Wednesday Night Live
Wednesday Night Live (WNL) is for everyone! The Rev. Dr. Tara Bulger will lead adults on a journey through the Gospel of Mark starting at 5:30. Youth are invited to come at 5:00 to prepare for the Christmas Musical, or come at 6:15 just for dinner with friends at the youth table. Youth Small Groups meet after WNL from 7:00 - 8:00. Children K-5th grade come from 5:00 - 7:00 for Bible Study, Children’s Choir and work on the Christmas Musical, Dinner, and an after dinner fun activity. Preschoolers (2 yrs, 3 yrs, or 4 yrs) have lots of fun with a special music lesson using color bells with Dr. Patricia Hacker and their own Bible study where they learn to do the things that Jesus did and asks us to do!
The registration fee helps to defray the cost of dinner. This semester we are catering in from restaurants such as Olive Garden, Little Rosie’s, and Tenders!
Intergenerational Mission Night
All are invited to participate in the mission project which culminates at our October 20 Intergenerational Mission Night event! Everyone – all ages - can participate in some way.
This year we are supporting the Second Mile Development ministry by hosting a new toy drive for The Neighborhood Store’s yearly Santa Shop. This popular ministry allows parents the excitement of picking out and purchasing the perfect brand-new toy for their child at a fraction of the retail price. Last year they had more customers than ever before, and they anticipate the same situation this year due to inflation.
You can participate by purchasing new toys to donate. If you need ideas, ask your children or grandchildren, or go to Second Mile’s Amazon Wishlist. Find the link to this wish list below. You can bring your toy donations to our October 20 Intergenerational Mission Night event or bring them earlier and put them in marked bins in Fellowship Hall.
Intergenerational Mission Night is fun! We’ll gather for dinner at 5:00, work together to sort and prepare the toys for donation, make thank you cards for the workers at The Neighborhood Store, and bless the results of our outreach project and the families who will receive the toys. Some will then head off to The Neighborhood Store to deliver our donations and tour the facility with the Director.
All ages are encouraged to participate! Please register so we can plan for dinner.
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat is so much fun for the children of our church, the friends they invite, and our specially invited guests - the families of First Friends Preschool and Second Mile Preschool! We’ll have hot dogs, popcorn, decorated trunks, music, and super fun games on the lawn! If you would like to decorate your trunk, donate candy, or help in any way to make this wonderful event happen, contact Kathy Gillmore at dce@fpchsv.org or make a note on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board at church.
Advent Workshop
This annual event in Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School hour is for all ages to make an ornament and enjoy refreshments and fellowship. Save the date!
Rally Day
Rally Day is our kick-off event for the educational year. Regular Sunday School classes resume that day following a special gathering in the Sanctuary to celebrate the grade promotions, present various gift bibles to 2 year olds, Kindergartners, 2nd graders, and 6th graders. Anyone new to our church can receive a gift bible for their age-group as well. Everyone will receive a gift of a backpack tag, and we will have a “blessing of the backpacks” at the 11:00 service. Stay for a festive lunch at Noon, with activities for the kids on the lawn!
Register for Rally Day if you are new to our church, or if you need to update information that has changed.
All Congregation Fellowship Dinner
We are gathering at Back Forty Beer Company, 3254 Leeman Ferry Rd SW, for a fellowship event! Expect a great dinner and time with friends old and new. Children will have lots of fun playing together on the lawn. Please register by July 30 so that we can prepare.
Prayer Vigil for the Kairos "Inside Weekend"
An important part of the Kairos mission project is prayer - prayer for the 42 inmates at Limestone Prison who will participate in the weekend program involving meals, cookies, and conversations with the specially trained volunteers. Pray, too, for those who are visiting the inmates, cooking the meals, and supporting the mission in many other ways. You can sign up for the Prayer Vigil for a 30 minute block of time during the Labor Day weekend using the button below, or you can pray at anytime during the month of August as everyone prepares.
Support Kairos Weekend
First Presbyterian Church is supporting the “Inside Weekend” program of the Kairos Ministry at Limestone Correctional Institution over the Labor Day weekend, where 42 men will share homecooked meals, homemade cookies, and conversations with specifically trained volunteers. David Smith is being trained to participate in this way, and he invites our congregation to support this important ministry of faith. Look for a table in Fellowship Hall during the month of August with more information and needed materials. Bring donations back to that table by August 25. Cookies may be frozen in zip lock bags.
All ages can participate! Kids and Youth can make posters and placemats, and bake cookies, too! Find materials and instructions all throughout the month of August on a table in Fellowship Hall.
