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Nominations Needed for Elders, Trustee, and 2023 Nominating Committee
The 2022 FPC Nominating Committee is asking the congregation to submit nominations for the positions of elder, trustee, and the 2023 nominating committee. HERE you will find an online form where you may submit nominations.
Questions or suggestions? Please contact any member of the 2022 Nominating Committee: Wesley Anne Barnes, Paul Dimick, Carol Griffin, Susan McChesney, Amanda Smith, Jeffrey Stewart, or Kevin Wells.
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Mission Update
Earlier this spring our church’s Session generously tithed $11,200 of its 2021 budget surplus to the Mission Committee with the suggestion that these funds be shared with organizations in our community reflecting First Presbyterian’s commitment to strive to be, “a nurturing community of faith that loves God and loves our fellow human beings as we love ourselves, giving special attention to those whom Jesus called the least of these – the poor, hungry, sick, lonely, imprisoned, and oppressed.”
For several weeks to come we will feature one of the organizations we were able to gift a donation of almost two thousand dollars to support their work. We give thanks to God for our local partners in ministry and the many ways they serve those in need with mercy and love.
This week’s featured organization:
Embracing Matthew 25
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Many believe poverty is an unavoidable problem of society. Is it? What if we could solve it?
Circles Opelika is working toward a solution. It is a Poverty Reduction Program designed to "inspire and equip families to resolve poverty and thrive" in the Opelika area. Circles Opelika is a local program of the Envision Opelika Foundation that is working to reduce the rate of poverty in Opelika and surrounding communities. This program works to empower and equip families by offering training, and providing resources, speakers, and classes that help participants understand credit and debt, budgeting, self-care, offering parenting skills, tutoring for kids, career options, and more. Regularly scheduled meetings are held in Opelika at the Southside Center for the Arts and provide dinner and childcare.
It is a comprehensive program for people who are willing and ready to move out of poverty. Bringing community volunteers into partnership with families to offer support and problem-solving help in achieving their goals. In the initial 12-week class, the participants establish goals or future plans and learn new tools to secure and sustain better jobs. Previous Leaders reported personal gains in social capital as well as income!
In June, the Mission Committee voted to provide $1,900 in support of Circle Opelika’s work helping the participants reach their goals of 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or financial independence. Find out more about the work of Circles Opelika at: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=circles%20of%20opelika and http://www.circlesopelika.org/
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Lay Readers Needed for Fall 2022
Share your gifts through worship leadership this fall by signing up to be one of our 11am service's lay readers. The week prior to your Sunday a pastor will contact you with the scripture readings and prayers. The congregation enjoys having members of all ages and stages of life present in this ministry. Please do not hesitate to contact a member of the pastoral staff if you have questions!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050548A8A92CA3FC1-11am
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Coming this Fall! Food with Friends
We are excited to announce that Food with Friends (formally Divine Dinners) will begin again this fall. This is a wonderful opportunity for members to participate in small groups outside of Sunday worship.
Please look at the list of possible groups that may be formed to meet the needs of our members. We encourage you to mark any group that you would like to be involved in. Number your preferences in order if you mark more than one group. You will be placed in one group unless you note that you would like to participate in more. Groups will determine the frequency of the events. Sign-ups need to be completed by August 17. Groups will be formed based on interest by September 5.
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Community Garden
Throughout the spring and summer seasons, the FPC Garden has produced many successful harvests to offer the Community Market. According to Mattie Subba, coordinator of the market, our harvests have been very appreciated by the families that come to the Market.
The garden is beautiful and continues to grow and change. We have many existing plantings such as green beans, onions, and kale. Our newer plantings are the tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, butternut squash, & eggplant. They are flourishing! Sarah Wolak has been our amazing planner, planter, and constant worker. Thank you Sarah!
If you are interested in participating in our garden, please contact, Elder Katie Forster at forster306@charter.net. She will be glad to get you connected with watering, weeding, harvesting or delivering to the market.
Current Garden Needs:
- Watering: We are in need of a regular person to water each Thursday morning before 10 a.m.
- Weeding: The weeds are loving this summer weather! "One Great Hour of Weeding" will take place on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 and Friday mornings at 8:00. You do NOT need to sign up to come!
