Congregational Meeting First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls, NY FIRST PRESS Newsletter March 2018 The Semi Annual Congregational Meeting was held February 18, 2018. Rev Stacy Otto served as Moderator. The following members were elected to the Session and Deacons: To the position of Elder Chris Jackson, Robert MacNaughton, Dori Parry, Carl Slenk and Mark Tarbell. Other members continuing to serve on the Session are Carol Dashineau, Clerk of Session, John Goddard and Bill Jackson. To the position of Deacon Joyce Braham, Kina and Rhoshe Jackson, Kirk Parry, Carol Restivo and Lis Slenk. Other members continuing to serve as Deacons are Janet Dawson, Jeanette LaMorie, Able McLarahmore and Jane MacNaughton. Congratulations to the new Elders and Deacons and welcome to the service of the Lord at First Presbyterian Church. The Ordination and Installation of Officers will be Sunday March 4, 2018, during Worship Service with Rev. Jon Rielly-Goddard officiating. At the Semi Annual Meeting, the Assistant Treasurer, Carolyn Goddard, reviewed the finances of the Church. She urged members and friends to look at the Annual Report for the detailed financial reports. The Annual Report is available for everyone to read. Carol Dashineau, Clerk of Session Preaching Schedule March & April Below is the Preacher s schedule for February and March. The continuity of leadership in worship will benefit our congregation. Everyone is urged to attend worship and support our Church. March 4 - Rev. John Rielly-Goddard March 11 - Rev Stacy Otto March 18 - Lee Weinshiemer March 25 - Terry McIntyre April 1 - Rev. Stacy Otto (Easter) April 8 - Lee Weinshiemer April 15 - Terry McIntyre April 22 - Lee Weinshiemer April 29 - Chris Jackson See you in Church, Carol Dashineau Valentine Love Potluck Let s see: Fun and fellowship, food, guessing the number of candies, just enjoying one another.hmm. Sounds like a First Pres pot luck to me! Our Pre-Valentine love pot luck was held on Sunday, February 11, following worship service. Thanks, Judy for taking pictures to share. Thanks to all who came and thanks for the yummy food you brought. Thanks to all who decorated, cleaned up and washed dishes. Marissa and Kayla were the lucky guessers and Korena won the Valentine stuffed puppy. Breakfast Club - There will be no Church Breakfast Club Meeting for the Month of March. See you in April.
Maundy Thursday This year Maundy Thursday is March 29, 2018. First Pres will have a worship service at 7:00 PM. This service will welcome the three other Presbyterian Churches in Niagara Falls, Bacon Memorial, Riverside and Niagara United. Chris Jackson will be the worship leader for the service. Please plan to attend to support Chris and welcome the other churches to the service. This Joint service is one of the ideas to come from the meetings of the Niagara Area Presbyterian Church groups. It is important that we show our support for such services and other events that the Niagara Area Presbyterian Churches group sponsors. Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easer Sunday and is the day to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. The story of Jesus breaking and blessing bread at the Passover meal, as in the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke became the sacrament of holy communion in the Christian church. Another element of Maundy Thursday service is the act of foot washing. John's Gospel does not tell about the institution of communion at the last Passover meal, but tells of Jesus washing his disciples' feet. The observance of foot washing is practiced in some Presbyterian churches as a reminder of the kind of love and servanthood Christ asked of his disciples that day. This article is based on an article from the Presbyterian Mission Agency website. As of February 22nd, First Pres no longer has a Sexton. Until a new Sexton is hired, please help to keep the church tidy. Thank you. Bowling for the Family - Rapids Bowling Alley on Niagara Falls Blvd, Saturday, March 24, at 11:30 am. Bowling with shoes is $5.00, food is $10.00. You can just bowl or just eat or both! Valentine Pot Luck One Great Hour of Sharing Fish Yes, the fish are here! Once again they successfully swam up the river and arrived in Niagara Falls. Take one home with you and fatten it up with donations to the world-wide ministry of One Great Hour of Sharing - a Christian effort to empower, provide water, supply food and give relief from disaster all over the world. Remember the boy in the Bible story who gave his fish and loaves of bread to Jesus who blessed them and fed a multitude? Our fish boxes are like that. When we all give a little, a lot is accomplished, as Jesus blesses us and what we give and those who receive. Bring your fat fish to church on Easter Sunday to start it on the journey of love to help others.
