A Note from the Pastor Happy Thanksgiving! On behalf of the FPCR Session and Staff, I wish you a blessed holiday. The Church Office will be closed on Thursday and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving. Here is a Thanksgiving prayer that you are welcome to use as you gather to give thanks for the blessings of this year: O God, our Provider, you open your hand and lavish good gifts upon us. So we give you thanks. You create the beauty of the earth and stock it with abundance. You give us friends who share the journey of our lives; family who make us laugh with joy and dry our tears of sorrow; strangers who minister to our needs with generous kindness. You knit us into your larger family and encourage us in your way. You have blessed us with the freedoms of a great nation. “Thank you” seems insufficient for all your blessings, yet we say it with all we are, as an offering of gratitude for our many blessings that we name before you. {Take turns saying all you’re thankful for.} Although this has been a challenging year, we take comfort in the ways you have shown us your love. Although we miss those whose places sit empty at this year’s table, we give you thanks for lending them to us for what time we had. For all your providence with the feast of life that you set before us, we give ourselves to you with all we are in thanks and praise. Amen. Sunday begins the season of Advent. Our Advent and Christmas decorations have been going up around the Church. I especially look forward to worshiping with you in the weeks to come. This past Sunday, the Session met and decided to remove the ribbons sectioning off some of the pews in the sanctuary. This should alleviate some of the congestion in the pews. Please to continue to practice social distancing between households and wear a mask when inside the Church building. We are encouraged by recent declines in Covid-19 infections, and we will reassess other precautions as those numbers continue to drop. Again, Happy Thanksgiving! Pastor David

COVENANT OF CARE By attending worship or other events in-person at FPCR, you are agreeing to a covenant of care which includes adherence to all of the stated protocols (masks, social distancing, etc.) and self-screening for COVID symptoms before choosing to attend in-person activity on the church's campus. We want to do our part to help keep all attendees healthy and safe. It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the protocols are being followed on campus at FPCR.

Wed, Nov 24 Sometimers: 8 am No Handbell Rehearsal No Choir Rehearsal Thurs, Nov 25 - Thanksgiving Office Closed Nursery Registration Deadline. Click here to register. Sun, Nov 28 Nursery: 9 am, Infants - Kindergarten Adult Sunday School - Coffee Class, in-person & Zoom: 9 am, Rm A111 Adult Sunday School - Present Word, 9 am, Rm A109 Children's Sunday School: 9:15 - 10 am, Worship in-person and on YouTube: 10:30 am Family Advent Activity: 3 - 5 pm, FH Mon, Nov 29 Book Club: 2 pm, Library Faith Sharing: 6 pm, Library Tues, Nov 30 Pastors' Bible Study: 4 pm, Zoom

Services & Events Family Advent Activity: Sunday, Nov 28, 3-5 pm Music-Led Worship Service: Sunday, Dec 5, 10:30 am Poinsettia Orders Due: Monday, Dec 6 Poinsettia decorating in the Sanctuary: Friday, Dec 10, 10 am Christmas Caroling, Cookies & Cocoa: Sunday, Dec 19, 6 pm Longest Night Service: Tuesday, Dec 21, 8 pm Christmas Eve Services: 5 pm - Family Worship 8 pm - Candle Service ABC's of Christmas Worship Service: Sunday, Dec 26 Epiphany Sunday: Jan 2 Mission Opportunities Christmas Joy Offering: through Dec 31. Checks marked "Joy Offering" can go in the offering plate or to the church office. Angel Tree: Adopt a child from the tree in the Narthex. Gifts due by Sunday, Dec 5. Sweatshirt & Hoodie Drive: Donations will be distributed to the RISD Clothes Closet, neighborhood schools & Network. Place in the marked donation baskets in the Welcome Center or bring to the Drive-thru Food Drive on Thursday, Dec. 16. Coat Drive: When you clean out your closets after Christmas, please save men's coats, jackets, warm clothes, and shoes for the One Man's Treasure drive to be held in January.

STEWARDSHIP MONTH Our Stewardship campaign for 2022 is winding down. Please be mindful in how God is calling us to be generous with our time, talents, and treasures. If you haven't filled out a pledge card yet, click here to print one.

