News & Events

2010 Approved Budget:  Click HERE.

Greetings Everyone!

 

This Sunday, March 7, is the 3^rd Sunday in Lent.  The sermon theme is "Repentance." The Bible lesson is Luke 13:1-9. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013:1-9&version=NIV. Rich Reifsnyder is preaching the chapel, 7:30 a.m., and sanctuary services, 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., with the Chancel Choir leading music. Dan McCoig is preaching New Stone Gathering, 8:30.

 

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

John Calvin for the 21^st Century.  The year 2009 marked the 500^th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the Presbyterian Church.  The Sycamore Class is also participating in this study. Rich Reifsnyder & Marge Toxopeus, leaders. Graham Room

The Thoughtful Christian:  Exploration of The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller. Dan McCoig, leader             Donegal House

McFaden Men’s Bible Class:  We are studying “Teachings on Community” Alan Morrison, leader. Room 223 (upstairs). 

New Member Class:  Thinking of joining First Presbyterian Church?  It’s not too late! The new member class continues through April 18^th.  Learn about the history of and current programs of First Presbyterian and get to know other new members as well as leaders of the church.  Led by Bob Lizer and Beth Kane in Loudoun Hall.

 

NICARAGUA MISSION TRIP FUND RAISERS:

- COOKIES! COOKIES! COOKIES!  THIS SUNDAY members of the Nicaragua mission trip team will be selling homemade sugar cookies!  The cost is $5 for a dozen and they will be sold before and after the 8:30 and 11:00 services!  Then you have the opportunity to pre-order for future cookie Sundays!!  Each cookie Sunday will feature a different kind of cookie!!

- FIRST NIGHT BABYSITTING – members of the Nicaragua mission team are offering babysitting for children ages 2 and older on the First Friday of April and May, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per child, plus a free-will offering will be accepted.  Go out and enjoy First night activities while your kids have fun with the Nicaragua mission team members!! Please sign up on the bulletin board outside the sanctuary!

 - CHICK-FIL-A Spirit Night – On Thursday, March 25^th come join us for dinner at the Chick-Fil-A on Pleasant Valley from 5-8pm – 10% of receipts turned in that night (and from the drive-thru) will go towards the Nicaragua mission trip!!

 

                                       

MUFFINS FOR MOMS... Elementary kids will honor their moms (or special ones) today during the Sunday school hour, 9:45-10:45am.  Moms are invited to grab a cup of coffee between worship services and come to the Stine Room with their elementary child to enjoy muffins and fellowship with other moms and kids.  Remember... when the muffins are gone... moms are invited to attend Sunday school with their child to get a peek at what kids are learning in Sunday school. 

 

FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE:  Fair Trade Chocolate and Coffee, as well as other fairly traded snacks, are available during the coffee hour in the Gathering Space every Sunday.  Equal Exchange also donates 15% of the profits from the sale of Presbyterian Coffee to the Presbyterian Hunger Program.  Contact Carolyn Thalman (cjthalman@comcast.net) if you have questions or want a special order.

 

B3G | Brown Bag Bluegrass Gospel:  Mondays, 12 noon to 1:00 pm.   [Please use double glass doors from Loudoun Street walking mall.]  Bring your lunch and enjoy a meal with others as well as your instrument or voice to play and sing Bluegrass gospel music, or your ears to listen and enjoy.  For additional information contact Dan McCoig at dan@firstchurch-winchester.org.

 

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN CIRCLE MEETINGS:

-         Dorcas Circle meets Monday, March 8, 10:00 a.m. with Louise Nelson & Janice Shull in the Graham Room of the church.

-         Lydia Circle meets Tuesday, March 9, 10:00 a.m. with Pat Byers.

-         Mary-Martha Circle meets Monday, March 8, 1:30 p.m. with Retha Crosen.

-         Ruth Circle meets Monday, March 8, 2:00 p.m. with Paula Wahlman in the Graham Room of the church.

 WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS!!   Join us this Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. in Fellowship Hall for dinner and enjoy the fellowship with family and friends. 

 

WATTS will be hosted by First Presbyterian Church again March 8-15.  If you didn’t get to volunteer the first time and would like to help out this time, please contact Shannon Brannon at 667-4754 or jsbrannon@comcast.net.

 

WDS BOOK FAIR:  The Weekday School will be hosting a Book Fair in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday March 11 and Friday March 12 from 9am - 1pm. The Winchester Book Gallery will be offering many children’s books, and will take orders for any book, with a portion of the sale benefiting the Weekday School.

 

ARTISAN FAIR: April 24 & 25 in Loudoun Hall.  There will be an organizational meeting for anyone interested in helping to plan this event on Sunday, March 14, at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Help is needed with publicity, coordination of artisans, volunteers, etc.  Questions:  contact Libba Pendleton at 665-4489.

