Have you heard that Christians are called to be "in the world, but not of the world"? It may sound familiar because I've been known to throw it into my sermon from time to time. For Christ followers like us, to be "in the world but not of the world" means that things that may be outside of our faith - things that pull at us and seek our attention that are not helpful to our faith. Things that we may be "worshipping" when, really, they are pulling us away from following Christ.
As today marks the start of a holiday weekend celebrating the country's independence, upon coming to worship on Sunday morning, some may notice that we won't be singing any patriotic hymns or songs. Why is that? Well, this goes back to that "in the world but not of the world" situations: during worship, we are worshipping God; it is a widely held belief amongst most pastors (particularly Presbyterian ones) that to sing any hymns that gravitate more toward celebrating the country - no matter how often God is mentioned - could be seen as less worshipping God and more worshipping the nation of which we are a part. We celebrate God in worship, praying prayers of thanksgiving for the nation that celebrates this weekend, and then can celebrate the holiday! And celebrate we will!
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That's because this Sunday, not only will we worship God and celebrate the Lord's Supper together, but we will also celebrate and welcome three new members to our Fellowship Family. Something to celebrate, indeed!
We will also start a new sermon series for the month of July. As Blake and I noticed that there are five Sundays in July, we started to think about what things might have five...a hand has five fingers! Let's talk about a hand! Or, should I say, talk TO the hand?
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So, as the graphic indicates, for each Sunday in July we will focus on one of the fingers of the hand. With the gospel passages noted for each Sunday, I'd be curious to know if anyone can "solve the puzzle" and figure out for themselves. Let me know if you have guesses!
Following worship, we will return to our monthly food drive benefitting Greensboro Urban Ministry. So, pull your car to the front drive after worship until noon and drop off any nonperishables for the local food shelf. The Mission Committee and I thank you, in advance, for your support of this important area of ministry.
If you are traveling this weekend, I pray traveling mercies for you. If you're not on a boat or in a quiet, secluded cabin, I encourage and invite you to join us for worship online. If you're in town, I hope to see you in the sanctuary at 9:30!
With gratitude,
Pastor Kathryn
p.s. If you ordered an embroidered polo from the Outreach Committee, it will be ready for pickup on Sunday morning!
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Sunday (Virtual) Worship Information
Sunday worship is in-person, but will continue to be available through Facebook Live, Zoom, and YouTube.
Worshipping via Zoom allows for worship participants to, at the least, see each other during worship, should a participant join through computer. Zoom also allows for worship participants to join by phone, should they not have access to a computer.
To join by phone, call: (646)558-8656
When you dial in you will be asked for a meeting ID number: enter 847 7231 7808. The password is: 658602. Depending on the time you dial in, you may not hear anything to start with. When the Prelude begins, you will hear audio.
To access worship by Zoom via computer, please click here.
(If you'd prefer to access the worship service through the Zoom website, please enter Meeting ID 847 7231 7808 - the password is: 658602.)
To access worship by Facebook Live, please click here.
To access worship by YouTube, please click here.
Don't forget - you can access this week's bulletin via the church's website or by clicking here.
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As many of you know, the 2022 general operating budget did not include staff increases. After consideration of current economic conditions and in response to inquiries from members wishing to recognize our hard-working staff, earlier this week the Session approved the creation of a new designated fund for the sole purpose of funding salary bonuses to our staff. |
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This fund, external to the 2022 operating budget, is being funded by these special gifts to the fund. Several gifts to this fund are already in hand; if you would also like to contribute to this gift, which will be awarded at the end of this month, you are asked to do so by July 17. Thank you, in advance, for your prayerful consideration toward this gift to our staff. |
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Fellowship Presbyterian has online giving available through the Presbyterian Foundation.
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Volunteer with Applewood, Backpack Beginnings,
and Greensboro Housing Authority!
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Fellowship has started an ongoing partnership between Backpack Beginnings, Greensboro Housing Authority, and The Applewood Community. Please contact Mary Howe to sign up: [email protected] or call/text at 336-698-6541. Please click here to sign up.
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Wondering what to do with all of those grocery shopping bags? The Missions committee will be collecting “gently used” plastic grocery bags for Backpack Beginnings. Please bring any you don’t use to church with you, leaving them on the Missions table in the Dogwood Lobby closest to the double doors leading towards the classrooms.
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Prayer Concerns and Celebrations
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David Knorr has concluded his testing and will be receiving his pacemaker soon. Susie, his sister, is grateful for our prayers.
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We celebrate with Rev. Blake Tickle that he has been approved for Board Certification as Chaplain.
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Suzanne Schafer-Coates requests continued prayers for a bit of a silver lining in their family: as they continue to grieve the loss of her cousin’s 15-month-old child back near the beginning of the year, the family found that the cause of death was a genetic heart condition, for which now the whole family is being tested.
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Judy Meyler asks for prayers for her friend, Christy Hardy-Wise, after the death of Christy’s daughter, Beth, of cancer last week. Beth leaves behind a husband and two small children.
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Wynston Walker has been hospitalized and is undergoing testing due to chest and back pain.
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Peggy Loomis requests continued prayers for her hand and wrist pain. She had a doctor’s consultation last week and she will have surgery next month. (This is a correction of our report last week that she had surgery.) Peggy is one of our out-of-town church members (in Arizona) who also happens to be Fred Campbell’s sister.
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Prayers for Ukraine and those caught in the crossfire as the war continues.
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Continued prayers for our church members: Jeanie Harrison, Andy Delafield, Traci Rankins, Fred Delafield, John Koppel, Julian Bullock, Lea Groves, Nancy Baughman, Bruce Weaver, and Marjorie Van Horn.
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Continued prayers for the family and friends of our congregation: Monica Morgan (Chuck & Carol Morgan’s daughter-in-law), Mandy (Judy Meyler’s aunt), Libby Ansel (Lesa Layno’s sister), Rosalee Russo (Peggy Koppel’s neighbor), Dennis (John Archambault’s cousin), Todd Southard (John Archambault’s friend), Suzanne (Judy Meyler’s sister-in-law), Johnny Ziegler (Terry Anderson’s uncle), Todd Martinez (coworker of Gary Anderson), Katherine and Donald Bennett (Barbara Smith’s sister and brother-in-law), Felicia Schaps (Lindahl's daughter-in-law's mother), Ashley Long (Joel and Ann Long’s daughter-in-law), Joyce Berger (Kandee’s mother), Gwen Flowers & her family (Linda Ueland’s sister), Dorothy & Edward Archambault (John Archambault’s parents), Tim King family (Phyllis King’s son), Jenny George (Betsy Craver's cousin).
If you have any additional prayer concerns, please contact Linda Ueland (336-314-5481) or call Martha at the church (336-288-5177).
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This Week’s Calendar
July 3:
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9:15-11:15am: Professional Childcare available (Preschool Classroom)
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9:30am: Worship (Sanctuary) – in-person, on Facebook Live, Zoom, and YouTube
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10:30am: Fellowship Time (Dogwood Lobby)
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After worship-12noon: Food Collection Drive for Greensboro Urban Ministry
July 4: Independence Day
- Office Closed in observance of the holiday
July 6:
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7am: Men's Koffee Klatch (Panera Bread – Lawndale Location)
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12 noon: Bulletin and Blast Deadline
July 7:
July 10:
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9:15-11:15am: Professional Childcare available (Preschool Classroom)
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9:30am: Worship (Sanctuary) – in-person, on Facebook Live, Zoom, and YouTube
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10:30am: Fellowship Time (Dogwood Lobby)
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Fellowship Presbyterian Church
2005 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC 27410
336.288.5177
www.fpcgso.com
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