We have begun receiving your returned Time and Talent forms and Covenant Cards! We are so grateful for all the love and generosity this church family includes with their every perfect gift!

If you haven't already, please remember to turn in your Time and Talent forms and Covenant Cards by Commitment Sunday on October 30th!

Did you know all our stewardship forms and materials are on our website! You can find it all at fpccov.org/stewardship or by clicking the button below!

This year we have also made fillable PDFs of the Time and Talent form and the Covenant Card! That means you don't need a printer to fill them out. Just download them, click to check boxes or to type, and save it so you can email it to the office! Fillable forms can be downloaded by clicking the buttons below or by visiting the stewardship page on our website. Printed forms are also available in the narthex!

Stories of Stewardship:

Tom Stillerman

When I was 14 years old, someone put me in charge of recreation at Vacation Bible School (VBS). I wonder how that happened. I doubt a session meeting was called. Maybe, there were not enough volunteers. 

The transfer of power was quick. That first day I went to the playground and found a dozen kids waiting for me. I did not panic. I did what any teenager would have done: I organized loose games. 

I supervised kickball games where fifth graders punted balls into the church's brick walls and glass windows. When I played dodgeball with third graders, they were so revved up I could not stop them. Dodgeball continued through snack time (and on into Bible study and music, I’m sure). I organized a water balloon fight that was fun until I was left picking up balloon pieces. 

I was lucky that first year. The church suffered no broken windows. Kids inevitably injured during dodgeball vowed revenge against their friends instead of complaining to parents. However, I was told, “Please give parents a day’s notice before the next water balloon fight.”

Those Early days of leading recreation were reckless, wild and fun. I had so much fun I came back and led recreation again and again. Over the years, I've become much safer. (These days I reserve dodgeball for fourth and fifth graders on VBS's last day)

Looking back, I only can conclude that whoever put me in charge knew what they were doing. Someone must have seen something in me to entrust that much responsibility to a teenager. Leading recreation connected me to my church and provided a positive experience working with children.

Sometimes God calls you before you are ready. Sometimes He entrusts you with a responsibility  for which you are not prepared. 

How can you respond to His call?

Sincerely,

Tom Stillerman

FPCC Kids! Don't forget to fill out your Stewardship Bingo cards by Commitment Sunday on October 30th!

Here is Mary Lindsey crossing off one spot by bringing a box of canned goods to the food pantry! Way to go!

ATTENTION! ALL MUSIC MINISTRY REHERSALS ARE CANCELED TONIGHT, OCTOBER 19TH

Come paint pumpkins to give to our friends in need. Paint, pumpkins, and pizza will be provided!

Change the World Day serves our community by providing resources and information to positively influence and change the lives of persons/families throughout our community. Many churches and businesses will have booths to invite the attendees to visit with them and take resource material that would enhance their lives. FUMC Food Pantry Volunteers and volunteers from churches and businesses from across the county take care of distributing groceries and hygiene packs. Change the World Day is an annual event that serves over 500 families by providing community resource information, hygiene packets, diapers, cold weather clothing and blankets, socks, underwear and food boxes. There is also a free Fall Festival on site! Previous Fall Festivals have included activities for the children who attend, a petting zoo, free food from various churches and community businesses and the Oxford College culinary school. This year FPCC will have two booths at the event, one staffed by the youth of our church with “kid-friendly” items and another structured towards adults to provide information about First Presbyterian and about some of the community services that are available around Newton County. Every member and friend of FPCC is invited to participate in representing First Presbyterian Church Covington at the event. Please contact Curtis Watson at 404-550-1212 or wats1818@bellsouth.net if you are interested in being a part of this vital service to the community.

Thank you so much to everyone who came yesterday to help prep for Change the World Day! You are LOVED!

At Change the World Day this year we will have a booth run by the Kids of FPC! If your child or tween would like to represent FPC by passing out goodie bags to other kids at the event, please contact Curtis Watson!

A Novel Bunch Book Club

will meet via Zoom on

October 25th at 1:00pm

to discuss

"The Giver of Stars" by Jojo Moyes

If you are interested in joining an evening Presbyterian Women's Circle, please contact Debi Selin at selin1955@live.com. Our hope is to provide a space of study and fellowship!

Elizabeth Ann Circle will meet on November 1st on Zoom and in the fellowship Hall at 10:00am! Click HERE for the Zoom link!

Martha Circle will be meeting at Day Kennon's home on November 1st at 10:30am. Please contact Day at day.kennon@gmail.com if you can attend. Sheri Bolton will facilitate Lesson #3 Sabbath and Sunday.

