Announcements
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Important Capital Project Update and Safety Reminders
We are continuing foundation work for the new Commons. Work also continues on the North Drive, and the temporary walkway is in place for Sunday access from the Midtown Plaza parking deck. Please watch your step and take caution as you are using this walkway.
Please note, for ease of entry, we have added an accessibility ramp on the 16th Street entrance near the Vestry.
You will also note that a construction fence has been erected outside the Sanctuary on Peachtree Street as we begin access and aesthetic improvements in this space. This will temporarily close the main Narthex entrance to the sanctuary from Peachtree Street.
Please see below for more details on these impacts. To give you a preview of what the construction team is hard at work building, see renderings of our future spaces on the temporary walls in Fifield Hall, Founder’s Hall, and the North hallway.
Safety remains our top priority for staff, congregation, students, guests, and all campus visitors during our ongoing construction project.
For your safety, it is critical that ONLY authorized construction personnel enter the construction zone – including the North Drive and designated parking areas.
The main Peachtree Street Narthex entrance to the Sanctuary is now closed.
Sanctuary access from the exterior of the building will be available through the 16th Street Narthex entrance. The Peachtree Street Founder’s Hall entrance will be open on Sundays only.
Interior entrances to the sanctuary will remain open throughout the week and weekend.
North Drive Closed:
The North Drive by Fifield Hall is now closed for construction until Summer 2025. We have also lost some of our parking lot spaces nearest to North Drive.
The construction gate to the North Drive may be periodically opened for construction purposes. Do NOT enter the North Drive or construction parking areas under any circumstances.
While the North Drive is closed, pedestrian access from the Midtown Plaza parking deck to the North entrance and the temporary toilets will remain accessible on Sundays only.
Weekday Parking Lot Access:
Preschool drop-off and pickup is now routed through the Arts Center Way parking lot. PMO drop-off and pickup will happen along 16th Street.
You will not be allowed to enter or exit the parking lot during carpool times (weekdays from approximately 8:45 – 9:15 a.m. and 12:50 – 3:00 p.m.).
If you are visiting campus during the week, it is highly recommended that you park in the church parking deck across Peachtree Street. Please bring your parking ticket to the security desk for a validation sticker. A security officer escort to the parking deck will be available upon request.
If you choose to park in the parking lot, be advised that all cars will be required to wait for the carpool line to be cleared before they are allowed to enter or exit the lot.
Our security and facilities team will be outside during carpool enforcing these rules for the safety of our children.
Help Build First Presbyterian's 48th Habitat House
On Saturday, February 15th, volunteers will begin building FPC’s 48th Habitat house! On this day, the wall panels will be constructed at the Habitat warehouse (824 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30316) while the floor joists and floor decking are put in place at the house location (135 Polar Rock Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30315) Then that afternoon, the wall sections will be installed, and the house will take shape. After six more Saturdays of work (March 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, and April 5th) the house will be complete and ready for healthcare supervisor Kendra Dawes and her 13-year-old daughter Imahn to move in.
The construction of Ms. Dawes’ home is made possible by the repeated generous gift of an anonymous donor and the work of volunteers from First Pres and partner churches: Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Cascade United Methodist Church, Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church, and St. Benedict Catholic Church.
Working on a Habitat house is a most-rewarding experience and one you will want to repeat. Volunteering forms, develops, and strengthens friendships and enables home-owning families to thrive for generations to come. Each workday includes a nutritious lunch and all tools being furnished by Habitat.
To learn more about and work on this Habitat build, visit https://vhub.at/firstpres.
If you would like more information, contact Bill Earnest at williammearnest@yahoo.com or (404)351-8030.
Arts Ministry
Concerts at First presents
On Friday, February 21, 7:30 p.m., Concerts at First presents the UGA Hodgson Singers and FPC Chancel Choir with orchestra in “Songs of Love and Eternal Light.” You will experience the healing power of music with Morten Lauridsen's visceral and emotional "Lux Aeterna" as the centerpiece along with masterworks spanning centuries. Admission is Free.
Challenge the Stats and Concerts @ First present “Sounds of Sanctuary: A CTS Evening of Song and Storytelling”
On Saturday, March 8, 7:30 p.m., Concerts @ First and Challenge the Stats present “Sounds of Home,” a moving concert exploring the meaning of home through the unifying force of song. The evening promises to inspire and uplift with moving performances by internationally acclaimed artists and brilliant emerging musicians. The powerful CTS Community Choir, conceived and directed by Verena Lucía Anders, will be joined by the Atlanta Young Singers' Youth Chorale High School Division, directed by Dr. Paige Mathis. Using their collective voices from across the city, the CTS Choir and AYS will present a unique celebration of resilience and hope through the music of Black, Indigenous, and Artists of Color. They will also be joined by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent and Development Program, a leading classical performance and musical mentorship organization for gifted young musicians. Concert Partners include Atlanta Young Singers, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program, and Concerts @ First. Admission is free.
