WIXLIB

The First NewsFirst Presbyterian ChurchSeptember 2020Dearest First Friends,I am grateful for all the ways you continue to be nimble during this season. While the buildingmay be closed, the church is open and alive - we’re still bound together, still serving, still worshipping, still a community. Thanks be to God!As we move towards our fall, many things will seem familiar: we’ll have Rally Day to kick-offour Sunday School and Christian Education opportunities; we’ll elect new elders at a September 13 Congregational Meeting; start an Inquirers Class September 27. This year, however,we’ll do these things online. We’ll need your continued flexibility is called for and a whole lotof grace, too!Speaking of gatherings online, if you are having any difficulty or hesitation to joining in onour online worship, studies, gatherings, etc - we are here to help. Staff and Session don’t wantanyone to feel left out in this strange time and if there are things we can do to help you navigate our life together,speak up. We can send you paper copies of worship liturgies, help you set-up your device, talk you through ways youcan engage.I invite you to look through this newsletter and take time to digest it. Consider the ways you can lean in to our life together and the ways you can live Christ’s love aloud in Statesboro. The church is alive and well - amen? Amen!Peace in Christ,Pastor TaylorPage 1

The First NewsWe Continue To Be The Church Together, Even WhenWe Are ApartJoin us as we stream servicesSunday, at 11 amFacebook: -Statesboro379236202130574/YouTube: 3q3Ydg?view as subscriberWe are also streaming the video from our own website: www.fpcstatesboro.org.If you prefer to sing from a hymnal rather than from a screen, or to read from paper rather thanfrom a screen, we will be happy to provide you with a printed copy of the liturgy and a hymnal.Email June at office@fpcstatesboro.org, or call 681-2053 Monday, Wednesday or Friday duringoffice hours and we will get you a loaner hymnal and copy of the liturgy.Page 2Page 2The First News

The First NewsShare Your TalentIf you would enjoy singing or playing an instrumentfor a worship service, we would love for you to shareyour talent!Duets and larger groups can be handed safely as wellthanks to virtual recordings like we have used for acouple of songs now.Whether you would like to simply come to the church to record your piece or would prefer a more virtual solution, please email Ronn Alford at ronnalford@comcast.net today!Thanks and BlessingsRonnDirector of MusicPage 3

The First NewsHas you email address changed?Receiving your quarterly contributionstatements by email is safe, easy,saves paper and saves the churchpostage.If you aren’t currently receiving yourstatements by email and would liketo, contact Linda Kimsey.Have you considered setting your contributions up for automatic payment? It’s quick, easy,and confidential.Page 4Page 4The First News

The First NewsStewardship Report - July 2020July, 2020OVERRevenueBudget 21,955.90 23,208.33UNDERBudgetExpenses (1,252.43) 24,740.80BudgetBudget 58,097.81* (33,357.01)* We had budgeted to have the sancturay foundation work completed in July. This did not happenFor this month we collected LESS money than planned. Expenses were LESS than plannedThe net income (loss) for the month wasThis was HIGHER than budgeted for by (2,784.90) 32,104.58Year To DateUNDERUNDERRevenueBudgetBudgetExpensesBudget 159,405.44 162,458.35 (3,052.91) 144,884.82 187,227.23Budget (42,342.41)Year to date, we collected Less money than planned. Expenses were Less than planned.Net income YTD was 14,520.62This was HIGHER than budgeted for by 39,289.50COVID-19 has affected our collections, since we haven't been able to meet in person. However, expenses have been lower as well. We havebenefitted from a 3-month reduction in required pension contributions, but that ended in July.Our recently established Legacy Funds are now officially working for us. At the end of 2018, three funds were established for: Capital Facilities, Ministries, and Mission/Benevolence. the goal of these funds is to prepare for FPC’s future. Monies will not be used until the balance of the three funds reaches 100,000. Totals are as of June 30, 2020.FacilitiesMinistriesMission 38,878.92 40,614.62 0Linda KimseyTreasurerPage 5

The First NewsChristian EducationMeet The Nominees ForYvette AllenYvette was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica and grew up in the Disciples ofChrist Church which later merged with the Presbyterian and CongregationalChurches (Jamaica & Cayman) to form the United Churches of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands.She is a graduate of the University of Technology Jamaica (BSc, Computer Science & Management) and the University of the West Indies (Master of BusinessAdministration -MBA). Prior to moving to Statesboro in June 2014, Yvette spent27 years in the Information Technology field in various industries in Jamaica(Software Services, Life Insurance, Telecommunications and Banking/FinancialServices). She started her career as a Programmer and has held positions as Systems Analyst, IT Project Manager, IT Business Analyst and Systems Development Manager.Yvette is married to Andrew and they have a daughter Alyssa, who is currently a junior at the University of Georgia.Yvette and her family became members of FPC in January 2015. After experiencing first-hand the compassion and careextended to her from members of the FPC congregation during her period of illness which led to heart transplant surgery in September 2018, Yvette was honored to join the Congregational Care Committee. She believes that working withthis team allows her the opportunity to provide encouragement, comfort and community to others during difficult times.Yvette considers herself a ‘foodie’ at heart and enjoys baking/cooking. She also loves to read, watch movies and solvepuzzles. Most recently, she has picked up gardening and crocheting which she has found to be great stress relievers.Matt RogersI am a Statesboro native along with my wife, Lauren Rogers. I graduated fromStatesboro High School (2002) and from the University of Georgia College ofPharmacy (2008). My wife and I moved back to Statesboro after pharmacy school,and I am now a pharmacist at Wal-Mart, where I have been practicing for the past11 years. Lauren is a realtor with Century21 and is also a certified yoga instructor.In my free time, I enjoy long distance running and playing the guitar.Lauren and I grew up in a United Methodist Church youth group, where we metand eventually started dating. We reconnected with the church when we returnedto Statesboro. After some soul searching and much prayer, we began searching fora new church home a couple of years ago. In our search, we found our way toStatesboro FPC. We felt a strong connection to the congregation and the beliefsof the PCUSA, and we joined the church earlier this year.We have 2 children: Tess (10) and William (7). Tess loves to sing and is learning guitar, and William is learning to playthe drums. They both enjoy soccer and take piano lessons, as well.Page 6Page 6The First News

