Wild Tulips in Alaverdi, Armenia
Photo by Alexandr Hovhannisyan on Unsplash

May 25, Thursday 
9:00 am Men’s Book Group - Zoom
10:30 am Liturgical Arts Committee - Sanctuary
7:00 pm  Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary

May 27, Saturday
2:00 pm Thayer Jacobs Piano Recital and Reception 

May 28, Pentecost Sunday (Wear something red)
8:30 am Contemplative Service - Chapel 
10:00 am Worship Service -Sanctuary
11:00 am Refreshments 
4:00 pm  Pickleball at McIinnis courts

May 29, Monday Memorial Day
Federal Holiday – Office Closed

May 30, Tuesday
6:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary 

May 31,  Wednesday
10:00 am Centering Prayer - Chapel
11:15 am Bible Study - Library
7:00 pm Women’s Book Group – Chapel

June 1, Thursday 
7:00 pm  Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary

June 4, Communion Sunday
8:30 am Contemplative Service - Chapel 
10:00 am Worship Service - Sanctuary
11:15 am First Presbyterian Church 101 Class - Canoles
Adult Ed Class - Street Chaplaincy - Chapel
3:00 pm  Choir & Handbells year end-party at Crawfords

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Church Calendar https://www.fpcsr.org/church-calendar

A New Worship Series in May – June:  Sailing Lessons for the Church 

Click here for Flyer

A New Worship Series in May and June
Sailing Lessons for the Church
Based on the book
Sailboat Church: Helping Your Church Rethink its Mission and Practice
By Joan S. Gray
Are we a rowboat church or a sailboat church?  The Spirit is moving in us and our church.  How do we continue to worship and work together to raise our sails and catch the wind of the Spirit as we move into future?
 
May 7
Created to Sail
Communion
Music:  The Chancel Choir
 
May 14
The Sailing Life
Music:  Velocity Handbell Ensemble
 
May 21
Deacons Sunday
Guest Preacher:  Rev. Elaine Reichert
Music:  Jonathan Dimmock, Guest Organist
              The Chancel Choir
              Sounds A’Pealing Handbell Choir
 
May 28
Pentecost Sunday – Wear something red!
The Wind, The Spirit
Music:  Jeffrey Cochran-Carney, guitar
 
June 4
Our Boat, the Church
Communion
Music:  The Chancel Choir
            Chris Boyadjiev, flute
Recognition of graduates

 
June 11
Music Sunday
Music:  The Chancel Choir
            Sounds A’Pealing Handbell Choir
 
June 18
Navigation
Music:  Guest musician
 
June 25
Guest preacher:  Rev. Jeffrey Cochran-Carney
Music:  Deborah Tisdale
 
July
Roofless Church on the patio
One service at 9:30 am

Hope, Help and Current Challenges for the Unhoused in Marin: An Update from The Street Chaplaincy
Adult Ed Class
Sunday, June 4, 11:15 in the chapel
Presenters: Nick Morris, Executive Director
                     Rev. Charlotte Cramer, Street Chaplain

Partnerships are an important way FPCSR can offer services and support to the wider community here in San Rafael and Marin County. One of our closest partnerships has been with the Interfaith Street Chaplaincy. The Chaplaincy offers spiritual support and comfort, counseling, links to social services, and a weekly community-building supper every Tuesday night in Canoles Hall. As the restrictions from the pandemic have been reduced, the suppers and other outreach efforts have increased, and the hiring of a new street chaplain, the Rev. Charlotte Cramer has added new outreach efforts and services. At the June 4th Adult Education class, we will hear from the Executive Director, Nick Morris, and Rev. Cramer about the current Street Chaplaincy programs and their impressions of the homeless population in Marin County. Click here to read more about the presenters https://www.streetchaplaincy.org/about

First Presbyterian Church 101 Class
Exploration, Reconnection and New Members Class
Date: Sunday, June 4, 11:15 – 12:15

Have you been attending worship services or other church programs and want to be more connected? Have you found a spiritual home here where you are deepening your connection to God and others? Have you come back to FPCSR after being gone for a while and want to learn more about our current ministries, mission and vision? Have you thought about becoming a member?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then please plan to come to the next FPCSR 101 class following the worship service. Join Pastor Cynthia along with session member and membership elder Susan Isler and other leaders for a conversation about our church. Ask questions, learn more about our congregation and explore ways you can be involved and deepen your spiritual life.

Contact Susan Isler or the church office if you plan to attend or are interested in attending. susan.isler.sport@gmail.com Advanced signups are not necessary.

