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Join us on Sunday, February 14

Adult Education at 8:45am.

Join us for a viewing of TedTalk Storytelling: Allegories on Race and Racism.

Allegories on Race and Racism was developed by Dr. Camara Jones, to present the concepts of race and racism, in a more “user friendly” and accessible format. The intent of the presentation is to educate/enlighten, challenge your thinking and perceptions about what are often difficult topics to discuss. She uses four allegories or “stories” to illustrate key points about the two concepts. The scenarios are drawn from her professional and academic experiences and reflect her work as a family physician, social epidemiologist, and a professor of public health. Dr. Jones describes and explains how race and racism manifests in everyday life situations and ultimately, how they impact the well-being of individuals and communities. “Allegories” presents an opportunity to view race and racism through the “lens” of everyday situations and events that can be more easily shared with others. The goal being to build a national dialogue and create a broader understanding of the topics.

Dr. Annette Johnson will lead the discussion

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 5^th 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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*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

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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.

As a Lenten devotional discipline this year,
you are invited to pray with Scripture
as a way of discerning what God
is calling you to be and to do
during this season.
Here are the daily devotions.
Here are hymns which are used with Sundays’ devotions.
If you would like a printed copy of this devotion,
please email or call the church office (518-439-7492).

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Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 17,

and continuing for other Wednesdays in Lent
(February 24, March 3, 10, 17 and 24)
join us for Taizé worship at 6:00 p.m.
We will livestream the service on Facebook.
Here is the link and here is the bulletin.

Please bring a bit of ash, dirt or oil with you for the service.

Our traditional Taizé services will 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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We will continue to offer an online Finger Labyrinth Walk and Meditation on Thursdays during Lent 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, February 18, 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!

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 are opportunities for education and advocacy:

February 15, 9am-5pm, NYS Moral Monday Faith Convening

On Monday, Feb. 15 join the NYS Poor People’s Campaign and the Labor-Religion Coalition of NYS for a statewide virtual convening of faith leaders to build community and reflect on our role as people of faith in the movement to end systemic racism, poverty, militarism and ecological devastation. The day will include interfaith prayer/worship, keynote from national Poor People’s Campaign co-chair Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, an interfaith panel of faith-rooted social justice leaders, discussion of our policy demands in the context of a new state legislature, and time for fellowship and conversation. Other speakers will include Rabbi Michael Pollack from the Pennsylvania Poor People's Campaign and March on Harrisburg; Rev. Sherry Chayat from Syracuse Zen Center; Arelis Figueroa from the New York State Poor People's Campaign and Freedom Church of the Poor; and Sister Grace Miller from the House of Mercy and Rochester Union of the Homeless. RSVP here.

February 16, 6:30pm, General Organizing Meeting

Our general organizing meeting will be Tuesday, February 16th at 6:30pm on Zoom. We meet every month, on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, to learn together, strategize, and advance our work building the movement for justice. RSVP here and share the Facebook event!
At this meeting we'll be discussing various dimensions to the healthcare crisis and why the NYSPPC has decided to focus on housing and healthcare as organizing issues to unite our class.

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The Adult Class Black History Month Opportunities Sunday via zoom
February 14 at 8:45– Presentation of Allegories on Race and Racism
(see details above)
February 21 at 11:15 – Frank Keetz on the Negro Baseball League
February 28 at 8:45 – Discussion of The Color of Law

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In February we’ll be officially welcoming
all those who wish to join First Presbyterian Church!
If you’re interested in becoming a member,
please contact Miriam for details
518-439-7492 or email.

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FOCUS Churches 2020 Annual Report

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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 S.t 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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Contact info: please use this number 518-439-7492 (instead of church phone)

Events This Weekend

Lent at FPC

Reviews of Antiracism Resources

Reviews:

Caste

Opportunities

Calendar