Through the PC(USA) Christmas Joy Offering, we reflect God’s perfect gift to us, with generous support of church leaders who have pointed us to God. We honor retired pastors, church workers and their families who have faithfully guided us, but who now find themselves in critical financial need. We honor emerging leaders like students in Presbyterian-related schools and colleges as they develop leadership skills in an environment that nurtures racial and ethnic heritage and prepares them to use their gifts in service to God’s world.

Gifts from 2022 are being used to provide critical financial support and grants for current and retired Presbyterian workers, including helping 223 recipients stay in their homes, assisted living or long-term care. 

We will receive the Christmas Joy Offering throughout Advent and you may donate on Sunday by placing your donation in the offering plate, by mailing or dropping a check by the church office, or by visiting www.fpcuburn.org and clicking on Special Offerings. Thank you for your kind consideration of giving to the Christmas Joy Offering.

This Week (and Next) at FPC

December 24-30, 2023

Sunday

11:00 AM - Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Bulletin for December 24 worship

Sunday Parking Map

5:00 PM - Candlelight and Communion Service (Sanctuary)

Bulletin for Christmas Eve worship

The Church Office will be closed Dec. 25 through Jan. 1.



December 31, 2023 - January 1, 2024



Sunday

11:00 AM - Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Bulletin for December 31 worship

Sunday Parking Map

Lay Reader Sign up for 2024

Have you ever wanted to help participate in leading the worship service but weren't sure how to get involved? 

Sign up HERE to participate as one of our Lay Readers in 2024. All of the liturgy and prayers will be provided by one of our pastors. This commitment is for the 11am service only and is a wonderful way to bring a variety of voices into our worship leadership.

If you have a youth or child interested in participating, please contact Kathy (kreed@fpcauburn.org) or Nick (nreed@fpcauburn.org) and we will gladly plug them into one of our spots reserved for youth and children.

Nametags Have Arrived!

If you have previously ordered a church nametag, they will be available for pickup in the Narthex Sunday morning before and after the 11 am service. If you would like to help defray the cost of these (~ $3.00), that would be much appreciated! Want one but didn't order? There will be a sign-up at pickup to order one. Reach out to Karen Herring (karenherring4@gmail.com) with questions. 

Our UKirk students may be ending their semester but they will be back before we know it! 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!

Sanctuary Flower Sign-up

It's time to sign-up for sponsoring flowers for our Sanctuary in 2024! 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 is $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.

Children and Youth News

There is no Sunday school or coffee, juice and doughnuts this Sunday and next. There will be one worship service this Sunday at 11 am and the Christmas Eve service at 5 pm. There will also be one worship service on 12/31 at 11 am.

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

• Acolytes! 3rd – 5th grade parents, click the link to sign your child up!
• Worship bags are available for all children during worship.
• First Sunday Fellowship - Jan 7 at 3:00 p.m.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth

• Youth Group Dinner Sign Up
• Jr. and Sr. High Youth will not meet again at their regular time on Sunday until Jan. 7.  

Save the Date

Jr./Sr. High Presbytery Retreat to Living River - Feb. 23-25

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 

Session Notes

During its in-person and Zoom online meeting on October 15, the Session…

• learned that the church’s income for September was $52,122; expenses, $69,047; and net income, negative $15,925; for January through September, income was $626,047; expenses, $591,032; and net income, $35,493;

• approved three commissioners to the Presbytery meeting in Talladega on November 16: Susan Bannon, Marianne Parsons, and Susan Stanley;

• learned that they will participate in Boundary Training in early 2024;

• learned that the Personnel Committee has a slate of nominees for the Campus Ministry Task Force;

• learned that the City of Auburn will expand the sidewalk on the Gay Street side of the church next summer and that we have funds in the Facilities Improvement Renovation Fund to meet the church’s portion of the expenses;

• approved the Leith Lecture Series Committee’s recommendation to invite the Rev. MaryAnn McKibben Dana as lecturer for the 2024 series and also approved Rev. Dana’s preaching at two worship services on August 18;

• approved the Longest Night Service for December 17; single worship services at 11:00 a.m. for December 24 and 31; and Christmas Eve worship at 5:00 p.m. on December 24; and

• approved eight Communion dates for 2024, with Communion to be offered at the early service every Sunday and at UKirk worship while school is in session;

• learned that Kathy Reed, Nick Reed, and Chris Sarkowski have been invited to write the manual for the 2024 Montreat Youth Conferences;

• learned worship attendance for three Sundays in October: October 1, 188; October 8, 179; and October 15, 126; and

• learned that fifteen new members will be received at a called meeting on October 22.

• learned that their next meeting will be on Sunday, November 19, at 5:30 p.m.

Church members may read the complete, approved minutes for this meeting in the church office. 

Birthdays 

Dec. 24 - Lynda Tremaine

Dec. 25 - Mary Katherine Garza

Dec. 26 - Lizzy Lovell, Hal Smith

Dec. 27 - Barry Burkhart

Dec. 29 - Marianne Parsons, John Wild

Dec. 30 - Jessica Barnes, Melanie Boecklen, Connie Mitchell

Dec. 31 - Harmon Herring

Jan. 1 - Kristina Michel

Jan. 2 - Jesse Michel

Jan. 3 - Susan Patterson

Jan. 5 - Jennifer Stewart

Jan. 6 - Laura Booth, Jim Hecathorn, Amanda Smith

Anniversaries

Jan. 4 - Jim and Patty Disque (60th!)

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

• 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 of comfort for Kay Recknor and all of the Recknor/Cochran family as they grieve the death of Kay's sister Pat. 

• 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 Charlie Johnson as he navigates health issues. Prayers for Peggy as she cares for Charlie.

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

• Prayers for Catherine Wolfe Riley’s father, Ned. Ned found out he 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 afar.

• Prayers of healing for Donna Yeager as she navigates significant back pain.

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

• Continued prayers for Jesse Joiner’s mother, Ann Joiner, after her hip surgery. 

• 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.