Dear Presbyterian Family,

How are you doing? You are being held in prayer!

It is hard to believe that April has begun and Holy Week is about to begin. Hilary and I want to invite you to join us for nightly reflection, prayer and communion. Monday through Friday, April 6 through 10, at 7:00 p.m. we invite you to join us at Facebook Live for a journey through the story of Jesus' Passion as we hear it in Matthew's Gospel. We encourage you to gather these items for our time together:

• a candle
• your Bible
• bread/crackers
• juice (hopefully grape)
• liturgy

Each service will we read part of the Passion Narrative, have time for silent reflection and prayer, and share together in communion. Monday through Thursday the service will probably be 20 minutes, Friday will be a little longer. If you have others in your house invite them to join you for communion. We also encourage you to use the link below to access the liturgy that you can print off. We look forward to joining with you around Christ's Table.

The daily liturgy is HERE.

Christ's Peace Be With You - Hilary and Tom

Our April 2020 Newsletter is HERE! Enjoy.

Friends,

An update on how we plan to worship together, care for each other, and continue to minister to the growing needs in our community.

First--We have decided it's best to find alternative ways to worship together for the time being, rather than gather in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings. Just how we will do that is still being worked out and we'll keep you updated on details in the next few days.

Second--the building is closed for meetings, both church meetings and outside groups with the exception of AA meetings if they choose to gather.

Third--We plan to continue with our SOS program that aids people with financial needs, the food pantry will remain open, Stone Soup will serve soup to go. As we anticipate a growing need for assistance, any donations to our Love Fund would be welcome.

Fourth--We want to remind people, who are able at this time, to continue supporting the church through your financial giving. The financial needs of the church and our ministries for helping people will not be slowing down, but probably picking up. You can mail in a check, set up direct payment with your bank, or online giving through the website will be available soon.

Finally--we want to encourage all of us to take some extra time to reach out and check in with each other, and spend some extra time holding one another and our world in prayer.

We pray that each of us has a deep awareness of God's presence, care, love, and peace as we move through this uncharted time.

God's peace to you all--the FPC Session, Pastors Tom and Hilary

You can access today's (11:00) worship bulletin HERE.

Friends,

As we are all aware, we are living in a unique moment in time. The session met this morning (3/14) to talk about how we will live out our life together as a church family while the COVID-19 virus is spreading. We want to be a community that loves each other well, which means we do not want to put people at risk, but rather make decision that will help each person stay healthy through this time. Toward that end we are suspending all small group church-related meetings for adults, youth and children (kids club and youth groups). We will update the congregation regularly about how long those suspensions will last.

For now we have decided to continue gathering for Sunday worship, but with these precautions:

• If you are feeling sick, please stay home.
  
• If you are someone with a compromised immune system, please stay home.
  
• If you live or are in close contact with someone with a compromised immune system, please consider staying home.
  
• We'll request that each person who comes to worship wash their hands as soon as they arrive in the building.
  
• We ask that household groups sit together, but give space from other household groups.
  
• We will not have our usual greeters working, so you'll pick up your own bulletin.
  
• We will not have our normal greeting time during worship, we will not pass offering plates but will have a basket at the back.
  
• There will be no fellowship time after worship, no Sunday School (nursery will be available).
  

The sermon and bulletin will be available here on the website on Sunday afternoon.

Please don't hesitate to contact the church office if you have needs that arise (like needing meals delivered or help with childcare) and we'll do our best to help meet those needs.

Thank you for your consideration of each other's welfare, thanks for holding each other in prayer. This is a time when we get to learn new ways that we can truly be the church to one another and our world. Peace to you all during this unique time.

In Christ,

The Session, Pastors Tom and Hilary

Check out all there is to know for March HERE!

The season of Lent begins on Wednesday, February 26 with Ash Wednesday. All are invited to join us that evening at 6:30 p.m. at Salida United Methodist Church for a service of communion and ashes as we remember that from ashes we've come and to ashes one day we will return.

Other things to plan for in this season of Lent:

Lent Devotional Booklets are available--pick one up in the foyer for a short daily scripture reading and reflection for the season.

Lenten Lunches: Gather each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. beginning on March 4 for lunch and time to dive into our Biblical passages for the season.

Communion Worship services: Monday, April 6th-Thursday, April 9th, 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Maundy Thursday worship and meal: Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. at Ascension Episcopal.

Journey to the Cross: Stations of the cross meditative walk through on Friday, April 10th, open 3:00-5:30 at FPC.

Good Friday worship: April 10th, 6:30 p.m. at FPC.

We hope you'll join us in this season of journeying toward the cross.

Your February Newsletter is HERE!

Our January 2020 Newsletter is HERE!

December is full of so. Many. Things. Buy the gifts. Wrap the gifts. Go to the party. Attend the concert. Bake the cookies. Sing the carols. Decorate! Sometimes this season can feel less festive than we think it should and we can get caught in all the pressure to have a “perfect” Christmas.

Join us on Saturday, December 21 for a break from it all to remember what this advent season is all about—a journey to the manger. A journey that brings us to the birth of God-With-Us, Jesus Christ.

From 4:00-7:00 p.m. the stained glass room of our church (aka the “old sanctuary”) will be open for you to come and rest, come and pray. We’ll have a number of interactive stations set up for you to walk through, read scripture, pray, take a breath and prepare your heart for the coming of Jesus. All ages are welcome.

Our December 2019 Newsletter is HERE!

Read our November newsletter HERE!

Read the October Newsletter HERE!

Read our September Newsletter HERE.

Come one, come all for 24 hours of fun and service with your church family!

Friday, August 30st we'll head to Hooper Pool to camp, swim, and enjoy each other's company.

Saturday, August 31st we'll spend the morning gleaning the fields of the San Luis Valley to benefit the food bank in Alamosa that is connected with La Puente Home.

Who can come? Everyone is invited! Young, old, or somewhere in the middle--this is for you. Parents--bring your kids of all ages. We'll be pulling carrots or digging potatoes--we don't know yet. As long as your little ones (or bigger ones) don't mind getting a little dirty, they'll be fine. Don't have kids or kids at home anymore? You are welcome, too! Bring your spouse, bring a friend, bring yourself. We'd love to have you join us.

Please RSVP for camping by August 18. If you're not going to camp and just want to come to glean on Saturday, please RSVP by August 26.

For more information and to get signed up to join us, please contact the church office at 719-539-6422