Lee County Department of Human Resources Christmas Fund


From now until December 15, our FPC Mission Committee will be accepting donations to the Lee County Department of Human Resources Christmas Fund. This fund is set up to help foster families provide for children under their care during the Christmas season. Funds are used to purchase Christmas gifts as well as other items for children of all ages.


You may make a gift to the DHR Christmas Fund in any of the following ways: 


  • bringing or mailing a check to church (please include "DHR Christmas" in the memo)
  • giving online at www.fpcauburn.org/give and designating your gift under "special offering" 
  • bringing your offering to our Music and Mission Dinner on the evening of December 15 


Please note that December 15 is the final date we can accept donations so that we can get our gift to DHR as soon as possible.

Stock, clean, assist clients - the Community Market is a place where God's children of all ages can find ways to serve others. Please sign up hereto let us know if you will be there.

An Invitation from Westminster Presbyterian in Tuskegee


Westminster Presbyterian Church of Tuskegee

invites First Presbyterian Church of Auburn

to our Annual Christmas Celebration


Dear First Presbyterian Church of Auburn,


On behalf of the congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tuskegee, we are delighted to extend a warm invitation to you to join us for our Annual Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 4:00 pm at 1806 Franklin Rd, Tuskegee Inst., AL.


We have felt a deep and lasting connection to your congregation, especially through the exceptional service and care provided by your pastors during our time of need throughout the COVID pandemic. Having Rev. Nick Reed, Rev. Kathy Reed, and Rev. Caroline Barnett serving our congregation during that challenging period was truly renewing and inspiring. Their support brought us great comfort, and we are forever grateful.


Our joy in attaining Rev. Michael Thurman as our new pastor was bittersweet for us. While we are excited, we also realized that we would be saying goodbye to Nick, Kathy, and Caroline—who, by that time, had become like family to us.


We would love for you to join us for this year’s Annual Christmas Celebration. Our program will include scripture readings and a mix of traditional and non-traditional Christmas carols. 


A reception will follow the program, providing a time for fellowship and celebration.


We hope you can join us for this special event and look forward to celebrating the season together.


Judith Baldwin, Clerk of Session

Cynthia Wilson, Minister of Music

What would you do if you were not afraid?


Life can be filled with uncertainty and fears. It wasn't any different two thousand years ago when Jesus was born. An aged priest is told he is about to become a father for the first time. A young woman is told she is going to give birth - outside the protection of marriage. A simple carpenter is asked to believe the impossible. A group of shepherds' night on a hill is interrupted by a bright host of angels in the sky.


Yet, each of these encounters begins with the same refrain: do not be afraid.


Those words, though, are not just words of comfort; they are an invitation and a calling from God. In this year's Advent study, pastor Erin Wathen challenges us to take this timeless message and apply it to our lives today.


We hope you will join us Sunday mornings in December at 9:50am in the FPC Chapel for this hope-filled study!

Download This Week's Advent Devotional 


Patterns of Divine Possibility: An Advent Search


In a world dominated by binary thinking – light vs. dark, good vs. evil – this year's Advent devotion encourages us to look for the more, to recognize that God’s patterns are nuanced, complex, and always beyond the limited constructs we impose. It challenges us to explore faith as trusting in the unseen patterns and embracing a fuller understanding of God’s handiwork.


From art to everyday life, this devotional series invites us to see God’s world as more than either/or. It’s a call to step into divine possibility, with curiosity and openness, just as the Advent season prepares us to welcome Christ into the world.


Download this week's reflections here.

If you need assistance, please email Rev. Dr. Kathy Reed (kreed@fpcauburn.org)

Session Notes



During its in-person and Zoom online stated meeting on September 15, the Session…


• learned that the church’s income for August was $55,546; expenses, $63,337; and net income, minus $7,791; for year-to-date (January through August), income was $583,255; expenses, $549,615; and net income, $33,640;


• agreed to purchase 128 new chairs for Baird Hall;


• agreed to use $475 from the Mary Elizabeth Cain Peacemaking Fund to cover the cost of housing our International Peacemaking speaker in October;


• elected Karen Herring as the third commissioner to attend the presbytery meeting on November 21 and Susan Stanley as an alternate commissioner; and


• learned that its next stated meeting will be on October 20 at 5:30 p.m.


