Church guide

Prayer for those in the middle of the Lenten wilderness The ashes on my forehead long gone, my Lenten discipline exposed as more good intentions than realized practice, the cold days of winter beginning to give way to warmer afternoons, the center of Lent feels like a mix of blooming daffodils and bare tree branches. Lord, I long for beauty even as the world languishes in the carnage of cyclones, war and revenge. I began this Lent determined to stay alert to the presence of the holy, awake to the inbreaking of the divine, on watch for how to serve the One who came to save the world. But, dear God, right here in the middle of the wilderness, I confess I am weary, weighed down with the urge to sleep until the suffering has passed and resurrection reigns. What are 40 days in comparison to the expanse of Kairos time? I hear Jesus in the garden, disappointed and exhausted, asking me why I could not keep awake for even a little while. I know the story, Lord. I know your people do not remain in the wilderness forever. I know that even in deserts, wild flowers grow and you provide. Manna comes each day and we keep moving toward your promised future. Even so, Gracious God, I forget that you give all that is needed and then some. I forget, joy comes in the morning and the great waves of justice cannot be held back much longer. Forgive my faithless stupor and in your mercy nudge me awake with glimpses of goodness, small acts of kindness and relentless beauty emerging from places long desolate. Do not let me ignore the angels who minister in wilderness places, the nourishment of daily bread or the gift of those on this journey with me. Patient God, guide me through these waning days of Lent, keep me alert to your presence, awake for your sake and on watch for your promised new creation. Amen.

Sunday March 24th! Come worship with us through scripture and song beginning at 11:00 a.m. Rev, Dr. Edward T. Brogan will share the message from the In The Valley Series: "The Garden". Sunday School is at 10am. Please join us! [There will be coffee and donuts.] We look forward to seeing you!

“Sanctuary” 🙌🏻

This Sunday March 10th, come worship with us through scripture and song beginning at 11:00 a.m. Sunday School is at 10am 📖🕚 Our Guitars and Friends will share the message and lead our music. We look forward to seeing you!

Ash Wednesday service will be tomorrow at 6pm. Please join us!

This Sunday March 3rd, come worship with us through scripture and song beginning at 11:00 a.m. 🕚 Bob Coble will share the message. Sunday School is at 10am 📖 We look forward to seeing you!

Today 💕 Sunday February 24th! Come worship with us through scripture and song beginning at 11:00 a.m. Rev, Dr. Edward T. Brogan will share the message. Sunday School is at 10am. We look forward to seeing you!

This Sunday January 13th, come worship with us through scripture and song beginning at 11:00 a.m. 🕚 Our Guitars and Friends will share the message and lead our music. Sunday School is at 10am 📖 We look forward to seeing you!

Advent….. It’s a Wrap Here we are beginning the season of Epiphany- the appearing, the revealing. It is a time when the world, through a variety of encounters, begins to understand the meaning of the Christ child. He is a babe born to a family of minimal means, whose existence is marked by a brilliant light in the sky, who is visited by strangers from the fields nearby as well as from countries afar. And after a trip to a far away land, returns to his homeland and is able to teach elders in the temple at a very young age. This child, grows to a young man who is baptized by his cousin, with the response of God claiming him as His son. He brings to this earth…. Hope. “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘til He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth”. Can you imagine that kind of emptiness? It is through the birth and death of Jesus Christ that we can have contentment, we can have hope. Now, back to Advent and the anticipation of a promised arrival. There are so many ways First Presbyterian, Uvalde, touched the community, as well as celebrated Advent through the traditions of this congregation. The Chrismon tree was placed in the foyer. The sanctuary was adorned with wreaths of Chrismons, angels, and banners. The candles on the Advent wreath were lit by several members of the congregation each Sunday of Advent, as well as Christmas eve; joy, peace, hope, and love, finalized with the Christ candle. Add to that a wonderful evening sharing with our community “the reason for the season “ during Four Square Friday. Our “bathroom available” ministry, the treats, the lapel buttons, the photo ops with the manger, costumes, and lighted angels, the port of boarding for the horse drawn carriage in the parking lot and telescopes peering into the night sky, all made for a feeling of being a part of a larger community that was amazing to witness. The third Sunday of Advent included “Lessons and Carols”. The voices that joined the choir, as well as the choices of music for that worship service, were a gift to us all. The fourth weekend was Vacation Bible School beginning Friday night. If I was to be completely honest, I was not all in on this plan. The timing was not good for all that I needed to do in preparation for Christmas. But thankfully, we had persistent leadership and assistants who put together volunteers and curriculum that culminated in a Sunday morning worship that included children of the Bible School and their parents. One of my most poignant observations of the Advent season came from this worship. The children were brought forward to participate in a nativity Mary and Joseph with the babe in a manger. A shepherd. A wise man. Angels. The whole thing. I think what was most outstanding is that most were not members of First Presbyterian Church! They were children of the community, friends and family of members and staff, in some cases whoever was willing to say “yes, I can do that”. And what I witnessed was families who might never have had the experience of the true Christmas story if it hadn’t been for a very untimely Vacation Bible School. There were photos being taken as if it was the Academy Awards! I thank God for this blessing. And if that wasn’t enough for one day, the annual Christmas lunch with Santa (and helpers to distribute gifts) was in its own way a harkening to the gifts of the Magi. It was a celebration of the children that God placed in our lives. Christmas eve, families and friends gathered together to worship and thank God for sending His son to us. I heard someone say that Christmas isn’t so much about the birth of Jesus as it is His life with us and His ultimate sacrifice to bring us the promise of salvation. And that brings me back to Epiphany. I pray that we might get to know the joy, peace, hope, and love of Jesus the Christ in an intimate way as he reveals himself to each of us throughout 2019. Advent… it’s a wrap! On to Epiphany.

Merry Christmas to everyone from First Presbyterian Church of Uvalde!

Learning Away in a Manger

“Sanctuary” 🙌🏻

Learning Away in a Manger

(Yesterday) Musical chairs before class...

Our wonderful choir in action during worship today (sorry the video is a little shaky)