www.firstpresathens.org

January 25, 2016

A More Excellent Way — Sunday, January 31“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” So begins Paul’s timeless ode on love in 1 Corinthians 13. It is a popular reading at weddings and funerals, and for good reason. It is a good reminder at the beginning of a marriage and the ending of a life. But what might it say to those of us who are slogging along in the middle? What is the more excellent way? In order to figure that out, this Sunday we will move beyond the familiarity of this passage and any misguided notions about what love truly is.

Dr. Carol Strickland, Associate Pastor

February Prime Time Presbyterian Event

February 16th at 10:30 a.m

This February, the PTP’s will tour the Athens Clarke County Recycling Center. We will meet at the center, located at 725 Hancock Industrial Way near the Athens Main Post Office on Olympic Drive and close to the Carrier Transicold facility. After the tour we will have a lunch at Little City Diner in Winterville. Please contact Judy Howell to RSVP, jhowell@uga.edu or (706) 549-2888.

Interfaith Hospitality Network Volunteer

OrientationSunday, January 31st

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

780 Timothy Road

Have you been thinking about volunteering with IHN? This is a great opportunity to get involved and really make a diference in 2016! Both new volunteers and seasoned veterans are welcome for this brief refresher course. Please contact Kendall Weinberg to RSVP, assist.ihnathens@gmail.com or (706) 425-1881.

Preaching Series During LentI will be preaching a four part sermon series during Lent entitled, “Getting Closer to Jesus this Lent.” The scripture lessons all include times in Jesus’ life when he either faced difficulties or when Jesus’ parables teach about difficult times. It will include:

February 14—First Sunday in Lent Sermon: When Life Presses In on Us Scripture: Luke 4:1-13 Theme: The temptation of Jesus

February 21—Second Sunday in Lent Sermon: When We Need to Repent Scripture: Luke 13:1-9 Theme: Bad things happening to good people

March 6—Fourth Sunday in Lent, Communion Sermon: When We Are the Prodigal Child Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-24 Theme: When we run away from responsibility

March 13—Fifth Sunday in Lent Sermon: When We Are the Eldest Child Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, 25-32 Theme: When we do almost everything right

Glenn Doak, Senior Pastor

About Face — Sunday, February 7The Rev. Andy Cooke, Campus Minister of the Presbyterian Student Center at the University of Georgia, will be teaching on Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, and Luke 9:28-36 this Transfiguration Sunday. Join us to explore what Scripture has to teach us about change and transfiguration at the intersection of humanity and the divine, the temporal and eternal.

Ash Wednesday — February 10The season of Lent, the 40 days prior to Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday, which is February 10th this year. We will have two worship services that day, at noon and 6:30 p.m. following Wednesday night dinner. At each worship service, there will be prayers and scripture read-ings appropriate for the day, imposing of ashes for those who would like to receive them and the sacrament of communion. I will also preach a brief homily at the 6:30 p.m. service. We will also offer a brief children’s service at 5:00 p.m., complete with a children’s message and imposition of ashes.

The season of Lent is a time for penitence, prayer and thinking about our faith. The Book of Common Worship calls Lent, “a season of spiritual discipline and preparation… anticipat-ing the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ.” Congregants are encouraged to join a small group, become more regular in daily devotions and attend worship more regularly.

Glenn Doak, Senior Pastor

Children’s Ministry Update

The Children’s Ministry is GROWING! In the past year, we have welcomed 15 new babies to our church family. Our nursery includes a baby room for newborns to one year olds (“new walkers”) and a toddler room for two, three, and four year olds.

We are so very fortunate to have such a wonderful nursery staff caring for all of our little ones in the nursery. Led by Wendi Finch, our Nursery Coordinator, the nursery staff provides loving childcare for Sunday Morning Worship and Sunday School, Monday handbell Choir practice, Wednesday@First Classes and Chancel Choir Practice, Monthly Session Meetings, and additional church meetings and events. This

group of wonderful women are always ready and willing to make sure that our children are taken care of so that church members are able to attend worship and church events.

As our nursery continues to grow, we need to make sure that we have enough adult staff and volun-teers to continue providing high quality care for our children. We are currently seeking volunteers who are willing to snuggle and cuddle with our sweet babies! If you are interested in volunteering in our baby room, please contact Natalie Bishop at natalie@firstpresathens.org or (706) 543-4338.

