Westminster Concert Comes to FPC

Friday, May 16, 2:30 PM, Sanctuary

USF brings in world-renowned musicians for their Steinway and Haris Arts Concert Series. Westminster Palms was offered a private concert the day before the USF performance. Unfortunately Westminster is unable to host due to A/V issues. But this is good news for us, as they will be moving this amazing concert to our Sanctuary!

We are invited as Westminster Palms' guests on Friday, May 16 at 3:30 PM for a concert by the acclaimed Martinelli-Trovato Duo (Silvia Martinelli and Andrea Trovato; click HERE for a short performance video clip). The voice-piano duo from Tuscany will take us into the magic of Italian arias and art songs.

OUR NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER

Will be on May 14 at 5:30 PM in Fellowship Hall

Our next Wednesday Night Dinner, on May 14th, will be a FIESTA meal starting at 5:30 PM! Build your own tacos, burritos, and bowls with beef or chicken and LOTS of toppings from the garden and our local street taco cart vendor! The original recipe is not spicy to start, but SPICE it up IF you feel brave enough to try Dave's sauces! Please CLICK HERE to RSVP (remember to check the "yes" box!)!

Mission Sunday: May 11

from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall

Assembling Health Kits For Honduras

Your Mission Committee is once again partnering with our Honduras mission team for their upcoming June trip. These kits will be distributed in each of the five villages visited by our team to use in health screenings for adults and offer activities for children.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

(1) Donate:

• kids' toothbrushes (PLEASE NO ADULT TOOTHBRUSHES OR COMBS OR DENTAL FLOSS...we have an ample supply!)

• kids' combs

• band-aids for kids and adults

• #5 soccer balls

• jump ropes

• frisbees

• gallon slider plastic bags

• quart size plastic zipper bags

• money (checks should be made out to FPC and mention Honduras trip in the memo line) are also gratefully accepted to purchase soap and toothpaste in Honduras (we cannot take these items in suitcases).

(2) Join us in the Fellowship Hall from 10-11 AM on Sunday, May 11. We need all ages to help remove items from packaging and bag them in zip-lock bags!

Collection boxes labeled “For Honduras” are located by the Giving Tree in both the Youth Center and Sanctuary. We know we count on you to make this a wonderful time of sharing and caring! Your Mission Committee appreciates all each and every one of you do to help move this vital mission project forward!

Questions about Mission Sunday? Please contact the Church Office.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR EASTER SUNDAY!!

“CONNECT” PRAISE SERVICE - 9 AM in the Youth Center, featuring our Praise Band

“SANCTUARY” TRADITIONAL SERVICE - 11 AM in the Sanctuary, featuring our pipe organ, brass quartet, and Chancel Choir

You don’t want to miss this popular FPC annual Easter event! (This year it is the Saturday before Easter.)

Bring your children and friends (and an Easter basket!) for a fun morning at FPC! There will be games, a petting zoo, face painting, and, of course, an egg hunt! See you at the front of the church on the corner of Beach Drive and 7th Avenue!

GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRÆ SERVICE

Join us at 7:30 PM in the Sanctuary for a worship service with Scripture and hymns.

Beach Drive Forums are monthly conversations for the community with intriguing speakers on thought-provoking topics. Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 PM in Fellowship Hall (doors open at 5:30, presentation at 6:00). Refreshments and Q&A included. Open to the public; Everyone is welcome! The best parking is the church lot off N. Shore Drive. 

APRIL 16

Fly With Us: Ways to Save Florida’s Feathered Friends

“Fly With Us,” a discussion of ways to save Florida’s feathered friends, will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, April 16 at 5:30 PM. Charlotte Arndt, Education Coordinator at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, will lead the seminar. Charlotte is one of the small staff and volunteers who care for approximately 3,500 birds each year. She will give insight into the important work done by the organization as well as sharing concerns about damage done to the Sanctuary  by recent storms.

Join us at 9:00 AM in the Youth Center or at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary for a worship service featuring palm fronds and celebrating Christ’s journey to the cross.

OUR NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER

Will be on April 9 at 5:30 PM in Fellowship Hall

Our next Wednesday Night Dinner is sure to be FOWL! That's right, chicken is on the menu! Wings and chicken tenders with different barbeque sauces to try + awesome sides and dessert! We hope to see you there....food, fun, and fellowship for all! Please "CLUCK" HERE to RSVP!

