Wed@First

Dear Friends,

We will be on a hiatus during Holy Week and the first week of April, and will resume our Wednesday@First activities on April 10. Please see below our schedule for Holy Week and make plans to join us.

Holy Week Services & Activities

Good Friday Service, March 29, Oconee Presbyterian Church, 7:00 p.m.

Our siblings from Athens area Presbyterian churches and campus ministry will gather for the annual Good Friday service, hosted this year by Oconee Presbyterian Church.

Easter Eve Egg Hunt & Potluck Dinner, Saturday, March 30, 5:00 p.m., The Hill

All are invited to our Egg Hunt & Potluck Dinner at The Hill (5:00-7:00 p.m.). The church family is asked to bring a side dish to share and your own picnic blanket and/or chairs. Lee Epting will provide a meat and the perfect grass for egg hiding. The church will provide drinks and Easter treats.

Easter, March 31:

Easter Sunrise Service, 7:00 a.m., gates will open at 6:30 a.m.

Oconee Hill Cemetery invites everyone to the Wingfield Chapel within the cemetery grounds for an Easter Sunrise Service. Please dress comfortably and consider bringing a flashlight and folding chair.

Easter Worship Services: 8:45 & 11:00 a.m., One Great Hour of Sharing Offering

Join us for the celebration of the risen Christ. We will receive an offering for the One Great Hour of Sharing, which will be used to help Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self Development of People through the Presbyterian Church USA.

Biscuit Brunch, 9:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall

Between services, instead of Sunday School, we will all gather as a church family for fellowship.

One Great Hour of Sharing

On Easter we will receive the OGHS special offering. The three programs it supports are Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, these programs provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. You may donate by a check to FPC with “OGHS” noted on the bottom or via firstpresathens.org/giving (please select “1 Great Hour” under “Select a Fund”).

Food Sunday

April 7

You may bring donations of canned pasta, pork & beans, and tuna to church Sunday, April 7. You may also bring items to the church office until Friday, April 5. Our neighbors in need are very grateful for your donations! Many thanks for your thoughtfulness and generosity!

2024 Presbyterian Women’s Birthday Offering

The Presbyterian Women’s Birthday Offering is a cherished tradition that allows women to celebrate the blessings in their lives while supporting meaningful projects. All Women are invited to join the PW on April 14 at 2:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall to celebrate and collect our local contributions to the Birthday Offering. Following the party, Reverend Whitney Booth Lockard will lead our study from Sacred Encounters (Lesson Eight, Lydia Lydia Encounters Jesus in Worship; Scripture Readings: Acts 16:11–15).

For more information, please contact Jamie Baer at jamielbaer@yahoo.com.

Athens Feed My Starving Children Packing Event

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a Christian non-profit organization committed to feeding God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit. Join them in April on one of their campaigns.

When: April 19-21, 2024

Where: Stegeman Coliseum@UGA

Volunteers need: 2 hours of your time will feed a child for 7 months.

For more information and to sign up to volunteer, please go to: give.fmsc.org/athens

Week of Wonder (VBS) 2024

Week of Wonder (VBS) 2024 Registration is now open! Children going into Pre-Kindergarten through 6th Grade are invited to join us for this super fun week at First Presbyterian Church of Athens Sunday, July 14 – Wednesday, July 17. This summer’s Week of Wonder is all about God’s Gift of Food! Stay tuned for more exciting details.

Registration Link: tinyurl.com/FPCWoW2024. Please register by Friday, May 10, to guarantee a spot. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Bishop, Director of Children’s Ministry, at natalie@firstpresathens.org.