FPC Garden Volunteer Opportunities

The FPC Community Garden is an important part of our church’s mission in “loving God and our fellow human beings.” We build community and relationships among each other and work to serve the community at large through our bountiful harvests - every bit of food we harvest is donated to the Community Market!

SAVE THE DATE: April 16, 3:00 p.m. - Summer Planting Day 

Sign Up for a Weekly Weeding Party Date

“Start at the Garden” - Gather friends or family to pull weeds at the garden. Bring gloves and tools. Then go do something fun together!  

OTHER NEEDS:

- Daily Morning Waterings

Volunteers are needed to water on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Watering needs to happen before 10:00 a.m. and can be skipped if it rains. (Contact Katie Forster forster306@charter.net) 

- Weekly Harvest and Deliver to Community Market  

(Wed, Thursday, or Friday mornings) 

The Community Market is open for deliveries on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday mornings. Plastic bags or bins can be used to take in produce. It is helpful if this person has knowledge about what/when to harvest. (Contact Katie Forster forster306@charter.net)

For any other questions about volunteering in the garden, please contact Elder Katie Forster at 334-329-9672 or forster306@charter.net.

FPC Auburn Workday

March 25 (8am-12pm)

The property committee will be hosting an FPC Auburn Workday on Saturday March 25 from 8:00am-12:00pm and would love your help. Our biggest plans are to do some “spring cleaning” around the outside grounds. Please contact Nick Reed if you would like to participate or have any questions.

Called Congregational Meeting, Sunday, March 26

At their stated meeting on the evening of Sunday, March 19, the elders of the First Presbyterian Church session approved a recommendation to hold a congregational meeting following the 11am worship service on Sunday, March 26 for the purpose of approving changes to the pastors’ terms of call (as required by the Book of Order). 

Are you new to the Presbyterian tradition? Have you been a Presbyterian for awhile and still aren't sure why we say that Jesus "descended into hell" in the Apostles' Creed or why we say "debts" instead of "trespasses" in the Lord's Prayer? What is a "session"? Why do we baptize infants?

These are some of the many questions we will explore in our spring series, "Why Presbyterians are Like That." This class is open to visitors, new and long-time members, and anyone who would like to know more about being Presbyterian. More details will be shared in the weeks ahead!

Please join us for the EASTER PRAYER VIGIL

Prayer without ceasing! 

The vigil is a special time in the life of our church. We can pause for at least an hour to contemplate the spirit working within and without. We will be nourished together and find direction for our work into the future. The Spirit is calling!

We strive to have someone sign up to be in prayer for every hour of the vigil. During the day and early evening we have sign up slots available for prayer in our Chapel. During the night we have sign up slots available for a prayer session at home online. In addition, all are encouraged to join throughout the weekend anywhere anytime. A variety of materials will be available to help guide your prayer hour both in the chapel and online. During this time, we can share in prayer our various concerns and challenges! Hard copies of prayer request cards will be available in the Narthex and in the office. Drop them in the Sunday offering plate or bring them by the church office. Tap this link to fill out a prayer request card online.

The prayer vigil starts directly after the Good Friday service on April 7, 2023, and continues until sunrise, 7 a.m. Easter Sunday morning April 9. We encourage you to sign up to commit to set aside one hour to be with God either in our Chapel 8pm Friday, from 6am through 9pm Saturday, and 6 am Sunday morning, or for a night slot from 9pm through 6am online Friday and Saturday nights. 

Sign-up: To sign up for the night hours of 9PM to 6AM, use this link to our online sign up. You can sign up for the chapel hours either online at this link, or on a paper signup sheet found hanging next to the church office and in the Narthex before and after church. Groups and families are encouraged to sign up together. More than one person can sign up for the same slot. You will be reminded via email or phone a day or two before your time slot.

For more information or help in signing up, contact: Dorothy Hinkle-Uhlig (334) 332-5809 or Anne Leader (334) 246-3117.

UKirk Spring Retreat

UKirk had a great, if chilly, spring retreat at Living River with students from UKirk Birmingham. Highlights include: s’mores over a fire, a card game called “Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza,” and conversations about vocation and where God may be calling each of us. We are grateful for these opportunities to connect with God, one another, and other college students in our presbytery!

A Reminder from Our Mission Committee: 

One Great Hour of Sharing

During the season of Lent we encourage donations to the PC(USA)'s One Great Hour of Sharing. This fund supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People - all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.

You may give a gift to this fund by writing a check to First Presbyterian with "OGHS" in the memo line or by going online to https://www.fpcauburn.org/give and entering your donation under "Special Offerings." 

