Presbyterian quarterly put together by our own media and marketing extraordinaire, Jenna Eady, will offer in-depth updates about the life of our congregation.
Not only will you learn more about what’s been going on at FPC over the previous months, you can also expect a preview of what’s to come. News from the Pews will release each August, November, February, and May If you have anything you’d like to include, please let Jenna know!
As you read through these pages, you’ll see it has been a very busy few months at 120 Broad Street. Summer is drawing to a close, which means we can look back at the successes of the Montreat high school and middle school conferences, Vacation Bible School, various local mission projects, and the premiere of Lewis and Broad Media’s seventh podcast season.
of Wednesday night suppers (check out the special subscription option!), small groups and Sunday schools, All Y’all events like the annual Trunk or Treat, and an opportunity for you and yours to participate in the 2025 Generosity Campaign (including October 17th’s Conine Society dinner at The Fields golf course honoring Jane Foster, Anita Holle, Debbie Hutchinson, and Lynn Wolfe).
We hope you will enjoy this new FPC quarterly As this is something of an experiment, please contact us with your feedback. We’re always looking for ways to improve the pursuit of our vision: that all may know God’s love! Have a great Fall everybody!
SUBSCRIBE NOW
listen lagrange: music, faith and fundraising
We are thrilled to share the incredible success of ListenLaGrange, the local songwriter mini-festival presented by Lewis and Broad Media, which took place on May 5th. This unforgettable event was filled with music, food, and fellowship, all for a noble cause: to support Circles of Troup in their mission to fight poverty at the local level. Thanks to the generosity of our amazing community, we raised more than $10,000 in donations, sponsorships, and ticket sales!
We are grateful to every sponsor and attendee who contributed to this cause. Your passion and commitment to fighting poverty are truly inspiring. The atmosphere at ListenLaGrange was electric. The music was phenomenal, featuring talented local songwriters who shared their stories and melodies with an enthusiastic audience. The food was delectable, providing a perfect complement to the evening's entertainment. The fellowship was heartwarming. It was a joy to see our community come together, united by a shared purpose and a love for music. The sense of camaraderie and support was palpable, making the day even more special
Stay tuned for 2025!
A Week of Service and Fellowship at Camp Viola!
This July, youth from First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange Loyd Presbyterian Church came together for an unforgettabl week at Camp Viola. Located in Troup County, Camp Viola is Christ-centered camp that provides children with opportunit for outdoor adventures and spiritual growth.
The camp ' s schedule was packed with activities like fishing, w slides, art projects, and fun games, all set against the backdro daily faith themes. With daily themes of creation, Christmas baptism, and Easter, campers learned about God's creation, Jesus's birth, baptism, and resurrection. Camp Viola's mission providing a nurturing and spiritually enriching environment truly brought to life this week. The collaboration between First Presbyterian Church, Loyd Presbyterian Church, Dallas-Dodd Presbyterian Church, and First United Methodist Church ensured that every child could grow in their faith while enjoying a week of adventure and discovery
As the week came to a close, campers left with hearts full of gratitude, minds filled with new knowledge, and spirits uplifted by the fellowship and love they experienced. This week at Camp Viola was not just about the activities and themes, but about building a strong foundation of faith, friendship, and community that will last a lifetime.
Summer Fun wit
Our summer at First Presbyterian C popsicles at Wild Leap, setting a joy Camp Firelight was a huge hit with over 100 children joining us for a week of laughter, silly dances, music, snacks, recreation, art, and storytelling.
We focused on learning to trust that God is always with us. The week wrapped up with a special program in the FPC sanctuary, where the kids proudly showcased the songs and stories they had learned. We celebrated with Kona Ice on the front lawn, enjoying the sweet treats together.
In July, our 3rd-5th graders took on a service project, making over 50 snack sacks for our neighbors who join us for Thursday meals. They also helped serve at the Thursday lunch program. It was a heartwarming experience to see our young ones giving back to the community and making a difference.
