Pastors Message

Pastors Message – July/August, 2019

Hello!Rev. Denise Stone

I must tell you that I LOVE being your Pastor. Not only have the people of First Presbyterian Church of Big Flats (“FPC Big Flats”) made Valerie and I feel very much at home with you, you have served and pitched in for things around and at church in a variety of ways. I am excited to be working with you all.

On Father’s Day we had a special service and picnic in the Community Park. Even though it was rainy day there were at least 35 people of all ages in attendance. We had a great time.

At that Service I asked people to list goals or ministry ideas that they have for FPC Big Flats. We had 27 separate suggestions. While there was some overlap in the ideas, over half of them were focused on outreach.

Here are a few of those suggestions:

• Increased External Visibility and Publicity
• Social Justice involvement (i.e. Potter’s Hand, CASA, etc.)
• Have a float in next year’s Community Days Parade
• Have a Booth at next year’s Corning Pride Festival
• Keep working towards being more “open and affirming”
• Offer clinic for Flu Shots
• Translate success of Troop 87 into membership and energy for the church
• Car Wash
• Everyone asked to bring a guest on a designated Sunday

It is exciting to see all of these ideas, in addition to suggestions for Bible Studies and Social Activities in the evenings (for those working during the week). We will be trying to implement some of these ideas in the coming months. So keep your eyes open for information about those!

While this is not really for July or August, I want to let you know about something planned for early in September. On the second Sunday in September we will be having a Rally Day as we kick off our fall programs and return to the 10:30 hour for Worship (we switch to 9:30 a.m. for the summer on July 7th). We want everyone who attends FPC Big Flats to be there on that Sunday. AND we would like for folks to invite a guest (or two) to join them. We want to have everyone together for Worship and for a Church Pot Luck picnic following the Service. More information about this will come to you later in the summer.

Keep thinking of ways that we can reach out to our community as well as to care for one another. Feel free to send suggestions to me at my church email address (pastorbfpres@empireaccess.net).

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook Page and Website for information about activities and words of encouragement.

I pray that you will have a fantastic summer and that you will continue to make Sunday Worship attendance a priority! If you cannot be at church on a particular Sunday, we have begun broadcasting our services via Facebook Live. These will start each Sunday morning following our sharing of Joys and Concerns – around 10:35. Check it out!

Blessings to you all,
Pastor Denise

Sermon – June 30, 2019



 Jesus is for Everyone!
The Apostle Simon Peter learns the value of all individuals when it comes to faith in Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit leads Peter through visions and his encounter with the Centurion Cornelius and his family and friends to a new understanding of who is accepted in God’s Kingdom – everyone.
This is the same message that the Church needs to continually relearn – Jesus is for Everyone.
It is our responsibility to share that good news with those we encounter – regardless of what they look like, what they believe or how they live.