Food Sunday

November 2

You may bring donations of spaghetti sauce, canned soup, and canned tuna to church on Sunday, November 2. You may also bring items to the church office until Friday, October 31. Our neighbors in need are very grateful for your donations! Many thanks for your thoughtfulness and generosity!

On the first Sunday of each month, members of FPC Athens bring generous donations of needed food items that are taken to the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank. AAEFB is one of many organizations preparing for increased demand from our neighbors living with food insecurity as the government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits are not renewed. We give thanks to God for the work of agencies and individuals all around the country who are stepping up and sharing more to ensure that our neighbors have access to food. Donating a little extra on Food Sunday is just one way we can respond to God's call to share the love of Christ with Athens and the world.

Daylight Saving Time Ends

November 2

Daylight Saving Time Ends on November 2

Remember to set your clocks back one hour before 2:00 a.m. on November 2.

Wed@First Dinner

November 5

Wed@First Dinner November 5

Wed@First provides an opportunity to experience Christian fellowship and growth in a relaxed atmosphere. It includes Shakespeare and Friends Iliad class (4:30 p.m.), dinner (5:30 p.m.), and choir rehearsal (6:30 p.m.). This fall, you are invited to join us for our LIFT (Living in Faith Together) program which will be during the dinner time. 

LIFT - Living in Faith Together

Participants of all ages will gather at tables to play together, break bread together, study God’s word together, and pray together. The program coincides with the meal, and we will close in time for choir members to attend rehearsal. This is a great way for us to get to know people outside our regular circles and grow together as followers of Christ. All are invited to participate!

Please RSVP for dinner in the Atrium, online, or by contacting the church office e-mail frontdesk@firstpresathens.org or call 706-543-4338 by Mondays at 12:00 p.m. Price is $12/person and a $45/family max (complimentary for children 5 and under).

Celebrate Generosity

November 16

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it -- the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

“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 16, 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 2026. Commitment cards will be mailed out at the end of this week but if you haven't receive one in the mail before the 16th, 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: vegetable sides     

H-M: salads     

N-R: desserts     

S-Z: starchy sides (pasta, potatoes, etc…)

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

Holiday Meals on Wheels

Every Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day volunteers from First Presbyterian Church deliver nutritional meals to homebound seniors. FPC also pays for the meals on these three days. The cost is generally around $1,500. 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 John Turner at johnlovickturner@yahoo.com. Since this is a popular family event, please be sure to sign up early. Donations can be made by writing a check to FPC (noted “MOW”) or give online at FirstPresAthens.org/giving and select “Meals on Wheels” under “Select a fund.”

FPC Resource Pantry Volunteers Needed

There are still a few volunteer spots remaining!

The M25 Commission still needs a few volunteers for November 20 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. to help with set up, clean up, and to assist with the distribution of the pantry items. Please access the sign up at tinyurl.com/FPCResourcePantry2025 if you would like to volunteer.

The Matthew 25 (M25) Commission launched our “Resource Pantry” to create relationships with and support our neighbors in the Bethel Midtown community last fall. Because their needs have not diminished, we will hold fall 2025 pantry distributions of such items as toilet paper, paper towels, batteries, lotion, cleaning products, aluminum foil, laundry soap etc., from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on eight consecutive Thursdays from October 2 to November 20.

Thank you to all who have donated their time and resources for the Matthew 25 Resource pantry this fall!

Recommendations for Elders

Recommendations for Elders

The Nominations and Elections Committee encourages your participation in the process for nominating Elders. Elders should be persons of faith, dedication, and good judgment. Their manner of life should be a demonstration of the Christian Gospel, both within the church and in the world at large.

Please e-mail your suggestions to Ethelyn Simpson, Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee, at simpsonen@bellsouth.net. You can also fill out the form online.

Salvation Army Angel Tree

Will you be someone’s angel this year? 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 7, or to the church office by Friday, December 5.

Family Promise Grocery Gift Cards Needed

Family Promise Grocery Gift Cards Needed

As our community prepares for cuts to SNAP, Family Promise has seen an increase in the number of families in need of assistance and food. Last month, we had 42 families come in during walk-in hours seeking assistance. We already partner with the Food Bank to help with SNAP access and direct food emergencies, however we are working to find new ways to provide relief.

We are collecting $25 grocery (Kroger/Walmart) gift cards to provide in cases of urgent food needs. Gift cards can be dropped off at our Resource Center or mailed to PO Box 581, Athens, GA 30603. Or you can donate online at www.familypromiseathens.org/donate-now. Be sure to write "food gift card" in the comments box.

Join a Choir

First Presbyterian Church enjoys a long and outstanding tradition of great music. Opportunities are available for all ages. Click here for more information or email Dr. John Coble at jcoble@firstpresathens.org.

Click here to read the Fall Newsletter, Fall@First.