The Handbell Choir will begin practicing for Christmas Music on Mondays beginning October 2 at 7:00pm in the Handbell Room. Other practice dates are: October 9, 16, 23, and 30; November 6, 13, and 20; and December 4. The date for the Handbell performance is yet to be determined. Please contact Dr. Huff for additional details.

The Garrison Family (including James, Nellie and Daniel) invites you to join them at some point during the day of Saturday, October 28, 2023 to assist in producing this year’s run of

Hilltop’s Lucky Penny Apple Butter.

This is an all-day event. Most folks start arriving around 11:00am and trickle in and out all day until around 6pm. This is a highly unstructured event, and children of all ages are welcome. Dogs that don't fight are also welcome. Apples, fresh cider and free turns at the stirring pot will be offered. There should also be some apple butter available: first come, first served. There should also be some music after lunch.

Lunch will be provided and will sprawl out all afternoon. A main course, chips, soda and the like will be provided. Please bring a side dish for everyone to enjoy.

Show up when you like and bring a friend. Also bring a chair or two. We hope to see you there!

The Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra will perform “Symphonic Poems” on Saturday,
October 14 at 7:30pm in our sanctuary.

Admission is free and donations are gratefully accepted at the door or by credit card on their website athttps://waynesborosymphonyorchestra.org/

We hope you can join us!

Shenandoah Presbytery Baja Mission Team travels to Baja, Mexico annually to build houses and to fellowship with community residents. This is a long term mission project of the Presbytery, first started at Augusta Stone PC.  There were over 20 members of the team that traveled to Baja this year. 

We are supporting the Mission Team in raising funds for their 2024 mission trip through their sale of fall mums.

Please note the variety of colors of mums available include purple, rust, pink, red, burgundy, lavender, white, and yellow. 

Orders can be made by contacting Heidi in the office at stauntonfirst@gmail.com or
540-886-0704.

A second delivery of mums is scheduled for October 6th. All orders need to be made by Oct. 3rd.  Please provide the number of mums desired, as well as specified colors, and whether delivery is to the church or your home. Cost is $20 each. Checks should be made out to Shenandoah Presbytery with Baja Mission on the memo line.

Three yellow mums have been purchased for the front steps of our sanctuary.

Session has called for a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, October 15, immediately following worship to elect Chuck Lendermon as part of the Nominating Committee, followed by a Congregational Meal & Conversation from 12:00-2:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Pastor Jeff will be inviting conversation on “Who Are We Today?”

During this time, the congregation will be introduced to a few select tools for congregational assessment as we continue within the interim process, while also looking ahead with our next steps moving forward. Questions & conversation are encouraged.

A lunch of lasagna will be served. Bread and drinks will be provided. The congregation is asked to bring salads and desserts.

Please RSVP to Heidi at stauntonfirst@gmail.com or 540-886-0704. We hope you can attend!!

 The new air conditioning system in the sanctuary has been installed and is working well,, so we are happy to announce that worship will resume in the sanctuary on Sunday, October 1. We look forward to seeing you there!

There will be a Session meeting Tuesday, October 10 at 6:00pm in the Library.

We are pleased to announce that the First Presbyterian Home Goods Community Pantry is now open on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Items offered to the community will include the following household essentials: Paper towels (2-pack), toilet paper (6-pack), tissues (small pack), trash bags (15-20 count), dish soap (18-0z. bottle), liquid hand soap (small bottle), laundry detergent pods (12-pack), and disinfectant wipes (regular size).

We are currently accepting donations for our pantry. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

If you have any questions, please contact Stephany Morgan.

First Presbyterian Church currently needs the following items for our Home Goods Community Pantry:

• Paper Towels: 2-pack package
• Laundry Detergent Pods: 12-pack
• Trash Bags: Box of 15-20

Your donations are urgently needed to keep our pantry open. Our next pantry day is Wednesday, September 20 from 10:00am-12:00pm.

Thanks so much for your generosity!

First Presbyterian needs folks to volunteer to help with Trinity Lunch every 2 months on the 2nd Thursday of the month. Please contact Heidi at stauntonfirst@gmail.com or
540-886-0704 if you can help. Thank you!

Presbyterian Women Evening Circle will meet Tuesday, October 17 at 6:00pm in the Library. We would appreciate a head count, so respond to Alice Herbst if you can make it.  And feel free to bring guests - all are welcome!

If you have questions, comments, suggestions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Alice Herbst.

We look forward to seeing you on the 19th!

We wish to share a Mission and Outreach opportunity. The Haiti Education Foundation or HEF, a 501c3 organization, is a mission in support of education of children and youth in the mountains of Haiti. First Presbyterian has supported this mission for a number of years in different ways. Over these years, we have provided funds for milk for lunches, purchased school desks, provided funds for building of new schools, and more.

HEF began in 1981 when Frances Landers, a Presbyterian elder, wife and mother, accompanied her ophthalmologist husband to Haiti. met an Episcopal Priest, Pere Albert, who had a dream of establishing schools in the southern mountains of Haiti. Ms. Landers returned to her community and church in Arkansas and began raising money to bring this dream into reality. 

From those efforts and their collaboration beginning in 1981, there are now 34 elementary schools, and 6 high schools, educating 7000 students.. 

This year, we are asking for donations to be received between August 13 and September 30, 2023. We have matching funds for the first one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) in donations received. You may wish to designate your donation to scholarships ($75.00 each), school supplies ($35.00), or "as needed".

Thank you for your participation in this Mission and Outreach opportunity to help foster education of children in the southern mountains of Haiti.

- Mission and Outreach Committee