Announcements

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONNECT THROUGH SKILLS & INTERESTS
The leadership at FPCA is working hard to connect and re-connect people into the mission of God. Part of that
is knowing how you want to connect and what opportunities that you want to hear about. Please fill out a blue
interest form or go to your Realm Profile on you Realm App or computer and make the selections under “skills” and
“interests.”Choosing one of these opportunities is not a commitment, but an indication that you would like to know
when we have possible places of engagement. If you would like help to understand how to use Realm, please reach
out to Shannon at sjordan@fpcasheville.org!
LUNCH BUNCH 11:30 AM
This summer we have a lunch opportunity to connect with new and old friends at
restaurants around town. These restaurants have parking and accessibility. Please join
us for this relationship building opportunity. RSVP to the church office or Shannon
Jordan at sjordan@fpcasheville.org.
• August 22 Pomodoros; 1070 Tunnel Rd
• September 26 TBD
• October 24 TBD
• November 28 TBD
• December 12 Christmas gathering (TBD)
FAITH FORMATION, TODAY,
Fellowship Hall 9:45 am
All are welcome to the Sunday morning Adult Faith Formation Class! In August, FPCA
member and retired seminary professor Jane Vann will lead a discussion on the current
week’s sermon text. Hope to see you there!
CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH CHOIR
We are getting ready for the Fall!
Do you have children or youth that are interested in our Children’s or Youth Choir? For
more information contact Jeremy Roberts at jroberts@fpcasheville.org.
Youth Choir will start Sunday, September 11th, if there is Youth Group that day.
Children’s Choir will begin Wednesday September 7th with a pizza party and
registration.
CEREAL SUNDAE BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION
August 28th in Fellowship Hall
Many of our children return to school on August 29. We would love to bless our
students and teachers of all ages, our school officials, and families with a festive
breakfast and blessing on August 28. In both services that morning we will have a
special Back to School Blessing and then between the services, we will be having a
delicious Cereal Sundae Breakfast! We hope to see our whole church family there as we
bless those in school or going back to school!

2. HELP NEEDED FOR OUR AFGHAN NEIGHBORS GROUP
The two families we have been encouraging continue to progress in their journey to independence. They have jobs
and housing. Their next steps include advanced English language training, financial literacy, and acquiring driver’s
learning permits. Transportation remains an active need.
If you have ESL, financial literacy, or driver’s license training expertise, please let us know. We deeply appreciate
all of you who are actively helping us or providing moral support. Please direct your questions to Randy Fluharty
(rfluharty54@gmail.com) or Alan Young (alan.g.young.sr@gmail.com).
ANNUAL CHURCH RETREAT - THE DEADLINE FOR COMMUTERS IS AUGUST 8TH.
September 30-October 2 at Montreat Conference Center--only 30 minutes away.
The FPCA Retreat has a long history of fun, learning, activities, and rest. With a variety
of contemplative and worship activities, everyone can find a way to connect more deeply
with God and one another. (And you really don’t want to miss the variety show!)
The deadline for commuters is August 8th. Thank you to all of those who
signed up for the overnights at Montreat. If you missed the deadline, there
are a few rooms left. Please contact the church office if you would like to
stay overnight at the retreat.
Go to www.fpcasheille.org/fpca-retreat or use the QR code to register.
KOINONIA GROUPS
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines koinonia as “spiritual communion and
participative sharing in a common religious commitment and spiritual community.” FPCA
will be starting Koinonia small groups this fall to support members in their faith life and
to build Christian friendships. Groups will meet for 90 minutes, twice a month, October-
May. These groups will be participant based, with a trained facilitator. The curriculum
will help participants explore different ways of experiencing the power of God, spiritual
practices, the enneagram, and ways to engage scripture. For more information, please
contact Shannon Jordan at sjordan@fpcasheville.org .
GODLY PLAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Make a difference in a child’s life by helping them connect God with daily life. You may
think you don’t know how to do that, but we can teach you! Come learn alongside
children as storytellers, doorkeepers, or classroom helpers on Sunday mornings at FPCA.
The Godly Play curriculum is a creative, imaginative approach to Christian formation and
spiritual guidance. It values process, openness, discovery, community and relationships.
Godly Play models the worship life, bible stories, symbols, and rituals of Christian
congregations. It nurtures participants–both children and leaders–to larger dimensions
of belief and faith through wondering and play.
As we prepare for this new school year volunteers are needed to assist with our Godly Play Sunday morning classes
for children ages 3 yrs. old - 5th grade. We need regular volunteers as well as substitutes.
We are offering volunteer training: Sunday, August 28th at 3:30 pm -5:30 pm or
Wednesday, August 31st at 6:00 pm -8:00 pm
Contact Nancy McNeill if you are interested or to learn more
nmcneill@fpcasheville.org; 828-253-1431 ext. 114.

3. THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Sunday, August 7
8:45 am Worship Service in Campbell Chapel; Rev. David Germer preaching
9:45 am Faith Formation (Fellowship Hall)
9:45 am Godly Play preschool - fifth grade (Room 106)
11:00 am Worship Service in the Sanctuary w/ baptism; Rev. David Germer preaching
12:00 pm Fellowship on the front lawn or in Wallace Foyer if raining
Monday, August 8
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Centering Prayer (Zoom) Contact Waid Shelton
Sunday, August 14
8:45 am Worship Service in Campbell Chapel; Rev. Patrick Johnson preaching
9:45 am Faith Formation (Fellowship Hall)
9:45 am Godly Play preschool - fifth grade (Room 106)
11:00 am Worship Service in the Sanctuary w/ baptism; Rev. Patrick Johnson preaching
12:00 pm Fellowship on the front lawn or in Wallace Foyer if raining
Zoom & Registration links can be found on the church calendar at fpcasheville.org.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE LENTEN/EASTER BANNERS
Haven’t we seen these banners before, and why are we seeing them again, here in
the atrium, rather than the sanctuary? We’re so glad you asked! Members of the
Liturgical Arts team often receive comments about the banners and requests to see
them up close, and so we decided to respond, offering some further explanation at
the same time!
Our Lenten focus this year was all about the faith journeys we each make,
specifically those made during Lent, which some people regard as a dismal time
of lament and self-denial. Our committee met, pondered scripture, and discussed
multiple ideas to interpret the theme. Several of us sketched out our ideas and were
surprised to discover we had arrived at much the same place with our designs, a
nice reminder that God leads us all the time. Six banners were eventually created
in a style similar to pointillism. Because we were always looking ahead to the joy
of Easter, the patterns were never intended to be dismal or full of lament, yet we
acknowledge that we are often confused, lost, and in need of our Shepherd. Our hope was that careful observers
might notice that the pattern appears darker at the bottom, opening up as it moves upward, and that each banner
on the left is designed to fit with its opposite partner. However, we understand that our pathways on life’s journey
often aren’t noticed by others. Because Lent is a necessary part of our journey to Easter, remembering our lives’
often-complicated pathways seemed important. The risen Christ is what we yearn to see, though we never forget
the crucified Christ. We opted to keep the journey, adding Easter light to the pathway and the sun‘s rays at the top
of the banners nearest the chancel for Easter Sunday. Our hope is that the banners have added meaning to your
worship, even if in some subtle way!
READ2SUCCEED ASHEVILLE
August 11th training
Read2Succeed Asheville is training new tutors to work one-on-one with kindergarten through third grade students
in local public schools. This non-profit organization’s mission is “to close the race-based opportunity gap through
community-powered literacy programming that engages children, families, and community partners.” Excellent
training, materials, and support are offered by the staff of R2S. If you are interested in tutoring a child for an hour
twice a week (vacations allowed), please sign up for a zoom training next Thursday, August 11th at either 12:00
pm - 2:00 pm or 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. You can do this by sending an email to the Literacy Support Coordinator
Olivia Fingold at olivia.fingold@r2asheville.org. More information can be found at www.r2asheville.org or on the
Facebook page at Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe.