*Sunday, September 3

• Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader:
• Scripture Reader:
• Head Usher: Laura East
• Side Usher: Taylor Pike
• Pennies for Hunger collected

Monday, September 4: Labor Day

• Church office closed

Tuesday, September 5: noon: Bible Study

Saturday, September 9:

• 9am-2pm: Yard Sale in Lighthouse
• 9:30: Walk to End Alzheimer's

*Sunday, September 10

• Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader: Shevaun O'Connell
• Scripture Reader: Shevaun O'Connell
• Head Usher: Laura East
• Side Usher: Taylor Pike
• Flowers: The Grandchildren of Bob and Kathy Moody

Tuesday, September 12: noon: Bible Study

*Sunday, September 17

• Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader: Nicole Harrison
• Scripture Reader: Nicole Harrison
• Head Usher: Laura East
• Side Usher: Taylor Pike
• Flowers: Gray and Sandra Parker 

Tuesday, September 19: noon: Bible Study

*Sunday, September 24

• Sermon: Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
• Worship Leader: Mike Branch
• Scripture Reader: Mike Branch
• Head Usher: Laura East
• Side Usher: Taylor Pike
• Flowers: needed
• Lunch and Discussion after service (see details in article below)

Tuesday, September 26: noon: Bible Study

Prayer List

Please keep the following people in your prayers:

Sheila Gifford, Larry Watson, Ed Martin, Curtis Reeves, Melissa Wilkins, Kathy Key, Ann Yokeley, Jordan Tucker, Bill Rountree, Jean Arrington, Terri Keck, Pam Church, Kathryn Benfer, Wendy Byrd, Mariah Tate, Katherine Heath

If you have a prayer request, contact Anna in the church office or email office@fpcma.com.

You can click on the blue wording to open up documents related to Session meetings.

August Agenda: August 21. 2023 Stated Meeting Agenda

Minutes from previous meetings:

5-15-23 Stated Meeting

8-13-23 Called Meeting

8-14-Called Meeting

A Letter from our Interim Pastor:

Dear Friends at FPCMA,

At its August meeting, the session approved the 2023 budget. Because of the various challenges of the past year, it took longer than average to develop it. The session has developed a new schedule for budgeting. They intend to have the 2024 draft budget ready in the fall and to have a final budget completed and approved no later than February 2024, when all the pledge numbers have come in. 

The 2023 budget is $217,449.00. Of that, $186,166.00 is budgeted to come from pledging. At the end of July, we were 58% through the year. We had received $79.380.50 in pledges, or 44%. Ideally, when we are at 58% of the year, our pledges should also be at 58% as well. 

Summer is a bad time for giving at any church. It's normal for pledging to fall behind and then pick up steam again in the fall. Still, a 14% gap is notable. 

We have several members who do not pledge but give regularly, to the tune of $30,000 a year total. While I would prefer it if they'd pledge, I am very grateful for their gifts--and also their consistency! Those gifts are at 50.5%, only a 7.5% gap from expected. 

To all of you, whether you pledge or give non-pledge, thank you. But there are some financial realities the church needs to consider as we go into 2024. 

The session began planning for the 2024 budget at its August meeting. In anticipation of the likelihood that FPCMA will form a Pastor Nominating Committee in 2024, the session intends to budget $24,000 to cover PNC expenses and moving expenses for a potential pastor and family. This is in addition to regular expenses. Looking ahead, there is legitimate concern that our budget may not be able to cover the hiring of a full-time pastor. 

In short, both your present and your future are largely a function of the church's finances, which is dependent on congregational giving. If 2023 giving continues at its present rate, it will be challenging to make this year's budget goals. That also raises questions about 2024.

Churches hate to talk about finances and so we sometimes forget that the church is just like any business--it can only do what it can afford to do. One of the things I have learned serving on non-profit boards is that for them, money is mission. Surry Medical Ministries and Shepherd's House have no hesitation asking for money, and those of us who support them are glad to give to them. We know that they use their money for a good purpose. What we don't often recognize is that the church is really no different. Money is mission for the church. Whether it's maintaining our building for worship, First Steps, or fellowship events; paying the salary of excellent staffers like Anna, Loida, and Jane; maintaining excellent children's and youth programming; providing professional pastoral care for our parishioners; or supporting local mission needs, the church needs to be able to afford it if we desire good quality in the services we provide. 

Please keep this in mind as we prepare for the annual Generosity Campaign this fall. Your financial generosity directly affects the quality of the ministry we provide to our parishioners, the community and the world. I hope this reminds us that all of our giving is more than just some functional thing that keeps the doors open--it reflects our heartfelt support of the services we provide and our commitment to unique impact that FPCMA has had on our community and on our lives; and our belief that this church is furthering the goals of God's Kingdom on earth. 

Grace and peace, 

Fritz

In August, our total revenue in our General Operating Fund came to $11,229.00, and our expenses were $14,838.79. We have received $103,834.50 in pledged giving to date, which is 59% of our total pledged giving for the year. 

