This year, as part of our new Advent Play/Christmas Pageant, there will be a time for the children to collect toys from the congregation to donate to a local children’s organization (the organization is still to be decided, and we are accepting suggestions if you have them!). Please...
Read moreAs many of you know, I am employed by the public defender office in Philadelphia. I am currently working in a unit dedicated to assisting people who were juveniles when sentenced to life without parole for homicide. The United States has 2000 people in prison who are serving juvenile...
Read moreAlternative giving is a form of gift giving in which the giver makes a donation to a charitable organization on the gift recipient’s behalf, rather than giving them an item. At Christmastime, Old First provides an Alternative Gift option for those who may be searching for a special way...
Read moreElders held a joint session with Admin to review our financial position as we head into the holiday season Elders and Admin discussed the status of current and pending Capital Campaign construction projects Steve Wilhite joined Elders to present the Outreach SLG’s work on it’s vision...
Read moreWe’ve had the current rendition of the Old First Web site since 2011. It’s served us well. Nearly everyone who visits Old First tells us that they checked us out first on the Web. Looking at us virtually gives visitors the chance to get a sense of our congregation before they take the...
Read moreDuring Advent and Christmas, Old First gives glory to God by being a place of great beauty, with blazing poinsettias and fragrant greens. To date, Old First members have contributed enough to purchase 20 poinsettias in honor or memory of those they love. Can you join them to fill our...
Read moreJeremiah 23: 1-6 Colossians 1: 11-20 What Does “Sovereign” Mean to You? There will be ‘Intimate Communion’ this Sunday for those who wish to stay. Can we talk about Christ the King or the Reign of Christ Sunday in a pluralistic age? I came from congregations where it wasn’t a big day...
Read moreThe Philadelphia Marathon is being held this weekend, starting at 8 am on Spring Garden on Franklin Parkway. They will pass by Old First soon after that, and be gone by the time you all arrive. But getting around Philadelphia may be tricky, with road closures. You can look at the map...
Read moreAt last year’s Annual meeting, our congregation made a strategic decision about the work to be undertaken for the Capital Campaign. We decided to focus our initial efforts and resources on the Sanctuary building as it’s our greatest historical and program asset. Acknowledging that the...
Read moreou should be receiving the annual stewardship appeal letter and pledge card, sent by our Stewardship Director, Elizabeth G. If you have not received it yet, you may read the text of the letter below. The pledge card was inadvertently omitted from some of the envelopes that were...
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