October 5-6, 2024

International Peacemaking Weekend

and World Communion Sunday

The FPC Mission Committee is glad to be hosting a series of events October 5-6 in honor of World Communion Sunday and our guest preacher, International Peacemaking Speaker Rev. Dr. Hiheon Kim.

Saturday, October 5



On Saturday, October 5 a group will carpool/caravan to Montgomery to visit the EJI Legacy Museum and Memorial. Pre-registration for this event has ended, but if you would like to attend please contact Kathy Reed at kreed@fpcauburn.org and you are welcome to carpool/caravan with the group going from the church.

Sunday, October 6

Guest Preacher and Special Sunday School Offering

We look forward to the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Hiheon Kim. Dr. Kim is the senior pastor of Hyanglin Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, chair of the Society of Koren Minjung Theology and representative of the Hyosun-Miseon Peace Park Project. He has long been engaged in Christian activism at the intersection of social justice and spirituality, especially regarding ecology and efforts to reunify the Korean peninsula. Join us at both worship services as well as in the chapel during the Sunday School hour to hear more about Dr. Kim's peacemaking ministry.

Peace & Global Witness Offering

Throughout the month of October we will be receiving donations for the Peace & Global Witness Offering. 25% of your donation remains in our community to support the efforts of the Domestic Violence Intervention Center of East Alabama. 

Serving Lee, Macon, Chambers, Tallapoosa, and Randolph counties, the DVIC provides a 24-hour crisis line, a confidential emergency shelter, case management, legal advocacy, child advocacy, counseling, referrals to community agencies, support groups, and transportation for its clients.

Of the remaining 75% of your donation, 25% is used by our presbyteries and synods for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.

You may give your gift online here or by sending in a check (payable to "FPC" please note "Peacemaking" in the memo.)

FPC friends and members of all ages are invited to our Second Saturday volunteer opportunity at the Community Market (3810 Pepperell Pkwy in Opelika.) 

We will stock, clean, assist clients - whatever we are asked to do. You are welcome to sign up for a partial shift if you cannot stay the whole time. Children under 12, please bring a grown up with you!

Sign-up Here

PW Circles Tuesday, October 8

Circle 1 will meet at the home of Myrna Walker, 1892 Ellington Way, Auburn at 10 am.

Circle 2 will meet at the home of Susan Parker, 2704 Stonybrook Road, Opelika at 10 am.

Circle 3 will meet in the church library at 2:30 pm.

Circle 4 will meet Oct 16 in the church library following the congregational dinner at 6:15 pm.

We had a successful Flu Vaccine Clinic last Sunday with 49 participants. Several people commented on how convenient this clinic is which is good news. We continue to rely on The Drug Store for their assistance. If you need a copy or date of your injection, feel free to contact them. Wishing everyone a healthy no-flu year!

Jan Widell, Parish Nurse

FPC Women's Retreat Registration

Registration is now open for our 2025 FPC Women's Retreat!

This retreat is open to all women of the church but especially intended for those who are in need of some sabbath time away in nature. We will have times of reflection, prayer, bible study, and fellowship.

We will also enjoy all that our presbytery's camp, Living River, has to offer: hiking, crafting, campfires and more! At the registration link below you'll find several housing options. This year, the price of the retreat is tiered based on which housing option you choose.

Limited private rooms are available but there are several options for semi-private arrangements as well as old-fashioned camp cabins!

https://forms.gle/owva7Czt4SW6ueSv8

Prices include two nights lodging and meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast: 

Private Rooms: $120-$180

Semi-Private Rooms: $90-110

Shared Cabin (6 max to a cabin): $80

Please contact Kathy Reed with questions at kreed@fpcauburn.org. 

Session Notes

During its in-person and Zoom online stated meeting on August 25, the Session…

• learned that the church’s income for July was $60,960; expenses, $95,179; and net income, minus $34,219; for year-to-date (January and July), income was $527,709; expenses, $487,278, and net income, $41,430;

• approved Jean McRae’s transfer of membership to First Presbyterian Church, Ocala, Florida;

• learned that the Legacy Committee has approved the transfer of $10,000 from the estate of the late Elizabeth “Lib” Johnson into the Legacy Fund and has approved $788 to pay the expenses of Brittany Branyon, UKirk Program Director, to attend the 2024 UKirk National Gathering and $750 to the Mission Committee for the Youth Mission Committee so that our church will become a sponsoring congregation of that ministry;

• learned that our presbytery has sent to Alabama legislators its “Statement on DEI Law in Alabama,” which reflects its values related to diversity, equity, and inclusion;

• approved a congregational meeting to elect elders for the Class of 2027, a trustee for the Class of 2027, and the 2025 Nominating Committee;

• approved the use of $30,800 in Capital Replacement funds to hire Jackson Exterior Finish Specialists to make plaster repairs in the sanctuary, the Gay Street stairwell, and the women’s restroom in Conway Hall;

• approved the formation of a task team to develop a plan for using Capital Replacement Funds for the possible need to replace the sanctuary roof and the HVAC for the sanctuary;

• elected Katie Forster and Todd White (with a third person to be appointed later) to serve as commissioners for the presbytery meeting at Cahaba Springs Presbyterian Church on November 21; and

• learned that its next meeting would be September 15 at 5:30 p.m.

