Live Worship Steaming available and Service in Church

at 10:30AM Sundays!!!

It will be streamed on Facebook Live on our Facebook page

www.Facebook.com/firstprestona/live

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NEWS FOR THE PEWS                                               March 27, 2025                                                                                                                                                                                  

Hi Friends,

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Once again, the weather changes. Back we go into the winter wardrobe.  What season will it be on Sunday? What season on Easter? Yes, we live in the frozen northeast, so we know that Easter sometimes requires muffs and parkas.
 

How do we know all this is normal? Why, it's the stories we tell!
 

During Lent, we're focused on Godly Play and Gospel stories of Jesus.  Check out the display in the Narthex to see some of the upcoming stories:
 

Our Calvin Worship Institute grant project combines theory with practice, as we offer practical courses and workshops in Godly Play, Out of

the Box Stories, and Pretending Bible Stories.  Our study groups discuss and reflect on three books. Explore the idea of God as Master Storyteller in Daniel Schawbauer’s brand new book, The God of Story:  Discovering the Narrative of Scripture Through the Language of Storytelling.  Dive deeply into creative practices and the theology behind them with Christine Aroney-Sine’s The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God.  Finally, unleash your own story by reading with us Mackenzie Ryan Walters’ book, Faith Storytellers,
Unleash the Power of Your Story.
 

Have you invited friends and family to our church yet? In the narthex you can find a supply of postcards, some envelopes, and some of Bonnie Sibley's handmade cards, as well as labels for all our members and friends and a flyer sharing Easter events. Our church can only grow if everyone invites one!
 

Upcoming Easter events:
Palm Sunday, 4/13 at 10:30
Maundy Thursday Supper Church, 4/17 at 5:30/6:00
Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt, 4/20 at 9:00
Easter Worship, 4/20 at 10:30

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Join FPCT for worship this Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 10:30am in person and livestreamed on Facebook. Our 2025 storytelling theme continues with “Jesus: Healer, Teacher.” Jesus’s ministry included healing and teaching wherever he went. What’s the story for us? Is our ministry the same? What are we willing to do? Scriptures this week include Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; and John 5:1-18. Join us to pray together, hear stories from scripture, find your church home, here at First Presbyterian Church of Tonawanda.

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See you soon,

Pastor Rebecca

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​ANNOUNCEMENTS

Annual Meeting:  Sunday, April 6, 2025

First Presbyterian Church of Tonawanda will hold the Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation on Sunday, April 6, 2025 following the worship service.  Copies of the Annual Report are available in the sanctuary. 

 

Memorial Easter Flowers:

April 6 is the last Sunday that the Deacons will be selling Easter Flowers.  The cost is $10.00 each.  For more information, see Laura Marohn.

 

Easter Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt:  Sunday, April 20

Please join us on Easter morning for breakfast and an Easter Egg Hunt from 9am-10:15am.  There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.  Also, we would appreciate donations of candy filled eggs for the egg hunt. 

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​​​​​​​​​WEEKLY ACTIVITIES:

• Church Stretch  -  Exercise for Body and Soul:  Mondays at 5:30pm

Diane Charsley leads light exercise and stretch sessions on Mondays for men & women of all fitness abilities. Come pray with your body and soul!  Please note that the time has changed to 5:30pm.

 

• God Loves Me Storytime – Tuesdays:  10am-11:30am

Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to a weekly story time with stories about God’s love.Free play and crafts will be available along

with a snack and a prayer.  ​

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Body and Soul Pantry:

The Body and Soul Pantry is up and running again thanks to a new structure built by Brian Burns.  Many thanks to Brian for building the closet.  If you have any questions, please contact Marilee Mathias.  The pantry could use the following items: 

• Deodorant

• Shaving Cream (5oz)/razors

• Bar soap

• Toothpaste/Toothbrushes

• Toilet paper

• Cereal/instant oatmeal

• Pasta

• Canned vegetables/fruit

• Canned soup with pop-tops

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​​* Church To-Do list has been moved across the narthex to the Outreach board for easier access. Be sure to check to see what you can do!!

