Introducing Our New Organist

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Tyra Crowe as our new organist. Her first Sunday with us will be March 20.

Born in Stockbridge, Georgia, Ms. Crowe graduated from LaGrange College in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance, a Bachelor of Music in Composition & Music Technology, and a minor in Servant Leadership. Tyra possesses a wide range of interests and skills within the music field and has studied and worked with numerous instruments including organ, piano, voice, handbells, clarinet, cello, and ukulele to name a few. As a pianist, Tyra has instructed many ages and levels of proficiency in music lessons, and she had also served as an accompanist for multiple choirs and ensembles. A lifelong Presbyterian, Tyra served as an ordained Deacon for McDonough Presbyterian Church and was an active participant and leader for UKirk at LaGrange College. She has also attended Montreat and Middle School Montreat as a youth advisor for First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange.

In her free time, Tyra enjoys writing music, going for walks with her dog, Hera, baking, knitting, and playing games with her friends.

Many thanks to our Director of Music, Damion Womack, and the search committee for their faithful work, and our deep appreciation to pianists Mary Slaton and Amy Jensen for sharing their gifts with our congregation in the interim.
Congregational Meeting

The FPC Session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, March 13, following the 11 a.m. worship service for the purpose of approving the pastors' terms of call for 2022.

If you plan to attend worship virtually on March 13, you may cast your vote ahead of the meeting at the following link: https://forms.gle/eAQwWg21HmYbrWm4A

Please vote no later than 10:00am Sunday morning, March 13.
"Grounded"
The Season of Lent 2022 at FPC

The season of Lent is upon us. This year's theme, "Grounded," offers us opportunities to nourish our faith lives using our hands, hearts, and minds in service to Jesus Christ.

Ground our HANDS:
Community Market Volunteering
Join us the second Saturday of each month (3/12 and 4/9 during Lent) to serve at the Community Market. Shifts are from 9am-12pm but even if you can only come for part of the time, you are welcome and encouraged to join us!

Ground our HEARTS:
Here you will find a daily devotional calendar to ground your days in God's Word through scripture and prayer. Printed copies of this calendar are available at each entrance to the sanctuary.

Ground our MINDS:
Beginning Sunday, March 20 in Baird Hall at 9:45am we will offer a four week Sunday School series: Grounded in God's Creation. In this time we will explore creation in Psalms and Genesis, reflect on the "wilds" of the Lenten season in Proverbs, and anticipate the hope of Easter’s new creation in Romans and Revelation.

Details on each of these opportunities can be found at www.fpcauburn.org/lent
End your Spring Break with service! Sign up to join us at the Community Market on Saturday, March 12, from 9am-12pm. All ages are welcome. Children under the age of 12 will need to have an adult with them, and families with young children are welcome to sign up for half a shift. Please just make a note in the sign up comments to let us know when you'll be there.
Update on FPC COVID Protocols

On Wednesday, March 2, at a called meeting of the Session, the elders present unanimously approved the following recommendation from the COVID Task Force:

That there no longer be any Covid-related restrictions to church activities at FPC Auburn with the following two exceptions:
Masks shall be required
1. For the 9 am worship service.
2. For any person working with children under the age of 5.

Additional notes:
• Small groups within the church (e.g. Sunday School classes, PW circles, the choir) may decide among themselves whether or not to mask as they gather.
• The Covid Task Force will not meet again until convened by a pastor.
• We will continue to provide a virtual option for the 11 am worship service.
• We will keep the mask requirement at the 9 am worship service through Easter and will then reevaluate.

The task force also found this article helpful and suggests this information be shared both with the session and congregation:
"If you are vaccinated, boosted, and wearing a well-fitted N95 or similar indoors, 'your risk is extremely low,' says Joseph Allen, a COVID and ventilation expert at Harvard.”

We continue to be grateful for the wisdom of our task force members and the faithful discernment of our session elders. It is with faith and hope that we move into the Lenten season and this next phase of our communal life together.
Sign Up Now to Host Punch-on-the-Lawn!

