The Session has called the congregation to meet in the Sanctuary on Sunday,
January 29, following the 10:30 am worship service for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation of First Presbyterian Church for the purpose of 1)hearing annual reports of Session, Board of Deacons, and other recognized groups of the church, 2) receiving the financial report of the year ending December 31, 2022, for information, 3) receiving 2023 budget for information, and 4) voting on changes in terms of call of co-pastors.

Glenn and Miriam Lawrence Leupold, Moderators of Session
Marian Eaton, Clerk of Session
 

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During the months of January and February, our Music Director Michael Lister will be taking a hiatus involving additional responsibilities with the Department of Music and Theater at The University at Albany. He will return for the FOCUS service on February 5 and will resume his responsibilities on March 6. During the time he is away, guest conductor Xavier Ortiz-Reyes will assume the leadership of the choir, and Trevor Kahlbaugh and our soloists will continue to minister through music alongside the choir. More details about Xavier will be shared in upcoming Eblasts.  

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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: 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. 

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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!
 

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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

      January 25: “What is antiracism, and what does it require of Christians?”
      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.
 

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What has God called us to do with all that is entrusted to us? God calls us to be good stewards, and that means making investments that are consistent with our values as well as pushing corporations to be better global citizens. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) does both, and this webinar will be your opportunity to learn more. During this webinar, you’ll hear from Mission Responsibility through Investment, which pushes companies to be better global citizens, and New Covenant Trust Company at the Presbyterian Foundation, which offers socially responsible investments. NCTC will also look back on the economic themes driving markets in 2022 and share some tips for investors heading into what may be an uncertain year in 2023. Speakers include: Rev. Kerri N. Allen, Chair of MRTI Rob Fohr, Director of Faith-Based Investing and Corporate Engagement for the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PCUSA) Rev. Jihyun Oh, New Covenant Trust Company Board Member Greg Rousos, President and CEO, New Covenant Trust Company James Carey, Director of Investment & Portfolio Management Services, New Covenant Trust Company Time: January 31, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. EST CLICK HERE TO REGISTER