September 22 is the Day, 1pm-3pm(ish) is the time
Let’s meet at Second Presbyterian and pack 10,000 meals. These freeze-dried meals will be distributed worldwide. FPC filled ½ the church gym last year and we had a great time together. This hands-on event is perfect for ages 4th grade and older. Come, serve, and fellowship together. Email Ellen with questions and sign up.
Thank you to everyone who delivered food to the Salvation Army this summer (and longer!) providing fresh produce for those with food insecurity.
Sharing the Harvest volunteers gathered food from the Granville Farmer’s Market every Saturday.
Men’s Bible Study collects food every Wednesday from area merchants. This has been their hands-on ministry for several years.
On September 18, Melissa Anderson, Director of the Coalition of Care
( COC co-founders are from FPC) will be giving us an update on this community organization. She will speak at our Wonderful Wednesday dinner.
Come at 5:30 for dinner and stay for Melissa’s presentation at 6. Please rsvp to the church office so we have a place set for everyone! If you can’t get here for dinner, join us at 6.
FPC is planning on participating for the fifth year at this annual event!
Together, with Second Presbyterian Newark, we will assemble 10,000 dry packed meals. Last year, we had over FPC 30 members attend, from age 8 - 80. Come join us this year for a community experience, feeding the hungry and loving our neighbors. It will be held at Second Presbyterian in Newark on September 22, from 1-3 pm -ish.
Please see the link below to volunteer.
We have several openings and would love your help. Instructions can be found on the Blessing Box table in Heritage Hall or email Ellen at eclark@granpres.org. Be watching for items to donate as the weather gets cooler. THANK YOU for supporting this ministry we’ve shared with First Presbyterian, Newark for over 3 years!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA9AC29A0F58-blessing
Our annual “summer is over, the program year begins” event
(formerly known as Rally Day) is September 8, right after worship.
Our message this year is “We Are Blessed to be a Blessing”. Come enjoy great brunch items (provided by all our music folks), enjoy time together, and give thanks for all the blessings we have in this congregation. Our blessings support each other and reach out into the community. Courtney Swisher is putting together a video that encapsulates this well. There will be live music, laughter, reflection, gratitude, and community. Please, join us all on September 8, Heritage Hall, after worship!
All ages turned out on Saturday August 10th to help maintain the 6th St neighborhood gardens. Fresh produce is not easily obtained by people experiencing poverty.
The gardens teach people to garden and provide plots, fresh produce and healthy choices.
The director of the gardens shared how pleased she was with the work accomplished!
We have so many excellent items that you will WANT to Bid on for the silent auction at Trivia night tomorrow!
Select Items will be available for bidding through 11:15am on Sunday Aug 25th, however most items close at the end of trivia night Aug 17th! Make sure to get to Heritage Hall to check it out!
After careful and prayerful study, plus ongoing dialogue with the Director and Board of Starting Strong, our church has committed $130,000 to support this ministry to young adults aging out of foster care.
In addition, we committed to a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $50,000 to create an endowment, ensuring Starting Strong’s sustainability into the future.
With this money, from the Kier Bequest, the organization will be able to make a transformational impact on young people’s lives. We will also partner with Starting Strong, volunteering where needed. To learn more, please contact any Mission Committee member or Ellen Clark. This is only the beginning. Our mission team will continue to seek God's guidance in looking at additional opportunities to partner with organizations in Licking County, promoting transformational change.
Sweet Celebrations!
FPC is celebrating our 1-year anniversary of serving meals at Second Presbyterian, Newark.
Over 30 FPC members are involved, alternating shifts every other Monday, feeding warm meals to our neighbors who might just need a lift. Thank you to all who give their time and love in this hands-on ministry. We could use more volunteers to bring desserts, once or twice a month. Please contact Deb Hibler. THANK YOU!
And, a heartfelt thank you to Sue Barton, Austin McElroy, and Sandy Rinehart for serving lunch EVERY Thursday for many, many years. If you’d like to be part of this ministry, contact Austin McElroy or Ellen.
TEASER FOR SILENT AUCTION!!!