Mission Trip Interest Survey
The Mission and Evangelism Committee is exploring the interest of the congregation in participating in a June 2025 mission trip to Guatemala. This trip is with Anne Hallum’s ministry, A.I.R. Guatemala (Alliance for International Reforestation). Anne grew up at FPC! We need to have a minimum of 8-10 committed people in order to be able to secure a week in June. Please respond as soon as possible so that we don’t miss out on an opportunity to go. This is a very popular mission trip.
Babysitting Training Course
All those entering 6th - 8th grade in the Fall are invited to participate in the Safe Sitter Introduction to Babysitting course. Youth will learn best practices for babysitting and receive a certification in CPR. Class size is limited to 15 participants. So, register now for this great course, and look forward to babysitting this summer and volunteering for childcare programs here at church!
Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt
All are welcome to enjoy Easter Breakfast in Fellowship Hall starting at 9:30. Children, toddlers through 5th grade, are invited to an Egg Hunt at 10:00.
WNL Winter Semester
Adults are invited to the Rev. Dr. Richard Brooks’ adult class Common Ethics in World Religions: How to be a Christian in a Diverse World? Youth are invited to design and share skits as educational moments for younger children to be shared in worship and at WNL. Children will study two spiritual practices and enjoy Children’s Choir preparing songs to sing in worship. All are welcome!
Advent Workshop
You are invited to make a clay ornament that will be glazed and fired and returned to FPC in time to hang it on your Christmas Tree!
Trunk or Treat Donations & Volunteers
Your donations of candy and/or decorating your trunk helps to support this fun event for our church and the families of Second Mile and First Friends preschools! Thank you!
Intergenerational Mission Night
This is a wonderful mission project and event for all ages! During the month of October we can purchase or donate gently used books to support Dawson Elementary School. At the October 22nd event we will have dinner and work together to sort and pack the books! We will also make encouraging bookmarks for the kids!
Wednesday Night Live
Growing in Faith, Fellowship, and Fun…or everyone! Fall Semester is Sep 13 - Nov 29.
Children
Children will embark on a Joyful Journey learning about the Beatitudes this semester! The music they are learning in the Worship Skills workshop as well as the scripture they are exploring in the Bible Study workshop will coordinate to show them a map of how to journey through their lives with God at the center. Bible Study and Worship Skills workshops are 5:00-6:15; Dinner is 6:15-7:00.
The children will share what they are learning by singing in worship on October 22nd and December 17th.
Youth
Youth, grades 6-12, are invited to join the youth handbell choir, which will rehearse from 5:00-6:00. All youth are welcome to stay or join just for dinner from 6:15-7:00.
Adults
Join Rev. Brett Gudeman for an adult class, 5:30-6:30, on the "Nouns of our Faith, exploring the people, places, and things that influence our faith." Adults are invited to stay for dinner!
Volunteers
Youth and adults are encouraged to volunteer!
Confirmation
Youth in 8th and 9th grades are invited to participate in Confirmation this year! The year kicks off with a Parent & Youth luncheon on Sunday, August 27, at Noon. You’ll receive a schedule for the year and your first task on this journey of exploring faith and what it means to “confirm” your baptismal vows and become a member of the church.
Click here to email dce@fpchsv.org for more information or to sign up!
Rally Day
Are your children new to FPC? Do you need to update allergy information, grade level or your address? Please let us know by registering for this exciting day and the Christian education year to come!
Register for Sharp Ringers
Opportunity for 3rd-6th grade children to learn to play handbells, and play a song in worship! Register for this session, which practices on Wednesdays, 5:30- 6:30pm, August 2 through September 6, and plays in church on September 10. The children had so much fun last Spring that they named their bell choir the Sharp Ringers!
Click here to register for this children’s handbell ensemble!
Summer Sunday School
Find a place to learn and connect with others between worship services! Sundays, 9:30 - 10:30. All ages infant to adult are invited! Then stay for refreshments and fun in Fellowship Hall, 10:30 - 11:00.
Volunteer for VBS!
Adults and youth (entering 6th grade in the fall and older) are invited to volunteer. Register to let us know of your interest, and we’ll match you up with a volunteer position that matches your gifts and interests. Volunteers must be known to our congregation for greater than 6 months, and must consent to a background check for safety. Training on our Child Protection Policy is mandatory. A childcare program for younger children of our VBS volunteers is available. Let Kathy Gillmore know of your interest in volunteering and/or childcare and she will fine the right spot for you and facilitate your registration!