Dear FPC Members and Friends, 

At their stated September meeting, our session elders voted to adjust the metrics of the congregational reopening plan to the following: 

Phase 1: Number of COVID cases increasing in Lee County.

Phase 2: Decline in COVID cases over a 14-day period.

Phase 2A: Decline in COVID cases over a 14-day period and an average positivity rate <12 % over the same period.

Phase 3: Decline in COVID cases over a 21-day period and an average positivity rate <9 %

Phase 4: Clear evidence of a significant decline in COVID cases over a monthly view (30 day period) and an average positivity rate < 6 % over the same period and recommendations from the medical community and ADPH that gatherings of worship can take place or a widespread vaccine is available and effective.

   What does this adjustment mean for our the life of our congregation? Phase 2A will include three limited opportunities for gathering on church grounds, in addition to our online worship and education opportunities: a brief outdoor worship service in the courtyard (no more than 50 participants present at a time), access to the church chapel for prayer and reflection (one individual or family unit at a time), and outdoor gatherings for youth and children. All of these events will observe social distancing and safety protocols that will be outlined in detail ahead of time. Details about how to sign up for each event will be shared as well.

   We miss you all dearly. As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, we “long to see you so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith”. That said, the greatest priority of the session is the health and wellbeing of our members, staff, and the wider community. It is our hope that (perhaps) within the next month, the local data will reflect numbers allowing us to implement Phase 2A and take these next steps. 

   Until then, we remain in Phase 1 and are grateful for all the ways technology is allowing us to worship, study, and carry out the mission and ministries of Christ’s church. Thank you for all of our volunteers and participants who continue to serve faithfully in ways we could have never imagined. 

With gratitude, 

Kathy, Nick, and Caroline

Apparently some fraudulent emails have been sent out to church members appearing to be from Nick Reed and requesting a reply or that money be sent. Please do not open these emails! To verify the sender of any email, hover over the sender's name or gently tap it on your phone and the actual email address will display. If it's not nreed@fpcauburn.org (or @fpcauburn.org for any staff member) it's a fake address.

​The annual Flu Vaccine Clinic will be offered on Sunday, September 27, in the driveway/parking lot in the rear of the church building. The clinic will be available from 11 am until 2 pm. The clinic will be a drive-through event instead of being inside a building. You will enter the driveway from Thach Avenue alongside Baird Hall. If there is a line blocking the street, you can park in the lot behind the University Chapel.

At the turn in the driveway you will obtain a clipboard with the insurance/permission form. You will sign the form and clip your insurance card with it. Then proceed to the covered area by the rear of the sanctuary. Stay in your car but roll down the window to give access to your arm. Everyone should wear short-sleeved garments such as T-shirts or casual tops for ease of access. When everyone in your car has received their vaccine, you will exit onto Gay St.

The vaccine is offered with the assistance of The Drug Store staff and especially their pharmacist, Janie Fisher. If you have questions you can contact Jan Widell, Parish Nurse at 334-663-6668. If you are unable to attend this clinic, there will be other organizations and churches providing vaccine clinics in October.

The Annual Meeting for Alabama Arise will be a ZOOM meeting on Saturday, October 3 from 10:00-12:00. At that meeting participants will vote on issues they want the Arise staff to work on for the upcoming legislative session. The issues to be considered will be discussed before the vote. Our church is a group member of the state organization and can have 6 persons designated to participate in the meeting. If you would like to be one of the six, please let Marilyn Garrett know by September 15 so she can submit your name. You may email her or call at 334-246-3115. If you are unfamiliar with Alabama Arise you can check out their web site.

Study at Home:

If you or someone in your family would like to receive hard copy Sunday School materials that can be utilized at home (without a virtual component), please contact Rev. Kathy Reed. We will be doing another delivery of copies of The Present Word (winter quarter) and These Days (Oct-Dec) when we have both of these materials available.

Virtual Classes for Adults:

If you'd like to receive a zoom invitation to one of the following classes, please email the class contact person:

Day/Time: Sundays at 8:45am

Contact: Gayle Andress, dongayle17@gmail.com

This class will combine the historical setting material

in 2 Kings with the prophetic material in First Isaiah.

Day/Time: Sundays at 9:30am

Contact: Harriette Huggins, harriette.huggins@gmail.com

Sue Bradley is currently leading a study of 

The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins.

***NEW Day/Time***: Tuesdays at 12:00pm

Contact: Kathy Reed, kreed@fpcauburn.org

Register at https://www.ctsnet.edu/connect/alumni.

