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First Presbyterian Church 1169 Clark Street, SW Covington, GA 30014
Nonprofit Organi-zation
U.S. POSTAGE P A I D
Covington, GA 30014
Permit No. 32
The deadline for the September “First Press” is August 15, 2019. Please submit your articles and information to the church office by email: [email protected] or by dropping
off your copy to the church office, neatly printed or typed or on a flash drive. Thanks!
Time Sensitive Church News Please Do Not Delay
See our website at: www.fpccov.org
If your birthday has not appeared on our monthly list, please notify us of the full date and we will add it to our data base so that when your next birthday rolls around, we will be able to help you celebrate!
1 Daylanie Gibson 2 Bill Clary 3 Maria Davis 4 Betsy Morehouse 5 Mac Cranford 6 Danny Vining 8 Sandy Morehouse 9 Bill Loeble 12 Kenny Compton 13 Emily Bunn 14 Jean Elder
16 Haylee Burtts Carol McGiboney Aarley Roberts 17 Homer Borders 18 Ryan Henderson 22 John Stamps 26 Dale Tingler 27 Elizabeth Harwell 29 Brad Hawley 30 Dennis Raines 31 Holden Evans
Greetings FPC Family! Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ! I hope and pray this August 2019 newsletter finds you happy and well. The First Presbyterian Church family of faith is very blessed by each and every one of you … please don’t ever doubt or forget that!
The Bible talks a lot about faith. Hebrews 11:1 says that “faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see.” Basical-ly, the writer of Hebrews is trying to describe faith as a way of believ-ing that God will fulfill his promises even though we don't yet see those promises being fulfilled just yet. This kind of belief in God ... this is faith.
At the beginning of both a new school year and a new Christian Edu-cation year, we must have faith in ourselves that what we hope for—good grades and a successful academic year, as well as continued spiritual growth through our various ministries—will come to fruition even if it won't be fulfilled for many months (or years) down the road. Adults, too, will find a plethora of opportunities through work, leisure, family, marriage, and many more aspects of life, to have faith in what you hope for even if it hasn't been fulfilled yet.
And, with God ... we must have faith that God does what God does. Romans 8:28 tells us “that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God.” And, that's something worth hoping for and having faith in, even when we don't see it yet.
As I approach my first Rally Day with you, I am filled with a great sense of hope and faith and excitement for all that God is doing among us, even if we don’t see it being fulfilled just yet! And, I hope and pray you are making plans to join us for our Rally Day activities on Sunday morning, August 18th - Breakfast from 9:45-10:45am that will include time well spent with good food, good friends, and good fellowship! Then, we will join together for Worship at 11:00am in the Sanctuary.
Then the official beginning of our fall Sunday School classes will happen on Sunday, August 25th from 10:00-10:45am.
Make plans to join us at Rally Day on August 18th, and then for Sunday School, Sun-day morning worship services, and lots more this coming fall! God is doing what God does everywhere we look around First Presbyterian Church. Make sure you’re part of it!
Until the next time I remain … just another silly preacher counting the days until it’s cool enough to wear a jacket again (seriously, I’m done with the heat)! Grace & Peace, Steven
The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated on Sunday, August 11, at the 11:00 worship service.
Prepare your heart.
First Presbyterian
Church
1169 Clark Street, SW
Covington, GA 30014
(770)786-7321
Fax (770)786-6596
www.fpccov.org
FIRST PRESS
First Presbyterian
Church Staff
Steven M. Barnes Interim Pastor
Peni Kehoe Secretary-Treasurer
Krista Firkus Choir Director
Alice Walker Organist
awalker.atl.pres.5 @gmail.com
Jenny Giles Jade Roy Nursery
Darlene Alley Director
Early Learning Center fpelcdirector @gmail.com
First Presbyterian Church, Covington August 2019
Your Gifts Matter!
As you can see on the chart to the left, we are behind in monthly in-come and our spending is over our income. The church session counts on the support
of the members and friends of First Presbyterian Church. Your tithes and offerings are the basis of our budget and our budget reflects what we need for our current level of programs and ministries. Whether or not you make a pledge, we ask that you consider how you can help FPC remain on target for our budgeted income and expenses. If you have any questions you can speak with our Finance Team Co-Chairs, Bob Tabb and Warren Liem. If you have specific questions regarding your donations you may speak with Peni Kehoe in the church office.
