FPC MINISTRY UPDATES

Worship

This Sunday, we will have one worship service in King Hall at 11:00 AM. No Sunday School will be held for any age on December 22nd. We will resume our Spring Sunday School classes on January 5th.

Church Office Closures

Tuesday, December 24^th, and Wednesday, December 25^th, for the Christmas holiday. We will reopen on Thursday, December 26th at 9 AM. The Church Office will also be closed on Wednesday, January 1, for New Year's Day. We will reopen on Thursday, January 2nd.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

Make your plans now to include one of our two candlelight worship services on the evening of December 24th in your family's Christmas Eve celebration. Our 4 PM service will be held in King Hall, and our 6 PM service will be held in the Sanctuary. An offering will be taken during our Christmas Eve Services. A nursery will be provided.

2024 Contributions to the General Operating Fund

The final day for 2024 contributions is Tuesday, December 31st. If you would like to bring a contribution by the Church office, you can drop it off by Tuesday, December 31st, at 2:00 PM. The outside mailbox will not be available for 2024 contributions. Mailed contributions must be postmarked by December 31st, 2024, to be included in your 2024 statement.

2025 Offering Envelopes Available in VanDyke Room

Beginning Sunday, December 22nd, you may pick up your offering envelopes for 2024 in the VanDyke Room in the CLC.

Christmas Food Box Weekend December 21-23

Christmas Food Box Weekend ~ December 21st - 23^rd This wonderful ministry to our community could not happen without the hands and feet of our congregation. We have several opportunities to serve. If you would like to donate for the food boxes, the cost is $35 per box. All Food Box Events will take place at the Village Building at the Fairgrounds.

Saturday, December 21st, beginning at 9 AM-Unload the truck
Sunday, December 22nd, beginning at 5:30 PM-Food Box Packing and dinner
Monday, December 23rd, 6:45 AM-10 AM-Food Box Distribution

Save the Date-Marriage Retreat January 31-February 1, 2025

We are excited to let you know about our upcoming marriage retreat on January 31 – February 1, 2025. Held at the beautiful Taylor Estate, the retreat will feature well-known speakers Dr. Shawn and Christina Stoever. The theme will be “Wholehearted Marriage,” and we strongly encourage all couples to attend. Be prepared to see your marriage enriched as we learn biblical principles together in the context of great fun, food, and fellowship. More details to come. But for now, SAVE THE DATE.

Your Marriage Ministry Team

Jim & Ali Dent Missionary Visit ~ Sunday, December 29th at 9:45 am in King Hall

The Missions Team is thrilled to host a unique Sunday school hour to hear news of Gospel proclamation and critical medical care in West Africa with Jim and Ali Dent. Jim and Ali, FPC’s global workers, will share what God has been doing off the coast of West Africa in Sierra Leone through the medical ministry of Mercy Ships. Jim and Ali, along with the multinational crew of 600, live on a massive, state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Global Mercy, where they work to alleviate surgical needs in West Africa. Jim and a team of chaplains minister to the crew, patients, and the community of Sierra Leone, and Ali serves as a certified counselor for women in the crew. Everyone is welcome at this special event in the King Hall. Can’t wait to see you there!

FPC Community Groups

This is a great time to join a Community Group! Community Groups will resume meeting in August. If you would like more information about Community Groups or if you are interested in joining a group, please visit fpcrome.org/communitygroups or contact the Director of Adult Discipleship and Missions, Mr. Rob Davis, at .

Christ and Culture Lineup for January 2025

Christ & Culture 2025 Fathoming Our Fellowship: The Beauty of Gospel Unity and the Danger of Divisiveness.

This year's theme is fellowship, "To live together in loving and authentic fellowship." The scriptural foundation for the fellowship theme for 2024-2025 is Ephesians 3:14-19. We are reminded from the Westminster Confession that Fellowship is a doctrine. Yet, the modern church's understanding of fellowship doesn't align with biblical Christianity.

Through the Christ Culture Forum in January, we hope to be reminded of what the Bible says about fellowship with God, with one another, and the world and learn how the church has gotten off track from our biblical foundations.

January 8th Fellowship With God Dr. Burk Parsons
January 15th Fellowship With One Another Pastor David Mathis
January 22nd Fellowship in the World Dr. Jim Newheiser
January 29 Evening of Fellowship

Upcoming Women's Bible Studies for Spring

Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines, by David Mathis, led by Mandy Williams, on Mondays beginning January 6, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Nursery will be provided.
Revelation Led by Mary Holcomb Second Monday of Every Month 6:30 pm
1 Samuel Led by Amanda Davidson Tuesdays beginning January 7, 8:00 - 9:30 am & 1:30 - 3:00 pm
2 Corinthians, Led by Joan Brock, will meet on Tuesdays beginning January 14, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Nursery will be provided.
2 Corinthians Led by Bethany Johnson Tuesdays beginning January 14, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Women’s Community Groups Led by Amy Davis & Erin Evans, Emily Katherine Johnson & Robin Sorrow, and Joan Brock & Mandy Williams Wednesdays after FPC Family Dinner 6:15 - 7:15 pm.