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Sanctuary Flower Sign-up
There are many available Sundays beginning in July for sponsoring flowers for our Sanctuary! The sign-up sheet is located outside of the receptionist’s office in the main church office building.
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.
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We Need YOU to Host Punch-on-the-Lawn!
Great Opportunity for Families to Serve!
Join us in the courtyard following the 11 a.m. worship service for a time of fellowship and refreshment. Greet your neighbors, introduce yourself to visitors, and enjoy God's creation as we spend time together in community.
Volunteers are needed to serve punch throughout the summer months. Please see this sign up link to reserve your date - you will be contacted ahead of time with details about setup and clean up. For more information about volunteering, please contact Kirstin Yost at at kmyost97@gmail.com or 910-309-1625.
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Children and Youth News
♢ Don’t forget about our Google calendar! Go to the link below and follow the instructions to add our Google calendar to your device. For the safety of our children and youth, this calendar is private and can only be accessed through this link.
♢ Parents please note, due to the renovations going on upstairs continuing throughout June, July, and August, Children’s Sunday school will meet in Baird Hall and Youth Sunday school will meet in the Round Room below the chapel
Children Pre-K through 5th grade
• Children’s Church: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 1st grade will go to the Preschool Room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service.
• Worship bags are also available for all children during worship.
• Children’s Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 9:45 – 10:45 in Baird Hall.
Jr. and Sr. High Youth
• Jr. and Sr. High Youth Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 9:45-10:45 in the Round Room below the Chapel.
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Birthdays
Aug. 2 - Copeland Anderson, Wia Fergus
Aug. 4 - Christy Cochran
Aug. 5 - Don Ball, Joy Elam
Aug. 6 - Lynn Hecathorn
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Prayer Concerns & Celebrations
- The pastors wanted to share with everyone in the congregation the sad news that Alice Walkup has passed away. Alice was such an amazing part of this church’s life and ministry. She will be dearly missed. The family hopes to have a service at the church when it will be best for all family to attend. They plan on putting her obituary in the local papers soon, but wanted the church to be informed first. Please keep all the family and friends of Alice in your prayers as they grieve her death and celebrate her life.
- Prayers of comfort for Liz Lindahl as she receives hospice. We pray for strength and peace for her family as they surround Liz with love and care.
- Continued prayers of comfort for Patsy Combs and all the Combs family as they grieve Bill’s death. There will be a Memorial Service for Bill Combs on Saturday August 20th at 11:00am in the church sanctuary. Patsy and the family will also be gathering for a meal after the service in Baird Hall, and would like to invite those who knew Bill to join them for the meal. If you would like to attend please RSVP to williamcombsjr@bellsouth.net
- Prayers of healing for Jo and Raymond Cooper as they both recover from health issues.
- Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are dealing with illness, significant health issues, and grief, but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name. Prayers of healing and comfort for many in our congregation.
- Prayers of healing for Anna Brock’s sister who lives in Mobile and is dealing health issues due to COVID-19.
- Prayers for Evert Duin’s mother, Nel Landzaad, after some recent health issues. Nel lives in the Netherlands, so we pray for the Duin family who care for and love her from afar.
- Prayers of healing and comfort for Catherine Wolfe’s father, Ned Wolfe as he begins a period of chemotherapy treatment.
- Prayers of healing for Mary Burkhart as she recovers from successful heart surgery.
- Prayers of healing and wholeness for Dorothy Hinkle-Uhlig’s sister who is very sick from cancer. Prayers for Dorothy and all of her family as they care for her sister and surround her with love and compassion.
- Prayers of healing for Kathy Rushing’s family friend Jeb Barnard. Jeb is recovering from surgery in Virginia after fracturing his back in an accident.
- Prayers for Tripp Hinkle’s mother as she recovers from successful surgery.
- Prayers of healing and wholeness for the friends of the Barnes Family, Wes and Melanie Jackson. The Barnes family shared that Melanie will begin hospice care. Prayers for Melanie and all the Jackson family during this difficult time, and prayers for the Barnes family as they care for them from a far.
- Prayers of healing for Kay Recknor’s friends the Rev. Mitzi Lesher-Thomas and her husband the Rev. Troy Thomas. Mitzi has glioblastoma brain cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy.
- 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.
- Prayers of healing for Jason Banks (Margaret Brinkley’s neighbor). Jason is now back at work. However is recovering from successful shoulder surgery.
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