Sunday MorningsUpcoming Worship scheduleThe texts listed are the Gospel lectionary reading for the coming Sundays. Fellowship HourFellowship Hour is back in full swing. Join us for Fellowship Hour in the Gathering Area before the worship service on Sunday, stop by for fellowship and refreshments. Worship & Music NotesNote from the Director Music MinistriesThis the power of the cross: Son of God, slain for us. What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross. (From “Hope in the Shadows”) Our journey has taken us from Advent to Christmas then on to Lent and Holy Week. What a wonderful and inspiriting journey it has been. We give many thanks to all the musicians, volunteer and professional, who created exciting, thoughtful and contemplative music during Holy Week. We were especially blessed to have the St. Luke Presbyterian Church Choir join us for the Maundy Thursday Service. It is a great joy to be making music with our St. Luke friends once again! Our journey continues as we look forward to Pentecost. A special thank you to Diana McVay and Darlene Wolfe for installing the beautiful Easter decorations. Your generous giving for the Easter Memorials means that we will give $550 to the Women’s and Children’s Center in Middletown. What a wonderful gift for these women and children who are struggling so much! -Joyce Zigler PentecostWe are eager to welcome the Phil DeGreg Trio to worship on Pentecost, June 5. Christian Education NotesTuesday Morning Bible StudyTuesday Morning Bible Study will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Youth Room. We are doing a study title Christian Responses to War for the month of May. We will meet on May 3, 10, and 17. In-person Nursery Care and Sunday SchoolThe Christian Education Committee continues to prayerfully consider and implement safe practices to support the full participation of all ages, especially since some children still do not have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Two Childcare Workers provide consistent care for our youngest children in the Nursery. We practice physical distancing in Sunday School, and as much as is practical in providing care in the Nursery. Both spaces are equipped with hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and disposable masks in a variety of sizes. Furthermore, we continue to follow the CDC’s recommendation by requiring universal indoor masking in these classrooms by all individuals (age 2 and older), regardless of vaccination status. Nursery Care is available for infants and children up to 5 years old every Sunday, located next to Room 110. Sunday School (children ages 6-12) is offered most Sundays* in the Godly Play Room. Leaders will escort children from the Sanctuary to Sunday School. When worship concludes, parents/guardians will need to come to the Godly Play Room to pick up their child(ren). (*Note: In April, Sunday School will meet on 5/8, 5/15/ & 5/22. We especially want to include children and youth in special worship celebrations such as Communion, etc.)
GraduatesAre you graduating? Or is someone in your household graduating? We’d like to lift up graduates in a time of prayer during worship and offer a small gift on Sunday, May 15. Please call the church office or email sandy@fpcmiddletown.com with any names to include. Presbytery-wide EventsOur Presbytery has been building some great relationships and enthusiasm for gathering in new ways as we journey forward. In March and early April, two Spirit-filled retreats were held back-to-back at Kirkmont Center. The Women’s Spiritual Nurture Retreat explored the theme, “Finding Hope FROM the Past, IN the Present, FOR the Future.” During the event, we gathered in small groups for prayer and study, we worshiped together, and we enjoyed recreation through morning yoga, art workshops, and outdoor hikes. We also prayed for the youth who would be in attendance the following weekend for the Presbyterian Youth Connection. With such meaning-filled experiences during both weekends, we now have very energized planning teams to repeat these retreats as well as host an additional play-filled gathering for ministry leaders and volunteers in the fall. Stay tuned for more details, dates will be announced soon for each of these events! Odds & EndsCOVID-19 Update for MayPlease review these updated COVID-19 provisions and keep in mind as we gather for our worship and ministry: Masks are optional in the Sanctuary and Gathering Area Masks are required in the Nursery and Sunday School spaces Social distancing is enforced in the sanctuary by the use of alternating pews. Worship does not include the passing of any materials.
CommunionSession has approved alternating monthly between communion served on trays and intinction beginning in June. Men’s Monthly MeetingMen’s Monthly Meeting is an opportunity for the men of the church to get together and socialize over dinner. On Tuesday, May 10, the meeting will be at Wildwood Golf Club, 601 Aberdeen, at 5:30 p.m. Hope to see you there! Online CalendarThe church calendar is now online! Go to https://www.fpcmiddletown.com/calendar. We give thanks to God for the life of. . .. . . Myra Triick, who died on April 1.
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