Last week, UKirk travelled to Montreat, North Carolina for Montreat’s annual college conference. After two years away, it was good to be back!

For three days, we explored this year’s theme of “What’s Next?” It’s a question that may resonate with many of us, but it felt particularly pressing for our young adults who may question what life will look like after college. Speakers and preachers encouraged us to wonder how to move forward when things are difficult and how to discern when it’s time to change course. They reminded us that in whatever comes next, we are not alone: God is with us, and we are a community together. 

Of course, not all of our time was spent in deep conversation. There was plenty of laughter, playing games late into the night, a little bit of snow, and even a sunrise hike one cold morning. 

I am so grateful for our time at Montreat. Montreat College Conference offers students a space to explore their faith freely, and it also allows our group an opportunity to get to know each other away from the stresses and distractions of everyday life. Montreat is a special place that creates sacred experiences. 

As we start the new semester, I hope you will join me in praying for and supporting the students to call us a church home away from home. One way to support UKirk is to sign up to provide a meal for our Sunday evening dinners and Bible studies. Every Sunday at 7pm, about 15 students gather to share a meal and then to dig into scripture together. Providing a meal is a tangible way to show our love and care of the college students, and it’s also a great way to get to know them. And, if cooking isn’t your speciality, you are welcome to cater a meal from a restaurant or donate to the UKirk Meal Fund (please make a check out to FPC with “UKirk Meal Fund” in the memo line). 

You can find more details and the sign up to provide a meal here. 

Thank you for all your prayers and support of these young adults in our community. 

Grace and peace, 

Caroline 

9 a.m. - Worship with communion in the sanctuary

9:45 a.m. - Sunday School

11 a.m. - Worship in the sanctuary

Church Office closed

6:15 p.m. - Stated Session Meeting (via Zoom)

On January 3, the FPC Session approved the following recommendation from our COVID Task Force:

As a result of this new policy, here is what you can expect over the next several weeks in worship:

Many thanks to our COVID Task Force and Session members for continuing to discern measures for our congregation that will do our best to ensure the health and safety of our members, friends, and visitors.

All updates on our current COVID policies can be found at www.fpcauburn.org/covid

The Community Market is in the process of transitioning back to personal choice shopping from their pandemic distribution model. As a result, they are looking for individuals/groups to join them in this effort. At this time the FPC Mission Committee is considering how to coordinate this through the church, however we do not want our planning to slow things down! If you are interested in volunteering soon, we encourage you to contact Mattie Subba directly: msubba@foodbankofeastalabama.com, 334.749.8844

Please look for more details to come in the weeks ahead on how you can support the Community Market and East Alabama Food Bank through FPC's Mission Committee programming.

We have a new Sign-up Genius page for those wishing to provide flowers for the Sanctuary! If you would like to cover the cost of flowers for Sunday morning worship, please sign up for a date here: https://tinyurl.com/Sanctuaryfloral.

If you are unable to sign up online, you may contact Sarah Wolak at 334-728-7853 to sign up for a date. While the Sign-Up Genius page only has one slot available for each week, you are welcome to split the cost with another family-- just be sure to write both names in the comments section. 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.

Exercise class postponed until further notice. Questions contact: denise_salo@yahoo.com

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

•   The nursery is now available from 9 a.m. until noon on Sunday mornings for children birth to age 3.

•   Godly Play: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 1st Grade will go to the Godly Play room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service.

•   Children’s Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 9:45 – 10:45 upstairs in the children’s classrooms.

•   Worship bags are also available for all children during worship.

•   Masks are required indoors for children 3 & over and youth, as well as all adults working with them.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth

•   Jr. and Sr. High Sunday school meets weekly from 9:45 – 10:45am upstairs in the Sr. High room.

•   No Youth Fellowship this Sunday.

•   Mark your calendars, the Charleston Youth Mission Trip for Jr. and Sr. High Youth will be June 5-10, 2022 (this is a new retreat, more info to come)

•   Mark your calendars, the Montreat Youth Conference for rising 9th graders through graduated seniors will be July 10-16, 2022

•   Mark your calendars, the Montreat Middle School Conference for rising 6th through rising 8th graders will be July 20-24, 2022 (this is a new conference, more info to come)

The church is now open from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., M-F, for any members needing to drop in on church business. If the door is locked when you arrive, please ring the bell.

Masks are still required, and for contact tracing purposes a sign-in sheet will be placed on the small table outside the kitchenette where you will be asked to provide your name and the date/time/purpose of your visit. Small group gatherings must still be arranged with your designated staff person. Thank you for your patience and understanding as the staff continues to operate without designated volunteers to answer the door and phones.

Birthdays

Jan. 20 - Mallory Wheeles

Jan. 21 - Trisha Dimick

• Prayers for Liz Lindahl as she moves to a new permanent residence. Her new address is:

Elizabeth Lindahl

Diversicare

702 South 13th St

Lannet, AL 36863

• We continue to pray for healing and wholeness for those dealing with issues related to Covid-19. We also continue to pray for all the health care workers as they tend to everyone’s well being. 

• Continued prayers of healing for Carol Griffin as she faces complications from her previous surgery.

• Prayers of healing for Mary Burkhart as navigates health issues.

• Continued prayers of healing for Bill Combs as receives treatment for cancer.

• Prayers for Tripp Hinkle’s mother as she learns more about a recent cancer diagnosis—the family is hopeful that the cancer has been detected early.

• Prayers of healing for the White’s family friend, Emmie Zwack, who is in the ICU in Chapel Hill. Prayers for Emmie and all of her family as they surround her with love.

• Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are dealing with illness or significant health issues, but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name.

• Prayers of healing for a family member of Myrna Walker. Myrna’s relative is now recovering from hip replacement surgery. This is her fifth surgery in the last year. Prayers she will be able to walk again

• 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 Belinda (friend of Karen Herring), as she continues treatment and learns the progress of her treatment for cancer. Prayers for her spouse Pooie as she cares for Belinda.

• Prayers of healing for Jason Banks (Margaret Brinkley’s neighbor). Jason is recovering at home after a long stay at EAMC.