Learning Events at FPC Turn into Outreach

Judy McNeish attended a “Lunch and Learn” after worship one Sunday in 2025.  She learned about Whole Living Recovery and became committed to the cause of helping people recovering from addictions.  She formed “Friends of Recovery” and created a board, five of which are FPC members.  Just last week, Judy had a booth at the recent United Way Non-Profit Expo. Here she spread the word about the cause.  Our church is having 4 more opportunities in the next few months to learn about needs in our community.  Come and see, listen, learn, and maybe you will find ways where your gifts match the needs of this world.

Save These Dates - Ways to Be Informed

One way to live out Matthew 25 is to be better informed on the issues in our community and where you can share your time and talents.  We have four Mission sponsored events to help you do just that.  Read on…..

Wednesday, February 25 – Coalition of Housing

Trina Wood, director of Coalition of Housing, will speak at Wonderful Wednesday.

Come for dinner at 5:30, or come at 6 for the presentation.

Tuesday, March 17 – Homelessness and Solutions

Double Tree Hotel at 6 pm.  Come hear about solutions to homelessness in our county and ways we can say YES to housing our unsheltered neighbors.  FPC sponsors this event.

Wednesday, March 18 – Columbus Refugee & Immigration Services

Two opportunities to learn about refugees and immigrants in the Columbus area.

Teresa Gibson, Community Engagement Coordinator at CRIS (Columbus Refugee & Immigration Services) will give a family friendly presentation at Wonderful Wednesday.

Then, at 6:45 pm, we will open the sanctuary to our community for a more in-depth presentation.

Wednesday, April 22 – Coalition of Care

Melissa Anderson, Director of Coalition of Care, will give updates on this organization and its impact in Licking County.  This organization was co-founded by FPC member, Carol Bradley and FPC Secretary Barb Marcum.  Mel Fraley and Sarah Poe volunteer weekly to assist neighbors.

Outreach Outside Our Doors

FPC member, Melissa Mautz, brought mission to her 5th grade scouting group.  This den is part of Granville Cub Scouts Pack 3.

The boys learned about the Warming Center and how it operates when the temperature drops below 10 degrees.  Afterwards, the troop packed 50 box lunches for people who experience homelessness and attend the Drop-In Center.

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF STARTING STRONG, the agency serving young adults aging out of foster care. Our church pays monthly rent on an apartment housing these adults.  We also stock it with needed items and clean it thoroughly every time a tenant moves out.  Please read the letter below.

Dear FPC,

I wanted to provide you all with an update on the apartment that you so kindly partner with us at Hope Landing. Effective tomorrow, a young adult will be occupying the space that your church supports.  To give you some insight - this need came up almost immediately as the young adult is experiencing homelessness, currently living in a hotel that operates as a support for those experiencing homelessness. Prior to that he was at St. Vincent Haven in Newark for a period of time.  He is looking forward to getting his feet under him and returning to full time employment knowing that he won't have to worry about what couch he'll be sleeping on each night.

We can't fully express our thanks and gratitude for your partnership.  We are able to help break down a barrier for this young adult thanks to your generosity.

Thank you!

Erin

Y Healthy Backpack Program, Deacons,  and Finance Committee

Many showed up to help pack backpacks last week to ensure area children have enough to eat on weekends.  Over 500 children in our county are identified by teachers as having food insecurity. Volunteers, such as our Deacons, AND our Finance Committee packed food with the Y Healthy Backpack program to serve these children.  Thank you, Deacons and Finance!

FPC Men’s Group - Quietly Serving Since 2013

To satisfy a desire for a hand-on mission project, members of the Men’s Bible Study have been collecting food items from local restaurants and delivering it to the Salvation Army since 2013.  Currently, the following entities provide excess food items each week: Denison University Food Service, City Barbeque, Jolly Pirate, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Ann’s Pretzels, R& M Bakery and Witten’s Farm (summer). Teams of two men pick up the food items every Wednesday. Doug Bibee, Dave Rutledge, Cash Misel, Greg Gabor, and Fred Abraham are the current volunteers from Granville FPC.  We are grateful for their living out Matthew 25.

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.