03/22/2026
Dear Church Family -
Presbyterians are not usually given to remember saints because we do not revere them as intermediaries of our prayers. However, by not learning their stories, we are deprived of their Christian examples, and are not enriched by them. This is our loss.
One such saint is Patrick, Bishop of Ireland in the 5th century. His example and testimony speaks to us to this day, which many celebrate as St. Patty's Day.
From the Confession of St. Patrick of Ireland:
Behold now I commend my soul to God who is most faithful and for whom I perform my mission in obscurity, but he is no respecter of persons and he chose me for this service that I might be one of the least of his ministers...I pray God that he gives me perseverance, and that he will deign that I should be a faithful witness for his sake right up to the time of my passing.
For beyond any doubt on that day we shall rise again in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer, as children of the living God and co-heirs of Christ, made in his image; for we shall reign through him and for him and in him.
For the sun we see rises each day for us at [his] command, but it will never reign, neither will its splendour last, but all who worship it will come wretchedly to punishment. We, on the other hand, shall not die, who believe in and worship the true sun, Christ, who will never die, no more shall he die who has done Christ's will, but will abide for ever just as Christ abides for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty and with the Holy Spirit before the beginning of time and now and for ever and ever. Amen.
May our own lives inspire others to faithful service to Christ.
As we get closer to Easter, the church calendar will get busier! The last Sunday of March is Palm Sunday, the last Sunday of Lent. After that is Holy Week, with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and then Easter or Resurrection Sunday. We will have special worship services on each of those days.
Maundy Thursday we will have a joint service in our church hall with the Church in the Garden. The service will begin at 7:00 PM, with a potluck meal at 6:00 (remember, Jesus met with his disciples for a dinner the night before he was betrayed). After the meal we will worship and have communion.
On Good Friday the Church in the Garden will host us for a worship service in their sanctuary at 7:00 PM. (If you are driving, please be sure to get a parking pass from them.)
On Saturday, April 4 the Outreach and Engagement Committee is hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt (see attached flyer) from 1:00 to 2:30. Please invite your neighbors and friends!
On Easter Sunday, we will have a sunrise service at 7:00 AM and decorate the sanctuary cross with flowers. We will have a breakfast afterwards - please contact either the pastor, the deacons or the church office to volunteer to cook and serve! Our regular worship will be at 11:00.
We will have Easter lilies in the sanctuary - to have the name of a loved one listed in the memorials in the bulletin, please contact the church office.
Please contact the church office with your prayer requests as well! You can call or email us: (718) 268-4036 or [email protected].
On Palm Sunday, March 29, we will dedicate our One Great Hour of Sharing donations. We will have brochures out next Sunday for you to learn more about this special offering. Please give generously - "if we all do a little, it adds up to a lot!"
You can donate online as well! Go to our website: PresbyFH.org and click "Donate." up . (Our website also has our Zelle number - again, if you donate by Zelle for OGHS, please send an email to [email protected] and let us know how much to send to OGHS on your behalf.)
As we continue our Lenten journey, we remember the examples of myriads of Christians who have gone before us. Let us live lives worthy of others considering us to be examples as well. With God's grace, it is possible!
