First Presbyterian Church FWB, FL

Presbyterian Women (PW) will host a reception honoring our “winter friends” immediately following Worship service on Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

We love the music! We love the memories! We love our Snowbirds! Come share a time to show appreciation to those special ones who brighten our winter days, inspire our fellowship, and contribute to our joy as a church family.

Get ready for a special treat! Robert Kemp will perform a “one man” concert with his saxophone. Robert attends FBC regularly and has become a friend of the congregation.

Join First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 5th, 2020. The Service will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Immediately following the Service, there will be refreshments and friendship time in the Fellowship Hall.

Palm Sunday is a holiday found in the Christian religion that occurs on the Sunday before Easter. The holiday celebrates the triumphant entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem, an event documented in all four gospels of the Bible. The name “Palm Sunday” comes from the palm branches that the crowd used to cover Jesus’ path when he entered Jerusalem.

Palm Sunday is exactly one week before Easter, which is when Jesus resurrected after being hung on a cross. Palm Sunday, often referred to as “Passion Sunday,” kicks off Holy Week which concludes on Easter Sunday.

Join us on Sunday, March 15th, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary for the Westward Road concert. Westward Road is a dynamic family trio from Indianapolis, Indiana. They have been singing together as Westward Road since 2014 and love worshiping and spreading the love of God. Members of the group are Scott Roberts, his wife Kelli, and son Garrett. Their sound is a modern country/gospel feel with lyrics that convey the gospel message of God’s saving grace.

Come and celebrate our Risen Savior! Join First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach on Sunday, April 12th, 2020 for Easter Worship! The Service will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Immediately following the Service, there will be refreshments and friendship time in the Fellowship Hall.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “Day of Ashes,” so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s forehead in the sign of a cross. Since it is exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday.

First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach will be having a worship service to celebrate Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.

It will be a contemplative and prayerful service with the imposition of ashes. All are welcome to join us.

Blessings

The Joy Circle of First Presbyterian Church, Ft. Walton Beach, will host its annual SERRV International Craft Market on eight days in February, beginning Saturday, February 8, and continuing on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The Market will be open 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Wednesdays, and 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. The Church is located at 134 Beal Parkway SW (1 block North of Highway 98), and the market will be held in the Christian Education Building in Room 7.

Unique and traditional handmade crafts and foods from around the world will be included: decorator items, jewelry, baskets, chocolates, teas and coffees, and seasonal and gift items. When you purchase these items you directly benefit the artisans and farmers who have been fairly paid for their work. Proceeds from the sale also support charities worldwide.

The new year brings new opportunities for growth in our faith and our faithfulness. I invite everyone to select a plan for daily time with scripture, meditation, and the Lord.  Below are some suggestions to help get you started.

• If necessary, start slowly; perhaps only 5 minutes of meditation and prayer each day. Increase time as you are able.
• It helps to set aside a specific time each day so that you develop a rhythm within your daily schedule.
• You may want to partner with someone so you will have support and a conversation partner during the year.
• It may be helpful to follow a written plan or book of devotionals.  There are many from which to choose, both in print and on the internet.
• The important thing is to begin!

This year, I will be using “Gift and Task” by Walter Brueggemann.  His book includes both scripture and reflections: “to enter the truly free and awe-filled relationship with God” (from The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, 26^th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church)

Other suggestions for daily devotional use:

• d365.com
• Daily Prayer from the Book of Common Worship – App available for smart phones through pc(usa).org.
• “Jesus Calling” and other books by Sarah Young
• “Listening to Your Life” by Frederick Buechner

May we all seek God’s face with 20/20 vision of His will for our lives each day!

Blessings,

Rev. Sharon Schuler

1st Sunday:

• Worship with The Lord’s Supper
• Collection of Non-Perishable Food Items for Sharing and Caring Food Bank

1st Tuesday:

Joy Circle Meets at 9:45 a.m.

1st Tuesday / Thursday (September – May):

• Presbyterian Women’s (PW) Circles (see calender for specific times and meeting places)
• Bible Study for 2019-2020: “Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments” by Rev. Eugenia Gamble

1st Thursday:

• Fellowship Committee meets from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Shalom meets from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

3rd Tuesday:

PW Birthday Luncheon: Monthly birthday’s are celebrated together at different local restaurants

Sunday:

• 8:45-9:45 a.m. – Sunday School for all ages (Christian Education Building “F1”)
• 8:45-9:45 a.m. – Adult Choir Practice (Holbrook Hall “H2,3”)
• 10:00 a.m. – Worship (Sanctuary “S1)
• 11:15 a.m. – Friendship Time with light refreshments (“F1,2”)

Wednesday:

• 9:00 a.m. – Cookie Bakers (Kitchen, “F2”)
• 1:00 p.m.– Prayer Group (Parlor, “F2”)
• 2:00 p.m. – Bible Study: Nooma is a series of short films featuring best selling author, Rob Bell. God is doing something right here, right now and you can be a part of it. Come search, question, and join the discussion (Christian Education (CE), Room 2)

Thursday:

7:00 a.m. – Men’s Breakfast (Neighborhood Cafe)

• Saturday, February 8th – 23rd, 2020 – BIG Annual SERRV Market
• Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 – Winter Visitor’s Reception
• Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 – Ash Wednesday Service
• Sunday, March 15th, 2020 – Westward Road in Concert
• Sunday, April 5th, 2020 – Palm Sunday Service
• Sunday, April 12th, 2020 – Easter Worship Service