Weedsport First Presbyterian Church

November/December 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.

Rev. Brian Copeland will begin an Advent study on Thursday, Dec. 4^th, 5:30-6:30 pm, in the upstairs Koinonia Room.

Longest Night service, a solemn service of prayer and reflection will be held Sunday, Dec. 21, 7 pm at Marcellus Presbyterian Church.

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!! 

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

November 16^th, we held a celebration of our 200^th anniversary.  There was a special service at 12:15 p.m. following our regular service.  It included singing of hymns, music by the Praise Band and words from our guest speakers.  After the service there was a catered luncheon in the dining room.  The special service is available to view on the church’s Facebook page. 

Deacons:

If you are interested in being a greeter, or providing refreshments for coffee hour, please sign up on the calendar in the Narthex. (Anyone can be a greeter.)  

Christian Education:

Rev. Brian Copeland will begin an Advent study on Thursday, Dec. 4^th, 5:30-6:30 pm, upstairs in the Koinonia Room.

Remember, the children leave our worship service following Children’s Time.

Worship:  

Hanging of the Greens will be Sunday, November 23, immediately after worship.

Stewardship Sunday will also be Nov. 23.

 Christmas Eve worship will be December 24^th at 7 pm.

Worship service will be held in the fellowship hall beginning January 2026 through March to conserve energy.  Worship will return to the sanctuary Easter Sunday.

All Saints Day. Those remembered: Max Appleby, Jeannette Bates, Leslie Clark, Sue Hutton, Carl Sande, Bill Saroodis, Peggy Sawyer, Nancy Simons, Jennie Webb

Mission:

Our Free Clothes Closet celebrated its two-year anniversary this November!!

 Christmas Joy offering will run Nov. 30-Dec. 21. Funds donated to Christmas Joy go to retired pastors, church workers and their families in critical financial need. Other funds help students of color learn leadership skills and pursue their education. You can use special envelopes found in the pews to place your

donation in the collection plate. Or you can mail or drop off your gift to the church, marking it as "Christmas Joy."  (Insert attached)

Operation Christmas Child:

Please return shoeboxes by Sunday, Nov. 23, or sooner.  Thank you!                                                                 

The next blood drive will be held Thursday, January 8th, 1-6 pm at the Methodist Church,  

hosted by WFPC.  If you have time to volunteer, please contact Cyndy Rooker.  You can also make an appointment to donate blood at redcrossblood.org.    At September blood drive we collected 28 units: our goal was 22!  (127% efficiency!!)

 Loose Change Offerings:

Quarter 2 - $360 (April-June) went to the elementary school book fair, quarter 3 - $534 (July-Sept.) went to the Salvation Army Angel program, and quarter 4 (Oct.-Dec.) will go to the Honor Flight program. 

Upcoming Dates:  

Nov 23 – Hanging of the Green, Stewardship Sunday, OCC Shoeboxes returned

Nov. 30 – First Sunday in Advent, Christmas Joy Offering begins

Dec. 4 – Advent study begins, 5:30-6:30 pm

Dec. 21 – Longest Night service, 7 pm, MFPC

Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve worship service, 7 pm

Dec. 28 – Lynne Jacques will be the substitute minister

Jan. 12 – Committee reports due

Jan. 25 – Congregational Meeting

 Jeanne Baker celebrated her 95^th birthday on November 20, 2025!  Best wishes to her!!

Mat Grudzien is CANCER FREE!  Praise God!  

Martha Mills is now home from rehabilitation.

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.  

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…   

The family of Bill Saroodis who passed on October 21.

The family of Walter Savicki who passed on Nov. 8^th.  Walter is Pastor Mary Sanderson’s father.

The family of Joseph Chindamo.  Joseph is the grandson of Nora Chindamo and nephew of Vinnie, Bridget, and Josephine, all of whom attend the craft group at church.

Evelyn Sweet, Dale’s mother, has a blockage in her leg and continues to need prayers for her health.

Adam Sweet’s fiancé Marley’s mother, Kathy, recently had a serious operation and needs prayers for healing and recovery. 

Jeanne Baker and her family.  Jeanne’s sister Peggy (Laura Ruth) passed away.

Carol Harkness Burns as she battles aggressive skin cancer.

Pearl Becker’s brother, Walter.  Walter has 4-6 months of recovery.

Elaine Ozolins as she continues to treat her cancer.    

Mat Grudzien.  Send positive thoughts for health.

 INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING:  

(This information will have been in previous newsletters, but it is worth reprinting.)  

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.)  

Nov. 17 – Kay Bates                           Jan. 2 – Donald Dennis

Nov. 19 – Avery Gwinn             Jan. 3 – Charles Rooker

Nov. 20 – Jeanne Baker              Jan. 4 – Nathan Gray

Nov. 23 – Dylan Leubner                      Jan. 6 - Deb Fleming

Dec. 1 – Elaine Ozolins                       Jan. 7 – Laura Granger

Dec. 10 – Amie Fatcheric                     Jan. 13 – Vicki Viccaro

Dec. 16 – Debbie Dennie            Jan. 15 – Dan Thomas

Dec. 26 – James McEnelly                    Jan. 16 – Aubrey Leonard

Dec. 27 – Gavin Gwinn             Jan. 25 – Michelle Stoecker

Dec. 28 – John Seitz                            Jan. 27 – Heather Reed

                                                            Jan. 29 – Jenna Grudzien

                                                            Jan. 30 – Ed Rooker                                                                                                        

*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. 

What’s Going on at Church?  

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

6 - 7 p.m.                         Bible Study (Rev. Copeland) Advent study   

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

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

reasons, please be sure they are shut whenever possible.     

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