Fellowship Friday - January 20, 2023

I thought it was an important topic and that it would be great to think about for a couple of weeks before entering into a different rhythm of worship for a week. But I didn't realize with how many it would resonate. Based upon the feedback I've received since worship this past Sunday, it seems I wasn't the only one who needed to think more deeply about Sabbath.

During the conversation at Education Hour, the Adult Sunday School class discussed how Psalm 46:10 could be used as a means of entering into time with God. Through recitation of the verse - Be Still and Know That I Am God - while making intentional attempts to slow breathing and thoughts - can be of great benefit to being more fully present to God.

This past Sunday, we thought about the physical aspects of Sabbath. This Sunday, we will continue examining Sabbath - more particularly, the mental aspects of Sabbath. Sure - we can think about "self-care" as one part of Sabbath, it goes a bit deeper. What that looks like? I'll be curious to hear what you think.

Earlier this week, Blake and I sat down to think more deeply about the elements of The 5th, on January 29th. Looking through some materials the denomination has about this topic of Sabbath. Sure enough, we read about "Practicing Fifth Sunday Service", which encouraged the congregation to discuss the possibility of doing something different on the 5th Sunday of the month, which happens approximately once a quarter. Blake and I looked at each other and agreed: we are ahead of the curve!

As I mentioned in last week's newsletter, The 5^th is a new worship experience for FPC that will start NEXT Sunday, January 29th. Occurring on the 5^th Sunday of a month throughout the year, these events, also known as “Dinner Church”, will take place at 5pm in the Fellowship Hall for a potluck dinner and worship.

Here's the "catch" about these 5th Sundays: as a means of practicing Sabbath as Fellowship Family, the building will be closed in the morning on the 29th and no events will be taking place.

For those who would still like to have structured worship time in the morning at the "usual" worship time, there will be brief prayer service available online at 10am. The evening event will not be livestreamed or recorded, so I hope you will do all you can to be there - and if you need a ride, please email me or call the church office so we can make arrangements. Professional childcare will be provided at the service that evening as well.

In anticipation of some of the activities that will take place during The 5th next week, I ask that if you have any old magazines collecting dust around the house that you bring them to the church this Sunday, during next week, or on Sunday night. I'm excited about how the evening's plans are shaping up and having them would help everything run smoothly.

I hope you have a great weekend and are able to find Sabbath moments between now and Sunday morning. I look forward to us being together on Sunday morning - whether in-person or online - for us to be in community as we find Sabbath rest while worshipping together.

With grace and gratitude,

Pastor Kathryn

Sunday (Virtual) Worship Information

Sunday worship is in-person, but will continue to be available through Facebook Live, Zoom, and YouTube.

Worshipping via Zoom allows for worship participants to, at the least, see each other during worship, should a participant join through computer. Zoom also allows for worship participants to join by phone, should they not have access to a computer.

To join by phone, call: (646)558-8656

When you dial in you will be asked for a meeting ID number: enter 847 7231 7808. The password is: 658602. Depending on the time you dial in, you may not hear anything to start with. When the Prelude begins, you will hear audio.

To access worship by Zoom via computer, please click here.

(If you'd prefer to access the worship service through the Zoom website, please enter Meeting ID 847 7231 7808 - the password is: 658602.)

To access worship by Facebook Live, please click here.

To access worship by YouTube, please click here.

Don't forget - you can access this week's bulletin via the church's website .

Thank you to everyone who submitted your 2023 stewardship pledge. It's not too late for you to get yours in!

If you haven't yet submitted your pledge, please do!

The Stewardship Ministry Team is pulling together numbers to finalize things next week for the 2023 budget.

Women's Bible Study kicked off its spring semester earlier this week with thirteen women in attendance!

It continues Tuesday, January 31, via Zoom.

If you are interested in joining the study around the topic of "God's Promise", it's not too late!

Please contact Mimi Carter or Jeanie Harrison for more information.

Committees become Ministry Teams in 2023

The Session approved a new committee structure starting in 2023 to better reflect the needs of the congregation, its mission, and its ministries. The committees - now called Ministry Teams - will be as follows:

Church Life Ministry Team: encompassing any and all programming that takes place in the life of the church, including Faith Formation (from birth to adult), social events, and overseeing the church's calendar, including outside groups' use of the building.
Congregational Care Ministry Team: encompassing the Pastoral Care and Membership needs of the Fellowship Family, including introducing a deacon-like model of care and attention to each family in the Fellowship family.
Mission Ministry Team: encompassing its same work of providing means for the congregation to serve the greater Greensboro community.
Outreach Ministry Team: encompassing the communications of the church's mission and ministry to the community, as well as oversight of the care of visitors to our church.
Personnel and Administration Ministry Team: encompassing the care of the Fellowship staff and tending to the "office" and "business" needs of the church.
Stewardship Ministry Team: encompassing the work of the things which God has entrusted us to care for, including the finances of the church and the maintenance of the church building and its property.
Worship and Music Ministry Team: encompassing the oversight of worship, music, and any needs pertaining to its successful implementation.

