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Our theme this Lent is seeking: honest questions for deeper faith.
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Join us Sunday, March 5,
for education, worship and fellowship!
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Join us for Christian Education
on Sunday 9:15-10:15
Godly Play Preschool Class
Sunday School for Kindergarten through Grade 5
Adult Education (in the Rose Room and via zoom)
The Adult Education class will begin a series of discussions and sharing related to Seeking in the Season of Lent.
Join us in the Rose Room or via Zoom
Zoom invitation – Adult Education
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 884 9949 5143
Passcode: 500445
Worship Service at 10:30am.
Join us for worship together
in the sanctuary and livestreaming on Facebook.
Click here for bulletin
Click here to connect on Sunday.
Serving you this Sunday.
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After the service, join us for the celebration of
Freda Gardner’s Legacy in Fellowship Time
in Assembly Hall.
Come enjoy conversation with one another!
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As a church open to all and as an intergenerational community of faith,
we want to do our very best to be a welcoming, healthy place for all generations.
Mask wearing is required
Thank you for your patience and kindness to each other.
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Albany County’s CDC Community level is yellow,
so we’re following the yellow protocols on Sunday.
Here are the revised chart.
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Please send any prayer requests to Jamie
so that we can include them in worship on Sunday.
Offering of Our Gifts
You can mail offering to: FPC, 362 State St, Albany, NY 12210
Or go on line to donate (www.firstpresalbany.org/donate/)
Thank you for your continued support of FPC ministries.
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Every gift leaves a legacy. Every gift tells a story. Every gift carries the light forward. Please join the Legacy Giving Subcommittee in celebrating the legacy of Freda Gardner with a cake celebration following worship on
March 5th.
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Join us each Wednesday during Lent,
March 8, 15, 22, and 29,
for Taizé worship at 6:30 p.m.
in the Sanctuary or livestreaming on Facebook.
Here is the link and here is the bulletin.
Our traditional Taizé services include simple, meditative songs,
scripture, prayer and silence. The liturgy for these services originated
with the Taizé community founded in France in 1940.
This community is an ecumenical, intentional community
with a twofold purpose: to seek communion with God through personal
prayer and the beauty of community prayer;
and also be a leaven of peace and trust in the midst of humanity.
Come spend time listening to God and be renewed for your journey.
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Pi/Pie Day is coming!
How far around does your caring go?
Help us prove that the equation for caring is equal to
3.14159 x First Pres Albany Pie Bakers!
What: Special Fellowship Time offering some of the best pies you have ever tasted!
When: Sunday, March 19th immediately following worship
Where: Fellowship Hall
How much? $3.14 for all the pie slices you can sample!
How can you help?
Please bake a pie & bring it to church on Sunday 3/19 before church.
The more varieties the better!
Apple, pecan, chocolate, banana cream? Yum!
All proceeds will benefit the
service projects of First Pres youth!!
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Please fill out your Time and Talent card
and return to the church.
Surface mail to FPC, 362 State St. Albany, NY 12210
Take a photo of this sheet or scan and send to
Jamie in the Church Office
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The Tuesday morning Bible Guys, who meet weekly on Zoom at 9 a.m., are looking for new members. If you are interested, please get in touch with Roger Green at rogerogreen@gmail.com.
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Fresh Flowers for the sanctuary on Sundays may be donated in honor or in memory of a person or event. The cost is $80. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board outside the main office. You may contact Jamie directly at 518-449-7332 or info@firstpresalbany.org.
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The Outreach and Mission Committee is collecting needed articles for the Giffen Elementary School’s “Clothes Closet” which goes beyond just clothes. Articles may be left in the box in the Assembly Hall designated for this purpose. Items needed: Youth shoes sizes: 10,11 12 & 13. Items given: 25 pairs of pants, 30 pairs of underwear, 5 pairs of socks & 4 jackets.
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Please Sign Up to Provide a Meal for the Youth Group!
We’re asking that families please sign up to take a turn to provide a meal for our regular meetings.
Click the link to sign up→ Meal Train for Youth Lunches.
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Book & Discussion Recommendation
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Have you wondered about the history of racism in the Presbyterian Church?
FPC’s Anti Racism Task Force recommends William Yoo’s book What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church. We also recommend clicking here for a discussion of this book with the author William Yoo which was sponsored by the Synod of the Northeast on February 21, 2023. In it Yoo provided a clear and concise overview of the history of slavery and anti-black racism in the Presbyterian Church, while also discussing the need for Presbyterians to work towards racial reconciliation.
On Tuesday February 21, 2023, the Synod of the Northeast hosted a discussion on the book “What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church” with author William Yoo. The audience was composed of people of various backgrounds and ages, throughout the Synod.
William Yoo began by discussing his book and the research he conducted while writing it. He discussed the history of slavery and anti-black racism in Presbyterianism, starting from the colonial period and continuing through the Civil War and into the present day. Yoo discussed how Presbyterianism has been complicit in perpetuating racism and white supremacy, and how the church was often used as a tool of oppression against African Americans. He also discussed the efforts of some Presbyterians to fight racism and promote racial reconciliation.
The discussion then turned to the present day, with Yoo discussing the current state of racism in the Presbyterian Church and the need for racial reconciliation. He spoke about the need for Presbyterians to recognize and repent of their past sins and to work towards creating a church that is open to people of all races and backgrounds. He also discussed the need for Presbyterians to engage in meaningful dialogue with African Americans and other people of color to foster understanding and reconciliation.
The audience was engaged and asked a variety of questions throughout the discussion, which Yoo answered thoughtfully and accurately.
