Sunday, January 8

Epiphany of the Lord

• Communion
• Sermon: Dr. Rev. Fritz Ritsch.
• Worship Leader: Lee Daniels
• Head usher: Beth Pequeno
• Flowers: Mike and Kim Branch
• Collect Pennies for Hunger
• Guest musician: Livia Livengood

Pennies For Hunger: Jan. 8

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"

• Christmas clean-up has been done, so we no longer need volunteers on Sat., Jan. 7.
• End-of-the-year statements have been mailed.
• In case of bad weather, messages will be sent out through Realm and on Facebook.
• Office will be closed Jan. 16.

January 15

• Sermon: Dr. Rev. Fritz Ritsch.
• Worship Leader: Alex Bowers
• Scripture Reader: Needed
• Head usher: Beth Pequeno
• Flowers: Needed
• Minutes for Missions

January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• Church office closed

January 22

• Sermon: Vicki Jones- Johnson
• Worship Leader: Derek Higgs
• Scripture Reader: Derek Higgs
• Head usher: Beth Pequeno
• Flowers: Needed

4:30-6:30pm: Family Bowling

• Mount Airy Bowling Lanes
• Cost is $3.00 per shoe rental and $3.00 per game.

January 29

• Sermon: Dr. Rev. Fritz Ritsch.
• Worship Leader: Ted King
• Scripture Reader: Needed
• Head usher: Beth Pequeno
• Flowers: Needed
• Ordination and installation of new elders

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

Session Announcements:

Next session meeting:

Monday, Jan. 23 at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall

Welcome, New Elders

Your newly elected elders are: Mike Branch, Mark Brown, Steve Yokely, Jane Tesh, Kelly Jackson, Taylor Pike, and Thomas Reisinger. We will have their ordination and installation on Jan. 29.

Elder Training

New elders will have training Jan. 8,15, 29, Feb. 5,12, and 19 from 9:30-10:30am in the Ladies Parlor. Current 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

Saturday, Jan. 7: noon-4:30

Girl Scout Troop 02320 is hosting a blood drive in the Fellowship Hall.

January 8:

5-7pm in the Scout Hut

This will be our first bible study of the new year.

Meal provider needed.

January 15:

5-7pm in the Scout Hut

Bible study and fellowship.

Meal provider needed.

January 22:

4:30-6:30pm: Family Bowling at Mount Airy Bowling Lanes! Cost is $3.00 per shoe rental and $3.00 per game.

Confirmation Classes

Sunday, Jan 15 - 4pm - Meeting with parents & mentors at beginning. First class: God

Sunday, Jan 22 - 4:15 pm - 2nd class: Jesus Christ

Sunday, Jan 29 - 4:15 pm - 3rd class: Holy Spirit

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.

We plan to separate the kids into age appropriate groups for their Bible lessons and activities. 



Wednesday, Jan 11: The Creation of the Earth

Wednesday, Jan 18: Adam and Eve

Wednesday, Jan 25: Noah and His Family

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.

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: Cereal and tuna

Shepherd's House/Helping Hands: Sugar

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:

Bettsee Mcphail, Blanton Youell and family, Antonio, Jim and Janice Younger, Jean Arrington, Ron Atkins, Becky Lyons, Terri Keck, Pam Church, Kathryn Benfer, and Wendy Bryd.

Thy sympathy of the congregation is extended to the Moody family following the death of Kathy's sister-in-law, Debbie Arrington.

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

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.

Session Members

Moderator: Dr. Rev. Frederick "Fritz" Ritsch

Clerk of the Session: Bob Keck

Elders:

Class of 2023:

Margaret Cockerell, Beth Pequeno, Mike Branch, Mark Brown, and Taylor Pike (youth elder)

Class of 2024:

Lydia Taylor, and David Rives, and Steve Yokely

Class of 2025:

Kelley Jackson, Thomas Reisinger, and

Jane Tesh