Weekly News — May 6, 2026

Contents

News

• Matthew 25 - UPDATED
• Office Closure Notice - May Dates
• Pentecost - Single Service 10am
• Porchfest Volunteer Opportunity
• Family Small Groups Survey
• VBS & Music Adventure Camp Registration
• Milk Jugs Needed
• Hot Glue Gun Needed - NEW

Prayers

Matthew 25: Thank You! 

Thank you for making this year’s’ Matthew 25 Lent Campaign the most highly supported ever. Together, you raised $114,090 for emergency housing assistance for families in financial crisis. Your gifts will go to support neighbors like Kylie, who was working two waitress jobs but couldn’t make her rent after both restaurants closed due to bad weather. Or Richard, an elderly disabled veteran in need of assistance to keep his lights on. In Matthew 25, Jesus says, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Thank you for your faithfulness to God and your support of this ministry. The lives it impacts will be forever changed because you answered Christ’s call.

The kids celebrated the Matt 25 result on Sunday - and the number keeps rising!

Office Closure Notice - May Dates

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

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, but the nursery will be open.

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 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.

Hot Glue Gun Needed

We are in need of a high temperature hot glue gun for building the VBS igloo out of the milk jugs.

If you own one and would be willing to lend it the church, please let Sara know.

Thursday First Pres Prayers

This Month’s Prayer Request:

God of warmth and new life, we give thanks for the beauty of this world you’ve made and sustain. For those who are fearful and hemmed in, we pray for safety and resurrection. For all who struggle, we pray for your peace. Let this world reflect your glory in all we say, and all we do. We pray this in Jesus’ 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.