Now Accepting Applications for Winnie Green Higher Education Scholarship
The Session and the Endowment Ministry Team of the Session would like to invite eligible persons to apply for a grant from the Winnifred Zimmerman Green Higher Education Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship was made possible by a generous gift from the estate of long time member Winnie Green to aid “worthy students of high academic achievement” with their college expenses.
The Session has established guidelines for the awarding of grants. Grants will be awarded each spring; students receiving scholarships shall not be guaranteed renewal of scholarships. Students must re-apply for a new grant each year.
The application deadline for this year is May 1. Application forms and the full list of applicant guidelines are available from the church office, on the lobby side of Jeanna’s service window, or may be downloaded by clicking here.
April Circle Meetings
Presbyterian Women Circles will meet Monday, April 3. The Morning Circle will meet in the parlor at 10:30 AM, and the Evening Circle will meet in the library at 7:00 PM. The Bible study leader will be Carol Beck.
This month, Presbyterian Women are collecting items for Dragonfly House: small bags of chips, refills of liquid soap, plain colored youth t-shirts, and fleece throws.
Palm Sunday Plans
On April 2, First Presbyterian will participate in the Community Palm Sunday Service at the Old Courthouse at the Square (3 blocks from the church). At the conclusion of our 11:00 AM blended service, we will walk up Main Street for this brief community service. Our First Sunday Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall at noon, for all who do not wish to walk up the street, and will be waiting for everyone following the community service at approximately 12:45 PM.
If you plan to join us for lunch, please contact the church office and let us know by March 26. We need your name, the number of adults and number of children under 12 who will be dining, and whether you’ll be dining at Noon or at 12:45.
Children’s Egg Hunt
Our annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by our middle school youth group, will be held Palm Sunday, April 2, at 1:15 PM on the front lawn. Children and grandchildren are invited to bring their Easter baskets to the front lawn for dancing and hunting fun! In case of rain, we will hold the hunt indoors.
March Circle Meetings
Presbyterian Women Circles will meet Monday, March 6. The Morning Circle will meet in the parlor at 10:30 AM, and the Evening Circle will meet in the library at 7:00 PM. The Bible study leader will be Emmy Floyd.
This month, Presbyterian Women are collecting items for Family Services: laundry detergent, paper towels, dish washing detergent, kitchen trash bags, cleaning supplies, new packages of women’s underwear in sizes 8-12, and hand sanitizers.
Grace Sunday Lunch Volunteers Needed
The month of March provides us an opportunity to spread God’s love by volunteering to help ‘Feed His sheep.’
During the month of March, our congregation helps Grace Episcopal serve a hot lunch every Sunday to those in need. Lately, anywhere from 80-100 hungry souls are fed each Sunday. Our volunteers work with the Grace team to setup, serve, and share the blessings of service in His name. Safety protocols are observed with regard to masks, gloves, and temperature checks. The meal is served to the client at the door of the fellowship hall/undercroft, and picnic tables are provided outside, just a few steps from where the meal is presented.
If you are interested in serving or would like to learn more about this ministry, please contact David Durrell. Service in His name is the greatest blessing.
Changes to Collections for Food Pantries
Due to the generosity of the FPC family, First Hope Ministries (formerly Crisis Ministry) has a surplus of peanut butter in their food pantry. Because of this, we have begun collecting jelly for the food pantry, which is in short supply there and can be given out with the generous supply of peanut butter that they have on hand.
We are also requesting donations of ready-to-eat items with pop-top, easy-open lids (Beanee Weanees, pork & beans, Vienna Sausages, canned meats, pastas such as ravioli, beefaroni, spaghettios, etc.) for the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. These items will be distributed to the homeless, who usually do not possess a can opener or have a way to cook or heat food.
We also continue to collect cans of mixed vegetables and plastic bags for Pastor’s Pantry.
Thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity to our food pantries.
Bicentennial Update: Exploring Our Roots
Our church was begun on July 15, 1827 by a group of nine Christians who were meeting in the Jersey community in fellowship with Baptists and Episcopalians. These Presbyterians later began meeting in a log building on Salisbury Road near where the Highway Patrol Station is currently located.
In 1834, the group, which had grown to about 60 members, was deeded land on South Main Street by Mr. Alfred Hargrave, and a brick building was constructed under the supervision of Mr. Joseph Conrad. The north wall of our present sanctuary is part of that original building.
The first Sunday School in Lexington was started by our church in February of 1845. Session passed a motion to to “commence our Sabbath School.” Our Presbyterian Church was also the first church in Lexington to begin organized women’s work in 1891. This is also the year that the first young people’s work was begun, calling itself the Christian Endeavor Society. Between 1900 and 1904 children’s societies were organized under the leadership of Mrs. John H. Grey and Mrs. John H. Welborn, Sr.
In our church now is a group of about twenty-five people who are researching the records of our church in order to record our history in a book which they hope to publish before our 200th anniversary in 2027. During this process, we are finding out interesting and notable facts from FPC’s past. These will be researched as thoroughly as we are able and presented in a format that is reader-friendly and attractive.
If you are interested in being part of this endeavor, please contact Emmy Floyd, Beverly Black or Margaret King. Also if you have pictures or memorabilia that you can contribute to this project, it will be appreciated.
More help is needed with this tremendous undertaking! We envision this book being a part of the centerpiece of our upcoming Bicentennial Celebration and would love to have more members of the church family take part in its creation.
Acts Alive Auction Reservation Deadline
On Sunday, March 5, at 5:30 PM, Acts Alive will host a dinner and auction to raise money for their summer mission trip to the Dominican Republic. We hope you will make plans to join us for this fun evening in support of our youth!
We have many fabulous items lined up for both our live and silent auctions, and we are looking forward to some friendly bidding wars and lots of laughter as we come together to support our Acts Alivers.
Friends are welcome! Please call (336-248-2140) or email (office@fpclexnc.com) by February 19th to reserve your space.
THANK YOU for supporting our Acts Alive youth!
February Circle Meetings
Presbyterian Women Circles will meet Monday, February 6. The Morning Circle will meet in the parlor at 10:30 AM, and the Evening Circle will meet in the library at 7:00 PM. The Bible study leader will be Deborah Gray.
This month, Presbyterian Women are collecting items for Dragonfly House: plain, colored youth-sized t-shirts; fleece throws, small bags of chips, and refills of liquid soap.