At called meetings in July, the Session received Reid and Leslie Chambers as new members, transferring from Church of the Highlands, Auburn, and approved Karen Herring, Julie Price, and Todd White to serve as commissioners to the presbytery meeting on August 15.

Church members may read the complete, approved minutes for these meetings in the church office. 

This Week at FPC

Oct. 6-12, 2024

Sunday

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

9:30 AM - Coffee and Fellowship (Baird)

9:45 AM - Sunday School for all ages

11:00 AM - Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Bulletin for October 6 worship

Sunday Parking Map

3:00 PM - Children's First Sunday Fellowship & Dinner

5:00 PM - Youth Dinner & Fellowship

7:00 PM -UKirk Dinner & Bible Study

Tuesday

10:00 AM - PW Circle #1 (1892 Ellington Way)

10:00 AM - PW Circle #2 (2704 Stonybrook Road)

2:30 PM - PW Circle #3 (Church Library)

Saturday

9:00 AM - FPC @ Community Market

Children and Youth News

Save the Date!

The Trunk or Treat Fall Festival will be October 27 from 5-7pm.

Stay tuned for more details! 

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

• Registration is now open for the 2024 Children's Retreat to Living River. Open to all K-5th graders, click here to register! Registration deadline is Oct. 24
• Worship bags are available for all children during worship.
• Godly Play: There will be no Godly Play this Sunday. The children will remain in the sanctuary for communion.
• Worship Readiness: Attention 3rd graders!!! Worship Readiness began September 8 and class will continue for six weeks. The children will be recognized in worship October 20.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth

• Parents, click here to download the Children and Youth Fall Calendar.
• Jr. and Sr. High Youth meets this Sunday with dinner at 5 and Youth Group from 5:30-6:30.
• Jr./Sr. High Parents, there are still a few slots open to volunteer to provide youth dinner. Our youth enjoy fellowship around a meal every Sunday evening from 5 - 5:30. But we can't do it without your help! Click this link to sign up!

Birthdays 

Oct. 7 - Donine Cooper

Oct. 8 - Linda Carter

Oct. 9 - Todd Jolly

Oct. 12 - Lilia Hall

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

• Prayers of healing for Stewart Whatley as he receives care and treatment for pneumonia at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. Prayers for Adele, Stites, and all of Stewart’s family as they care for him.

• Prayers of wholeness, comfort, and rest for Nancy Gamble as she returns to Morningside after a stay in the hospital. Nancy will be receiving hospice care to keep her comfortable in the weeks/months ahead. She requests NO visitors or phone calls but welcomes prayers and cards.

• 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 healing, wholeness, and comfort for many in our congregation.

• Prayers of healing for Dorothy Bock as she continues to navigate health issues at home.

• Continued prayers of healing for Henry Helmke as he navigates health issues at home. 

• Prayers of healing for Joyce Bravaldo as she navigates health issues at home. 

• Continued prayers of healing for Nathan Hall as he recovers at home after receiving care at EAMC. 

• Prayers of healing for Amanda Covington Anderson as she continues to heal. Prayers for Frank and Carole and all of Amanda’s family as they care for her. 

• Prayers for Catherine Wolfe Riley’s father Ned. Ned will have heart catheterization surgery in a few weeks for a partially blocked artery due to chemotherapy. Prayers for Catherine as she cares for her father.

• Prayers of healing for Debbie Duin’s brother Warren and sister-in-law Janet as they both recover from significant falls. They are both home after a brief stay in the hospital. Prayers for Debbie as she cares for her brother and sister-in-law from a far. Continued prayers of healing for Debbie as she recovers from successful knee surgery. 

• 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 of healing for Olyne Fischer’s daughter-in-law Chell Fischer. Chell has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will have surgery in a few weeks. Prayers for Olyne as she cares for Chell and her son Gary from afar. 

• 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 Joan Foil’s granddaughter Kate Mouchet as she continues to heal.

• 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 Don Ball’s son, Kelly, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for recurrence of cancer.

• Prayers of healing for Daniel and Amanda Johnson’s nephew James Ivey as he receives critical care. Prayers for the doctors and caregivers who are caring for him, especially his parents and family..

• Prayers for former Ukirk student Shannon Smith as she recovers at home after having a stroke.

• Prayers of healing and wholeness for Becky Buchanan’s family friend Hughes Allen who has been diagnosed with cancer.

• Prayers for Amy Kilner (daughter-in-law of Dorothy Moran) as she recovers from a kidney transplant.

• Prayers for Jim Foil and his family as they continue to manage Jim’s health.

• 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. 

• Prayers for Brooke Myers as she cares for her father, Charlie Myers. Charlie is recovering from a fall and has moved to Morningside.