In lieu of our traditional Christmas Mission Dinner the Mission Committee will be hosting a soup and chili lunch following the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday, November 21.

Sign up to provide a crockpot of soup or chili HERE.

As in past years, we will be taking up a special Christmas Mission offering to benefit specific needs in our local community. The proceeds from this collection will go to the Christmas Funds of the Lee County DHR and our local chapter of the Salvation Army, enabling them to serve their clients during this Christmas season. You can make your donation online (under "Special Offerings") or by check (please include "Christmas Mission" in the memo).

"that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith,

as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” - Ephesians 3:17

We have made great progress on our goal for the 2021 stewardship campaign. To date, we have received pledges for $561,018 toward our goal of $767,641. Of the 135 individuals/families who pledged in 2021, 98 have already submitted their pledge for 2022!

Time is running short, so please submit both your financial and time and talent pledge

for 2022 TODAY at: https://www.fpcauburn.org/pledge

To learn more about the session's vision for ministry at FPC in 2022, click here to access a PDF version of the campaign brochure.

If you would like to donate as part of our sanctuary Advent decorations a poinsettia plant in honor or memory of a loved one, please fill out this form and mail (or drop into the collection) a check payable to First Presbyterian to the church office by Monday, November 29. Paper forms are available in the narthex as well.

The weeks ahead will be filled with many opportunities to celebrate the Advent season! Visit www.fpcauburn.org/advent to find out more - click on any event in the calendar for more details and/or to add it to your own Google calendar!

ALL current COVID-related policies including worship procedures, building use policies, small group gatherings, masking, and requests for exceptions can now be found on www.fpcauburn.org/covid. This page will be updated as changes are approved by the church's session.

Hats off to our friends at the Bravehearts Center for Place and Purpose, who donated 2,212 pounds of food to the Beat 'Bama Food Drive! Many thanks to all of those who brought in items during October and to our Mission Committee's Trunk or Treat Trunk. What a great way to work together with some of our favorite local outreach organizations!

(contact Chris Sarkowski for information on classes ages preK-12th grade

and Rev. Kathy Reed for information on adult classes)

✵ 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.: In-Person, Indoor Worship -  If you attend one of the indoor services you will notice many differences from our "normal" sanctuary worship. At this time, based on recommendations from our COVID Task Force and Session, we will have a very simple service without passing of the peace and several other elements you might be looking forward to sharing with your church family. However, as local conditions and guidelines continue to improve it is our greatest hope that we will begin adding back in all these elements of worship we know and love. Thank you so much for your patience and grace as we try to maintain the greatest level of safety for our congregation, musicians, worship leaders, and our greater community.

At the sign-up link below (and the email containing the sign-up sent on Thursday), you will find detailed information on our current protocols for worship attendance.

✵ 11:00 a.m.: Virtual Worship - We are pleased to announce that we are live-streaming our worship service at 11 a.m. What this means is that those worshiping from home will be able to watch the service live as it is happening in the sanctuary. To view the service you can go directly to our church’s YouTube Channel via your computer, smartphone, or Smart TV app (https://tinyurl.com/t7dl8vh) or you can access the worship service through our website or Facebook page.

If you are unable to watch live at 11 a.m., a recorded version of the service will be available at these same links later in the day.

Feeling off-balance? Join us for exercises that focus on strength, balance, and recovery on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Monday of each month, 9-10 a.m. in Baird Hall. FPC Covid protocols followed. Contact: denise_salo@yahoo.com

Children Pre-K through 5th grade

•   Advent Craft Workshop for Children this Sunday, 3 p.m., in Baird Hall!

•   Mark your calendars! Our Pre-K through 5^th graders will be leading worship on December 5. The Pre-K through 1^st graders will be singing two songs and 2^nd through 5^th graders will have speaking parts. Click this link to sign up your child!

Then after worship we will have a pizza lunch and participate in the Christmas Parade. It’s going to be a great day!

•   The nursery is available from 9:30 until noon on Sunday mornings for children birth to age 3.

•   Godly Play: After the Word to Grow By (at 11 a.m. worship), children ages 4 to 1st grade will go to the Godly Play room to worship together for the remainder of the worship service.

•   Worship bags are also available for all children during worship.

•   Children’s Sunday school will meet this Sunday from 9:45 – 10:45 upstairs in the children’s classrooms. There will be two classes, Pre-K through 1st grade and 2nd through 5th grade.

•   Masks are required indoors for children 3 & over and youth, as well as all adults working with them.

Jr. and Sr. High Youth

•   Jr. and Sr. High Sunday school meets weekly from 9:45 – 10:45am upstairs in the Sr. High room.

•   Jr. and Sr. High Youth can lend a hand at the Advent Craft Workshop Sunday, 3 p.m.

•   Mark your calendars, the Charleston Youth Mission Trip for Jr. and Sr. High Youth will be June 5-10, 2022 (this is a new retreat, more info to come)

•   Mark your calendars, the Montreat Youth Conference for rising 9th graders through graduated seniors will be July 10-16, 2022

•   Mark your calendars, the Montreat Middle School Conference for rising 6th through rising 8th graders will be July 20-24, 2022 (this is a new conference, more info to come)

The church is now open from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., M-F, for any members needing to drop in on church business. If the door is locked when you arrive, please ring the bell.

Masks are still required, and for contact tracing purposes a sign-in sheet will be placed on the small table outside the kitchenette where you will be asked to provide your name and the date/time/purpose of your visit. Small group gatherings must still be arranged with your designated staff person. Thank you for your patience and understanding as the staff continues to operate without designated volunteers to answer the door and phones.

Birthdays

Nov. 21 - Josey Graves

Nov. 22 - David Matchen

Nov. 23 - Elizabeth Garrett, Spence Spencer

Nov. 27 - Philip Carter

Anniversaries

Nov. 24 - Reed and Vickie Cooper (25th!)

• Prayers of healing for Bill Combs as he receives treatment for cancer.

• Prayers for Amy Kilner and her family (daughter in law of Dorothy Moran). Amy is in need of a kidney transplant and is currently looking for a donor.

• Prayers of healing for Belinda (friend of Karen Herring), as she continues treatment and learns the progress of her treatment for cancer. Prayers for her spouse Pooie as she cares for Belinda.

• Prayers of healing for Jason Banks (Margaret Brinkley’s neighbor). Jason is recovering at home after a car accident.

• Prayers of comfort for the Barnes family as they grieve the death of Carolyn Crinkley (cousin of the Barnes family).

• Please continue to pray for many members of our church who are dealing with illness or significant health issues, but at this time do not wish to be mentioned by name.

• We continue to pray for healing and wholeness for those dealing with issues related to Covid-19. We also continue to pray for all the health care workers as they tend to everyone’s well being.