FREE Pig Roast!
Saturday August 14th

... and we had corn-hole and horseshoe tournaments before hand while the pork was cooking.

Almost 70 people came and enjoyed fellowship including several non-members. A real success!

Pig Roast - Woops, the weather did not totally cooperate! Just before the first batch of BBQ was about to come off the grill it was an all hands on deck emergency operation to secure the tent and plates from flying away in the sudden squall of wind and torrential rain

Pig Roast: Because of the rain we ate downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

Pig Roast:

Pig Roast:
... and it was Gwen's birthday too. Happy Day!

Vacation Bible School

VBS was a SUCCESS!!

We had a week of learning about WATER-- how water is used throughout the Bible, how water in the world today is a precious resource, and how we as Christians can help make clean water accessible to all of God's children across the globe. We played water games, learned a lot in mission, Bible, and craft times, ate Bible-themed snacks each day, and sang lots of water songs!

We are looking forward to bringing our coin banks to the Living Waters for the World offering at FPC later this year to help create water filtration systems for people in other parts of the world.

"Pharaoh, Pharaoh, O Baby, Let My People Go..."

Some of the kids wanted some more "dry land" (whipped cream that was between the jello sea)...

I've got a river of life flowing out of me- makes the lame to walk and the blind to see- opens prison doors, sets the captives free- I've got a river of life flowing out of me. Spring up, O Well (splish splash! drip drop! boogie woogie!), and fill my soul. Spring up, O Well, and make me whole. Spring up, O Well, and give to me that life abundantly!"

Have you been out to the garden yet?

It's worth your time! Tomatoes are tomato-ing, little tiny plants are beginning to show their leaves off to the sun. Stop by and greet our gardeners from throughout the community, and be on the lookout for garden events at FPC to come!

The "E" Word

We had more folks in the month of March come to church than we've had in about a year-- and that's not including Holy Week services! Sounds to me like some evangelism is happening out there... "Not the e word!" Yes, the e word! And lots of folks in the pews around you are actively inviting folks to worship, sharing all the ways that their relationships with God and this church have shaped their lives. Pretty exciting stuff!

For everyone who attended Recruitment and Retention's series at Sunday Night Live called, "Unbinding the Gospel in You," continuing sharing what you learned about discipleship and evangelism with those in the pews around you. Don't let your insights stay in the fellowship hall!

All of us have something to share-- some magnificent revelation or experience of God that could truly help someone else know God in new ways. It takes risk to share-- it takes courage-- and it takes vulnerability. And it's in you. So share the Good News that God has entrusted to your care. Share the Good News that has shaken you to your core. Share the Good News that helps you to know that you are loved. There is a whole world out there that is starving to know that God cares for them; it is time for us to share the Good News!

Haitian Fundraiser

The Youth held a fundraiser meal for Haiti. They raised almost $400 to go towards purchasing school supplies for the children of Haiti. Congratulations to the Youth and to all who participated and contributed!

If you were unable to get to the meal (which featured Haitian food (see blog posts below) it is still not too late to make a contribution. If you would like to contribute and top up the fund, it will remain open for additional contributions through the end of February.

Haitian Fundraiser - the food!

Fried plantains!

Sauteed okra, kidney beans and rice!









We wanted to show you a picture of the pork dish (griots) too,
but the hungry crowd snaffled it up too quickly.
Please, sir, may I have some more?

Haitian Fundraiser - the posters

The youth then talked us through some information on Haiti that they had prepared on posters.

Great job everyone. Thanks!

Sunday Night Live-- Upcoming Series on church growth and discipleship

Sunday Night Live
Sundays from 5-6:30pm at Franklin Presbyterian Church
A Time of Fellowship and Learning

Feb. 14th to March 28th:

· “Unbinding the Gospel in You”

· This series will be taught by various members of FPC in conjunction with Pastor Katie. It is a series designed to help us all learn how to grow our church through becoming continually better disciples. Sharing the Good News is truly the underlying mission of the church; sharing the Good News is truly at the heart of Christianity. As Presbyterians, it can be tempting to look at the mission of the church only in terms of how we use our hands and our monetary gifts in the world. It can be tempting to see our church “mission” as service work, and to get stuck there. However, that is only half of the church’s mission. The other half involves figuring out how to share the good news through our words, in addition to our deeds and service work. During this series, we will look at areas such as:

o Trends in church growth and how FPC fits into that framework

o Barriers to growth at our particular church and how we might overcome some of those barriers together

o The importance of participation of the whole church community

o What we value about our church home, and what we hope to share with others who do not have a church home

o What we believe about Jesus and about God’s church, and why knowing what we believe is important for spreading the good news

o Getting comfortable talking about our faith with one another so that we will feel better prepared to talk to others when it is appropriate and/or when asked

o Discovering what it means for each of us, given our own personal faith journey and life experiences, to share the good news that we have been given

Hope to see you there! Be on the lookout for our schedule of future SNL series. Our next series will be on world religions...

2010- God is doing a new thing in you...

...What will that new thing be?

How will you welcome God into your heart and into your life in this new year? How will you allow your relationship with our Creator to be molded, shaped, and challenged in 2010? How will you nurture the faith that God has given you in the months to come? Perhaps a new commitment to prayer or a personal silent retreat is in order. Perhaps opening that dusty Bible and spending time with the word is exactly what God is nudging you toward. Perhaps you are looking for a time of spiritual growth and nurture, but aren't quite sure where to look...

One way that the members of FPC are working toward deepened faith this year is through a new time of fellowship, learning, discussion, and prayer. We invite you to join us for our first series, "Unbinding the Gospel in You" beginning February 14th from 5:00 to 6:30pm. This seven week series will help us to allow God to "fill up our pitchers" so that we have something more to offer to a thirsty world.

You, however, will not be physically thirsty during this event. The fellowship committee will be providing coffee, and everyone is welcome to bring snacks and desserts to share! If you cannot make all of the sessions, that's ok too. Come when you can-- you will always be welcome.

May you feel the peace and love of God surrounding you in this new year!