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Nominations Needed for Elders, Trustee, and 2023 Nominating Committee
The 2022 FPC Nominating Committee is asking the congregation to submit nominations for the positions of elder, trustee, and the 2023 nominating committee. HERE you will find an online form where you may submit nominations.
Questions or suggestions? Please contact any member of the 2022 Nominating Committee: Wesley Anne Barnes, Paul Dimick, Carol Griffin, Susan McChesney, Amanda Smith, Jeffrey Stewart, or Kevin Wells.
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Mission Update
Earlier this spring our church’s Session generously tithed $11,200 of its 2021 budget surplus to the Mission Committee with the suggestion that these funds be shared with organizations in our community reflecting First Presbyterian’s commitment to strive to be, “a nurturing community of faith that loves God and loves our fellow human beings as we love ourselves, giving special attention to those whom Jesus called the least of these – the poor, hungry, sick, lonely, imprisoned, and oppressed.”
For several weeks to come we will feature one of the organizations we were able to gift a donation of almost two thousand dollars to support their work. We give thanks to God for our local partners in ministry and the many ways they serve those in need with mercy and love.
This week’s featured organization:
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The Twin Cedars Child Advocacy Center (CAC) supports children impacted by violence & abuse in Lee and Macon Counties. We provide high-quality, specialized services for abused children & their families in the comfort & convenience of our child-friendly location.
WHAT IS A CAC?
A CAC is a child-focused and child-friendly setting in which a child can feel safe telling what has happened to them and can relate their experience one time, in one place. Rather than being shuffled between doctors, police, counselors, and child advocates, the CAC model strives to bring these professionals together utilizing a multidisciplinary team whose primary goal is to reduce the burden on children, minimize trauma, and help facilitate their recovery.
WHAT WE DO:
• Forensic Interviews
• Victim Advocacy Services
• Medical Examinations
• Mental Health Services
• Multidisciplinary Team Coordination
• Crime Victim Compensation Assistance
• Crisis Intervention
• Court Preparation
The Twin Cedars Child Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization, and relies in part on the support of the community to ensure that these services remain available to child victims of crime in our community. To learn more, please visit https://www.twincedars.org/program/child-advocacy-center-inc/ or email Jennifer Shawa at jshawa@twincedars.org.
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Coming this Fall! Food with Friends
We are excited to announce that Food with Friends (formally Divine Dinners) will begin again this fall. This is a wonderful opportunity for members to participate in small groups outside of Sunday worship.
Please look at the list of possible groups that may be formed to meet the needs of our members. We encourage you to mark any group that you would like to be involved in. Number your preferences in order if you mark more than one group. You will be placed in one group unless you note that you would like to participate in more. Groups will determine the frequency of the events. Sign-ups need to be completed by August 17. Groups will be formed based on interest by September 5.
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General Assembly Update
The 225th General Assembly of the PC(USA) concluded July 9 after three weeks of discernment, prayer, and action by delegates from across the country. The Presbyterian Outlook has published a summary of the actions taken by the assembly that is available as a PDF here and printed copies at the sanctuary entrances on Sunday.
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Community Garden
Throughout the spring and summer seasons, the FPC Garden has produced many successful harvests to offer the Community Market. According to Mattie Subba, coordinator of the market, our harvests have been very appreciated by the families that come to the Market.
The garden is beautiful and continues to grow and change. We have many existing plantings such as green beans, onions, and kale. Our newer plantings are the tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, butternut squash, & eggplant. They are flourishing! Sarah Wolak has been our amazing planner, planter, and constant worker. Thank you Sarah!
If you are interested in participating in our garden, please contact, Elder Katie Forster at forster306@charter.net. She will be glad to get you connected with watering, weeding, harvesting or delivering to the market.
Current Garden Needs:
- Watering: We are in need of a regular person to water each Thursday morning before 10 a.m.
- Weeding: The weeds are loving this summer weather! "One Great Hour of Weeding" will take place on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 and Friday mornings at 8:00. You do NOT need to sign up to come!
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Sanctuary Flower Sign-up
There are many available Sundays beginning in July for sponsoring flowers for our Sanctuary! The sign-up sheet is located outside of the receptionist’s office in the main church office building.
