Read the March-April (latest) issue of Presbyterians Today and be inspired!

Contributions of loose change, soft money, and checks for FELT (Feeding Empty Little Tummies) are always welcome. FELT provides weekend backpacks of food for over 800 children in Manatee County who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend.  To donate, use the envelopes in the pews or mail a check to the church office with FELT in the memo line. 

Holy Strollers take a walk with a devotional in the beautiful Robinson Preserve on Fridays. During June through August they start at 8:30 am to beat the heat. The gathering location is at the trailhead next to the north entrance parking lot (west end of 17th Ave). See you there!

All are invited to a Senior Resources Fair on Tuesday, May 9th at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall. Learn about important resources for seniors that are available in your local community. Enjoy presentations by professionals who will share information on home health care, placement into Senior Living Communities, and moving management services-- including Home Helpers Home Care, My Care Finders, and Wayforth. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, gather information, and network with others. As many of us get older, we need help ourselves or know others who could use assistance to navigate through these big life changes. The program is free and open to the community.

The Palms Sola and Westminster congregations are hosting an Earth Day Fair, Saturday, April 22, 10am-12pm in the Palms Sola Fellowship Hall. The Fair will carry out the theme of this year’s international Earth Day, “Invest in the Future.” The public is invited to drop in, browse displays, watch videos, pick up information sheets, sample foods, and consider future actions they might take in caring for the Earth.

There will be stations covering topics, including: 1) why this is the critical decade for addressing climate change; 2) Florida's energy profile now and planned for the future; 3) how to calculate your carbon footprint and the best things you can do to reduce it, including making use of the Inflation Reduction Act; 4) planting Florida native plants and landscapes, and why that is important to sustain wildlife; 5) eating for a healthy planet; and 6) books to sustain and inform you while caring for Earth.

Join Pastor Edward in Palma Sola Botanical Park for our annual Easter Sunrise Service. The service begins at 7:00; sunrise is at 7:10 am. All welcome!

Join Attorney Jim Johnson for an informative presentation to assist you in planning for the distribution of assets at death, including preparation of advanced healthcare directives and a will. Mr. Johnson is a certified Elder Law Attorney with Greene Hamrick Schermer & Johnson, P.A. and practices primarily in the areas of Probate and Trust Administration, Estate Planning, and Medicaid Planning and Application.

'A Savior is Born' was presented by our campus partner, Creative Arts Academy, on December 16 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. This was the debut performance of the academy's new children's theater program. Members joined the children's families to see the children enact the story of Christmas while talented musicians played and sang. We thank Laine Ruise, CAA Director, for his creativity and dedication to providing this program.

Work on the Habitat for Humanity Faith Build house has begun!  We have scheduled a workday for Palma Sola and Westminster members and friends on Saturday, October 22nd from 7:30 am to noon. The home for the Vazquez family is located at 215 11th St. West in Palmetto. We need 8-10 volunteers, and all needed equipment is provided. No experience is needed and there will be competent leaders to guide you in any tasks. Please sign-up in the Narthex and fill out the waiver to reserve your spot. You need to be age 16 or older. to participate.

Click here to learn more about this Faith Build and Manatee County Habitat for Humanity.

Learn about why rainforests are important, what's being done to save them, and how you can help. Also learn about easy-care native and other Florida-friendly plants for your yard that support birds, butterflies, and bees. This is a special program on Friday, October 21, 7:00-8:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall, presented by church members Amy Pedon and Betty Bashaw. Refreshments will be served and children are most welcome.

Pack a seed, fill a need! Join in with other volunteers on Friday, October 14th from 10 am – noon in the Fellowship Hall to assemble seed packets to be distributed to a needy location somewhere in the world.

Hope Seeds is a Christian charitable organization that seeks to improve the nutrition of the poorest in the world by providing quality garden seed and agricultural education through Christian missionaries and organizations. All supplies are provided, and all work is done sitting at tables. Come for an hour or stay the whole time. Friends and family are welcome!

The Peace River Presbytery is holding a retreat at Cedarkirk from November 10-13, with options available to stay a day, 1, 2, or 3 nights. The retreat is open to all church members in the presbytery.

Join us to explore the occasions and ways you can become involved in the ministry of the church. Exhibits, hands-on activities and conversations in our fellowship hall will help you learn, serve, and connect. This time for exploring will follow a short worship service in the sanctuary led by Pastor Dunn beginning at 10am. See you there!

