October 9, 2020

Grace and peace to the saints in FPC Pottstown,

This Sunday morning, we are pleased to have Dr. Bruce Main, President and founder of one of our mission partners, Urban Promise, preaching and joining us in leading worship. That he will be joining us this Sunday is well-timed because this Sunday we will be commissioning our mission workers in the community, in person and virtually, including those walking in the CROP Walk.
Urban Promise, which our congregation has been supporting for nearly 25 years, has as its mission “to equip Camden’s (N.J.) children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and Christian leadership.” Urban Promise operates after-school programs, summer camps, two schools, experiential learning, job training and a host of other programs. 

Bruce is a graduate of Azusa Pacific (Bachelor’s), Fuller Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity) and Princeton Seminary (Doctor of Ministry). He is the author of several books. He and his wife, Pamela, have three adult children.
 
How are we going to be Church this week?
Sunday, October 11
  • 9:30AM - Service of the Lord’s Day, in the sanctuary. Dr. Bruce Main preaching. Please sign up on line.
  • After worship - join the Jr. Seekers for a socially distanced CROP Walk
  • Junior Seekers – meet at 10:45AM to walk. Pack a lunch. Pick-up is at 12:30PM.

Monday, October 12
  • 2-7PM - Blood Drive All of the slots are currently taken but Dawn is keeping a waiting list in case of cancellations so check with her.

Tuesday, October 13
  • 7:30 -- Bible Study via Zoom, If you would like the link, email Carter.

Wednesday, October 14
  • 8:30AM - Endowment Meeting via Zoom
  • 4PM – Music(less) Rec for grades 2-5. Outside, weather permitting, or in Fellowship Hall
  • 7:30PM – Deacons - Kerry will send the Zoom meeting link.

Thursday, October 15
  • 9:30AM – Sisters of the Way Bible Study on the Prayer Labyrinth or in Fellowship Hall, depending on the weather
  • 5:00 – Community Meals
  • 6:30 – Handbells Rehearsal

Upcoming Senior Seekers – Sunday, October 18, 6-8PM: Wilcox Corn Maze

CROP Walk 2020
Would you support this walk – either by walking yourself or by supporting the First Presbyterian team? Our Junior Seekers are going to walk following worship on October 11. You can join them and walk socially distanced or walk at a time and place more convenient to you any time between October 11 and 18. To sign up to walk or to donate to the First Presbyterian team online, go to https://www.crophungerwalk.org/pottstownpa/Team/View/137988/First-Presbyterian-Church. Or you can contact Carter. If you want to make your donation the old-fashioned way, you can drop off or mail your donation to the church – just mark “CROP Walk” on the memo line. If you do walk, please take a selfie and send it in to us. Pictures of walkers are to be posted on the Cluster Facebook page and we will post it on our own. We walk so others can eat – and when we do Jesus promises that the one we feed will be Jesus Christ himself. (Matthew 25).

Covid19 Emergency Fund
The Covid19 Emergency Fund is available “for church members to help in an emergency with basic essentials (for example, food, shelter, utilities, health care, work transportation) where the effects of Covid19 have impacted that individual/family’s ability to cover those expenses.” If you would like to request a grant, simply send an email or letter to us. We, in turn, will share the requests anonymously with a team designated by Session to make the decisions. We will not participate in deliberations or decisions regarding the grants. No minimum or maximum amount for the grants was set by the Session – it will all depend on the number of requests and the amount of money available.

Mission Partners: Urban Promise and The Salvation Army’s Lessig-Booth Family Residence

This week we heard from Wendy Egolf who is Director of Housing Programs at the local Salvation Army chapter:

“The new lighting fixtures were installed this week in the Lessig-Booth Family Residence. We are so thrilled with the better lighting in all of the rooms and common areas in our shelter. We are most grateful for your partnership, support, and prayers! This week we had a family leave to go to their own apartment in the community. The mother’s words to me as she left were, ‘Thank you for having this program. It saved us! I really appreciate it. Thank you! God bless!’ Your church family helps us make this all possible! Thank you!”
 
With hopeful hearts,
Kerry and Carter
The Nominating Committee needs your help in suggesting persons whom they may consider as nominees for elders and deacons. 

Please take some time to reflect on persons whom you believe would serve well in these offices, then fill out this brief form. Please refer to the detailed information if you have any questions or contact church office.  https://forms.gle/yGRe5RpsYBD6C8c86
The Spiritual Formation committee is looking for people to write meditations for this year's Advent devotional. You can sign up to write a devotional using this form, https://forms.gle/aEVtnE7hiMRAhRJA7 .

If you have any questions, email Jaylee, [email protected]
Links For This Sunday




The order of service is also posted to the homepage at fpcpottstown.org every week.
If for any reason you have trouble downloading it from this email, you can use the link on the website.
Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.  (James 1:17 CEB) 
 
At FPC Pottstown, we believe that our time, our talents, our earthly treasures are not our own; they are gracious gifts from God. God entrusts them to us, and calls us to use our gifts and our lives to make God's love known in the world.
 
The coronavirus has not stopped God's work! We continue to clothe, feed, educate and uplift one another, and our neighbors in need.  This work requires offerings of time, talent and treasure. Your giving makes that work possible. Thank you!