Thanks for your care and support of FPC!
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Session & Administrative Notes
Monthly Financial Report
August Usher Chair: Cindy Moon
Sound Engineer: Ken Walker
Hospital Visitors:
8/4 Cy Wolverton 8/11 Day Kennon 8/18 Alice Walker 8/25 Judy Davis
Class of 2019 Carter Gibson Jay Lanners
John McCarthy Cheryl Meichsner Miriam Wheeler
Allie Hay
Class of 2020 Doug Bolton
Stan Hall Cindy Moon Bob Tabb
Michael Thompson
Class of 2021 Warren Liem
Pam Stillerman Donna Weesner
Cy Wolverton
MEMBERS OF SESSION
Serving Us in July
2019 June
Numbers rounded
Monthly Budget
Monthly
Income/ Expenses
YTD Income
/Expenses
Pledged Income 31,768 30,067 180,672
Non-Pledge Income 3,583 4,176 41,399
Other Income 416 40 3,270
Total income 36,601 34,283 204,341
Expenses 38,594 37,299 219,533
Net Totals (-1,992) (-3,017) (-15,192)
If unable to serve, please get a sub for
your duties
The regular monthly meeting of the Session will take place on Sunday, August 11, directly following the 11:00 worship service.
Pledge arrears for 2019 ($-9,940)
Presbytery Meeting
The next meeting of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta will be held on Saturday, August 17th at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. John McCarthy, Doug Bolton and Steven Barnes will be our representatives. Keep those attending and dealing with the presbytery business in your prayers.
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see our website at: www.fpccov.org
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3
11:00 Ashworth Memorial Service
4 9:00 Handbell Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service
5
6
4:00 Exercise
7 6:45 Sanctuary Choir
8 ELC Open House
10:00-noon
10:30 Ambassador Choir
9
10
11
9:00 Handbell Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service with the Lord’s Supper 12:00 Session Meeting
12
Early Learning Center First Day
13
4:00 Exercise
14
6:45 Sanctuary Choir
15
Newsletter Deadline!
10:30 Ambassador Choir
16 17
8:00 Men’s Breakfast & Study
Presbytery Meeting at Memorial Dr. Presbyterian
18
9:00 Handbell Choir 9:45 Brunch 11:00 Worship Service
19
7:00 NAMI
20
4:00 Exercise
21
6:45 Sanctuary Choir
22 10:30 Ambassador Choir
23
24
25
9:00 Handbell Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service
26
27 1:00 A Novel Bunch @ the Martin’s 4:00 Exercise
28 6:45 Sanctuary Choir
29 10:30 Ambassador Choir
30 31
Labor Day Weekend
see our website at: www.fpccov.org
Back to School
FPC Hosts Family Promise Families
Cub Scout Lock-in Fellowship Hall
Dear FPC Family, We are getting ready to welcome a new school year at FPELC! Our hallways will soon be full of pitter patter and belly laughs. It’s always exciting to start a new year with new children and so many fun things planned. I love watching new friendships blossom amongst the children, and to see “old” friends reunite. FPELC is doing a Creative Curriculum “study” each month this year, starting with Clothing, Water Pipes, and Boxes. Through play-based learning, the children learn to explore their world and be curious about new things. We have a busy schedule for August: Teacher Training August 1-2; Pre-planning August 5-7, Open House August 8th, and the first day of school for FPELC will be August 12th. Many children and more parents will be nervous about starting school, as many have never been apart. Please cover them in prayer that they will be peaceful in heart and that our teachers will be able to sooth their worries. We would love to have any who’d like to volunteer for Open House join us on August 8 between 10:00am – 12:00pm. We will have two sessions: 10am for students with last names beginning A-M and 11:15am for stu-dents with last names beginning N-Z. We could use help sorting supplies, passing out handbooks, and di-recting people to the correct classrooms. If you are able to volunteer, please plan to arrive at 9:45. Thanks for all of your support and prayers. Let’s watch for what God can do in this ministry! God bless, Darlene Alley FPELC Director
Early Learning Center
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Invite
Someone
to Church!