We are excited to once again be able to enjoy a time of refreshment and fellowship following worship! If you would like to volunteer to host a Sunday Punch-on-the-Lawn, you may sign up here. For more information about volunteering, please contact Kirstin Yost at at kmyost97@gmail.com or 910-309-1625.
Alabama Arise will have a rally to support untaxing groceries Tuesday, March 15, at noon, in front of the Statehouse, 11 S Union St., Montgomery. Harriette Huggins is planning to attend and can take up to three comfortably in her car. Contact her if you are interested in attending. 334-332-0427.
This Week at FPC

Sunday, March 13
9 a.m. - Worship with communion in the sanctuary
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School
11 a.m. - Worship in the sanctuary


Sanctuary Flower Sign-up

We are returning to a physical, in-person sign-up sheet for Sanctuary flowers! The sign-up sheet is located outside of the receptionist’s office in the main church office building. If you had previously signed up for a date using the SignUp Genius webpage, your name has already been transferred to the new paper sign-up sheet on the appropriate date.

If you are unable to sign up in person, you may also contact Sarah Wolak at 334-728-7853 to sign up for a date. You are welcome to split the cost with another family-- just be sure to write both names on the line. The cost of the flowers has been increased to $50 per arrangement, not including tax and delivery fee. As before, you are welcome to bring the arrangements home after the service, or to leave them to be delivered to other members of the congregation.
Children and Youth News

Children Pre-K through 5th grade
•   Parents of 2nd through 5th graders: Don’t forget to click the link below and sign your child up to be an acolyte!
•   VBS will be June 20-23. More details to come!!!
•   The nursery is available from 9 a.m. until noon on Sunday mornings for children birth to age 3.
•   Godly Play: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 1st Grade will go to the Godly Play room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service.
•   Children’s Sunday school meets Sunday from 9:45 – 10:45 upstairs in the children’s classrooms.
•   Worship bags are also available for all children during worship.
•   Masks are required indoors for children 3 & over and youth, as well as all adults working with them.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth
•   Mark your calendars!
- the Montreat Youth Conference for rising 9th graders through graduated seniors will be July 10-16, 2022
- the Montreat Middle School Conference for rising 6th through rising 8th graders will be July 20-24, 2022 (this is a new conference, more info to come)
- the Charleston Youth Mission Trip for Jr. and Sr. High Youth will be June 5-10, 2022 (this is a new retreat, more info to come)
•   Jr. and Sr. High Sunday school meets Sunday from 9:45-10:45 in the Sr. High room.
•   No youth meetings this Sunday. Hope you all had a great Spring Break!
Birthdays

March 14 - Carey Lovell
March 15 - Robbie Barnes, Sue Retzlaff, Chuck Thurlow
March 16 - Sarah Barker, Jeff Glasscock
March 17 - Jim Dunham, Phil Garrett, Eric Moore
March 18 - Janne Debes
March 19 - Nancy Calcott, Jim Foil, Kellye Joiner

Anniversaries

March 13 - Stephen and Katherine Irwin
March 18 - Bob and Kay Recknor
March 19 - Shane and Laura Klugh
Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

For the time period in which our church family is worshiping virtually, our pastors have decided that prayer concerns will be shared via weekly email. These individuals will most certainly be prayed for during our Sunday worship service, but their names and specific concerns will not be shared via broadcast.

  • Continued prayers of comfort for Calvin, Carrol, Mary, and all the Johnson family and for all of Lib’s friends as they grieve Lib’s death and celebrate her life. A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 27 at 2 p.m. in our sanctuary, followed by a reception in Conway Hall.
  • Prayers for Liz Lindahl as gets settled into her new home at Oak Park. Her new address is:
Oak Park, Room 129
1365 Gatewood Drive
Auburn, AL 36830
  • We pray for the nation of Ukraine and we pray for peace as they face senseless violence and war from another nation. We pray that all will come to a peaceful solution and no more people will be injured or killed.
  • Prayers of support for Jo and Raymond Cooper and all their family as Jo and Raymond move to a new home at Oak Park. For now they would not like any visitors, but would love cards and notes from our church family. Their new address:
Oak Park, Room 123
1365 Gatewood Drive
Auburn, AL 36830
  • We continue to pray for healing and wholeness for those dealing with issues related to Covid-19. We also continue to pray for all the health care workers as they tend to everyone’s well being. 
  • Continued prayers of healing for Carol Griffin as she faces complications from her previous surgery. Also prayers for Carol’s brother, Jerry Johnson, as he recovers from a heart attack and Covid-19.
  • Continued prayers of healing for Bill Combs as receives treatment for cancer.
  • Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are dealing with illness or significant health issues, but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name.
  • Prayers for Tripp Hinkle’s mother as she receives treatment for cancer. 
  • Prayers for Amy Kilner and her family (daughter in law of Dorothy Moran). Amy is in need of a kidney transplant and is currently looking for a donor.  
First Presbyterian Church |info@fpcauburn.org | (334)887-5571 | www.fpcauburn.org