This Week at FPC

WINTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE IN EFFECT

We are now following our winter schedule for Sunday morning worship. In addition to two full services at 9:00 & 11:00 AM, we will also offer our early "First Light" service but at the new time of 7:30 AM. First Light includes all the basic worship elements of music, message and Scripture, but in a 35 to 40-minute time frame. Dress is casual, but worship is the same traditional style we offer at the later services. For a sampling of a First Light service, check out the order of worship on the back of First Things First (our Sunday bulletin insert). Childcare is provided at all services.

LENTEN STUDIES

Prelude to Redemption: The Night He Was Betrayed

The Pastor's Study • Wednesdays at 6:00 PM • March 3, 10, 17 & 24
Associate Pastor Steven Grant will lead this 4-week study, focusing on chapters 13-17 of the Gospel of John. We'll review Jesus' teaching and prayers during those final hours before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. What did He find most important to say to the disciples in his last chance to teach them? What was on His heart to say to God? These things are the subject of our study as we prepare ourselves for Holy Week and the joy of Easter.
The Pastor's Study is offered on Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 PM.

Conversations With Jesus Before the Crucifixion

Women's Study • Wednesdays at 9:30 AM • March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
Director of Women's Ministry Dr. Nancy Heche will be teaching this 5-week Lenten study for the women of the church. Join us Wednesday mornings in Lent, 9:30-11:00, for spiritual nourishment and fellowship. Refreshments will be provided.

ADULT SUNDAY CLASSES
What Is a Reformed Church?

Beginning Sunday, March 14 • 10:05-10:45 AM • Price Chapel
Some of you may, indeed, wonder: What is a Reformed Church? What do we mean by "reformed"? Is that different than Presbyterian? Being Presbyterian identifies how we organize and govern ourselves as a church, but our belief system and theology are from what is called the Reformed tradition. Pastor Steven Grant will lead this four-week class to help us rediscover our faith heritage and explore what is unique about the Presbyterian/Reformed tradition.

What It Means to Be a Servant in a Self-Service World

Beginning Sunday, March 14 • 10:05-10:45 AM • Great Room
We live in a world that constantly teaches us to put our own desires first and then, perhaps, to assist others if it's convenient. That's certainly very different from Christ's example to us and His call on our lives as His followers. Lent is a time to focus afresh on what it means both to serve and to sacrifice for others in Christ's Name. Using examples from scripture and from the lives of others, Pastor John McWilliams hopes to encourage a deeper commitment to be the servants Christ has called us to be.

A TIME OF PRAYER & COMMUNION

Sundays at 12:00 • Price Chapel
First Church will begin the New Year by introducing new opportunities for the congregation to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion and experience a time of healing prayer. Every Sunday, one of the pastors will be present in Price Chapel immediately following the late (11:00) service to welcome individuals who wish to take Communion and receive healing prayer offered by members of the Order of St. Luke. (Note: The Sacrament of Holy Communion will not be offered on those Sundays when it is a part of the morning worship service.)

MILITARY CARE PACKAGES

The Deacons of First Church have adopted a program encouraging members and friends to send "care packages" to those soldiers known to us who are deployed on active duty overseas. If you're interested in helping out, stop at the Military Care Packages table on Sunday; there you can pick up the name and address of one of our soldiers, along with instructions, Flat Rate boxes, labels, customs forms and tape. Postage is $11.95 per box.
Questions regarding this ministry may be addressed to .

THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
A Year in the Bible

Many of our members have taken up the challenge to read through the Bible in 2010, and are following the One Year Bible/One Year Bible Reading Plan to do so. This is a commitment with untold blessings for those who persevere, and the members of the Christian Education Ministry are here to encourage you along the way.

One way to stay “on task” is to be reminded of the great value of what you’re reading. The Bible is God’s self-revelation to us. Consider memorizing a few key verses of scripture that speak to this. Our suggested memory verse for March is from the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119:

Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

There is great comfort and encouragement in knowing that God’s Word provides trustworthy guidance for our earthly lives. As you read, look for the light God is shedding on your path.

Copies of the One Year Bible and its corresponding Reading Plan are available in the FPC Book Center.

WOMEN'S MINISTRY
CURRENT STUDY GROUPS

Manna for Monday • Mondays • 2:00-3:00 PM
This group is currently reading and discussing Be Joyful, by Warren Wiersbe. Please note the new location and time: Great Room, 2:00-3:00 PM.

Grace for Moms • Tuesdays • 9:30-11:00 AM
This weekly study group for moms meets at the church and is currently reading and discussing Rick Warren's Biblical Study Methods: 12 Ways You Can Unlock God's Words.

Working Women's Fellowship • Tuesdays • 7:00-8:30 PM
The working women have resumed weekly meetings in Price Parlor and are currently doing a dvd study by Andy Stanley, called Twisting the Truth .

MOSAIC • Wednesdays • 9:00-11:00 AM
Our moms of school-aged children meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the home of Nancy Heche. Contact for more information.

Questions on Women's Ministry events? Contact Jackie Maxwell at 947-7945.

