Join us on Sunday, December 6
Second Sunday of Advent
Adult Education at 8:45am.
Join us as we explore the gospel of Luke.
All are welcome! Join us via zoom (invite below) at 8:45!
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Sunday School for Children at 9:15am
Pre-K through 5th Graders:
Join for singing, Bible story, conversation and prayer.
Join us via zoom (invite below) at 9:15!
If you would like to join any of our zoom meetings please contact
Miriam or Glenn.
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Worship Service at 10am.
We will be live streaming on Facebook
Click here to connect on Sunday.
(additional information below, if needed)
You will find the bulletin for Sunday here.
Communion is being celebrated. You are invited to bring something
to eat and something to drink when you join us for on-line worship.
Using elements familiar to them,
Jesus used bread and wine for his Last Supper with his disciples.
If you’re unable to have juice and bread,
bring something familiar to you.
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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Virtual Youth Group- 6th graders-12th graders - at 11am/after worship
During this time of Spiritual Formation we may:
- play games
- build relationship with each other
- reflect on the worship service
- try different spiritual practices/types of prayer
- make meaning of the world around us
- explore and tell our individual stories
- co-create service projects
- develop youth leadership
Join us via Zoom (invite below and by email) at 11:00!
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Our recorded worship services and bulletins are also available on our website.
Please send any prayer requests to Glenn so that we can include them in worship on Sunday.
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INSTRUCTIONS Facebook Live Streaming: we’ll normally start broadcasting about 3 to 5 minutes before the service (so 9:55–9:57) with Trevor’s prelude. Any time after that go the main Facebook page for First Presbyterian Church of Albany. Very close to the top (or maybe just by scrolling down slightly) you’ll see the video with the words “Live now” or something similar. Click on the video and it will open into a larger window and play. So just stay on the First Pres home page, no need to go into Events or any other sub-page.
HELPFUL TIP: if you don’t see the livestream on the home page, refresh / reload your browser screen. Don’t hesitate to call Dwight Cheu at 518.469.1544 if you have any problems.
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Would you like to sponsor a poinsettia plant to decorate the sanctuary in Advent and Christmas this year? You may do so in honor or memory of a loved one, and that dedication will be noted in the worship bulletin on December 20, 24, 25 & 27. There are two ways to make your dedication. 1) By mailing a check to the church for a minimum of $16 per poinsettia, along with a note that spells out the dedication as well as name of the dedicator. It MUST arrive at the church by December 13. 2) By emailing the church office a note that spells out the dedication as well as name of the dedicator. Then visit the website and make your payment on line. Deadline is December 13.
Our goal is to have all the flowers sponsored as well decorate the sanctuary for our celebration of Jesus’ birth and the 12 days of Christmas.
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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 10, 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!
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Be a witness of support to the Black Lives Matter movement
every Tuesday from noon to 1:00pm.
Join others on State St. in front of Westminster Presbyterian Church
with your mask (not-optional) and a sign (optional).
This effort is being spear-headed by Elizabeth McMillan at WPC.
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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!
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!)
Deadline for submission is December 10 to be included in the televised Sunday services.
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.
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Mark your calendars now!
Virtual Carol Sing
Friday, December 18, at 6:30pm
Zoom link to follow
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Blue Christmas Service
with the FOCUS Churches
Sunday Evening, December 20
6:00 p.m. via Zoom
Look for zoom link in future eblasts.
We have experienced unprecedented loss this year Family and friends have succumbed to death in the pandemic. Thousands have lost economic security; some have lost businesses built over a lifetime Most of us have lost beloved rhythms of life that enriched us with variety in our activities and with the presence of others. We can also name many losses related to hatred and violence. Join the FOCUS community for a short time of worship on the longest night of the year. Through scripture, prayer, music and candlelight, we will acknowledge our sorrow and grief and take comfort in knowing that God came and dwelt among us in the midst of hardship.
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What a hard year this has been. We are heartbroken for the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who have lost their lives or their loved ones, as well as for the many who have lost their livelihoods.
Mayan Hands’ 200 artisan partners in Guatemala are holding their own so far, but have been on a strict lockdown in their communities since March. They are finding it hard to provide for their families. Even now they are on a strict lockdown because of COVID 19 and they are finding it extremely difficult to provide for their families.
By receiving a fair price for their work, we have helped them transcend extreme poverty by gaining a voice in their communities, protecting their environment and ensuring they can continue living within the cultural traditions they cherish. This brings dignity to their communities, enables them to feed their families and offers hope to their children for a brighter future. The holiday sales are a lifeline for these talented women artisans in Guatemala. Through our fair trade purchases, we continue our partnership with these women.
Every year at this time, Mayan Hands reaches out to us to arrange for a fair trade Mayan Hands sale at the church. Through all these years Congregations like ours have supported our artisan partners through our purchases from Mayan Hands. Our fair trade purchases of their handcrafted products, provide needed funds and support for the communities in which they live.
This year, unfortunately, we realize that in person sales will not be possible. In lieu of a holiday sale at the church, we have an opportunity to make our purchases through the Mayan Hands website, to order gifts for your family, loved ones and friends.
You will be able to find everything you have seen in previous year and more. This year there are many new items this year to choose from!
Mayan Hands will ship the items you order, directly to your home or to the loved ones and friends for whom you are buying the gifts. To personalize your gift, you can include a gift message.
Some of the wonderful items you can
Purchase on the Mayan Hands website!
Please note: You will have to pay for shipping costs for items purchased.
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Thursday, 12/3 7:00am Men's Bible Study
12:30pm Finger Labyrinth Walk and Meditation
4:30pm Anti-Racism Task Force
7:30pm Chancel Choir Virtual Meeting
Friday, 12/4 5:00pm Finance Committee Meeting
Saturday, 12/5 9:30am Officer Training
Sunday, 12/6 8:45am Adult Education
9:15am Children’s Education
10:00am Live Stream Worship (communion)
11:00am Virtual Youth Group
Tuesday, 12/8 9:00am Men's Bible Study
5:30pm Property committee meeting
7:00pm Session Meeting
Wednes., 12/9 12:00pm Staff Christmas Lunch
6:30pm Women's Small Group
7:30pm Dad's Small Group
Thurs., 12/10 7:00am Men's Bible Study
12:30pm Finger Labyrinth Walk and Meditation
Sunday, 12/13 8:45am Adult Education
9:15am Children’s Education
10:00am Live Stream Worship (communion)
11:00am Virtual Youth Group
Monday, 12/14 7:30pm Soloist Rehearsal
Tuesday, 12/15 9:00am Men's Bible Study
Wednes., 12/16 10:00am Woman to Woman Small Group
Thurs., 12/17 7:00am Men's Bible Study
12:30pm Finger Labyrinth Walk and Meditation
4:30pm Anti-Racism Task Force
Friday, 12/18 6:30pm Virtual Carol Sing
Sunday, 12/20 8:45am Adult Education
9:15am Children’s Education
10:00am Live Stream Worship (communion)
11:00am Virtual Youth Group
6:00pm Blue Christmas Service
******* All meetings will be held via Zoom.*******
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Contact info: please use this number 518-439-7492 (instead of church phone)
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