Link for the discussion https://youtu.be/fVQgwW6jpCs
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Walking a Sacred Path: Discovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool
First Presbyterian Church is launching its Labyrinth Ministry
with our new Chartres 36ft labyrinth!
We’re offering two workshops to introduce people
to the labyrinth and the spiritual practice of walking it: March 11 & March 25.
We will have a dedication of this labyrinth
after worship on Sunday, April 16.
People around the world are rediscovering the ancient practice of walking the labyrinth. Unlike a maze which has many paths, a labyrinth has only one path which leads to the center. While a maze is meant to trick and confuse you so you will lose your way, a labyrinth helps you find your way. Labyrinths have been found around the world with the most famous one found in the floor of the nave of Chartres Cathedral in France. First Pres’ new labyrinth is this pattern. Through the years people have used the labyrinth as a spiritual tool—a path of prayer, a walking meditation.
Join us at the church on Saturday, March 11, from 9:30 to 12:00 or Saturday, March 25, 1:00-3:30pm as we explore the labyrinth. Pastor Miriam, a trained labyrinth facilitator, will facilitate. Come find out more about this ancient spiritual tool and have the opportunity to walk on the new First Pres canvas labyrinth.
We hope that you will carve out time for this workshop. Sign up with Jamie in the church office (518-449-7332 or info@firstpresalbany.org). If you have any questions, please contact Miriam at the church office (518-449-7332 or mleupold@firstpresalbany.org).
The labyrinth provides the sacred space where the inner and outer worlds can commune, where the thinking mind and the imaginative heart can flow together… It is non-threatening; all we are asked to do is walk.
-Lauren Artress, founder of Veriditas
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Looking ahead:
Later this month, we'll have numerous opportunities for canvassing and tabling and additional actions at the Capitol. Please reply to this e-mail if you are able to attend any of these, and more details will be forthcoming!
Wednesday, Mar 8th 7pm - "Storming Caesar's Palace" screening at the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy. We've been invited to table with other organizations at this documentary screening. Watch the trailer here.
After losing her job as a hotel worker in Las Vegas, Ruby Duncan co-founded a welfare rights group of ordinary mothers who defied notions of the “welfare queen.” In a fight for a universal basic income in 1969, Ruby and other equality activists took on the Nevada mob in organizing a massive protest that shut down Caesars Palace.
Friday Mar 10th, Thursday Mar 16th, Friday Mar 17th - Fair Pay 4 Homecare tabling at Albany Housing Authority buildings on Central Ave. 9am-2pm, but if you can't stay the whole time, join when you can!
Tuesday, Mar 14th - Housing Justice 4 All day of action. Over 1000 tenants and leaders from around the state will be coming to the Capitol! There are roles for volunteers - marshaling, lunch distribution, etc, and opportunities for civil disobedience (training on March 8th 6:30pm). Register for the day here.
Thursday, Mar 16th - Our next monthly Capital Region PPC organizing meeting, in person and on zoom! RSVP here.
Week of March 27th - There's always lots of activity during the last week of the State Budget negotiations, and we're planning to join with Fair Pay 4 Homecare throughout the week, but especially on Monday the 27th. Stay tuned for more details!
We're continuing to push for more signatures on our Poor People's State of the State Petition!
You can find the petition link, our Poor People's State of the State Report, and a study guide for that report, at our website: nysppc.org Please sign and share these resources widely!
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Upcoming Events:
Sunday, March 5
12-2pm Lunch and Program on the 2nd floor
Sunday, March 19
9:15-12pm Youth set up for fundraiser
12-2pm Youth Fundraiser- Pi/Pie Day
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Roger Green Barbara Woodruff
3/7 3/19
Dawn Knutson Kirsten Pruzek
3/9 3/23
Steve King Lydia Green
3/10 3/26
Alan Northrup Ben April
3/10 3/27
Amy Jenal Elaine Popner
3/13 3/31
Katharine Myers Paige Fitzgerald
3/13 3/31
Sonia Muniz
3/15
If your birthday is this month and it's not listed, please let Jamie know so we can update our records.
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Saturday, 3/4 12:00pm Service of Witness to the Resurrection
Charles (Chuck) Abunaw
Sunday, 3/5 9:15am Preschool Education
9:15am Children’s Education
9:15am Adult Education
9:30am Soloist/Choir Rehearsal
10:30am Worship Service in the sanctuary and livestreaming on Facebook
11:45am Celebration of Freda Gardner's Legacy
11:45am Fellowship Time
12:00pm Youth Group
Tuesday, 3/7 9:00am Men's Bible Study via Zoom
1:15pm Staff Meeting
5:30pm Property Committee meeting
5:45pm Outreach and Mission Committee Meeting
Wednes., 3/8 6:30pm Taizé Service in the sanctuary
and livestreaming on Facebook
7:00pm Dads' Small Group
Thurs., 3/9 7:00am Men's Bible Study
2:00pm Labyrinth Ministry Team
6:30pm WPNA Meeting
7:00pm Soloist/ Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, 3/11 9:30am Labyrinth Workshop
Sunday, 3/12 9:15am Preschool Education
9:15am Children’s Education
9:15am Adult Education
9:30am Soloist/Choir Rehearsal
10:30am Worship Service in the sanctuary and livestreaming on Facebook
11:45am Celebration of Freda Gardner's Legacy in Fellowship Time
12:00pm Youth Group
Monday, 3/13 1:00pm Covenant Group
Tuesday, 3/14 9:00am Men's Bible Study via Zoom
6:30pm Anti-Racism Task Force
Wednes., 3/15 10:00am Women to Women Small Group
6:30pm Taizé Service in the sanctuary
and livestreaming on Facebook
Thurs., 3/16 7:00am Men's Bible Study
7:00pm Soloist/ Choir Rehearsal
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