October 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!
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.
The “Weedsport Presbyterian Church” Facebook page has been updated. 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.
From the 200th anniversary committee –
The committee has had approximately 4 meetings so far. Presently the committee consists of Debbie Dennis, Linda Willis, Chere Ware and Barbara Gray. We have several ideas but are hoping to get everyone involved in some small way. We welcome thoughts, ideas, photos, clipping, and mementos – and even special memories on index cards. Please contact any of the committee members. We would love to hear from you!
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 have begun! Children leave worship following the Children’s Time! We are excited to see our students!!
No ADULT Sunday School Sept. 29.
Rev. Copeland is hosting a discussion group on Christian Theology focused on Shirley Guthrie’s book, “Christian Doctrine.” You may join any week. A few of the topics the study will be exploring:
-How can we find God?
-What does God want with us?
-What are we doing here?
-And much more….
Missions:
**Clothes Closet – Help is needed on Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Thursdays 3 – 5:30 p.m.**
Please note the hours for Thursdays have changed.
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.
We will start filling boxes in October. There will be boxes and some items to get you started in the back of the sanctuary. Postage for the boxes is $10. You may want to partner with someone and split the work of filling the box and the postage. Ideas for items to put in the boxes will be attached.
Red Cross Blood Drive:
The next blood drive will be Thursday, November 7, 2024. Be sure to sign up online at redcrossblood.org! If you can volunteer let Cyndy Rooker know.
Martha Mills will be celebrating her 80th birthday October 14th, 2024!!
2024 Summer Road Trip Challenge Completed!
Barbara and Nathan Gray are happy to announce they have completed the FLX Library System Road Trip Challenge!
“The road trip included all of July and August. The challenge was to visit all 33 branches in the Finger Lakes Library System. You simply got a passport at any of the locations (Including Weedsport) and when visiting each branch get a stamp on your passport. This included Cayuga, Seneca, Cortland, Tompkins, and Tioga County. The tricky part was to plan out strategies, as every library has different days and hours it was open – some branches were not open on certain days! At its furthest points the challenge ran from Fair Haven, bordering Lake Ontario to Apalachin, near the Pennsylvania border. There were some nominal prizes to be had, but we were all about the experiences and bragging rights! We put on approximately 1,000 miles over the course of 10 trips.
Some libraries had your standard free bookmarks, some had free books, puzzles, dried herbs with attached recipes, and flower seeds. Some were funded by endowments, some by school budgets. Some had to depend on lots of fundraisers, many had donation cans and used volunteer manpower. We saw some sad stories of remote libraries where they have to wait 20 minutes for a police call. Many had limited space as it was almost impossible to offer the programming we have, but probably have to resource out some space. Some bigger buildings had space, but were cold and sterile. Some didn’t have much but were warm and cheerful. Many participants, we found, drove up, got stamped, and drove off. We spent some quality time at each, averaging a half hour, give or take. We interacted with staff members to learn more about each branch! We took away ideas, and gave some. I took approximately 180 pictures – beginning with the exterior and main work desk. Each branch has uniqueness, history, and special features. We have loved them all, but the greatest takeaway was the new friends we’ve made along the way. Back in Weedsport, we are grateful for what we have.”
Waterloo – Sue created 8 ft. Waverly – children read 7
Peacock out of book pages. Books, earn a token, insert
vending machine – choose
a book!
Cady (Nichols, NY) – Formal historic home inserted Cady (Nichols, NY) – Formal historic home
with book stacks inserted with book stacks
Seneca Falls – Bronwyn (Gray) Lancy and family
Congratulations to Jordan and Christine Petrocci (Janet and John Clark’s son, nephew of Chere Ware and Chele Conley, and Bev Clark’s grandson) were married in Charleston, SC August 9, 2024.
Our friends at Sennett-Federated Church will be holding a rummage sale October 5, 9-1 p.m. with a $6 bag sale. If you have items to donate for the sale you may drop them off at the church September 9th – October 3rd, 9-5 p.m.
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). Of course, we always enjoy the weekly organ and piano (Laura Granger and Marian Smith).
To Linda Fey for painting the front doors. What a difference it makes!
To all who generously donated to the school supply mission. We delivered several boxes to the school.
To all who volunteer at the Clothes Closet and to those who donate clothes.
To all who donated and volunteered at the September blood drive.
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 JoAnne Slauson for keeping the website up-to-date.
Please pray for…
The family of Bev Clark. Bev passed away on September 17th at the Commons. Bev was a 77 year member of our church. (Obituary attached)
Vicki Viccaro’s neighbor Gary Badgley. He is presently off chemo for a tumor.
Stephanie Baker’s mother, Cindy, who has completed chemotherapy for breast cancer. Stephanie is Marcia Baker’s daughter-in-law. Keep her in your prayers.
Jean Saroodis is dealing with severe nerve pain.
Jeanne VanDusen, Anne McLoud’s sister. She is now at home.
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:
Oct. 6 – joint worship with MFPC, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 13 –Committees and Session meeting following worship
Nov. 7 – Blood drive
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
3-5:30 p.m. Free Clothes Closet open
6 - 7 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…)
Birthdays:
Sept. 27 – Jim Granger
Oct. 24 – Deb Thomas
Nov. 17 – Kay Bates
Sept. 29 – Sandi Kreplin
Oct. 27 – Charlie Grudzien
Nov. 19 – Avery Gwinn
Oct. 1 – Weston Braun
Oct. 29 – Liam McEnelly
Nov. 23 – Dylan Leubner
Oct. 5 – Evan McEnelly
Oct. 29 – Seth McEnelly
Oct. 6 – Jeanette Bates
Nov. 2 – Heather McEnelly
Oct. 6 – Matt Slauson
Nov. 3 – Christine Grudzien
Oct. 14 – Martha Mills
Nov. 9 – Greg Fatcheric
Oct. 14 – Andrew Sweet
Nov. 13 – Elsie Rooker
*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!
