A Message From Our 2024 Generosity Committee Elders

Dear Members and Friends of FPC, 

It is with great joy and thankfulness that we begin a new year on the Generosity Committee with a word of thanks. You were asked to open wide your hands in sharing and praise be to God, you did exactly that. 

We are thrilled to be able to announce that at our January session meeting, we approved a budget in which our pledged giving for 2024 increased by 7.7% and our overall budget increased 6.7%.

Because of your generous giving, in 2024 we are able to increase funding for ministries like: 

• local outreach ministries 
• our presbytery camp, Living River 
• congregational fellowship events
• and, we were able to give members of the church staff a 5% raise.

Because of your faithful giving, in 2024 free monthly Wednesday night meals will continue and THANKS BE TO GOD the sound system has been upgraded!

We thank you for making the 2024 Stewardship Campaign a success. Let us rejoice and give thanks with a heartfelt “Amen.”

Sincerely, 

Susan Stanley and Jeff Yost

Generosity Committee Elders, 2024

Once again this year we are glad to be able to offer meaningful opportunities for prayer, worship, service, and study during the season of Lent. This year, Lent will begin on Wednesday, February 14 with a 5:15pm Potluck Congregational Dinner (drinks and a main dish will be provided - please bring a dessert or side to share) followed by Ash Wednesday worship at 6:15pm.

If you are interested in having a copy of our devotional guide, The Poetry of Lent: A Lenten Companion to Mary Oliver's Devotions, you may download a digital copy for your tablet or e-reader here. A copy of the companion poems are available as a PDF download here.

Or, if you would like a copy printed for you at the church, please fill out this google form and someone will follow up with you when your printed copy is available.

This year's Children, Youth, and Families Lenten Devotion, "This is My Body," will be emailed next week to families on the Children and Youth mailing list.

If you'd like a printed copy, please email Chris Sarkowski to have one printed for you to pick up.

Congregational Meeting

At its January stated session meeting, the FPC session called a congregational meeting for Sunday, February 11 following the 11am worship service for the purpose of approving changes to the Co-Pastors' terms of call.

Following the departure of Associate Pastor Caroline Barnett, the Personnel Committee and UKirk Task Force entered into a time of discernment that resulted in the recommendation to move the Co-Pastor positions to full-time status. This change, which includes full benefits for both pastors, is reflected in the proposed terms. In this new model, Rev. Nick and Rev. Dr. Kathy Reed will provide spiritual leadership for the UKirk ministries, responsible for weekly college bible study and pastoral care for students, while a new position (UKirk Program Coordinator) will soon be formed to handle administrative responsibilities for campus ministry.

This proposal is part of a balanced 2024 budget approved by the session at their January stated meeting.

Mark your calendars!

The Souper Bowl of Caring is February 11. Our Jr. and Sr. High Youth will be collecting donations and non-perishable food items to be donated to the Food Bank of East Alabama. Together we can tackle hunger!

Join us on Saturday, February 10 from 9am-12pm (or any part of this time) to help stock, clean, organize, and help clients at the Community Market of East Alabama! All ages are welcome to participate - children 12 and under, please bring an adult with you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050548A8A92CA3FC1-second#/

PCM Annual Luncheon

Presbyterian Community Ministry will hold its Annual Luncheon on February 19 from 11:45 to 1 p.m. in Baird Hall. There will be a delicious lunch and Fred Bennett will be speaking. No reservations are necessary – everyone is welcome.

Sign up here to provide a meal for our college students during the 2024 spring semester. You may join together with friends to cook something for the students, drop off a meal you've prepared ahead of time, or simply donate money to cover the costs of a Sunday evening meal. 

Our students are always grateful for the hospitality they receive at the table from their FPC family. Thank you for supporting campus ministry!

