This document provides announcements for upcoming church events including: an adult faith formation discussion on Easter poetry on April 24th; an Earth Day vigil on April 24th; a racial justice webinar on defining racism on April 24th; a parent's night out on May 1st; signups for summer social groups by May 1st; a celebration honoring Carol Dreiling's retirement on May 15th; a wildflower walk on May 1st; and ways to help newly arrived Afghan families.

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
TODAY’S FAITH FORMATION FOR ADULTS
9:45AM, Fellowship Hall, In-Person Only
Doubt and Faith in Easter Poetry
On Sunday, April 24, Mary Jane Skinner, Elizabeth Pearson, Ann Kieffer, Cathie Dodson,
Chris DeJarnett, and Bob White will introduce several short Easter poems. There will
be facilitated discussion at tables around these poems and our experience of doubt.
Poets, whether they’re Christians or not, are among the most observant and articulate
commentators on faith and doubt at Easter; they can help us this Sunday as we focus
on Thomas’ experience with the Risen Lord.
CONFIRMATION CLASS APRIL 24
9:45AM, ROOM 213
8th grade and up
EARTH DAY VIGIL, APRIL 24TH ̸ 4 PM
You are invited to join the Creation Care Alliance on Sunday, April 24th, from 4 - 5
pm at the First Baptist Church Asheville sacred labyrinth and garden for their annual
Earth Day Vigil. This will be a time of prayer, music, lament, celebration, community
building, and faithful action. Learn more on the Creation Care Alliance website, and
email with any questions.
This event is open to people of all faiths and spiritual traditions. Light refreshments
will be served following the service.
FPCA ZOOM ANTIǧRACISM WEBINAR: SUNDAY, APRIL 24TH 7ǧ8PM
“DEFINING RACISM AND THE WORK OF RESISTING RACIAL OPPRESSION AND RACIAL PRIVILEGE”
Zoom link is on the church calendar.
Two concurrent, profoundly different deϐinitions of racism function in our culture and among faith communities:
“racism as a system of disadvantage based on race” and “racism as an interlocking system of advantage based
on race.” We will examine the implications of these two deϐinitions for shaping our personal, cultural, relational,
political, and spiritual imaginations and practices regarding racial justice. We’ll explore ways the theory of
Intersectionality is a resource for the work of resisting racism and especially helpful for those whose racial identity
is privileged.
The Rev. Dr. Nancy J. Ramsay is a Presbyterian clergywoman (ret.) whose career included service as an associate
pastor in Rocky Mount, NC followed by PhD studies and then 36 years as a theological educator in the ϐield of
Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Care ϐirst at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and then Brite Divinity School in Fort
Worth, TX.

2. PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT
SUNDAY, MAY 1,
4:30 pm -6:30 pm
Meet at FPCA. Parents will walk to S&W Food Hall and Tap Room
for dinner and fun. Children 0- 5th grade will enjoy pizza and a
movie at the church. Guest families are welcome. RSVP if possible.
Use the QR code to the left to RSVP. Youth Group will have its usual
activities, check the calendar.
SIGN UP BY MAY 1ST FOR FPCA SUMMER SOCIAL GROUPS, MAY - AUG
This summer, be a part of FPCA’s efforts to connect and
reconnect with our new and returning people. These Summer
Social Groups will be a summer refresh of the previous “Dine
with Nine” but will have smaller groups (5-7 people/or 2-3
families if you want a family group) for a shorter period of time
(three months). Groups can do a meal, dessert, or a game night.
The key is to connect and build relationships.
Each group will set their schedule at their ϐirst meeting for the
summer—with the goal of meeting six times in three months. The more frequent
gathering will aid in deepening relationships—a part of the FPCA mission statement.
Sign up for groups by May 1st so we can get groups together by May 15. We suggest that groups connect for the
ϐirst time with calendars at the church picnic on May 22.
CAROL DREILING IS RETIRING!
Please help her know how much we have appreciated her TWENTY YEARS of
showing the love of Christ to our children as she taught and cared for them in our
Children’s Program. Send a note, a short video clip, or piece of artwork to Shannon
Jordan by May 8. She will be honored at the 11 am service on May 15 with a
reception to follow.
WILDFLOWER WALK AT BOTANICAL GARDENS, MAY 1, NEXT SUNDAY
Enjoy the splendor of God’s creation on a guided walk with Marilyn Kolton and Lew Dwarsius
on Sunday, May 1 at 2:00 PM. Marilyn and Lew will identify wildϐlowers such as trillium, pop-
pies, spring beauty, and Jacob’s ladder; and they will tell us facts we don’t know. This walk is
limited to folks who are fully vaccinated. We will meet in front of the gift shop at the Botanical
Gardens, located at UNC Asheville.
Contact Jane Laping at janelaping@sbcglobal.net with questions.
HELP NEEDED FOR OUR NEW AFGHAN NEIGHBORS
The church is supporting two Afghan families as they settle in the US. The ϐirst family is two brothers and the
second family is a husband and wife. Their needs are ϐluctuating; but if you would like to help, please sign up to be
on the Afghan Neighbors Group in Realm and look for needs posted as they become known. Most of the needs now
center on providing transportation, but that will change over time. Thanks for considering helping these families.
Volunteers have found this to be an enriching experience. For questions, please call Randy Fluharty (828-423-
9030) or Alan Young (703-304-7708).

3. THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Sunday, April 24
8:45 am Worship Service in Campbell Chapel
9:45 am Adult Faith Formation Faith & Doubt in Easter Poetry with Bob White (Fellowship Hall)
9:45 am Godly Play (Rms 105 & 106)
9:45 am Coffee Talk (Widman Room, 107)
9:45 am Conϐirmation Class for Youth 8th grade and up (Rm 213)
11:00 am Worship Service in the Sanctuary
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Earth Day Vigil: join Creation Care Alliance @ First Baptist Church Asheville.
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Racial Justice: Deϐining Racism & Work of Resisting Oppression/Privilege (zoom)
Wednesday, April 27
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Text This Week Bible Study (zoom)
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Chancel Choir (Choir room)
Sunday, May 1
8:45 am Worship Service in Campbell Chapel
9:45 am Adult Faith Formation Faith (Fellowship Hall)
9:45 am Godly Play (Rms 105 & 106)
9:45 am Coffee Talk (Widman Room, 107)
11:00 am Worship Service in the Sanctuary
2:00 pm Wildϐlower Walk at Botanical Gardens
4:15 pm - 7:15 pm Youth Choir, Dinner and Combined Youth Group
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm Parent’s Night Out (Child Care Provided)
Zoom & Registration links can be found on the church calendar at fpcasheville.org.
BELOVED ASHEVILLE AUCTION FUNDRAISER
BeLoved Asheville will host an auction to raise funds for the
BeLoved Village on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 5-9 pm.
Hors d’oeuvres - Live Band - Cocktail Attire
The event will be held at the AB Tech Mission Health Event Center.
Event tickets are $50 and VIP tickets are $100. All proceeds will go
to help fund deeply affordable tiny house village.
May 22, 12:30 pm - 3 pm Sunday afternoons
in June
September 30- Oct 2