FPC MINISTRY UPDATES

Worship

Sunday Services: We will have two worship services: 9:00 AM in the Sanctuary and 11:00 AM in King Hall. Our Sunday School hour is from 10:05 AM to 10:50 AM.

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.

Pips Resumes on August 27

Our August 27 program and lunch will be in King Hall at 11 am. Our program will feature Jim and Ali Dent, who will be sharing with us their experiences over the last two years on the Mercy Ship. The program will be followed by a delicious lunch catered by Duffy’s Deli. We do ask for a $10 donation for lunch. Please invite a friend and contact the church office to sign up. I hope you can join us for great food, fun, and fellowship

2026-2027 Church Theme - “Ambassadors for Christ: Persuading and Pleading with the Message of Reconciliation”

2026-2027 Church Theme - “Ambassadors for Christ: Persuading and Pleading with the Message of Reconciliation” is based on 2 Corinthians 5:20 - “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” This year’s theme calls us to persuasively and urgently proclaim the message of reconciliation. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul teaches that gospel witness is shaped by the fear of the Lord, controlled by the love of Christ, entrusted with the message of reconciliation, and carried out as ambassadors through whom God makes His appeal. Therefore, we do not merely hope people notice our faith; we lovingly, clearly, persuasively, and urgently implore others: be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

Ambassadors for Christ ~ 40 Day Devotion continues through September 4th

This devotional on Evangelism is what we will use as a church family to journey through 40 days of Word and prayer. This easy-to-follow devotional has the specific dates and weeks noted in the document. Thank you to all our church members who contributed to the devotional content. Don’t forget to pick up your copy after worship or from the church office!

Annual Church Picnic – August 16th Following combined 10 a.m. worship in King Hall

Our annual block-style picnic is coming soon. There will be water activities for children of all ages, along with food and fun for everybody. Make sure to bring your child’s swimsuit and towel for all the water activities. Indoor seating will also be provided. We ask for a $10 per person donation for lunch. We will have Bingo again this year in King Hall. We need some cakes (homemade preferred) for the prizes. If you would like to provide a cake, then contact Jill Fisher ( ).

Chancel Choir Resumes This Fall!

Do you enjoy singing and sharing your faith through music? The FPC Chancel Choir is beginning a new season, and we'd love to have you join us! Our first rehearsal will be Wednesday, August 19, at 6:15 p.m. in the Choir Room, followed by a dessert reception to celebrate the start of the year and welcome new and returning singers. For more information, please contact Paul Neal, Director of Classic Music Ministry, at . Come make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

Women’s Ministry Kick-Off Lunch ~ Sunday, August 23rd following 11 am worship service

Ladies, it is time to kick off a new year in Women’s Ministry! Join us in the Hardy Fellowship Hall. We will hear FPC ladies tell their stories surrounding the church theme, "Ambassadors for Christ”. Come for food, fellowship, and to hear about the exciting opportunities to grow closer to Jesus and one another in the year ahead! Please register by visiting fpcrome.org/women.

Women’s Bible Study on Hebrews begins on Tuesday, August 25

Who is Jesus, really? Hebrews answers that question with relentless clarity: He is superior to the angels, superior to Moses, superior to every priest and every sacrifice that came before Him. In light of this truth, we have a sure and steadfast anchor for our souls. Join us as we dig into the book of Hebrews beginning Tuesday, August 25. Tuesday mornings: Digging Deeper 9:30-10:00; Teaching 10:00-11:00; Table Discussion 11:00-11:30. Tuesday evenings: Teaching 6:00-7:00; Table Discussion 7:00-7:30.

Led by: Brittni Hall, Jennifer Scott, Amy Fulton, and Jordan Orr. Register at www.fpcrome.org/women or call the church office.

Please contact Nell Milner for nursery needs.