PW News

Circle #4 will meet Feb. 11 in the church library after 11:00 a.m. worship

~~~~~~~

This Week at FPC

Feb. 11-17, 2024

Sunday

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

9:30 AM - Coffee and Fellowship (Baird)

9:45 AM - Sunday School for all ages

11:00 AM - Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Bulletin for February 11 worship

Sunday Parking Map

12:00 PM - Congregational Meeting

12:00 PM - PW Circle #4 (Library)

4:00 PM - Confirmation Class

Monday

12:00 PM - Property Committee (Library)

Tuesday

9:30 AM - PW Valentine's Tea (Conway)

Wednesday

12:30 PM - Mission Committee (Library)

5:15 PM - Congregational Dinner (Baird)

6:15 PM - Ash Wednesday Service (Sanctuary)

7:00 PM - Adult Choir Rehearsal

Children and Youth News

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

• Acolytes! 3rd – 5th grade parents, click the link to sign your child up!
• Children's Church during 11 a.m. worship
• Worship bags are available for all children during worship.
• 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.
• Save the Date: Children's Fellowship/Choir kicks off Feb.18 at 4 p.m. First three meetings will have fellowship and activities, last three meetings will have fellowship and choir practice in preparation for Children's Sunday.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth

• Youth at East Alabama Food Bank, Saturday, Feb. 10, meet at the church at 8:45 a.m.
• Youth Group Dinner Sign Up
• Confirmation Class meets at 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Youth Lounge on the 3rd floor.
• Jr./Sr. High Presbytery Retreat to Living River - Feb. 23-25: The registration link for the Living River retreat has now been posted on the Presbytery website!!! Please follow the link below to register your child for the retreat:

 http://pslpcusa.org/retreats/

-Cost is $40 per youth (paid to the church) and includes transportation, 4 meals, two nights lodging, and retreat programming. 

-When registering, please click Bill the Church under the payment section.

-We will leave no later than 5 pm on Friday, Feb. 23 and return no later than 2pm on Sunday, Feb 25. I will send a packing list and any other details closer to the retreat.

Save the Date

Youth Sunday - April 7

Children's Sunday - April 14

Summer Mission Trip and Conference Dates for Jr. and Sr. High Youth

Charleston Youth Mission - June 2-7, 2024

Montreat Youth Conference - July 7-13, 2024

Montreat Middle School Conference - July 17-21, 2024 

Birthdays 

Feb. 11 - Billy Carter, Tyler Klugh

Feb. 12 - Joe Ragan, Steve Salo

Feb. 13 - Jeff Yost

Feb. 16 - Kate Garrett

Feb. 17 - Denise Salo, Ellen Sherling

Anniversaries

Feb. 14 - Steve and Denise Salo

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

• Prayers of comfort and wholeness for Elizabeth White’s brother Joe as he receives hospice care. Prayers for Elizabeth and all her family as they surround Joe with love and care.

• Continued prayers of care for Edmund Holman as he receives inpatient mental health care for the next few days. Prayers for all of the Holman family as they care for Edmund.

• We rejoice with Jeff and Jenny Shaffer as they celebrate the birth of their new grandchild, Scottie James Shaffer! We are so happy for JJ Shaffer and his family!

• Prayers of joy and thanksgiving for Deborah Thomas as she prepares to be installed as the next moderator of the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley.

• Continued prayers of comfort for Peggy Johnson and all the Johnson family as they grieve the death of Charlie Johnson. There will be a memorial service for Charlie on Saturday, February 17 at 11:00am at Embrace Church in Auburn.

• Prayers of healing for Kay Recknor as she recovers from a significant leg injury. Prayers for Bob, Karen, Bob, and all her family as they care for her.

• Prayers of healing for Clay Price’s mother, Faye Price, as she navigates significant health issues. Prayers for Clay as he cares for his mother.

• 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 for Amy Kilner (daughter in law of Dorothy Moran) as she recovers from a kidney transplant.

• Prayers of healing for Donine Cooper as she continues to recover at home from surgery. Prayers for Doug as he cares for her.

• Prayers for Jim Foil and his family as they continue to manage Jim’s health.

• Prayers of healing for Todd Jolly’s brother Robby as he awaits test for a cancer diagnosis. Prayers for Todd as he cares for his brother from a far.

• Prayers for Catherine Wolfe Riley’s father Ned. Ned has a recurrence of cancer and will be undergoing treatment over the next few months. Prayers for Catherine as she cares for her father..

• Prayers of healing for Elizabeth White’s brother Joe, who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and is seeking other ways of treatment. Prayers for Elizabeth as she cares for her brother from a far..

• Prayers of healing and rest for Donna Yeager’s mother Patsy Yeager as she navigates health issues.

• Prayers healing and comfort for Sarah Wolak’s mother, Susan French. Prayers of comfort and strength for Sarah and all her family as they care for her mother.

• Continued prayers of healing for Chris Greer. We especially pray for good healing and rest as Chris recovers from successful treatments. We continue to rejoice with Chris because the latest scans show no sign of cancer. We are so grateful the chemotherapy treatments have been successful.

• 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 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.