Lunch and Discussion: Sunday, September 24

Last year's separation agreement with the Rev. Griff Gatewood was a difficult time for the church. The session has directed the Transition Team to lead a conversation between the session and the congregation about the events that led up to the separation agreement and lessons the session learned as a result. The session would also like to hear from you about your thoughts and experiences. The congregation is invited to meet with last year's and this year's session, along with the Transition Team and Dr. Ritsch, following worship on Sunday, September 24, in the Fellowship Hall. Sandwiches and light snacks, as well as childcare, will be provided. The event will last about an hour. We encourage you to come with your questions. 

Worship Volunteers Needed:

There are lots of ways to get involved during Sunday morning worship. We need scripture readers, flowers for the sanctuary, greeters, nursery helpers and Little Church helpers. There are sign-up sheets in the foyer, click the button below, or contact Anna at office@fpcma.com

Weekly Meetings on Tuesday

The Godly Play group (ages 3 to 1st grade) will meet from 4-5pm, and Faith Friends (2nd to 5th grade) will meet from 5-6pm in the Scout Hut.

Beacon News:

Youth in middle school and high school meet every Sunday from 5-7pm, in the Scout Hut for Bible study and fellowship. A light supper is usually provided.

Children & Beacons Outing to The Farm in Dobson: 

Sunday, September 24th from 4-7pm

Mark your calendars for a family outing to The Farm. The cost will be $12 per person, children 2 and under are free. Admission includes access to the entire play area, wagon rides, corn maze and pumpkin patch. Please join us for this time of fellowship!

Walk to End Alzheimer's:

Saturday, September 9

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Riverside Park. The activities begin around 9, but the actual walk starts at 10am. Our church has had a team for the past two years and we'd love for you to come walk with us in honor of our loved ones including church members struggling with Alzheimer's and dementia. If you are on Facebook, it's very easy to collect donations using the link the Walk provides.

The link to register is:

http://act.alz.org/goto/FPCMA. If you have questions, contact Beth Pequeno or Blanton Youell. (Beth's email: beth.pequeno@gmail.com)

Help serving the MAHS football team:

This fall, our church has been asked to provide meals for the State Champion Mount Airy High School Football Team before a couple of their home games. Those dates will be Friday, September 29th and Friday, November 3rd at 3:00pm. We need help cooking and preparing the meals, serving, and cleaning up afterwards. Please contact the church office if you are able to help with this, or sign up on the bulletin in the hallway. 

Sandwich Saturdays: 2023

The Missions Ministry Team would like to thank all who volunteered and/or donated to the Sandwich Saturdays mission this summer. We had three Saturdays where church volunteers made 75 bagged lunches that were delivered to children and other individuals in nearby public housing.

We delivered a total of 225 lunches!!

Interior Scout Hut Renovations are complete!

The main area was painted and had the floors replaced. The two bathrooms were totally renovated. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

Future plans include removing the Lighthouse for an asphalt surface for older kids to use. Improvements to the playground area and fencing. We'd also like to renovate the kitchen and make improvements to the exterior including replacing the roof. Your financial support for these projects is necessary before work can begin.

Support Our Area Charities 

Baskets are located in the foyer for donations of non-perishable food for both agencies. Helping Hands also accepts paper products and toiletries.

Please note that the government has returned to pre-pandemic support, so Second Harvest has reduced the amount of food given to our local pantries. They are struggling to meet the needs of our neighbors.

September's special requests are:

Yokefellow: Canned vegetables & cooking oil

Shepherd's House: Toilet paper

Helping Hands: Non-perishable food items

The Shepherd's House Newsletter

Click the button below to view the newsletter and see several ways you can help the Shepherd's House including voting for them using your Chick-fil-a app so they can win a large grant!

100 cards for 100 years:

This October 27, longtime church member Mae Turpin will be turning 100 years old! We would like to honor her by sending her 100 hand-written cards from church members wishing her well. Please take a moment to fill out a card in the foyer, or bring one with you to worship between now and then and place them in the designated basket. 

To Receive Realm Messages by Text:

Never miss a message on Realm! Text the word "START" (in all caps) to 910-469-4825 to Opt-In to receive text notifications when we post communications on Realm. You should already be getting emails and push notifications from the app whenever we post something, but this will also allow you to receive the message by text. 

Next Women's Fellowship Lunch coming soon.

There have been so many other church activities, we are postponing our lunch. We hope to get together soon.

To order the Horizons Magazine and/or devotions book for 2023, CLICK HERE.

Adult Sunday School:

Odds and Ends: This is our longest established class and it meets every Sunday at 10am in the classroom located at the end of the long hallway upstairs.

Lunchtime Bible Study

Every Tuesday, Dr Ritsch offers an hour long Bible study starting at noon.

We are currently studying the Gospel of Mark.

Bring a lunch if you’d like as we discuss what both scholarship and our hearts tell us as we study God’s word.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

9-8-8 is the new three-digit dialing code to reach help for suicide and crisis help across the United States. Please help to spread the word about this very important topic, and encourage anyone you know who may need help to dial 9-8-8. Texting is also an option.

Session Members

Moderator: Dr. Rev. Frederick "Fritz" Ritsch

Clerk of the Session: Bob Keck

Elders:

Class of 2023:

Margaret Cockerell, Beth Pequeno, Mike Branch, Mark Brown, and Taylor Pike (youth elder)

Class of 2024:

Lydia Taylor, David Rives, Gene Rees and Steve Yokely

Class of 2025:

Kelley Jackson, Thomas Reisinger, Laura East and Jane Tesh