If you are unable to sign up in person, you may also contact Sarah Wolak at 334-728-7853 to sign up for a date. You are welcome to split the cost with another family-- just be sure to write both names on the line. The cost of the flowers has been increased to $50 per arrangement, not including tax and delivery fee. As before, you are welcome to bring the arrangements home after the service, or to leave them to be delivered to other members of the congregation.
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We Need YOU to Host Punch-on-the-Lawn!
Great Opportunity for Families to Serve!
Join us in the courtyard following the 11 a.m. worship service for a time of fellowship and refreshment. Greet your neighbors, introduce yourself to visitors, and enjoy God's creation as we spend time together in community.
Volunteers are needed to serve punch throughout the summer months. Please see this sign up link to reserve your date - you will be contacted ahead of time with details about setup and clean up. For more information about volunteering, please contact Kirstin Yost at at kmyost97@gmail.com or 910-309-1625.
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Children and Youth News
♢ Don’t forget about our Google calendar! Go to the link below and follow the instructions to add our Google calendar to your device. For the safety of our children and youth, this calendar is private and can only be accessed through this link.
♢ Parents please note, due to the renovations going on upstairs continuing throughout June, July, and August, Children’s Sunday school will meet in Baird Hall and Youth Sunday school will meet in the Round Room below the chapel
Children Pre-K through 5th grade
• Children’s Church: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 1st grade will go to the Preschool Room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service.
• Worship bags are also available for all children during worship.
• Children’s Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 9:45 – 10:45 in Baird Hall.
Jr. and Sr. High Youth
• Jr. and Sr. High Youth Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 9:45-10:45 in the Round Room below the Chapel.
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Birthdays
July 24 - Hannah Herring
July 25 - Richard Patterson
July 30 - Jeff Shaffer
Anniversaries
July 28 - Allen and Susan Patterson
July 29 - Phil and Marilyn Garrett
July 30 - Bob and Karen Cochran
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Prayer Concerns & Celebrations
- Prayers of healing and comfort for Catherine Wolfe’s father, Ned Wolfe, who is undergoing chemotherapy.
- Prayers for Evert Duin’s mother, Nel Landzaad, after some recent health issues. Nel lives in the Netherlands, so we pray for the Duin family who care for and love her from afar.
- Traveling mercies for Anne Leader and Richard Guether, and for all who are traveling this summer and dealing with COVID exposures and interrupted travel plans.
- Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are dealing with illness, significant health issues, and grief, but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name. Prayers of healing and comfort for many in our congregation.
- Prayers of healing for Mary Burkhart as she recovers from successful heart surgery.
- Prayers of healing for Jo Cooper as she recovers from injuries sustained from a fall. Prayers as well for Raymond as he cares for Jo from a far. Hopefully Jo will be able to go home soon to Oak Park.
- Prayers of healing for Wyatt Yost as he recovers from successful surgery for his broken collarbone.
- Prayers of healing and wholeness for Dorothy Hinkle-Uhlig’s sister who is very sick from cancer. Prayers for Dorothy and all of her family as they care for her sister and surround her with love and compassion.
- Prayers of healing for Kathy Rushing’s family friend Jeb Barnard. Jeb is recovering from surgery in Virginia after fracturing his back in an accident.
- Prayers for Tripp Hinkle’s mother as she recovers from successful surgery. She also received wonderful news that her latest scan was all clear.
- Prayers of healing for Catherine Wolfe’s grandmother, Sue Goolsby. Sue fell a few weeks ago and is now moving into assisted living.
- Prayers of healing for Kay Recknor who is dealing with health issues with her knee.
- Prayers of healing and wholeness for the friends of the Barnes Family, Wes and Melanie Jackson. The Barnes family shared that Melanie will begin hospice care. Prayers for Melanie and all the Jackson family during this difficult time, and prayers for the Barnes family as they care for them from a far.
- We pray for the nation of Ukraine and we pray for peace as they face senseless violence and war from another nation. We pray that all will come to a peaceful solution and no more people will be injured or killed.
- Prayers of healing for Jason Banks (Margaret Brinkley’s neighbor). Jason is now back at work. However is recovering from successful shoulder surgery.
- 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.
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