On June 13, member Judge Gilbert A. Smith, Jr. gave a presentation in the Fellowship Hall on the lawyers and legends of Manatee County, including some history about our local neighborhood, Palma Sola.

Did you know that that until 1954, the most popular way to travel from Bradenton to Palmetto or Anna Maria Island was by ferry? Or that there was once a guava factory and a hotel in Palma Sola?

You can view a video recording of the talk here.

Join Trauma Certified Registered Nurse Educator Cindy Filice from Blake Hospital as she teaches skills and strategies to maximize safety and minimize falls. This event will be held in our Fellowship Hall, and is free and open to the community. We encourage you to attend and learn how to prevent falls and injuries for yourself and those you love.

View a beautiful movie and explore sustainable food wrap options on Earth Day, Friday, April 22, at 2pm in the Fellowship Hall. A lucky winner will receive an eco-friendly door prize!

Rise again for this educational assembly-line process. With both sitting and standing jobs, between 10:30a and 12:30p we will pack thousands of life-giving soy and rice meals for people in critical need of food across the globe. Due to COVID precautions, there is room for a maximum of 40 people. Reserve space by calling the church office 941-792-3141 or signing up in the Narthex.

Pick-up a yummy meal at our 2nd annual Souper Sunday held on the church lawn. Members of the Outreach and Fellowship Teams will offer soup, bread and a cookie in to-go containers for a suggested purchase of $5. All proceeds will go to the CROP Hunger Walk scheduled for February 27th.

CROP Hunger Walks are community events throughout the United States sponsored by Church World Services and organized by local churches. 75% of the money raised goes to help fight hunger around the world and 25% goes to local hunger relief.

Cash or checks made out to PSPC/WPC with 'Souper Sunday' in the memo line accepted. Help make this a SOUPER EVENT!

Attendees at the groundbreaking at 221 11th Ave St. W., Palmetto, FL, received a tour of the most recent Habitat for Humanity home built in the neighborhood, and learned how the homes are built 'green' for comfort and reduced utility costs for homeowners. Lots of sponsors were there; Pastor Edward participated in one of the group shovel turnings!

Habitat for Humanity anticipates being ready for onsite volunteers at the end of March or in early April. There will be service opportunities for everyone through donating or working at the home site. Read more about this project here.

Manatee County Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical, volunteer-based organization with the mission to develop resources, educate and mobilize people to work alongside families in need, rehabilitating existing homes and building sustainable, affordable homes, thereby improving the quality of life in Manatee County.

Dead Seas Scrolls

Sundays 9:00-9:50 am, beginning January 2, Fellowship Hall

Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White

Thursdays 2:00-3:00 pm, January 13 - February 17, Fellowship Hall

Palma Sola Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church invite all those suffering from loss during this holiday season to a service of hope at Palma Sola Botanical Park.

Christmas is a holiday associated with excitement and joy. It is a season when gatherings at home, work, school, and places of worship celebrate the happiness of the season.

Yet it can also be a season of sadness. The loss of a loved one, the insecurity of unemployment, or the pain of isolation can be overwhelming in the midst of seasonal celebrations.

This service in the Park supports those who need the space and time to acknowledge sadness and concern and to know that they are not alone. The service is held on the Winter Solstice, the day of the year with the longest night.

The Park is located in the “Old Palma Sola” section of northwest Bradenton, an area rich in history from the Timucuan Indians to the Conquistadors to the present. The service will be held outdoors on the back deck of the Galleria, the building with the front porch visible from the parking area. 

Palma Sola Botanical Park, one of those places that feeds the soul, began in 1990 when interested citizens and community groups rallied support to preserve the 10-acre site, a former nursery, as a valuable green space and park. 

With its warm micro climate, the Park is able to showcase collections of rare palms, fruits, and flowering trees and other subtropical plants. This tranquil garden also has lakes, gazebos, abundant birdlife, a butterfly garden, and facilities for public and private events.

The Park is free and open from 8am to sunset and may be visited before the service.   

Each year, Palma Sola Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church also welcome the community to an Easter Sunrise Service in the Park.

The Creative Arts Academy joins with Palma Sola and Westiminster to celebrate Christmas with the music of the season on Saturday, December 11th at 3pm in the east parking lot. Cocoa, cookies and other goodies will be served. Please bring your own chair.

Our campus partner Creative Arts Academy hosts this "Spring has Sprung" outdoor event from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. CAA students will perform a concert on the big portico in front of the Sanctuary's front doors.

