Old First invites you to remember and honor your mother (or other cherished people in your life) by “purchasing” a blanket. Contributions of $5.00 (or more) allow Church World Service (CWS) to purchase blankets for people in crisis situations in the US and around the world. It also...
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Our predecessors at Old First were very good at documenting the work of the congregation. More than that, they faithfully moved the records as the church moved from location to location. The most recent move was in 1996 when Old First donated 42 linear feet of records from 1741 to...
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Of the balcony columns, only the three back ones on the east side of sanctuary are original to the building. These three are cast iron. The replicas are made of 6” hollow steel pipe. If you rap the columns with your knuckles, you can hear the difference. It was the varying height...
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In 1741, even before the construction of the hexagonal church, Old First purchased its original burial ground in Northeast Square from the sons of William Penn. Northeast Square was one of the five original squares laid out by William Penn. Over time, the congregation added to the...
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In the next two sessions of Jesus the Forgiving Victim, James Alison’s video helps us understand the meaning of Atonement. Literally, the word means satisfaction or reparation for a wrong. Theologically, it refers to the reconciliation of God and humans. A popular interpretation is...
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Summer has turned into fall and the Summer Sunday brunch series is turning into a Fall Sunday supper series. It’s still a time to get together with others from Old First to build community over a meal. But instead of going to a restaurant after worship, it’s a potluck meal...
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As many of you have observed, the carpet in the front of the sanctuary has become very worn and the center aisle carpet did not take well to being cleaned. As a result, both areas are in need of some repair for our place of worship to have an appearance befitting its purpose, i.e...
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Having just finished September, I would like to share with you the status of our 2017 operating budget. We are currently five thousand dollars in the red. Given our normal ebbs and flows, it is a pretty comfortable place to be, at this time of year. We (our member giving) are the...
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For a congregation that engages in informal rather than formal liturgy and ritual, Old First possesses some beautiful communion silver. Three silver plated chalices engraved in script “German Reformed Church” are reported to have been purchased October 14, 1844, confirming the...
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As an usher at Old First, one of the special joys I experience, is meeting and greeting people. For me, this is a special ministry. My welcome is genuine, and I try to set a relaxed tone for worship. For me, greeting every single person who comes to worship is awesome. As an usher...
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