Starting Strong is already planning for Christmas.

To provide for over 60 young adults (in several counties), they have to start early.

They are in need of 60 Walmart $25 gift cards, combined with a Christmas decoration for holiday cheer, to distribute to young adults who have aged out of Foster Care.  We can help make this happen!  The FPC Giving Tree will be in Heritage Hall through Nov. 10.  You can also learn more about what type of decoration they are hoping for.  Stop by and help make the holidays special!

THREE EASY WAYS TO BE INVOLVED

Read below for more information.

The Blessing Box is in need of fall supplies.  Our storage shelves are getting a little empty.  Please scroll down and see what items are needed.  If you are at the grocery this week, grab an item for the Blessing Box.  Thank you!!

Also, Community Dinners are going strong.  Our church prepares and serves at least 100 meals every other week.  One thing we need is desserts!  If you like to bake, consider making cookies, brownies, cakes, you name it!  You can drop your goodies in the FPC kitchen, labeled “Community Dinners”.  We’ll take it from there.  And, thank you!! 

SAVE THE DATE – FPC will once again support the Licking County Food Pantry with an FPC Turkey Trot Team.  On November 28, we’ll gather in Heritage Hall before the race begins.  We’ll share a blessing and pick up your “fun token” for participating.  You can run, walk, or stroll at your own pace.  Last year, over 40 of us participated.  Let’s do it again!

Hurricane Helene caused a huge amount of damage to many beloved places in the south.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is one way that you can help!

Heavy on all our hearts this season is the damage and loss caused by this hurricane seasons. Many of us know people who have been in harm’s way and are displaced. Montreat Conference Center which has blessed so many of us was not unscathed by the destruction in western North Carolina. During times of disaster, it is good to remember that if you donate to One Great Hour of Sharing each spring, then YOU are there, on the ground immediately, whenever disaster strikes anywhere in the world. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is funded by OGHS to respond usually within hours, working through church partners.

 Here is the PDA report from October 3, following Hurricane Helene:

PDA is part of a large and dedicated community of disaster response organizations. PDA has three initial deployment teams in Tampa Bay Presbytery, Holston Presbytery (Eastern Tennessee), and Western North Carolina Presbytery.  Two additional deployments are scheduled to Northeast Georgia Presbytery and Foothills Presbytery (South Carolina).

In addition, PDA has sent six initial assistance grants to six Presbyteries to support unmet immediate needs and two church damage grants.  We anticipate additional grant requests.

Please continue to pray for survivors, those who have experienced loss of loved ones, and responders. Know that your support of PDA is addressing immediate needs and will provide the necessary resources to support the long-term recovery, which will take many years.

 To learn more about the Presbyterian response and to donate to PDA, you can go to this website:  https://pda.pcusa.org/  You can also donate to our church and mark your gift “PDA” or “hurricane.”

Of course, please continue to pray for all those who are affected by these events and for those who are working to rescue and assist.

Please see the list below for donations to help our neighbors this fall.

Bring any donation to Heritage Hall.  And, THANK YOU! *Please make sure all cans have “pop tops”.

• Fruit Cups and Canned Vegetables

• Canned Pastas

• Peanut Butter

• Jerky

• Canned or Bagged Tuna or Chicken

• Gatorade, Juice Boxes, Boost Drinks

• Hotel Sized Toiletries

• Hand/Feet Warmers

• Gloves, Warm Socks

• Diapers/Wipes

• Feminine Products

Starting Strong supports a young woman attending OSU Main Campus.

Our church has committed to sending her a care package once a month.  People have been so generous that we only have 3 months left open; January, February, and May.  If you’d like to know more, contact Ellen at eclark@granpres.org. 

Hurricane Helene, 2024

One of the blessings of being a connectional church is that in times of disaster, we are on the scene, on the ground immediately, through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. You can read more at this link, and you can make a donation which will go 100% directly to affected areas through local church partners.

https://pda.pcusa.org/situation/hurricane-helene/

Thank YOu!

To all who shared their time coming together with other churches, at Second Presbyterian, Newark!  We were able to complete 10,000 freeze dried meals in just about an hour.  Everyone used their gifts from lifting heavy boxes, filling bags with nutrients, weighing and sealing those bags, running them to the packing station, packing the food, filling up empty supplies, setting up and cleaning up!  What a beautiful way to be together on a Sunday afternoon, living out Matthew 25.  Thanks be to God for this time.

Our Presbyterian Women (PW) helped pack 50 lunches for the Holy Trinity Drop-In Center, Newark. 

Thank you PW for nurturing this church in so many ways!

This Year, 1500 Trees is sponsoring 25 live trees for the village Christmas decorations.

Every year the trees line Granville streets with white lights and special messages. Our church agreed to sponsor 10 of the 25.  Different groups such as the Chancel Choir, Youth Choir, Bells, Senior High Youth, Wonderful Wednesday, Club56/Team 78, Mission and more will buy and decorate a tree and pay for the planting.  These live trees will become part of the Chakoian Legacy Forest at Watkins High School.  Thank you, 1500 Trees, for caring for this earth in such creative ways.

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!