First Presbyterian Church of Tonawanda

The church that cares for you body and soul.
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We’re Getting Busy For Others!

Home is Where God’s Heart is!

Our Church is continuing it’s active support of Habitat for Humanity by scheduling a series of workdays throughout the year.   We have two workdays scheduled for  Saturday May 1 and Saturday August 7.  The Habitat programs are so designed that anyone, with any skill level, can participate!   Participants will meet at 8 am in the Church parking lot to form carpools.  The fellowship, cooperation and feeling of accomplishment one receives with Habitat make for a great experience!  It’s the great feeling of God’s presence that happens when faith and works literally join hands!   So come and make a difference for someone who needs a helping hand!   Come, and bring a friend who’s looking to make a difference in the world too!   

 

VERY IMPORTANT: For any youth who wish to take part in this hands-on mission effort – you must be 16 years or older. If you are 16 or 17, you MUST have a Habitat Waiver form signed by a parent/guardian. Habitat will not allow you to work without a signed Waiver Form. The waiver form may be obtained by emailing the church at firstprestona1852@verizon.net. A form will be emailed to you.

 

Come join the fun, get your hands dirty, help a deserving family get a home, and follow Christ’s command to help others! “As you did to the least of these, do you did to Me.”

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 A new ministry has arrived!    

As you know, members from the Deacons and Outreach Team have met, to organize this ministry that will match member’s needs with those who have the time, skill and/or energy to meet them.   Enclosed in this issue of the Gazette is a small questionnaire on which you can identify either a skill you have, or a need.    There will be a receptacle in the church to place it in and the joint Deacons and Outreach folks will compile the information.   The name we are considering for our new ministry is “Doulos” which means “servant” in Greek.  But we are using the term as it was used in conjunction with the Biblical Festival of Jubilee!  During that festival slaves were given the option to be freed, or to serve their master voluntarily, for life, out of love.  That is the spirit of this new opportunity to serve each other in love. 

 

The Community Fair is Coming Soon! 

On Saturday April 10th from 10-2pm our church is participating in this event to let our neighbors know who we are and what we have to offer!  The Outreach Team is coordinating this effort, and we are “Calling all Teams” to provide us with any upcoming events, information, handouts and/or displays you may create, so that we can promote your ministry!   Please contact Lynette Ryan or Alvin Marohn if you have something you’d like us to display on your behalf.

 

The Outreach Ministry Team is composed of two groups, each with its own unique focus.
The Outreach Ministry Team is composed of two groups, each with its own unique focus.

The Fellowship Team is responsible for providing opportunities for fun and community building within our family of faith. There is a monthly Fellowship Coffee after worship on the second Sunday. This also serves as the time to welcome new members.  They have also organized quarterly fellowship events, usually with an intergenerational focus. Past events include a Variety Show, a New Year’s Eve Celebration, and a Valentine Dance. Future events may include a Christmas Dinner, a bowling party, a Miss Buffalo Cruise, and other events to be chosen from a list submitted by the congregation. Inspired and driven individuals are needed to serve God with with this vital aspect of Christian life called fellowship.

Mission and Community Outreach - With our Thanksgiving and Christmas offerings we support Twin Cities Community Outreach (composed of Meals on Wheels, Clothes Closet, and Food Pantry). Many members of our congregation volunteer for Meals on Wheels. We support the One Great Hour of Sharing mission effort of the Presbyterian Church with an education experience and an offering. In January of 2009, we will begin a hands-on relationship with Habitat for Humanity, which we hope will become an ongoing experience for our congregation. We are in the process of identifying a need in the Tonawandas which we can meet with a newly-developed program using the resources of our congregation. Whatever program we develop, it will be done with prayer and the guidance of the Spirit as we seek to obey Jesus’ command to love and care for one another.