Welcome to our News for the Pews.

Our online source for current and past Church news, events, and media for all of our community to view and enjoy.

April 21, 2024 - A Message from Maureen’s Haven: Maureen’s Haven at 1st Presbyterian Church of Southampton has come to the end of another successful season.  I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the community for a job well done and for making it possible to host the guests one weekend a month from Nov 1 to April 1.  Thank you for providing your goods, services, helping hands and with set up to serving dinner and clean up.  You have all truly been a blessing to this program and our community.  I am looking forward to your help in the 2024-2025 season in November 2024 and we are always looking for volunteers. 

Thank you to the following:

Suffolk Laundry-laundry  

St.John’s Episcopal Church-meals 

Rotary Interact Club -meals 

First Presbyterian Church Deacons-breakfast 

First Presbyterian Church Mission council - meals  

Fresco’s Pizza & Deli –dinner and snacks

North Sea Ladies Auxiliary -meals 

New Thought Spiritual Center-food

Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church and the Edwards family-food

Southampton Laundry-laundry

Sincerely,

Katelyn Corwith, Coordinator 

April 7, 2024 - The second Sunday of Easter is of course, the follow up of Easter, which is less exciting, and does not grab the headlines the same way that “Christ Is Risen Today!” does. Instead the follow up is to start again a journey of faith, to put the power, the importance, and the learning of Easter into practice. The follow up to Easter is to, little by little, start to live, serve and love having experienced the Risen Christ. At first it may seem strange that we start that journey talking about doubt, thanks to doubting Thomas, a story that reminds us that there are some things we have to experience for ourselves.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and the put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

- John 20: 24-28

If you don’t know the story the first Easter evening Thomas was missing from the group when Jesus appeared to them. As a result, he was skeptical that Jesus was alive. Thankfully, he was present the next week, and that made all the difference for him, but Jesus also said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” It is here that faith and specifically blind faith comes into play about the Lord’s return and continuous presence in every moment. Thomas’s presence that following week was not because he thought Jesus was going to be there but because he was still his disciple. Jesus’ presence threw Thomas’ doubts aside. If Thomas without continuing to believe and show up, hadn’t been present, his faith would have waivered. Which is why the follow up to Easter is just as important as the day the Lord had risen!

March 31, 2024 - Easter Sunrise Community Service - Christ is Risen!

Cooper’s Beach was met with over 300 worshippers on Sunday to celebrate the second coming of Jesus. Where the crisp morning air and cold sand met the soft crashing waves, Southampton congregants joined together for a joyous and welcoming service. Victor Vacarro of the Hamptons Pipes & Drums opened with “Amazing Grace” that gave notice to the later-comers of the service’s commencement. Viccaro, accompanied by Ted Turpin on the piano brought a lively energy to the morning crowd.

After the service, attendees were met with coffee and juice, and bagels and pastries provided by Keith Davis and the Golden Pear Cafe of Southampton.

March 31, 2024 - Easter Sunday Worship - Christ is Risen! The fragrant smell of Easter flowers, purchased in memory and honor, filled the Sanctuary Sunday morning. Its aromatic ambiance set the scene for worshippers of all ages, adorned in their hand-picked celebratory attire, to shuffle into First Presbyterian. As each member stuffed closer together filling the pews, more community members of all ages continued to process down the aisles, whilst being welcomed by bagpipes and festive greetings.

Reverend Lent was thrilled to see the Sanctuary so fill, and Sunday school so well attended with young impressionable faces. Rev. Lent presented each child with a Gladiola bulb to symbolize the planting of the seed of love and Christ. Rev. Lent reminded us that showing up for Easter is part of the goal of Christianity, but the hope is that the seed is planted so that we may put the message of “Christ Is Risen,” that he has started the journey ahead of us. That we may grow in faith, in love and in God. That when we find ourselves in times of sadness, despair, or fear, that we remind ourselves “that He is ahead of us” and He will be there waiting for us. That even death is not the end, as Christ has proven.

The Chancel Choir, lead by Music Director Amanda Jones opened with “Let All Who Have Breath Praise the Lord,” creating an energy within the Sanctuary that remained through worship. Continuing with arrangements like “Resurrection Victory” and “Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed” the energetic feeling carried on after worship and onto the front lawn. Families were met with sun-filled spring day complete with a petting zoo of festive bunnies and fancy chickens, coffee and treats, and beautiful fellowship!

March 24, 2024 - Palm Sunday at First Presbyterian brought almost 90 attendees to Sunday’s Worship service. “A Day to Choose” was the topic of Rev. Lent’s sermon. He reminded those in attendance that Palm Sunday, in the Jewish tradition, was the day to choose your lamb (or goat) for Passover, and that it is no coincidence that Jesus was marched into Jerusalem on this day. He was welcomed with joyous waving of palms as he rode a colt into the city, talking of loving thy neighbor as opposed to military praise and wealth that was shown for Pontius Pilot that same day. That day in Jerusalem, one was asked to choose whom to follow, the Kingdom of God or the Empire of Caesar. Today, Rev. Lent asks us to choose whom to follow, but also asks us to answer that question through actions, “that you might understand that Jesus showed up for us… that just like the first Palm Sunday long ago, people will always have a choice where they look for their salvation… and that Jesus asks us to show up for him.” Rev. Lent’s message emphasizes to not just passively watch but to actively participate in the choosing of the Lord every day, and to show up for Him, the same was He presented himself to us on Palm Sunday.

March 15, 2024 - On Friday evening, the First Presbyterian Church, courtesy of Amanda Jones, Music Director, hosted a wonderful group of talented, hard working and kind singers. Messiah University Concert Choir and Chamber Ensemble performed works from a program titled I Love To Tell The Story. The repertoire spans the centuries to share stories faith, from Renaissance motets to newly-composed pieces by Messiah University faculty, arrangements of beloved spirituals and hymns, ancient prayer texts and musical reflections on current events. Spirits in the Sanctuary were not only filled but also lifted but the gifted students performance.

The choir and ensemble tour was conducted by Dr. Joy Meade, and took the 48 member group to churches and high schools in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, completing their tour on March 17, 2024. If you missed the Messiah University Concert Choir on March 15th. Follow the link to view the recording.

March 3, 2024 - First Presbyterian Church is pleased to officially welcome Pastor Paul Lent to our Cornerstone of Faith in Jesus and our Family of Love and Service. Rev. Lent is the First Presbyterian Church’s 33rd Pastor and was installed by Rev. Donald Adams, Moderator of Long Island Presbytery, Rev. Kathryn Jones-Calone, the acting General Presbyter & Stated Clerk of Presbytery of Long Island, and Rev. Michael Smith of Shinnecock Presbytery. Also in attendance were Rev. Susan Case Cardon, Reverend Dr. Richard Reifsnyder and Rev. Charles M. Cary.

Pastor Lent’s installation service was followed by a celebratory luncheon that was attended by many!

We look forward to Pastor Lent’s time here at First Presbyterian, and the joining of his wife, Christine and two children, Helena and Daniel, to our fellowship.

December 9, 2023 - First Presbyterian Church participated in the 20th Annual Polar Bear Plunge hosted by Heart of the Hamptons. The FPC team “Frozen Chosen” helped raise over $4,000.00 totaling, $4,356.50, putting the team in 8th place this year on the Heart of the Hamptons 2023 Leaderboard.

The FPC is a proud supporter of the Heart of the Hamptons, a community initiative that provides clothing, food, and other household materials to those in need.

Thank you to all of our generous friends who made this possible!