Sunday: February 5

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Sermon: Dr. Rev. Fritz Ritsch.
Worship Leader: Kathy Moody
Scripture Reader: Joanna Refvem
Head usher: Margaret Cockerell
Pennies for Hunger Collected
Souper Bowl of Caring- bring cans of soup

Bulletin for Sunday, February 5

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Pennies For Hunger: Feb. 5

The first Sunday of the month we pass around yellow buckets for our Pennies for Hunger offering. You can also give to this fund through the Realm app.(click here) Just go to the giving tab and select the fund "HUNGER"

February 10

5pm Beacon Babysitting Night- see article below for details

February 12

Sermon: Dr. Rev. Fritz Ritsch
Worship Leader: Valerie Parker
Scripture Reader: Valerie Parker
Head usher: Margaret Cockerell
Flowers: Needed
Souper Bowl of Caring- bring cans of soup
Congregational Meeting after service
Beacons' Fundraiser Lunch after service

February 19

Sermon: Dr. Rev. Fritz Ritsch
Worship Leader: Joanna Refvem
Scripture Reader: Julia Ann Banfield
Head usher: Margaret Cockerell
Flowers: Bob and Sylvia Chilton
Minutes for Missions

February 21: Lunchtime Bible Study- see article below for details

February 22: Ash Wednesday

5pm Service for Children
7pm Traditional Service

February 26

Sermon: Guest
Worship Leader: Shevaun O'Connell
Scripture Reader: Shevaun O'Connell
Head usher: Margaret Cockerell
Flowers: The Harrisons

February 28: Lunchtime Bible Study- see article below for details

Complete Church Calendar

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

Volunteer

Session Announcements:

Congregational Meeting

The Session of First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Airy has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, following regular 11:00 am worship, for the purpose of electing two elders. The Nominating Committee presents the following slate for a congregational vote:

Laura East

Gene Rees

Next session meeting:

Monday, Feb. 20 at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall

Elder Training

New elders continue to have training Feb. 5,12, and 19 from 9:30-10:30am in the Ladies Parlor. All elders are welcome to attend.

Leadership Training- All invited

As part of the elder training, Dr. Ritsch will lead a class that would be beneficial to all leaders in our church and encourages anyone to attend. Classes will be 9:30-10:30am in the Ladies Parlor.

February 12. What is a leader?

a. General

b. Adaptive Leadership

February 19. What is a leader?

a. Power—what it is and how to use it as a servant

b. Organizing people/money/resources

Donate Online

Help Tackle Hunger

It's time once again to help our area food pantries tackle hunger with Souper Bowl of Caring. Bring in cans of soup, or make a donation, and help tackle hunger! We will be taking donations through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 12.

A basket will be in the foyer for donations. We will divide the donations between Yokefellow and Helping Hands. GO TEAM!!!

Upcoming Beacon Fundraisers:

Valentine's banquet and babysitting night!

Mark your calendars for two upcoming special events and Beacons fundraisers in February.

Friday night, February 10th, 5-8pm. Drop your child(ren) off at the church for a night of safe and fun entertainment while you enjoy an evening out! Beacons (along with adult volunteers) will babysit your children in exchange for a donation for their upcoming summer camps. Look for a sign up sheet on the bulletin board so we know how many to plan for.

Sunday, February 12: Valentine’s Day spaghetti luncheon right after worship. Lunch includes: Spaghetti, lasagna, garlic bread, salad and dessert.

Please contact Loida if you are willing to donate a dessert.

February 5:

5-7pm in the Scout Hut

Bible study and fellowship. Bring a game for us to play together.

Meal provider: Anna Bush

$100 Montreat deposit due

February 10:

Babysitting Fundraiser: Several adult volunteers still needed. Earn money for your summer trip!

February 12:

Host lunch after church. No meeting tonight.

February 19:

5-7pm in the Scout Hut

Bible study and fellowship. Bring a game for us to play together.

Meal provider needed.

February 22: Ash Wednesday Service @ 7pm

February 26:

5-7pm in the Scout Hut

Bible study and fellowship. Bring a game for us to play together.

Meal provider needed.

Confirmation Classes

Sunday, Feb. 5 - 4-5pm - 4th class: Worship, Church Seasons and the Sacraments

Sunday, Feb. 12 - 4-5pm - 5th class: The Bible

Sunday, Feb. 19 - 4-5pm - 6th class: Baptism

Sunday, Feb. 26 - 4-5pm - 7th class: Death and Resurrection

Send your Beacons to youth camp this summer!

FPCMA will be offering two exciting opportunities for our youth this summer for an experience their faith journey will never forget!

