Anchorage First Presbyterian Church

Matthew 25 Learning Opportunity

Matthew 25 logo

First Presbyterian Church is now a PC(USA) Matthew 25 congregation. A Matthew 25 congregation is one that calls us to see our neighbors through Jesus’ eyes (Matthew 25:31-46) and serve those who are marginalized or in need. The three focuses are: building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism, and eradicating systemic poverty. The mission committee is discerning ways we can live out our calling.

Several of us from the mission committee have signed up for an online being offered through the PC(USA) Matthew 25 Initiative and we invite you to join us!

Stony Point Center is working in collaboration with Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary to develop an online curriculum to support the Matthew 25 vision. The first Matthew 25 course, Awakening to Structural Racism is designed for those whose awareness of the dynamics of structural racism is being awakened due to the uprisings in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Tony McDade. This course is also for those who have been aware of these dynamics and for those who desire a brave space to deeply explore their participation in systems of white supremacy. 

You can learn more about the class and register at: https://stonypointcenter.org/get-involved/latest-news/11-latest-news/386-a-matthew-25-course-awakening-to-structural-racism

The class begins on Monday afternoon so if you are interested please sign up asap! Contact Danna Larson if you have questions.

Staycation Bible School 2020

Friends, 
Are you looking for a way to engage your children this summer in faith formation but struggling because of social distancing? We have you covered with Staycation Bible School 2020!

Staycation Bible School 2020 — “Feet that Follow” will help you as a family  connect and share God’s love. “Feet that Follow” gives you an opportunity to go on a   journey with Jesus and explore the many places he traveled and discover the ways we can travel and share God’s love – even when we are staying close to home. Each participant will be given a “travel bag” with many of the supplies you will need for your journey.  

When:   June 29 – July 31 (We are taking a five day VBS and extending for five weeks) 
Where:   Most of the activities can be done in your home or neighborhood;  we do have three small group activities that we will have at the church         Monday, June 29, 6:00-7:00 pm Stop by the church to pack your supplies for your journey! (Wear your mask!)         
Monday, July 13, 6:00-7:30 pm Staycation Activity on church lawn or Park Strip  (More details to follow)       
Monday, July 27,  6:00-7:30 pm Staycation Wrap Up on church lawn or Park Strip    (More details to follow)

What to do:   
1. Fill out this registration/permission form for each child participating and return to Danna by Saturday, June 27.
2. Come to First Presbyterian Church on Monday, June 29 from 6:00-7:00 pm to pack your supplies  and meet others participating in the Staycation Bible School.  Wear your masks!   
3. Share this information with other friends who may want to participate.

We look forward to seeing many of you for Staycation Bible School!   
Questions? Contact Danna Larson, Director of Faith Formation (907)538-7313.

Tuesday Evening Zoom Small Group

The FPC Tuesday evening Zoom Small Group will continue meeting this summer.  We meet on Tuesday nights from 7-8:15 pm.   And you are welcome to join us! 

The next book we will be reading and discussing is The Reason for God – Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller, and our first meeting will be Tuesday, June 16.  

If you would like to join us or have questions, please contact Diana Rotkis, Scott Gruhn or Danna Larson.

Gardening Opportunity

First Presbyterian Church will be a part of the Community Garden that is being created on the corner of 14th and I Street (south of New Sagaya City Market).  This is a community garden that is being organized through Anchor Gardens and since our church is so close it is a perfect match for us to get involved.  The food we grow will be given to the Food Bank for distribution. 

All are invited to a work party (children, youth, adults)  this Wednesday, May 20 from 6-8 pm.  We will be working to help complete the lasagna beds for the garden spaces so we can begin planting next week.   One of the Anchor Gardens leaders will mentor us as we work together.

Wear gloves and a mask   (we will be social distancing) 
Bring your own water 
Bring your own tools:  wheel barrow, shovels, rakes   

Supplies needed:  cardboard, leaves, kitchen scraps-not dairy or meat,coffee grounds- call your coffee shop and ask them to save them for you, straw, aged manure, spent malt  grains (can get free from breweries)

If you cannot help with the build possibly you can bring supplies.  You can drop them off anytime at the Community Garden site.  Just pull up and you will find the bin or area for your donations.  

Contact Danna Larson if you have questions or to learn more about this opportunity.

Note From Danna 5/15

Dear Families,
School will be out next week and you will be moving into summer and a “first” for us as we continue to live out our COVID-19 days. I give thanks that so far we have been able to limit the number of people who have gotten COVID-19 here in Alaska. I pray we can continue to do this as we move into the summer and we all want to be with each other.

This summer we will not be able to host our summer Vacation Bible School at First Presbyterian Church. After much prayer and discussion we continue to believe the best way to “love one’s neighbor” is to make sure we do things at the church that are safe for everyone. If we were to have the VBS even later than our June date (since the use of building is limited to 50 currently and the VBS is usually about 80 people with children and volunteers) we would put a lot of our volunteers at risk because so many of us are over 60! Also, in order to be safe for the children and youth volunteers we would need to be disinfecting all of the furniture and supplies in the room spaces between groups and the practically and workforce to do that just does not seem possible.

First Presbyterian Church is working to plan opportunities for you and your children this summer.
**Compassion Camp: Be Loved. Be Kind. Be You This is a do at home Vacation Bible School that will include a community art project as well as service opportunities. We will not receive the curriculum until June 1. I hope to have the materials ready to deliver to our families the second week in June for you to do during the summer. Suitable for pre-school and elementary children.
**Camp in a Box: Deep Roots, New Leaves This is still tentative but I hope we can provide this opportunity as well for our elementary children. Camp in a Box provides 5 days’ worth of activities that are screen-free, encourage outdoor activity, and minimize demands on parents. In this weeklong experience campers will discover that God is always doing a new thing. While God offers stability and safety, like a tree’s deep roots, God is also working for good in each new moment, like a tree sprouting new leaves.

I know each of you as parents are very busy and I continue to pray for you each week. I appreciated Lilly Lewin’s post this morning Coloring During COVID19 and offer it to you for your own renewal and possibly a spiritual practice for you.

Blessings to you and your families this week,
Danna Larson
Director of Faith Formation