Pastor Paul’s Vacation
Pastor Paul will be away on vacation beginning Sunday afternoon, December 28th and returning Monday morning, January 5th. We welcome Rev. Dr. Ann Laird Jones to the pulpit to preach and lead worship on Sunday, January 4th. She will also be available for emergency pastoral care needs while Paul is away.
Star Words: A Journey to Epiphany and 2026!
“Star Words” are words written on cut out stars, designed to be a spiritual exercise/practice where a single word is written on a star, randomly placed in each bulletin this Sunday. Each star has a different word! The hope is that this word will serve as a spiritual theme or guide for you for this new year! Please take this star and place it somewhere you will see it every day---refrigerator, dresser, mirror--- using it as a prayer focus, a meditative practice, a daily inspiration for this year before us!
Note: if you don’t get one this Sunday there will be extras in the church office!
Nominations for Elders and Deacons
Now is the time for officer nominations. If you haven’t submitted names to be considered as elders and deacons yet, please do so by January 4th.
Click the video above to view the December 28st worship service.
Sacred Space
Here are a few items Sacred Space needs. You can drop them off at 502 N. Broadway (the former Salvation Army building):
Sandwich meat, bread, hotdogs, buns, mustard
Milk, eggs
Nab snack crackers, (cheese, peanut butter), crackers, granola bars
Vienna sausage, Ramen noodles (in the cup)
Foam carry out trays, paper towels, plastic forks and spoons
Bottled water
Mardi Gras Madness
Merry Christmas from Isaac in Cuba! This Sunday, you’ll hear about how our Mardi Gras Madness fundraiser helps bring health and hope to whole communities!
Mardi Gras Madness is February 16th—from now until then, it will be all hands on deck!
On Sundays throughout January and February, you’ll hear from different members of our church about how YOU can be an essential part of keeping clean water flowing in our partner communities. And on January 11th, we are having our kickoff luncheon. Make plans to join us!
When we work together with our partner churches to bring clean water to a community, we are part of a beautiful story God is telling the whole world!
A new TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will begin in January. We will be studying Elijah by Melissa Spoelstra. Please make sure to contact E’Lou Mitchell @ 662-820-2942 to reserve a study book if you plan to attend.
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK
FPC FAMILY:
the family of Ruth Ann Brent
Coco Buehler
Libbi Cox
Bill Gamble
the family of Wendell Hoyle
Trude Powers & family
Sissy Schuster
the family of Sarah Porter Smith
John Turner
MEMBERS IN ASSISTED LIVING
Jacquie Turner
Bill Gamble
Pat Chambers
Kay Frost
NEW PARENTS:
Mary Grace & Walker Brewer. Hayes William Brewer, 10-29-25
EXPECTANT PARENTS:
Olivia (Turner) & Michael Fancher
THOSE AWAY:
Courtney Bacon
Judy Jones
Bright Hays
Trude Powers
FPC FRIENDS:
Linda Fratesi
Terri Schilling
Rubye Warrington
John Cox
Myra Kogutt (Terri Lane’s mother)
Margaret Dent (Mollie Stock’s niece)
Marshall Roberson (friend of Lisa Willis)
Caroleen Eifling (former FPP Director)
Nathan Fratesi
Carol Rogers (Donna Beckham’s sister)
Lila Hood
Mel Covington
Ann Skelton
Taylor Bacon (Courtney Bacon’s grandson)
Nancy & Jimmy Bradley (cousins of Betty Lynn Cameron)
Vicki Lucas
Bob Hoagland
the family of Peggy Keady (former member)
Upcoming Events & Activities
Calendar, Week January 4-10, 2026
Sunday
Chancel Choir Rehearsal 8:45 a.m.
Worship 10 a.m.
Monday
Men’s Coffee Group meets 10 a.m.
Wednesday
Prayer Shawl ministry meets 1:30 p.m.
Those Assisting in Special Ways This Week & Next
Children’s Sermon
1-4 Ted Lamar, 1-11 Jon Alverson
Flowers
1-4 Lottie Mae & Jim Dawkins, 1-11 Lanier Smythe
Livestream Camera
Liturgist
MOW Delivery
1-10 Barry, Eric & Ben Schuster
1-17 Frankie, Parker & Miller England
MOW Tray Assembly
1 -9 Carol Phillips, 1-16 E’Lou Mitchell
January Ushers
Jim Bell, Head Usher, Bruce Baskett, Tommy Hart, Tim McCann