Community

The coming of the Holy Spirit fills the faithful with hope for new possibilities. Fifty days after the news of Jesus’ resurrection, the community of disciples receives God’s Spirit, empowering us to preach the gospel and witness to the wonder of God to make all things new, to bring hope out of despair, life out of death, and love out of fear. First Presbyterian Church seeks always and in all ways to witness to the Spirit’s transforming power.

On Pentecost, May 19th, we will gather to hear the scripture story of that first Pentecost, when the disciples, still fearful, were emboldened to proclaim the truth about God’s love and mercy, God’s power to use ordinary human beings to bring about peace and justice and love.

Banners will wave, songs will be sung, prayers for a world made new will be offered to the God, whose breath is our breath and whose heart is our heart. During worship, Delia Annabel Ray will be baptized, offering us another way to see the wonder of God to claim us as God’s own.

On May 5th, the Rev. Justin Ray will be the preacher. Justin has long been a part of the First Presbyterian Church family, having arrived over ten years ago to begin his M.Div. studies at Yale. He served as an intern in our midst, and was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in our sanctuary. Come and hear good news! During worship, the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated. Following worship, a brief service of healing and wholeness will be offered. Co-Pastor Maria LaSala will lead that service.

On May 12th, the youth of our congregation will lead us in word, song, and story. This is always a delightful morning as we hear from the young voices of our community. Come and be surprised. Come and be nurtured. Come and be moved by the reflections of our youth.

We are Easter People! This is the Good News that greets us as we begin the month of April. Christ has been raised from death giving all of us hope for tomorrow!

Signs of hope are all around us, of course. After a winter of so much snow, the signs of spring are finally making themselves known in New Haven. This is good news.

The community who make up First Presbyterian Church will have many opportunities to grow in faith, come together for worship, prayer and service, care for the creation we call home, support friends and neighbors, and live into the ways of God’s justice, love, and peace.

We invite everyone, young and older alike, to take a look and see how Jesus’ disciples in this day are following his call.

Sunday morning worship in April brings us more stories of the resurrection appearances of Jesus to the disciples. On April 7th, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Following worship there will be an opportunity for a brief service of healing.

Maundy Thursday Worship on March 28^th will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Miller Gathering Hall. Sitting around tables, we will hear again the story of Jesus’final supper with his disciples, preparing our hearts and minds as we receive bread and cup together.

The Good Friday Tenebrae service will take place in the sanctuary on Friday, March 29^th, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Come and hear the Passion narrative of Jesus’ final hours in the quiet of the sanctuary.

Easter Morning comes early on the summit of East Rock Park. Join friends from First Presbyterian Church, First and Summerfield United Methodist Church, Hamden Plains United Methodist Church and neighbors of the East Rock community, in welcoming the glad news of Christ’s resurrection.  Co-Pastor Bill Goettler will give the Easter meditation. The service begins at 6:30 a.m.

Easter Breakfast begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Miller Gathering Hall where tasty treats will be prepared. Strata, pastries, and juice, coffee, and tea are on the menu. What a perfect way to begin the morning’s celebration. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. as a string quartet plays special Easter music. Co-Pastor Maria LaSala will be the preacher for the morning. The service of Easter rejoicing concludes with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah.

An Easter Egg Hunt for children will follow the morning’s worship service. There will be separate areas for toddlers, and for younger elementary school aged children.

The good news of Easter rejoicing falls on the final day of March this year.  But much happens before the good news of Easter morning can be proclaimed.

The season of Lent continues to offer us a chance to reflect on our lives, to find places for prayer and renewal and service. In worship we will continue to sing God’s praises and meditate on God’s word and be in prayer together for our community and God’s world.

Palm Sunday Service, March 24 in the Sanctuary: Come and wave palm branches as we sing Hosanna to the One who comes in the name of God.

Maundy Thursday Service  March 28 7:30p.m. in the Miller Gathering Hall:  The service will include the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Good Friday Tenebrae Service March 29 7:30p.m. in the Sanctuary: The service will be a time to hear again the story of Jesus’ Passion, leading to his death on a cross.

Easter Sunday, March 31: Easter Sunday Sunrise Service 6:30a.m. summit of East Rock Park:  The Good New of Easter Joy will be proclaimed from the mountaintops and along Whitney Avenue! We will be joined by friends from First and Summerfield United Methodist Church and Hamden Plains United Methodist Church. Co-Pastor Bill Goettler will offer the Easter meditation.

Easter Breakfast 9:30 a.m. in the Owens Community Building:  Strata of all kinds, muffins, bagels, and yogurt and fruit will be set out for a delicious breakfast buffet. Then join friends around tables to delight in the wonder of this day.

Easter Rejoicing Worship 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary:  The service will begin with a musical prelude for strings. Co-Pastor Maria LaSala will be the preacher for the morning, as we hear the good news of Christ’s resurrection. We will sing Easter hymns, and lift prayers of thanksgiving to a God for whom nothing is impossible. The service will end with the singing of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah. Let us rejoice that Jesus Christ is Risen Today!

In Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, 2013, we honor many of the wonderful sacred music traditions that have grown up around these seasons.

The choir continues, each Sunday of Lent, to sing a setting of a prayer, acknowledging our theme of prayer in general, and the Lord’s Prayer in particular, this year.

Palm Sunday:  The adult choir will join together with the children’s and youth choir in celebratory Hosanna! —an arrangement of a South African Hosanna.

Maundy Thursday: The service will feature an African-American spiritual.

Good Friday:  We will hear again the haunting Were You There?

Easter Sunday:  We will welcome string players from the Yale Department of Music, who will play our prelude music. The choir will sing two joyous choruses for Easter Day, and we’ll all celebrate together by singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah at the end of the service.

Come to any and all our services, and let music be a meaningful part of your Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.