Weekly Announcements
Update on Masking
Following the most recent announcement from the CDC regarding masking and social distancing, the Session approved the following three-part guideline:
We all can be thankful that things are improving. Let us continue to pray for safety and good health while the impact of the pandemic still compromises the wellbeing of so many around our country and the world
- Masking is no longer mandatory throughout the building but is strongly recommended for safety's sake, especially if you have not been fully vaccinated and/or will be around children other than your own.
- The entire building will now be open. Again, masking is not mandatory but is strongly recommended for safety's sake, especially if you have not been fully vaccinated and/or will be around children other than your own.
- Social distancing is still mandatory in the Sanctuary due to the length of exposure when we gather for worship. In other parts of the building, social distancing is not mandatory but is strongly recommended, as best as it can be followed, for safety's sake, especially if you have not been fully vaccinated and/or will be around children other than your own.
We all can be thankful that things are improving. Let us continue to pray for safety and good health while the impact of the pandemic still compromises the wellbeing of so many around our country and the world
Join us for In-Person Worship
Join us this Sunday, July 25, as we celebrate Christmas in July and present our gifts for Gastonia Potter's House. Worship will begin in the Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. In the event that you are unable to gather with us in person, the service will also be available via Livestream. Rev. Dan Commerford will be preaching, "Called to Church."
Sunday School Video Lesson
Please join us online as Barbara McNeil presents this week’s Sunday School video lesson titled, “Justification Through Faith.” The video lesson will premiere at 9:00 a.m. and will be available on-demand following the initial broadcast. You can find this video, along with our pastoral and staff videos, at www.fpcgastonia.org/videos.
Second Sunday Intergenerational Breakfasts
Be sure to join us for our final intergenerational breakfast on Sunday, August 8, at 9:00 a.m.! Adults, youth, and children will meet in the Fellowship Hall Portico where we will share a COVID-safe breakfast, fellowship, and participate in a lesson led by church staff. We look forward to seeing you then!
Summer Ukulele Workshop
This Sunday our final Summer Ukulele Workshop will take place in the Fellowship Hall from 6:30-8:15 p.m. In case you missed one of the previous sessions, or would just like to review, recordings of each class are available below.
Have a question? Contact Bethany Jennings at bjennings@fpcgastonia.org or call 704-864-2651 for more information.
Have a question? Contact Bethany Jennings at bjennings@fpcgastonia.org or call 704-864-2651 for more information.
Christmas in July - Gastonia Potter's House
This year for Christmas in July, we will be collecting donations for Gastonia Potter’s House! GPH is an 18-month residential program that provides a Christ-centered retreat for women suffering from addiction. While at GPH, women participate in Bible study, lectures, group therapy, and church services, and are encouraged to develop skills to help them reenter the workforce or further their education.
GPH relies largely on donations and has requested the following items to help support its ministry: All-purpose cleaner, envelopes #10 and #6 3/4, toilet cleaner, copy paper, Comet, ink (Brother 3037XXL; color and black), Clorox wipes twin bedding, paper towels, bath towels, tissues, Windex, Magic Erasers, laundry detergent, and Swifter refills.
The deadline for receiving donations will be next Friday, July 30. Donations may be placed under the Christmas tree in the Memorial Gallery. Monetary donations are also welcome. Please make checks payable to FPC with “Potter’s House” on the memo line.
GPH relies largely on donations and has requested the following items to help support its ministry: All-purpose cleaner, envelopes #10 and #6 3/4, toilet cleaner, copy paper, Comet, ink (Brother 3037XXL; color and black), Clorox wipes twin bedding, paper towels, bath towels, tissues, Windex, Magic Erasers, laundry detergent, and Swifter refills.
The deadline for receiving donations will be next Friday, July 30. Donations may be placed under the Christmas tree in the Memorial Gallery. Monetary donations are also welcome. Please make checks payable to FPC with “Potter’s House” on the memo line.
Volunteer with Crisis ASsistance Ministry
Crisis Assistance Ministry (CAM) is looking for volunteers to help pick up, pack, and organize food from local stores in its food room. Shifts are during operating hours (Monday - Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) and require some standing and light lifting. Call 704-867-8901 or visit crisisassistancegastonia.org for more information.
PWNC Mission Trip
Join the Presbytery of Western North Carolina Mission Committee on its fall mission trip! During the week of October 10-16, join their team of volunteers as they travel to Wilmington, NC, to assist with repairs and rebuilding efforts in areas damaged by flooding. Cost is $75 per person. Use the links below to learn more or to register!
VBS Begins August 2!
