Help Us Celebrate Our Newest Elders and Trustee

This Sunday we will celebrate the ordination and installation of our newest elders and trustee, a time that will be made especially meaningful as we also recognize Baptism of the Lord Sunday in our tradition's liturgical calendar.

Each of these individuals was elected by members of this congregation to serve Christ in and through the ministries of First Presbyterian Church. Anyone who has ever served on a church session knows that this three year commitment is one that requires devotion, flexibility, and a willingness to be led by the Spirit to discern how the church witnesses to Christ in an ever-changing world.

We have no doubt that our newest class brings with them a variety of talents, a diversity of perspectives, and a willingness to exercise the energy, intelligence, imagination, and love that will be required of them in the years ahead. Please join us in praying for them and celebrating their commitment as we begin another year of ministry at FPC.

Elders (Class of 2024)
Karen Cochran
Debbie Duin
Katie Forster
Steve Hickok
Carlie Kaeppler
Dave Lindahl
Lila Wright
Donna Yeager

Trustee (Class of 2024)
Ellen Sherling
January 9
9 a.m. - Worship with communion in the sanctuary

9:45 a.m. - Sunday School

11 a.m. - Worship in the sanctuary

Update from Session on COVID-19 Precautions

On January 3, the FPC Session approved the following recommendation from our COVID Task Force:
  • Masks will remain required in all worship services.
  • We will discontinue the use of sign up genius and remove pew numbers in the sanctuary.
  • We will continue to socially distance in the pews and will rely on the pad and paper friendship registers for contact tracing.
  • We will return to passing offering plates during worship and including an offertory in the order of worship (11am service only).
  • We will recruit acolytes and ushers to resume a regular rotation of duties.

As a result of this new policy, here is what you can expect over the next several weeks in worship:
  • Effective immediately, you do not need to sign up to reserve a pew in worship.
  • When you arrive for worship, please pay close attention to the sections of each pew that have been blocked off. This will help us continue proper social distancing.
  • Upon arrival, please fill out the friendship register located in each pew. This will help us maintain a record of who was present in worship should the need for contact tracing arise. If you would rather register your presence through a touchless option, there is a QR code available on the back of the bulletin.
  • In the weeks ahead, we will begin to resume the passing of the offering plate and the participation of acolytes in the service. 

Many thanks to our COVID Task Force and Session members for continuing to discern measures for our congregation that will do our best to ensure the health and safety of our members, friends, and visitors.

All updates on our current COVID policies can be found at www.fpcauburn.org/covid
Community Market: Volunteers Needed!

The Community Market is in the process of transitioning back to personal choice shopping from their pandemic distribution model. As a result, they are looking for individuals/groups to join them in this effort. At this time the FPC Mission Committee is considering how to coordinate this through the church, however we do not want our planning to slow things down! If you are interested in volunteering soon, we encourage you to contact Mattie Subba directly: msubba@foodbankofeastalabama.com, 334.749.8844

Please look for more details to come in the weeks ahead on how you can support the Community Market and East Alabama Food Bank through FPC's Mission Committee programming.
Lay Readers Needed for the New Year!

Although Advent has just begun, the new calendar year will be here before we know it and we are in need of volunteers to serve as lay readers. Any and all are welcome to sign up, and we encourage readers of ALL ages. If youth or children would like to help lead worship, we will be glad to have them serve.
Sanctuary Flowers

We have a new Sign-up Genius page for those wishing to provide flowers for the Sanctuary! If you would like to cover the cost of flowers for Sunday morning worship, please sign up for a date here: https://tinyurl.com/Sanctuaryfloral.

If you are unable to sign up online, you may contact Sarah Wolak at 334-728-7853 to sign up for a date. While the Sign-Up Genius page only has one slot available for each week, you are welcome to split the cost with another family-- just be sure to write both names in the comments section. 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.
Presbyterian Women Circles will meet on Tuesday, January 11.

  • Circle 1 will meet at 9:30 a.m. at Carolyn William’s home at 541 Trammel Mill Rd, Auburn. 
  • Circle 2 will meet virtually. Please contact Susan Parker for further information.
  • Circle 3 will meet at 2:30 p.m. in the church library. 

