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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the FPC Staff!


Office Hours over the Holidays: 

  • December 26-27 - office closed
  • December 30-31 - please contact Nick or Kathy if you need access to the church office
  • January 1 - office closed

An Invitation from Westminster Presbyterian in Tuskegee


Westminster Presbyterian Church of Tuskegee

invites First Presbyterian Church of Auburn

to our Annual Christmas Celebration


Dear First Presbyterian Church of Auburn,


On behalf of the congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tuskegee, we are delighted to extend a warm invitation to you to join us for our Annual Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 4:00 pm at 1806 Franklin Rd, Tuskegee Inst., AL.


We have felt a deep and lasting connection to your congregation, especially through the exceptional service and care provided by your pastors during our time of need throughout the COVID pandemic. Having Rev. Nick Reed, Rev. Kathy Reed, and Rev. Caroline Barnett serving our congregation during that challenging period was truly renewing and inspiring. Their support brought us great comfort, and we are forever grateful.


Our joy in attaining Rev. Michael Thurman as our new pastor was bittersweet for us. While we are excited, we also realized that we would be saying goodbye to Nick, Kathy, and Caroline—who, by that time, had become like family to us.


We would love for you to join us for this year’s Annual Christmas Celebration. Our program will include scripture readings and a mix of traditional and non-traditional Christmas carols. 


A reception will follow the program, providing a time for fellowship and celebration.


We hope you can join us for this special event and look forward to celebrating the season together.


Judith Baldwin, Clerk of Session

Cynthia Wilson, Minister of Music

What would you do if you were not afraid?


Life can be filled with uncertainty and fears. It wasn't any different two thousand years ago when Jesus was born. An aged priest is told he is about to become a father for the first time. A young woman is told she is going to give birth - outside the protection of marriage. A simple carpenter is asked to believe the impossible. A group of shepherds' night on a hill is interrupted by a bright host of angels in the sky.


Yet, each of these encounters begins with the same refrain: do not be afraid.


Those words, though, are not just words of comfort; they are an invitation and a calling from God. In this year's Advent study, pastor Erin Wathen challenges us to take this timeless message and apply it to our lives today.


We hope you will join us Sunday mornings in December at 9:50am in the FPC Chapel for this hope-filled study!

Download This Week's Advent Devotional 


Patterns of Divine Possibility: An Advent Search


In a world dominated by binary thinking – light vs. dark, good vs. evil – this year's Advent devotion encourages us to look for the more, to recognize that God’s patterns are nuanced, complex, and always beyond the limited constructs we impose. It challenges us to explore faith as trusting in the unseen patterns and embracing a fuller understanding of God’s handiwork.


From art to everyday life, this devotional series invites us to see God’s world as more than either/or. It’s a call to step into divine possibility, with curiosity and openness, just as the Advent season prepares us to welcome Christ into the world.


Download this week's reflections here.

If you need assistance, please email Rev. Dr. Kathy Reed (kreed@fpcauburn.org)

This Week at FPC

Dec. 22-28, 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 December 22 worship

Sunday Parking Map

5:00 PM - Longest Night Service


Tuesday

5:30 PM - Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service

Bulletin for December 24 worship


Office Closed December 25-27


Children and Youth News


No Children or Youth Sunday School Sunday, December 29


Children Pre-K through 5th grade


  • 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. 


Jr. and Sr. High Youth


Back to School Camp Out!!!

(or Lock-in, depending on the weather)

Friday, January 3, 4pm through Saturday, January 4, 9am.

at the Sarkowski home


There will be recreation, fellowship, a campfire, s'mores, and more! Dinner and breakfast will be provided. Bring a tent, sleeping bag, pillow, chair, flashlight/headlamp, and snacks. 


  • Jr. and Sr. High Youth Group: There will be no regular youth group through the end of the year. We will resume regular youth meetings January 12.


Mark Your Summer Calendars!

