Update: A Chorus of Generosity

Many, many thanks to everyone who has already added your voice to A Chorus of Generosity! So far, we have received 88 pledges totaling $630,920 toward our 2026 stewardship goal of $851,274. Your gifts help sustain the ministries, missions, and worship life that make our church a vibrant community of faith. If you haven’t yet turned in your pledge, there’s still time to join the chorus—every gift makes a difference!

You may make your 2026 pledge online at www.fpcauburn.org/pledge or by submitting a paper pledge card to the church office. 

Decorating for Advent and Christmas 

Please join us after the 11am worship service on Sunday, November 23, as we decorate the church for the Advent and Christmas season. Many hands make light work and there will be tasks for all ages! We hope to see you then.

Congregational Meeting - November 30

The session has called a congregational meeting to be held Sunday, November 30, following the 11am worship service, for the purpose of electing a Trustee for the Class of 2028 and members of the 2026 Nominating Committee. Those nominated include: 

Trustee, Class of 2028 - Robert Cochran

Nominating Committee, 2026

- Jeffrey Stewart

- Ezra Hall (youth representative) 

- Margaret Brinkley

- two current session members TBD in 2026

Advent Faith Formation 2025

As we explore this year's Advent Theme, "Hope Gathers Strength" we have several opportunities for study alongside moments of worship, service, and fellowship.

Sacred Tension: Embracing Dissonance and Dialogue in the Old Testament

Though he will be the first to admit that this book was not written with Advent in mind, Dr. William P. Brown of Columbia Seminary has adapted this work into a four week study exploring traditional Advent themes through the lens of the Old Testament. Join us each Sunday in Advent in the chapel at 9:45am as we explore:

November 30 - HOPE - the Bible as Dialogue

December 7 - PEACE - Genesis

December 14 - JOY - The Joy of Torah (God's Law)

December 21 - LOVE - God With Us

Brown's understanding of dissonance and dialogue in Scripture provide us with a helpful framework for understanding how the bible can help us faithfully approach discord and disagreement in God's world today.

Advent Devotional: Maya Angelou and the Freedom Poetry of Advent

If you would like to receive a digital or paper copy of this year's advent devotional, please fill out the form available here.

This devotional focuses on one of Angelou's poems each week, providing Scripture verses, questions for reflection, prayers and suggestions for meaningful practices in the Advent season.

Time to Order Advent Poinsettias!

If you would like to place a poinsettia in our sanctuary/chapel for Advent (through Christmas Eve), please fill out this ORDER FORM and submit it by Wednesday, December 3. Additional paper forms will be available in the narthex. The plants will be in the sanctuary beginning December 7.

Payment for the plants ($15/each) can be placed in the offering or delivered to the church office. Checks should be payable to First Presbyterian.

Please do NOT make a payment online.

The Cookie Walk Will Soon Be Here!

Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity is calling all bakers to provide cookies for

the 30th Annual Cookie Walk

Helping is easy!

• Bake your favorite Christmas treat - cookies, brownies, fudge, etc. 
• Bring them to church and place them in the Baird Hall kitchen anytime before Friday, December 5.
• Space will be available in the Baird Hall Freezer if you would like to bake ahead. Simply label your plate/tray of cookies with "Cookie Walk."
• Volunteers will deliver the cookies for you!

Questions? Please contact Barbara Tomek-White at topmonek@gmail.com

Winter 2025-2026 Lay Readers Needed

Our church community loves having members of all ages participate in worship leadership. Below is a sign up to serve as a lay reader in December and early 2026. Younger members are welcome to sign up with a friend or family member.

When you sign up for a Sunday, you will be contacted in the week leading up by one of our pastors. All of the readings and prayers will be provided and we are happy to answer any questions. 

Thank you for serving in this worship leadership role!

Sign Up Here!

This Week at FPC

November 23-29, 2025

Sunday

9:00 AM - Worship Service with Weekly Communion (Chapel)

9:45 AM - Sunday School for All Ages

11:00 AM - Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Bulletin for November 23 worship

12:00 PM - Advent Decorating

3:00 PM - Children's Advent Mission Project

4:00 PM - Children's Choir & Dinner

4:00 PM - Youth Choir

5:00 PM - Jr. & Sr. High Youth Dinner & Fellowship

Monday-Friday

Office Closed

Saturday

11:00 AM - Parking Lot Open for Iron Bowl

Children and Youth News

Children's Advent Mission Project

November 23, 3-4pm

Our children Pre-K through 5th grade will be going on a shopping spree! PW and the Mission Committee have graciously donated money to be used to purchase food for the Blessing Box. Our children will use part of that money to purchase non-perishable food items to keep the Blessing Box stocked full for our neighbors who need it.

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

• Children's Choir: Sunday rehearsals continue through Dec. 7. They will meet in Baird Hall at 4 pm for recreation and then head on down to Conway Hall for choir practice from 4:15-5 pm. They will then come back to Baird Hall for dinner with the Jr. and Sr. High Youth. 
• 3rd through 5th Grade Parents! Being an acolyte is a great way for your child to be a part of worship leadership! Click this link and sign up today!!!
• Sunday School: Children's Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 10-10:45 downstairs in their Sunday school classrooms.
• Godly Play: After the Word to Grow By, children Pre-K through 2nd grade will head down to the Godly Play room for worship and fun!
• Worship bags are available for all children during worship.