 

CELEBRATION: New Stone Gathering to celebrate its first anniversary on Sunday, March 28 at 9:30 a.m. with a "Palm Brunch" in Fellowship Hall.  Enjoy some good company, juice, coffee, and City Bagels.  New Stone Gathering debuted on March 1, 2009.

 

VOLUNTEEER EMERGENCY FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN is collecting used books for a sale to be held April 9&10.  Please bring books on April 8, 9-5 to the Calvary Church of the Brethren (578 Front Royal Pike).  To donate prior to that date, contact Pat Spory (636-9858) or pspory@vefc.org for a drop point in your area.

 

THE CALVIN CHATTER is now available at http://firstchurch-winchester.org/news_newsletter.php.  Please note: the Chatter is now published solely online.  Printed copies are available in the information racks and in the gathering area.

 

FELLOWSHIP LUNCH AND HYMN SING: Many thanks to the 165 people who participated in our Fellowship Lunch and Hymn Sing on Feb. 28.  About forty people contributed delicious food for the event, and CCAP received many pounds of food from our “Pounding.”  We especially thank organists Marsha Barley, Jan Smith, and Audrey McLendon, and song leaders Marcia Winfield, Lynn Reifsnyder, Roger Callis., and Wayne Kagey.  The event raised more than $4,000 for the building fund; the offering was still being counted as the bulletin went to press.

 

And the #1 favorite hymn from the Hymn Sing is “I Danced in the Morning” with $276.60 votes.  Second favorite is “How Great Thou Art” with $196.75 votes.  The “voting” contributed $1,550 of the total donations at the Hymn Sing.  The next favorite hymns, in order, were “Old Rugged Cross,” “Amazing Grace,” “Onward Christian Soldiers,” “Church in the Wildwood,” “Jesus Loves Me,” “Count Your Blessings” and “Dwelling in Beulah Land” (tied for 8^th place), and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.”

 

 MANY THANKS to Dan and Pat Ritchie, for organizing this fun event, for their dedication and hard work, and their wonderful spirit!

 

YOUTH NEWS!!!

This Sunday Morning – Sunday school:

High school meets on the 2^nd floor of 12 East cork in the large common area

8^th grade meets on the 2^nd floor of 12 East cork in the classroom

7^th grade meets on the 1^st floor of 12 East Cork

5-6^th grade meet in the NEXT room located in basement near the children’s music room.

This Sunday Night: 

CROSSROADS (9-12^th grade) and SEEKERS (7-8^th grade) meet 6-7:30pm!!  CROSSROADS will be having a FLASHLIGHT all-sardines night!!  PLEASE BRING A FLASHLIGHT OR YOU WILL BE IN THE DARK!!

 

Wednesday:  7^th Sense youth praise band rehearsal 7-8pm in 12 East Cork!

 

Upcoming:

Seekers (7-8^th grade) LOCK-IN – Friday- Saturday, March 12-13^th  7pm-7am – drop-off and pick-up is at 12 East Cork – Come for movies, fellowship, games, cosmic bowling, IHOP at 2am, and more (maybe some sleeping) – Please bring: pillows, sleeping bag, snacks to share, money for 2 games of cosmic bowling and food at IHOP, and a signed permission slip (coming by email)

 

In Other News:

Nicaragua Mission trip Fundraisers: 

- COOKIES! COOKIES! COOKIES!  Today members of the Nicaragua mission trip team will be selling homemade sugar cookies!  The cost is $5 for a dozen and they will be sold before and after the 8:30 and 11:00 services!  Then you have the opportunity to pre-order for future cookie Sundays!!  Each cookie Sunday will feature a different kind of cookie!!

- FIRST NIGHT BABYSITTING – members of the Nicaragua mission team are offering babysitting for children ages 2 and older on the First Friday of April and May, from 6:00-8:30 p.m.  Cost is $10 per child, plus a free-will offering will be accepted.  Go out and enjoy First night activities while your kids have fun with the Nicaragua mission team members!! Please sign up on the bulletin board outside the sanctuary!

 - CHICK-FIL-A Spirit Night – On Thursday, March 25^th come join us for dinner at the Chick-fil-A on Pleasant Valley from 5-8pm – 10% of receipts turned in that night (and from the drive-thru) will go towards the Nicaragua mission trip!!

 CRAFT FAIR – Libba Pendleton and Rachel Dodson are organizing a craft fair fundraiser for the building fund – the craft fair will take place Saturday, April 24^th and Sunday, April 25^th and they need people to make things to donate to be sold!!  So if you are crafty get to it!!!

 SUMMER 2010 – information about the summer 2010 youth mission trips to Nicaragua and West Virginia are now available on the church website under “youth.”

 

Hope to see you at church!  Bring a guest.

 

Beth Kane

Evangelism Coordinator

(540) 662-3824

bethkane@firstchurch-winchester.org

www.firstchurch-winchester.org