FAMILY ADVENT FELLOWSHIP Sunday, November 28, 3:00 to 5:00 pm (RSVP by Nov 24)   Families with toddler, preschool, and elementary children or grandchildren are invited to gather for afternoon fellowship and fun as we begin the 2021 Advent and Christmas journey on the first Sunday of Advent! This gathering of families will be indoors, with masks required for age two and above.   After a photo “booth” in the Welcome Center for your child(ren)’s annual FPCR photo ornament, your family can travel through “socially distanced” craft and activity stations in Ernst Fellowship Hall. We’ll send you home with a tasty treat, and your family’s own copy of “Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas: 100 Ways to Make the Season Sacred” (by Traci Smith).   If your family cannot attend in person on the 28th, you may RSVP to reserve an “at home” Advent Activity Kit and “Faithful Families…” book, for pickup or delivery. We look forward to seeking God’s hope, peace, joy, and love as we travel together!   Please RSVP by clicking here.

BBQ LUNCH Sunday, Dec 5 As part of our Advent celebration, please plan to join us for lunch after worship on Sunday, Dec. 5. We are looking forward to serving smoked brisket and pulled pork, along with your favorite side dishes. There will be tables set up to enable social distancing, and we are making plans to serve as quickly and safely as possible. Please RSVP by Thursday, Dec 2 to lisa@fpcrichardson.org.

POINSETTIAS We are so excited to have the opportunity to decorate our beautiful sanctuary for Christmas this year. If you would like to order poinsettias for the sanctuary, please complete an order form, available in the Narthex, and return to Lisa Carter by Monday, Dec 6. The price is $12 each.

Congratulations to Andy and Shelly Warner on the birth of a daughter, Caroline Elizabeth Warner, who was born November 22, weighing 8 lbs, 4 oz, and 20.5 inches long.

Our prayers of sympathy and support are extended to the family and friends of: Rudy Hale, who died November 21, 2021 Glenn Alton Harrison, Sr., who died November 21, 2021  Hailey Perkins, who died November 6, 2021

We have several special 90+ birthdays this month! Marianne Graswich celebrating her 96th birthday Nov 24 Bob Grimes celebrating his 94th birthday on Nov 28 If you know of a member that is celebrating a 90+ birthday that is not listed, or if you would prefer not to have your 90+ birthday listed, please contact Lisa.

EVENING CIRCLE CHRISTMAS TEA   Thursday, December 2 – 6:30 PM Robin Smith’s Home 6615 Hillbriar Drive, Dallas, 75248   Enjoy a variety of teas, shared treats, and traditions! Bring a new wrapped ornament  if you would like to participate in our fun ornament exchange!   Friends and guests are welcome to attend. Carpools are encouraged. Please RSVP: Robin Smith or Linda Yeager by November 28th

That wonderful time of the year is almost here!   Help make a happier Christmas for children in need.   Visit our Angel Tree in the Narthex to adopt an angel! Contact Robin Smith, 214.405.3053, robinsclee@yahoo.com OR Eva Waldrop, 214.403.6605, eawaldrop@att.net.  Gifts are due by Sunday, Dec. 5.

POINSETTIA DECORATING Friday, Dec 10, 10 am We need your help decorating the sanctuary on Friday, Dec 10, with the Christmas poinsettias, candle standards, and garland. There is work for many - men, women, and children!! We will be gathering at 10 am and should be finished by noon. Questions? Call Shirley Latham, 214.460.5551.

SESSION NEWS Bob Wright has been elected as the new Treasurer. Thanks to Sara Godecke for her service over the past couple of years.

NURSERY OPENING! Beginning on Nov. 14, the nursery will be open on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00 am. Gilli, Carrie, and Vicky look forward to welcoming infants through Kindergartners to the nursery after a long hiatus.   In order to minimize risk for COVID19, nursery staff and participants are covenanting to take the following precautions: All nursery staff are fully vaccinated and will be masked at all times. Children aged 2 and up are required to wear a mask in the nursery at all times.  Parents/Guardians will need to screen their child(ren) for COVID19 symptoms before coming to church. If your child is showing any signs of COVID19 symptoms, we ask that you keep them at home that day. Nursery staff will take your child's temperature upon arrival. Capacity is limited to 5 children. You must register your child for the nursery ahead of time (more details below). No "walk-in's" will be allowed into the nursery at this time.    How will registration work? You can register your child for the following Sunday by clicking here. Registration for the following Sunday opens at 10:30 am on the Sunday prior. The registration deadline is Thursday. Your child's registration will be confirmed in an email to parents/guardians on Friday.   We will be monitoring local health data, precautions, and vaccine availability and will communicate any changes.    If you have any questions, please be in touch with Gilli Smith: gilliansmith317@gmail.com, 214-288-2933.   We look forward to welcoming our youngest disciples back to the nursery!

Mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday, November 30th and double your impact to Mo-Ranch. The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving is a special global day of Giving called Giving Tuesday and Mo-Ranch needs your help. What makes this day even more special for Mo-Ranch is that your Giving Tuesday donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000. This means these matching funds will double your impact to Mo-Ranch! Mo-Ranch needs your help to ensure that our programs like Summer Camp and Youth Conferences are open to any child that wants to attend. Every dollar you give on Giving Tuesday will become $2 for Mo-Ranch to continue to be an affordable destination for generations to come. Your gifts can be made securely online at MoRanch.org or mail your donation to Mo-Ranch and indicate that you are making a Giving Tuesday gift. Be a part of something twice as good on Giving Tuesday, November 30.

THESE DAYS Daily Devotionals Finally!!! We have received the latest These Days devotionals. These are available in the Narthex or the office. Or click here for the online version thru November.

CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FPCR For giving and pledges, click the link below or mail your offerings. If you use a bank auto-draft for any pledges or giving to FPCR, be sure to update our new address with your bank.   First Presbyterian Church PO Box 831985 Richardson, TX 75083

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR Please remember to wear a mask when in the church for any reason. Just another way to love your neighbor!

For those who are so generously bringing their Network food donations to church on Sunday, here is some special information. Network, as so many other groups, are having supply chain issues and aren't receiving items they normally receive. Many are items we already give, but these are the high need items right now. We will continue to keep you posted as their specific needs change. And remember, if you don't want to lug your donations in to the church, we are still under the porte cochere on the 3rd Thursday of the month. The next food drive is November 18th.   They are in special need of: breakfast items  baking supplies, snacks (chips, crackers, nuts, etc.)  hygiene items (soap, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, etc.)  pet food  Please drop off food items at the FPCR drive-thru food drive - 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month OR Items may be dropped off on Sundays in the shopping cart labeled "Network Donations" located in the Welcome Center.

Zoom Meetings & Sunday School Classes

Coffee Class Sunday School In-person & Zoom Sunday - 9 am Register here Meeting ID: 820 9420 9105 Passcode: 340615 Discussion on Christian living using the DVD series “Living the Questions". Present Word Sunday School Sunday - 9 am In the fall quarter, using Old and New Testament passages, we will review acts of worship and praise that celebrate who God is and what God has done for God's people, so that you will better appreciate and celebrate God's presence in this world. Join us! Pastors' Bible Study Tuesday - 4 pm Register here

Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Please ring the doorbell at Door C. We ask that everyone wear a mask and social distance while in the building.

Below are extension numbers for the staff should you need to contact the office at 972.235.2316: Lisa - 221 Shirley/Financial - 227 Ralph - 248 Rosy - 230 David - 237

EASY WAYS YOUR SHOPPING CAN BENEFIT FPCR Just a reminder that your regular shopping can benefit FPCR!! When shopping at AmazonSmile.com, Kroger or Tom Thumb you can designate FPCR as your preferred charitable organization and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the church!

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If you would like to receive any of the following, please email lisa@fpcrichardson.org: FPCR DIRECTORY Request a copy via email or regular mail. THESE DAYS DEVOTIONALS Request a quarterly copy by mail. DAILY ENCOURAGEMENTS These short emails are a great way to start your day! PRAYER CONCERNS LIST Updated prayer list emailed each week. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION If you are currently not a member and would like more information on membership.

Session Members Class of 2022 Katie Haun Black Shirley Latham Kathy Rice Class of 2023 John Fattaruso Ben Niewenhuis Sarah Wright Class of 2024 Jo Bowen Dianne Long Jan Warner

Session Meeting Dates December 11 (Saturday morning)

Calling all Pray-ers!

Front Line Healthcare Workers Treating COVID-19 Patients   Marcia Franzen (daughter of Beverly & Marty Gallagher) - nurse on COVID-19 ward in Stockholm Ally Stilwell (Pastor Rosy's best friend) - infectious diseases pharmacist in Brooklyn, NY Jack & Tracy Childress (Lisa Carter's brother & sister-in-law) - ER doctor and nurse in Gainesville/Denison Bekah Leon (Colleen Oates' niece) - ER nurse in Wilmington, DE Morgan James (Jenny's husband) - RN at Children's Medical. Karen Scott (Charlie Bross' daughter) - Speech Therapist in a nursing home COVID unit Lily Agwe - Healthcare First Responder, Highland Springs,TX