Advancing God’s Kingdom: An Evening with the FPC Argentina Team ~ Sunday, August 30th at 6 pm

Advancing God’s Kingdom: An Evening with the FPC Argentina Team ~ Sunday, August 30th at 6 pm. Join us in King Hall to hear incredible stories and witness remarkable glimpses of the Kingdom of God’s progress in Buenos Aires, Argentina. These firsthand accounts, shared by members of the FPC team, will inspire you to actively contribute to advancing God’s Kingdom in the region where He has placed you. A nursery will be provided for children aged 8 weeks through 5 years; please contact Mrs. Nell.

August Community Ministry Spotlight: ESP (Extra Special People)

For nearly 40 years, Extra Special People (ESP) has built spaces where people of all abilities are seen, supported, and celebrated. What began as a single week of summer camp has grown into a multi-community organization offering year-round programs, family support, and meaningful opportunities for connection, growth, and independence. At ESP, experiences are intentionally designed. They meet individuals where they are, honor their abilities, and surround families with a community rooted in joyful hospitality. Families don’t just participate in programs here—they find a place to belong.

Children's Ministry is in Need of Teachers This Fall

Come join us in pursuing Children’s Ministry’s vision for the Discipleship of the next generation: God-centered, Gospel-focused teaching. Please contact Mrs. Andrea if you feel led by the Lord to teach this Fall. "I am GOD. I have called you... as a lighthouse to the nations." Isaiah 42:6 MSG.

Coming Soon: Fall Sunday Studies

Coming August 23-December 13

Sola Scriptura: The Prison Epistles (Fellowship Hall). Teaching team: Dave Abernathy, Blakely Hall, Emmett Long, Tony Pemerton. This year we study Paul's prison epistles — Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon — written while he was under house arrest in Rome. Though confined, Paul's ministry didn't stop; his imprisonment became a platform for the gospel. Each letter offers a unique angle: Ephesians grounds us theologically, Philippians overflows with joy in Christ, Colossians proclaims Jesus' supremacy, and Philemon models gospel-shaped reconciliation. Using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series, we'll discover that the same gospel that sustained Paul in chains can sustain us in every trial. Best for: All adults who want to study Scripture by digging deeply through expositional teaching of whole books of the Bible.
The Gospel of John (CLC 101) Teaching team: Matt Claytor, Rob Davis, Charles Looney, Ryan Okubo, Jonathan Schwartz. John gives us seven signs, seven “I Am” sayings, and one plain reason for writing all of it down: that you may believe and have life. This fall we take the whole Gospel, chapter by chapter, looking closely at the text and pressing it into everyday life. Discussion is the point, not a bonus. Best for: Anyone
College: Kingdom Through Covenant (CLC 201) Teacher: Camden Garrett The Bible isn’t sixty-six disconnected books. It’s one story held together by a series of covenants, and once you see them, the whole thing reads differently. We’ll trace those covenants from Adam to Christ and ask what they mean for how we read Scripture, understand the church, and hope for what’s coming. Best For: College Students who want to know how the whole Bible fits together.
The Kingdom of God (CLC 203) Teaching team: Ken Chivers, Jeff Lewis, Dathan Sorrow. “Kingdom of God” gets used two ways: God’s rule over the individual heart, or making the world a better place. Neither is wrong, and neither is enough. This study traces the kingdom through the whole story of Scripture — God reestablishing his reign on earth through Christ, among all nations, ending in a new heaven and new earth. Best for: Adults ready to think carefully about the gospel, the church, and mission. Weekly study is recommended to make the most of this class.
Young Adults and Young Families Class: Acts 242: Fear and Faith: Living at the Intersection of Life and the Gospel (Hardy Chapel) Teaching Team: Brant Evans, John Goodrich, Greg Garrett, Tommy Manning, Bill Pardue, and Charlie Williams. Every day we stand at countless intersections where fear competes with faith — uncertainty about the future, decisions about relationships, the pressures of work, the challenges of marriage and family, the temptation to trust ourselves instead of Christ. Mark’s Gospel reminds us that these are not new struggles. Again and again, Jesus meets people at the crossroads of life and calls them to trust Him. In this sixteen-week journey through the Gospel of Mark, we will discover the beauty of God’s redemptive story, the supremacy of Christ, and the hope of the gospel for everyday life. Grounded in Reformed theology and shaped by biblical theology, this study will equip us not only to know Christ more deeply but to follow Him more faithfully.

