Special Coffee Hour at the Manse

On April 10^th the Deacons will be hosting a coffee hour at the manse.  This will be an opportunity for our church family to tour the future home of our new minister.  

The Building and Grounds committee along with a sub-committee are working hard planning necessary updates.  Estimates are being requested at this time.  Its anticipated work will begin soon and be competed by late fall.  We are looking forward to seeing you at this special coffee hour.

"Soup"er Bowl of Caring

You’ve shown that you care about your neighbor through your participation in the "Soup"er Bowl of Caring.

This year we raised $408.00 and over 120 food items. We have participated for 18 years and raised a total of $3,118.00 and over 1080 food items.

One Great Hour of Sharing

Around the world, people lack access to food, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity. Each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) serves to help change the lives of people in these challenging situations. The Offering provides us a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need.

The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing (Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People) all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need.

From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. In 2015 the three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing reached out in the following ways:

• Superstorm Sandy: Ongoing response includes nine PDA-related sites serving communities in New York and New Jersey. More than 7,900 Presbyterians have volunteered their time and efforts.
• Hunger action programs: Partnered with 32 presbyteries with hunger action enablers to leverage $1.6 million for local, national, and international hunger work.
• The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People continues to work with low income communities across the United States to overcome oppression and injustice, including the focus areas of New Orleans, Detroit, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. In 2015, SDOP entered into partnerships with 20 self-help projects in the United States, focusing on literacy, human rights, rehabilitation, and skill development.

Please be prayful as you consider your gift to One Great Hour of Sharing, received on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016.

Easter Flowers

If you would like to purchase Easter Flowers for the front of the sanctuary, please contact the church office by Sunday, March 20.

Attention: Easter Flowers
First Presbyterian Church
520 N. Decatur St,
Watkins Glen, NY 14891

607-535-2377

We must receive a form with the following options:

___________________________________________

Name:______________________________________

Address:____________________________________

Contribution: __________________ $15.00 each

In Memory of:

__________________________________________

In Honor of:

__________________________________________

Given by:

___________________________________________

_____ I will leave the flower for the sanctuary.

_____ I will take the flower and deliver it to a shut in. 

_____ I will take the flower after worship on Easter Sunday.

___________________________________________

Volunteer Opportunity

The Food Bank of the Southern Tier sends a Mobile Food Pantry to St Mary’s/Schuyler Outreach the 1st Saturday of every month.  Volunteers help distribute the food that comes to needy people in our community.  The next Food Truck is Saturday, March 5.  Volunteers are asked to show up at 9 am, and the food distribution begins at 10 am.  Won’t you help?

Also, there are opportunities to volunteer (1x or on a continuing basis) at the Food Bank itself, in Elmira.  This is an interesting way to spend a morning, afternoon or evening- volunteer shifts are 2-3 hours long.  There are snacks, breaks, and sometimes even karaoke!  If you would be interested in this, please let Pastor Nancy know- we need to sign up to volunteer as a group.

Daylight Savings Time!

Remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour on the evening of Saturday, March 12

“Very early on the first day of the week….”

The Gospel of Mark has a confusing, somewhat chaotic, short and urgent Easter morning account and ending. But it begins "very early on the first day of the week…" which is a clue about what is to happen… or rather, that what has happened in Easter is the start of something entirely new.

In Easter, in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has defeated sin and death. God has made a new creation — in us, and in the world. The old is gone, behold! The new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The angel tells the women at the tomb that Jesus is not there, but to go back home to Galilee, and that Jesus has gone ahead of them and they will see him there.

They will find Jesus at home, in the ordinary days and areas of their lives.

What Good News! We do not only experience God in the mountaintop moments or even only in the depths of despair and chaos, but we experience God in our ordinary, day to day lives. But everything is new, now — our work, our lives, our families, our days. We are new, because of God’s grace given to us and to the world in Christ’s resurrection. Glory to God. Alleluia! May you know deep blessings this Easter season and always.

Pastor Nancy