First Presbyterian

CAN LISTENING TO VOICES OF OTHER RELIGIONS AND FAITH COMMUNITIES LEAD US TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND PRACTICE OF OUR FAITH TRADITION?

This journey will be a small window on a large subject. Barbara Brown Taylor leads her college students through an adventure to better understand their own Christian faith through the eyes of other great faith traditions. Interspersed with her lectures the class will make field trips in the classroom with videos of leaders of other faith and Christian traditions as they answer the question, “How does your faith address: “Why does a loving God allow evil and suffering?

WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION IN FUTURE NEWSLETTERS.

Dear FPC Family, 
     As we move into our 12th week of Corona virus shutdown of the Church building, I am sure many of you are wondering when we might reopen the building to meetings and worship. The Session met as scheduled t to discuss this very issue and has decided to err on the side of caution in reopening the building to meetings and worship. The approved plan calls for opening the building for meetings and worship when it is safe for at least 90 of us to be in the Sanctuary. The plan also calls for certain restrictions in place like wearing a mask and being 6 feet apart.  We are guided by the governor’s plan which has this happening under phase 3, but we will be guided by the science of the situation as well. We take seriously our call to be good stewards of the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of our congregation.   
    In addition, we are aware that many of our members fall in the at-risk category. Therefore, we expect some of members to continue to stay-in-place until there is a vaccine for this virus and remain connected to our church through online means like livestreaming our worship services or attending meetings via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Also, it was decided to cancel Summer Camps (VBS and Games) at the Camp this year as well as close the Camp pool for the summer. The Camp will reopen when it is safe to hold at least 90 people safely.  
    As for the Economy Corner, the Session will be working with the Economy Corner Board to approve a reopening plan that addresses the safety of the staff, the volunteers, and the customers.  
Patience, perseverance, humility, and sacrifice are called for as we walk with Christ into an unknown future but this we do know:  the one who walks with us holds the future in His hands and says to us, “Fear not… for I am with you to the end of the age.”  

Grace and Peace, Pastor Brent    
 

The church will remain closed as directed by the State Order. Until further notice, we remain closed to everyone except staff and the Sunday Service streaming team. If you have a need to access something stored in the church, you may contact me by e-mail, and I will be glad to set up a time to bring the items out to your vehicle for you. All on site activities and meetings have been cancelled, postponed, or being coordinated via online services. Thank you for your understanding as we want to ensure we adhere to the order and keep everyone safe. ~ Roy Yarbrough, Facilities/IT Manager

Click on the link below to view our weekly news.

https://firstchurchwichita.org/assets/documents/Weekly_Email_Update_5-28-2020.pdf

During this time when we are not able to gather at the church we want to remain connected. Youth clubs will be using Facebook live until further notice on Wednesdays starting at 7 p.m. Stay tuned for more information. 

To view live streaming sermons on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. go to http://firstchurchwichita.org/media/Live-Streaming or click on the link to the right. 

To view Rev. Dr. Brent Johnston's sermons later in the week or past weeks, go to http://firstchurchwichita.org/media/sermons

Click on our Facebook link for all other church information including children and youth activities live streaming information.

OUR SUMMER SERVICES SCHEDULE BEGINS THIS SUNDAY. SERVICES WILL BE LIVE STREAMING AT 9:30 A.M. ON OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK LIVE.

We will be kicking off our summer schedule of live streaming by bringing the Cowtown service to the Sanctuary. The Gospel Quartet will be singing, Russ Davisson will be our Liturgist, and Gary Huffman will be speaking about life and worship back in 1870 in honor of our 150th Anniversary. 

Matthew 25 Church Initiative:

At the September meeting of Session, we became a Matthew 25 Church, committing to congregational vitality, addressing issues of poverty and race.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brent

Dear FPC Family,

The Session made the difficult decision to cancel Sunday Service at 10:45 a.m. and postpone our 150^th celebration. The unveiling of our documentary will be premiered at a later time when the threat from the COVID 19 virus dissipates. Right now abundance of caution is called for from our health officials and government officials to slow the spread of this virus which puts at risk the frail and those with compromised immune systems. As a faith community, our first priority is your health and well-being. Session will be meeting at its regular stated meetings on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. to discuss ways we can practice social distancing, but not spiritual distancing, encourage faith and not fear. 

I realize that this is a great disappointment for many as the 150^th Committee has done an excellent job building excitement. The 150^th Committee deserves our thanks and appreciation for the hard work they have done. And we look forward to the unveiling of the documentary at a later date.

I ask for your prayers for Staff and Session as they begin discerning how best to help the rest of us to practice social distancing but not spiritual distancing, encourage faith and not fear. Also, be in prayer for those in positions of authority to make decisions that lessen the spread of this virus and to protect health care workers in harm’s way. No doubt the changes that are being called for will affect all of us and maybe that is a good thing if it brings us closer together… realizing that we truly are our brother’s keeper. What affects one, affects all—because we are human beings created in the image of God, called to bear God’s likeness and love for the world in need of reconciliation. 

I close with what another President once said when this nation faced fearful times.  He said we have nothing to fear but fear itself. As Christians we know this to be true because Jesus said in John 16:33 “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” Feed your faith not your fear as God guides us through to the other side of this pandemic.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brent