First Presbyterian Church 224 East Mobile Street, Florence, AL 35630

Phone: 256.764.2081 Email: office@fpcflorence.org

www.fpcflorence.org

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Please give generously to the

Peace and Global Witness Offering

Sunday, October 4

CHURCH STAFF Dr. Richard T. Gillespie, Pastor Rev. Brandon E. Miles, Associate Pastor

Dr. James K. Thompson, Parish Associate Rebecca Rockhill, Music Director Peggy S. Willich, Administrative Assistant Alan Flowers, Music Director Emeritus

First Presbyterian Church’s Statement of Mission

First Presbyterian Church Florence is a historic but evolving downtown church, striving to serve its congregation and community with a ministry that demonstrates a strong commitment to God and His love as revealed in Jesus Christ. Grounded in traditional worship and music, teaching and prayer, we facilitate spiritual growth, encourage family worship, practice stewardship of our resources, and maintain service to our community and the world. In all we do, we seek to be open to God’s Spirit as we move into the future.

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Dear Members and Friends of First Presbyterian Church,

On the first Sunday in October of every year, we celebrate World Communion Sunday, and we designate the day for one of our PC(USA) special offerings—Peace and Global Witness Offering.

As we have all seen in recent news reports, thousands of Syrians are attempting to escape violence and are seeking refuge in neighboring countries and in Europe. Your gifts to this special offering make it possible for children to learn and teachers to teach. These are tools of hope for people struggling to make a life in refugee camps. A violent and broken world calls all of us to offer our gifts and play our part.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we read, “Peace be to the WHOLE community,” reminding us that the peace of Christ is not fully realized in each of us until all of us work for healing and wholeness in every place of violence.

Through our gifts, we join in God’s mission of peace and reconciliation. Please give generously this Sunday to the Peace and Global Witness Offering.

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PRAYER LIST Brenda, Parke and Katie Cochran, fr iends of the congregation

Jane Frith, Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA

Uvonna Curott, Florence Nursing and Rehab

Ann Craig, John Carter and Bobbie Zickler, Merrill Gardens

Mary Hatfield and Margaret Fleming, St. Martin ’s in the Pines

Sarah Leonard, Mitchell Hollingsw orth

Mary Louise Flanagan, Freddie Tyree, Jean Paxton, hom e

John Smith, father of Patr ick Sm ith

Steven Palis, brother -in-law of Chuck Gaputis

Christy McCorkle, daughter of Sara Elizabeth Doss;

Sister of Penney Griffin, Cynthia Briand and Chris Booream

David Reynolds, cousin of Lesley Byars and Blair Boggan

Mike Lumpkin, brother of Joni W illingham

Mike Worley, brother -in-law of Rhonda and Robert Tyree

Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Hughes, fr iends of Mary and

Hollis Wilson

Rod Townsley, fr iend of Mary and Hollis W ilson

MAJ Barry Crosby, Andrew s Air Force Base, W ashington D.C.

"Save the Date" Single Women's Group Tuesday, October 6, at

6:00 p.m. at Sperry's Restaurant Please call Carol (256-766-0645) or

Dixie (256-349-5616 if you plan to attend.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN NEWS

PW will meet at 2 p.m. in our "new and improved” PW Parlor in the Elting Wing on Tuesday, October 13 to make and refurbish Crismons for Advent.

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WORSHIP

Flower chart for October

COMMUNION

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

Servers: Kelli Gaputis, Laura Moody,

Nancy and Dave Marbury,

Jan Schroeder

USHERS FOR OCTOBER

Kelli Gaputis, Nancy and Dave Marbury, Josh Sherrod

PARKING LOT SHEPHERDS

Laura Moody and Will Sherrod

“FRIENDLY MEMBERS”

Marna and Bengy Sneed

LOCK-UP VOLUNTEERS

Terry Geiger, Dixie Carter and Keith Fraser

SUNDAY MANA

Oct. 4 - Dr. Richard T. Gillespie “The Question of Divorce” - Job 1:1; 2:1-10;

Psalm 8; Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Oct. 11 - Rev. Brandon E. Miles “What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?”

Job 23:1-0; Psalm 22; Mark 10:17-31

Oct. 18 - Dr. Richard T. Gillespie “Can You Drink of the Cup and Be Baptized with the Baptism?”

Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm 91; Mark 10:35-45

Oct. 25 - Dr. Richard T. Gillespie “At Last, I See!”

Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Mark 10:46-52

4 Butler

11 Pettus, Roden

18 Cracraft

25 Horn, Ostberg

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint

against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has

forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13

Welcome

James “Jay” Dean Zickler, II

born Tuesday, September 29.

His proud parents are Katelyn and David Zickler,

and his very proud grandparents are

Jackie and Jim Zickler.

