July/August 2024 Good Stuff
There’s so much good stuff happening at WFPC!
Please continue to let us know of any “News” you have to share.
News from your Session:
If you need to contact Rev. Brian Copeland: rev.briancopeland@gmail.com, 850-524-4884.
Office hours Thursdays 1 pm – 5 pm. Be sure to stop in and visit while he is in the office.
200-year Celebration!! In 2025 Weedsport First Presbyterian Church will be celebrating our 200th year! Planning is in the works!
The land sale to Dollar General has finally gone through after five years!!
We will be worshipping jointly at Marcellus First Presbyterian Church for World Communion Sunday, October 6th. Their worship service starts at 9:30 a.m.
Nominating Committee:
The nominating committee is working on replacing Jean Saroodis after her retirement as our treasurer. Please prayerfully consider if this is an area where you could be of assistance to your church. Sandi Kreplin is willing to be the treasurer if someone else is willing to take over as Clerk of Session.
Christian Education:
Sunday school classes will resume Sept. 8. Children will leave worship following the Children’s Time! We are looking forward to seeing our students!!
VBS 2024 Camp Firelight was held at our church July 15-19. It was a great success, thanks to the 33 wonderful volunteers and the children who attended. Our mission was ARISE at the farm. We raised $653 for ARISE at the Farm! ARISE at the Farm is an accessible, inclusive interdisciplinary Independent Living Center located on a 77-acre working horse farm in Chittenango, NY. It focuses on the needs and interests of individuals with disabilities in the Central New York region, ARISE at the Farm is open throughout the year and offers a variety of recreational activities and other services. Recreation opportunities range from therapeutic horseback riding to school break programming, an accessible fishing pond and playground. All ARISE at the Farm programs are inclusive and welcome people of all abilities.
Missions:
We have been collecting school supplies for the Weedsport Central Schools. Supply needs list will be attached to the newsletter. Sunday, August 25th will be the last collection Sunday as we hope to deliver the donations to the school before the children head back.
We will also be collecting monetary donations to assist children who may not have the funds to purchase books from the school’s book fair. There will be a donation jar in the Narthex.
Our May Doug’s to Go netted $229 (donation jar $54, profit $175). The July Doug’s netted $387 (donation jar $60, profit $327).
Red Cross Blood Drive:
The next blood drive will be Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Be sure to sign up online at redcrossblood.org! If you can volunteer let Cyndy Rooker know.
Peace & Global Witness Special Offering: Sowing the Seeds of Peace
This is one of four annual special offerings from PC(USA): One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peace & Global Witness, and Christmas Joy. Our Peace & Global Witness offering enables the church to promote the peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice in our own communities and across the world.
*25% of this offering stays with our congregation to support peacemaking and reconciliation in our own community.
*25% of this offering goes to our mid-council to join with other congregations to support peacemaking work in our region.
*50% of this offering supports the work being done by Presbyterians across the globe.
The official offering collection is usually done on World Communion Sunday, but we will be at a joint worship with our friends at Marcellus First Presbyterian church, so we will plan to officially collect this offering Sunday, September 29, although you may place your special offering envelope in the offering plate any Sunday in September. If you choose to write a check, write it to the church, Weedsport First Presbyterian Church, as we keep the 25% earmarked for our congregation’s work locally.
The Weedsport Alumni banquet was a great gathering! Held June 22, 2024
Bev Clark & Doreen Henry---Chere, Lisa Roe McDeid, Chele, ---The Green Street Crew: Lisa, Jeff, Mike, Chere Perkins, Barb & Jack O’Brien Joan Daly, Keith Martin, Mike Sheehan Wendy O’Brien Nye, Bev
(75 years) (Class of 1979 – 45 Years
Bronwyn O’Connor celebrated her 80th birthday July 11, 2024.
THANK YOU!
To The Praise Band/Choir for the beautiful music they provide on Sundays. We especially enjoy the addition of the flute (JoAnn Slauson), guitar (Dan Thomas), and percussion (James). Of course, we always enjoy the weekly organ and piano (Laura Granger and Marian Smith).
To Dan Sperduti for installing the window air conditioner in the church office. Twice! Poor Dan had to remove the old AC after he had installed it as it was not working and install the new one!
To all who volunteer at the Clothes Closet and to those who donate clothes.
Thank you to Dan Thomas for continuing to share the worship link weekly so those that are not able to attend may enjoy listening to the service and to JoAnn Slauson for keeping the website up-to-date.
Special thanks to those who volunteered at VBS from our church: Rev. Brian Copeland, Jim and Christopher Granger, Debbie Dennis, Sandi Kreplin, Barbara Gray, Chris Grudzien, Lori Anna, Connie Horr, Cyndy Rooker.
Please pray for…
Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and the innocent people caught in the crossfire. Pray for peace.
