Church guide

Jason Wright, who teaches in Piedmont High School's fine arts department, came at Gerald's invitation and brought an old-hymns touch to our service today. Thanks, Jason!

Pastor Laura showing her many talents as she joins our maestros for musical meditation.

Come see what's happening in the prayer garden! #mulch #moreflowers #stillneedtoplanttheEasterlilies

#Earthday Service in the Robert Soleman Community Prayer Garden.

"Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, urged all religions to stand together in solidarity. "All of these attacks on these sacred spaces represent a violation of our values that we as Americans hold dear: Values of decency, tolerance and respect. Whether or not you go to a church or a synagogue or a mosque, it's standing together with your fellow Americans that matters most," he said. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/california-synagogue-shooting-police-investigating-possible-link-to-mosque-fire/ar-BBWmE43?li=BBnb7Kz

We sure did have a great time working in the Robert Soleman Community Prayer Garden today! Come see what we did and join us for our Annual Earth Day Worship Service tomorrow at 11am.

The kiddos put flowers on the cross today. #HeIsRisen

As an afterthought to yesterday's post about safe shelter-in-place spots in the church, in the event of severe weather, it might be good to give advance thought to which of us might go where. Which of us would need help on the basement stairs, and who might pair up as a helper? For those who can't take the basement steps, I'm glad to go with you to the best upstairs options (choir room or bathrooms). It's best to get all thinking done in advance and just be able to act, if the occasion calls for it. Joe Medley

FCC family, As you've likely heard, there's a severe-weather threat forecast for Sunday, operative during hours of church activities. The fact that it's Palm Sunday, and the 25th anniversary of the Goshen tornado, has prompted discussion among members of what to do, in the unlikely event that we find ourselves in a warning polygon during church. First, Laura agrees that we should move the NOAA storm-warning radio from the office into the sanctuary during church hours Sunday. With that and all of our cell phones, we should get any warnings in a timely fashion. Warning lead times typically run about 15 minutes ahead of a storm. Warnings for the Goshen tornado came 12 minutes ahead of when it hit the church. Sadly, churchgoers that day were not aware. Obviously, our church's best safe-space option is the basement, but that might not be the best option for some of our older members who don't take stairs well, or would need help and take longer to reach that space. We tried to think of what would be a next-best, upstairs option, in the event that time is short or someone couldn't manage the long staircase to the basement. I reached out to Calhoun County EMA today, and Myles Chamblee was able to get a top-down, satellite view of our church on his screen. When I described to him where the choir and bathrooms are, he agreed they would be the next-best options. There are no outside walls or windows in the bathrooms. The choir room has the one outside wall, facing, and guarded by, the sanctuary. All of those spaces have walls close together, and the choir room offers couch cushions and pillows to put over our heads. Too, the air units in the attic would not be over us in those spaces ... and not a threat to come down on us, like they would be in the kitchen. Cancelling service is always an option, and we have cancelled church activities because of the threat of inclement weather in the past. We hope not to have to do that, and we're monitoring forecast updates. Love you all, Joe Medley

This weekend, folks!

Mark your calendars - Beginning Wednesday, March 13, 5:30-7:00 Lenten Bible Study and Pot Luck Supper In our fellowship hall. Buy your own coloring book to have this Lenten devotional for the whole season, or just color a photo copy when you come. Children welcomed!!! Bring a friend!!! https://www.chalicepress.com/Coloring-Lent-P1713.aspx

Love is love, family is family, gifts are gifts, callings are callings. #FCCAnniston #OpenAffirming

Blessed to welcome our newest family today! Welcome to the McKenzies ... Jeremy, Cami, Seth and Matilda.

Today we welcome our newest family! So blessed to have the McKenzies ... Jeremy, Cami, Matilda and Seth. Welcome to the fam!

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We're open & affirming. Come see us and be us!

Improvements and additions! Stewardship chair Annie Ingram is off and running in '19 with ideas. She and her team of helpers had a big day Saturday, cleaning, organizing and updating. We have a new fridge, stove and shelving in the kitchen. The study our youth group uses got a fresh look. Storage is organized, and look at all of those materials our youth minister, Paige Rochus, has accumulated! Come see us!

Preparing for Lent! Order your $10 devotional today (256-236-1316), and plan to join us for the Wednesday night Pot Luck Meal and Lenten Bible Study, starting Wednesday, March 13th at 5:30. (We'll meet each Wednesday through Holy Week). We'll kick off this Holy season with an Ash Wednesday Service on March 6th at 5:30.

Jason Wright, who teaches in Piedmont High School's fine arts department, came at Gerald's invitation and brought an old-hymns touch to our service today. Thanks, Jason!

Pastor Laura showing her many talents as she joins our maestros for musical meditation.

The kiddos put flowers on the cross today. #HeIsRisen

Blessed to welcome our newest family today! Welcome to the McKenzies ... Jeremy, Cami, Seth and Matilda.

Today we welcome our newest family! So blessed to have the McKenzies ... Jeremy, Cami, Matilda and Seth. Welcome to the fam!

Today, we joyfully presented Paige Rochus with the Billy Weeks Award, presented annually to recognize lay service in the church. The winner is chosen by congregational vote. Paige, our council moderator and director of children and youth ministries, received the award for 2018, but she and her family have been special gifts to our church since they started coming. She and wife Renea Rochus (2016) are Billy Weeks winners. Daughters Leighton and Logan make our church a better place with their special spirits. The Rochuses have been with us only a few years, but it's hard to imagine our church without them.

Today, we celebrate Pastor Laura Hutchinson's six-year anniversary with us!

We welcome Karen and Dennis Williams as our newest members!

We had a special service today to mark Mexican Independence Day. Hayden Medley, a member who just started learning Spanish as a seventh-grader at Jacksonville High School, read the Lord's Prayer.

What she said!