Weedsport First Presbyterian Church

June 2025 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.  

Notes from your pastor: June 2025

The last Sunday in May we focused on Jesus’ RADICAL compassion! So radical that he breaks sabbath to heal a man he doesn’t know, who doesn’t know him! The man did not cry out to be healed, yet Jesus saw his need and provided. That is what we mean by RADICAL! Some folks might take this story and temper it and soften it to make Jesus sound more like … us. We don’t always want to “rock the boat” we like the calm collective approach to problems. I know that I do at least, maybe you too? We are not nicknamed the Frozen Chosen for nothing! 

Are we not called to be like Jesus? Such a calling required us to get more than a bit RADICAL from time to time. We know from John 5:1-9 the man was by the pool for 38 years. When Jesus saw him, knowing he had been there a long time waiting to be placed in the healing waters, healed him immediately. Do we know people like that today? Isolated? Suffering? Needing words of healing? I believe we will find loads of such people, for today I want us to consider the LGBTQ+ community as we are approaching Pride month (June). 

This is a community of folks created in the image of God who are often shunned by their own families, attacked while tending to mundane daily tasks, and even excluded from communities of faith who worship God (the God whom all are made in the image of). These folks need to know the love and compassion of God that can only be seen by looking into the eyes of a RADICAL follower of Christ. Some of them have been waiting a long time, waiting for someone whom they may not know to help them realize God’s love for them! Below is a link to some information you might find interesting and helpful as we Frozen Chosen seek to be more like our radical Savior.

https://pcusa.org/sites/default/files/LGBTQIA_FAQ_SinglePages_FINAL.pdf

May Christ’s radical compassion shine through you,

Pastor Brian 

You may view our worship service on the church Facebook page. (Weedsport First Presbyterian Church) **If you “like” the worship service, it will be shared via Facebook to others!!

Christian Education:

VBS 2025: Theme: Road Trip! This year’s VBS will be held at Sennett-Federated Church,        July 7-11, 8:50 am-noon, children going into kindergarten and going into grade 6 are welcome.  Older children are encouraged to be volunteers.  We would appreciate any adults or youth (going into grade 7 or up) who have any time to volunteer. Please let Cyndy Rooker know. This year’s mission will be Meals on Wheels.

NEEDS:  shoeboxes with lids (not flip-top type shoeboxes), small and large Zip-lock bags, paper plates, spring-type clothespins.

Worship:

Substitute Minister:

Sunday, June 8^th, Larry Weiss - Pentecost Sunday – Try to wear RED!

We will be hosting our friends from Marcellus First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, July 13^th.  We will be joining Marcellus at their church on Sunday, July 20^th.  Their worship starts at 9:30 a.m.

Marcellus First Presbyterian Church will be holding their annual Picnic in the Park. This is also a celebration of Pastor Brian’s birthday. More info to follow.  Possibly Thursday, June 26^th. 

Mission: 

BLANKET SUNDAY:

 Pastor Brian challenged the congregation to donate 30 blankets.  We are thrilled to announce we collected enough for at least 33 blankets plus some donations that were directly mailed and online donations made to Church World Service.  Thank you to all who donated to this mission. 

 Doug’s to Go: The fundraiser held May 15^th raised $230 from the bake sale and donation jar for the Rome Presbyterian Church which was damaged in a tornado in 2024 and the recent windstorm.  Thank you to all who baked, purchased a meal, and/or helped man the bake sale booth.

Pentecost Offering collected through June 8. 

Pentecost celebrates the renewal of the relationship between God and the community of faith.  Through our gifts to the Pentecost Offering, we are there to help build a foundation of faith in our youth which will last a lifetime.

40% of the offering stays with our congregation to support ministries with children, youth, and young adults.

25% of the offering supports Young Adult Volunteers (YAV).

25% supports Ministries with Youth.

10% is devoted to children-at-risk and to improve education and provide safe havens.

The next blood drive will be held Thursday, July 3^rd, 1-6 pm at the Methodist Church,

hosted by WFPC.  If you have time to volunteer, please see Cyndy Rooker.  You can also make an appointment to donate blood at redcrossblood.org.  

Loose Change Offerings: Loose Change from the first quarter of 2025 (Jan.- March) has been split ½ to One Great Hour of Sharing and ½ to Meals on Wheels.  

Quarter 2 (April-June) will go to the book fair, quarter 3 will go to the Salvation Army Angel program, and quarter 4 will go to the Honor Flight program.