Bring your lawn chair, find a good spot on the front lawn, pick up BBQ'd chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, sides and a drink at the food table, and settle in to enjoy the food and live music. For everyone's safety, please wear a mask (unless seated) and socially distance.

The event is free and open to the community; a $5 donation is requested to support student awards in June. Come cheer on the student musicians of the Creative Percussion Ensemble, and help to "empower young people through music!"

Enjoy a night of fellowship and fun under the stars watching the old classic Singing in the Rain, starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds.

The event is free and open to the community. Bring your own chair and grab a socially-distanced spot in the church's east parking lot at 7:30 pm. Individually packaged popcorn and drinks will be available, and you may also bring your own snacks. Facemasks are required except when seated. See you there!

Post note: $460 was raised in this event!

Walk up to or drive by the serving table near the east parking lot after worship and pick-up a meal to support CROP Hunger Walk. Members of the Outreach Team will prepare soup, bread and dessert in to-go containers for a minimum suggested donation of $5.

CROP Hunger Walks are community events throughout the United States sponsored by Church World Services and organized by local churches. 75% of the money raised goes to help fight hunger around the world and 25% goes to local hunger relief. Due to health concerns, this year’s CROP Walk is virtual...so everyone can participate!

Additional donation of funds beyond $5 appreciated. Cash, or checks made out to PSPC with 'Souper Sunday' in the memo line, accepted. Help make this a SOUPER EVENT!

Enjoy a night of fellowship and fun under the stars watching the inspirational story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.

Bring your own chair and grab a socially-distanced spot in the church's east parking lot at 6:30 pm. Facemasks are required except when seated. Individually packaged snacks and drinks will be available or you may bring your own. The event is free and open to the community. See you there!

Thanks to all who participated in our July 11 'Drive Away Hunger' food collection for The Food Bank of Manatee. About fifteen cars drove through the East Parking Lot to have food items removed from their trunks by volunteers Don Azbell, Myrna Felix, Andrea Harmon, Janice Saylor, and Al Zimmer--who sported face masks and gloves. Three of our large rectangular tables in the fellowship hall were filled with items from The Food Bank of Manatee wish list, donated by WPC and PSPC members. The donations, totaling 520 lbs, were later packed up in boxes and delivered.

An Older Adult Support and Connections Event: Join attorney Jim Johnson via Zoom on July 31 at 10am for a one-hour informative presentation to assist in pre-death planning and the distribution of assets at death, including preparation of a will.

Mr. Johnson is a certified Elder Law Attorney with Greene Hamrick Quinlan & Schermer, P.A. and practices primarily in the areas of Probate and Trust Administration, Estate Planning, and Medicaid Planning and Application. The presentation is free and open to the community. Please contact Gregg Pead at peedethree@gmail.com to receive easy instructions for how to join this Zoom session.

Immokalee (from the Seminole word for “my home”) supplies 90% of the winter tomatoes grown in the United States. The thousands of migrant farm workers who live in Immokalee plant, harvest, and process those tomatoes, along with a substantial number of other crops. Their day begins early with a long wait for buses which transport the workers to the fields – sometimes over two hours away. Although traveling consumes a significant amount of the workday, workers are paid only for the buckets of crops they pick. Buckets weigh approximately 32 pounds when filled. To earn the $500 necessary to pay the weekly rent for a family of four, a working couple would have to pick 1000 buckets – 32,000 pounds or 16 tons – in one week, under difficult working conditions. And that pays only the rent.

Misión Peniel exists to give the farm workers of Immokalee a place to find spiritual renewal, food for their bodies, clothing, and other personal supplies for themselves and their families.  What began in 2006 as an extension of the Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry, in 2013 became a ministry of Peace River Presbytery. This is a mission dependent upon weekly volunteers, donations of food and clothing, prayer and financial contributions.

In January, Pastor Ted and members of Palma Sola’s Outreach Team toured the Misión Peniel facility and the Immokalee area, seeing firsthand the importance of this ministry.  Housing for farmworkers was extremely overpriced and conditions were poor. Resources for food, clothing, and basic necessities were geographically limited. Misión Peniel is a bright spot in the migrant community, connecting those in need with available services. Through our financial support of this ministry and the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance, Palma Sola is partnering in this process.  Listen for future programs and volunteer opportunities being planned by the Outreach Team where we can provide additional support of this community and their needs.

On Sunday Feb 23, PSPC participated in the 2020 Manatee County CROP Walk to help raise awareness and funds to end hunger locally and around the world. A PSPC team walked two miles from First United Methodist Church in Palmetto across the Green Bridge and back, and their efforts were supported by special donations from the congregation.

