By Clarence Baney, for Social Justice and Peacemaking Chicago-born mathematician and Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, Robert Prevost, was chosen to be the heir to St. Peter on May 8, 2025. On that day, Robert ceased to be known by his given name, and the world began to know him as Leo. That same day, many queer and LGBTQIA+ individuals and advocacy groups noted, on social media, with wry clarity: “And just like that, the world will accept a chosen name.” In recent yea

Dear Church Family, This coming weekend we hold together two important moments in the life of our church and our nation: Memorial Day and Pentecost Sunday. Memorial Day invites us to pause in remembrance. We honor those whose lives were given in service, and we acknowledge the weight carried by families, communities, and generations shaped by sacrifice, grief, courage, and hope. As people of faith, we remember not only with gratitude, but also with prayer for peace, heali

Dear Church Family, The time has come. The carpet has been laid down in the sanctuary and choir room. The organ has been placed, the piano is settling, hymnals and Bibles are back in the pews, and the wires and speakers have been installed and connected. The font, table, and pulpit are centered. I know this is an exciting moment, something many of you have long awaited after the events of last July and this winter. Alongside the excitement, there is also grief. Alongside anti

Dear Church Family, After my first few days among you, I find myself holding both deep gratitude and a sense of just how much there is to take in. New names, new stories, new rhythms. Thank you for the warmth you have shown me and for the ways you are already making space for me on this shared journey. I want you to see this clearly, I am here. I am here, and I am ready to be your pastor. I am here, and I am ready to walk with you through the seasons that are before

Please note that outdoor events will move indoors in the event of rain. Palm/Passion Sunday, March 29, 2026 One Great Hour of Sharing Offering 8:30 am │ Worship in-person │ Branch Hall* 10:30 am │ Worship in-person │ Branch Hall and livestream* No Sunday School Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026 7:00 pm │ Long Table Communion in-person│ Branch Hall* Good Friday, April 3, 2026 12:00 pm │ Midday Prayer for Good Friday in-person │ Branch Hall 7:00 pm │ Good Friday Tenebrae Service i

The Fueling Dragons program provides resources to help students overcome food insecurity and develop lifelong healthy habits and skills . These resources include the Vivian C. "Millie" and William Harrison Bailey Food Pantry, and programs designed to increase students' knowledge about nutrition, support students in making healthy choices, and provide access to healthier food options through meal kits, recipes, education, and workshops Here’s how you can make a difference

First Presbyterian Church of Howard County Forum on Ukraine, Feb. 15, 2026 Guests: Olena Poole and Alla Corey McCoy, Washington Ukrainian Humanitarian Center What You Can Do to Support Ukraine Write or call your federal policymakers to say “Please continue to support Ukraine” with your own reasons. Every message counts. Policymakers who are already “doing the right thing” need their constituents to affirm their support. President Trump: whitehouse.gov/contact U.S. Se

We are thrilled to announce that on February 15th, the congregation enthusiastically approved the call for Reverend gretchen N. Sausville to become our new Pastor and Head of Staff! Why First Pres. Howard County "I am humbled and thrilled to accept the call to serve as your next Pastor and Head of Staff! From the very first conversations, I’ve been blown away by the warmth, care, and integrity of this community. You are a congregation that puts heart at the center of everythi

The Impact of First Pres Delegation’s Guatemala Stove Project: A mission beyond a work project When a delegation (AKA: team) from First Pres goes to Guatemala to install Onil stoves for members of churches in our partner presbytery in Guatemala, it’s more than just another work project. It’s a time of fellowship and laughter, deepening relationships, and getting insight into the lives of individuals and families in our partner presbytery. The sharing is reciprocal; our partn

Session has approved a powerful new outreach effort to support Ukraine , now entering its fourth year of war. From January 11 th to February 8 th , we’re partnering with the Washington Ukrainian Humanitarian Center ( www.uhcus.org ) to send life-saving supplies directly to those in need. In priority order, the Center is asking for new : First aid items : over-the-counter medicine for children and adults (painkillers, cold/flu, antibiotic, allergy, vitamins - all in pill for

This month, the Deacons are leading a campaign to support the UMD Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic in Baltimore, MD , which serves children and families across our region and throughout Maryland. Earlier this fall, the clinic began asking parents if they worried about running out of food for their families. The response was heartbreaking—many said yes. To meet this urgent need, the clinic first connected families with local food resources. Then, with help from a Baltimore

❄️ Cold Weather Shelter is February 9-15! The Howard County Cold Weather Shelter (CWS) is a collaborative effort between Grassroots Crisis Intervention, local faith communities, and the Howard County Government to provide emergency housing and services from November through March. The shelter is located at the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia. Our church is signed up to provide meals — continental breakfast, hot lunch, and hot dinner —

This year we have an Advent devotional for everyone! If you would like any of these devotionals sent to you in a digital format or mailed to you please email your request to DCE Virginia Callegary ( vcallegary@firstpreshc.org ). Table Tent Devotional – These simple table tents are particularly good for families with children/youth. They provide weekly prayers and wondering questions that follow the traditional themes for each of the four weeks of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, an

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICES Wednesday, December 24, 2025 5:00 p.m. Children's Christmas Eve Worship Service A briefer service of carols and the story, especially for children and the young at heart. 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Worship Service In-person worship service. This service will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. 9:00 p.m. Candlelight Worship Service In-person worship service. Childcare for children age 4 and under will be available in the Nursery during all servi

Join the Deacons and help bring holiday cheer to families in need by filling a stocking for a child. Stockings will be distributed through Columbia Community Care (CCC) and the Salvation Army. Pick up a stocking in the Lower Commons starting Sunday, November 9 . Return filled stockings with unwrapped gifts by Sunday, December 7 (no later!). CCC requests: Keep items gender-neutral and non-religious , as families come from diverse backgrounds. Include practical and f

You can be part of the mission delegation of up to 20 people traveling to Guatemala July 1-10, 2026. The trip includes four days of activities with our partners, including meeting the scholarship students, visiting coffee fields, conducting a mini VBS, and a women's event. Then the group will travel to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Antigua and Tikal. Trip cost is $2,250. Financial aid is available, talk with Becky or Brett for details. Youth ages 14 and up are welcome and

October 19 th – November 16th Join us in spreading holiday cheer! Together, we’ll provide: 🧺 Thanksgiving Food Baskets for families served by Bridges to Housing Stability 🛒 Giant Food gift cards for families supported by Luminus We welcome your donations of non-perishable food items (see list below). If you’re unable to donate food, cash contributions are also gratefully accepted and will help us fill in the gaps. Thank you for your continued generosity and support of this

What do all of the following things have in common: worship, fellowship, Bible studies, choir, Only One Can, Thanksgiving Baskets, community outreach, the Kipton Project, Warm for Winter, Faithful Circle Quilters and OSHER, etc.? All of these groups use the Church building. Just like your home, over time equipment needs to be replaced. In the Harris Commons you will find the pew envelopes to donate to the Fire 400 Campaign. The red number in the left corner of the envelope is

History of the Scholarship Program First Pres began its scholarship program in 2005, awarding one scholarship to each church in the Union...

As of August 25, 2025 Good news on the repair front: The Structural Engineer will be submitting design plans to the County for approval...