Joy and Hope

In Hope: A User’s Manual, Leith Lecturer MaryAnn McKibben Dana relates joy to hope:

Laughter, joy, play—these are essential for cultivating hope. They are also acts of resistance. “I am the darker brother,” writes Langston Hughes in his poem “I, Too.” He knows he is seen as a second-class citizen, without a seat at the table. “But I laugh, / And eat well, / and grow strong.”

Laughter and joy are often the first things to go when everything hits the fan. After the recent pandemic, a pastor friend commented that his congregation desperately needed to play together but seemed too wrung out to do. He worried they had forgotten how.…

The people I know who play most readily (and laugh most easily) are some of the most hopeful people I know. The late Molly Ivans spent her career writing about the often ludicrous machinations of the Texas legislature, which she dubbed the “lege.” She died some years ago of breast cancer, but many Molly-isms live on in the hearts of her fans, including this gem: “Keep fighting for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t forget to have fun doin’ it. Rejoice in all the oddities that freedom and justice can produce. And when you get through celebrating the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was!”

Laughter is physiological as well as spiritual. When we laugh, a variety of muscles contract and relax, which can ease tension and even chronic pain. Studies suggest laughter can boost the immune system. “You know what I like about comedy?” asks Stephen Colbert. “You can’t laugh and be afraid at the same time…of anything. If you’re laughing, I defy you to be afraid.” (pp. 86-87)

MaryAnn McKibben Dana is a writer, pastor, speaker, and ministry coach who lives in Virginia. She will elaborate on her concept of hope—how to find and maintain it—on Saturday, August 17, at Pebble Hill, beginning at 5:00 p.m, with a reception following; on Sunday morning, August 18, during her sermon at both worship services; and during a Q and A session between worship services on August 18. All lectures are open to the public, so we encourage you to bring a friend!

Copies of the book are available at Auburn Oil Company Booksellers. In addition to Hope: A User’s Manual, she has written God, Improv, and the Art of Living and Sabbath in the Suburbs.

--Terry Ley

Copies of Leith Lecture Book Available for Sale This Sunday 

This Sunday, August 11, we will have copies of our Leith Lecturer's book, Hope: A User's Manual, for sale in Baird Hall during our Rally Day celebration. Cost is $15 that you can pay by cash, check, or a "pay later" option. This is a wonderful resource that can be used as a devotional book or read in one sitting!

Join us at the Community Market of East Alabama on Saturday, August 10 from 9am-12pm or anytime in-between. All ages are welcome (kids 12 and under please bring a grown up with you!) We will sort, stock, clean, assist clients - anything that needs doing.

Sign Up Here! 

If you have never volunteered at the Community Market before and have questions, please contact Kathy Reed at kreed@fpcauburn.org

Food with Friends 

It’s time to sign up for this year’s Food with Friends Groups for the 2024-25 school year. This is a wonderful opportunity for members to participate in small groups outside of Sunday worship. We encourage you to sign up again for this upcoming year. Groups will be reassigned so everyone can get to know more members of our church family. Please mark any group that you would like to be involved in. You can sign up at THIS LINK or in the narthex on Sunday mornings. Sign-ups need to be completed by August 25. Call or email Julie Price (334) 332-8643 if you have questions.

Presbyterian Women (PW) Membership Drive

PW is a group of ladies (members and non-members) who meet once a month (Sept-May) for Bible study, fellowship, and through pledges support General Assembly missions, Presbytery missions, and Auburn PW missions.

Want to learn more? Not a member? Want to join? Please visit one of the display tables set up in Baird Hall (Aug 11 only), Narthex, entrance to the Chapel, or under the covered area by the back parking lot. A PW person will be available to answer questions and assist you in signing up.

Fall Lay Readers

God's children of all ages are invited to sign up to serve as a lay reader for our 11am worship service this fall. You will be provided with the readings and prayers for the Sunday on which you serve. We love having a diversity of voices in worship leadership - families are welcome to sign up to serve together!

Update to Church Facilities

It has been a busy few days around the church this week. Two new HVAC units are being installed in Baird Hall to replace the broken units. The work will be finished by next week. All scheduled church activities this weekend scheduled for Baird Hall will now be in Conway Hall.  

This Week at FPC

Aug. 11-17, 2024

Sunday

9:00 a.m. - Worship Service with Weekly Communion (Chapel)

9:30 a.m. - Rally Day Breakfast & Fall Program Preview

11:00 a.m. - Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Bulletin for August 11 worship

Sunday Parking Map

Children and Youth News

Due to a delay in the installation of the air conditioning in Baird Hall, the kick-off cookout and volleyball game have been rescheduled for August 18.

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

• Worship bags are available for all children during worship.
• Children's Church: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 2nd grade will go to the Godly Play room for the remainder of the worship service.
• Worship Readiness: Attention 3rd graders!!! Worship Readiness begins September 8th and class will continue for six weeks. The children will be recognized in worship October 20.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth

• Volunteer at the Food Bank August 10: Saturday, August 10 is our day to volunteer at the Food Bank. Meet in the church parking lot at 8:45 to ride the bus or meet us at the Food Bank at 9. We will be done by 11:45 
• AU Gameday Parking Sign-up: Jr. and Sr. High Parents, please click this link to sign up for your day to help with gameday parking. If your child will be participating in summer retreats/conferences, please plan to volunteer as this money will help offset the cost of these trips.

Birthdays 

Aug. 11 - Elisabeth Irwin, Susanna Jolly, Charles Sexton

Aug. 12 - Mari Ley

Aug. 15 - Erin Brown

Aug. 17 - Caleb Dimick

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

• 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.

• Continued prayers of comfort the family and friends of Cheryl Grisham as they grieve her unexpected death, especially prayers for Cheryl’s spouse Callie and their daughter Kate.

• Prayers of healing for Henry Brandhorst as he recovers from injuries from a car accident. Prayers of healing for the other driver who is in serious condition.

• Prayers of healing for Debbie Duin as she recovers at home after successful knee surgery.

• Prayers of healing for Dorothy Hinkle-Uhlig as she navigates health issues.

• Prayers of healing for Dorothy Bock as she gets stronger each day as she recovers from health issues.

• 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 of healing for Denise Salo’s brother Tom Garrick as he begins treatment for cancer diagnosis. Prayers for Denise as she cares for her brother from afar.

• 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 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 recovers from surgery.

• Prayers of healing for Amanda Covington Anderson as she continues treatment for her recent cancer diagnosis. Prayers for Frank and Carole and all of Amanda’s family as they care for her. 

• Prayers of healing for Karen and Bob Cochran’s friend Randy Tucker as he undergoes a stem cell study for his cancer treatment.

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

• 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.

• Prayers for Catherine Wolfe Riley’s father, Ned. Ned has a recurrence of cancer and will be undergoing treatment over the next few months. Prayers for Catherine as she cares for her father.

• Prayers of healing and rest for Donna Yeager’s mother, Patsy Yeager, as she navigates health issues.

• 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.

• Prayers of healing for Debbie Duin’s friend Ann Suttles who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.