Worship/Missions/Congregational CareThe First NewsThe Elder Class of 2023Lori SpinnerLori Spinner has been a member of our congregation since early last year. She and herhusband, Bob, moved to Georgia in 2017 to pursue their retirement dream of living inthe country and were thrilled to find a church home at First Presbyterian. She and Bobhave one son, Jared, who is a Junior (and baseball player) at Albany State University.She is also blessed with three, grown step-daughters and seven grandchildren.Since retiring from her career as a high school principal in Florida, Lori teaches parttime at East Georgia State College, but devotes most of her time to several communityservice projects. Lori enjoys volunteering with the American Cancer Society as a Roadto Recovery Driver Coordinator; serves monthly at Rebecca’s Café; is a member of theMission Team, and coordinates the Backpack Buddies program for First Presbyterian Church.Her “pet” project with Bob has been expanding their country home to be a mini-farm devoted to rescue animals ofall kinds. “Second Chance Ranch” is ever-growing, but currently hosts three goats, a donkey, a mini-pony, fivedogs, and one cat. The Spinners are committed to providing a safe haven for animals that have been neglected,abused, or abandoned.Lori is looking forward to participating in Session as another way to serve the church community at First Presbyterian, and is humbled and honored for the opportunity.Russell WillertonRussell Willerton moved to Statesboro in July 2018 to take the position of chair in theDepartment of Writing and Linguistics at Georgia Southern. Russell married Cecily in1998, and Owen was born in 2003. The Willertons moved from Boise, Idaho, after 13years there.Russell and Cecily were raised in the churches of Christ, and both graduated fromAbilene Christian University in Abilene, TX (Russell's hometown). In Boise, theywere members of two independent evangelical churches for several years. Their lastfive or so years in Boise were spent as members of Boise First United MethodistChurch, the Cathedral of the Rockies. The Willertons joined First PresbyterianChurch for its focus on serving the community.A Congregational Meeting will be held September 13 via Zoom to elect Elders.See page 4 for linkPage 7

The First NewsPresbytery NewsA Note From AustinHello Everyone!This is Austin Seymour. I am very excited to start this newyear with your youth. I am looking forward to building ourrelationships and our relationship with God.I wanted to share a few things about myself. I am a junior atGeorgia Southern University, and I am a biology major. Soccer is one of my most favorite ways to relax, and I am even avolunteer as a soccer coach at Statesboro-Bulloch CountyParks and Rec.We will be meeting on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month via Zoom at 10am. The first day we are meeting isSeptember 13th.We do have a church-wide Rally Day Zoom this coming Sunday, September 6 to kick off the new Sunday Schoolyear. This starts at 9am. Be sure to join us!Please let me know if you have any questions.Austinyouth@fpcstatesboro.orgUKirk Starts Year WithFilm DiscussionUKirk, FPC’s Bible Study for college-aged students, willbegin their year with discussions of short films.Led by Sarah Beasley, students will meet on the secondand fourth Thursday’s at 6 pm. They will be watchingshort films and engaging in discussions found onhttps://www.theworkofthepeople.com/film series .UKirk ZoomPage 8Page 8The First News

Presbytery NewsThe First NewsThe Art of Hearing Heartbeats IsSeptember Book Club SelectionJoin the Book Club For All Seasons onSeptember 21 for a discussion, led byMarci Schriver, on The Art of HearingHeartbeats, by Jan-Philipp Sendker.Amazon calls this book, “a love story,a haunting fable and an enchantingmystery set in Burma.” It was alsoselected as an Amazon Best Book ofthe Month.The plot centers around Julia Winwhose attorney father suddenly goesmissing. In searching for him, shefinds an old love letter from her fatherto a Burmese woman. She travels to Burma to unravel the mysteryand uncovers a tale of hardship, resilience and passion.The book club will meet via Zoom on Monday, September 21 at 2pm. Contact FPC for the Zoom link.Page 9

The First NewsJoseph LeiterDana NevilDerek StoddardMeghan GerigDiane HerndonLynda WebbEdwin PresleyWalt StricklandSamuel NevilPhil WaldropHelen WinsteadPage 10Page lyn BroucekAdam GerigFrank McDonaldJD DunnSusan ParrishCarter CopelandAubrey StoddardEd BayensDuke MilesGayle GunterChristopher /20The First News