Office & Facility UPDATE below! Posted March 9, 2021
Family and Friends of First Presbyterian Church (Lynchburg),
How well can we make lemonade out of lemons? This time in our lives is unorthodox, unprecedented, and very interesting. It is fair to say this Lenten season is presenting us with a true wilderness story. But as the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, it is time to make lemonade (even if you don’t like lemonade).
A colleague and mentor of mine, Rev. Dr. Ron Shive, has stated, “During this time, church is not canceled. Worship will just look a little different. Music is not canceled. It will just sound a little different. Committee work and ministry will not be canceled. It will just take place a little differently. Relationships will not be canceled. They will just feel a little different for a while. Faith will not be canceled. It will just grow in different ways for a while.. Love will not be canceled. In fact, we will need more of it for a while.”
I would like to add that God has not gone away. The power and presence of the Holy Spirit is still very much alive. And it will be our hope and faith in God that can give us the courage, strength, and hope to take the sour lemons of life and add some water and sugar to make lemonade.
Run the Race, Fight the Fight, Keep the Faith!
Pastor Peter Thompson

General Comments & Information
The church offices are open M-F from 8:30am to 5:00pm by appointment and reservation only. Please call the church office to schedule. Self-screening, temperature checks, face masks, and hand washing will be required for entry.
- Sunday worship will include an in person parking lot service of prayer and the Word (approximately 30 minutes) at 9:00 AM and virtual worship service at 10:30 AM. See the section to the right for more details about virtual alternatives to worship.
- Our staff, Session, and special reopening task force are working together to build a return to worship policy that is both safe and able to be implemented. Stay tuned for updates!
- Pastor on call
- Peter Thompson (336) 269-7270
-
Members Helping Members for April (phone only)
- Brenda Sanzone (434) 384-0416
- Persis Tinsley (434) 384-1547
- As you scroll this page, we have a section of resources, devotionals, and information for you to use and share with others as we walk through this season.
We are continuing to assess, review, and evaluate the situation. We will adjust our communication and ministry accordingly. Please stay tuned to all forms of communication (email, FPC's Facebook page, Instagram (@firstpresoflynchburg), church website, and office voicemail) for future updates.
Sunday, April 18 Worship Quick Links
Updated Sunday Worship Schedule
9:00 AM in person, parking lot service of prayer and the Word. Bring a chair or blanket or stay in your car drive in style. The building will be closed and we ask that you follow appropriate social distancing practices. Weather permitting.
10:30 AM virtual worship via Live Stream on our homepage and WLNI 105.9 FM radio station.
The service will be broadcast in two mediums:
- On the Radio through WLNI 105.9 FM or
- Via Live Stream on our FPC Homepage
- Once you’re on the homepage, look for the section on the right that has the "live stream" button.
- You can get linked to the feed BEFORE 10:30 and wait for the service to start!
- Quick links to the weekly bulletin and our virtual friendship pad can be found in the section to the left!
- Despite being able to be together for worship in limited capacities, we still appreciate your financial gifts and offerings. Please see the next part of this page for a variety of electronic and paper options.
We are the church! May we worship God as His people wherever we are!
Ways to Give During this Time
As we will not be meeting in person each week, you may have questions about making your offering or pledge contributions, please make note of the options below. If you have any questions about making contributions, please contact Lori Wright in the Business Office!
- Consider making an online donation through our online giving portal or contact Lori Wright with your credit card information!
- Download the "GIVEPLUS+" Mobile App and contribute through your phone.
- Set up an automatic payment through your bank's Bill Pay System.
- Mail a check to the church office (1215 V.E.S. Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503) to the attention of Lori Wright.
- Request an electronic bank draft contribution through your bank account by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (434-384-6231) in the business office!
Thank you for continuing to share your gifts, tithes, and contributions with First Presbyterian during this season!
Updates from First Presbyterian Church Pastors and Staff (Please read carefully!)
A note from Pastor Peter Thompson.
In short, I am hopeful the time is near. How near? FPCLY Staff continues to work with the Session, who is responsible for making the decision, to review and discuss the outlook and prognosis in our community based on the status of cases, the availability and distribution of vaccines, and guidance from local health professionals in our own congregation. The outlook is promising—even more promising than a week ago—but it is these professionals’ belief, and we trust and respect their belief, that we are not quite clear to be back in the sanctuary with larger crowds…yet! Any large gathering, whether in church or otherwise, still has a high probability of positive transmission of the virus and we are just not willing to take that risk right now. We have loved ones who are severely ill because of this virus and the thought of contributing to possible exposure and putting others at risk is not what we feel is responsible. FPCLY Staff and Session are continuing to evaluate on a day by day and week by week basis and look forward to bigger steps towards re-opening very soon. Our Session meets again on Tuesday, March 16 and will further discuss next steps.