MEN'S MINISTRY

Thursdays • 7:30 AM • McClure Hall
Get your Thursday morning off to a great start. Join the men of the church for our weekly breakfast and Bible study, led by Senior Pastor Doug Pratt. Cost is $2.

Thursday, February 25 • Naples Bay Cruise & Lunch
Immediately following our weekly breakfast meeting, we'll carpool down to Naples for a cruise of the bay. Cost is $45, and includes lunch at Pinchers Crab Shack.

For a full list of events, pick up a Men's Ministry brochure from the literature racks in the Narthex. Questions? Contact Chuck Vogt at 948-9230.

SINGLE DIRECTION

Single Direction is a ministry to singles that seeks to encourage the development of healthy friendships in the context of Christian fellowship. The group plans monthly get-togethers from October to May.

March 25 • Monthly Dinner & Meeting • 6:00 PM
Our regular monthly gathering will feature William Dietzel, author of the book Common Sense Lifestyle for the 21^st Century. His topic will be "Whatever Happened to Common Sense?" Cost is $12 for dinner.

For more information, contact at 405-8937 or sign up at the Single Direction kiosk on Sundays.

GriefShare

Tuesdays • 1:30–3:00 PM • Price Parlor
GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who are looking for encouragement and help to recover from their loss. Each self-contained weekly session begins with a brief video, and concludes with informal discussion.
Facilitators: Associate Pastor Steven Grant; Marietta Bala, MSW/Therapist; Parish Nurse Stephanie Stec; and Marian Horgan.

If you have questions, please contact Parish Nurse at 992-3233 X296.

OBERAMMERGAU 2010

July 16-25, 2010
Spaces are still available on the July 2010 trip to witness the famous Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany (offered only every ten years). The tour includes sights in Bavaria and the Austrian Alps, including the cities of Salzburg, Vienna and Munich. For more information, contact Pat Hazen of Pelican Landing Travel at 948-1000 as soon as possible.

THE GOSPEL IN EPIC LITERATURE

Notes from Pastor Pratt's fall Pastor's Study series, The Gospel in Epic Literature, are now available on our website. This series looked at The Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien), The Chronicles of Narnia (CS Lewis) and the Harry Potter series (JK Rowling). Notes can simply be read on-line; if you wish, you can also print them out or send a link to an interested friend or family member.

THRIFT SHOP MINISTRY
Donations always welcomed

First Thrift Shop is in constant need of clean and gently used household items, clothing, books, gifts and furniture. Donations may be dropped off during shop hours, 10 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday, and 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday. To donate furniture, please call the shop (992-0285) to arrange for pick-up.

First Thrift is located on the southeast corner of the church campus.

IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

Please remember the following in your prayers this week.

In Need of Special Prayers
Jack Andres Emmie Barr Elizabeth Bramble Rose Marie Hesser	Rebecca Garrison Jeanne Marshall Gayle McLean Robert Price

THOSE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES

Special prayers are requested for the following loved ones currently serving in our country's armed forces:

Nick Abey Zachary K. Acon Steve Adams Alexis Alvarado Steven Bourdon Andrew Bryant John Bryant Matt Byington Sean Casey Amy Nesbitt Copeland Steven C. Copeland Justin Cramer Andrew Crawford John Cuddy Dave Cullen Andy Dalton Matthew Edmunds	Brian Eifler John Elofson Stephen Fox Peter W. Fritz David Gatoude David Gilliland Seth Guy Kent C. Hay Michael Heath Travis Hilgers Jarrett Hon Michael Kim Dave Landymore Xavier Maldonado Lee Moffett Martin Nicchetta John D. Petro	Timothy J. Petty Mark Potter David Rhodes Alan Schano Evan A. Scott Kimberly Ann Scott Sean B. Scott Nathan Sitterley Thayne Stahlacker Trevor S. Thrasher Kurt Vollmer Aaron Wasliewski Brian Wilson Jonathan Wise Deisy Wolfe Matthew Wolfe Kyle York

Members and friends of First Church are welcome to submit names and APO addresses of loved ones serving in the military. We can add them to our prayer list and also to our military care package program. Please call or email the church with new information.

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY

We express our Christian sympathy to:

• Marti Carey and family, on the death of her husband, Tom, on February 2 in Jonesboro, Arkansas
• Ralph and Jackie Maxwell, on the death of her mother, Hazel Bradford, on February 1
• The family of William Stevens, who died January 31
• Ray Holler and family, on the death of his wife, Mavis, on January 26
• Andy Nakolan and family, on the death of his wife, Ellen, on January 11
• Carol Johnson and family, on the death of her husband, Richard, on January 4
• Barb Wheeler and family, on the death of her husband, William, on December 13
• Bud and Nancy Sargent, on the death of his father, Frank Sargent, on December 7
• Phyllis Benedict and family, on the death of her husband, Paul, on December 5
• Tom Linnell and family, on the death of his wife, Shirley, on December 2
• Mary Gould and family, on the death of her husband, John, on November 30
• Jack Huddleston, whose daughter Lori Huddleston died in a car accident on November 23
• The family and friends of Lois Salvesen, who died November 22
• The family and friends of Charles White, who died November 10