Generosity Sunday

November 15

One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. - Psalm 145:4

“Stewardship is an act of joyful worship.” This has been the theme of our ongoing conversation about the faithful and financial practice of stewardship in support of our mission at First Presbyterian Church of Athens. Psalm 24 is clear in its declaration that all that we have is indeed a gift from God; the parable of the talents in the 25th chapter of Matthew tells us that we are to use those gifts to advance the kingdom on earth. The worship is in the giving, not the gift. On Generosity Sunday, we will present our estimates of giving as an act of faith and finance. We commit to making monetary gifts and we commit our lives as living gifts to God. Thank you for prayerfully considering this opportunity as an act of worship to support the life and mission of First Presbyterian Church.

On the morning of Sunday, November 15, we'll dedicate our Thanksgiving Food Bags for the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank. If you haven't yet picked up your reusable bag, you may pick up a bag from the Atrium or the church office or bring your own. The shopping list will be included with the reusable bag and printed in the bulletin. Alternatively, you may make a gift to the church of $50 and mark it "Thanksgiving Food Bags."

In worship that morning, we'll dedicate our commitments of time, talent, and treasure to the work of the Lord at FPC for the year 2027. Commitment cards have been mailed out, but if you haven't received one before the 15th, you can fill one out online here.

On that Sunday at 12 noon, we'll celebrate God's generosity with an all-church potluck in the Fellowship Hall. The church will provide baked ham and beverages - please bring a dish to share (crockpots are welcome). In hopes of covering our tables with a nice variety of dishes, we ask that you bring something in the category that corresponds with the first letter of your last name:

A-G: starchy sides (pasta, potatoes, etc…)    

H-M: vegetable sides

N-R: salads

S-Z: desserts

Come celebrate God's abundant love and generosity with us at FPC!

Holiday Meals on Wheels Drivers Needed

Thanksgiving drivers are still needed! Every Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day volunteers from First Presbyterian Church deliver nutritional meals to homebound seniors. Volunteers meet at the Athens Community Council on Aging at 135 Hoyt St. at 10:00 a.m. The routes take 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

If you are interested in delivering meals, please contact Mary Burton at marybu1325@gmail.com. Since this is a popular family event, please be sure to sign up early.

Thornwell Offering

November 22

Thornwell Offering

Your gift will help prevent child abuse and neglect, build up and reunite families, and support healthy communities in the name of Jesus Christ. Begun as an orphanage in Clinton, SC, Thornwell now has multi-faceted programs to help children including foster care, residential care, family services, and child development services. Please make your check to FPC with “Thornwell” noted on the bottom or go to online (please select “Thornwell” under “Select a Fund”). Thanks to the generosity of a friend of Thornwell, this year, whatever is given to Thornwell will be matched dollar for dollar! Please give generously!

Thanksgiving Books for Children

Our library has a number of books about Thanksgiving on display in the children's section. It contains books for early readers up to YA reading level. The selections range from histories of the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving to stories of how families have celebrated this special day in our country. Also, the display has books about animals celebrating Thanksgiving Day, including Arthur Aardvark and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Stop by to check out a book for the holidays.

Salvation Army Angel Tree

Please consider purchasing Christmas gifts for one or more of the Salvation Army “angels” (infants –12-year-old children) posted in Fellowship Hall. Detailed instructions are available when you select your “angel.” Please bring your gifts to church by Sunday, December 6, or to the church office by Friday, December 4.

Christmas Tea at FPC

Tuesday, December 8

All are welcome to attend the annual Christmas Tea hosted by the Congregational Care Commission on Tuesday, December 8, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. It will feature The Mellows leading Christmas songs and a message by Dr. Ryan Baer. Please RSVP to the church office at (706) 543-4338 by Friday, December 4.

Need a ride? Please contact Madeline Van Dyck at madelinevandyck@gmail.com.

FPC Women's Winter Retreat

Save the Date for the Women’s Retreat!

Save the date for the next FPC Women’s Retreat on January 8-10, 2027 at Lake Cherokee, SC. Join us for a weekend of rest, study, reflection, and fellowship! Email Rev. Whitney Booth Lockard (whitney@firstpresathens.org) to reserve your spot or if you have any questions.