If you would like to order a lily to be placed in our sanctuary on Easter Sunday, you may fill out a paper form (also available in the narthex) or complete this Google form by Sunday, April 2. Checks may be mailed to the church office or placed in the collection plate on Sundays (please do NOT include on same check as pledge payments - thank you!). If a plant is given in your honor (or in memory of a family member), please take it home after the 11:00 a.m. Easter service.

HOLY WEEK CALENDAR

It is not too early to begin making your plans for Holy Week and Easter! We hope you will join us for worship, fellowship, prayer and service throughout the week of April 2nd as we prepare to celebrate Christ's resurrection on Easter Day.

This Week at FPC

March 26-April 1, 2023

Sunday

9:00 AM - Worship Service with Weekly Communion (Chapel)

9:30 AM - Coffee & Fellowship (Baird)

9:45 AM - Sunday School for all ages

11:00 AM - Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Bulletin for March 26 worship

Sunday Parking Map

12:00 PM - Congregational Meeting (Sanctuary)

4:00 PM - Children's Choir and Dinner

5:00 PM - Youth Dinner and Fellowship

7:00 PM - UKirk Dinner and Bible Study (Student Center)

Wednesday

3:30 PM - Bible Journaling (Library)

Children and Youth News

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

• In preparation for Children’s Sunday on April 23, the Children’s choir will rehearse on Sundays, through April 16 (not including Easter Sunday). The children will meet in Baird Hall at 4pm for recreation and then head down to Conway Hall for rehearsal from 4:15 – 5:00. Then we will go back to Baird Hall for dinner from 5 – 5:30. 
• Children’s Sunday school will meet Sunday, 10–10:45 in their classrooms on the 1st floor.
• Godly Play: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 2nd grade will go to the Godly Play room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service.
• Worship bags are also available for all children during worship.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth

• Jr. and Sr. High Sunday school will meet in the Youth Lounge on the third floor this Sunday.
• Jr. and Sr. High Youth group will meet this Sunday. Dinner in Baird Hall at 5pm. Youth Group upstairs in the Youth Lounge from 5:30 – 6:30pm.

Birthdays

Mar. 26 - Wheeler Garrett, Alex Kaeppler, Lauren Smith

Mar. 28 - Bob Recknor (93!), Carolyn Williams

Mar. 30 - Dana Caudle

Mar. 31 - Rick Himmer

Apr. 1 - Evan Klugh, Gaynell Parks, Shani White

Anniversaries

Mar. 29 - Jim and Lila Wright

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

• We wanted to share with everyone the sad news we learned from the congregation of Southminster Presbyterian Church that Gwen Pugh (Carole and Bill Pugh’s daughter) died while receiving care in the Intensive Care Unit. We are beyond shocked and saddened by this news. Prayers of comfort for Gwen’s children, her sisters Caitlin and Jenny, and for all of Gwen’s family and friends as they grieve her death. We will keep everyone updated on any funeral arrangements as we learn more.
• Prayers of comfort and peace for Kay Recknor’s brother David as he receives hospice care. Prayers for Kay and all the Recknors and Cochrans as they cares for him from afar.
• Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are dealing with illness, significant health issues, grief, and difficult circumstances but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name. Prayers of healing, wholeness, and comfort for many in our congregation.
• Prayers of healing for Doug Klinkenborg as he navigates health issues at home after a brief stay at EAMC. 
• Continued prayers of healing and rest for Susan Stanley as she recovers at home after successful knee surgery. We also continue to lift up prayers of healing for Susan’s sister Ginger Hester. Ginger has been receiving treatments for health issues. Prayers for healing for Ginger and prayers of thanksgiving for all those who are caring for her. Prayers for Susan as she cares for her sister.
• Prayers for Dave Lindahl as he recovers from shoulder surgery. 
• Prayers of healing for Ellen Sherling as she recovers from an eye procedure.
• Prayers for Brooke Myers as she cares for her father, Charlie Myers. Charlie is recovering from a fall and has moved to Morningside.
• Prayers of healing for Todd White’s sister-in-law Patty who was recently paralyzed after a routine surgery. Prayers for stamina and endurance as she is determined to walk again.
• Continued prayers of healing for Denise Salo’s brother Mathew Garrick as he recovers at home after a long stay at the hospital.
• Prayers of comfort for Liz Lindahl as she receives hospice care. We pray for strength and peace for her family as they surround Liz with love and care. 
• Prayers of healing for Debbie Duin’s friend Ann Suttles who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.
• Prayers of healing for Carolyn William’s sister Beverly Huey as she navigates health issues. Prayers for Carolyn as she cares for her sister.
• Prayers of healing for Jessica Barnes’ father, Kit Bays, as he navigates health issues. Prayers for Jessica and all the Barnes family as they care for him.
• 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.