Yvonne Williams, Director of Starting Strong,…

…gives us a big thumb’s up on how the young woman living in FPC’s sponsored apartment is doing. The young adult has filed for an extension to stay in the apartment. Yvonne reports that “she is doing everything she needs to do.” She is a student at OSU Newark and making positive progress. How wonderful that she has a safe, reliable place to come home to, do her studies, and find positive ways to move forward. Thank you, FPC!

Please Plan to Attend

The Mission-Focused Light Lunch & Learn begins at 11:15, right after the service. We'll have the chance to learn about our community partner, the Center for New Beginnings. You can read about the Center's important work here.

This luncheon is part of the work of our Mission Initiative and also is an extension of the work and good thinking we have done in our class. Please let me know if you have any questions or reach out to Ellen Clark. If you do plan to attend, and I hope you will, please confirm via email with the church office or by calling 740.587.0187.

Best wishes for your week,
Jeff

“Happy to Report…

The sandwiches and decorated sacks were a big hit. I believe the turkey/cheese and ham/cheese were a much appreciated addition from standard PBJ. Please thank the “Wonderful Wednesday peeps.” Greg Bossart (Drop-In Center kitchen guru)

Wonderful Wednesday focused on temperatures last week, as the Warming Center in Newark opened for 5 frigid nights. We heard from 5 FPC disciples (we listened to the sermon!) who have had positive experiences as volunteers at the center. Thank you to Carol Apacki, Mark Atchison, Greg Bossart, and Peggy and Verne Qualls for sharing your stories. veryone at the dinner pitched in to make 50+ sack lunches for the next day’s lunch for our unsheltered neighbors. If you are interested in knowing more about the center, please reach out to any of the names mentioned above. You’ll be glad you did.

Want to support Starting Strong and Fostering Further celebrating 10 years?

Several of us do, too! Let Ellen know if you’d like more information or if you want to carpool.  eclark@granpres.org

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Want to support Starting Strong and Fostering Further celebrating 10 years? Several of us do, too! Let Ellen know if you’d like more information or if you want to carpool. eclark@granpres.org

March 9   Mission  “Lunch and Learn” with Tricia Hufford from New Beginnings

Right after worship as an extension of Reclaiming Faith and Reimagining Church.

We NEED YOU!

FPC is in its second year of providing balanced meals to community members twice a month.  AND, topping it off with a homemade treat.  Would you like to be part of this important ministry at Second Presbyterian, Newark, but can’t commit to being there?

We really need bakers!  Could you commit to baking several dozen dessert servings once or twice a month?  This is a great opportunity for busy families and working individuals.  If this is something you would consider, please talk to Deb Hibler, Liz Tietz or Ellen. It’s a sweet thing!

OSU Care Packages

All school year, members of our congregation have been sending college care packages to a Starting Strong graduate currently attending OSU Main Campus.  The Director of Starting Strong told us this, “She is in a suite with several other girls, and they were all talking about getting care packages from their families.  She thought she would never receive care packages like the other girls.”

Thank you to Jim and Sara Light, Doris and Patty, Jenni and the children, Kristin and the youth, the Cherneys, Presbyterian Women and Nancy Bovenizer for agreeing to send love her way, packaged with care.

Summer 2025!

FPC is making plans with our Presbytery to participate in a Presbyterian Disaster Agency sponsored work trip.  We are looking into sites in Kentucky and North Carolina.  Let Ellen know if you would like more info and how to be involved.

Please mark your calendars for a light lunch and learn more about our community, the services offered to the underserved, and the successes enjoyed. 

On March 9, we will hear from Tricia Hufford of New Beginnings, a domestic violence shelter complete with services. Come hear how we are partnering with their organization. Then, on April 6, we invited Stephanie Dunlap to speak about Whole Living Recovery and how it is addressing addiction in Licking County. These speakers are in conjunction with the Faith Formation class: Reclaiming Faith, Reimagining Church, led by Jeff Kurtz. You do NOT have to be part of the class to attend these lunches. We hope you will join us!

Granville Presbyterian has a long history with the Center for New Beginnings, a shelter for battered men and women. 

