March 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.
Loose change offering for this quarter will be donated to Sleep in Heavenly Peace which builds beds for children in need. (Beds, mattresses, and pillows)
The loose change offering for the second quarter will go to the Free Clothes Closet. More clothing racks and storage are needed.
Joanne Slauson has begun developing and maintaining our new church website. We are very thankful to have her talents and skills being used for this project. If you haven’t checked out the new site, visit: weedsportpresbyterian.com.
Members of the session meets on a regular basis with session members from Marcellus First Presbyterian Church to discuss how our shared leadership arrangement is working out for both congregations. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of your session members. Our next meeting will be March 18th.
Rev. Copeland is holding a Lenten Bible Study Thursdays at 6:30 pm.
200-year Celebration!! In 2025 Weedsport First Presbyterian Church will be celebrating our 200th year! Planning is in the works!
Christian Education:
We have begun planning for VBS 2024. It will be held at our church. It will be extremely important for us to have as many volunteers as possible to make this a successful and safe program. If you can help, even for one day, it will be very helpful. Dates: tentatively July 8th - 12th. Please let Cyndy Rooker know if you think you may be able to help.
Lenten Devotionals are available in the Narthex.
Missions:
This year we have suggested that adults take a fish bank home for Lent. Each day, if you want, add your loose change to the bank. Return the banks Easter Sunday. The money donated will go to One Great Hour of Sharing. Hope your fish are getting heavy!
The church continues to accept donations of clothes for the FREE Clothes Closet. It is set up in the former preschool room. If you have clothes to donate you can drop them off at church on Sunday or during open hours. The closet is open Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Thursdays, 4 – 6:30 pm.
If you can volunteer to cover any of the open hours there is a calendar in the Narthex for sign-ups. Hangers are needed. (Prefer no wire hangers, thank you!)
If you can volunteer to man the closet during its hours, there is a calendar in the Narthex for sign-ups.
Red Cross Blood Drive:
The next blood drive will be Thursday, May 2nd, 2024. Be sure to sign up online at redcrossblood.org! If you can volunteer let Cyndy Rooker know.
Worship:
The worship committee has decided to have the congregation provide the flowers for the church for Easter. Please bring flowers Easter Sunday to be placed in the front of the church. You may take them home after worship. If you would like your dedication to be listed in the bulletin for Easter, please complete the attached form. Form is also available in the Narthex.
Sennett Federated has invited us to their interactive Maundy Thursday service. It will begin at 6 pm in the Memorial Wing. Please RSVP to SennettFedChurch@gmail.com or by text/call at 716-353-6393 to Lindsey by March 17th, 2024. (flyer attached)
We have been invited to join Marcellus First Presbyterian Church for an ecumenical Good Friday service at 7 pm.
We will be hosting MFPC at our Sunday, April 7th service.
Nominating Committee:
The nominating committee will be 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.
Deacon Report:
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.
Jo-Ann Griffith is improving. She continues with therapy at home.
Master Works Chorale will perform Sunday, March 17th at First Presbyterian Church in Skaneateles at 4 pm.
Masters Work Chorale will perform Palm Sunday at the Elbridge Community Church at 5 pm.
Catherine Johnson, Linda Fey’s daughter, and Tristian Tanael will be married May 2nd in Florida. They will live in Orlando, FL.
Sennett Federated will be having a Pulled Pork dinner, Saturday, April 13, 4:30-6:30 pm. See flyer attached.
The Weedsport Baptist Church is inviting the local churches to a covered dish dinner and dessert on Sunday, April 7th. Arrive around 11:30 am, dinner at noon. See attached flyer.
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, January 9, 2023.”
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.)
THANK YOU!
To The Praise Band/Choir for the beautiful music they provide on Sundays.
To Joanne Slauson for getting our new website up and running!
To all who stepped up and volunteered for the Red Cross Blood Drive this past week. Whenever we are in need, people step up!
To all who worked the Clothes Closet, especially while Sandi was out of town.
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.
Please pray for…
Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and the innocent people caught up in the crossfire. Pray for peace.
Pearl Becker had a bad fall Friday, March 8th. Fortunately, no broken bones or concussion. She is bruised and sore. Prayers for healing.
Denny Ware, Chere’s husband, had spine surgery. He is now home. Recovery is tough, but he is improving every day. He needs healing prayers.
Jean Turney, age 73, Bronwyn Gray Lancy’s mother-in-law, passed away. Jean lived in Auburn but spent the last 20 years in Zephyrhills, Florida. Prayers for her family and friends.
Chere Ware’s grandson, Marcus, has had back surgery. His surgery went well but will need prayers as this will be a long recovery.
The family of Susanna Mae Tanner, one of the crafters from the All Things Creative group, passed away. Please pray for her family and friends.
Rev. Brian Copeland’s brother, Larry, who is undergoing treatment for kidney cancer.
The family of Mary Leonardi who recently passed away.
Nicole Hyde, Pearl Becker’s neighbor, who is having surgery March 11th for her cancer.
Elaine Ozolins as she continues to treat her cancer. Pray for Elaine, her family, and her doctors.
Eileen Derevenko as her cancer has returned. Pray for her strength and for the medical staff assisting her.
Mat Grudzien. Send positive thoughts for healing.
Ranny Peacock, a friend of Laura Granger, who is battling health concerns.
Upcoming Dates:
March 18th – Doug’s to Go at our church to benefit the United Way.
March 28th – Maundy Thursday service at Sennett Federated (see attached flyer)
March 29th – Good Friday ecumenical service at MFPC, 7 pm
April 7th – Dish to Pass dinner at the Baptist church, 11:30 am (flyer attached)
April 13th – Puller Pork dinner, Sennett Federated church (flyer attached)
June 18th – Doug’s to Go to benefit WFD Auxiliary
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 downstairs Koinonia room
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)
1 p.m.-6 p.m. Red Cross Blood Drive at UMC, First Thursday of every odd month (Jan., March, May…)
Birthdays:
March 13 – Charles Grudzien April 4 – Adam Sweet April 21 – Melody Jane Robles
March 23 – Bill Saroodis April 7 – Jesse Dennis April 23 – Mindy Marshall
March 27 – Chere Ware April 16 – Alison Grudzien April 26 – Terry Sears
March 27 – Chele Conley April 21 – Sharon Marshall
March 29 – David Seitz April 21 – Linda Willis
*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!
Easter Chuckle:
Thomas was a very bright little eight-year-old, but his Sunday School teacher could not seem to get him to concentrate on the lessons being taught. He always wound up turning his lesson sheet over and drawing trucks, cars, and planes. During the spring season, when the Easter story was being taught, Thomas really seemed to be paying attention. He even raised his hand and asked how to spell an important name from the story, so his teacher was interested to look at his paper as he left the class.
And there on the back of the lesson page was a picture of a jet, with a man waving out the front window. Underneath the plane in Thomas’s careful handwriting was a caption that read “Pontius the Pilate.”
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