 

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 REMINDERS​​

•  The Deacons are organizing coffee hour every Sunday after worship.  Please join in for fellowship and coffee; the sign-up sheet is in the Narthex.  

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Adult Sunday School   

Please take a few minutes & read the appointed Lectionary Readings that we are using to find YOUR special message.

                                                             Our VERY INFORMAL class meets at 9:30am each Sunday morning

                                                   

                                                                                                     PLEASE JOIN US!

                                                       

NOTE: I will be out of town for the next 2 Sundays & not able to do a lesson for Easter Sunday. You are invited to join us in class on April 27th for the next “live” lesson.

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Meanwhile, I’m including the readings for those Sundays so that you may read & ponder on your own.

 

06th – Isa 43:16-21;  Phil 3:4b-14;  John 12:1-8;  Ps 126

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13th – Palms: Luke 19:28-40; Ps 118:1-2,19-29              

                                              

Passion: Isa 50:4-9a; Phil 2:5-11; Luke 23:1-49

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14th – Isa 42:1-9; Heb 9:11-15; John 12:1-11; Ps 36:5-11

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15th – Isa 49:1-7; 1Cor 1:18-31; John 12:20-36; Ps 71:1-14

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16th – Isa 50;4-9a; Heb 12:1-3; John 13:21-32; Ps 70

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17th – Ex 12:1-14; 1Cor 11:23-26; John 13:1-17; Ps 116:1-2,12-19

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18th – Isa 52:13-53:12; Heb 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:42; Ps 22

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20th – Isa 65:17-25; Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18; Ps 118:1-2,14-24   

 

Have a BLESSED EASTER!

                                                 

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 PRAYER CONCERNS

If you have a prayer request, please contact Pastor Rebecca at 315-317-6140  or the church office at 716-692-1319.   

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CALENDAR             

                   

Wednesday, April 2    

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

12:00pm                       UFO(Parlor)

 

Thursday, April 3  

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

6:00pm-8:00pm          Choirs Practice

                       

Saturday, April 5

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

 

Sunday, April 6

9:30am                        All Age Faith Formation (Parlor)

10:30 am                     Sunday Worship for all ages (Sanctuary) 

11:30am                      Annual Congregation and Corporation Meeting

12:30pm                      Coffee Fellowship for all ages (Parlor)

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Monday, April 7

10:00 am                     Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

5:30pm                        Church Stretch

6:30pm-9:30pm          Godly Play Core Training

 

Tuesday, April 8

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

10:00am-11:30am      God Loves Me Storytime       

 

Wednesday, April 9    

9:00am – 2:00pm        Office Hours

 

Thursday, April 10   

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

6:00pm-8:00pm          Choirs Practice

 

Saturday, April 12

10:00am                      Alcoholics Anonymous (Circle II Basement)

 

Sunday, April 13          Palm Sunday

9:30am                        All Age Faith Formation (Parlor)

10:30 am                     Sunday Worship for all ages (Sanctuary) 

11:30am                      Coffee Fellowship for all ages (Parlor)

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​​​List of Officers

SESSION 2024-2025                                

Diane Charsley & Clerk of Session

Tom Dugan, Treasurer

Michael Barry

Nancy Rolando

Sue Schurr

Billy Welch

           

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DEACONS 2024-2025

Betsy Crocker, Moderator

Linda Barry

Gail Borycki

Laura Marohn

Bonnie Sibley

Associates:      Lynn Hyland, Treasurer

                        Marlene Tyrrell, Sunshine

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 TREASURER 

  - Tom Dugan 

 

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Church Parking Lot

Please, if you are able to walk, we would appreciate if you would park on the surrounding streets near the church

and leave the spaces in our parking lot for our folks who need them most.  Thanks very much.  

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