Happenings

NEWS & EVENTS

Daytrippers - Hampton Preston House and Garden Tour

April 23, 10:00

Join us for a tour of the Historic Columbia Hampton-Preston House and Gardens followed by lunch at Pawleys Front Porch. We'll meet at church at 9:30. The cost is $11 for the tour, plus the cost of your lunch. Call the church office to register, space is limited.

Kirkin' of the Tartans

Sunday, April 28

Kirkin' of the Tartans returns for our 10:00 worship service on April 28th. Come celebrate the church's Scottish heritage with bagpipers and drummers from Palmetto Pipes and Drums Band and with tartan flags brought by the Robert Burns Society. Plan to stay for a covered dish luncheon after the service. For the luncheon if your last name begins with A-J- please bring a main course dish or casserole; K-S please bring a side dish; T-Z please bring a dessert.

Decker Collective

Partnership Meeting, April 30, 4:30

Join us for the next planning meeting for the Decker Collective at the Serve and Connect offices, 8131 Brookfield Rd.  All are welcome and encouraged to be part of our next steps in planning. Come help us build trust and strengthen connections in the Woodfield community!

Block Party, Sunday, April 28, 3-7

Join us for a day of celebration as we launch Serve & Connect's new community center, dedicated to serving the Decker Boulevard community. 8131 Brookfield Road.

Earth Sunday

Sunday, May 5, 10:00 Worship, 11:00 vendors

Please Join us for our 16th annual Earth Sunday celebration and educational event! We hold this event to celebrate God's creation and learn how we can protect and nurture it. Local environmental organizations will be on hand with displays to share their mission and inspire us to take care of the earth in practical ways such as: Cafe Justo; Camp Fellowship; Caroline Wildlife Care; Congaree National Park; DHEC Air Quality; Gills Creek Watershed Association; Keep the Midlands Beautiful; Master Gardeners Resoil Compost; Sonoco Recycling; SC Wildlife Federation. Coffee and refreshments provided. These vendors will be set up in the Fellowship Hall at 11:00. All are welcome!

Senior Lunch

May 9th, Noon, Fellowship Hall

"Protect Yourself: Unveiling the Truth Behind Imposter, Romance, and Tech Support Scams!"
Are you concerned about falling victim to scammers? You're not alone. In today's digital world, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it crucial to stay informed and vigilant.
Melanie Weathers, a fraud expert with Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union will share her extensive knowledge and experience with us. She will delve into the world of scams and empower you with the knowledge to protect yourself and your loved ones. Whether you're a seasoned internet user or just getting started, this presentation is packed with valuable insights and practical tips.
Call the church office to register by Monday, May 6th. Cost of lunch is $10.

School Districts Food Drive

May 5-12

May 5th we kick off our annual Food Drive for the Richland School Districts One and Two food pantries. That day, empty grocery bags will be given out in Worship. Fill the bag that week with nonperishable food and return the bags on May 12th. Invite your neighbors to participate as well! This food will be used to feed food insecure families during the summer months.

Shoe Collection

April 1-30

We are collecting unused, new, and gently worn shoes during the month of April.  These shoes will be sent to developing countries where they can be sold in the marketplace to earn money for the family’s food, medical care, and education.  Often it is a mother who earns money to care for her children through the sale of these shoes.
Shoes can be left in the box in the covered area on the ground floor just outside the double glass doors to the building. There you will find large rubber bands that you should use to keep each pair together.  No boxes or bags should be placed in the bin, just shoes.

Is God Calling You to Serve as a Church Leader?

The Congregational Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations for church members who may be called to serve as an elder or deacon. People recommended should be: active in the church; possess the gift of leadership; mature in their faith; and willing to serve to the glory of God.

Church members are encouraged to suggest names to the nominating committee by March 20th. The nominating committee will prayerfully select four people to be nominated as elders and four as deacons, based on the needs of spiritual gifts for the current session and diaconate and on the requirements of the Book of Order. The committee will then contact these candidates to ask if they’re willing to serve.

Suggestion Form

Suggestion forms are also available at the downstairs lobby desk, the narthex, the Connecting Point lobby and the church office. You can place completed forms in the Nomination Suggestion boxes, in the offering plate on Sundays, or you can give them to a member of the nominating committee: Ray Nix (chair), Stephen McCrae, Emma Behymer, Peggy Carey, Adriane Radeker, Jennifer Catoe, Dave Fancher, and Rebecca Krueger.