Natalie Bishop, Director of Children’s Ministries

Youth Ministry UpdateAfter a long Christmas break, youth group resumed on January 10th with a full house and a time of reflection. Scattered across the floor of the PIT were photos printed from the New York Times Year in Review, Time Top 100 Photos from 2015, and National Geographic Photo Contest 2015. Through over 200 images, we looked back on some of the most beautiful, painful and inspirational moments from last year. We asked ourselves, “where is God in these images?” For most, the answer was clear, but there were a few images that caused us to struggle to see our loving, all-powerful God amidst the suffering. As we kick off 2016, our youth have been challenged (and challenge each of you) to look for God Sightings in each day. We will be sharing our God Sigthings at this year’s Youth Sunday on April 24th. May you see God, hear Christ’s voice, and sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in the ups and downs of this new year.

Kim Ness, Director of Youth Ministries

New Members Received on January 24thDuring worship on January 24th, we were pleased to receive nine new members into the congregation of First Presbyterian Church. Please join us in welcoming our new members:

Campbell AbbottJoyce CobleTom and Susan Landrum

Melinda and Todd MillerAlison NeufeldChris and Jody Pope

Our Church FamilyIn the Hospital:Joyce Coble, St. Mary’s

Home from the Hospital:Bob CobbSympathy:To Emma Holman on the death

of her stepfather, Judge Walter C. McMillan, on January 17, 2016.

To Elinor Terrell on the death of her brother, and to Greta Covington and Tootsie Adams on the death of their uncle, Thomas “Tommy” Tillman, on January 17, 2016.

February 1 Mike Capie, Shelly Parker, Betty Schofield

February 2 Helen Crosby, John Whitehead

February 3 Courtney Jackson, Stan Kays, Hudson Smith, William Towles III

February 4 Patty BrantleyFebruary 5 Henry DeWitt, Maddy

Magrino, Ginny Rogers, Mike Vezmar

February 6 Wanda Barlow, Doug PriceFebruary 7 Brandon Barrett, Emma

Holman, Katie Middendorf, Chuck Roberts, Jr., Carey Walden, Bill Woolbright

February 8 Bob Glasscock, Beth Milner, John Wilson

February 9 Brant RazorFebruary 10 Kimberly Childers, Blaine

Eidell, Jeanne NadenicekFebruary 11 Fran Carmichael, Jack

RazorFebruary 12 Wayne KlingelsmithFebruary 13 Elaine Johnson, Sandra

PophamFebruary 14 Tanna Nicholson, Wendi

StunziFebruary 15 Bill Childers, Zack

Chromiak, Katie Kalivoda, Chase MacMillan

Feb. 1 Genesis 19:1-29Feb. 2 Hebrews 11:13-22Feb. 3 John 6:52-59Feb. 4 Genesis 23:1-20Feb. 5 Hebrews 12:3-11Feb. 6 John 7:14-36Feb. 7 Malachi 4:1-6Feb. 8 Philippians 2:1-13Feb. 9 John 18:28-38Feb. 10 Amos 5:6-15Feb. 11 Philippians 3:12-21Feb. 12 John 17:9-19Feb. 13 Ezekiel 39:21-29Feb. 14 Hebrews 2:10-18Feb. 15 Mark 1:1-13

Bible ReadingsMusic Notes by John Coble

In December, our choirs sang “In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan.” Beautiful words, but it seemed a bit odd when, especially on Christmas Eve, the weather was unseasonably warm! There’s another anthem that I’ve done with choirs since I discovered it years ago, which begins “’Tis winter now; the fallen snow has left the heavens all coldly clear.” It rarely fails that no matter how cold the winter is, on the Sunday we sing that anthem, it is, again, unseasonably warm. In such cases, I explain to choirs that “winter” is also

symbolic. In A Cry of Absence, Martin Marty writes: “Winterless climates there may be, but winterless souls are hard to picture.” A “winter” in our hearts can be a time when God seems silent and absent. “The fury and bleakness within the soul can remain, no matter what the season or the weather.” These spiritual winters can be a time of broken relationships, sickness, or death.

