Obstacles and Opportunities

Come, find out about the things we can do to provide more affordable housing for our unsheltered neighbors.  Let’s be informed about the ups and downs facing our community to achieve this goal.  FPC is sponsoring this event on January 20 because it is important for us to learn, then speak up for those whose voices need amplification.  Being informed helps us work alongside each other for the good of the whole.  The event will be held at the Double Tree Hotel in Newark at 6 pm.  Let’s fill the tables and find solutions together.

Team 78 and the Community Dinner

Our middle school youth prepped dinner, served guests, and helped clean up at the December 22 Community Dinner.  They also distributed 75 gift bags that were donated by FPC and assembled by our Senior High Youth.  It was a merry event for all.

On Christmas Eve we collected an offering of $2106, from all three worship services. What a wonderful outpouring of care.  This money will be used to buy protein (which is hardest to acquire) for the Drop-In Center breakfasts and lunches.  Over 80 meals are cooked each weekday, and all the food is donated.  Twenty-one hundred dollars will go a long way! Thank you, FPC, for providing nutritious offerings to our unsheltered neighbors.  

The Drop-In Center Needs…..Can you help?

Aluminum foil

Milk

Drink mixed

Sugar

Coffee

12 oz coffee cups

12oz clear cups

Napkins

Paper plates

Paper bowls for cereal (12oz)

You can bring these items to church.  There will be a tub at the back of the sanctuary marked “Drop In Center Donations”.

Getting to Know You

We are blessed by surprises when we walk along side our unsheltered neighbors. One such surprise is getting to know each other better along the way. Jeff and Barbee Lamp, Beth Hall, Cheri Misel and Terry Talbot didn’t all know each other before recently volunteering at the Drop-In Center. Now, they do!  Building community within and outside our walls are added blessings as we live out Matthew 25.

Our Deacons Work Behind the Scenes

So many things happen behind the scenes, nurturing and caring for our members.  Who are these specially involved angels in our midst?  The Deacons!  If you pay attention, you can discover them delivering cookies and flowers, making regular visits to folks who can’t always get to church, providing our fellowship coffee and treats every Sunday, preparing meals for people who can use a lift, organizing our Easter brunch, helping with memorials, greeting card ministry, serving communion at Otterbein.  We thank God for our Deacons and are grateful for all they do.

Joy Offering Collected This Sunday

Envelopes will be available or you can pay online for this important Presbyterian wide offering. This denominational offering has been taken since the 1930’s. It provides aid to current and retired church leaders with financial emergencies and develops future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.

I Heard the Bells Before Christmas Day

Christmas cheer was spread by all the FPC folks who rang the Salvation Army bells during the Candlelight Walking Tour.  Bill Acklin organized 10 shifts for this important ministry fundraiser.  Thank you to Fred Abraham, the Acklins, Doug Bibee, the Boyer kids, the Carrington family, the Colins family, the Dickinson family, Jeff Kurtz, the Kraus family, and Bob Thornton.

Special Treats for Special Families in our Community

Our families with young children baked homemade goodies for young children in foster care.  Village Network, an agency in Newark, provides support for families with foster children.  For the agency’s annual Christmas party our families, the Carringtons, Chamberlains, Colins, Kesslers, Meenachs and Swishers baked home made cookies to bring delicious joy to the celebration.  Thank you, families!

Hurricane Helene Adult Work Trip:  Before and After

Picture One:  A family of four children and FPC volunteer Wilson Foster on the adult work trip to Asheville, NC in July 2025.

Picture Two:  The same family 6 months later, in their newly renovated and repaired home.

Hunger Network of Ohio: Advocacy in Advent
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at 12 p.m.

Join other FPC members and carpool to Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus to learn how to advocate for people who cannot advocate for themselves. Our friends in poverty can use our help amplifying their voices.

Participants will receive a policy briefing before heading to the Ohio Statehouse for legislative advocacy meetings, which will continue until 5 p.m. No experience is required; training will be provided.

Email Ellen at eclark@granpres.org if you are curious or interested.

Turkey Trot Devotions

Thanksgiving Thursday was a chilly morning. Many of us gathered in the sanctuary before the race to understand more fully the impact of this fundraiser for our community.

It Was a Lovely Thanksgiving

The Drop-In Center fed about 45 people on Thanksgiving Day.  FPC provided the table décor, which brightened up not only the room, but people’s hearts.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

The Salvation Army bells have begun ringing around our community.  Would you like to be part of this hands-on ministry, helping raise money for our unsheltered neighbors?  December 6 is the day; CVS Pharmacy is the place.  We have 5 times available. The commitment is one hour.  Are you available and interested?  Please contact Ellen at eclark@granpres.org and thank you!

Thank You from Starting Strong!  

Forty gift cards and festive Christmas treats were delivered to the offices of Starting Strong bright and early (just like Santa) this past Monday morning.  The director’s eyes lit up as the packages were unpacked.  Your gifts will make a young adult’s heart light up, too.  Thank you for always caring, especially during this blessed season when caring is what it’s all about.

Planning to walk/run/stroll in the Turkey Trot this year to benefit the Food Pantry Network?  If you are, please let Ellen know and come to our third annual FPC Turkey Trot Dedication before the race.  We will meet in our sanctuary at 9 am. We will hear stories about our neighbors who use and benefit from the pantry.  We will gain greater insight into the meaning of Thanksgiving and this particular fundraiser. Around 50 of us have gathered in the past two years, let's do it again! The food pantries need our support, as do the neighbors the pantries serve.  SEE YOU THURSDAY MORNING at 9 am.  We will be finished by 9:15 am, in time to join fellow walkers/runners/strollers.

I'm thrilled to share some fantastic news with you! This past weekend, we held our SSI Winter Clothing distribution event, and it was a huge success. We had over 50 students come by, and we were able to distribute a total of 145 items from the 179 clothing pieces that were generously donated.

After the event, we received even more requests from students who are in need of winter clothing. We're thinking of organizing it next semester in January since the temperatures are expected to drop even more.  Thank you ALL!

Seven groups from within our church (i.e. Youth, Deacons, Session, Mission, etc.) have scheduled backpacking parties with the YMCA Healthy Backpack program.  Justin Cowie, senior at GHS, met with church groups to inform and invite them to participate.  He then coordinated all the "packing parties."  This program feeds children identified by their schools as having food insecurities.  Food is sent home with nearly 500 students, from 23 schools, every weekend.  We are grateful to Justin, the people volunteering, and this important program in our community. 

WARMING CENTER NEEDS VOLUNTEERS 

The chill is in the air as temperatures drop.  We thank God for the Drop-In Center which provides warmth, food, safety and rest from 9:30 – 4:30 M-F.  But, our unsheltered neighbors are in the elements the rest of the time, all through the night.  When the temperature falls below 10 degrees the Warming Center opens.  Volunteers are needed.  Orientation is provided, and you could work shifts alongside other FPC members.  If you would like to know more, please contact Greg Bossart or Ellen Clark (other members to talk to include the Apackis, Mark Atchison, Amy Dell, Nancy Price, and the Qualls).  Let us know about your interest!

BLESSING BOX

Thank you to everyone who supports the Blessing Box at First Presbyterian, Newark.  We receive cash donations from members, which is used by Melissa Mautz to buy needed items when we run low.  The congregation continually donates items, and many members deliver these items every week.  This ministry has been in operation over three years, consistently, intently, and generously.  Thank you!