We express our love and sympathy to

Di Tyree in the death of her sister,

Helen Sleeper, who died Saturday,

September 19.

Our visitor on Sunday, September 27:

Joe Wadsworth

Total attendance Sunday — 81

Average attendance for September — 72

4 11:00 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

COMMUNION WORSHIP SERVICE Peace & Global Witness Offering Shoals Concert Band in fellowship hall

5 5:00 p.m. Monday Night Church at The Carriage

6 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

Visitors Committee Congregational Care Committee Single Women’s Dinner at Sperry’s

7 4:00 p.m. Christian Education Committee

10 8:30 a.m. OUTDOOR WORK DAY at the church

11 3:00 p.m. Officer Training at First Pres, Sheffield

12 5:30 p.m. Mission and Service Committee

13 7:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

Men’s Breakfast Gathering Worship Committee Stewardship Committee

18 3:00 p.m. Officer Training at First Pres, Sheffield

20 Stated Meeting of North Alabama Presbytery at Maranatha

24 Florence Downtown FunFest

26 5:00 p.m. Building and Grounds

27 5:30 p.m. Session Coordinating Team Stated Meeting of the Session

Weds 5:30 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night Suppers Small Groups and handbells Sanctuary Choir

OCTOBER CALENDAR

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OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

UPCOMING YOUTH ACTIVITIES Encounters with Creation (Horses) and cookout at the home of Lynn McLean Aquatic Progressive Dinner Wilderness and Spiritual Growth

Fun Fest in Downtown Florence Saturday, October 24

SHOALS CONCERT BAND

FALL CONCERT

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

3:00 P.M. IN OUR

FELLOWSHIP HALL

NO CHARGE FOR ADMISSION

7 8

12 13 20

William Cracraft Hazel and Jim Thompson Barbara Peck Jonathan Cracraft Laura Moody

21 25 27 29 30

Robyn Rose Phyllis Nofzinger Bob Hurt Belva Gillespie Rich Larkins

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Reception and dance immediately following the ceremony.

Please RSVP to Peggy in the church office by noon Monday, October 5,

if you plan to attend.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS

Your help is needed in the following areas:

Cooks — usually two. (This is covered through December.)

Set up — One person (about one hour) to make

lemonade, tea, coffee; put out silverware, salt, pepper, etc.;

and fill cups with ice.

Clean up — 3 or 4 people, in addition to Jerome or David, to

bring in carts and clear tables; store refrigerated items (salad

dressings, etc.); box and deliver leftover food to members who

have a need; and wipe down all counters.

Laundry — Wash aprons and dish towels and return to kitch-

en by noon on Friday, as they will be needed at Soup Kitchen.

Collect money—Lud Seme has agreed to do this, but there

may be an occasion when he needs a substitute.

If you are willing to help in any — or all — of these areas, please

contact Barbara Peck or Prudy Thomas, or call Peggy in the

church office at 256-764-2081.

Our cooks for upcoming weeks::

October 7 — Covered Dish

October 14 — JoBeth Hurt and Linda Seme

October 21 — Laura Moody and JoBeth Hurt

October 28 — Sarah and Brandon Miles

November 4 — Covered Dish

November 11 — Carol Howdyshell and Jan Schroeder

November 18 — Uhland Redd, IV

December 2 — Covered Dish

December 9 — Linda Seme

Suppers will resume in January.

PLEASE NOTE: The first Wednesday evening

in each month will be a “Covered Dish” Event!

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REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE

MODERATORS

Christian Educatiom

The CE Committee needs your help. Are you

or somebody you know interested in leading the

Thursday morning Bible study? If so, please

contact Bert or Brandon. This is a great oppor-

tunity for personal spiritual growth as well as

for other participants.

Mark your calendars for First Presbyterian to

participate in the Fall Fun Fest in downtown

Florence on October 24. (This will be in lieu of

a Fall Festival like we held at our church last

year, and will be a great opportunity to reach

out to our community.) More details later.

Remember Monday Night Church at The

Carriage at 5:00 pm.

Worship Committee

November 22, 2015 Community Thanksgiving

Worship Service, 6:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal

Mission and Service Committee

With Sessional approval, the church will

participate in the Downtown Fun Fest on

Saturday, October 24.

Stewardship Committee

The finances of the church continue to be of

concern; therefore, we anticipate significant

cuts in our budgeted expenditures for 2016.

We continue to support these vital programs

that are at the heart of our church’s mission:

The Help Center, Room in the Inn, Presby-

terian Home for Children and the Shoals

Community Soup Kitchen. We are very

grateful for the many volunteers who support

these ministries.

BUILDING AND GROUNDS

OUTDOOR WORK DAY

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10,

AT 8:30 A.M.

WOMEN’S THURSDAY MORNING

BIBLE STUDY

TO RESUME SOON.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS

IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.