Hiring!

After reevaluating our needs for Play Café we have updated our job listings for Program Director and Classroom Assistant.

Whoever fills these positions will be integral to making Play Café what it can be!

See the job descriptions below, or at fpccov.org/employment-opportunities and let us know if you know someone you think would be a good fit!

November 10th at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall

Join our new Garden Club: Blossoms and Beans!

Meets on the second Thursday of the month

7:00pm-8:30pm in the Fellowship Hall

Ask Jeff MacKenzie for details. Questions about plant problems, seedlings, compost issues, and all things botanical are welcome!

Join us before we finish for 2022 on November 6th!

ALL MUSIC MINISTRY REHEARSALS HAVE BEEN CANCELED FOR TONIGHT, OCTOBER 19TH

The Chancel Choir has begun rehearsing music for Advent and Christmas, and we would love to have you join us! For the next couple of months, a portion of the rehearsal from 7:20 to 7:50 is dedicated to rehearsing Lessons & Carols, which will be accompanied by a string quartet and percussion on Sunday, December 11th. 

"Grace Notes & Gospel Gab" is a new email offering from our Director of Music and Worship Arts, Alicia Taylor. Subscribe to learn about FPC’s music ministry and the history behind special worship services.

Children 3 years old through 1st grade are invited to Joyful Noise at 4:30pm to ring bells, sing praise, participate in a rhythm band, and puppetry arts.

Hallelujah Kids! meets at 5:00pm for 2nd through 8th graders to learn to ring tone chimes and handbells, sing praise, participate in a drumming circle, and puppetry arts.

Childcare will be available from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM each Wednesday at the church for parents who are involved in the church music ministry.

Please contact Alicia Taylor at 770-656-6848 or at alicia@fpccov.org with any questions

Neeley’s Notions is an email offering that gives Neeley the chance to start a conversation about the inspirations and influences she thinks about while writing her weekly sermon. The email will be sent on Friday mornings when the Spirit leads, and you can reply to the email with your thoughts and stories for Neeley to read.

Click the button below to subscribe.

All Saints Sunday is on November 6th

If you would like the name of your loved one included in the list of those whom have passed this year please email their name as you would like it to be printed in the worship guide to Catherine in the church office.

PDA is working with affected presbyteries and international partners to assess the aftermath of Hurricane Ian and offer resources and support. emergency grants have been disbursed and National Response Team members are deployed. 

As people of faith, we stand ready to partner with presbyteries, congregations and communities to meet the immediate and long-term needs.

If you'd like to contribute to PDA's disaster response, please visit

pda.pcusa.org/situation/hurricane-ian/

Please keep the following people and their families in your prayers this week:

Prayers:

• Ken Walker
• Tony Taylor, brother of Alicia Taylor - gradually gaining strength with physical therapy
• Patrick Carmichael
• Donald Vining, brother of Danny Vining - vision loss
• Mike Crews, son-in-law of Jack Wheeler - awaiting results of bladder cancer treatment
• Gary Lott, brother of Tricia Hinton - recovering at home following two brain surgeries
• Linea Lott, niece of Tricia Hinton - leukemia
• Beverly Beasley, friend of Jean Elder - caring for husband who has leukemia
• Larry Cox, brother-in-law of Randy Layton - cancer
• Bob Darby, friend of Jeff Mackenzie - leg amputated, kidney problems
• Bruce Hamilton, brother-in-law of Theodosia Wade - cancer
• Karen Lein Kaasa, sister-in-law of Julie MacKenzie - home health care
• Lonnie Lamb - chemotherapy
• Richard, friend of Miriam and Jack Wheeler - leukemia
• Blair Weaver - health issues
• Joyce Williams, sister of Danny Vining - Alzheimer’s
• Martha Young, grandmother of Cotton Young - lung cancer

Celebrations

• Dr. Tom Crews is turning 90! His family invites you to join them for a celebration in the FPC Fellowship Hall on Sunday, October 30th between 4:00pm-6:00pm.
• Please no gifts!
• RSVP to JoEllen Crews Little at joellenlittle923@gmail.com

Independent and Assisted Living

• Penny Blakeney - The Oaks Assisted Living
• Julia Brubaker - Benton House
• Jean Elder - Florida with her daughter
• Dot Fincher - Merryvale
• Travis Moss - Westbury, Conyers
• Louise White - Merryvale

Military Service

• Billy Scarborough - Marines
• Koen Ardis - Navy

Please click HERE to update your prayer requests or send new prayer requests.

You will be sent a check-in after three weeks.

In your email please indicate if you would like your request to be confidential or added to our prayer list.