"A Sanctuary in the City… Living Faith"

Our News (Page 5)

accomplishment and purpose climbing mountains

Beyond Individual Accomplishment

All humans look for meaning and purpose. And cultural messages often tell us we’re valuable and good enough, even lovable … when we’ve accomplished something. When we’ve acquired things. When we’ve earned recognition and proved that we are worthy….And yet, for true deep and lasting peace, I believe our hearts and minds and spirits need to be drawn beyond our selves, whatever our successes or stumbles along the way in life.

Immanuel – God with us

“Once upon a time there was a man who looked upon Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn’t a Scrooge. He was a kind and decent person, generous to his family, upright in all his dealings with others. But he didn’t believe all that stuff about Incarnation which churches proclaim at Christmas. And he was too honest to pretend that he did. “

wilderness, lonliness, need, wild

In the Wilderness

This week in worship, on our Advent journey to Bethlehem we enter wilderness places. Now, we might imagine favorite hiking, camping, fishing, hunting spots. We might remember feeling the stress release, the euphoria of beauty, a sense of awe and wonder and freedom and even “home” in some of the places which come to mind.
And that’s not quite what Bible writers had in mind

While We Wait…

Last week was the first Sunday of Advent – New Year’s Day for the Christian church! So exciting! We eagerly came into the sanctuary to see the lights and the wreaths. We joyously watched a family begin our familiar Advent story and light the first candle on the Advent wreath. We dusted off the Advent…

Staying Awake for Christmas

This week we begin Advent in the church calendar year. It’s a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus among us at Christmas. On this Saturday morning, our sanctuary will start to be decorated with greens and other adornment of the season. And just outside our doors, in Bronson Park, candy canes are up, lights are hung and lit, and all around downtown or wherever you live and move Christmas music rings out!

Spooktacular Songs!

On October 15, 2017, at 3:00p Elizabeth Bruce (organist at FPC) and friends will present a family-friendly concert. This event will feature some “scary” organ songs (e.g. Phantom of the Opera and Bach’s (in)famous Toccata in d minor) that aren’t quite fitting for Sunday mornings, but are definitely fitting for Sunday afternoons! Elizabeth and special…

Free KSO Chamber Music Recital on September 26th

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra will again partner with First Presbyterian Church to present three FREE Community Chamber Music Recitals this year. The first recital will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017 at 7 pm in the FPC sanctuary. It will feature The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Artists in Residence, who will be performing their all-new…

Sunday Worship Time to Remain at 10:00 AM

Thank you to the more than one hundred twenty people who responded to the recent survey from the Worship and Music Committee concerning our Sunday morning worship time. We appreciate the many thoughtful responses we received and have tried to look at all sides of the discussion.  The proposal to change our starting time was…

SEEDS Worship Begins September 9th

Starting September 9th, Saturday Evening services at Kalamazoo First Presbyterian Church begin at 5:00 p.m. and are focused on growing the community in a new time and in new ways.  All who come to worship (including children) are welcome to take notes, color outside the lines, or tweet their thoughts as we celebrate God’s love together.