The anthem I mentioned above sets a text by Samuel Longfellow, and it continues, “And yet God’s love is not withdrawn; his life within the keen air breathes; his beauty paints the crimson dawn, and clothes the boughs with glittering wreaths.” And so, as we remember and continue to experience the cold, dark times in our lives, we also remind ourselves that God is still with us, keeping us through our wintry days.

Flower Dedications The following dates are available to dedicate flowers for Sunday morning worship: February 7, 14, 21 and 28. The cost for two arrangements is $100. Please contact Lucy Bell at lbell@firstpresathens.org to schedule a date.

Lenten Eating GroupsDuring Lent, you are invited to join a small group of seven or eight fellow mem-bers who will be meeting over four meals during the six week season of Lent. Lent is February 10 – March 26 this year. As groups break bread together, they are invited to consider the spiritual significance of food and related issues of fair food and world hunger. Our Waddel Fellow for Outreach, Elizabeth Wilkes, will provide short, easy-to-lead lessons for each group to prompt thinking, discussion, and action. This is a great opportunity to enjoy getting to know others better and to consider the spiritual implications of something as basic as the food we eat. Please contact Elizabeth at efwilkes@uga.com if you are interested in hosting these discussions in your home or attending an existing small group.

Dr. Carol Strickland, Associate Pastor

185 East Hancock Avenue • Athens, GA 30601706-543-4338

Non Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDAthens, GAPermit 262

Sunday, January 31A More Excellent Way

Rev. Dr. Carol Strickland

Sunday, February 7About Face

Rev. Andy Cooke

Worship Services:8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.

Children’s Church Children, ages 4 through Grade 2, may leave the 11:00 a.m. service for

activities in the Children’s Ministry Suite.

Sundays at First Presbyterian

Return Service RequestedSunday, January 31 1:15 p.m. AYS Rehearsal, Fellowship Hall 4:00 p.m. IHN Volunteer Orientation, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 780 Timothy Road Cherub Choir, Room 203 St. Andrews Choir, Room 202 4:30 p.m. Frozen Chosen Cup Youth Fellowship, Fellowship Hall 5:00 p.m. Celebration Singers, Room 202 Mission and Outreach Meeting, Moses Waddel Room

Monday, February 1 1:30 p.m. Staff Meeting, Staff Conference Room 5:15 p.m. Education and Discipleship Commission Meeting, Staff Conference Room 5:30 p.m. Handbell Choir Rehearsal, Room 205

Tuesday, February 2 1:30 p.m. Knitting Purls, Bride’s Room 2:00 p.m. Circle 3 and 4, Home of Kitty Donnan, 1050 Simonton Way 7:00 p.m. Circle 6, Home of Ann Dunn, 425 Southview Drive

Wednesday, February 3 - Wednesday@First Programs10:00 a.m. Tai Chi Group, Room 31010:00 p.m. Our Daily Bread, First Baptist Church 3:00 p.m. Wednesday@First Programs 5:45 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner, Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Room 202

Thursday, February 410:00 a.m. Thursday Morning Bible Study, Home of Josephine Paine, 640 Riverview Road 2:00 p.m. The Mellows, Morningside Assisted Living, 1291 Cedar Shoals Drive 5:00 p.m. Congregational Care Commission Meeting, Pastor’s Conference Room 5:30 p.m. Weekday School Committee Meeting, Children’s Ministry Suite

Saturday, February 6 9:00 a.m. Annual Presbytery Education Meeting, Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 7 1:15 p.m. AYS Rehearsal, Fellowship Hall 4:00 p.m. Cherub Choir, Room 203 St. Andrews Choir, Room 202 5:00 p.m. Celebration Singers, Room 202 6:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship Souper Bowl of Caring, The PIT

Monday, February 8 1:30 p.m. Staff Meeting, Staff Conference Room 5:15 p.m. Finance Team, Staff Conference Room 5:30 p.m. Handbell Choir Rehearsal, Room 205 6:00 p.m. Stated Session Meeting, Moses Waddel Room 7:15 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Tuckston UMC, Tuckston UMC, 4175 Lexington Rd.

Tuesday, February 9 1:30 p.m. Knitting Purls, Bride’s Room

Wednesday, February 10 - Ash Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Circle 7, Bride’s Room10:00 a.m. Tai Chi Group, Room 31012:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service, Sanctuary 5:00 p.m. Children’s Ash Wednesday Service, Sanctuary 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner, Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service, Sanctuary