The family of Rev. Jenna and Rev. Patrick Heery as they mourn his father’s passing.
The family of Gary Hurd as they mourn his passing.
Vicki Viccaro’s neighbor Gary Badgley. He is receiving chemo and radiation on a tumor.
Kathy Blowers who had surgery July 23 and is also dealing with Lyme disease.
Tanner Bilinski who had major surgery on July 25th.
Stephanie Baker’s mother, Cindy, who is having chemotherapy for breast cancer and is progressing well. Stephanie is Marcia Baker’s daughter-in-law.
Jean Saroodis is dealing with severe nerve pain.
Jeanne VanDusen, Anne McLoud’s sister. She is now in rehab at Community.
Wayne and Dillon Hunter, father and son, both battling cancers. They are Jeanne VanDusen’s son and grandson, Anne McLoud’s nephew and great nephew.
Denny Ware is slowly improving but has a long road ahead.
Nancy Sweet as she recovers from surgery for a carcinoid cancer tumor on her lung. She is slowly coming along and getting her strength back.
Dale Sweet as he rehabs from hip replacement surgery.
Jo-Ann Griffith. She is doing better but had several visits to Upstate. She was not admitted and luckily was able to return home.
Lisa McClure, Bev Clark’s neighbor, who has heart disease. She is back in the hospital.
Rev. Brian Copeland’s brother, Larry, who is undergoing treatment for kidney cancer.
Elaine Ozolins as she continues to treat her cancer.
Eileen Derevenko as her cancer has returned.
Mat Grudzien. Send positive thoughts for healing.
Ranny Peacock, a friend of Laura Granger, who is battling health concerns.
Upcoming Dates:
Sept. 9th – Food pantry, our church’s turn to volunteer
Sept. 11 – Blood drive
Sept. 13th – Doug’s to Go to benefit Weedsport Good Samaritan Fund
Sept. 15th – Session and committee meetings following the service
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING:
(This information will have been in previous newsletters but it is felt it is worth reprinting.)
If you are interested in being a greeter, please let the deacons know. (Anyone can be a greeter.) There is a calendar in the Narthex for you to sign up.
If you would like to offer to make refreshments for a Sunday, please check the calendar in the Narthex and let the Deacon for that Sunday know. It is a great way to help out our deacons.
If you have missed a Sunday Sermon, you can listen to the service thanks to Dan Thomas. The recorded services are available on YouTube.com.
Simply search, for example: “Weedsport Presbyterian Worship, April 14, 2024.”
Now that the church service starts at 11:15 a.m., Adult Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m. This may make it easier for you to join us in the upstairs Koinonia Room Sunday mornings before church to get some very interesting background of the day’s scripture. Dan Thomas has a wealth of knowledge to share!
Weedsport Good Samaritan Fund reminder: Do you know someone that might need our help?
We would like to offer this reminder. The Weedsport Good Samaritan Fund is available to assist with emergency medical, utility, and other needs that may arise. Please contact Cyndy Rooker if you have any questions or know of someone who could use assistance. (Must be a resident of WCSD, Weedsport, Cato.)
IMPORTANT REMINDER! &
Please be sure to turn off the lights and lock the doors to the church whenever you leave the building.
What’s Going on at Church?
Sunday:
9:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School with Dan Thomas
11:15 a.m. In-person worship
1-3 p.m. Square Dancers in dining room
Tuesday:
10-noon All Things Creative meets in the former first floor office.
10-1 p.m. Free Clothes Closet open
7-9 p.m. Square Dancers in dining room
Wednesday:
9 a.m. Join Rev. Brian at Finally Ours Restaurant for coffee hour.
Thursday:
1-5 p.m. Rev. Copeland’s office hours
4-6:30 p.m. Free Clothes Closet open
6:30-7:30 p.m. Bible Study (Rev. Copeland) TBA
1 p.m.-6 p.m. Red Cross Blood Drive at UMC, First Thursday of every odd month (Jan., March, May…)*
*Sept. will be a Wednesday!
Birthdays:
Aug. 6 – Marcia Baker Aug. 22 – Meagan Fatcheric Sept. 14 – James Baker
Aug. 11 – Stella Evelyn Sweet Aug. 24 – Madison Leonard Sept. 20 – Donna Glowacki
Aug. 12 – Dale Sweet Aug. 26 – Nancy Marshall Sept. 24 – Denny Ware
Aug. 21 – Jo-Anne Griffith Aug. 26 – Bill Smith Sept. 27 – James Granger
Aug. 21 – Jessica Gwinn Sept. 29 – Sandi Kreplin
*If you would like to have someone added to the birthday list, please let us know, thanks.
Thank you, Connie Horr, for being the best proofreader! She makes sure our newsletters are easier to read and understand!
