Sunday: February 26

First Sunday in Lent

Sermon: Rev. Dr. Vicki Jones Johnson
Worship Leader: Shevaun O'Connell
Scripture Reader: Shevaun O'Connell
Head usher: Margaret Cockerell
Flowers: The Harrisons
Guest pianist: Kelsey Carlisle

Bulletin for Sunday, February 26

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Read Past Sermons

Doors will be locked when service begins for security reasons. Please knock on ramp door to be let in.

March 5

Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
Worship Leader: Derek Higgs
Scripture Reader: Derek Higgs
Head usher: Will Shephard
Flowers: The Higgs
Women's Fellowship lunch after service

March 7: noon: Bible Study

March 10: Deadline to order Easter lilies

March 12

Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
Worship Leader: needed
Scripture Reader: needed
Head usher: Will Shephard
Flowers: needed

March 14: noon: Bible Study

March 19

Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
Worship Leader: needed
Scripture Reader: needed
Head usher: Will Shephard
Flowers: needed
Minutes for Missions

March 26

Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
Worship Leader: needed
Scripture Reader: needed
Head usher: Will Shephard
Flowers: needed
Beacon's Chili Cookoff after service

March 28: noon: Bible Study

Complete Church Calendar

Worship Volunteers Needed:

There are lots of ways to get involved during Sunday morning worship. We need scripture readers, flowers for the sanctuary, greeters, nursery helpers and Little Church helpers. There are sign-up sheets in the foyer, click the button below, or contact Anna at office@fpcma.com

Volunteer

Women's Fellowship Lunch: Sunday, March 5

Our church had a long history of having an active women's fellowship, but it ended in the 1990's.

On Sunday, March 5 we will have a luncheon after church to discuss what Presbyterian Women's groups are currently doing and see if there's enough interest to start one at FPCMA again. If you are interested in helping organize the luncheon, please reach out to Beth Pequeno at beth.pequeno@gmail.com.

To RSVP and/or sign up to bring something, click the button below or see signup sheet on bulletin board.

Lunch Sign-up

Beacon News:

Confirmation classes:

Mentors are invited to join us anytime.

Sunday, Feb. 26, 4-5pm: Death and Resurrection

Sunday, March 5, 4-5pm

Sunday, March 12, 4-5pm

Sunday, March 19, 4-5pm

Sunday, March 26, 4-5pm

Regular Meetings:

We will be reading through the book of Luke together during this Season of Lent.

February 26:

5pm: Scout Hut: Meet for Bible study and fellowship time together. If the weather is good, we will plan to go and play miniature golf from 5-6:30pm.

Meal provider: needed

March 5:

5pm: Scout Hut: Meet for Bible study and fellowship time together.

Meal provider: needed

March 12:

5pm: Scout Hut: Meet for Bible study and fellowship time together.

Meal provider: needed

March 19:

5pm: Scout Hut: Meet for Bible study and fellowship time together.

Meal provider: needed

March 26:

Chili Cookoff fundraiser after church service.

Send your Beacons to youth camp this summer!

FPCMA will be offering two exciting opportunities for our youth this summer for an experience their faith journey will never forget!

Our first trip is Massanetta Middle School Camp in Virginia for our 6th-8th grade Beacons, Tuesday July 18 through Friday July 21st. Approximate cost will be $450 per student.

The second trip is the Montreat High School Youth Conference from Sunday, July 30th to Saturday, August 5th. The approximate cost will be $600 per person. There are opportunities for our Beacons to earn money for their trips based on fundraisers we have already done and will do in the months leading up to their trips. More information will be sent out to all Beacons. Please reach out to Loida for more information!

Meals for the Beacons

The Beacons are looking for people to provide light suppers for their meetings on Sunday evenings. If you are willing to be a supper host, click the button for available dates and more details.

Meals for Beacons

Godly Play: children ages 3 - 1st grade

Faith Friends: 2nd-5th grade

Meetings held in the Scout Hut on Wednesdays: 5-6:30pm

Both groups will meet at the same time.

Children will be separated into age appropriate groups for their Bible lessons and activities.

On Wednesday, March 1, we will begin our series of Bible stories and parables for Lent. We will be doing one Bible story/parable each Wednesday afternoon and Sunday mornings during children’s church through Easter Sunday.

Vacation Bible School

Our Christian Education planning team has tentatively set VBS for June 25-28. Stay tuned for more information, including an upcoming kick off Sunday where we recruit volunteers to help. We need your support as a congregation to make VBS a success for our children’s ministry!

For more information about our Children's Ministries, contact Loida Slate at loida@fpcma.com

Lunchtime Bible Study

On Tuesdays during Lent, Dr Ritsch will offer a weekly, one-hour noon Bible study. We will begin by studying the Gospel of Mark, which was the first of the canonical gospels that was

written and on which Matthew, Luke and even John depend for a framework. Bring a lunch if you’d like as we discuss what both scholarship and our hearts tell us as we study God’s word.

Note: We will not have class on March 21.

Calling all toddlers ages one and two! Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year begins March 1st! Please contact Mary Alice at firststeps@fpcma.com for an application. A one-time, nonrefundable enrollment fee of $150 is due with the application.Classes will fill up quickly, so don't wait to reserve a spot!

First Steps needs substitutes! If you are a lover of little ones, and open to spending an occasional morning substituting, please reach out to Director Mary Alice Leonard at firststeps@fpcma.com.