If you are not already in a PW Circle and would like to join, you are most welcome. Circle leaders are Barbara Dunham #1 (229.881.2957), Susan Stanley #2 (334.203.1951), and Barbara Fletcher #3 (334.203.1484).
Worship Arts Ministry

Exercise class postponed until further notice. Questions contact: denise_salo@yahoo.com
Children and Youth News

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

•   Mark your calendars! The Living River You and Me Retreat for children Pre-K through 5th grade and their families is January 15 -17. See their flyer and visit www.livingriver.org to register. If you are interested in carpooling or caravanning, contact Rev. Kathy Reed at kreed@fpcauburn.org
•   The nursery is now available from 9 a.m. until noon on Sunday mornings for children birth to age 3.
•   Godly Play: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 1st Grade will go to the Godly Play room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service.
•   Children’s Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 9:45 – 10:45 upstairs in the children’s classrooms.
•   Worship bags are also available for all children during worship.
•   Masks are required indoors for children 3 & over and youth, as well as all adults working with them.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth
•   Jr. and Sr. High Sunday school meets weekly from 9:45 – 10:45am upstairs in the Sr. High room.
•   Jr. High Youth Group will meet this Sunday at 4pm in Baird Hall.
•   Sr. High Youth Group will meet this Sunday at 5pm in Baird Hall
•   Mark your calendars, the Charleston Youth Mission Trip for Jr. and Sr. High Youth will be June 5-10, 2022 (this is a new retreat, more info to come)
•   Mark your calendars, the Montreat Youth Conference for rising 9th graders through graduated seniors will be July 10-16, 2022
•   Mark your calendars, the Montreat Middle School Conference for rising 6th through rising 8th graders will be July 20-24, 2022 (this is a new conference, more info to come)
Church Office Hours

The church is now open from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., M-F, for any members needing to drop in on church business. If the door is locked when you arrive, please ring the bell.

Masks are still required, and for contact tracing purposes a sign-in sheet will be placed on the small table outside the kitchenette where you will be asked to provide your name and the date/time/purpose of your visit. Small group gatherings must still be arranged with your designated staff person. Thank you for your patience and understanding as the staff continues to operate without designated volunteers to answer the door and phones.
Birthdays

Jan. 10 - Vicki Throckmorton, Adele Whatley
Jan. 11 - Laura Klugh
Jan. 13 - Linda Stark
Jan. 14 - Shirley Bartels
Jan. 15 - Peggy Johnson, Dave Lindahl, Steve Schmidt
Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

For the time period in which our church family is worshiping virtually, our pastors have decided that prayer concerns will be shared via weekly email. These individuals will most certainly be prayed for during our Sunday worship service, but their names and specific concerns will not be shared via broadcast.

Concerns:
• Prayers of comfort for Shane Klugh and all the Klugh family as they grieve the death of Shane’s father, Fred Klugh. A funeral service is planned for this weekend.
• Continued prayers of healing for Carol Griffin as she faces complications from her previous surgery.
• Prayers of healing for Mary Burkhart as navigates health issues.
• Continued prayers of healing for Bill Combs as receives treatment for cancer.
• Prayers for Tripp Hinkle’s mother as she learns more about a recent cancer diagnosis—the family is hopeful that the cancer has been detected early.
• Prayers of healing for the White’s family friend, Emmie Zwack, who is in the ICU in Chapel Hill. Prayers for Emmie and all of her family as they surround her with love.
• We continue to pray for healing and wholeness for those dealing with issues related to Covid-19. We also continue to pray for all the health care workers as they tend to everyone’s well being.
• Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are dealing with illness or significant health issues, but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name.
• Prayers of joy as we celebrate the ordination and installation of new elders at FPC. We celebrate the commitment of leadership and gifts of Karen Cochran, Debbie Duin, Katie Forster, Steve Hickok, Carlie Kaeppler, Dave Lindahl, Lila Wright, Donna Yeager, and Ellen Sherling (Trustee).
• Prayers of healing for a family member of Myrna Walker. Myrna’s relative is now recovering from hip replacement surgery. This is her fifth surgery in the last year. Prayers she will be able to walk again
• 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 Belinda (friend of Karen Herring), as she continues treatment and learns the progress of her treatment for cancer. Prayers for her spouse Pooie as she cares for Belinda.
• Prayers of healing for Jason Banks (Margaret Brinkley’s neighbor). Jason is recovering at home after a long stay at EAMC.
First Presbyterian Church |info@fpcauburn.org | (334)887-5571 | www.fpcauburn.org