But, haven’t churches have been exempt from the capacity restrictions? Haven’t other churches opened, and even more are starting to open? Yes, both are true. I think this makes our decision even more difficult. What I would like to encourage us to consider is that just because religious institutions are exempt, and others are doing it does not automatically mean we should follow. I respect the law and I respect other churches and the decisions they make, but I respect the medical professionals we are receiving reports from and the discernment of our Session to know what our response should be. We are not all going to agree on the timing or reasons for decisions made, and I think that is alright, but I do pray we can all respect those and the decisions they make who are doing their best in making these tough decisions.
We have all heard it for a year now, but I want to encourage everyone to remain patient and stay the course. I share your desire to be back in the sanctuary for worship. I know attending worship regularly in the parking lot, online, or on the radio is not the number one preference, but these forms of worship are still faithful to God’s call for us to praise, honor, and glorify God each week. I know it is frustrating not to return to “normal” as we might think of it, with ministry offerings for all ages, but this time has given us all an opportunity to develop new and exciting opportunities to learn and grow together.
May God be with you till we meet again! And may that time be much sooner rather than later!
With courage, hope, and cantaloupe,
Peter
Immerse Devotional
"Immerse" is a devotional series developed by Pastor Peter Thompson as a part of his Doctoral Research Class and final program project. The devotional is a 12 part series designed as an alternative form of worship when the ability to be present at church has been impacted due to stay at home orders, a weekend soccer tournament, weekend theater competition, or other activity. Each part of the series can be completed in one setting or it can be broken down over the course of a couple of days.
Children and Youth Resources
Coloring Therapy Color Pages
Resources
Lenten Devotionals
As we walk through this wilderness season that coinsides with our liturgical Lenten season, we would like to share some resources with you.
- Fast from...Feast on! This resource encourages us to think and reflect on things in our lives that we can fast from and trade them in for things that we can feast on! How we can grow if we just chose one from each side!
- Lenten Prayer Service At Home Edition, March 18, 2020. With our Lenten Prayer Service cancelled on this date, we encourage you to use the resource link to a guided walk through the Fast From...Feast On Resource above.
- Lenten Prayer Service At Home Edition, March 25, 2020. With our Lenten Prayer Service cancelled on this date, we encourage you to use the resource link to a guided walk through last Sunday's scriptures AND calming coloring pages. Note, we had to save the PDFs of the guide and coloring pages separate because of the file size, but both links are highlighted here.
- Lenten Prayer Service At Home Edition, April 1, 2020. Our Lenten Prayer devotional for today was developed by Session member Jim Richards. Click the hyperlink for this bulletin point if you'd like the full PDF document with the step by step. If you would like to go straight to the YouTube video click here.
Sabbath Devotional
Sabbath rest has been a discussion point in our church community over the last year. Earlier in March, a group of members participated in a Sabbath Retreat at Massanetta Springs together to learn, grow, and experience Sabbath.
- We encourage you to use this Sabbath resource as a reflection and Spiritual Growth experience for you and/or your family.
- As you engage in Sabbath activities, we invite you share photos or posts on social media and tag @firstpresoflynchburg or email the church office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We can't wait to see!
Healthy hygiene practices
Please consider some of the following health practices to help protect yourself and others.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating, if interacting with anyone who's ill, and after using the restroom.
- If 20 seconds seems like a long time, consider singing or saying the following familiar titles while washing
- Happy Birthday song
- Jesus Loves Me
- Lord's Prayer
- Chorus to Blessed Assurance (This is my story, this is my song)
- If 20 seconds seems like a long time, consider singing or saying the following familiar titles while washing
- If you are feeling ill or under the weather, stay at home and rest.
- Avoid using handshakes in your greetings. Consider a simple smile, eye contact, and a verbal greeting. People will understand greetings without contact.
- Regularly clean/disinfect cell phones, doorknobs, handrails, and other hard surfaces that are touched frequently.
Articles or References for Information
- Center for Disease Control's COVID-19 Overview Website
- CDC Prevention Information
- handwashing,
- keeping distance from people,
- knowing symptoms, and
- staying home if sick
-
Article from The Atlantic (UK news and magazine) on Social Distancing