Please note: the Congregational Nominating Committee will remain just that since it is an of, and elected by, the church's membership to do work on its behalf.

If you have any questions, please ask Pastor Kathryn or Julie Davis, the Clerk of Session.

For more information, or to sign up, please contact Carollynn Campbell or Gary Anderson.

Fellowship Presbyterian has online giving available through the Presbyterian Foundation.

Click this link to be taken to the online donations page.

FPC SUPPORTING BACKPACK BEGINNINGS

Fellowship has started an ongoing partnership between Backpack Beginnings, Greensboro Housing Authority, and The Applewood Community. Our delivery team on January 25th is Jane & Bill Sweet. If you would like to volunteer for this opportunity, please contact Jeannine Bailer (336.856.1609) or email her.

Wondering what to do with all of those grocery shopping bags? The Missions committee will be collecting “gently used” plastic grocery bags for Backpack Beginnings. Please bring any you don’t use to church with you, leaving them on the Missions table in the Dogwood Lobby closest to the double doors leading towards the classrooms.

Prayer Concerns and Celebrations

Pastor Kathryn travels this Sunday afternoon to Birmingham, Alabama, to attend the week-long Association of Partners in Christian Education Annual Event. During the event, she will be sworn in as acting president for the next year. Please pray for her, her family, and the organization. She is grateful for the love, prayers, and support of her family and her Fellowship Family.
Continued prayers for our church members:

Bruce Weaver

Jeanne McNairy

Jen Mauney

Julian Bullock

Lea Groves

Marjorie Van Horn

Nancy Baughman - Nancy recently moved to a new home; if you would like her new address, please contact the church office or check Realm. Her phone number is the same.

Ned & Donna Steele family

Robertha Goll

Sarah Wilkinson

Sue Nichols

Traci Rankins

Prayers for the countries of Iran & Ukraine and all those suffering from war and oppression.
Continued prayers for family and friends of FPC:

Abby & Casey (Terry Anderson’s niece & niece’s daughter)

Adrienne (Judy Meyler’s friend’s daughter)

Adrienne & Tim Shelton (friends of Susan Harman)

Amy Proctor (Peggy Koppel’s friend)

Barbara Collier (Peggy Koppel’s 92 yr old aunt)

Carla Clifford (John Archambault’s cousin)

Carole Loflin (Marilyn Delafield’s sister-in-law)

Danny (Amy DiTomasso’s brother)

Deeon (Melissa Kirstner’s sister-in-law)

Dena Campbell (Yanique McLeod’s mother)

Frances Gerald and Family (Donna Steele’s friend & family)

Gwen Flowers & her family (Linda Ueland’s sister)

Jason Allen (friend of Walt & Sue Nichols & Pastor Kathryn)

Jeannie Harris (Nora Burleson’s sister)Jeff Jacot (Joy Savage’s brother-in-law)

Jimmy Bacorn family (Fred Campbell’s friend)

John & Cindy Cantrell (Lesa Layno’s brother-in-law & sister)

Johnny Ziegler (Terry Anderson’s uncle)

Joyce and Don Berger (Kandee Spain’s parents)

Judy Valencik (Aimee Stevens’ mother)

Karen Shinn (Betty Crutchfield friend)

Katherine & Donald Bennett (Barbara Smith’s sister & brother-in-law)

Libby Ansel (Lesa Layno’s sister)

Lucy Robbins (Betty Crutchfield’s friend)

Mandy (Judy Meyler’s aunt)

Ron Hamilton (Peggy Koppel’s friend)

Scott (Phyllis King’s nephew)

Steve (Barbara Walters cousin’s son-in-law)

Suzanne (Judy Meyler’s sister-in-law)

Tanya (Melissa Kirstner’s friend)

Tim Swiggett (Melissa Kirstner’s uncle)

Vicky (Beth Reynolds’ friend)

Wynston Walker’s brother’s family

If you have any additional prayer concerns, please contact Linda Ueland (336-314-5481) or the church office (336-288-5177).

This Week’s Calendar

January 22:

9:45-11:45am: Wiggle Room (Preschool Classroom)
10am: Worship (Sanctuary & online)
11am: Fellowship Time (Dogwood Lobby)
11:15am: Education Hour

January 25:

7am: Men's Koffee Klatch (Panera Bread – Lawndale Location)
12 noon: Bulletin and Blast Deadline
Applewood Food Delivery –Jane & Bill Sweet, volunteers

January 26:

9:30am & 1:30pm: Meyler Oil Painting Studio (Fellowship Hall)
1-3pm: Community Bridge (Library)

January 28:

10am: Men’s Bible Study (Library)

January 29: 5^th Sunday - Building closed in the morning for Sabbath

5pm: The 5^th – dinner and worship (professional childcare available)

Session (Lay Leadership)