Wed@First

Dear Friends,

Please make plans to join us on Wednesday, October 4, for our next Wed@First of Fall 2023. Each week, there will be opportunities for all ages for fellowship, food, learning, and spiritual growth. Please see the full schedule of activities below, and don’t forget to RSVP for dinner by Monday at 12 noon.

Food Sunday

October 1

You may bring donations of canned corn, canned salmon, canned tuna, and paper bags to church on Sunday, October 1. You may also bring items to the church office until Friday, September 29. Thanks for your donations in September, it makes a big difference to our neighbors in need.

Peace and Global Witness Offering

October 1

World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October, marks the day we receive a special offering for Peace and Global Witness. Your gift will enable the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Twenty-five percent will stay locally to aid Athens Nurses Clinic, who serves the uninsured low-and-no income residents of Athens-Clarke County area. Mid councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness. Please note your gift to FPC is for “Peace & Global Witness.” If you are making your contribution through FPC website, select “select “General Fund” under “Select a Fund,” and in the optional memo write “Peace & Global Witness.”

Picnic with Redcoat Band

Friday, October 6, 5:30 p.m.

Pack your picnic basket, blanket, frisbee, and chairs and join friends of all ages at the Intramural Practice Fields to enjoy hearing and watching the UGA Redcoat Marching Band practice.

Choir Dedication Sunday

October 8

Please save the date for this annual celebration of our music ministry when we honor members of our choirs and they also publicly commit themselves to offering their time and talents by serving in one or more of our choirs.

Presbyterian Women Northeast Georgia Justice and Peace Symposium

Everyone is invited to the Justice and Peace Symposium sponsored by Presbyterian Women in Northeast Georgia Presbytery. The Symposium: Working Toward Justice for All will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, October 14 at FPC.

Dr. Alonzo Johnson, Coordinator of the Self-Development of People Committee of the PC(USA), will lead the worship service. After worship, there will be three breakout sessions: 

-1: The Least of These, an antipoverty workshop facilitated by Dr. Johnson and Margaret Mwale, a member of the Self Development of People Committee of the PC(USA); 

-2: Welcoming, Including, Loving ALL God’s Children, facilitated by Rev. Will Norman and Rev. Hailey Lerner, both from the Presbyterian Student Center at UGA;

-3: Courageous Conversations: Showing the World What Hope looks Like Through the Church, moderated by Rev. Andy Cooke, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Augusta; 

Click here for more information. To register and for questions, please e-mail Judy Grieve at judygrieve@mac.com with your name, e-mail, if you want lunch (10$/person, vegetarian option available), and which breakout session would you like to join. Deadline to RSVP is Wednesday, October 4.

Matthew 25 Movie and Conversation

The Matthew 25 Commission will be hosting a documentary viewing and PC(USA) conversation series about race and the church on the following Sunday nights: 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, and 11/12; 5:00-6:30 p.m. in Moses Waddel Room. Stay tuned for details and sign-up information.

For more information, please contact Dan Nadenicek at dnadeni@uga.edu.

Volunteers Needed for Family Promise Host Weeks

October 29 - November 12

First Presbyterian will be the host church for Family Promise families October 29 - November 12 and we need your help to fill the volunteer slots. The families will be at the Milledge Avenue Baptist Church static site. If you are able to volunteer, please see a Family Promise Team member in the church atrium on Sunday morning, scan the QR code, or go to this webpage: tinyurl.com/FPChostweek2023. Training required for new volunteers is very simple: you just have to watch an online video. For more information or questions, please contact Susan Boatwright at boatwright.susan@gmail.com.

Companions in Christ Small Group

Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Bride's Room

Companions in Christ is a group of church members that meets to get to know each other more deeply. Whether longtime members or brand new, how well do we really know each other? What is going on in your life? Do you have any problems that might be eased by helping hands? What are you celebrating that you would like to share with others, including holidays? What dreams are you pursuing? How can we help each other with connections, networking, and experience? Each week, we will explore these and other questions to get to know one another and how we can support each other to build up the Body of Christ. For more information or to let the group know you'd like to join, contact Polly Erickson at pollyanndawgs@yahoo.com.

News from Family Promise of Athens

We are running low on supplies at our static site and day center! Please go to our Amazon wishlist here, or drop items off at our Day Center (First Baptist: 355 Pulaski Street) or our Static Site (Milledge Avenue Baptist Church: 1690 S Milledge Ave).

Click here to read Fall@First.