Would you like to show support and provide lunch to our First Steps staff? If so, contact Nicole Harrison at nicole@moodyfs.com. Thank you for your continued support of First Steps!

Chili Cookoff: Sun., March 26

This annual event is a Beacon Fundraiser to help pay for their summer conferences. Everyone is encouraged to bring a crockpot of homemade chili. Donations taken at the door.

They will also be having a bake sale fundraiser at this event.

Upcoming Renovations

A committee has been formed and is looking at renovating the Scout Hut which houses our children's ministry activities including Godly Play, Faith Friends, and the Beacons. All groups use the playground as well as First Steps.

They are currently composing a detailed list of what needs to be done and getting quotes. Improvements include:

painting interior and exterior
new roof and fix drainage issues
new flooring, remove stage
upgrade bathrooms
renovate kitchen
add WiFi (was completed this week)
new lighting (Duke Power reimburses 80%)
re-landscape area for playground
new playground equipment (grant being applied for)
Lighthouse- what to do with it since it's currently unusable.
repairing picnic shelter
providing area for older kids to play
change fencing

It is estimated that all the renovations will cost around $80,000. We received a donation for $10,000 and have another $10,000 pledged. If you would like to donate, please write a check and put "Scout Hut reno" in the memo line. We are in the process of setting up a way to give online.

Questions? Talk to Gene Rees, Blanton Youell, Loida Slate or Beth Pequeno.

Order Easter Lily

Easter Lilies

It is time to place your orders for Easter lilies that will be placed in the sanctuary on Sunday, April 9th. The deadline to place an order is March 10th. Note this is earlier than usual, but this was the deadline given to us by our florist.

You may place a lily in honor or in memory of a loved one. The cost is $25.00 each. Orders can be purchased through Realm using the button and by selecting the fund “Poinsettia/ Easter Lily”. You would then need to call or email the church to let us know how you would like to word the dedication.

Support Our Area Charities

Baskets are located in the foyer for donations of non-perishable food for both agencies. Helping Hands also accepts paper products and toiletries.

This month's special requests are:

Yokefellow: peanut butter and crackers

Shepherd's House: 8oz. bottled water

Helping Hands: non-perishable food items

Click blue text to see: Missions Team 2022 Wrap-up

Books Needed

The Missions Ministry Team is working on a project for The Shepherd's House, Helping Hands, and Surry Medical Ministries to provide children with books to keep. We need new and gently used books for children (all ages), young adults, and adults. Spanish books or simple books to help learn English would be extremely helpful. There will be a box for donations in the foyer. Contact Beth Pequeno (beth.pequeno@gmail.com) if you have questions or would like to help with this project.

Help for Migrant Workers

Surry Medical Ministry is holding a toiletry drive for Migrant Farmworkers who will be in our area. Our Missions Ministry Team, along with the Beacons, will have a collection box in the foyer for the following items: (full size, not trial size please)

tooth brush and toothpaste
shampoo
shaving cream, disposable razors
sunscreen
comb and brush
soap, deodorant
hand and body lotion
feminine hygiene products

Community Coat Drive:

If you have coats you can give, community coat racks are located at:

Donna's Barber Shop
White Elephant
Chase n Charli's
PLLC NIT (by the new Dollar Tree on W. Lebanon)
Ol' Farmer in Cana, Va.

Are you connected with the church using the Realm app? Need help getting started? On March 5, Blanton Youell will be in the foyer after church to help you log in, edit your profile and show you some Realm basics. The Communications Team will be doing this several times, so don't worry if you miss this session. More dates will be announced in upcoming weekly messages.

Adult Sunday School:

Odds and Ends: This is our longest established class and it meets every Sunday at 10am in the classroom located at the end of the long hallway upstairs.

Prayer List

Please keep the following people in your prayers:

Cornelia Reeves (Peggy Rees mother), Paul Walters, Mike and Linda Gatchel, Bill Rountree, Legh Beal, Claire Merritt, Bettsee Mcphail, Antonio, Jim and Janice Younger, Jean Arrington, Ron Atkins, Becky Lyons, Terri Keck, Pam Church, Kathryn Benfer, Wendy Bryd, Mariah Tate.

If you have a prayer request, contact Anna in the church office or email office@fpcma.com.

March Birthdays

3/4 Leslie East and Andrea Kniskern

3/6 Daniel Pike

3/11 Mary Higgs

3/21 Mary Planer, Carole Simpson, and Joy Barlow

3/23 Lydia Taylor and Sandy Bowers

3/24 Katherine Burke

3/25 Annette Lowe

3/26 Mary Ellen Goad

3/27 Laura East

3/29 Lauren Youell and Maddie Youell 3/30 Dalton Mayes

March

Anniversaries

3/19 Blanton & Lauren Youell

3/28 Delane & Amy Heath

Hospice Afghans for Veterans

Hospice needs afghans for their veterans. Afghans need to be no more than 3'x3' and use red, white and blue yarn in any pattern you choose.

They can always use 3x'3' afghans in your choice of colors.

Please leave in basket with scarves in the foyer. Contact Beth Pequeno for more information. beth.pequeno@gmail.com.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

9-8-8 is the new three-digit dialing code to reach help for suicide and crisis help across the United States. Please help to spread the word about this very important topic, and encourage anyone you know who may need help to dial 9-8-8. Texting is also an option.