Welcome to the
First Presbyterian Church
of Monroe, NY.

Be sure to check out the Events Calendar for a listing of all up-coming events.

You may find all of the prayer concerns on the FPCMonroe Group board.

If you have any news that you would like to appear here, please contact the Webmaster on the Contacts Page.

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Membership Profile

Please, please, please — would you please take just 5 minutes of your time and help us out? We are updating our church member records. Yes, you may have done this before, but things change and we want your info to be as current as possible. This is so important to church growth. FPC has changed, and there may be new events and committees that you are interested in.

Sometimes committees need extra help for a one-time event, which might fit into your schedule. If you mark "Interested" on the form, the different committees will know they can contact you.

We are also considering putting together an "Occupations" database. If you are a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker or plumber, it won't be a secret when other church members need the service you provide.

If you have a special talent you would be willing to share, or there is any additional information you'd like us to have, please add a note under "Comments and Suggestions".

Blue forms are available in the narthex before and after Sunday worship. Please pick one up if you don't have one, fill it out, and return it to the church office. Our mailing address is:

 
First Presbyterian Church
142 Stage Rd.
Monroe, NY 10950

Thank you.

Tidbits

Here's a few tidbits of important information:

  • JULY & AUGUST – ONE WORSHIP SERVICE AT 9:00am, beginning this Sunday.
  • Tickets are now available for the chicken barbeque on August 29. Please help sell them, to make this a successful event, both socially and financially.
  • Ron is looking for those who would be willing to share talents during summer services.
  • The Food Pantry is in need of a volunteer to spend an hour or two on Tuesday mornings stocking shelves with donated items. No set schedule needed just so we are clean on Wednesday mornings. If interested email Gail at gdejmal@hvc.rr.com.

Searching For A Search Committee

After many long months, we have gotten the green light to begin our search for a new, permanent minister! While we are all delighted with Baron, and feel blessed to have had him lead us these past years, it is time for us to move forward and forming a Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) is the first step.

SO- if you are interested in serving on this committee, please let us know! You can contact the office, or let any member of Session know of your interest, but we request that names be submitted no later than July 15.

BUT WAIT – we know what you’re thinking – “Just what am I signing up for if I volunteer?” The PNC is vital in the search process, and it is not a commitment that should be taken lightly. If you are called to serve on this committee, among other items, you will be responsible for:

  • Drafting the Church Information Form (CIF) that will be placed on-line for prospective ministers
  • Reviewing the Personal Information Forms (PIF) of prospective ministers
  • Conducting preliminary interviews, either by phone, e-mail or in person
  • Traveling to hear candidates preach from a “neutral pulpit” that is arranged by Presbytery
  • Recommend a permanent minister to the congregation.

After hearing the recommended minister preach here, the congregation will get the “final say” by voting to hire the candidate or not.

If you feel this is a service you could provide to your church, please let us know. And, as always, keep the church and its members in your prayers, especially as we undertake this next step in the life of our church.

Summer Giving

Please don't let your giving to the church take the summer off!

Even the most faithful of us may miss a few summer services, and catch up later. Unfortunately, our expenses don't take a vacation. So if you can pay ahead instead, that would help a lot. Thanks!

Request for Bibles

The Presbytery Prison Partnership has put out a request for Bibles, to be given to prisoners who request one. Any version is acceptable.

If you have extra Bibles and would like to donate them, please drop them off at the church office. Thank you.

Open Your Heart & Home

Open your heart and your home to a French, German, Swiss or Korean exchange student for the coming 2009/2010 school year.

Caring host families are needed to provide food, a bed and a loving home for one or two semesters starting in late August. EMF students have medical insurance, spending money for their personal expenses and expect to share their host family’s daily life including household responsibilities. They speak English, are well-screened and eager to experience life in America. Their stay here is sponsored and supervised by EMF, a non-profit, educational exchange program. It is not too late to apply. For more information, please call Marie-Claude Dijoud (800-467-8363) or visit the Educational Merit Foundation.

Gift Cards, Coffee & Tea

Gift cards are available for purchase. There are two types: Networkers Cards for Mother's Day (suggested donation: $10.00); and Tools and Blanket Cards for Father's Day (suggested donation: $5.00). Remember, those amounts are suggestions only!

There is also available a little bit of coffee, tea, and chocolate. Please see Judy Wason if you are interested in these items!

