Congregational Meeting November 17

Members and Friends of FPC Auburn, 

This Sunday, November 17, the session has called a congregational meeting for the purpose of approving a loan of $250,000 with the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program.

In the Spirit of faithful stewardship and full transparency, at the link below you will find a document that outlines how our session elders arrived at this recommendation, including the urgent needs it will address, various alternatives for funding that were considered, and what options our session (in coordination with a session-appointed task force and the Finance Committee) will be considering in order to repay the loan.

Also included in this document is contact information for individuals who are willing to answer any questions you might have prior to Sunday’s meeting. 

We look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday, 

Kathy & Nick Reed

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HANDOUT

Many thanks to all of you who have submitted your 2025 pledge. We are thankful for the initial response and look forward to sharing our Prompt Pledge Parking Prize winner at the Congregational Meal on November 20!

If you have not yet submitted your pledge, our Generosity and Finance Committees would be so grateful if you could do so as soon as possible. Prompt pledging allows us to solidify our 2025 budget and begin to make plans for the year ahead. 

You may submit your pledge in any of the following ways: 

• online at www.fpcauburn.org/pledge (you may also download a PDF of the pledging form at this site)
• placing your pledge form in the Sunday offering plate (extra copies are located throughout the church) 
• taking or mailing your pledge form to the church office

Thank you for helping us move toward the future filled with God's hope!

Plan to attend the Auburn vs. Texas A&M game on Saturday, November 23? If so, come park at the First Presbyterian parking lot and encourage your friends to do the same.

While our parking fundraiser is typically designated for youth camps, conferences, and mission experiences, this year our Youth & Children Committee, in partnership with our Mission Committee, will be donating 100% of proceeds from this extra home game to the Capital Campaign of the Community Market of East Alabama.

Time to Order Advent Poinsettias!

If you would like to place a poinsettia in our sanctuary/chapel for Advent (until Christmas Eve), please fill out this ORDER FORM and submit it by Wednesday, November 27. Additional paper forms will be available in the narthex. The plants will be in the sanctuary beginning December 8.

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 - non-tax deductible transactions violate our agreement with our online service.

On Monday, November 18 at 10 a.m., Presbyterian Women will be coordinating an "Advent Preparations Party" in Conway Hall. 

Join us for fellowship and light refreshments as we sort, prep, and polish Advent decorations to prepare for decorating the church on Sunday, November 24.

Advent Devotional Materials

Order Print Copies by November 22!

Advent begins December 1 and will be here before we know it!

This year's devotional guide, "Patterns of Divine Possibility: An Advent Search for God's Diverse Order" will be sent out digitally each week in our Friday email newsletter. However, if you would prefer a printed copy, please share your name HERE no later than November 25.

Third Wednesday Supper and New Member Dinner

Join us on Wednesday, November 20 at 5:15pm in Baird Hall. Dinner is free and you do not need to bring anything. Come for food, fellowship, and a celebration of our newest church members!

PCM Assists 130 Families During Third Quarter

The Presbyterian Community Ministry (PCM) provided financial and home repair and renovation assistance to 130 Lee County families during the third quarter of this year.

Total income for the quarter was $37,733; expenses were $47,218. Income included $14,665 from donations, $5,844 from membership dues, and $13,000 from our church’s Missions Committee. Expenses included about $26,000 for utilities payments and $7,681 for home renovations. 

Olivia’s was one of the families that found assistance during this quarter. She was referred to PCM by the Domestic Violence Intervention Center. After being sheltered there for several weeks, she found a safe place for her three children and herself. PCM helped her get her power connected so that she could move from the shelter to her new home.

Mike suffered a devastating stroke two weeks after his wife lost her job. No longer able to work, he filed for disability, a long process that left him unable to pay his power bill. When his power was disconnected, PCM helped him get it back on and find other agencies that could help him while he waited for disability income.

Suffering from COVID-related permanent heart failure, Kinesha was finally awarded disability, but because she had to wait for such a long time, she was far behind in paying her bills. PCM helped her pay her gas bill.

Donations of any amount from our church members are always welcome. Those who wish to make a gift to PCM should send their checks to PCM, 143 East Thach Avenue, Auburn, AL 36830. Those wishing to become individual annual members ($250) or family members ($300) should send their checks to the same address.

SAVE THE DATE! 

The 29th Annual Cookie Walk to benefit Habitat for Humanity will be held Saturday, December 7, at True Deliverance Church on North Donahue Drive. You can support this event by: baking cookies, volunteering to help set up and display cookies on Friday evening, or helping with the sale on the day of the event. The Cookie Walk is an important part of raising funds for the WEHELP Coalition that has participated in building 15 new homes for deserving families in our community.

Volunteer Sign-up

UKirk

Friendsgiving

Celebration

PW Circles for November

Wednesday, Nov. 20:

Circle #4, 6 PM, Church Library

This Week at FPC

Nov. 17-23, 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 November 17 worship

Sunday Parking Map

12:00 PM - Congregational Meeting (Sanctuary)

12:15 PM - Elder Training (Library)

4:00 PM - Children's Choir

5:00 PM - Youth Dinner & Fellowship

7:00 PM - UKirk Dinner & Bible Study

Monday

10:00 AM - PW Advent Prep Party (Conway)

Wednesday

5:15 PM - Congregational Dinner (Baird)

6:00 PM - PW Circle #4 (Library)

Children and Youth News

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

• Children's Fellowship and Choir begins this Sunday, Nov. 17, from 4-5:30. Children will meet in Baird Hall for 15-20 minutes of fellowship and recreation and then head down to Conway Hall for choir. At 5 p.m., they will come back to Baird Hall for dinner with the Jr. and Sr. High Youth. 
• Worship bags are available for all children during worship.
• Godly Play: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 2nd grade will go to the Godly Play room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service. 

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.
• Gameday Parking: Parking lot opens at 7:30 a.m. this Saturday. Cost is $40 per spot.

Birthdays 

Nov. 17 - Reagan Cooper, Lindy Mastin, Barbara Pritchard

Nov. 18 - Joah Hall, Gaby Irwin

Nov. 21 - Josey Graves

Nov. 22 - David Matchen

Nov. 23 - Elizabeth Garrett, Spence Spencer

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

• Prayers of healing for Henry Helmke as he undergoes back surgery after a fall. Prayers for Shirley and their children as they care for him. 

• Prayers of comfort for Kathy, John, Lucy, and Merrijo Tamblyn and all their family as they grieve the death of Kathy’s mother, Nancy Calcott. 

• Prayers of healing for Kay Recknor as she navigates health issues at home.

• Prayers of comfort for Donna Yeager as she awaits back surgery that is planned for next week. 

• Prayers of healing for Denise Salo as she heals from a medical procedure and prayers as she awaits two more procedures.

• 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 wholeness, comfort, and rest for Nancy Gamble as she receives hospice care to keep her comfortable in the weeks/months ahead. She requests NO visitors or phone calls but welcomes prayers and cards.

• Prayers of healing for Todd White's mother, Joan White, as she recovers from hip surgery. Prayers for Todd and his family as they care for her.

• 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 Joyce Bravaldo as she navigates health issues at home. 

• 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. 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 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 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.