Christmas Joy Offering
Each year during the Advent and Christmas season, we turn our eyes to Bethlehem and celebrate the wondrous gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
God has blessed the Church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. The Christmas Joy Offering addresses the support needed by some of our leaders, including supporting leadership development for communities of color, and providing support for Presbyterian church workers in their time of need.
We will receive the Christmas Joy Offering on Sunday, December 4. Please prayerfully consider how you might support this offering.
December Circle Meetings
Presbyterian Women Circles will meet on Monday, December 5 with Bible study leader Betty Knox. 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.
We will collect donations for Dragonfly House: plain colored youth-sized t-shirts, fleece throws, and Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink boxes.
Church Office Closed for Thanksgiving
The church office will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25.
Christmas Family Night 2022
Christmas Family Night will be held Sunday, December 4, from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Everyone is invited to join us for this fun evening of celebration!
Advent Activities for All Ages (4:00-5:30 PM) ✵ Letter Writing
✵ Gingerbread Houses
✵ Nativity Craft
✵ Nativity Bingo
✵ Christmas Photo Booth
Food (5:30-6:30 PM):
✵ Dinner of soup and sandwiches
✵ Tasting Room (please bring a dessert to share!)
Closing (6:30-7:00 PM):
✵ Carols in the sanctuary with Pastor Jon and JoAnn
Reservations due by November 27 to Jeanna in the church office (336-248-2140, ext. 1 or office@fpclexnc.com).
Choir Christmas Cantata
The Chancel Choir will present its Christmas Cantata during worship on December 4 at 11:00 AM.
As this is a First Sunday, there will only be one worship service that morning, with Sunday School at 10:00 AM and the livestream at 11:00 AM.
Dedication Sunday – November 20, 2022
This Sunday, November 20, is Dedication Sunday. During both worship services, you will be invited to bring forward your financial pledges, as well as your Time and Talent commitments for the coming year as we dedicate our gifts to God. Pledges and Time and Talent forms that have already been turned in will be included in our dedication.
We will also dedicate our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes during both services this Sunday. If you will be unable to attend on Sunday, please drop your shoeboxes by the church office this week. Samaritan’s Purse requests $10 per shoebox to cover the cost of shipping and handling. You may make your check out to First Presbyterian Church, and we will cut and send in a single check to cover all monies received for this purpose. Please put “OCC shoeboxes” in your for/memo line.
Operation Christmas Child 2022 Now Underway!
It’s that time of year when we begin thinking about SHOEBOXES! Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of children and families around the world, bringing hope through the Good News of Jesus Christ in the form of a simple gift. It’s also a great way to kick off the Christmas season (if a little early!).
Shoeboxes, brochures, and other materials for Operation Christmas Child are available in the church lobby. Our shoebox dedication will be Sunday, November 20, during worship. If you will not be at worship on that date, please drop your shoeboxes off at the church before then.
We will deliver our shoeboxes to our regional collection center following the service.
Advent Wreath Workshop
Mark your calendars and join the fun!
This year, we are holding two Advent Wreath-making workshops: on Monday evening, November 21 at 6:30 PM, and Tuesday morning, November 22 at 10:30 AM. The workshops will be held in the fellowship hall, and refreshments will be provided.
Due to the rising cost of supplies, we are asking for $10 per wreath to cover the cost (payable by November 13), unless you are able to recycle your supplies from a previous year (in which case there would be no cost).
If you would like to join us for this fun event, please let us know by filling out the green card on Sunday morning and dropping it in the offering plate (and please specify which workshop you plan to attend), or contact the church office (336-248-2140 or office@fpclexnc.com) by November 13 to make your reservation. Please contact Beth White with any questions.
Fall Festival/Trunk-or-Treat/Block Party
Join us this Sunday, October 30 from 5:00 until 6:00 PM for Fall Festival/Trunk-Or-Treat. Wear your favorite costume, bring a bag for your treats, and expect to keep a smile on your face!
A basket has been placed outside the DCE office for those who wish to make a donation of individually wrapped candies for this event.
Necrology for All Saints’ Sunday 2022
In many churches it has been the practice on All Saints’ Day to take a moment to recognize all those in a community who have died in the past year. As part of our observance of All Saints’ Sunday (November 6) this year, we are compiling a list of those who have died in the past year who are related to our church or church members.
If you would like to put a loved one on the list, please submit his or her name, including the relation to you and date of death, to the church office by October 26th. We are specifically limiting the date range to 2021 and 2022. Please do not assume that we will automatically add your loved one to the list. We do not want to leave anyone out, so please let us know if we should add someone to the list.
If you have any questions, please contact office manager Jeanna (336-248-2140 or office@fpclexnc.com).