Charleston Youth Mission trip - June 1-6, 2025

Montreat Youth Conference - July 6-12, 2025

Middle School Montreat Conference - July 16-20, 2025

Birthdays 


Dec. 22 - Richard Guether

Dec. 23 - Gail Dillard

Dec. 24 - Lynda Tremaine

Dec. 26 - Lizzy Lovell, Hal Smith

Dec. 27 - Barry Burkhart

Dec. 28 - Nathan Hall

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations


Memorial Service in celebration of the life of Rev. Jim Foil, Saturday, December 21, 10 a.m. in our sanctuary. Reception to follow in Conway Hall.


• Prayers of comfort for the family and friends of Jim Foil as they grieve his death and gather together to celebrate his life. We especially pray for Joan Foil, Julie Price, and Clay Price.

• Prayers of healing for Kay Recknor as recovers at home after successful surgery.

• Prayers of healing for Donna Yeager as she recovers from successful back surgery. 

• Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are recovering from successful surgery, dealing with significant health issues, surrounded by 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 wholeness, comfort, and rest for Nancy Gamble as she receives hospice care to keep her comfortable in the weeks/months ahead. She requests NO visitors or phone calls but welcomes prayers and cards.

• Prayers of healing for Margaret Craig-Schmidt’s brother Bill as he receives treatment for bile duct cancer at M.D. Anderson. Prayers for Margaret and Steve as they care for Bill from afar. 

• Prayers of healing for Todd White’s mother Joan White as she recovers from hip replacement surgery. Prayers for Todd and all his family as they care for his mother.

• Prayers of healing for Leslie Chamber’s grandmother, Imogene Hill, has she recovers from hip replacement surgery. Prayers for Leslie and all her family as they care for Imogene.

• Prayers of healing for Addy Steele’s mother, Emily McDaniel, as she recovers from significant surgery. Prayers for Addy and her family as they care for her mother.

• Prayers of healing for Joyce Bravaldo as she navigates health issues at home. 

• Prayers of healing for Amanda Covington Anderson as she continues to heal. Prayers for Frank and Carole and all of Amanda’s family as they care for her. 

• Prayers for Catherine Wolfe Riley’s father, Ned. Prayers for Catherine as she cares for her father.

• Prayers of healing for Debbie Duin’s brother Warren and sister-in-law Janet as they both recover from significant falls. They are both home after a brief stay in the hospital. Prayers for Debbie as she cares for her brother and sister-in-law from a far. Continued prayers of healing for Debbie as she recovers from successful knee surgery. 

• Continued prayers of healing, rest, and comfort for Donna Yeager’s mother, Patsy Yeager, as she navigates health issues at home. Prayers for Donna and her siblings as they care for her mother in Texas.

• Prayers of healing for Olyne Fischer’s daughter-in-law Chell Fischer. Chell has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will have surgery in a few weeks. Prayers for Olyne as she cares for Chell and her son Gary from afar. 

• Prayers healing and comfort for Sarah Wolak’s brother Chris French. Chris has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome and is receiving treatment for his symptoms. Continued prayers of healing and comfort for Sarah’s mother, Susan French, as she also navigates health issues.  

• Prayers of healing for Karen and Bob Cochran’s friend Randy Tucker as he undergoes a stem cell study for his cancer treatment.

• Prayers of healing for Don Ball’s son, Kelly, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for recurrence of cancer.

• Prayers of healing for Daniel and Amanda Johnson’s nephew James Ivey as he receives critical care. Prayers for the doctors and caregivers who are caring for him, especially his parents and family..

• Prayers for former Ukirk student Shannon Smith as she recovers at home after having a stroke.

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

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

• 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. Chris will continue a plan of treatment for the upcoming months. 

• Prayers for Brooke Myers as she cares for her father, Charlie Myers. Charlie is recovering from a fall and has moved to Morningside.

First Presbyterian Church |info@fpcauburn.org | (334)887-5571 | www.fpcauburn.org
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