125 years of First Reformed United Church of Christ

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Click below to view the OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Come join us this afternoon,

October 2nd

from 6-7:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall for

GAME NIGHT!

Engage in fun games and fellowship!

Bring Board Games to Share

Dear Beloved Community,

This coming Sunday, we will gather for one of my favorite Sundays of the year: World Communion Sunday. On this day, Christians from every corner of the globe will share in the same holy meal, breaking the bread and drinking the cup. 

As disciples of Christ, we belong to a global body that transcends languages, politics, and differences. Christ’s love knows no boundaries or borders. At the table, there is no “us” and “them”—only God’s children, beloved and invited.

This first Sunday in October also marks our 11th anniversary together!  Eleven years! That number feels both hard to believe and wonderfully full. 

So much has happened in 11 years—joy and celebration, uncertainty and change, hard conversations, new beginnings, laughter, tears, worship, ministry, and countless ordinary moments that have become part of our story together.

You have welcomed me into your lives, trusted me with your stories, allowed me to walk with you through some of life’s most sacred moments, and reminded me again and again what it means to be the church. Walking together through the hills and valleys. Thank you for welcoming me—and all of my family—into this place we call church.

We are not a church that has everything figured out.  I think that’s part of what makes us a church.  We are learning, discerning, trying new things, sometimes getting it right and hoping to learn from when we don’t. 

You have seen my rough edges and I have seen some of yours. And through it all, we keep coming back to the heart of our faith: God’s love is bigger than our differences, Christ’s table has room for everyone, and the Spirit is still at work among us.

Thank you for your trust, humor, honesty, patience, generosity, and your willingness to keep seeking what God is calling us to do next. I am grateful for these 11 years. And I am grateful that we get to see what comes next—together.

This Saturday, October 3, I'll be in Newton NC, attending the Annual Meeting of the Western NC Association of the UCC. I'm so happy to represent you in this gathering of UCC churches! 

I hope you will join us in worship this Sunday. 

With love and gratitude, 

Elizabeth

Book of Life – 2026

First Reformed UCC Book of Life will be available in the sanctuary Oct 4th through November 1st. We began the Book of Life two years ago to remember loved ones who have passed away. Again, this year we have the opportunity to remember and add loved ones to the Book of Life.

Y

Celebrating 125 Years

with an Extra $125 of Gratitude and Generosity

New-to-Us Bibles

Have you noticed the pew racks have a new Bible? The church I served in Winston Salem, First UCC, sold its building along with its contents this spring. From this First Reformed was able to receive 42 Large Print NRSV Bibles. 

Neighbors In Need Special Offering

Donations accepted during the month of October 2026

Gifts to Neighbors in Need support the United Church of Christ’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States.  One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). The other two-thirds of the offering support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, direct service projects, and grants.  Neighbors in Need grants are annually awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities.

Sunday Adult Bible Study

(Meet in Parlor Sundays - 9:30am)

October Bible Study

Breaking The Code

starting Oct. 18th

By Bruce Metzger & David deSilva

The Book of Revelation contains passages of great beauty and comfort, as well as passages that strike the casual reader as bizarre, bewildering, and sometimes frightening. Regrettably, there are those who have misinterpreted a 1st century message, written for a believer’s movement in crisis, as a vengeful prophecy for the 21st century, where God and Jesus are violently involved with the destruction of the world, as we know it. There are those who have been duped by a bad End Times theology, and it’s time to fix that! Join us for a 6-session study of BREAKING THE CODE by Bruce Metzger & David deSilva. Join us as we reclaim a vision of God’s healing love for our world, where we don’t seek to revenge it or escape it, but seek to change it for the better. The Adult Bible Study group invites you to join us on Sundays at 9:30 am, October 18th - November 22nd.  (Participant guides for the study will be made available for $10. We will be using a dvd-prompted resource for our sessions, as well.)

Music At First Reformed UCC

SUNDAY - Oct. 11, 2026

Pick-up Choir

"The King of Love My Shepherd Is"

ALL ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE 

Participants meet in the Sanctuary at 10am for a brief practice session.

If you would like to join our Sunday morning choir, or you play an instrument and would like to share your talent during the worship service, please contact our Choir Director,

Ellen Peterson.

Would You Like to Help with Communion?

We are looking to expand our Communion Prep Team! Please scan the QR code to learn more about how you can get involved.

Pastor's Pantry Holiday Boxes

Canned Corn Drive from Oct. 4 - Nov. 8

First Reformed UCC will again be collaborating with other churches and organizations to provide canned goods for Pastor's Pantry for their Holiday Boxes.

These boxes provide a meal for seniors in our community that are food insecure. Our church will be collecting 500 cans of corn. This will be collected between October 4 thru November 8. Please bring on Sundays to the Sanctuary or drop off at the church office on Thursdays and Fridays.

Our Church has always met the 500 cans needed - let's do it again this year!