Pentecost Offering, May 28



A gift for the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering is retained by FPCSR and is used to make an impact in the lives of young people within the local community. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.  In the past, the Mission Committee has used the local funds to support our YOTM program and organizations supporting at-risk youth. Nationally, the funds go to support a wide variety of programs and services to help children and teenagers and prepare educational materials for youth programs.  

Please make a contribution either on May 28 or anytime in the next two weeks by writing a check to the church with note Pentecost or using the church’s website Online Giving tab and choosing Pentecost Offering. Here’s a link: https://secure.myvanco.com/YMJN/home Thank you for your support!

Redwoods Presbytery Hunger Task Force








The Presbytery of the Redwoods has a Hunger Task Force which reports on efforts being undertaken by Presbyterian churches in the Presbytery to reduce hunger and hunger risk.  Led by Corinne Quinn, Hunger Action Advocate, the committee awards grants to churches and non-profit community-based partners;  the funds come from the monthly Cents-ability collection as well as from the annual Pedal for Protein bike ride.  FPCSR has been a strong supporter of both of these activities.  The Task Force awarded $23,625 in grants last year which supported a wide variety of local church efforts such as food banks, a community garden, food gift card programs, and Bread for the World membership.  FPCSR has received one of these grants recently to support the gardening and cooking after-school classes at San Pedro School.  To learn more about the work of this Task Force, pick up the Spring 2023 report from the Mission rack in the Narthex. 

Updates on our recent seminary interns - Chitoka Webb and Aaron McKee










Chitoka Webb graduated with her Masters of Divinity degree last Saturday, May 20, from San Francisco Theological seminary.  A group from FPCSR were there to celebrate with her. 
She is now taking courses through the Shaw Chaplaincy Institute at SFTS as a chaplain-in-training.  In addition, she is preaching at local churches in Marin. May God continue to guide Chitoka in her training and her health. 






Aaron McKee has finished his internship with us.  In June, he is moving to Austin, TX and will begin a summer biblical Greek intensive at Austin Theological Seminary. We are grateful for all the ways Aaron has been active in our church, including participating with MOC events and being on the Sunday livestreaming team as the one behind the camera. He will probably complete his remaining M. Div. courses on line.  May God continue to guide Aaron in his training and discerning. 

Thayer Jacobs Senior Piano recital, May 27, 2:00 pm
Our current pianist for our 10:00 Sunday services will be
presenting his senior recital in our sanctuary.  All are invited. 

Invitation to Diana Cauich-Yam’s Graduation Blessing & Party
Sat. June 10, 2:00 pm 

Diana and her parents Nila and Antonio invite the congregation to celebrate her graduation from San Rafael High School.  She plans to attend University of San Francisco and study to be an athletic trainer.  Diana has been an active member of our congregation her whole life.  Most recently she has been one of the leaders of our Godly Play children’s program on Sunday mornings.  We give thanks to God for this amazing young woman and pray for her as she begins a new chapter of life, faith and study.

Second Sunday Strollers, June 11, 1:00 pm

Save the date for our next walk. Barbara Tjernell and Jim Redpath are checking conditions of various walking paths.  Check the enews on June 1 for location information for June 11th.

Centering Prayer
All Are Welcome!
Wednesdays, 10:00 am in the Chapel

Each Wednesday at 10 a.m. you are invited to gather in the chapel to learn about and experience the Christian meditation practice of Centering Prayer. We begin with a short body meditation practice similar to chair yoga to move us into silence. Following our silence we practice Lectio Divina, a prayerful reading of a passage of scripture, poem or a reading. After we contemplate, then reflect on the reading shared, we sit quietly with it. If moved, we may share our thoughts with the group.

For more information, contact Lorna Wuertz  lornawuertz@gmail.com

Our next book is THE MAN WHO BROKE CAPITALISM: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America―and How to Undo His Legacy by David Gelles

25 May  Chapt 1-4
8 Jun     Chapt 5-8.

We will meet at the usual FPCSR Meeting Place.
(Click to get there; it's a Zoom link). 
If you have questions, please contact John Robinson – johnrob82p@gmail.com

Zoom Info for all gatherings

Click on link (includes password)https://us02web.zoom.us/j/738258079?pwd=Z3pKTXVYQU5TWTE4dXgxakd2dUtGZz09
or Click on link https://us04web.zoom.us/j/738258079
Password for the FPCSR Zoom room. 996359
Meeting ID: 738 258 079
Call in number 1-669-900-9128

Financial Support

1) Send a check to the church – First Presbyterian  Church, 1510 5th Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901
2) Set up automatic payments through your bank
3) Give on line through our secure link - https://www.fpcsr.org/giving