Weekly News — June 10, 2026

Contents

News

• Summer Office Hours
• Strategic Planning Listening Session & Lunch
• Philadelphia Project - NEW
• VBS & Music Adventure Camp Registration
• VBS Take Home Decoration Help - NEW
• VBS & Music Adventure Camp Items Needed - NEW
• Presbyterian Paddles
• Summer Spanish
• First Pres Travelers - UPDATED

Prayers

Summer Office Hours

This is just a friendly reminder that we have transitioned to Summer Office hours. Consequently, the church office will be open 9am-4pm on Monday-Thursday, and will be closed on Fridays.

Strategic Planning Listening Session & Lunch

On Sunday, June 14 at 12pm, we will host a Strategic Planning Listening Session in Fellowship Hall followed by lunch. This will be an opportunity for you, the congregation, to give the Strategic Planning committee your feedback so that we can create a comprehensive strategic plan focused on what we believe God is calling First Pres to do, the energy and desires of the congregation, and the leadership of the Session.  

Our discussion will be center on the five priorities set by the session:

1. Worship & Music

2. Faith Formation & Church Life

3. Building & Technology

4. Mission & Evangelism

5. Staffing & Organization

We're looking forward to being with you all, and for the opportunity we have to pray and imagine what it is God is calling us to do. Thank you so much for your faith and your commitment to our wonderful Church!

Please sign up below so that we can know how many to expect and how much food to order. 

Philadelphia Project

The youth at First Pres are less than a month away from returning to the Philadelphia Project on July 5-11. The final deadline for payments is Sunday June 21 - two weeks before we leave - so please sign up as soon as possible. If you would like to attend or have any questions concerning this summer service project, please reach out to our director of youth ministry, Nathan Preuhs.

Please sign up and pay by using the link below.

VBS & Music Adventure Camp - Still Time To Register

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.

VBS Decoration Prep to Take Home

Are you willing to do some VBS preparation from home? If so, there will be a basket of envelopes in Fellowship Hall that contain shapes to cut out or other simple activities to help prepare VBS decorations and activities. Simply take an envelope home, follow the directions inside, and return it to church when the tasks are completed. Thank you in advance for your help! 

VBS & Music Adventure Camp Items Needed

Plans are well underway for this summer's week of VBS and Music Adventure Camp! Please continue to bring in your cleaned, empty 1 gallon water or milk jugs. Music Camp is also looking for donations of individual sized soda bottles (roughly 16 oz), including their tops. Both items can be left in bins on the stage in Fellowship Hall. In addition, we are looking for some items to borrow as decorations, including white Christmas lights, skis and sleds, and white sheets or towels. Check out this Sign-Up Genius on the church website for more information about these items we hope to borrow.

Presbyterian Paddles 

Do you play pickleball? First Pres players will be meeting up this summer for this popular activity! We’ll meet on Wednesday mornings for four weeks (July 1-22) from 7:30-9am at Lambert Park (1145 Pottstown Pike, WC – next to Wawa). This group activity is best suited for intermediate and advanced players who have playing experience. Sign up online and join the fun! 

Summer Spanish

Are you interested in learning some conversational Spanish? A local teacher is hoping to start a class for beginners that would meet once a week over lunch at First Pres. For more information, please contact Pastor Caroline.

The First Pres Travelers

First Pres Travelers is planning to attend the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 North High Street, West Chester for a performance of "White Christmas" on Sunday afternoon on Dec. 13th at 3:30pm.

The management permitted us to reserve 30 seats at a greatly reduced price of $28.00 (including fees). Our 30 seats are now sold out. If you would like to be on the waiting list, please send your information to Thom Clapper.

Thursday First Pres Prayers

This Month’s Prayer Request:

Healer and protector, we pray for those places throughout the world which are affected by illness and lack of resources. We pray for those in rural Ghana who need safe drinking water, and for the bonds between them and First Pres to be strengthened as we travel. We pray for those in Africa and throughout the world who are suffering with illnesses and for the healthcare workers and others who are caring for them. Be with your people throughout the world, give your strength, safety, and comfort. In your Son’s name we pray, Amen.

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

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