Our first trip is Massanetta Middle School Camp in Virginia for our 6th-8th grade Beacons, Tuesday July 18 through Friday July 21st. Approximate cost will be $450 per student.

The second trip is the Montreat High School Youth Conference from Sunday, July 30th to Saturday, August 5th. The approximate cost will be $600 per person. There are opportunities for our Beacons to earn money for their trips based on fundraisers we have already done and will do in the months leading up to their trips. More information will be sent out to all Beacons. Please reach out to Loida for more information!

Meals for the Beacons

The Beacons are looking for people to provide light suppers for their meetings on Sunday evenings. If you are willing to be a supper host, click the button for available dates and more details.

Meals for Beacons

Godly Play: children ages 3 - 1st grade

Faith Friends: 2nd-5th grade

Meetings held in the Scout Hut: 5-6:30pm

Both groups will meet at the same time.

Children will be separated into age appropriate groups for their Bible lessons and activities.

Wednesday, Feb. 8: Jesus is baptized by John

Wednesday, Feb. 15: Feeding the 5,000

Wednesday, Feb. 22: Ash Wednesday service with Dr. Ritsch

Vacation Bible School

Our Christian Education planning team has tentatively set VBS for June 25-28. Stay tuned for more information, including an upcoming kick off Sunday where we recruit volunteers to help. We need your support as a congregation to make VBS a success for our children’s ministry!

For more information about our Children's Ministries, contact Loida Slate at loida@fpcma.com

Lunchtime Bible Study

Starting Tuesday, February 21, Dr. Ritsch will offer a weekly, one-hour noon Bible Study. We will begin by studying the Gospel of Mark, which was the first of the canonical gospels that was written and on which Matthew, Luke and even John depend for a framework. Bring a lunch if you'd like as we discuss what both scholarship and our hearts tell us as we study God's word!

Ash Wednesday: Feb. 22

Imposition of the Ashes Services led by Dr. Ritsch

5:00pm: Children's Service

7:00pm: Traditional Service

First Steps needs substitutes! If you are a lover of little ones, and open to spending an occasional morning substituting, please reach out to Director Mary Alice Leonard at firststeps@fpcma.com.

Would you like to show support and provide lunch to our First Steps staff? If so, contact Nicole Harrison at nicole@moodyfs.com. Thank you for your continued support of First Steps!

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.

This month's special requests are:

Yokefellow: rice and mayonnaise.

Shepherd's House/Helping Hands: Creamer pods

Missions Team 2022 Wrap-up

Congratulations to Yokefellow on their move to a new location on South Street!

Surry Medical Ministries:

Within the next couple of weeks, Surry Medical Ministries will have a need for drivers to transport patients and deliver medication. They will provide the van and insurance. This will be a temporary need for one or more days per week until SMM fills the position. Please contact the church office if you are interested.

Community Coat Drive:

If you have coats you can give, community coat racks are located at:

Donna's Barber Shop
White Elephant
Chase n Charli's
PLLC NIT (by the new Dollar Tree on W. Lebanon)
Ol' Farmer in Cana, Va.

Books Needed

The Missions Ministry Team is working on a project for The Shepherd's House and Helping Hands that we will kick off soon. We need new and gently used books for children and young adults. There will be a box for donations in the foyer. Contact Beth Pequeno (beth.pequeno@gmail.com) if you have questions.

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.

Prayer List

Please keep the following people in your prayers:

Mike and Linda Gatchel, Bill Rountree, Legh Beal, Claire Merritt, Bettsee McPhail, Antonio, Jim and Janice Younger, Jean Arrington, Ron Atkins, Becky Lyons, Terri Keck, Pam Church, Kathryn Benfer, Wendy Bryd, and Mariah Tate.

The sympathy of the congregation is extended to Mike and Linda Gatchel following the death of their son, Matthew, on January 30, 2023.

Link to Obituary

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

February Birthdays

2/2 Maggie Beal

2/3 Simon Bush and Tony Stoltz

2/4 Barbara Ayers

2/7 Linda Gatchel

2/13 Thomas Reisinger

2/15 Logan Wynn King

2/16 Kimberly Branch

2/19 Jane Rountree

2/20 Bobby Chilton

2/22 Daniel Horton

2/22 Judy Rhoden

2/24 Brian Bennett, Foster Harrison and Scott Kniskern

2/25 Ladonna McCarther

2/26 Bobbie Hinton

2/28 Beth Pequeno

February Anniversaries

2/17 Timothy & Theresa Minter

Hospice Afghans for Veterans

Hospice needs afghans for their veterans. Afghans need to be no more than 3'x3' and use red, white and blue yarn in any pattern you choose.

They can always use 3x'3' afghans in any color you choose.

Contact Beth Pequeno for more information. beth.pequeno@gmail.com.

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.