If you need the nursery, please contact Ms. Nell directly.

Spring Sunday Study Lineups

Adults:

The Delight and Duty of Fellowship. Lead Teacher: Dathan Sorrow; Crossing Side Room
Proclaiming Christ Through Isaiah. Lead Teacher: Tony Pemerton; New Fellowship Hall
Deep Roots, Life Bountiful: A study of Colossians and Philemon. Lead Teacher: Rusty Chadwick; CLC 101
Mingling, Message, and Meaning for 20 Somethings and College Students: Studies from the book of Nehemiah. Lead Teacher: Dub Darville; Pastoral Conference Room in The Crossing

Student Ministries: The Jr. and Sr. High Students will meet in the front and back rooms of the Crossing.

NURSERY Ministry

Infants: 8 weeks-16 months (CLC204)
Toddlers: 16 months-2 years (CLC 205)
2s & 3s During Worship (CLC 203)
4s & 5s During Worship (CLC 201)

CHILDREN’s ministry

2s&3s (CLC203)
4s&Ks (CLC 201)
1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Hardy Chapel)
4th Grade Girls and Boys (CLC 209)
5th and 6th Grade Girls (CLC 210)
5th & 6th Grade Boys (CLC 207)

Fall Wednesday Night Programs

Wednesday Night Programs will resume on January 8.

FPC Giving

GIVING:

NOVEMBER OFFERINGS: $170,130
ACTUAL YEAR-TO-DATE: $2,343,179
BUDGETED YEAR-TO-DATE: $2.568,240
OVER(UNDER) BUDGET: ($224,520)

Student Ministry Scholarship Program

Our Student Ministry Work Scholarship Program continues to accept jobs year-round. If you have any work that needs to be done, please contact Caleb Sanders at or visit fpcrome.org/scholarship to fill out the online form. We are particularly in need of opportunities for our female students.

For Congregants: If a congregant has a job that they would like to do, please contact the church office. Please give your name, phone number and description of the job along with how many students may be needed. Caleb Sanders will contact you for more specifics and to schedule a date and time. Payment should be submitted to the church office, notating that it is for the work scholarship program. Please note these payments are not tax-deductible.

For Students: Students have the opportunity to work jobs for our congregants to help fund future trips. If interested please contact the church office and leave the student's name, parent's name and contact information. Caleb Sanders will reach out to both the family of the student and the congregant to coordinate logistics and specifics.

A sign-up link can be found at www.fpcrome.org/scholarship or on the student ministry page. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Caleb Sanders and

Exalting Christ, Advancing the Gospel

We are continuing to collect commitment cards.  If you and your family have already made a commitment, thank you.  If you have not done so, simply fill out a commitment card either online or a paper card/envelope.  You may drop the paper envelope and card in the offering plate or bring it by the church office.

Exalting Christ Campaign Commitment

CONNECT WITH US

If you are visiting with us today, we would love to have the opportunity to answer any questions you may have about our church. Please visit our Connections table after worship to talk with a volunteer and to receive a gift cross. Or you may visit our church website, click on the link at the top for the Connect Form, and a member of our Connections team will contact you. We look forward to connecting with you.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES ~ SERVE PROFILE

The Bible teaches us that all Christians were “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Our church has created a Serve Profile that helps you discover how God has gifted you for His service and shows you potential areas of service in the church and community. This Serve Profile does not automatically sign you up to serve anywhere! It opens the door for a ministry leader to contact you and discuss ways you may feel called to serve FPC and our surrounding community when opportunities are presented. You may visit fpcrome.org/serve and click on the SERVE PROFILE button. It is accessible from all mobile devices and takes about 7 minutes to complete. If you prefer a paper copy, contact the church office at 706-291-6033.

SERVING AND CARING FOR OTHERS

PRAYER REQUESTS
If you would like to be kept informed of the church’s prayer needs, email the church office at .org to receive updated prayer requests. If you would like to submit a Prayer Request for yourself or someone you know who is in need, you may do so on our website at http://www.fpcrome.org/prayer
Do you know someone who is a non-believer? The Evangelism Ministry Team would love to pray for them. You may email your specific requests to Pastor Jonathan Schwartz at .