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Sunday, December 17, 2023

8:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Third Sunday of Advent

Join us this Sunday at 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. as Dr. Ryan Baer will preach a sermon entitled, On the Way. The scripture lessons for this week are Mark 1:1-4 and Isaiah 40:1-11.

 

At the 11:00 a.m. service the Chancel Choir will sing the French carol People, Look East as the anthem.


You can follow the livestream of the service on Facebook or YouTube. For instructions to follow livestream through Facebook or YouTube, click here. Find the text and audio from previous weeks' sermons, along with a copy of the bulletin, here.

Christmas Joy Offering

Sunday, December 17

This Sunday, we will have the opportunity to join with congregations from around the United States and give to our annual Christmas Joy Offering which will help support past, present, and future leaders in the Presbyterian Church. Please give generously.


For more information about the Christmas Joy offering, click here.


To make a contribution, please make your check to First Presbyterian Church and note "Christmas Joy" in memo line, or give online here and select "Joy Gift" in drop-down menu.

Service of the Longest Night

Thursday, December 21, 7:00 p.m.

Join us for the Service of the Longest Night. The service takes its name from the fact that in the Northern Hemisphere in December, there are more hours of darkness than light, and this service acknowledges that many in our community do not find this to be “the most wonderful time of the year.” We will pray with and for those in our community who may be hurting and grieving, while remembering that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Christmas Eve Services and Offering Information

A very special invitation to join us on Christmas Eve:


Sunday, December 24

Morning of Wonder, 10:00 a.m. Worship Service

Candlelight Services, 6:00 & 8:00 p.m. (prelude will begin 30 minutes before)


We will receive an offering to support Athens Nurses Clinic.


Please note that all children are invited to take part in worship on Christmas Eve. We will not have additional childcare during the Christmas Eve services. Childcare (Nursery Play) for our littles ones will resume on Sunday, January 7.

Holidays@First

Outreach and Volunteering Opportunities

Salvation Army Bell Ringing Update - thank you to everyone who rang the bell for Salvation Army at Walmart Epps Bridge last Saturday. We raised a total of $607.04 for the Athens Salvation Army!


Christmas Joy Offering – on Sunday, December 17, we will have the opportunity to join with congregations from around the United States and give to our annual Christmas Joy Offering which will help support past, present, and future leaders in the Presbyterian Church. Please give generously.


Holiday Benevolence Marketchoose meaningful and symbolic gifts on the shopping lists of 30+ non-profit mission partners by December 31. You can find printed lists in the Atrium, church office, or online at tinyurl.com/HBMkt2023.


Holiday Meals on Wheels – help cover the cost of one or more meals on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day by making a financial contribution* by December 31. If you are interested in delivering meals, please contact Kitty Donnan at kittydavedonnan@gmail.com.


* For financial contributions make your check to First Presbyterian Church and note cause in memo line, or give online here and select appropriate fund in drop-down menu.

Offering Envelopes

If you would like to have offering envelopes for 2024, please e-mail Lacy Mims Lian at frontdesk@firstpresathens.org or call the church office at 706-543-4338 by Monday, December 18.

Campus Kitchen at UGA Thank you letter

Please take a moment to read below a letter from Campus Kitchen at UGA. They have been using our kitchen facilities in the past few years to prepare meals for clients in the Athens area. Since 2012, they have served over 112,000 meals. Click here to learn more about Campus Kitchen.


"Hello wonderful community partners of Campus Kitchen,

 

Every semester at Campus Kitchen, a dedicated group of UGA students embarks on a journey to do their part to help make Athens a place where everyone has access to nutritious food. What strikes me every semester is all of you who come together to make this happen behind the scenes. Each of you has had a hand in getting nutritious food out into our community -- from delicious fresh produce and prepared meals, to kitchen space -- all of you have helped to feed hundreds of our Athens neighbors, and I want to thank each of you.

 

This semester, your contributions helped to provide: 5,370 prepared meals & 1,050 grocery bags to families in the Athens area who are experiencing food insecurity and/or homelessness.


What's more than the numbers is the real impact this is having on our Athens' neighbor's lives. Here is a short part of a message that we received from one of our clients this fall:


'Last week all I had to eat was what you brought me, especially the okra, I absolutely loved it. It’s one of my favorites. Do you know where y’all get it from? It’s the freshest and most delicious quality I’ve ever had since being unable to shop for myself nothing else compares. Especially when I’m not well, weak and unable to cook and have no appetite. Just one more note, I only receive $44 a month in food stamps, I’m so happy and grateful right now, I don’t think I can get all out I want to express. I could go on and on.'


So a sincere thank you from all of us at Campus Kitchen and the Office of Service-Learning for helping to ensure fresh, nutritious food for Athens' residents.


Take care,

~Andie"

 

Andie Bisceglia

Campus Kitchen Coordinator

Office of Service Learning

University of Georgia

(706) 542-0891

An invitation from Wreaths Across America

Oconee Hill Cemetery has become a Wreaths Across America cemetery for the first year. Wreaths Across America is a national project honoring our deceased veterans. 776 wreaths will be placed on the graves of veterans resting in Oconee Hill on Saturday, December 16.


You are invited to drive through the cemetery on Sunday, December 17, or any time before Christmas. The Sexton's House will also be open for visitors on December 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.


Click here for more information about Wreaths Across America.

Click here to read Season of Wonder@First.

December 14

Sarah Hill

Bert Prestegard

Will Toney


December 15

Mason McConnell

Wilson Parks

Scott Simpson

Laura Toney


December 16

Bill Adams, Jr.

Reid Bangle

Thomas Blount

Paula Crosby

Mary Catherine Smith


December 17

Melinda Beckett

Rachel Carpenter

Will Hays III

Lindsay Jones


December 19

Lee Epting


December 20

Mike Castronis


December 21

Elle Hunt

Donna Means

Mary Louise Prochaska

Carolina Turner

Pat Waldrip


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Please see FirstPresAthens.org for more information about the life of the church.

Looking Ahead


December 17

Third Sunday of Advent


Christmas Joy Offering


Services at 8:45 and 11:00 a.m., Dr. Ryan Baer preaching


Children’s Ministry Very Merry Morning


Atrium Fellowship Refreshments


Youth Dinner & Movie


December 19

Knitting Purls Lunch@The Savannah Room


December 20

Chancel Choir Rehearsal


December 21

Mellows@Highland Hills


Session Meeting


Service of the Longest Night


December 24

Fourth Sunday of Advent


Christmas Eve Services


10:00 a.m., Morning of Wonder Worship Service


6:00 and 8:00 p.m., Candlelight Services

First Presbyterian Church
185 E. Hancock Avenue
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 543-4338
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