Meet Daniel Sundaram, Outstanding Wirth Music Scholarship Recipient
Daniel Sundaram has been studying in our School of Fine Arts since fall of 2023 when he won one of five scholarships awarded to talented young high school musicians. Joseph Skerik, violist of Emory University’s Vega String Quartet, is enjoying coaching Daniel through the SFA. An indicator of Joseph’s excellent instruction and Daniel’s diligence is that he was accepted into the GA All State 9th and 10th grade orchestra, a rare feat for a freshman.
Be sure to look for Daniel the next time the orchestra plays at FPC. He will be sitting with Florrie Johnson, a long-time member of the group who enjoys playing along side such a talented young man with a great attitude. Daniel likes playing in the FPC sanctuary with its amazing acoustics and is the youngest member of the orchestra.
Daniel’s versatility and enthusiasm are also appreciated by his instructors and coaches at Westminster. In addition to playing in the school orchestra, he is on the soccer team and has a passion for physics. His goal for viola is “to enjoy playing it and getting better. The (FPC SFA) teachers and staff are amazing and have helped me learn a lot!”
By Florrie Johnson and Suzanne Shull
The Wirth Scholarship Committee awards more than $7,000 a year to promising young classical musicians. FPC and private donors help provide funding.
Care Ministry
Come-On-Along Outing
Come-On-Along for Discovering the World of Jesus at Pullman Yards on Thursday, February 20. While this trip is planned with older adults in mind, all are welcome! We’ll meet at the church at 11:30 a.m. for a boxed lunch, then travel together to the venue for a self-led tour starting at 1:00 p.m.
The cost is $27 for the exhibition, plus $10 for lunch. Rob Sparks is the host. Interested in attending? Contact Bethany at bgalvin@firstpresatl.org or 404-228-7737 by February 17th to sign up.
Children’s Ministry
First Communion 2025
One of the most important and memorable events in a child’s spiritual formation is when he or she first participates in the Lord’s Supper. At FPC, we recognize and celebrate First Communion with children in their First-Grade year. You and your child are invited to participate in our First Communion Class on Sunday, March 16th in the Chapel. We will meet during the Sunday School hour (10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.). The goal of this class is for our Children to learn about the meaning of the Sacraments. We encourage attendance and ask that at least one parent attend with their child. The class will be led by one of our FPC pastors. Finally, a date will be set in May for the children to take communion together with the congregation at either the 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. service. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER for the class. As we get closer to the date I will send more information. (If your child missed out on taking the First Communion Class over the last few years, and isn't in the first grade, please feel free to register your child.)
2025 VBS, Save the Date!
Save the Date! Mark your calendars for FPC's Vacation Bible School. Monday, June 2nd - Friday, June 6th. After care will be provided Monday - Thursday.
Registration will open March 1st. Please email Katie Covington (kcovington@fpcatl.org)
Community Ministries
Community Ministries: Mental Health & De-escalation Training
Community Ministries is hosting a Zoom training on March 19th, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., for those interested in learning about de-escalation and the mental health challenges within our own communities. The training will be led by the Director of Community Ministries, Tricia Passuth LCSW. All are welcome to attend!
To register, click this link!
Community Ministries Jean Drive
Support our neighbors by donating jeans! At First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, we are dedicated to supporting our unhoused neighbors, and one of the best ways to help is by donating used or new jeans. Jeans are a highly valued item because they are durable, warm, and can be worn multiple times without showing wear. Many of our neighbors rely on them for comfort and protection.
Donations can be dropped off:
Sunday between 8:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Monday - Thursday between 9:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. in the designated bins located in the Smith Building Lobby.
Sizes: We need a mixture of both men’s and women's sizes to best address our neighbors needs.
Faith Formation
New Sunday School Class
The Word Class (formerly called Choir and Friends Class) will begin meeting again, every Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. starting February 2nd in Room 224! The class is self-led and will begin where we left off before the pandemic, in I and II Chronicles. All are invited to join us as we dig deeper in God's Word.
Church 101
Would you like to be more connected to the life of the church? In a small group setting, we will help you identify one way to grow in faith, one way to give back and one way to stay grounded at FPC Atlanta.
Join Rev. Dr. Barry Gaeddert and Rev. Saranell Hartman for 3 - week series at 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., March 16, 23, and 30 in Room 230.
For more information contact Saranell at 404-228-7747 or shartman@firstpresatl.org or Barry at 404-228-7718 bgaeddert@firstpresatl.org.
Early Christianity and the Roman World
Early Christianity and the Roman World. Chris Holmes and Eric Moore will host three "lunch and learn" offerings for those who are interested in learning more about the place of early Christianity within the ancient Roman world. This class will introduce some of the broad cultural, historical, and religious backgrounds to the New Testament and early Christianity. March 2, 16, and 23, 12:15–1:30 p.m. in Fifield Hall. Suggested donation of $10/person for lunch each day.
