Educational Opportunity
Members of First Presbyterian’s Antiracism Task Force are
leading a series called “Dismantling Racism, Building Racial Justice in Institutions”
When: Wednesdays, 7—8:30 pm
Where: via zoom
Format: Pre-recorded webinars and group discussions; webinars produced by Crossroads for the Association of Partners in Christian Education and the Presbyterian Youth Workers Association
February 1: “Why must Christians denounce white supremacy and embrace a gospel vision for antiracism?”
February 8: “How can Christian educators cultivate values that
challenge white supremacy?”
Contact the church office (518-449-7332 or info@firstpresalbany.org) in advance to sign up, obtain the video link and obtain the zoom link. Participants will be asked to view a 1-hour webinar at home before each gathering. On the Wednesday evenings, we will watch a related 30 minute Q & A segment together and then discuss.
************
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: healthy snacks, soap, wash cloths, towels, deodorant, tooth brushes, tooth paste, several bath mats (for the school showers), small hand gloves, small feet socks, wash cloths, children sized long-sleeved shirts, sweat-shirts, or hoodies.
************
Join us online for Finger Labyrinth Walks and Meditations each  Thursday through February 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 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!
************
************
|
|
A message from FOCUS ministry:
We need volunteers!
|
|
|
|
Due to illness, a termination, and a grant reducing weekly staff work hours, we have been stretched very thin as we try to meet the needs of our guests. One year ago, in January 2022, we served 32 breakfast guests a day. On January 5th this year we served 92 breakfasts. We are close to tripling the numbers of people we are serving at our FOCUS soup kitchen. We are struggling to do this with fewer staff. And we are struggling to do this when the food supply chain is interrupted and we need to spend a lot of time finding food and non-food supplies at an increasing number of purchasing sites. Our Food Pantry guests are also increasing. Here’s how you can help:
FOCUS Breakfast Program at Westminster (Our doors are open Tues, Wed and Thurs 7am to 8:30am)
- Wednesday & Thursdays 6:45am to 8:45am (to help serve breakfast - by handing out coffee, breakfast plates, milk & juice, or bags of to-go lunch)
- Breakfast Cook or Prep Cook (this commitment involves arriving early: around 5:45am to 6am and working until 8:30am or 8:45am.) We need folks who can be "back-up cooks" or "back-up prep cooks" when our current volunteer cooks take a much-deserved break. We need folks who are available Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday.
- Thursday clean-up (8:30am to 9:30am) Since Thursday is our last day of the week to offer breakfast, we do a deep clean on Thursday morning. Can you help us during this hour? We sweep, mop, move items to our storage bin, and often move tables, chairs and plastic barriers to accommodate other groups who may use the fellowship hall during Thursday to Sunday.
- Tuesday & Thursday Pastoral Care 6:45am to 8:45am -- listen and talk with individual guests, many of whom have few people available/willing to listen to their hopes and needs.
FOCUS Food Pantry at Emmanuel Baptist
- Thursday Pick up Food Orders at Regional Food bank (in Latham) from mid-morning to late morning. Or Help to Unload a Truck which comes to drop off groceries for our Food Pantry.
Belinda Quaye, our awesome Volunteer Coordinator, is happy to train you and schedule you. Send her an email: belindaq@focuschurches.net
|
|
Sunday, February 5
10:30am Joint Worship w FOCUS Churches
12-2pm Lunch and Program on the 2nd floor
Sunday Feb 19
12-2pm Lunch and Program on the 2nd floor
|
|
Trevor Kahlbaugh Mirabelle Beck
2/2 2/11
Judith Mark Michael Lister
2/2 2/15
Ofu Takor Sanyu Kimuli
2/3 2/17
Kaylee Kite Jace Brown
2/3 2/18
Kathleen Pruzek Molly Dowell Baum
2/4 2/19
Susan Holmes Karen Brown
2/4 2/19
DD Dowell Baum Deborah Shoup
2/5 2/20
Linda Stevens Sahil Yashib
2/8 2/21
Annabel Lewis Fiona McKinney
2/8 2/24
Marian Eaton Ze Samuel
2/10 2/24
Sharon Stevens Jeannette Elias
2/10 2/26
Kelsey Mayo Robert Stevens
2/10 2/27
If your birthday is this month and it's not listed, please let Jamie know so we can update our records.
|
|
|
Tuesday, 1/31 9:00am Men's Bible Study via Zoom
7:30pm Legacy Giving Subcommittee Meeting
Wednes., 2/1 7:00pm Dismantling Racism, Building Racial
Justice in Institutions
Thurs., 2/2 7:00am Men's Bible Study
12:30pm Finger Labyrinth Walk and Meditation
7:00pm Soloist/ Choir Rehearsal
Sunday, 2/5 9:15am Preschool Education
9:15am Children’s Education
9:15am Adult Education
9:30am Soloist/Choir Rehearsal
10:30am FOCUS Winter Worship Service
In-Person/Livestream on Facebook
11:45am Fellowship Time
12:00pm Youth group
Tuesday, 2/7 9:00am Men's Bible Study via Zoom
12:00pm Staff Meeting
5:30pm Outreach Committee Meeting
5:30pm Property Committee Meeting
5:30pm Worship Committee Meeting
6:30pm Membership Committee Meeting
7:30pm Christian Education Committee Meeting
7:30pm Social Justice & Peacemaking Committee Meeting
Wednes., 2/8 7:00pm Dismantling Racism, Building Racial
Justice in Institutions
Thurs., 2/9 7:00am Men's Bible Study
12:30pm Finger Labyrinth Walk and Meditation
6:30pm WPNA Meeting
7:00pm Soloist/ Choir Rehearsal
Sunday, 2/12 9:15am Preschool Education
9:15am Children’s Education
9:15am Adult Education
9:30am Soloist/Choir Rehearsal
10:30am Worship Service In-Person/Livestream on
Facebook
11:45am Fellowship Time
Monday, 2/13 1:00pm Covenant Group
Tuesday, 2/14 9:00am Men's Bible Study via Zoom
6:30pm Anti-Racism Task Force
* * * * * * * * * * *
|
|
|
|