*****


During its in-person and Zoom online stated meeting on October 20, the Session…


• learned that the church’s income for September was $50,806; expenses, $84,236; and net income, minus $33,430; for year-to-date (January through September), income was $634,061; expenses, $6332,851; and net income, $210;


• learned that a congregational dinner on November 20 will welcome members new to our church during the past two years;


• agreed to seek congregational approval for a loan of up to $250,000 through the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program (PILP) to address issues related to the sanctuary roof, gutters, plaster repair, and painting the sanctuary building;


• agreed to form a Property Funding Sources Task Force to include a Property Committee representative, a Finance Committee representative, and one or two volunteers with relevant experience, such as grant writing, to seek funding opportunities (grants, rebates, energy-efficiency and accessibility issues, and capital campaign initiatives) for completing projects that remain in the church’s Ekklesia Master Plan as well as paying back the PILP loan (if approved);


• approved serving communion to Rev. Jim Foil in his home; and


• learned that its next stated meeting will be on November 17 at 5:30 p.m.


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

This Week at FPC

Dec. 15-21, 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 December 15 worship

Sunday Parking Map

12:00 PM - Stated Session Meeting

5:00 PM - Music & Mission Dinner


Wednesday

6:00 PM - PW Circle #4 (Elizabeth White, 637 Forestdale Dr.)


Children and Youth News



Children Pre-K through 5th grade


  • 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


  • Volunteering at the Food Bank: This Saturday is our day to volunteer at the Food Bank. Meet at the church at 8:45 to ride the bus or 9am at the Food Bank. We will be finished by 11:30.
  • Youth Christmas Party!!!: Jr. and Sr. High Youth will gather in the Youth Lounge Sunday, Dec. 15 after the Music and Mission Program and Dinner from 7-8pm for a Tacky/Silly Gift Exchange Christmas Party. Bring a silly or tacky wrapped gift and wear your tackiest sweater!
  • Jr. and Sr. High Youth Group: There will be no regular youth group through the end of the year. We will resume regular youth meetings January 12.


Mark Your Summer Calendars!

Charleston Youth Mission trip - June 1-6, 2025

Montreat Youth Conference - July 6-12, 2025

Middle School Montreat Conference - July 16-20, 2025

Birthdays 


Dec. 16 - Ann Wisdom

Dec. 17 - Grace Greer

Dec. 20 - Clare Kranz

Dec. 21 - Rusty Cooper, Merilyn Hozer, Myla Ragan


Anniversaries


Dec. 15 - Chuck and Reesa Gerards

Dec. 16 - Clyde and Susan Stanley

Dec. 17 - Nathan and Katy Hall

Dec. 19 - Bob and Liz Greenleaf

Dec. 21 - Jeffrey and Jennifer Stewart

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations



• Prayers of healing for Kay Recknor as recovers at home after successful surgery.

• Prayers of thanksgiving as the Susan and Allen Patterson welcomes their new grand daughter Lucille June Patterson (Lucy). So happy for Robert and Stephanie and all the Patterson family!

• Prayers of healing for Donna Yeager as she recovers from successful back surgery. 

• 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 Margaret Craig-Schmidt’s brother Bill as he receives treatment for bile duct cancer at M.D. Anderson. Prayers for Margaret and Steve as they care for Bill from a far. 

• Prayers of healing for Todd White’s mother Joan White as she recovers from hip replacement surgery. Prayers for Todd and all his family as they care for his mother.

• 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.

First Presbyterian Church |info@fpcauburn.org | (334)887-5571 | www.fpcauburn.org
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