October 2026 Calendar

Each Week

Mondays from 4:00-6:00pm     FRUCC Clothing Ministry

Mondays (2nd, 3rd, & 4th) from 5:30-7:00pm     Open Hands Meal

Saturdays from 12:00-1:00pm   FRUCC Saturday Lunch Ministry

Fellowship Hall Scheduled Events

10-17     Set-up for Congregational Meal – Fellowship Hall

Events and Meetings

10-2       FRUCC Game Night, 6pm – Fellowship Hall

10-4       Youth Group, 5:30pm – EDU Building

10-6       Men’s Brotherhood, 6:30pm - Yarborough’s

10-11      Consistory, following Worship – Parlor

10-13     Board of Worship, 6:00pm – Parlor

10-14     Board of Evangelism, 5:30pm – Parlor

10-18     Congregational Meal and Budget Meeting,

               Following Service in Fellowship Hall

10-18     Youth Group, 5:30pm – EDU Building

10-21     NAMI Support Group, 1:00pm – Room 13

10-22     JV Football Team Meal, Fellowship Hall

10/24    Lexington Barbeque Festival

10/25     Inquiry Class

10/25     Intersections of Faith Bible Study at 4pm – Parlor

10/28    Women’s Fellowship, 11:30am, Yarborough’s Restaurant

10/30    BooBash from 6-9pm

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

November 1st - Homecoming

also... don't forget to set your clocks back 1 hour

November 8th at 4:00pm

NC A&T University Choir Concert at First Reformed UCC

Sponsored by Faith and the Arts of Lexington, NC

Meals and Rides for June

Thank you to all the volunteers who signed up to drive June to her appointments and take her food. Although the cancer center gave her an overall calendar, they confirm it on Friday for the following week. Cathy will send out a reminder each weekend for the coming week and let you know if any appointment times change. You are a wonderful and caring group of people and June appreciates all of your help!

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First Reformed UCC Youth Group

Oct. 4 & 18 at 5:30pm

Future Youth Group meetings will be on the first and third Sunday of each month. 5:30pm - 7pm

Davidson County

First Hope Ministry - Homeless Shelter

FRUCC Meals Calendar

Intersections of Faith will be providing Monday - Nov. 9, 2026

107 E. First Ave., Lexington

Charles England Elementary School

Please bring your empty plastic grocery bags and leave in the back of the sanctuary on Sunday’s. We need them to bag food items in for the weekend backpacks.              

 Thank you all!

💙🧡💙   Patti

FRUCC Clothing Ministry

In need of men’s clothes (especially smaller sizes). Shirts, pants, shorts, hoodies, and jackets are all in high demand. Also, we need toiletries for people coming through.

FRUCC Saturday Lunch Ministry Donations of bottled water needed. 

On the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 1:00-2:30pm

NAMI IN-PERSON SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Family Support Group meetings at First Reformed UCC in Lexington, NC. Meetings will be held in the Education Building located at 75 N. Salisbury Street, Lexington NC

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NAMI Connection is a support group for adults diagnosed with mental health conditions. Facilitated by trained peers, it encourages safe, confidential sharing in a flexible group setting. 

These meetings are via Zoom. To register, visit our Calendar; https://naminwpiedmontnc.org/calendar/, 

and click on a Connection meeting of your choice. Use the “Register” link to enter your information. This will get you to all scheduled meetings for that entry. Email: ncpsstraining@gmail.com 0pm  

• Every Thursday from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. 

• Every Sunday 6:30- 8:00pm Young Adult Connection (18-40 years of age) 

• 3^rd Wednesday monthly from 6:00 to 7:30pm

• Every Thursday from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. 

Dates to Remember the week of 10/3 - 10/11

Saturday, 10/3

12-1:00pm..... Saturday Lunch Ministry

Sunday, 10/4  Holy Communion

9:30am........ Adult Bible Study – Parlor

9:30am........ Choir Practice – Choir Room

10:30am...... Worship Service - Sanctuary/YouTube

11:00am....... Faith Forward Baptist Church – Fellowship Hall

5:30pm........ Youth Group

Monday, 10/5

4:00pm..........FRUCC Clothing Ministry

Tuesday, 10/6

6:30pm.......... Men’s Brotherhood – Yarborough’s Restaurant

Saturday, 10/10

12-1:00pm..... Saturday Lunch Ministry

Sunday, 10/11   Pick-up Choir

9:30am........ Adult Bible Study – Parlor 

9:30am........ Choir Practice – Choir Room 

10:00am...... Pick-up Choir Practice

10:30am...... Worship Service - Sanctuary/YouTube

                     Consistory following Worship Service 

11:00am....... Faith Forward Baptist Church – Chapel 

4:00pm...... Intersections of Faith Bible Study – Parlor

PRAYER CONCERNS

Lee Bouchard, Christie Plummer, Aurelia Smith, June Grubb, Susan Odom, MeLinda Mikaelson

AT HOME

Marge Doty, Lib Hinkle, Carolyn Spivey, Deanna Michael, Pattie Everhart

IN CARE FACILITIES

Peggy Bates – Grayson Creek, Welcome

Gennie Lou Byerly – Abernethy Laurels, Newton

Myrtle Latimer – Countryside Village, Stokesdale

Eulene Shepherd – Piedmont Crossing, Thomasville

FRIENDS

Linda Flowers (Aunt of Elizabeth Horton)

Gary Peterson (Father of Jeremy Peterson)

Our Saturday Lunch Guests

Students, Faculty, and Staff of CEES

Those attending the UCC Cuba Study

Trip/Seminar in January

Your deposit of $100 is due October 15th, 2026