
Come
Worship With Us!
* * *
Worship held
11:00 a.m. each Sunday in McCullough Hall (fellowship hall) at 1903 Church Street,
with Sunday
School at 9:30 a.m. and Fellowship at 10:30 a.m.
Young
Children & Worship program available during latter part of worship service
(Grade 3 & under.)
Nursery for
preschool and under.
Communion on
the first Sunday of the month.
* * *
The church season is Lent.
The color of the season is
purple.

Palm Sunday is March 28.

Maundy Thursday Communion
service at Westminster Presbyterian, 5127 Ave. U
on April 1, 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday Tenebrae service
at First Presbyterian,
on April 2, 7:00 p.m.

Easter is April 4.
Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., Worship at 11:00 a.m.
* * *
Church year information below is from
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) website at
http://www.pcusa.org/theologyandworship/faq/questions.htm
* * *
Link to
History
of First Presbyterian Church, Galveston
Links to event information -
Church Calendar

Detail of the hand-carved communion table at First Presbyterian Church
(above), which is to be restored following flooding of the sanctuary by
Hurricane Ike
* * *
On Christmas Eve
2009 two worship services were held at First Presbyterian, in the renovated
McCullough Hall - a children's service at 4:00 & our traditional candlelight
communion service at 7:00.
Looking back
one year, to Christmas Eve 2008....

Christmas Eve at First Presbyterian was very special for us. At 4:00 p.m., we
had a service of lessons & carols outdoors in the chapel garden - the first
worship service FPC Galveston has had "at home" since Hurricane Ike. 65-70
people of all ages attended. It was a cold, damp and very windy December
afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Marsha (the Office Administrator) and I felt the chapel
garden was too bare, so we raided some holiday supplies in the south tower and
put a wreath on the chapel door and on the wrought iron gate, with greens &
ribbons (formerly on the fellowship hall sconces) along the old iron fence. We
agreed that it was 100 per cent better than nothing!
Some of our red plastic Sunday School chairs were put out on the new rye grass
in the chapel garden (grass grown from the grass seed the preacher had been
sharing with the pigeons) - even weeds were allowed to stay, because they were
green, in a town that has seen so much grey and brown in recent months.
Some sound equipment was hooked up & working (more or less!). The Advent wreath
was balanced on the uneven ground. Four youth read scripture. Organist Bonnye
Karger played her keyboard, the Chancel Choir led by Larry Patton sang, Lisa
Velasquez played her flute, Rev. Green gave a children's message about the color
of candlelight - and I make a quick run to my office in the trailer to find a
basket for the Joy Gift offering. One jr. high sat on the concrete fence around
the chapel yard. (Can anyone guess who that might have been?)

We sang shortened versions of carols that we all know, as the the mist turned to
rain and the service moved a little faster. The preacher suggested we make a run
to the tent in the church parking lot and we did, some bringing their chairs. I
passed out "shepherd's staves" - candy canes to the children.
Under the tent, the communion elements were set upon a chair. In the rain &
wind, standing in a big circle, the extended FPC family took communion
together. The university students helped us light each other's small candles,
and we sang "Silent Night" as the sky darkened. We hugged and knew it was
wonderful to be "home."
Elizabeth Godbehere, Director of Christian Education

* * *
Click here to link
to the
Sermon Archives
of The Reverend David H. Green
Sermons are in text form and also downloadable in MP3 audio.
Biographical
information on our pastor,
the
Rev.
David H. Green
Email Rev. Green:
green@galvpres.net
* * *
(left) Rev. David Green moderating the Ike Anniversary "Reflection &
Remembrance" Sunrise Service, September 13, 2009, at the Galvez Hotel
* * *
"Hear the Word".....a Weekly Revised Common Lectionary
podcast
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
* * *

One of the stained glass windows
in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church Galveston
(photos on this page by Elizabeth Godbehere)