Sunday, August 18th
9:45 am It’s hard to believe that school is al-ready starting again for many. With the beginning of the school year, we also welcome
people back from vacations, and begin a number of programs and activities in the life of the church. Rally Day is a great time to invite a friend to come and experience the loving community of FPC. Make plans to join us on Sunday, August 18th, at 9:45 a.m. for a light brunch with the whole family. Childcare is available for children 6 months through 5 years of age during the worship service which begins at 11:00 a.m. Let’s show our friends and neighbors what Christian hospitality looks like!
Choir Rehearsals Resume
Sanctuary Choir rehearsals will resume on August 7th at 6:45pm in the choir room. Handbell Choir rehearsals will resume August 4th at 9am in the sanctuary. We would love to have anyone interested join us! If you cannot make the weekly commitment, but are interested in singing or ringing, please let Kris-ta Firkus know as the need for soloists and alternates often arises.
First Presbyterian Church Page 3
News of the Congregation
A Novel Bunch Book Club
The Novel Bunch will gather on August 27th at 1 pm to discuss “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens. We will meet at the home of Chris and Barbara Martin, 650 Mason Drive. All are welcome.
Choir News
Men's Bible Study and Breakfast
The men will meet on Saturday, August 17th at 8:00 am in the fellowship hall. Bring your breakfast and a friend. Our study continues with the book The Day the Revolution Began.
Ambassador Choir
Ambassador Choir meets on Thursdays at 10:30 am. They welcome all who are able to rehearse during the week and who are willing to sing at worship when scheduled and a various venues in Newton and Rockdale area. Alice Walker is the Director.
Hope the choir does some Hip-Hop for Rally Day!
Our church will be hosting 3-4 homeless families the last week of August. Single sheets, mattress pads, blankets (fleece/acrylic) (no quilts or comforters), and most importantly volunteers will be needed. Please donate the items if you can and your time if you are able. See or call Doug Bolton - (678)858-2080. To Volunteer you may go to this website: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0c48aaaf29a0f85-family
Family Promise’s goal is to keep families together by giving families a hand-up and assist them in their return to self-sufficiency. Services include case management, counseling, enrichment programs, resources, and job referrals with the focus on securing employment and next-step housing. As such, the Family Promise ministry is not necessarily an answer to an over-crowded homeless shelter. Participant families are thoroughly screened and must meet certain criteria for this type of assistance, particu-larly that they are a family with children (with or without two parents) in Newton or Rockdale counties.
Page 4 First Presbyterian Church
Community Food Pantry
Donations of any non-perishable food items are welcome. Bernice Bailey is the Director, (770-786-3048). Suggested for August: 2 lb. bags of sugar
and flour
Witness News
Be a Good Steward If you live in the City of Covington or the City of Ox-ford, you receive a recycling tub along with your trash bin. It is an act of love for God’s environment if you recycle as much as possible! If you live where recycling is not provided with your trash service you may take it to the recycling center that is off of Alcovy Road just past Bulldog Tire if you are traveling from Hwy. 278.
Baby Love
Disposable diapers and wipes are given to those in need. Donations can be left in the narthex in the cradle. Monetary donations may also be made. Put “Baby Love” in the memo space on your check.
Alice, Ken, Becky, Sam and the Ambassador Choir
Lunch Honors Diane Loeble and Jean Carol Mundy
The members of the Elizabeth Ann Circle gave a luncheon to honor departing members, Diane Loeble and Jean Carol Mundy. Diane and her husband, Bill, will be moving to Mt. Pleasant, SC, in August. Jean Carol will be moving to an assisted living home in the Atlanta area. We wish these 3 an easy transition to their new homes! They will all be missed.
Congregational News
We extend our sympathy to the family of Joyce Ashworth, who died on July 17th. A me-morial service will be held on Saturday, August 3rd, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church in Covington, Georgia. A reception in the fellowship hall will follow the worship service. Your prayers and presence are requested.
Legacy Awards
Becky Ramsey and Alice Walker, received the Beacon of Light Religious Award from Newton County Senior Services on June 22nd. The award was for service to the community which includes singing at vari-ous nursing homes and senior services with their respective choirs: the FPC Am-bassador Choir and the Singing Saints from First Methodist were well represented and received many kind words from Billy Wade at the presentation and others in the audience afterwards.
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Celebration!
Lauren Slingerland, who was a seminary intern at FPC in 2010, has been called to be the Associ-ate Pastor of Children at West-minster Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. We send our congratulations to her in this new journey.
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