Would you like to help open up the church, greet people and hold the door as they enter, pass out worship guides, and generally help congregants be ready for worship on Sundays? You might love being an usher!

Talk to Yvonne Hill-Davenport to usher in the month of October!

This year's stewardship theme, Beyond the Bricks, reminds us that the church is so much more than the building where we gather on Sunday mornings. The church is also what happens when we walk out its doors and carry God's love into our community. By considering how you plan to offer your time, talent, and treasures in 2027 and sharing your intentions, we are able to build our church budget and calendar in a way that reflects our whole church!

This Stewardship Season we are sharing stories from some of our FPC Family! Read Pam Stillerman's stewardship story below!

How do you give?

“When we speak of “church,” it’s easy to picture a building — bricks, walls, a steeple. But when we study Scripture, we begin to see “church” as people over place, a community of believers rather than a building. This year’s stewardship theme, “Beyond the Bricks,” reminds us of exactly that. Our church is a family of believers who gather at 1169 Clark Street in Covington, GA, to put love into action and help bring God’s kingdom to earth.

1 Peter 4:8–11 tells us that those who belong to the family of God should “love each other deeply,” “offer hospitality without grumbling,” and use their gifts to serve one another so that God is honored in everything.

So… what are my gifts? Preaching? No — when I stand in front of a large crowd, I talk way too fast. Singing? Absolutely not — I sing with joy, but only the melody, and you would kindly ask me not to sing. Planning and managing budgets? Also no — too many lines to follow!

None of those are my gifts.

Fortunately, our church needs all kinds of gifts. I do have a healthy, strong body that allows me to share tree poses and cat-and-dog poses with children, lead stretches with the congregation, and stand holding bags under a funnel for two hours while we pack more than 12,000 meals during our recent Rise Against Hunger event. I use my arms to hug as we pass the peace. I use my smile to welcome folks.I also have a sharp, curious mind that makes me a “Bible Nerd,” eager to share my excitement for Scripture with our youth in Sunday School. I love meeting new people and enjoy welcoming new members as part of the Welcome Team. And I’m not afraid to use my voice on Session — even when I disagree — and I’m grateful for the unity that comes when we listen, learn, and sometimes change our minds together.

Over the past three and a half years, as I’ve experienced the loss of my husband and survived breast cancer, this church family has carried me. You have prayed for me, encouraged me with words and cards, fed me, called me, and never stopped inviting me to share my gifts. Every gift we have is God-given — and every gift is GOOD.“ - Pam Stillerman

Make your pledge for 2027!

The Pledge Card itself does not initiate a payment, but it does tell us what we can expect from you in 2027 while we plan our annual budget!

Completed Pledge Cards can be 

• Emailed to peni@fpccov.org
• Brought/mailed to the Church office
• 1169 Clark Street SW, Covington, GA 30014
• Placed in the offering plate during worship

Time & Talent Ministry Spotlight:

Deliver to community partners following donation drives

We love being able to support our community through the Witness Team! We often have donation drives for different organizations wherein we invite our FPC family to bring donations to the narthex by a certain date. Past examples have been toilet paper drives for Repairers of the Breach, underwear drives for Alcovy CASA, canned food drives for the Newton County Community Food Pantry, and school supply drives for our Partners in Education Fairview Elementary and Clements Middle! Following the conclusion of the drive we people who can help us load the donations from the narthex into a car and drive them to our local community partners! It is a wonderful way to be able to interact with the organizations we work with through witness and outreach!

Check "deliver to community partners following donation drives" on your Time & Talent to show your interest helping out!

Home for the Holidays: An Advent Devotional by the People of FPC

This Advent, as we prepare our hearts once again to welcome Christ into the world, we invite you to help tell the story of home. As First Presbyterian Church celebrates 200 years of ministry together, we are reminded that the church is more than a building. First Presbyterian Church is a community of people, stories, memories, traditions, and relationships that God has woven together across generations. Our 2026 Advent devotional, Home for the Holidays, will be written by the people of FPC Covington, and we would love for you to be one of our contributors!

We are inviting members and friends of all ages to share a short story about what “home” means to you. Perhaps it is a childhood memory, a person who made you feel like you belonged, a holiday tradition, a crowded table, a season when home changed, or a moment when the church became home. Your story does not need to be a sermon or have all the theological answers. Simply share a piece of your life and consider: Where was God in this story? Together, our stories will guide us through Advent as we celebrate the God who, in Jesus Christ, chose to make a home among us.

Each contribution should include

• a Scripture passage
• a 200–350 word story/reflection
• and a short prayer of 1-3 sentences.

Please submit your contribution to Angie Woodham (angelanwoodham@gmail.com) by October 28!

We hope you will help us fill this Advent season with the voices, memories, faith, and stories of our church family.