The center offers free confidential housing and multiple services to community members and residents who need help with a “new beginning.". FPC member Carol Apacki took part in the founding of this agency over 25 years ago. FPC member Larry Murdoch currently serves on the Advisory Board. FPC has now committed to funding the construction of a furniture storage unit on the center’s property. Sally and Steve Stilwell met with the center’s director and have agreed to manage the furniture inventory and deliveries. Community members donate the furniture.  When people leave the shelter, they may select needed items for their new dwelling. We will be looking for other FPC folk to help the Stilwells with this hands-on mission. If you’d like to know more, talk to Ellen, Sally, or Steve.   AND that’s not all!!..... Tricia Hufford, the center’s director, will be at FPC on March 9, right after worship, as part of Jeff Kurtz's “Reclaiming Faith and Reimaging Church” faith formation class. Come find out more about the center and how you can become involved!

That’s what it took to move furniture from a church member’s home to a young 18-year-old man, who has aged out of foster care.

Mark Atchison, Greg Bossart, Scott Heichel, and Keegan Kirwin didn’t hesitate when asked to load the furniture and make the trek to Lancaster. John Weigand lent his truck to complete the team. These men braved Saturday’s weather and set up the apartment. They were able to meet the young man and share the gratitude he felt. This young man has a place to lay his head and put his belongings thanks to Starting Strong, the donor, and the men who made it happen. What a blessing!

On the cusp of below-zero temperatures, we got a text during worship Sunday from the Drop-In Center.

The director, who coordinates all volunteers and food for the Drop-in Center had to be hospitalized. A call for food went out to the congregation after the postlude. Within 20 minutes, we had over 14 volunteers to bring food! Then emails and phone calls came in. We were able to provide a hearty, balanced lunch for 40+ people on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week. In addition, several FPC members volunteered at The Warming Center so it could remain open. Without volunteers, it doesn’t operate.

The unsheltered are among us, and our congregation responded! Thanks be to God.

The class planned for after worship beginning January 12, has to be rescheduled.

If you are interested in learning more about poverty and the people who experience it daily, please contact Ellen at eclark@granpres.org.  Zoom options are available!

As 2024 comes to an end, we celebrate ending the year with a festive Christmas dinner for the community in Newark. Along with a meal of ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, jello, and dessert, we gave out the “Warm Wishes” bags (the ones we made after church in Heritage Hall), and two men immediately commented on how they needed gloves!

We also celebrate the work done by 1500 Trees, highlighting the 25 live trees that lined Main Street all through the holidays. Ten of our church groups sponsored and decorated 10 of those 25. All live trees will be planted in Licking County, enhancing our environment for years!

As the calendar page turns to 2025, we will continue learning about poverty and racism, growing more in the understanding of how people live in our county, barely getting by. On January 12, we will begin a new class on Bridges Out of Poverty. If you haven’t had a chance to take this 7-week course, please join this one! We will meet after worship until 12:15. Interested? Please talk to Ellen.

In addition, we will have a 3-part series to answer the Biblical question, “Who Is My Neighbor?" Speakers from around the area will inform us about the conditions of poverty in Licking County. Watch for details to learn more.

Together, FPC raised $840.00 in one day for the Salvation Army. 

Together, FPC raised $840.00 in one day for the Salvation Army.  The Abraham/Tatham team, Acklins, Bibees, Burriss/Clark and Olaf team, Boyers, Collins, Kirwins, Krause, Kurtz, Misels, and Skeens.  You could hear joyful bell ringing and many a “Merry Christmas” at the Candlelight Walking Tour.  Grateful teamwork for an important ministry!

Around 70 “Warm Wishes” bags were made in Heritage Hall on Sunday.

As the saying goes, “Many hands (on mission) made light work"! Barbee and Jeff Lamp serve at the Community Dinners in Newark. Barbee thought bringing a little Christmas joy to the December 23rd meal might warm a few hearts. She gathered the items, and many hands put the bags together. Hands-on Mission happens in so many ways, from an idea to loving action—and so much in between.

Starting Strong volunteers packed 60 bags full of “Christmas Wishes” for young adults. 

The bags included the 60 Walmart gift cards that our congregation graciously provided. Other items in the bags were blankets, pillows, and household goods. Thank you, Rob Drake, Beth Hall, and Karen Philips, for making this happen.

FPC accepted the Turkey Trot challenge on Thanksgiving Day.

We had an enthusiastic group that gathered before the race to learn more about the Food Pantry Network and some of the people who experience food insecurity. By registering for the event, each participant provided almost $500’ worth of food for the pantry. (For every $1 donated, the pantry can buy $11 worth of food.) Giving thanks for all who came and donated!