Faith Presbyterian Church

The response to this years Free Summer Reading Program has been amazing! We have a total of 20 children signed up at the moment. Due to the one on one time needed with these students, we are unable to accommodate more students at this time. However, we are still taking names for a waiting list in case others are unable to participate and we have openings. Please contact the church office for more information at 225-275-7393.

Also, if you would be interested in volunteering for this great outreach and service to the kids in our community and church, please contact the church office and let us know!

With the help of dedicated volunteers, Faith Presbyterian Church is pleased to offer the Free Summer Reading program for elementary age children for the third consecutive year. The program was first held in 2007 as a way for Faith Presbyterian Church to reach out in love to our community in a simple yet meaningful way.  

The Free Summer Reading program aims to foster a love of reading in children entering grades 2 - 5 in the upcoming school year. It is completely staffed by volunteers and will be held from 10:00 a.m. until noon on the following six  Saturday mornings over the summer months. June 20th and 27th ; July 11th, 18th and 25th; August 1st.  Additional information and registration forms may be found on the church website at www.faithpcbr.org . Please pass the word on to friends, family and neighbors with school age children.  

It would be impossible to offer the Free Summer Reading program without the help of our Reading Team volunteers, Carol Bell, John and Karen Blewitt, Dwyer and Sandy Broussard, Rosemary Goodell, Gaynell Heston, Donna Janky, Juan and Pam Letelier, Lee Soileaux, Dora Summerell and Jill Wild. Thank you one and all!  ( Additional volunteer assistance will be more than welcome). 

We are looking forward to building upon the modest success of the past two years. 

For more information or to register your child online please click here.

Please mark your calendars to come out and shop the Ladies Mission Garage Sale this coming weekend on Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd from 8 am - 2 pm.

This sale will have a little bit of everything – house wares, clothes, jewelry, furniture, toys, and too many other treasures to list! The Ladies Mission group will also be selling lunch and drinks to help raise extra money. Make sure to come and join in on the fun!

Also, Volunteers are still needed to come out on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this coming week to help set up for the Garage Sale, as well as Friday and Saturday to help with the actual Garage Sale. If you are able to help, please call the church office.

COME and EXPLORE at DISCOVERY CANYON!!

Mark your calendar for Monday, June 1st through Friday, June 5th from 5:30 to 8:30 in the evening. A week of wonder is just around the bend. Vacation Bible school is coming to Faith Presbyterian Church!

We are so looking forward to the upcoming VBS Discovery Canyon! For more information and to register your child online, please visit the new page created on our website to keep you up to date with information!

http://www.faithpcbr.org/vbs-2009-discovery-canyon/

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer your time or talents, please call the church office at 225-275-7393.

We are blessed once again to be doing another Vacation Bible School. This is our second one and last year, our first VBS, was quite successful thanks to the efforts of many dedicated volunteers. This year’s VBS will be held on Monday, June 1st through Friday, June 5th. It will be in the evening from 5:30  to 8:30. But, we need your help to make it happen!

Join us on Wednesday, March 25th at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary and learn more about VBS. This year’s theme is Discovery Canyon. It promises to be every bit as much fun and exciting as last years Rainforest Adventure. Even if you think you have nothing to offer, please come to the meeting on the 25th becuase you will learn just what you can do that will help our little one receive Jesus’ message.

We hope to see you there! Please call the church office at 225-275-7393 if you have any more questions or would like to volunteer to help with VBS 2009: Discovery Canyon.

Break out your best chili recipe to win the coveted “Chili Spoon” on Sunday, February 8th at 5:00 PM at Faith Presbyterian Church. Bring your appetite and try them all – and then vote for your favorite. Voting is on a cash basis – vote early and often – and remember that this is a fundraiser for Relay for Life! (If you are not making chili, please bring a potluck dessert.)

After the chili, stay for singing and fun with AudioPro Karaoke!

All are welcome - please bring a guest!

For more information please contact Kelly at 225-275-7393.

This Sunday, Dec 14, the choir and children will present a special Christmas program in worship. There will be special music and a pageant.

After worship, please plan to stay for our Christmas lunch. Meat and beverages will be provided. Please bring a potluck dish to share.

The holidays are joyous and festive occasions for many of us. However, for some people this time of year can be quite painful and distressing. For those who have lost a loved one, for example, or who are separated from family, friends and the familiar, loneliness is often more acute at Christmas. While others are singing carols and feasting at parties and family reunions, these folks feel cut off and isolated.

We know our Savior as Emmanuel, which means God with us. Jesus comes to all, especially the downcast and brokenhearted. He reaches out to bring comfort and solace to those who are grieving.

Faith Presbyterian will offer a special worship service on Sunday evening, December 21st, 7:00 P.M., for all who may be feeling alone or down this year. The service is called “Blue Christmas,” and is traditionally offered when night is the longest. Blue Christmas worship is quiet and meditative, with candles and soft music, and speaks of hope, comfort, and light in the midst of darkness.

This service is for our members, of course, but is especially designed for our neighbors who may not have a church home. Do you know anyone who is lonely or hurting? Please invite him or her to come to the Blue Christmas worship. Offer to pick up and sit beside your friend through the service. (The present that is most appreciated by others is often the gift of our presence!)
Our Lord Jesus comes among us to heal, restore and save, and invites us to join Him in ministry to our neighbors.

Comfort me, comfort me,
Your Love will comfort me.
Letting go, now I see,
New hope embracing me.

The Fun & Fellowship group has organized a group trip to the Natchitoches Annual Christmas Festival on December 6th, 2008. The day long celebration includes activities such as live entertainment, arts, crafts and food vendors, parade, fireworks, laser show and the lighting of 300,000+ Christmas bulbs and 100 plus riverbank set pieces.

At the time of this article, there are currently still spaces available. The cost for the trip is $35.00. This includes the paying for the bus ride and the ticket to get into the festival. You may bring food and drinks with you for the day or purchase food at the festival.

If you would be interested in going please contact the church office so that we can be sure to reserve your seat! This is sure to be a fun event for all, and takes the hassles of travel and parking out of your hands so that you can enjoy the trip to it’s fullest! We will meet at the church at 8 AM for a light breakfast and the bus leaves at 9 AM.

Tags: Bus Trip, Fun & Fellowship, Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights

A few reminders for everyone at Faith:

This year, Stewardship Sunday falls on November 16. On this day, we will collect and dedicate our pledges for 2009. There will be two stewardship dinners, both after church, on November 2 and November 9. Please make sure to take a moment on Sunday and sign up on the forms in the vestibule for one of the dinners. This will help us plan how much food we need to prepare in advance.

Pastor John will be using the insights from In Heaven’s Name, Why on Earth? By Harry Wendt. Dr. Wendt is the founder of Crossways International and the author of The Divine Drama. We will discover why stewardship involves much more than supporting the church budget!

Also, don’t forget that it’s almost Jambalaya Dinner Time! The Jambalaya Dinner Sale will take place this coming Friday, October 17th from 11 am - 1 pm. If you haven’t already, please make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. If you have any tickets left to sell, please try to do so! If you need tickets or have any questions, please call the church office at 225-275-7393.