Senior and Junior High Youth

• Youth Choir Rehearsal begins this Sunday from 4-5pm!!! Jr. and Sr. High Youth will join the children in Conway Hall to prepare for the Music and Mission Program. They will meet in Conway Hall from 4-5pm.
• Jr/Sr High Youth: Youth will meet for dinner in Baird Hall at 5pm and youth group upstairs in the youth lounge from 5:30-6:30. Bring a friend!
• Jr/Sr High Parents! Fellowship around a meal together is an extremely important part of our youth ministry! To help make that happen, please click this link and signup to provide a meal for our youth on a Sunday evening.
• Sunday School: Jr./Sr. High Youth Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 10-10:45 upstairs in the youth lounge.

Parking for AU vs. Mercer, lot opens at 8 a.m., parking is $45/spot, first-come first served

Birthdays 

Nov. 23 - Elizabeth Garrett, Spence Spencer

Nov. 24 - Brittany Dennis-Hancock

Nov. 25 - Carson Herndon

Nov. 28 - Allen Patterson

Anniversaries

Nov. 24 - Reed & Vickie Cooper

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

• Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are recovering from successful surgery, dealing with significant health issues, surrounded by grief and difficult circumstances but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name.
• Prayers of comfort for the family and friends of Joyce Bravaldo as they grieve her sudden death. Joyce died peacefully at home on Thursday morning. There will be a funeral on Sunday at 2pm at the church with a reception to follow. 
• Prayers of comfort for Evert Duin and all the Duin family as they grieve the death of Evert’s sister-in-law Amieta. Prayers especially for Evert’s brother Max and his children Mike, Rita, and James.
• Prayers of healing for Becky Buchanan as she recovers at home after a brief stay at the hospital this week.
• Prayers of healing and comfort for Joy Elam as she navigates health issues and receives care at her daughter Susan’s house.  
• Prayers of healing for Bobbie Thurlow as she recovers from successful leg surgery and receives rehab treatment at Arbor Springs. Prayers for all her family and friends as they care for her.
• Prayers of healing for Mary Burkhart as she recovers at home from successful back surgery.
• Prayers of healing for Steven Kranz’s father as he recovers from knee replacement surgery.
• Continued prayers of healing and comfort for Carole Covington as she navigates health issues. Prayers for Rev. Dr. Frank Covington as he cares for her. 
• Prayers of healing for Steve Schmidt as he recovers from a successful procedure and has learned his cancer treatment has been successful as a form of treatment for a recent cancer diagnosis.
• Prayers of healing for Stephanie Delano’s father as he recovers from a serious car accident. Prayers for Stephanie and all her family as they care for him.
• Prayers of healing for Hunter Anderson (brother to Andy and brother-in-law to Marty) who suffered injuries in a very serious accident earlier this summer. He has been recovering at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta and the family would appreciate prayers for his continued improvement. We also pray for Andy and Marty as his primary caregivers.
• Prayers of healing for Margaret Craig-Schmidt’s brother Bill as he receives treatment and recovers from successful surgery for bile duct cancer at M.D. Anderson. Prayers for Margaret and Steve as they care for Bill from afar. 
• Prayers of healing for Leslie Chamber’s grandmother, Imogene Hill, has she recovers from hip replacement surgery. Prayers for Leslie and all her family as they care for Imogene.
• Prayers of healing for Addy Steele’s mother, Emily McDaniel, as she recovers from significant surgery. Prayers for Addy and her family as they care for her mother.  
• Prayers of healing for Amanda Covington Anderson as she continues to heal and responds well to her cancer treatments. Prayers for Frank and Carole and all of Amanda’s family as they care for her. 
• Prayers of healing for Catherine Wolfe Riley’s father Ned. Prayers for Catherine as she cares for her father.
• Continued prayers of healing, rest, and comfort for Donna Yeager’s mother Patsy Yeager as she navigates health issues at home. Prayers for Donna and her siblings as they care for her mother in Texas.
• Prayers healing and comfort for Sarah Wolak’s brother Chris French. Chris has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome and is receiving treatment for his symptoms. Continued prayers of healing and comfort for Sarah’s mother Susan French as she also navigates health issues.  
• Prayers of healing for Karen and Bob Cochran’s friend Randy Tucker as he undergoes a stem cell study for his cancer treatment.
• Prayers of healing for Anne Leader’s friend Janice Philpot as she continues chemotherapy after a recent cancer diagnosis. 
• Prayers of healing for Don Ball’s son Kelly Ball, who is undergoing immunotherapy treatment for recurrence of cancer.
• Prayers for former Ukirk student Shannon Smith as she recovers at home after having a stroke.
• 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.
• Prayers for Brooke Myers as she cares for her father Charlie Myers. Charlie is recovering from a fall and has moved to Morningside.