If you have not been downtown lately, you may have missed the demolition of the old Dollar General:

 From the 200^th Anniversary Committee: “We Love Our Church”

The committee will be sharing historic tidbits on the 2^nd and 4^th Sunday of the month.  They will also be sharing fun facts in our newsletter for you to enjoy.  If anyone has a fun fact to share, please feel free to contact Deb Dennis (dadennis59@gmail.com) and include your phone number.  Thank you.

Sunday, June 29^th, following worship, the committee will share a presentation on the stained-glass windows.  Refreshments will be provided.  If you would like to bake for this event, it would be greatly appreciated.

Fun fact:

Between 1937 and 1943 Rev. A. Ray Lewis started a young couples club called The Schooner Club.  It was meant for newlyweds, but other couples could join.  During the time Rev. Lewis was pastor he started Vacation Bible School for the children of all the churches in the community.  The response was very good and continues to this day.

Upcoming Dates:

June 8 – No Adult Sunday School

June 14 – Flag Day

June 15 – Father’s Day

June 26 - Marcellus Picnic in the Park

June 29 – 200^th Anniversary Committee presentation on the stained-glass windows, following worship

June 30 – Doug’s to Go at our church to benefit the Weedsport Fire Department Auxiliary

July 3 – Blood Drive

July 13^th – shared worship with MFPC at our church

July 20 – shared worship with MFPC at Marcellus

July 28 – our turn to help at the food pantry, 6:30 p.m.

July 31 – Doug’s to Go at our church to benefit WFPC

Mat Grudzien is CANCER FREE!  Praise God!

Dale Sweet is improving every day from his second hip replacement.  He is doing PT in Camillus at SOS and is doing well.  

Nancy Sweet had eye surgery and is almost healed, feeling more energetic and doing well.

Jeanne VanDusen is doing well recuperating from surgery last August. 

Jo-Ann Griffith has moved.  Her new address is: 1369 State Rt. 5, Lot 12, Elbridge, NY 13060

THANK YOU!

To The Praise Band/Choir for the beautiful music they provide on Sundays.  We especially enjoy the addition of the flute (Joanne Slauson), guitar (Dan Thomas), and percussion (James Marshall).  Of course, we always enjoy the weekly organ and piano (Laura Granger and Marian Smith).  

To all who volunteer at the Clothes Closet and to those who donate clothes. 

To all who baked for the bake sale held during the Doug’s to Go fundraiser.

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, to Joanne Slauson for keeping the website up-to-date, and Rev. Copeland for recording and posting the church service on Facebook.

Please pray for…  

Laura Granger’s sister-in-law, Jenny, has lung cancer.  She finished her chemo, but they have found a lesion on her brain. Prayers for Steve (Laura’s brother), Jenny, and the medical staff involved in her medical care. 

Pastor Glynn English and his family.  Glynn’s mother passed away recently.

Dale Sweet had his second hip replacement April 7^th at Crouse.  Pray for a speedy recovery.

Christie, Stephanie Baker’s sister has breast cancer.  She continues her chemo treatments.  Praying they are doing their job.

Evelyn Sweet, Dale’s mother, continues to need prayers for her health.

Rev. Brian’s brother, Larry. He had the rest of his left kidney removed. He will still need lots of recovery and recuperation.  

Jean Saroodis and Bill Smith, both dealing with health issues.          

Denny Ware is slowly improving but has a long road ahead.

Elaine Ozolins as she continues to treat her cancer.  

Mat Grudzien.  Send positive thoughts for health.

Max Appleby needs prayers for health and positive thinking.

INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING:

(This information will have been in previous newsletters, but 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 our deacons.    

The “Weedsport Presbyterian Church” has a Facebook page.  Feel free to follow.  There is a link to the webpage in the “Welcome” for an easy way to link back and forth.  Feel free to contact Joanne Slauson (joanneslauson@gmail.com) for any changes and additions on the Facebook page.

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.)

Birthdays:

*If you would like to have someone added to the birthday list, please let us know, thanks.

IMPORTANT REMINDER!            

Please be sure to turn off the lights and lock the doors to the church whenever you leave the building.

   REMINDER: We have several fire doors within the church.  For safety

reasons, please be sure they are shut whenever possible.    

What’s Going on at Church?

Sunday:

Wednesday:

9 a.m.                       Join Rev. Brian at Finally Ours Restaurant for coffee hour.

Thursday:

1-5 p.m.                     Rev. Copeland’s office hours 

3-5:30 p.m.           Free Clothes Closet open

11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.      Dog training classes

6 - 7 p.m.                     Bible Study (Rev. Copeland) Topic TBA

1 p.m.-6 p.m.               Red Cross Blood Drive at UMC, First Thursday of every odd month (Jan., March, May…)

Thank you, Connie Horr, for being the best proofreader!  She makes sure our newsletters are easier to read and understand!