Vacation Bible School is almost here! First Presbyterian Church invites all children (Nursery - 5th Grade) to join us for four days of exciting music, amazing science, creative crafts, fun recreation, and memorable Bible stories that will help children know and share the light God shines in the world.
Vacation Bible School will run August 2 through August 5, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Vacation Bible School will run August 2 through August 5, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
VBS Volunteers Needed!
We are still in need of more VBS volunteers — specifically those who can help guide groups to their stations or lead our preschool and kindergarten classes! Please consider giving of your time, talents, and energy to help develop the faith formation of our children and children in our community. We can’t do this without YOU! Please contact Susannah Bryant at sbryant@fpcgastonia.org for more information.
First Press Deadline
Do you have something you would like to include in the church newsletter? The submission deadline for the August edition of the First Press is Friday, July 23. Please send photos, articles, or information to Celeste Crowe at ccrowe@fpcgastonia.org.
Don't Forget Your Name Tag!
Just a friendly reminder to get back in the habit of wearing your name tag each Sunday, so the Commerford Family can begin putting names with faces. Lost your name tag? Please contact Trip Stewart at tstewart@fpcgastonia.org.
Join Our Livestream Team
Are you interested in video or audio engineering? Do you have any tech skills you would like to share with our congregation? Or would you like to learn a new skill?
The Communications Ministry is looking for volunteers to join our Livestream team! Interested parties would be responsible for volunteering one Sunday (or more) a month to assist with running video cameras, adding slides to the production, or monitoring sound. Prior experience is not necessary, but a general technical knowledge helps! Training will be provided!
If you are interested, please contact Celeste Crowe at ccrowe@fpcgastonia.org for more information!
The Communications Ministry is looking for volunteers to join our Livestream team! Interested parties would be responsible for volunteering one Sunday (or more) a month to assist with running video cameras, adding slides to the production, or monitoring sound. Prior experience is not necessary, but a general technical knowledge helps! Training will be provided!
If you are interested, please contact Celeste Crowe at ccrowe@fpcgastonia.org for more information!
Calendar Updates
We are currently in the process of transitioning management of the calendar from Celeste Crowe to our new Receptionist, Saundra McCray. Please begin sending all calendar requests to Saundra at smccray@fpcgastonia.org. If you have any questions, please copy Celeste at ccrowe@fpcgastonia.org when submitting your request.
Donate your old Iphone
Do you have an unused iPhone? The Communications Ministry has a use for it! iPhones can be used as additional cameras for our Livestream setup, giving us the availability to capture a wider variety of shots during the service. If you have an iPhone you no longer need and would like to donate, please contact Celeste Crowe at ccrowe@fpcgastonia.org.
Please note that Samsung and Android phones are not compatible with the system and cannot be used.
Please note that Samsung and Android phones are not compatible with the system and cannot be used.
FPC App Updates
On April 1, we began phasing out the old FPC mobile app, instead transitioning to using the FPC directory app exclusively.
For several months, we have maintained using both apps which, apart from the member directory, offer many of the same features and capabilities. After close examination of both applications, the Communications Ministry determined that the FPC mobile app offered less functionality, was more difficult to maintain and update, and was less cost effective than the FPC directory app. For this reason, we have decided to discontinue service of the FPC mobile app and solely promote the FPC directory app instead.
To download and access the FPC directory app: Visit the Appstore on your device and search for “Universal Church Directory.” Once downloaded, you will be prompted to enter your unique identifier. This code is unique to each family unit, and offers secure access to the online directory. If you do not know your unique identifier, please contact Celeste Crowe (ccrowe@fpcgastonia.org) or Trip Stewart (tstewart@fpcgastonia.org) to receive it.
Thank you for your patience as we make this transition! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Celeste Crowe for more information.
For several months, we have maintained using both apps which, apart from the member directory, offer many of the same features and capabilities. After close examination of both applications, the Communications Ministry determined that the FPC mobile app offered less functionality, was more difficult to maintain and update, and was less cost effective than the FPC directory app. For this reason, we have decided to discontinue service of the FPC mobile app and solely promote the FPC directory app instead.
To download and access the FPC directory app: Visit the Appstore on your device and search for “Universal Church Directory.” Once downloaded, you will be prompted to enter your unique identifier. This code is unique to each family unit, and offers secure access to the online directory. If you do not know your unique identifier, please contact Celeste Crowe (ccrowe@fpcgastonia.org) or Trip Stewart (tstewart@fpcgastonia.org) to receive it.
Thank you for your patience as we make this transition! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Celeste Crowe for more information.
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