CROP Walks are community events throughout the United States sponsored by the Church World Service (CWS) and organized by local churches and other groups. 75% of the money raised goes to CWS to help fight hunger around the world and 25% goes to local hunger relief efforts (such as here in Manatee County). Money is raised by two means, sponsoring walkers and direct donations.

CROP stands for the Christian Rural Overseas Program, which was active in the late 1940's and involved American Midwest farmers who donated food and seed to help feed the hungry in post WWII Europe and Asia. The historic name (CROP) was kept when the first CROP Walk was organized in the U.S. in 1969.

On February 9th we were blessed to welcome our Scouts BSA for a special Scout Sunday worship. It was wonderful to see so many young people, their parents, and Palma Sola members gathered together to renew their commitment to Scouting on our campus. Prior to the worship service, many people enjoyed a pancake breakfast fundraiser hosted by Pack 22 in the Fellowship Hall. A great day was had by all!

Friday, February 7 at 7:00 pm, we show the movie 'Harriet', which tells the story of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. With tenacity, ingenuity and courage, Harriet freed 70 slaves on multiple trips before retiring to Auburn NY. Bring a friend, grab some popcorn and a drink, and enjoy the movie. The event is free and open to the community. The movie will be shown in Palma Sola's Fellowship Hall at 3rd Ave and 67th St, one block north of Manatee Ave.

Our first work day for Manatee County Habitat for Humanity’s 25th Interfaith Build was Saturday, January 11, 7:30 am-noon. We participated in landscape prep, painting, and hammering. A small tree and shrubs were removed and dirt was graded and leveled in preparation for sod. It was a beautiful day and all volunteers felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment in helping to provide a forever home for the Harris family. We look forward to attending the dedication sometime later in the Spring. Before then, we expect another work day and opportunities to get this house move-in ready! For more information about the Habitat for Humanity program, see the February Newsletter (posted soon).

An Older Adult Support and Connections Event: Join David Kennon for presentation on achieving financial peace of mind in retirement in the Fellowship Hall from 10-11 am on Thursday, January 23.

The presentation will include basic principles for investing, spending, and giving in retirement. David is an Accredited National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) and Certified Wealth Strategist (CWS). The presentation is free and open to the community. The Fellowship Hall entrance is through the door on the circle driveway off 3rd Ave.

The team that traveled to Agape Flight's hangar in Venice FL on October 24 packed 210 Thanksgiving-meal care packages. Each package included a hand written message of gratitude and encouragement written by the congregation. The packages were then flown to missionaries in the Caribbean in time for Thanksgiving. We received thank you letters, including this one from the Dominican Republic.

Palma Sola hosts a community Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event Saturday, October 12, 9:30 -11:30 am, to lend a hand to people in critical need of food across the globe. In two hours, in a fun and educational assembly-line process, we'll pack thousands of life-giving soy and rice meals. Adults have both sitting and standing jobs. Children accompanied by an adult(s) age 5 and up are welcome, with special run-around jobs available! Packing will be in Palma Sola's fellowship hall at the corner of 67th St and 3rd Ave W. Please reserve a space by calling the church office at 792-3141, or signing up after Sunday services.

An Older Adult Support and Connections Event: Our ABC of Dementia program was well attended by Palma Sola Presbyterian and community members. Presenter Debbie Selsavage, founder of Coping with Dementia, shared many insights, stories, and techniques helpful to those suffering from dementia and their caregivers--drawing from her personal experience as caregiver to her husband Albert and expertise as a trainer of the Positive Approach to Care.

As a result of our participation, Palma Sola Presbyterian is now a certified Dementia Friendly Congregation, allowing us to better serve those affected by dementia. To listen to the 1.5-hour presentation, beginning with its introduction by Roger Tyrrell, go to Resources > Worship Online and click on the September 14, 2019 soundtrack. 

On September 12, representatives from local Catholic, Islamic, Jewish, and Protestant faith communities, including Pastor Ted, turned shovels of soil at home site for the 25th Anniversary Interfaith Build. Future homeowner, Markisha Harris, shared her excitement about the project and experience working on past Manatee County Habitat for Humanity projects. Markisha, born and raised in Florida, is a single mother of three, works as an LPN at an assisted living facility, and dreams of going back to school to complete her RN degree. We also learned about Habitat’s advanced construction techniques that dramatically reduce maintenance and energy costs for homeowners, while keeping construction cost low. Look for volunteer opportunities in the coming months on ways you can participate.