Session approved the baptism of Anne Austin Hoyt, daughter of Austin and Blair, on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Presbytery: First Presbyterian was the host church of the August 20th meeting of the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley. FPC hosted over 100 guests including Presbytery members, Stillman College Executive Leadership and members of First African Baptist Church. The day included a worship service led by Rev. Michael Bailey and a well-received session on Anti-Racism led by Rev. Lou Ann Sellers, including guests from First African Baptist, as well as general presbytery business.
Finance and Endowments:
1. A request from the Worship Committee to fund a proposed Community Christmas Concert with a total cost of $26,620. Session approved $5,000 from the Charles and Anne Land Trust plus $500 from the Tom and Shelley Jones Endowment for payment toward the Chilcott Christmas Concert on December 12, 2026. The remaining funding for this concert will come from Designated Music Ministry Reserve Funds.
2. Session approved $858 from the Marjorie Meredith Fund to purchase a new Bible for the sanctuary.
3. Angela Hamiter, Treasurer, gave the Finance Report. Total budged receipts for the year are behind $170K while budgeted expenses are below budget by $84K for a new deficit of ($85K). This is indicative of the summer slump, but Session encourages members to catch up on their giving. Statements were recently mailed to all members.
4. Don Wallace, our CPA, attended Finance Committee and presented the audited financial statements for 2025 to the Committee with an unqualified opinion. The financial statements are available in the church office to be reviewed by any FPC member with our church administrator, Jackie Joiner.
Properties: Session approved $18,000 from the 1820 Fund to pay for diagnostic water testing to be conducted to test the FPC building complex to determine needs and scope for waterproofing the campus to stem the persistent leaks. This is part of the project for restoration of First Presbyterian.
Worship: Session approved members of the Puerto Rico youth mission team to serve communion on World Communion Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Mission: Chair Mary Burns and Rev. Lou Ann Sellers reported that the “Rise Against Hunger” rice packing event on August 23rd (Sunday) produced 10,152 rice meal bags bagged by 70 members of FPC and with 6 meals in each bag will feed 60,912 meals. Our bags will be distributed in need internationally and we will be notified in the future where our meals were delivered. Thanks be to God for this important mission work of the FPC family.
Fellowship and Mission: will sponsor a day of service on September 12th from 8 am – Noon with FPC members working a long side our mission partners: Community Soup Bowl, New Heights Community Center and High Socks for Hope. Additionally, our young members will bake bread for the home bound.
Fellowship: The Committee announced the FPC Annual Picnic will be on Sunday, October 4th at the Buddy Powell Pavillion from 4 – 6 pm.
Session discussed the attendance observed in the last few weeks in worship; the increased attendance in Sunday School classes; the number of college students observed in worship; the record youth attendance this week; and the wonderful confirmation class and mentors we just recognized. Come Holy Spirit – we are feeling the movement at First Presbyterian! Session was encouraged to share the good news and to invite friends to share in the FPC experience.
The next Stated meeting of the Session will also be the annual Joint Meeting with the Diaconate and is scheduled for September 28th at 5: 30 pm in the Chapel. Each committee will report on their mission statement and goals for the year.