You know those great pictures of your fellow congregants that scroll on your screen before our on-line Sunday services?  Don’t you love seeing their smiling faces after all this time?  We really want MORE!  And it’s not too late to send them in!  Please take some family pictures on your phone and send them digitally to our church office. Pets included? Great!  Christmas decorations featured? Fantastic!  (we would especially love this!)

If you are not confident taking the picture and submitting it digitally, we will help you out!  Contact Jamie at the church office or at 518-428-8261, and we will set you up with one of our esteemed photographers.  Those pictures will be taken safely outdoors.  

Thanks for helping us with this beloved bit of Sunday mornings.  
 
First Pres, through the Social Justice and Peacemaking Committee, has been working with the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Here is an opportunity for education and advocacy:

 

 

Capital Region Monthly Organizing Meeting

Tuesday Dec 15, 6:30pm, Online

Join us for our monthly organizing meeting - we'll reflect on recent actions, and plan for the new year. RSVP for the call info here.
  Anyone interested in working on FPC's Black History Month program for 2021: we will be joining the scheduled Anti-Racism Task Force Zoom meeting on Thursday, December 17, but not until 5:15 PM. Here’s the link.
 
 
Finger Labyrinth Walks and Meditations continue on each Thursday in December at 12:30pm via Zoom. Pastor Miriam, Certified Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator, leads each session. and our time together is 30 minutes. This time is open to all, whether you’ve walked a labyrinth in the past or not.  Register here for Thursday, December 17, to receive the zoom link. Please have a Finger Labyrinth available - you can download a paper version if you don't have your own or Jamie in the church office. Join us!
 
   
     

Blue Christmas Service

With the FOCUS Churches

Sunday Evening, December 20

6:00 p.m. via Zoom

 

We belong to one another. Bearing one
another’s burdens, and sharing grief is one expression of that. In Blue Christmas Worship, we recognize and name and honor our very real sorrows, even as we affirm the hope of our faith.  FOCUS Executive Director Fred Boehrer and representatives from each of our churches will lead scripture, prayer, music and candle-lighting. as we recognize and name and honor our very real sorrows.  Join us on Zoom.  Bring a candle and a match to your worship space for a time of sharing the light together.

https://ministrelife.zoom.us/j/99251746151?pwd=WmFPb05NVHAxQWNTZG51cThDM2ZVUT09

Meeting ID: 992 5174 6151  Password: PEACE (73223 on a phone)

 

  Our Mayan Hands artisan partners have been under a strict lockdown for several months due to the pandemic.  Like many poor countries, Guatemala lacks a safety net and their health facilities are almost non-existent in the rural areas. That’s why an income from the sale of their products is even more urgent at this time.  Please go to the Mayan Hands website to purchase Christmas and holiday gifts for your loved ones. You will see an array of beautiful, handcrafted and charming gifts for everyone on your list. And you will have the satisfaction of being a partner in the solidarity that is God’s will for the human family. Shop on the website, and Mayan Hands will ship the items to you or to your loved ones. You can include a gift message if you’d like. Thank you for your continued support of Mayan Hands.