A fun lunch at Chick-fil-A was followed by a visit to Vernon Woods. Our 3rd-5th graders made beautiful bracelets for the residents and joined in a Bible study led by our own Lennice Parker. It was truly special to see our young children sharing and learning with other generations, bridging the gap and creating meaningful connections
We wrapped up our summer with popsicles at Beacon, providing a chance for everyone to catch up, share their summer stories, and get ready for the new school year.
These moments of connection, fun, and service have made our summer unforgettable. We're grateful for the time spent together and look forward to more opportunities to grow in faith and fellowship.
THE 2025 GENEROSITY CAMPAIGN
As we approach the season of giving, First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange is excited to announce our upcoming 2025 Generosity Campaign This is a wonderful opportunity for you and your loved ones to participate in a meaningful initiative that supports our church and community
One of the highlights of the campaign will be the Conine Society Dinner, set to take place on October 17th at The Fields Golf Course This special event will honor Jane Foster, Anita Holle, Debbie Hutchinson, and Lynn Wolfe for their contributions to our community
Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved in the 2025 Generosity Campaign. Your participation and support are vital as we work together to make a positive impact.
PLAN FOR FPC DINING, FALL 2024
Join us for FPC Dining this fall, running from August 21 to November 20! Enjoy fellowship and delicious meals with our church community Please note that there will be no Wednesday night dinner on October 2 due to Fall Break, and on October 30, we will have food trucks for the Trunk/Treat event
Dinner Details:
Time: 5:30 - 6:15 PM
Rates:
Single Adult (11-64): $12
Family Rate: $10/adult, $7/child (6-10), 5 & under free, $34 cap
65+: $7
Subscription Options:
Single Adult Subscription: $40 per 4 weeks
Family Subscription: $120 per 4 weeks
65+ Subscription: $20 per 4 weeks
4-Week Subscription Blocks: August 21 - September 11
September 18 - October 16
October 23 - November 20
We look forward to sharing meals and fellowship with you this fall at First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange.
THE SESSION EXPRESSION
In each edition of News from the Pews, we’ll offer you updates from the hotlyanticipated, highly-deliberated world of the elders in a piece we’ll call The Session Expression (because, clearly, your staff loves a good rhyme).
Below are some bullet points from the most recent gathering of your church's board on Sunday, July 21, 2024
For a couple of months, the Personnel Council worked on the job description and the title for the new associate pastoral position. As they discerned the best path forward, Personnel enlisted the feedback and input of the Session during its May meeting. After taking the Session's comments into consideration, Personnel crafted a position that would be multigenerational in scope, with ministries of teaching, preaching, and pastoral care occurring across the full age range of the church At the same time, this pastor’s primary though not sole responsibility will be outreach to youth and their families It will be critical for this person to be the point person for all things youth and family ministry related while having a pastoral relationship with the whole church. As such, the Associate Pastor for Youth and Families title and job description was approved by both the Session and the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry during the month of July. The search committee also known as the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC) will begin its work in August.
Did you know we have a Campus Task Force who’s taking a close look at our building and our property to consider
whether or not we should make some changes? We do! Megan Hudson, Brian Patton, Steve Pelham, David Selbie, Tracy Spinks Wood, and Ricky Wolfe have been meeting for awhile now to discuss how best to steward 120 Broad Street (and any other adjacent properties) for ministry in the 21st century It has been an arduous process with no stone left unturned Now, the Campus group is holding introductory conversations with potential consultants across the country to walk us through next steps. These are folks whose very business it is to work with churches discerning whether or not changes should be made to their campus. This process is in the very early stages, so stay tuned for more information!
We also have an Education Task Force composed of Susan Cashwell, Kim Crawford, James Hobbs, Debbie Hutchinson, David Sellman, Todd Simpson, and Lacy Tumambing who are considering how best to situate our Childcare and Montessori schools moving forward There are some exciting possibilities both big and small that they are working on as we consider how to align our schools with a vision “that all may know God’s love.” More on that to come!
The Session also conducted their annual policy review and tracked progress on 2024 goals from various councils and committees of the church. Not necessarily headline-grabbing news, but important!!!
