Services
Worship is at the center of our life together. We offer both on-site and on-line Sunday worship services.
The 9:00 a.m. service in the Fellowship Hall is contemporary in style, casual in dress, and kid-friendly.
The 11:00 a.m. service offers traditional music and liturgy in our beautiful sanctuary.
Communion is served at both services on the first Sunday of the month.
During the months of June and July, we have one service that combines the elements of both the contemporary and the traditional services we love. This combined service is held at 10:00 a.m. June services are conducted in the sanctuary, and July services are conducted in the Fellowship Hall.
There is a refreshment time each Sunday between services in the Fellowship Hall. Come for the message, stay for the muffins!
All services are available to watch live online and are archived for later viewing. Visit the Watch Online page for the live stream and archive. Videos of sermons are available on our YouTube channel.
Music Ministry
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth…”Psalm 98:4 (NRSV)
Music is the heartbeat of worship at FPC. Our music ministry is designed to give everyone, no matter what their musical tastes, an experience that ushers them into the presence of God. From the New Song band, to the chancel choir, to the handbell choir, we have a place for you to share your musical gifts with others. Contact music@fpcsrq.org for more information.
New Song Band
First Presbyterian Choir
Handbell Choir
Life Events
Baptisms, Weddings, and Memorial ServicesBaptism
Baptism is the sign of entrance into the church and is an act of the entire congregation, with the person or parents and the pastor. Please speak with a pastor for more information.
When you present yourself or your child for baptism, you publicly announce that you believe in Jesus Christ and that you intend to live by that belief or teach that belief to your child.
The congregation also makes a vow to surround the person being baptized with nurture and care.
Upon your application, a pastor will consult with you on the details of your commitments, the order of the service, and any questions you might have.
Weddings
Who may be married at First Presbyterian Church?
Christian marriage is a covenant relationship made between two people and God. All weddings performed at First Presbyterian Church are religious in nature and based on the awareness that our Lord, Jesus Christ is a participant in the relationship and in the blessing of the marriage. To say that you desire your wedding to take place at First Presbyterian Church is to say that you desire to include Christ as a partner in your marriage.
Ordinarily, couples are married in the church where one or both hold membership. This enables the couple’s church family to be present as they make their vows, to surround and encourage them as they begin their married life. If circumstances are such that this is not possible, members may be married in other churches.
Members of other churches may be married at First Presbyterian Church provided the marriage service is performed by one of our ministers. Other ministers may be invited by the church’s governing board, the Session, to officiate along with one of our pastors.
Couples who are not worshiping members of any church may be married at First Presbyterian Church if they have exceptional reason to do so. We invite all who do not have a church home in our community to come and worship with us and to consider membership here. Studies have consistently shown that the marriages of people who worship God regularly are consistently stronger and more fulfilling than those of couples who do not have a habit of worship.
Planning for a Wedding
The first step in preparing for a wedding at First Presbyterian Church is to meet with one of the ministers. All weddings are performed at the discretion of the minister. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of planning ahead. It is not unusual during peak wedding months for weddings to be scheduled a year in advance. Register the time and date of your wedding as early as possible with the church office, the minister, the organist and the wedding coordinator by completing the application. After the minister has agreed to perform the wedding, a $100 non-refundable deposit is due at the time you reserve the date with the church office.
The pastor will ordinarily schedule three counseling dates with the couple. If a couple lives out of the area, some of these sessions may be handled by a counseling center or another minister. One extended session with a minister of this church will be required for any wedding performed at First Presbyterian Church.
For questions or to schedule a wedding, contact the church office at (941) 955‑8119 or gatherings@fpcsrq.org.
Memorial Services
First Presbyterian Church offers a ministry of love and hope to all who grieve the loss of a loved one. We recommend holding funerals and memorial services in the sanctuary or chapel. The service of worship may be observed before or after the committal of the body. The service may include hymns, scripture, an exposition of the Word, remembrances by family members and friends of the deceased, and prayers of thanksgiving, supplication and intercession. You may consult with our pastors about any other actions to be included in the service.
A Memorial Garden in the church courtyard has been established for the cremated remains of our members and their families and friends. Arrangements for inclusion in the Memorial Garden can be made through a request to the Memorial Garden Board, and, if granted, a suggested donation of $300. The garden is a quiet and beautifully maintained setting with no visible evidence of the placement of cremains. The name, birth, and death year of the deceased can be engraved on the adjacent marble wall. You may request name only to be placed on the wall, or put the name on the wall and have the cremains placed in the garden. The placement of the cremains is done in a very brief committal service with a pastor.
Request forms may be found in the church office and additional information is available from a pastor.
All of our members are encouraged to plan in advance for their memorial service, which includes decisions about burial, cremation, and the content of the funeral service. Many people keep these instructions on file in our church office. Because the pastors are ordained to minister to our members in times of need, no fee is required for their services or for the sanctuary; however there is a $75 fee for the sexton, a $150 fee for a sound technician, and a $250 fee if an organist is requested. The fees for nonmembers are $700 for the sanctuary, $300 for a pastor, $250 for the organist (if requested), $150 for a sound technician, and $75 for the sexton. (These fees may vary depending on the type of service requested.)
