First Presbyterian Church June 2025
What Can I Do?
Last Sunday, I preached a sermon from John chapter five about Jesus healing a man who was unable to walk for thirty-eight years. The text could be interpreted in different ways, but we would probably diagnose him as a paraplegic, who could not be cured even by modern medicine. He miraculously has a full recovery, and the key phrase that I focused on was Jesus saying “Get up, take up your mat, and walk”. (John 5:8) I used this passage to describe how we can be instruments of healing, to ourselves and others, by taking up our own sorts of physical and psychological “mats”. I asked for input as well on how other people understood these scriptures based on their experiences of healthcare, physical therapy, etc.
Someone told me at coffee hour about an old friend of theirs, who became paraplegic after a tragic farm accident. The fellow was in the prime of his life, and he was devastated to say the least. His paralysis could not be cured, and he fell into despair at the hospital thinking of all the things that he was no longer able to do. At some point his thought process began to shift when he asked himself “what can I do?” He had been on the basketball team in high school, and he discovered a wheelchair basketball league that he later joined. His chosen career of being a dairy farmer was no longer possible, but with some more education he found another vocation that he could pursue. Having a good attitude like this certainly does not solve all our problems, and yet it is the first step to recovery of any sort.
What caught my attention about this particular healing story was the dialogue between the paraplegic person and Jesus. Unlike us, Christ could just snap his fingers and make someone well with no input needed from them. This is not what happens in John 5: 1-9, and Jesus starts the conversation with an odd question “do you want to be made well?” The fellow responds with a complaint about how he can never get to the front of the line for a sacred pool that supposedly had curative powers. (This reminds me of the shortage of medical services in our day, too.) Anyway, he never gets in the pool, as Jesus does give him something else to do, which is to take up his mat and walk. I wish I had a magic wand to perform miracles, but God invariably wants us and our faith to be part of the solution, too. What can you do?
Rev. Walter Stuber
First Presbyterian Church
11988 W. Main St., Wolcott, NY 14590
585-217-6030 stuberman1@yahoo.com
www.wolcottpresbyterian.com
Women’s Association Sale – May 1-3, 2025
We had a successful Women’s Association Sale. We made $2,592.40.
Thank you to all who donated items and bought items.
Thank you especially for those who spent their time organizing, pricing, placing signs, cashiering, waiting on customers and cleaning up – both men and women. Without all the help we receive, we wouldn’t be able to pull this sale off. Thank you!
WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION CONCERN
Some of the older women of the church are concerned about the future of the association. It also has come to our attention that some younger church members are not aware there is an association. We have not had meetings due to the fact of losing leadership because of death, age and health. We need some younger members to be willing to take over some of the responsibilities.
In the past we would have had a meeting once a month. During these meetings we would socialize, have business meeting to discuss the distribution of the earned monies, have a program (speakers & etc.), and a picnic. At Christmas time we would have a Cookie Exchange.
For money raisers we have two Rummage Sales (Spring and Fall), Dinners, and Bake Sales. At one time the women had teas and did wedding receptions.
Our Mission has been to support local and outside groups. We help support the Food Pantry, Boy Scouts, and Christmas Boxes for the needy. Every year Camperships to Christian Camps are given to our young people. Donations are sent to the local Firemen and the Lake Shore Ambulance. The outside mission has been the Mustard Seed Mission. This is a mission to sponsor teachers in a Foreign Country. We also have sent money for sewing machines. Through the Presbytery we have put together school bags for needy schoolchildren.
At times we have bought things for the church (ex. Flags, runners for pulpit and communion table). We have helped with the maintenance of the church when needed.
We would like to continue to do these things but need to have a meeting when all women can attend. We need to reorganize with a leader, get ideas, and just socialize. If you would like to be part of solving this concern, please contact Dolores Gingerich, Mary Ann Sparnon or Mary Lou Lockwood. Thank you.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School will be Sunday, July 13 thru Thursday, July 17 from 6-8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Wolcott. Pre-K – 5th Grade. Free and open to all!
HELP is needed in preparation June & early July. HELP is needed as staff during VBS.
Leave phone message at 315-594-9371 or sign up to help: MyVBS.org/FBCWolcottNY/
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Sebastian Lockwood on his graduation from Norwich University in Vermont last month with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies!
Congratulations to Mary Ann Sparnon on the birth of her great grandson, Emmett Alex, on May 13!
Congratulations to Dave & Terry VanFleet on the birth of their granddaughter and Phyllis Weber on the birth of her great granddaughter, Marcella Lynne, on May 18!
Upcoming Events
Saturday, June 14: Wolcott Strawberry Festival/Car Show/Parade
Sunday, June 15 : Children’s Day/last day of Sunday School
Sunday-Thursday, July 13-17: 6 –8 p.m. Vacation Bible School
August – dates to be announced – Deacon’s Yard Sale. Please start saving items for the sale (this sale does not include clothes).
June Anniversaries
Gene and Roberta Beavers 6/25
Morris and Doris Gruver 6/6
Gary and Jacqueline Lockwood6/12
Donald and Wendy Sipes6/26
June Birthdays
Roberta Beavers6/8
Calvin Cahoon6/30
Darlene Everett6/1
Melissa Ann Gingerich6/21George Lockwood6/18
Bob Lockwood6/20
Carol Merrell6/26
Darrin Milliken6/22
Pam Mundy6/13
Roger Smith6/12
Janet Turner6/29
Dave VanFleet6/11
“When you see something beautiful in someone, tell them. It may take a second to say, but for them it could last a lifetime.”