Men's Prayer Breakfast

Ongoing

There are two opportunities for men of the church to meet weekly for devotion, discussion and breakfast. Tuesday mornings, 7:30, Fellowship Hall at church and Thursday mornings 6:30 at Bruegger's Bagels, Forest Dr.

OA Meeting

Overeaters Anonymous meets for one hour at 7:30 am on Fridays in the Community Room.

All are welcome.

FLPC PODCASTS!!?

The FLPC Education Ministry has made it possible for FLPC to begin to experiment with podcasts to get the Good News out into the world beyond our walls.  Ed and Ellen are working on two separate podcasts!  See below for descriptions and how to find them. We hope you will listen and subscribe to these two podcasts! Let us know what you think. Stay tuned!

TRANSFORMING FAITH

FLPC’s podcast is where we are invited to talk frankly about what needs to change in us, in the Church and in the world, even as we follow and worship a God who doesn’t change.  We say that our Church’s purpose is “transforming head, heart, and hands in the service of Jesus Christ!”  What does this transformation look like?  On Spotify.com or Google Podcasts, search for “Forest Lake Presbyterian Church” or “Transforming Faith.”  Or click this link:  https://open.spotify.com/show/2M8f8qPl5voN2YWA2tTEVn

ABRAHAM’S TABLE

Ellen Skidmore, Rabbi Jonathan Case, and Imam Omar Shaheed have joined forces to continue our tradition of interfaith conversations in creating a second podcast series.  The Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith all share Abraham as a father of our faith, and we invite you to a lively and respectful interfaith discussion. We do not always agree, but we all love God, and we recognize that every human being is made in God’s image.  Join us as we talk about issues that affect our everyday lives.  From spiritual disciplines and Scriptural instructions for living, to discussions of immigration and mental health, please join us at Abraham’s Table.  On Spotify.com or Apple Podcasts search for “Abraham’s Table”.   Or click this link:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6GOlaVIBFa0z6JfAfKH1N8

Now Collecting:

Non-perishable Food - We have an ongoing collection of non-perishable food for Rehoboth United Methodist Food Pantry. Pasta, mac and cheese are always needed, but any meal/pantry staple is greatly appreciated. There is a collection box downstairs at church.

Pet Supplies for Final Victory Animal Shelter and Columbia Animal Services - Supplies needed:  sheets, towels, blankets, pet food (can be opened), cat litter, laundry detergent, pet toys (new or GENTLY used), leashes, collars, carriers and crates. The collection box is located downstairs in the welcome area.

Feminine Hygiene Products, Women's Leggings and Men's Deodorant for Richland Northeast High School. The collection box is downstairs at church.

Recycling - Our Environmental Stewardship team keeps this church focused on the ways we can take care of God's Creation.

The following items can be recycled in our recycling closet found downstairs on the right before the library.

  • Dental hygiene items - Please make sure they are clean: used toothbrushes, empty dental floss containers, empty toothpaste tubes, toothbrush and toothpaste outer packaging.
  • Razor blades, razors and their plastic packaging of any brand.
  • Socks - Old clothing is a huge portion of landfill space, so socks are an easy way to reduce what we send to landfills!  These can be used knee socks, sport socks/footies, or other socks of any fabric. The only exception is tights/stockings/panty hose which are not accepted. They do not need to paired up, and holey socks are fine - just submit them clean and dry, please!
  • Ink jet cartridges (no toner cartridges please). These are donated to Fellowship Camp and Conference Center.

Café Justo Coffee

You can order Café Justo coffee locally! This coffee cooperative is supported by our mission partner, Frontera de Cristo. Café Justo is a Grower owned Coffee Cooperative based in southern Chiapas Mexico, formed to address the poverty and migration from Mexico to the U.S.A. By supporting this coffee cooperative, you bring more money to the coffee farmers of Mexico - even more than Fair Trade!

Coffee can be purchase locally from Rowena Nylund.  This organic coffee is available in whole bean or ground and your choice of Arabica Decaf, 100% Arabica mild roast, 50% Arabica 50% Robusta, 100% Robusta (strongest), and 50% Arabica Decaf and 50% Arabica. If you want to reduce your caffeine intake, try the half decaf and half Arabica!

The coffee is $11 per bag for the 100% and $12 per bag for 50/50 and decaf. Gift certificates are also available.