Here are just a few of the incredible items that you will want to bid on for the silent auction happening in conjunction with the Trivia Night!
OSU Football Home Game Tickets
Vaile Series Tickets
Prince Concert Tickets
Artwork
Dinners for 8
$500 gift certificate to Granville Rec redeemable for ALL programs, for ALL ages,
and SO MUCH MORE! We hope you’ll come to bid on these incredible things at Trivia Night on Aug 17! SIGN UP FOR A TABLE NOW! Call the office , Kristin or Ellen, and we’ll get you set up!
Contact Ellen at eclark@granpres.org if you are interested or want to know more about being involved.
There are more ways we can have hands-on experiences helping young adults aging out of Foster Care. Please see the opportunities below.
Mechanics - Starting Strong wants to provide safe, reliable cars for young adults to purchase. They need people who like to work on cars to evaluate cars donated to the organization, make recommendations for repair, and if possible, make the repairs. The time requirement would be once or twice a year- if that. It all depends on when a car is donated. If you or someone you know has these gifts, let Ellen know.
Care Packages - Remember how good it was to receive care packages from loved ones? College students have aged out of their foster homes and may never have this uplifting experience. Unless YOU are interested in making those experiences possible. Right now, Starting Strong has a young female adult attending OSU Main Campus. They are looking for someone to send occasional care packages. Let us know if you are interested or even slightly curious.
Gift Cards for Care Packages - Everyone likes to have food delivered to their door or eat out from time to time, right? So do college students who are pulling "all-nighters" before an exam or just need a break. Consider donating DoorDash or restaurant gift cards to put in the care packages mentioned above. This will surely make someone's day better and studying more tolerable.
Open House
We have been invited to learn about the new model for distributing food at the food pantries of Licking County. Come, learn, experience the change which gives clients a sense of dignity and choice. Want to carpool? Contact Ellen at eclark@granpres.org.
ALSO, come to Trivia Night on August 17 and help the Food Pantry Network fill their shelves. Call the office to sign up to attend!
Gaga It Is!
Mark Atchison, Greg Bossart and Jason Sturgeon built and assembled a “gaga pit” for the youth at the YES Club. A gaga pit is a corral-like structure. Players get inside and play “dodge ball”, of sorts. It is all the rage with young people and a safe way to have fun. The youth have already used it and are so very grateful. Thank you, Greg, Jason and Mark!
Bakers Needed
We are approaching our first-year anniversary for preparing and serving Monday Community Meals in Newark. And we are continuing!! That means we are needing desserts for 90 people every two weeks. Could you participate in this hands-on mission? The only requirement is that the desserts can be frozen if needed. Drop your baked goods, labeled “Community Dinners” off anytime at the church kitchen. We’ll take it from there. Questions? Please email Ellen at eclark@granpres.org.
We have planned another “work” day at the community gardens in Newark.
August 10 from 9- 12pm. Do you have a few hours to share to work on a needed project at the gardens? It’s a great hands-on mission event.
Let’s do this! Contact Ellen if you are interested.
Mission Committee and Faith Formation teamed together to bring the YES Club to our July Wonderful Wednesday.
The director, GHS 2009 graduate, Haley Snyder shared with us all about the YES Club and their important work with teens. Thank you to all who attended and learned more about the needs and FPC opportunities to partner in Licking County. And, to the Mission Committee (pictured in the photos below) for making it happen!
We’ve got the EVENT FOR YOU!
Trivia Night and Silent Auction on Aug 17, 2024.
We’re hosting the first annual trivia night benefitting the Senior High Youth work trip, and the Licking County Food Pantry Network. Tickets are $15 per person or STACK YOUR WINNING TEAM by pre-selecting all 8 members for $150. Doors will open at 6:30, trivia starts at 7. There will also be a silent auction filled with amazing items! Childcare provided. Questions? email Kristin or Ellen!
What a Difference!
Our Blessing Box shelves were empty a few weeks ago. Thanks to two generous financial donations and to the Mautz family for shopping, we have filled them back up. We are grateful beyond words…..the picture says it all!
If you are traveling this summer, we are running out of travel sized shampoo, soap and lotions. Thank you!