CHILDREN:

Infants (8 weeks – 16 months) – Downstairs Nursery of Education Building

Toddlers (16 months – 2 years) – Downstairs Nursery of Education Building

Children’s Classes meet on the Second Floor of the Education Building

2’s and 3’s -CLC 209
4’s -CLC 210
5’s- CLC 208
1st-2nd grade -CLC 205
3^rd grade-CLC 204
4th grade -CLC 203
5th & 6th Grade Girls-CLC 202
5th & 6th Grade Boys -CLC 201

YOUTH

Jr. & Sr. High Students – Crossing

Coming Soon: Fall Wednesday Nights

Wednesday Night Gathering, August 26-November 11

Fellowship Hall Class: Theology, Imagination, and the Arts. Teacher: Cooper Pinson

On a frigid night, deep in a dark wood, a tended fire burns. Flames flicker, sink, and spring. Tiny embers rise. Numerous figures huddle close. George MacDonald. Madeleine L’Engle. J.R.R. Tolkien. Wendell Berry. C.S. Lewis. A word is held in a hand, like a small, golden star. Imagination. The word is passed around, and voices speak. “What do fairies have to do with sustainable agriculture?” says one. “Smart phones and oil paintings with the Incarnation, rootlessness with the creation of art, imagination with the vocation of us all to love our God and neighbor?”

Theology, Imagination, and the Arts explores the urgent importance of cultivating the imaginative power in this present place and moment, grown up from the soil beneath our feet, amidst a company of neighbors and the God who is with us.

Cooper holds MPhil and PhD degrees in Christian Theology from the University of Cambridge, where, under poet and theologian Malcolm Guite, his research focused on a theology of imagination. He and his wife, Katie, have four children.

Wednesday Community Groups

Couples

David & Jessica Baker; CLC 101

Jonathan & Bethany Johnson; VanDyke Room

Jonathan & Larra Schwartz; CLC 205

Men’s

Keith Thompson & Chris Congdon; Rob Davis’ Office

Women’s

Erin Evans; CLC 203

Emily Katherine Johnson; CLC 201

Nicole Kunczewski; CLC 209

Infants (8 weeks – 16 months) – Downstairs Nursery of Education Building

Toddlers (16 months – 2 years) – Downstairs Nursery of Education Building

Children’s Classes meet on the Second Floor of the Education Building

WNG Children’s Groups:
*BIBLE ZONE
2s-3s year olds- 209
4s-5s year olds - 208-210

*SUMMIT

1st-5th grade - God's Garden
*COMMUNICANTS CLASS - Upper Room

Walking in the Light — A Study of 1, 2 & 3 John Adult Summer Sunday School • 10 Weeks • Beginning June 7^th in the Sanctuary

This summer, join us for a journey through three of the most personal and pastoral letters in the New Testament. Written by the Apostle John late in his life, these letters return us to the beating heart of Christian living — truth, love, and assurance. Three great themes run through every session: Light. Love. Life. Whether you're a longtime believer or still exploring faith, each week stands on its own, and every session welcomes you wherever you are.

We'll spend ten weeks asking one of the most practical questions a person can ask: How do I know I have eternal life — and what difference does that make?

Children's Summer Sunday School

CHILDREN’S SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL – This summer, we are combining our children’s Sunday School classes in the following groups and rooms:

2- and 3-year-olds* – Room 209 - study "God's People."

4- and 5-year-olds* – Room 208 - study " God keeps His promises."

1^st through 5^th grades – God's Garden - study " Awake, My Soul, and SING!

FPC Giving

GIVING:

Operating Budget Through June

Tithes and Gifts Expenses Over/(Short)

$1,471,061.97 $1,450,488.04 $20,573.93

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

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 .