The Cottage Thrift Shop

The Cottage, our nearly famous thrift store, is not only vital to our Church's financial health, but it also provides a key resource to less fortunate families in our valley. But our volunteer ranks are stretched thin and we need more Cottage workers to share the load. It's not a difficult job. It takes no special skills. But those who have volunteered have found it rewarding. We ahve day and evening hours, sorting, stocking and selling.

Cottage Schedule

Open: Thursday & Saturday: 10:00am - 12:00pm; Tuesday evening: 6:00-8:00pm

Help needed for sorting - just show up Monday and through Saturday 10:00am - 12:00pm & Tuesday 6:00-8:00pm.

Mah Jongg for Fun and Fellowship

Mah Jongg is a game for four players that originated in China. Mah Jongg uses 144 tiles in three suits plus additional tiles called Winds, Flowers and Jokers. The game involves skill, strategy, calculation and a certain degree of chance. Additional players rotate in replacing the lead player in the prior game. I started knowing nothing, and have played for three years and learned to love and appreciate this ancient game.

Let's start a Mah Jongg group here and gather at the Manse. If you're interested, give me a call (845.238.0332 or 718.490.1801) or email me at lmashfield@gmail.com and suggest times that would work for you - days or evenings. As long as we can gather at least four people per session, we're set. Never played before? No problem - free lessons will happily be provided.

Linda Ashfield

Hudson Energy Affinity Program

Hudson Energy Services is offering for Affinity Program participants ONLY a Promotional 1 year fixed rate for gas of $.99 per CCF or a 3 year fixed rate for gas of $1.05 per CCF.

Please note these prices are for Orange and Rockland Territory. For other areas, please contact Miriam below. Orange and Rockland's average gas rate for the last 12 months is over $1.37.

This is our way of helping you lower your gas bills for the next one to three years and at the same time make a donation to our church. It is a WIN - WIN situation.

The Affinity Program can save you hundreds of dollars a year between the gas and electric! This limited time offer is available through March 15th.

Please fill out the enclosed form and either fax or mail it directly to Hudson Energy using the number provided on the bottom of the form. To enroll by phone, call Miriam Stiefel at 845-228-3401. Should you prefer to enroll online, please go to Hudson's website: www.HudsonEnergyServices.com and include our special promotion code: FPM-G.

We are also offering a 1 year fixed rate for electric of $0.109 per KWH or a 3 year fixed rate for electric of $0.1119 per KWH. O&R is currently at $0.10327 with the forecast being higher for the future. Please note that O&R was over 16 cents for July and August of 2008. The electric promotion code is: FPM-E.

If you choose to participate in both the gas and electric, please use Promotion Code FPM-B. You may enroll in the fixed rate for the gas and the variable rate for the electric or visa versa.

We look forward to a mutually rewarding experience.

To date, First Presbyterian Church has received over $1,500 in donations from Hudson Energy Services! Your enrollment makes a difference!

Thank you for your support.

Miriam R. Stiefel - Director, Affinity Program
845-228-3401

News From Our Food Pantry

As you all know many families in our area are struggling just to make ends meet. Our Pantry is a valuable resource for those families, providing 3 – 5 days basic foodstuffs. Most of our families are working poor with children, and we have 12 – 15 Seniors who are regulars.

We purchase most of the food we distribute from the Food Bank in Cornwall using a Federal Grant and a grant from Wakefern Corp. In the last year our grants have pretty much remained the same but prices – even at the Food Bank – have increased and USDA (Federal Surplus) items that we relied on heavily, have all but disappeared.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. We have a tub and a can for donations in the Narthex and we are also asking those of you who shop regularly in Shop Rite to consider purchasing those items that are on “special sale” each week and donating them to the Pantry. We are always in need of Pasta Sauce, Stew, Chili, Canned Pastas and any other “one dish meals”. Also, Toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and shampoo are always welcome.

Rentals

Rent our “New” Fellowship Hall. Great for Anniversary Parties, Sweet 16, Bridal and Baby Showers, Birthday parties, or for any celebration occasion. Make your occasion memorable in our Spacious fellowship hall with full kitchen accessories. Rent a meeting room… great for your group meetings and organization. Available one-time, weekly, monthly or yearly.

Rent a meeting room… great for your group meetings and organization. Available yearly, monthly, weekly or bi-weekly or one-time occasion.

For more information, call or visit with Linda in the church office.