We are a curious, inclusive, and diverse gathering of imperfect people united by our common hope in Jesus Christ. Through worship, study, and service we seek to know and show the transformative love of God found in the pages of scripture and revealed in the person of Jesus. No matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey, know that you are welcome here.  

Adult Sunday School Class: Aging as a Spiritual Journey

Dent Davis and Mary Ziegler are leading a six-week adult Sunday School class, Aging as a Spiritual Journey.

As the Bible reminds us, "Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom" (Job 32:7). Aging is more than a physical process—it is also a spiritual journey filled with opportunities for growth, reflection, and deeper faith.

Together, we will explore stories from the Bible, history, and literature, drawing on insights from gerontology and psychology to discover how spirituality enriches the aging experience. Participants will also have opportunities to reflect on their own journeys and gain practical wisdom for navigating the joys and challenges that come with growing older.

Aging brings both gains and losses, joy and sorrow, meaning and uncertainty. Since aging is a journey we all share, there is much to learn from one another.

The class meets Sundays from September 13 through October 25 (no class on October 4) at 10:00 a.m. in Room 203.

All are welcome.

Reflections from Sue Hargis-Spiegel's trip to Cuba

Returning from Cuba brings the exhale of knowing you’ll have mostly reliable electricity and running water and a constellation of gas stations with full tanks. Yet I appreciated the brief challenge of doing without certainty and spotty internet. 

I attended the Encuentro –the annual gathering of the Cuban and American Presbyterian Partnership, this year held at the Protestant seminary in Matanzas, Cuba. Key themes emerged: mutuality (everyone is equal, regardless of financial status and abilities); sharing of individual gifts, talents, and ideas; and sharing the deep love our God has for all of us. In this time, the practical need for donations from the U.S. is more important than ever. Still, the recipient has no less value than the donor.

We shared World Communion Sunday at Matanzas churches. Regarding spirituality, I have never seen deeper faith and depth of belief than I see among our Cuban sisters and brothers in Christ. I’ve seen this since my first trip in 2020. The gathering brought the practical and spiritual together. A few panelists spoke of the little boy who offered his bread and fish to Jesus, who then fed thousands. Today, we are to be the little boy giving away his bread and fish. Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada en Cuba (IPRC) General Secretary Dora Arce called the church the community redeemed by God, emphasizing mutuality. The parable of the talents teaches us to discover our gifts, which we are obligated to share. To hide our gifts is un-Christian, she explained. “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12.) During our final worship service, on Monday, sniffling was heard throughout the chapel.



Thank you to dear friends who gave wonderful gifts and support for my personal journey. I delivered two suitcases for Juan G. Hall loaded with essential items; thank you all for such generosity! I enjoyed strong fellowship with our new pastor Josue and his wife Danely, despite our language barriers. I have received a great gift from this journey. 

Sue and Pastor Josué 

Youth Group: Connect, Serve & Grow!

New Youth Group Events Begin 
Sunday Evening.

Middle School and High School Youth Group events will be held on the first and third Sunday evenings of each month beginning this week! Contact Tim Walsh with any questions: timw@FPCsrq.org or (941) 356-0801.

Horizons Bible Study: United Through Christ, Bound to Each Other

This month, we continue exploring Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth. Paul compares himself to a mother as he nurtures the early church, while also taking on the role of a spiritual father and disciplinarian as he challenges the Corinthians to turn away from their pagan ways.

Join us as we continue this study of Paul’s influence on the early church and consider what his message has to say to us today.

Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 a.m.

The Bible study will be led on Zoom by Barb Andrews.

For Zoom information and a copy of the lesson, please contact Jinny Miller at jinnyron@gmail.com.

Arts Advocate Kick-Off Meeting
October 18

12:15 in the sanctuary

As we begin a new season of concerts and events at First Presbyterian, we invite you to join us for an Arts Advocate Kick-Off Meeting!

Whether you’re a seasoned Arts Advocate or new to the team, this will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, learn what’s ahead, share ideas, and get excited about the upcoming season.

Arts Advocates are FPC’s volunteer ambassadors for the arts. They attend concerts and arts events on our campus, welcome visiting artists and groups, help answer questions and provide information about the church, and offer support to performers and event organizers as needed. They help create a warm, welcoming experience for our arts partners and guests while enjoying the wonderful events taking place at FPC.

New Arts Advocates are especially welcome! Come be part of the team and help us make this another great season of music, art, and community at First Pres.

Contact Stan Romero stanr12@bellsouth.net with questions

Are You in the Right Place?

Looking for First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota online? Make sure you’re on our website!

With so many Presbyterian churches and organizations using similar names, it’s easy to end up somewhere else. For everything happening at FPC Sarasota—including worship, events, ministries, announcements, and online giving—visit:

www.fpcsrq.org

That’s the official website of First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota.

When in doubt, look for the “FPC Sarasota” name and our website: www.fpcsrq.org.



We want to make sure you find us—not another Presbyterian organization!

You can also watch the Sunday sermons on our YouTube channel

Hurricane Season Preparedness

Hurricane season is here, and now is the time to prepare your family, home, and neighborhood. Create an emergency plan, know your evacuation level, and stock a disaster supply kit with enough essentials to last at least seven days, as extended power outages are possible and emergency responders cannot assist once winds reach 45 mph.