M A R K Y O U R C A L E N D A R S
F A L L 2 0 2 4
Celebrating a Summer of Faith and Service: Highlights from Our Student Ministry Program
As stu wa
In an
Peace,” inspired our students to explore how we can embody spread God's peace.
They took on a significant role, leading worship for High Sch Youth Sunday and sharing their insights on this important theme Our middle schoolers also had a fantastic experience at the Middle School Montreat Youth Conference in Maryville, TN They recently led us in worship, sharing powerful messages about God's unwavering love and presence, even amid life’s messiness.
Throughout the summer, many of our high school and middle school students dedicated their time to serving our communit They engaged in various outreach activities, including Vacatio Bible School, Camp Viola, and Vernon Woods, spreading God’s love and making a difference in the lives of those they served
Additionally, our college students continued to connect and together over summer lunches, fostering community and fa through shared experiences.
This summer has been a season of fun, faith, and fellowship we are incredibly grateful for the dedication and enthusiasm our students Their efforts and growth reflect the true spirit our ministry and the power of sharing our faith with others
Andrew Harry spends his 19th Year at Csehy
summer, Andrew Harry and his family spent five s near Philadelphia, PA at the Csehy Summer School usic where Andrew serves as the Artistic Director. was Andrew's 19th year involved with the camp that d over 300 middle and high school students in 2024.
ents come to study music privately with exceptional ty from around the US, as well as perform in major mbles, such as symphony orchestra, chamber choir, ncert band, and deepen their musical skills through istian world-view, pursuing excellence for the sake e worship of God.
A Letter: A Summer of Gratitude and Growth at FPC
r church, as my twelve-week internship here at FPC range comes to a close I am filled with so much itude. This summer has been an immersive erience of the full life that this church has to offer.
uld first like to extend my thanks to everyone who e this summer possible. I was welcomed with love open arms into a church staff and congregation that never shown me any different. Throughout my time summer I was able to witness and be a part of the y service activities we have to offer like helping with elementary students at the Thursday lunch program, ing with our high school and middle school youth at mp Viola, and was able to see the residents at Vernon ods with our youth
summer has also allowed me to build and ngthen relationships within the congregation, which so grateful for. I want to extend a personal thank you very one of our congregants who have supported me ugh this summer and uplifted me in every way ible. The many lessons I have learned this summer adership and public service would not have been ible without your wisdom, love, and encouragement
h heartfelt gratitude,
Kate Asbell
Tolbert Grants distributed
We are delighted to announce the distribution of the most recent round of Tolbert Grants. Named in honor of our beloved former associate pastor, Rev. Jan Tolbert, these grants are awarded twice a year, made possible by your generous support of our church community. The recipients of the spring grants are:
LaGrange/Troup County Homeless Coalition: Awarded $2500 to support the purchase of an HVAC system for the Branches of Hope Center.
Heart of West GA: Awarded $1000 to assist in purchasing AEDs for the community.
Troup Cares: Awarded $1000 for the procurement of essential medical supplies and prescriptions.
Twin Cedars: Awarded $500 to cover the costs of mental health counseling for children.
Your contributions have made these grants possible, providing vital support to these wonderful organizations Thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to our community.
Lewis and
Broad
Podcast: Celebrating Leadership in LaGrange
We are back for another exciting season of Lewis and Broad, a unique storytelling ministry dedicated to celebrating the vibrant culture, inspiring people, and impactful organizations in LaGrange. Now in its seventh season, the podcast continues to bring to life the rich tapestry of stories that make this community so special. This year, Lewis and Broad are diving deep into the theme of leadership.
Hosts James Goodlet and Adam Roberts are sitting down with local leaders men and women who are making a difference in various ways throughout LaGrange. From community organizers and business leaders to educators and volunteers, this season is all about exploring what it means to lead and how leadership shapes the community You can catch all the episodes of Lewis and Broad on Apple Podcasts and Spotify For those who prefer to listen online, current and past episodes are readily available at lewisandbroad.org o you never miss an episode!