Below is a form to order flowers to decorate the Sanctuary for Easter. You can mail or place your order in the collection plate up to Palm Sunday, March 25. Be sure to mark your donation Easter Flowers. EASTER FLOWERS If you would like to make a donation for Easter Flowers, please complete the form below and enclose a check for $10 (per flower) made out to First Presbyterian Church. Mark the check Easter Flowers or if you are using cash include a note that says Easter Flowers. Be sure to cut out and enclose the Memorial designation shown in the area below and return it with your check or cash. Deadline is Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018 ******************************************************************************************* Memorial Designation Circle One: In Memory of (list name(s) below) In Honor of (list name(s) below) Name(s) From Please mark one of the following options: I will take my flower(s) home I will leave my flower(s) for the Deacons to take to shut-ins
Please Pray for Those Who are Sick or Shut-in Shut-Ins Jean Hackenheimer Helen Fox Prayer List Mark Tarbell Ralph Kullman Mel Dashineau Bill Karches Ed Van Valkinburgh Monique Wilson Antonino Thomas Family Clary Wilson Maureen Karches Pearl Durham Janet Bianca March Birthdays March 9 Shyann Durham 10 Helyna Durham 19 Mel Dashineau 20 Jasmine Street 27 Korena Jackson Spring Ahead -It is that time of year to spring forward. Daylight savings begins March 11. Set clocks ahead one hours. Also, this is a good time to check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. March Volunteer Schedule Ushers March 4 Robert MacNaughton, Carl Slenk March 11 - John Goddard, Bill Jackson March 18 Robert Smith, Robert MacNaughton March 25 - Carl Slenk, Bill Jackson Readers March 4 - Lis Slenk March 11 - Chris Jackson March 18 - Carol Dashineau March 25 - John Goddard Communion Servers (Intinction) March 4 - Lis Slenk There will be a St. Pats Pot luck, Sunday, March 18. If you are able, please bring a dish to share and a place setting for everyone in your group. See Mark Tarbell for more information. May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you wherever you go. An Irish Blessing Budget Report for January 2018 Actual $ Year to Date $ Budget YTD $ Giving 3,207 3,207 2,951 Investment Income, Other 00 00 2,966 TOTAL INCOME 3,207 3,207 5,917 EXPENSES 10,325 10,325 8,119 NET (Deficit) (7,118) (7,118) (2,202) No investment income was recorded for January. Expenses include 2998 for National Fuel Gas and 2890 for church and van quarterly insurance premiums. Adult Classes, Sundays, 10:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room The unit for March is The Kingdom of God with Courage the value emphasized. March 4: Daniel s Vision of Change (Daniel 7:9-14) March 11: Daniel s Prayer (Daniel 9:4-14) March 18: Gabriel's Interpretation (Daniel 8:19-26) March 25: The Lord's Supper (Luke 22:14-30) Please join us for the adventure into God s Word. All are welcome!
March 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 World Day of Prayer 3 4 Third 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sunday of Lent Communion F.A.C.T. 11 Fourth 12 13 14 15 16 17 Sunday of Lent Deacons Meet Daylight Saving Move Clocks ahead F.A.C.T. St. Patrick s Day 18 Fifth 19 20 F.A.C.T. 21 22 23 24 Sunday of Lent St Pats Potluck Session 7 pm First Day of Spring 25 Palm 26 27 28 29 Maundy 30 Good 31 Sunday F.A.C.T. Thursday Service 7 pm Friday Holy Saturday
T h e News l e tter of First Presbyterian C h u rc h of Niaga r a Falls, N.Y. Page 6 7 First Press First Presbyterian Church 311 First St Phone: 716-285-3555 Fax: 716-285-3482 E-mail: firstpres2@verizon.net Return Service Requested Happy St Patrick s Day Daylight saving begins March 11, turns clocks ahead one hour. We re on the Web: www.niagarachurch.org CHURCH OFFICE Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 am -1 pm Telephone: 285-3555 Sunday Worship Fellowship Adult Education Choir Practice Communion Thursday Church Breakfast Club Food Pantry & Clothes Closet 11:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 1st Sunday of each month 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.-2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. 12 noon News and letters may be submitted by mail to: First Presbyterian Church, 311 First St., Niagara Falls, NY 14303 ATTN: First Press News may also be submitted via e-mail to the Church Secretary at firstpres2@verzon.net or may be dropped through the mail slot of the church office. First Press is published monthly by First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls, N.Y., U.S.A. Editor/Publisher: Janet Roat Reporters: John Goddard, Janet Bianca, Lis Slenk, Chris Jackson Newsletter deadline is the 15th of the month. BOARD MEETINGS Deacons 2nd Sunday of month 10:30 a.m. Session 3rd Tuesday of the month 7:00 p.m. March 2018 March Flower is the Daffodil