2025 Festival of Praise:

Brahm’s Ein deutsches Requiem

with Nancy Callahan and the Tampa Oratorio Singers 

Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 4:00 PM

Perhaps one of the most beloved sacred yet non-liturgical works of all time, A German Requiem by Brahms was originally written for chorus and two pianos. Hear the combined voices of the Tampa Oratorio Singers and vocalists from our church and community join together to offer this masterwork in its original form. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit Tampa Oratorio Singers.

"Stations of the Cross" by Dee Perconti

Opening Reception, March 28, 5 to 7 PM

Exhibit will be open through April 20

"Stations of the Cross" by Dee Perconti is a profound series of artworks depicting the events leading up to Jesus' death and burial. These stations offer Christians a prayerful way to embark on a spiritual pilgrimage through the Passion of Christ.

Everyone is invited to the opening reception, on Friday, March 28, from 5 – 7 PM in the Chapel Gallery.

The art show, which is open through April 20, provides an ongoing opportunity for everyone to walk Jesus’ last steps on earth. 

Beach Drive Forums are monthly conversations for the community with intriguing speakers on thought-provoking topics. Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 PM in Fellowship Hall (doors open at 5:30, presentation at 6:00). Refreshments and Q&A included. Open to the public; Everyone is welcome! The best parking is the church lot off N. Shore Drive. 

MARCH 19

William Felice PhD, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Eckerd College, enlightens us with a high-level view of free speech in higher education and what that means.

Our Next Fellowship Dinner - Monday, March 17

Our second “Wednesday Night” Fellowship Dinner of the year has been moved to Monday, March 17th, 2025! We'll have a traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage with lots of vegetables. The Fellowship Committee leprechauns have started discussing desserts and decorations! Dinner should begin around 5:30 PM and there will be a salad bar if you're not a corned beef fan. Come get your green on with your church friends!

This is one of our expensive meals; RSVP IS REQUIRED! Click here to let us know if you're coming!

In the season of Lent, we enter into a forty-day fast that Jesus undertook in the wilderness. Through this dedicated period of self-examination, we allow God to further shape us into the image of Jesus. We also align our hearts with the suffering of Jesus as we move ever closer towards Holy Week and the event of the Crucifixion. The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, when we receive the imposition of ashes and are reminded that we are but dust, and to dust we shall return, and ends on the joyous morning of Easter, when we celebrate in Christ's resurrection.

Wednesday, March 5, marks the beginning of the Lenten Journey to Christ’s death and resurrection. As we begin this time of reflection and penitence, we invite you to join us for a worship service in our Sanctuary at 7 PM, which will offer communion and the imposition of ashes.

In the season of Lent, we enter into a forty-day fast that Jesus undertook in the wilderness. Through this dedicated period of self-examination, we allow God to further shape us into the image of Jesus. We also align our hearts with the suffering of Jesus as we move ever closer towards Holy Week and the event of the Crucifixion. The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, when we receive the imposition of ashes and are reminded that we are but dust, and to dust we shall return, and ends on the joyous morning of Easter, when we celebrate in Christ's resurrection.

Wednesday, March 5, marks the beginning of the Lenten Journey to Christ’s death and resurrection. As we begin this time of reflection and penitence, we invite you to join us for a drive-through experience, which will include scripture, prayer, communion, and imposition of ashes, in our front circle drive from 11:45 AM-1:00 PM

Bon Voyage! Concert

Featuring Vox Nova from Pinellas County Center for the Arts

Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM

The Vox Nova Chamber Singers embark on a life-changing International Choir Tour to Spain and Portugal. Wish them “bon voyage” as they perform their exciting a cappella repertoire and prepare for this culturally immersive journey. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit Vox Nova’s European Tour.

Beach Drive Forums are monthly conversations for the community with intriguing speakers on thought-provoking topics. Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 PM in Fellowship Hall (doors open at 5:30, presentation at 6:00). Refreshments and Q&A included. Open to the public; Everyone is welcome! The best parking is the church lot off N. Shore Drive. 

FEBRUARY 19

Ray Arsenault PhD, John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History Emeritus at USF, shares his thoughts on his newest book John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community, a biography of Hon. John Lewis, Civil Rights legend and lifelong public servant. Dr. Arsenault is noted for his numerous award-winning books on southern history.