Contact Chris Holmes (cholmes@firstpresatl.org) for more information or to sign up.
Word Before Work
Each Wednesday in Lent, we'll gather 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. to reflect on the previous Sunday worship and sermon and to pray for one another. You are invited to join us on 3rd floor of Smith Building in Rooker Group Counseling Room. Most Wednesdays the preacher from Sunday will join as well. Katie Sundermeier will facilitate.
Wednesdays: March 12, March 19, March 26, April 2nd, April 9th, & April 16th
Cultivating Beloved Community Gathering
Friends and members of FPC are invited to join the Cultivating Beloved Community (CBC) group. CBC works toward deep love of neighbor, racial healing, and faithful public action. We gather for encouragement, continued learning, and accountability. For the next several gatherings, we will read and discuss “The Four Pivots” by Shawn A. Ginwright. Our next gathering is on February 16th at 4:00 p.m. in the Women's Bible Study room. Contact Chris Holmes (cholmes@firstpresatl.org) for more information or to join the mailing list.
Faith & Fellowship
A new women’s Bible study group, Faith & Fellowship, is beginning 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday mornings in Women’s Bible Study Room. Rev. Saranell Hartman, Associate Pastor of Engagement will lead us in a 8 week study of Philippians. We will start February 26 and end on May 21.
If you are interested contact, Michelle Garren at michele.garren@gmail.com.
Visit to Freedom Seekers Exhibit
Members of the Cultivating Beloved Community group will visit the Freedom Seekers Exhibit at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon on Saturday, March 1st, 2025. We plan to leave Atlanta around 9:00 a.m., visit the museum, share lunch together, and return to Atlanta around 3:00 p.m.
For more information or to coordinate transportation, contact Chris Holmes (cholmes@firstpresatl.org).
Author Talk and Book Signing
Unspoiled Endings Author Talk and Book Signing. Chris Holmes, our Scholar in Residence, will present his new book, Unspoiled Endings, at an author talk and book signing event hosted by the Northwest Library branch of the Fulton County Library System. All are invited to attend! 6:00–7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025 at at the Northwest Library, 2489 Perry Blvd NW. Click here to register!
Contact Chris Holmes (cholmes@firstpresatl.org) for more information.
20s and 30s Spring Retreat
Registration is officially live for our first-ever 20s & 30s Spring Retreat on March 28th-30th at Lake Keowee, SC. Join us for a refreshing weekend of spiritual renewal, deep fellowship, and rest in the beauty of God’s creation. This is a perfect opportunity to step away from the busyness of life, connect with community, and grow in faith together. Registration is $80 per person, which includes most meals. Children are welcome, and carpooling is encouraged. Sign up today clicking this link.
20s and 30s Volunteering Event
Join us on Saturday, February 22, as we partner with Friends of Refugees to serve newly resettled families in Clarkston, GA. We will gather at Memorial Drive Ministries from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to assemble care packages for our new neighbors. Please register using this link by February 20. We encourage participants to bring supplies to contribute to the care packages (a supply list is available on the registration page). We hope you’ll join us in this meaningful opportunity to serve and welcome refugees in our community!
First Presbyterian Preschool
Preschool Early Applications 2025-2026
Applications are now open for First Presbyterian Preschool 2025-2026 for current students, siblings, PMO children and church members! Secure your spot by clicking here!
Global Mission
What in the World?
Mission market says “thank you!” The generosity of the First Presbyterian congregation was evident in December as we raised over $3700 in support of our partners in Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, refugee families in Atlanta, and gifts for FPC Community Ministries clients. Thank you for caring for our friends and partners across the globe. For information about FPC’s Global Mission outreach, please contact Rev. Barry Gaeddert (bgaeddert@firstpresatl.org).
Refugee Volunteer Project
Share the Love – Support refugee families living in the Atlanta area! Support for the New American community is critically needed right now, and hospitality is one powerful way you can do that. Join Friends of Refugees to form a Hospitality Circle to express care and love for our refugee friends and neighbors. We are assembling care packages for families in FOR’s ministry. Saturday, February 22nd – 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and/or Saturday, March 1st – 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This will take place at Memorial Drive Ministries, 5140 Memorial Drive. All are welcome to participate.
Please register in advance by clicking this link!
Youth Ministry
Youth Group
All 6th through 12th graders are invited to Youth Group, every Sunday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Fifield Hall! We’ll gather for dinner, epic games, age- specific small groups, and tons of fun! Throughout the year our Youth Group program offers various opportunities for building relationships and spiritual connection, including several message series, special holiday celebrations, and community service nights. Please RSVP at www.firstpresatl.org/youth-ministry prior to each Youth Group gathering to ensure ample food for dinner.