This class has begun a NEW series on the book of Ruth.

Bible Journaling Class

Day/Time: Thursdays at 12:00pm

Contact: Susan Fillippeli, fillise@att.net

This class explores the practice of bible journaling while reflecting on Scripture passages recently used in our church's worship services.

UKirk is excited to welcome back college students for the new school year! Though this year’s format may look different than past ones, UKirk is still providing opportunities for fellowship with a faith community and would love to get new students involved. If you know any students attending Auburn, or another college in the area, you can refer them to UKirk with this form or email Caroline Barnett.

It is our hope to worship together via our church’s YouTube Channel.  To view the service you can go directly to our church’s YouTube Channel via your computer, smartphone, or Smart TV app (https://tinyurl.com/t7dl8vh) or you can access the worship service through our website or Facebook page. Knowing we are at the mercy of technology, we appreciate your patience and grace if all does not go according to plan. Attached you will find a bulletin for this Sunday’s service.

**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**

Sunday Worship now on 99.9FM

We wanted to let everyone know that we found out that the radio station for our Sunday worship service is being moved to station 99.9 FM. If you all know of anyone who listens to our worship service on the radio please reach out to them and let them know of this change.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24

   The words of the psalmist inspired our 2020 stewardship campaign, and we can find comfort in those words today. In these extraordinary times, it is important for us to reflect on the abundance of God’s grace and the gifts we have received. When we began the stewardship campaign in September 2019, we could not imagine what this year would bring; however, through all, God’s love endures, and the work of the church continues. In this time of online worship, we are reminded that giving is part of the church’s liturgy. Whether you share your financial gifts weekly, monthly, or annually, your offering continues to support our missions of worship, fellowship, Christian education, outreach, and UKirk, to name the broad categories.

   The church staff remains available to receive your pledge payments during this time, whether you elect to mail a check to the church office, process a payment directly from your bank, or use online giving. We do need to inform you that a flat rate of two percent is deducted from each contribution made through online giving. If you choose to provide your pledge payment online, please prayerfully consider whether you are able to add an amount to help off-set the processing fee.

 For members with children, remember it is important to talk to your children about giving, especially during this time when they may not see you put anything in the offering plate.

Peace,

Generosity Committee

Birthdays

Sep. 28 - Jack Arnold, Mandy Wisdom

Sep. 29 - Jane Reeves

Oct. 1 - Grace Kaye, Kate Spratlin

Oct. 2 - Becky Buchanan, Bob Wells, Alden Wolak

Oct. 3 - Lila Wright

CONCERNS:

• Prayers for Darren Chamlee and Sandra Spencer as they grieve the death of Darren’s father. Darren’s father, mother, and sister were diagnosed with Covid-19 last week, and his father became very ill. His mother and sister are improving. Prayers of comfort, strength, and healing for all of his family.

• Prayers of healing for Jean Talmage. Jean is at EAMC recovering from surgery after a fall at home. She shared that she is getting stronger and stronger each day. She will remain at the Skilled Nursing Unit at EAMC for rehab for the next few weeks.

• Continued prayers for Kristina Lane as she remains on bedrest during her pregnancy. Kristina and Mitchell’s baby is due at the end of October.

• Prayers of healing for Lisa Stenner’s mother, Peggy Dunson, who is at EAMC and has been struggling with pneumonia after a diagnosis of Covid-19.

• Prayers for Sue Retzlaff as she moves to Camilla Place.

JOYS

• Prayers of joy for the birth of Claire Elizabeth Darden! Claire was born on Sunday and we rejoice with Claire’s parents Hannah and Patrick Darden and all the Fisher family, especially grandparents Janie and Mark Fisher.

Two Sundays a month we will have Zoom Sunday school classes taught by our fabulous Sunday school teachers.

Pre-K through 1st grade will be from 9:45 – 10 am

2nd through 5th grade will be from 10:15 – 10:30 am

September 27

October 11 and 25

November 8 and 22

December 6 and 20

Also, once a month all Pre-K through 5th graders will gather for a Zoom Fellowship time.

Each Sunday morning our youth will gather on Zoom at 10:30 for a quick check-in before worship. Then each Sunday evening our Jr Highs will meet at 3 pm on Zoom and our Sr. Highs will meet at 6 pm on Zoom for regular Youth Group meetings. Zoom invites will be sent via the Remind app. If you have any questions or have not been receiving the emails, please contact Chris Sarkowski.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth and Parents, follow us on Instagram @fpc_auyouth