEW
• Family Small Groups Survey
• VBS & Music Adventure Camp Registration
• Milk Jugs Needed - NEW
• Pentecost - Single Service 10am - NEW

Prayers

Matt 25: Final Week! 

This year’s Matthew 25 campaign has already broken all the records and will lead to the highest number of families we’ve ever been able to assist. If you haven’t had a chance to participate and would like your gift to be included in the total announced on Sunday, there’s still time. You can give online or mail a check to the church. If you are giving between now and Friday, please email Caroline (ccupp@firstpreswc.com) to be included in the total shared on Sunday. On behalf of the hundreds of Chester County families who will receive support, thank you!

Church Grounds Clean Up Day - Thank You

While Mother Nature was not very cooperative, we appreciate the volunteers who were able to come out last Friday to mulch, weed, trim, etc. around the church and the rental properties. Everything looks great! More will need to be done over the summer, such as plant annuals, do occasional clean up, and other tasks, so be on the lookout for future calls for volunteers.

May Moms Group This Sunday

We meet this Sunday, May 3rd at 4pm upstairs at the church. Join us as we make a Mother's Day craft for yourself or for some other special mom in your life. Questions? 

Contact Mary Hambleton (emham@verizon.net) or Liz Single (lizsingle@gmail.com). 

Office Closure Notice - May Dates

The church offices will close at noon on May 5 and May 12 as well as be closed all day on Memorial Day, May 25.

Porchfest Volunteer Opportunity

First Pres is taking part in West Chester’s Porchfest on Saturday, May 16, which is a free event in this quadrant of the borough where musicians perform on the historic porches of WC. The church is “hosting” three musical groups on our porch outside the Sanctuary between 1-4pm, and we need volunteers in one-hour shifts to help show First Pres as a warm, welcoming place in the borough. Please sign up by clicking below or reach out to Elizabeth Hess.

Family Small Groups Forming

Small groups are a great way to grow in faith and grow in friendship with other church families, and we are hoping to get some new groups going this year!

Are you interested in joining a small group? What logistics would make it work for you? Parents with children zero through college are encouraged to fill out the survey below. Talk to Sara Pantazes with any questions.

VBS & Music Adventure Camp Are Back

We are excited to offer a week of summer fun to the kids of First Pres and our community! Join us for the week of July 20-24 for VBS in the morning and Music Adventure Camp in the afternoon. Kids can sign up to attend either or both! It will be a great week of faith-filled fun, playing, friends and, of course, music!

For more information and to register, click on "VBS/Music Adventure Camp" on the Sign-up tab of the church's website or talk to Director of Faith Formation Sara Pantazes or Children's Music Director Laura Moreschi.

Clean Milk or Water Jugs Needed

This summer's VBS has a winter theme, so to help bring winter to life, we are going to build an igloo out of milk and water jugs! We'll need several hundred jugs to make this a reality, so starting next Sunday, please bring in your 1-gallon plastic milk or water jugs and leave them in the bin on the stage in Fellowship Hall. They need to be completely clean and dry so that Fellowship Hall doesn't smell like spoiled milk all summer! Talk to Sara Pantazes with any questions.

Single Worship Service Sunday May 24

There will be a single worship service at 10am on Pentecost Sunday, May 24. Please note that there will not be any children's programs that morning.

Thursday First Pres Prayers

This Month’s Prayer Request:

God of Renewal, as we journey through this month of April and witness the signs of new life all around us, we give thanks for the hope you bring. As the earth awakens and blossoms, remind us that your love is always making things new within us and around us.

Help us to live as people of resurrection hope, carrying light into places of darkness, offering kindness where there is need, and standing alongside those who long for comfort, stability, and peace. Strengthen us to be faithful neighbors, not only in word but in action, reflecting your grace in all that we do. We pray for all who feel weary or uncertain, that they may find rest and assurance in you. May our community grow in compassion and unity, so that all may experience belonging and care. We pray this in Christ’s name. Amen.

Each week we pray for our congregation at 12:00 pm on Thursdays.

Set an alarm or schedule it in your calendar to join us! You don’t need to only pray for the topic of the week, but you can continue to pray for previous topics as well or anything that God lays on your heart.

For those who would like to set up time to meet one-on-one with someone to navigate a time of transition or difficulty, Stephen Ministers are here to help.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to add a prayer (in joy or in time of need) to our Prayer Band, complete the website form, send an email, or call the church at the number below.

First Presbyterian Church | 130 W. Miner Street | 610-696-0554

GIVE | Visit firstpreswc.com

Thank you for your gifts supporting the mission and ministries of First Pres.