Share the love with Your church family

AT OUR NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER

February 12, 5:30 PM, Fellowship Hall

This will be a great chance to get to know your new Pastor! There will be crafts and fun activities for the kids!! For dinner, we'll be serving ham, scalloped potatoes, and all the fixin’s!

Please CLICK HERE to let us know you'll be there (remember to make your RSVP "Yes") or call the Church Office (727-822-2031)!

The Deacons are giving our annual Seniors Luncheon on Tuesday, February 11 11:30 AM in Fellowship Hall. Great food and fellowship for seniors and friends! Please call the Church Office to RSVP.

Let’s Rise by Lifting Others: Hands and Hearts 

Mission Sunday: Feb. 9, 10-11 AM, Fellowship Hall

Your Mission Committee is asking for First Presbyterian members and friends to bring the following items to benefit CASA and the Free Clinic:  

• Bath towels 

• Shampoo and combs/brushes 

• Ladies’ and kids’ underwear and socks 

• Snacks for kids 

NOTE: Boxes for donation collection will be located by the giving trees in both worship spaces annotated “MISSION SUNDAY.” 

We will need many hands to help sort and pack from 10:00 to 11:00 AM between our two services. Calling kids of all ages! We especially need YOUR help decorating burlap bags and filling them with snacks! We will supply the markers and stickers. 

Please help us make this a wonderful mission event. THANK YOU! 

“Nature The Beautiful” In Alcohol Ink

...a fresh look at images from Patricia Chase

Opening Friday, Feb. 7 

Explore the spontaneous energy of color explosion in images of curious turtles, majestic whales, and various fauna at the February 7, 5:30-7:30 PM, opening of local artist Patricia Chase’s exhibit in the new Chapel Gallery of First Presbyterian Church.  The art show will be open through March 2.

Workshops will be offered by Chase on February 18 and 22 to allow participants to experience the pleasure of creating art using alcohol ink.

For eight years, Patricia Chase was director of Suntan Art Center on St. Pete Beach.  She has degrees in art and art history and has owned art businesses in Vermont and Connecticut.  In addition to loving to explore the surprises of painting with alcohol ink, she works in warm glass, kiln-fired glass, glass mosaic and acrylics. 

“Nature the Beautiful In Alcohol Ink”, offered by the Arts Connection at First Presbyterian Church, 701 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, is a free show, everyone is welcome.  For more information about this show or other Arts Connection activities, please call the Church Office.

Afro Opera LLC

Featuring Maiya Stevenson, Soprano

Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 4:00 PM

Soprano singer and music teacher Maiya Stevenson is a St. Pete native and local treasure. Maiya and the musicians at Afro Opera LLC unite to perform a recital of classical works by African-American composers. CLICK HERE to see a Bay News 9 news clip highlighting Miaya and her incredible talent. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit First Presbyterian Church Concert Series.

Join us for a kid-friendly re-telling of the nativity story!

Our 4:00 PM Christmas Eve service will feature the Christmas story and Christmas carols!

All kids are welcome in the service; there will not be childcare.

Celebratory Luncheon for Rev. Ginny

Please join us in celebrating Rev. Ginny’s last day with us on Sunday, December 22nd, following the 11 AM service. Ginny has served as our interim pastor for over three years. Under her leadership, Ginny has guided our church through the healing process and strengthened our commitment to being disciples of Jesus Christ. We are grateful for her hard work and dedication to our church, and she will be deeply missed!

The Men’s Meal Ministry has graciously agreed to prepare and serve their famous meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans for lunch (there will also be a vegetarian/gluten free option for those who request it; please call the Church Office). We are asking anyone who might be interested to bring a pie for dessert.

Please sign up by clicking HERE or by calling the Church Office to let us know you are planning to attend.

The Session has approved a love offering for Rev. Ginny Ellis as she leaves her interim work here. If you are interested in contributing to a Love Offering for Ginny, please make a check payable to the church and note “Love Offering” in the memo line. You can place the check in the offering plate, mail it to the church, or contribute online by clicking here. Contributions will be accepted until December 22, 2024.

Wednesday Night Dinner

December 11 at 5:30 PM

Fellowship Hall

Join us for food and fellowship at the last Wednesday Night Dinner of 2024! We’ll have a delicious lasagna dinner and Christmas crafts and games for the whole family!

Please CLICK HERE to let us know you'll be there (remember to make your RSVP "Yes") or call the Church Office (727-822-2031)!