No two storms are alike, so preparation is essential. Find preparedness guides, checklists, and evacuation information at scgov.net/beprepared.

The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Mid-Year Report gives us a glimpse into how Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is putting faith into action through disaster response, recovery, and community support.

Chapel News

“Solitude is the place where our own hearts discover our deep yearning to be loved unconditionally and to love with our whole beings… it is the place of the great encounter from which all other encounters derive their meaning.”

-Henri Nouwen

 The Chapel is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

We Need Your Help!



Each week, First Presbyterian Church’s All Faiths Food Bank distribution serves more than 200 families—and volunteers are essential to making it possible. As many of our regular “snowbird” volunteers head out for the season, we especially need extra helping hands right now.

Join us on Thursday mornings in the south/back parking lot. We begin packing food at 8:00 a.m., and distribution runs from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. You don’t need to stay the entire time—any amount of help is truly a blessing.

Our drive-through food distribution continues to grow as we respond to increasing needs in our community. Each family receives a generous mix of dry goods, fresh produce, bakery items, dairy, and meat.

Ways you can help:

Volunteer:

We would love to have you join us Thursday mornings to help pack bags and serve our neighbors. No experience is needed—we’ll show you everything. Individuals, couples, families, and students needing service hours are all welcome.

Donate:

Every gift makes a difference. Donations may be made to FPC with “Food Bank” in the memo line.

Thank you for helping us be the hands and feet of Christ as we serve our neighbors with compassion and care.

🗓 When: Thursday mornings

⏰ Food packing begins: 8:00 a.m.

🌟 Distribution: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

📍 Where: First Presbyterian Church, south/back parking lot

Even an hour of your time can make a real difference.

Dear First Pres. Church Family,

Our preschool year is off to a wonderful start, and our classrooms are already filled with new friendships, discoveries, laughter, and lots of learning through play.

This year, our staff is focusing on Building Our Village Through Relationships: The Heart of Our Work. The relationships our students build with their teachers, friends, families, and the community around them are at the heart of everything we do.

As we move through the first six weeks of school, we're spending lots of time helping children feel safe, connected, confident, and like they belong.

We'd love for you to take a little peek inside our preschool and see what this looks like in the everyday moments of our students' lives, and why we believe play is such an important way for children to learn.

Click below to read our September newsletter and see what is happening in our village! 

With love and heartfelt gratitude,

Your First Pres. Church Preschool Family

Cheryl's Monthly Health Awareness ........

Osteoporosis: Not Just a Women’s Disease

When people think of osteoporosis, they often picture an older woman. It’s true that postmenopausal women have the highest risk, but they’re not the only ones who need to worry about their bones.

Osteoporosis affects both women and men. 20% of osteoporosis cases occur in men, and one in five men over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture in his lifetime. That’s a significant number. Men tend to develop osteoporosis a decade or so later than women, but by age 70, men catch up in risk! Unfortunately, awareness is lower in men. Many men don’t realize they can even get osteoporosis, so they may not be screened or treated until after a serious fracture.

Why do men develop osteoporosis later? One reason is men have generally have larger, denser, bones to begin with, and they don’t experience the rapid hormonal bone loss that women do at menopause. However, as men age, the other age-related factors can lead to significant bone thinning. Men can also have secondary causes of bone loss, including long-term use of corticosteroids for conditions like asthma or rheumatoid arthritis. This is a common cause in both genders.

Other medical conditions, like low testosterone levels in men, prostate cancer treatments that suppress hormones, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or digestive disorders that impair nutrient absorption, can all contribute to osteoporosis in men.  Men who smoke heavily or drink excessive alcohol are at particular risk.

You might hear about osteoporosis in contexts like space travel-astronauts in microgravity lose bone density rapidly. That is a reminder of how important regular stress on bones is to keep them strong. Certain disabilities or long periods of immobility (being on bed rest for months) can cause bone loss in both young and older individuals.

The takeaway is that osteoporosis isn’t exclusive to one demographic. Men need to be aware that they, too, can have fragile bones, and should take preventative measures like adequate calcium/vitamin D, exercise, and screening if they have risk factors. People with chronic illnesses or on bone-affecting medications should be especially proactive in discussing bone health with their doctors. By recognizing that osteoporosis crosses gender and other lines, we can ensure that everyone at risk gets proper attention. Bone health is for everybody!

Taken from medicines.abbott.com, July 3, 2026

Pastoral Care

When you or a loved one is hospitalized, it is important that you contact the church or the pastor to inform us directly and inform the hospital that you are a member of our congregation and would welcome a visit. Hospitals will not contact the church. We have also discovered that some will no longer list a patient as our church member on their internal records unless the patient carefully notes their relationship with our congregation. Thank you for your assistance.

We’re Here for You!

The FPC care team, deacons, elders, and church staff continue to be available for you. Please feel free to reach out to Cheryl Track, Faith Community Nurse, at (941) 320-3828 or call the church office at (941) 955-8119 if we can support you.