We Are Hiring! We are excited to announce our church received a grant through the Sacred Arts Collective! This grant allows us to hire two artists in residence! See Job Description at fpccov.org/jobs

Change the World Day is on Saturday, October 24th from 11am-2pm

Witness committee is asking for diaper donations to help families in need. Drop your donations into the bin in the narthex by October 18!

Then, come join us for Change the World Day, an annual community event of education, service, fun, food, fall festival and fellowship hosted by FUMC!

Our witness team will have a booth to let us reach out and connect to people in our community of all ages! If you’d like to volunteer please reach out to Sara Chini!

We will have a table at Trick or Treat on Legion Field!

Contact Sara Chini to volunteer!

We will be there for the 2:00pm-4:00pm event on Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 31) AND for the sensory-friendly event on Friday, Oct. 30 from 10:00am-12:30pm!

You are invited to bring candy donations to the narthex by October 26!

What a joy to have Brian Dean take photos for the directory!

If you'd like to preview your directory photos or order prints for your home you may click HERE or the button below.

Foundations Sunday School (Adults): This class explores the lectionary scriptures each week, taught by a rotation of teachers. Our Foundations Sunday School meets in the Library.

The WiredWORD (Adults): This class explores current events and discusses how our faith intersects and informs our response. Our WiredWORD class meets in the Parlor.

Youth Sunday School (Middle/High School): The class explores the lectionary scriptures each week, often as they relate to the weekly sermon. Youth Sunday School meets in the Youth Room.



​Children's Sunday School (Elementary School): Children learn about God's love through the Bible, play, and song. Children's Sunday School meets in the Children's Sunday School Room.

FPC Legacy of Love Endowment

Remember you can always give to the FPC Legacy of Love Endowment to make a gift that will last for generations to come!

Please keep the following people and their loved ones in your prayers this week:

Most recent prayer requests

Requests will be moved to “ongoing” after three weeks unless the office is notified.

• Pat Harper - recovering from surgery
• Caroline Harper, daughter of Pat Harper
• Margie Shepherd, friend of Miriam Wheeler - ICU
• Bob Woodham, graddfather of Braden Woodham - recovering from fall
• Judi Barton, mother of Perri Walden - stroke & rehab
• Wesley Ralston, father of Josh Ralston - recovering from heart attack
• Betty Smith, friend of Stephanie Scarborough & former member - hospice care
• Brian Stollof, brother-in-law of Tina Boston



Ongoing prayer requests

Requests will be removed from “ongoing” after six weeks unless the office is notified.

• Danny Vining - recovering from heart catheterization
• Cathy Elvin, loved one of Susan & David Flory - stage IV cancer
• Miriam Wheeler
• Robert Burnside, family of Paisley Lane - stemcell transplant
• Mrs. B. Cross & Angie, friends of John Leavitt
• Donald Vining, brother of Danny Vining
• Tootles Tingler - recovering from knee surgery
• Dan Lindsey - lung cancer treatment
• Billy Clary, son of Bill Clary ICU
• Michelle Whitaker, daughter-in-law of Judy & David Pettis - lung issues
• Anne Cranford
• Philip Abston, father of Mary Catherine Whisnant - blood cancer treatment
• Jim Carpenter, son-in-law of Beverly & Dan Kratz - leukemia diagnosis
• Kim Julius, friend of Meghan Usry - stage IV cancer
• Ed Perkerson - early Parkinson's
• Debby Barr, friend of Jo Anna Fish - brain cancer

Celebrations

• Congratulations to Jon Paschal for receiving the "Annandale Villager of the Year" capstone award!

Condolences

• Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Lee Ellen Digby, including her daughter, Terri Digby, as they mourn Lee Ellen's passing on October 5th. A service was held on October 10th.
• Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Cy Wolverton as they mourn his passing on September 20th. A service will be held on October 19th at 2:00pm at Roswell UMC with Rev. Neeley Rentz Lane officiating.
• Our prayers are with Dave Pettis and his loved ones as they mourn the passing of his mother, Margaret Pettis.

Independent and Assisted Living

• Reid Buckelew - Merryvale Assisted Living
• Tom Crews - Prema at Ashton Hills
• Sarah Davis - Merryvale Assisted Living
• Jean Elder - Florida with her daughter
• Dot Fincher - Madison, GA
• Louly Hay - Presbyterian Village Athens
• Carol McGiboney - Prema at Ashton Hills
• Jon Paschal - Annandale Village, Suwanee
• Lynda Patrick - Prema at Ashton Hills
• Louise White - Prema at Ashton Hills
• Bob Woodham - Prema at Ashton Hills

Military Service

• Koen Ardis - Navy
• Benjamin Iannucci, III - Air Force

Prayer requests and updates may be given to the pastor, put in the offering plate, or emailed to catherine@fpccov.org