We will take down all of our Christmas decorations this Sunday following worship! 

All are invited to help us pack up following worship and it won't take long! Many hands make light work! So much joy this Advent/Christmas season! Thank you for sharing your gifts with our church family. 

Presbyterian Women Martha and Elizabeth Ann Circles will have a combined meeting this month on January 7 at 10:00am in the Fellowship Hall and on Zoom. Click the link below to join the meeting via Zoom!

As a continuation of our safety and security updates, we have applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the City of Covington Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to install windows in three exterior doors. This will allow for those inside the building to know to view who is on the other side before opening the door.

Our request considered by the HPC in a public meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 6:00pm at the City Hall Council Chambers, 2116 Stallings Street, Covington, GA.

The request is as follows:

To modify the Garden Door by removing one of the 6 wooden panels and replace with glass; and to modify the 2 Fellowship Hall Doors facing Brown Street by removing one of the wooden panels in each door and replace with glass. This is to further the safety and security updates.

Music Ministry will return to normal on January 8th with LOGOS Children's Choir after Soul Feast and Chancel Choir at 6:30pm! Handbells will resume normal scheduling starting January 15th at 5:45pm!

Lectio Divina will return to weekly meetings at noon on Tuesday, January 14th!

Visit pda.pcusa.org to learn about providing Hurricane Relief through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

Click the button to pledge your treasures for 2025!

Completed Pledge Cards can be...

• Emailed to peni@fpccov.org
• Brought/mailed to the Church office
• 1169 Clark Street SW, Covington, GA 30014
• Placed in the offering plate during worship

We may have had Commitment Sunday, but it’s not too late to make your commitment by offering your Time, Talent, and Treasures! Submit your Pledge Card today to be included in our 2025 Operating Budget!

Space Update:

Dear Church family, 

We have gone live with our updated security system. Please note that access to the building is under new protocols. 

We are excited to announce we have completed 99% of our building updates in regards to fire, sprinkler, and security! It is a joy to be good stewards of safety in our church. Our goal is to ensure the safety of our staff, congregation, guests, and all others on our campus and to empower our FPC Family to move with confidence in case of an emergency. We are live with our updated security system! Please note that access to the building will be under new protocols. We have been working diligently to make sure this will be a smooth transition. Change brings about growing pains so we encourage you to extend grace and contact Neeley or Catherine with any questions. We are truly grateful for the faithful work of our congregation in our proactive efforts to care for our space and people! 

With gratitude, Neeley

October Finance Report:

In October we spent $8,407 more than we took in. This has been a common occurrence this year. However, we are about where we expected with a budget that was approved with a deficit of $61,786 for the year. Our pledged income is under budget by $12,665; our total income is under by $6,825. The good news is our ministries are moving forward because of your commitment to Covington First Presbyterian Church. Your Session has been diligent is being good stewards of the gifts you have given. Please continue your generous giving for the remainder of the year. Any gifts you make will help with our financial health.

We thank all of you for the gifts of your Time, Talent and Treasure!

Have you made a commitment for the 2025 budget? If not, please consider making a financial commitment to keep our ministries on track.

Blessings for this holiday season from your Finance Team!

--The Finance Team

Remember you can make your offering by sending a check or by logging on to your Realm account or by using “Text to Give” your offering! Text* FPCCOV followed by your donation amount to: 73256 and follow the link to give online. Select “2024 Pledge” if you made a stewardship pledge. Select “Non-Pledge” for a general offering.

Finance Reports are updated following approval in monthly Finance Team meetings.

FPC Legacy of Love Endowment

Remember you can always give to the FPC Legacy of Love Endowment to make a gift that will last for generations to come!

A thank you from your FPC Staff:

Dear Church family,

Merry Christmas! It is a joy to call FPC Covington home! Thank you for the many ways you care for one another and our church staff throughout the year. The FPC Staff are grateful for your generosity this season. Thank you for the Staff Love Gift. 

With gratitude and deep love, 

Neeley

What a wonderful end to the church year! Our Christmas Eve service was lovely and we so enjoyed hearing our Handbell Choir play in worship on the 22nd! We would also like to thank all who donated gifts for the senior angel trees and thank those who helped deliver them on December 19th.

Please keep the following people and their families in your prayers this week:

Most recent prayer requests

Requests will be moved to “ongoing” after three weeks unless the office is notified

• Reid Buckelew - in the hospital
• The grieving loved ones of Joyce Williams, Delores Knox, & James Lawrence - friends and family of Danny & Beth Vining
• Hattie Bellinger - recovering from foot surgery
• Faye Kitchens
• Beth Vining - AFib
• The Spence Family, friends of Angie Woodham

Ongoing prayer requests

Requests will be removed from “ongoing” after six weeks unless the office is notified.

• Scott Meadows, friend of Judy Davis - upcoming surgery for thyroid cancer
• Alicia Taylor, friend of Miriam Wheeler - stitches on hand
• Wesley Berg, friend of Tom Crews - pancreatic cancer
• Arthur Raines, nephew of Danny Vining - complications from neck spine surgery
• Charlotte Riley, mother of Susan Landwehr - ill in the hospital
• Janice Campbell, friend of John Leavitt
• Charlie Kennon, brother of Larry Kennon
• Nancy, friend of Mark & Jennifer Fogarty - stage IV pancreatic cancer
• Joel Kitchens - recovering from surgery
• Lucy Milner, sister of Day Kennon
• Ava Moss, friend of Donna Weesner - cancer
• Jane Parker
• Trevor Sookdeo, friend of Donna Weesner - critical health concerns
• Mary Lee Aldridge, friend of Alice Walker - cancer
• Jill Chandler, sister of Brad Hawley - cancer
• Kim Fratesi, friend of Mark & Jennifer Fogarty - pancreatic cancer

Condolences

• Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Doug Bolton, including his wife Sherri Bolton, as they mourn Doug's passing on December 24.
• Our thoughts and prayers are with the McWaters family as they mourn the loss of Shelby McWaters.

Military Service

• Koen Ardis - Navy
• Billy Scarborough - Marines
• Clint Williams - Army
• Daryl Williams - Army

Independent and Assisted Living

• Penny Blakeney - Prema at Ashton Hills
• Homer Borders - Presbyterian Village
• Jean Elder - Florida with her daughter
• Dot Fincher - Madison, GA
• Louly Hay - Presbyterian Village Athens
• Carol McGiboney - Prema at Ashton Hills
• Jon Paschal - Annandale Village, Suwanee
• Louise White - Prema at Ashton Hills

Prayer requests and updates may be given to either of our pastors, put in the offering plate, or emailed to catherine@fpccov.org