Norristown Hospitality Center

A note from our mission partners & an FYI about where they will be for the next year:

On May 27th, the Norristown Zoning Hearing Board made a decision that has left us feeling disheartened, as they denied the Norristown Hospitality Center’s request for a zoning variance. We understand how disappointing this is for everyone affected, and it’s natural to feel concerned. Despite the challenges ahead, we want to assure you that our commitment to advocating for our guests remains unwavering. The needs of the hundreds of individuals who rely on our services are our highest priority, and we will continue to stand by them. As the leadership of the Center comes together to reflect and strategize for the future, we have also put in place interim plans for the next 6-12 months. We are here to support our community during this time, and we want to share how we intend to move forward together.

We have moved to the Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, Montco SAAC Norristown Building, in their unoccupied space at 536 George Street in Norristown. The entrance to our offices will be on Chain Street. Services at our former location on Church St. are now ceased. We have not officially changed our mailing address so you can still use the same address until we make an announcement. Our team will be working diligently to ensure a seamless transition that will minimize any inconvenience or disruption to our guests.

From Your Pastor

To the First Presbyterian Church family,

A month later, I still remain touched by the surprise party you threw for me in celebrating my ten years here as your pastor and thanks again! I don’t want to make this letter a list of my accomplishments here but I can say I am proud of the fact that in those ten years we’ve worked through the Old Testament story. Over those Ordinary Time periods of summer, fall, and sometimes January/February we worked through the below list. (Obviously we haven’t covered everything, please head over to a prior pastor’s column for a fuller look at this now-concluded long-term series, what we covered, what we skipped, and why.)

2015 – Gospel of Mark

2016 – Genesis

2017 – Romans

2018 – Exodus 2019 – Leviticus & Numbers

2020 – Deuteronomy & Joshua

2021 – Judges & Ruth

2022 – I & II Samuel

2023 – I & II Kings

2024 – Ezra & Nehemiah

2025 (Jan-Feb Ordinary Time) – Esther

As we are now in another summer of Ordinary Time, I guess the question is: Where do we go now? The gospel stories along with the beginning of Acts have been covered many times in annual trips through the church seasons (including just this last spring as we read about Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension followed by the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost). So, let’s pick up there in Acts 2 after the disciples have received the promised manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and Peter preaches the first evangelistic message! Over the course of this summer (and likely into summer 2026) we’ll follow the book of Acts and its remarkable story of what’s next for the people of God.

This will open many avenues of application for our church. First and foremost, what did the earliest church look like and how do the followers of Christ then and now act? The title of this book is certainly applicable! But there are other areas of application . . . more akin to the writings of Paul than the gospels. Starting in Acts 8 the mission field widens from Israel to the Roman Empire in general. With that comes interesting conundrums like pagan audiences, philosophers, and (for the Apostle Paul) how to utilize Roman citizenship when expedient but defy it when necessary. Speaking of which, the powerful Roman empire both conquered the nations and offered a higher standard of living to its people than any before it and very few since. The comparison between this and the United States has received attention in countless books, and I am looking forward to exploring that with you – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And in the books of Acts alone, there are plenty of all three involved with the church growing up in that powerful nation. The Acts of the Apostles continue today through their followers, through you and me. I’m excited to dig into all of that with you this summer.

Acts 9:31

~Pastor Peter Martin

Celebrating 10 Years

We celebrated Pastor Martin's 10-year anniversary with a surprise reception over a catered lunch. We were blessed to welcome a dozen of our friends from Central Presbyterian Church, including Pastor Gadiel.  Special thanks to the coffee hour team and Cindy Serratore for their leadership in putting the party together and please read below for Pastor Martin's thanks.

From Pastor Martin:  Surprise parties are not easy to pull off, but I speak not just for myself but for my family, too, that we had no idea this was coming.  Even more importantly, the appreciation and love I experienced on Sunday just confirms even more that I am blessed to be your pastor and my family is blessed to be a part of this congregation.  This is a caring, loving body of Christ, and with all our hearts we thank you for this last Sunday and for ten years of being a church family.