Sunday, May 5, 2024

8:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Scottish Reformation Sunday

Communion Sunday, Food Sunday

Join us this Sunday at 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. as we celebrate our Scottish heritage. Dr. Ryan Baer will preach a sermon entitled, A More Excellent Way. The scripture lessons for this week are Mark 12:28-31 and 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

 

We welcome Mr. Henry Frantz, Jr. (Great Highland Bagpipes) as a guest musician. At the 11:00 service, the Chancel Choir will sing If Mortal Tongues with Angels Sing, by Mark Schweizer, as the offertory anthem.

 

You can follow the livestream of the services on Facebook or YouTube. For instructions to follow livestream through Facebook or YouTube, click here. Find the text and audio from previous weeks' sermons, along with a copy of the bulletin, here.

Scottish Reformation Sunday

May 5, 8:45 & 11:00 a.m, Reception at 12:00 p.m.

Join our annual celebration of our Scottish heritage at both worship services, along with recognition of local and state dignitaries at 11:00 a.m. All are welcome to join the processional and recessional. If you need to borrow a kilt, please call Smith Wilson (706-338-4646) or Lee Epting (706-353-1913).

Food Sunday

May 5

You may bring donations of cold breakfast cereal, plain white rice, saltine crackers to church Sunday, May 5. You may also bring items to the church office until Friday, May 3. Our neighbors in need are very grateful for your donations! Many thanks for your thoughtfulness and generosity!

Graduation Sunday

May 12

Each year, we recognize our high school graduates in worship on Mother’s Day. Youth and their parents are invited forward for a blessing, with a reception to follow in Fellowship Hall. Whether active or not, we want to celebrate all our seniors! If you know of a High School Senior, please e-mail their information to Kim Ness at kness@firstpresathens.org so we can extend an invitation.

Blessing of the 5th Graders

May 12, 9:45 a.m.

Parents and children are invited to a special Godly Play story and feast to celebrate our graduating 5th Graders! Join us in Children’s Ministry Suite on May 12 at 9:45 a.m. For more information, please contact Natalie Bishop at natalie@firstpresathens.org.

Confirmation Sunday

May 19

Our 2024 Confirmation Class has been meeting, working with their mentors, and growing as a group since October 2023. On May 19, they will join the church and make their profession of faith. Please join us as we welcome them into our church family. Reception following in Fellowship Hall.

Installation Service for The Rev. Whitney Booth Lockard

May 19, 3:00 p.m., Sanctuary

The Northeast Georgia Presbytery invites you to the Installation Service of The Rev. Whitney Booth Lockard on Sunday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary. Reception to follow in Fellowship Hall.

Women’s Connection Conference at Montreat

Save the date and plan to join us for the Women’s Connection the weekend of August 9-11, 2024 in the beautiful mountains of Montreat, North Carolina. This year’s keynote speaker is Becca Stevens, a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, priest, survivor, and founder and President of Thistle Farms.


Sign up today to stay at the Georgia Lodge as space is limited! Cost per person is $85 for both nights: tinyurl.com/FPCWCC2024


Registration and information about the conference can be found at montreat.org/events/wc-2024. Conference registration costs $247 (and increases to $272 after June 25). 


Please contact Beverly Phares (beverlypphares@gmail.com or 706-255-6990) or Julie Jagmin (juliebjagmin@bellsouth.net or 678-852-7310) if you have any questions. If you need scholarship assistance, contact Rev. Whitney Booth Lockard (whitney@firstpresathens.org).

Hospital Visitation Policy

As a reminder, if you are in the hospital, please call the church office so we can provide pastoral care.

Support Bethlehem Ministry’s fundraiser

Kids for Change is a campaign to empower women in Haiti. By donating to this cause, your money will support the initiative to give mature goats that will essentially be a savings account for the family. Included in the gift are veterinary services for the first 2-3 years.  Women in the community can breed their goats to multiply their earning potential as well as provide milk and meat for their families. The women form community groups to breed their goats and to assure their goats are healthy. 


To make a donation, please go to Bethlehem Ministry's website.

Books for Keeps Book Drive

Since 2009, Books for Keeps has given more than one million books to children from low-income families in grades Pre-K through 12. FPC has become a large supporter of Books for Keeps with our annual book drive.

 

You can help make sure no child in our community goes a summer without great books to read. Please bring your used books to the bins in the Atrium or church office. Books for Keeps can accept books of all kinds except textbooks and encyclopedias. Any books that are not right for their program go to the annual BFK Book Sale, with proceeds used to buy new children’s books. To learn more about the organization, go to booksforkeeps.org. Thank you!

Click here to read Spring@First.

May 2

Bird Murray


May 3

Janet Carter

Jan Johnson

Maria Johnston

Martin Jones

Sara McArthur

Gilbert Milner

Corky Sams III


May 4

Marshall Manning

Jennifer Poole

Madeline Van Dyck

Linda Wallace


May 5

Steven Hofferbert

Joyce Lu

Mike Smith


May 6

Cecilia Bromwell

Jennifer Carr

Richard Lane

Paul Lee

Don O'Steen


May 7

Mixon Robinson


May 8

Cullen Bruner

Michael Earl

Anne Marie Miller

Lynn Swanson


May 9

Ashley Epting

Mark McConnell

Lola Rooker


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Please see FirstPresAthens.org for more information about the life of the church.

Looking Ahead


May 5

Communion Sunday


Food Sunday


Scottish Reformation Sunday


Worship Service at 8:45 and 11:00 a.m., Dr. Ryan Baer preaching


Sunday School and Godly Play


Scottish Reformation Reception


Mission & Outreach and Matthew 25 Commission meeting


Cherub Choir Rehearsal


St. Andrews Choir Rehearsal


Celebration Singers Rehearsal


Youth Group End of Year Party


May 6

Circle Two


Handbell Choir Rehearsal


May 7

Knitting Purls 1


Circle 3/4


Circle 6


May 8

Circle 7


FARMRx Food Classes


Chancel Choir Rehearsal


May 9

Mellows@Manor Lake


Administration Commission Meeting


May 10

WDS Pre-K Graduation


May 12

Graduation Sunday


Blessing of the 5th Graders


Worship Service at 8:45 and 11:00 a.m., The Rev. Whitney Booth Lockard preaching


Sunday School


Reception for Graduates

First Presbyterian Church
185 E. Hancock Avenue
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 543-4338
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