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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Holy Week begins on Sunday. This is a special week for us as Christians as we remember the last week of Jesus’ life and anticipate the celebration of Easter. There are many ways you can experience this week in your homes. Please read through the list of offerings from First Presbyterian Church and choose what will work for you and your family.
Holy Week Devotionals and Spiritual Practices
Unless noted all are available on the FPC website: firstpresanchorage.org.
1. Holy Week in a Box kit for families (available for pick up at the church)
2. Illustrated Ministry Take Home Family Packet for Palm Sunday
3. Holy Week Tenebrae Devotional
4. Holy Week Centerpiece and Devotional
5. Bread Making Activity and Liturgy for Maundy Thursday
6. Easter Sunday at Home Liturgy and Celebration
Come and Pick Up A Palm Branch for your home
Tomorrow (Saturday, April 3) from 9:30-11am you are invited to come to the church front parking lot and pick up palm branches for your family and a Holy Week devotional. You can drive up by the front door, open your trunk, and I will put a palm branch and a devotional in your trunk. If you have children I will also put in a “Holy Week in a Box” kit.
Worship on Palm Sunday
Join us for Worship on Facebook live this Sunday at 11am.
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
Palm Sunday is the Sunday we traditionally take the PC(USA) One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing --Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People -- all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. You are welcome to send your donation to the church office (616 W. 10th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501) and designate it OGHS. We will also provide an opportunity for you to give to this offering when we gather back for worship together.
Your mission donations at work
Your donations to First Presbyterian Church have been at work during the past month. We have been able to give financial donations to the Food Bank of Alaska, Downtown Hope Center and Bean’s Café.
In addition, we will be loaning our Emergency Cold Weather Shelter mattresses to Beans’ Café to be used at Sullivan Arena if the demand for mattresses becomes greater than what Bean’s Café has available.
Many of you have been asking “What can I do” during this time. We all want to be doing something to support the most vulnerable. Even though it might seem the best way to help is by doing hands on service we often need to be reminded that one of the best things each of us can do right now is to limit our exposure to others. With this in mind, here are ways you can help:
1. Food Bank of Alaska: volunteers can sign up to help with Box Builds (limited to ten people each shift) as the food bank is now giving out boxes of food to people instead of having them come to the warehouse and pick out what they need. The box builds are Monday-Friday 1-4 pm and Wednesday and Friday 9-12 noon.
2. Bean’s Café and The Downtown Hope Center continue to serve our neighbors and have up to date information on their websites on how to support them during this time.
Bean’s Café and Children’s Lunchbox
Downtown Hope Center
3. F.I.S.H (Fellowship in Serving Humanity) continues to deliver food to those who are in need.
Thank you for your financial support to First Presbyterian Church. Your donations help us support the above agencies. If you would like to give a donation you can do it in two ways:
1. Send a check to First Presbyterian Church, 616 W 10th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501
2. Give Online
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions with any of the above. I pray that each of you will have a meaningful Holy Week.
Blessings,
Danna Larson on behalf of the Mission and Christian Education Ministry Teams of First Presbyterian Church
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