Thanksgiving is more than turkey or football. It is a time to reflect on God’s goodness to us. As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, give thanks with a grateful heart for all God has done.

Connect to Christ by completing a ‘Thanksgiving’ plan in your Bible app. There are 15 plans in the app to focus our attention on Thanksgiving. Just search for ‘Thanksgiving’ to find a plan that meets your needs.

Grow with Others by helping with our annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Developmentally Disabled Adults on Tuesday, November 26.  We will need people to donate needed food items as well as volunteers to help with set-up the day before, serving food, mingling with the AVITA guests, and clean-up after the meal. Look for a sign-up sheet in the foyer for food donations and volunteers as well as other details. Share your thankfulness to God with these special people.

Engaging the World as a disciple can be as simple as allowing the Gospel to bubble up and out of us in the context of our daily routine and natural circle of relationships. You encounter more people daily than you realize who need fullness of life in Jesus. Will you start each day asking God to allow you to BLESS one person in our community?

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” —1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

What’s your next step this Thanksgiving?

FACT Giving

October 2024
Monthly Needed Income for General Fund = $36,514
Monthly Received for General Fund = $43,445 (19% over budget)

Monthly Needed Income for GCF = $8,432
Monthly Received for GCF = $8,576 (2% over budget)

November 17, 2024
Received for General Fund = $3,460
Received for the GCF = $1,081

FACTFAMILY NEWS

Our church will be hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for Developmentally Disabled Adults on Tuesday, November 26.  We will need people to donate needed food items as well as volunteers to help with set-up the day before, serving food, mingling with the AVITA guests, and clean-up after the meal. Look for a  sign-up sheets soon in the foyer for food donations and volunteers as well as other details 

The church campus will be closed for Thanksgiving from November 27 - November 30. There will be noon prayer. There will be no Wednesday night (November 27) @ FACT.

Awana store night is happening December 11th. Children from pre-K through 6th grade will be “shopping“ with their hard earned shares, from memorizing verses and completing workbook sections.  Age appropriate donations would be appreciated. Please drop items in the AWANA box placed in the front office area at the children's entrance.

Dear FACT Family, as we approach this Christmas season, we want to bless our entire church staff with a monetary Christmas giftfrom our church family. If you would like to share in this gift of love and appreciation, please place your cash or check in a regular offering envelope marked “Christmas Gift” or give your gift online at FACToccoa.com/give and select “Love Offerings” in the “Give to:” box. You can give from now until Sunday, 12/15. Thank you for being a blessing to our church staff. We are grateful for your faithfulness to the Lord and to our church family. May peace and joy fill your heart this Christmas season! 

TFC will present their annual Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 5th at 7PM at the Grace Alford Performing Arts Center. This concert will feature the TFC Handbell Ensemble, Concert Band, Singing Men, and a few solos by selected Music Department faculty and students. Immediately after the concert, guests are invited to a special reception at Gate Cottage, featuring more music, refreshments, and the breathtaking Toccoa Falls waterfall illuminated under the night sky. This event is free and open to the public. 

It’s a Christmas concert for all ages featuring the Toccoa Symphony Orchestra, the Toccoa Community Choir, and the Currahee Artist’s Guild, on December 8, 2024. Art Sale is from 2-4pm, and the concert begins at 4pm. The concert is a ticketed event, with tickets available in advance at toccoasymphony.org or the Toccoa Welcome Center or at the door the day of the event. 

The theme for this year's Alliance Women's Christmas Brunch is "Everlasting Light". Our speaker will be Beck Gambill. Join us at 10:00 am, December 14 and bring a dish to share. All ladies (& girls) of the church are invited. 

Family Christmas Potluck Dinner: Come join us for an evening of great food and fellowship at our annual family Christmas potluck dinner, Sunday, December 15 (this has changed from the 13th) at 6:00 pm. Please see below to know what to bring. If your last name begins with: 

• A-H, bring a Main Dish and Salad

• I-P, bring a Main Dish and Side

• Q-Z, bring a Main Dish and Dessert

Holiday Food Drive: Ring in the holidays with a food drive tradition, co-sponsored by Open Arms Clinic and Neighbors 4 Neighbors, to help our community fight hunger among our neediest families. The Holidays can be a difficult time for many, especially for those living on a tight budget. With increased winter fuel bills, rising costs, alongside the seasonal pressures, many will find themselves in food crisis.

• Beginning December 1st, collect and place the following items in a grocery bag or box.

• Bring your donations to Open Arms Clinic (109 Big A Rd) on or before December 12th.

• Hours for Donation Drop Off: Tuesdays 2-6pm, Wednesdays, call 706-491-8639 for a time, Thursdays, 9am-5pm

• Please call 706-491-8639 for more information or email openaresga@gmail.com.

• Please refer to the list below for filling your boxes or pick up a list it the foyer.

Below is a list of food to include in your box/boxes (there is a printed list of the items to purchase in the foyer):

Day 1: Family Size Box of Cereal
Day 2: Jar of Peanut Butter & Box of Crackers
Day 3: Boxed Mashed Potatoes & Pouch of Dried Gravy Mix
Day 4: Velveeta (or similar) Mac & Cheese
Day 5: Canned Ham (Hormel 3lb [Water Added] or similar) & Canned Pineapple
Day 6: Large can of Chicken/Tuna
Day 7: Cake Mix, Frosting, & 1 Can of Lemon-Lime Soda
Day 8: Package of Rice & Package of Dried Pinto Beans
Day 9: Package of Pasta & Jar of Pasta Sauce
Day 10: Canned Green Beans & Canned Corn
Day 11: Canned Soup (at least 3 cans)
Day 12: Hot Chocolate Mix & Christmas Cookies

The food will be distributed on Wednesday, December 18th @ 10am. If you would like to help with that distribution, please email us at openarmsga@gmail.com. 

Friends will have their Christmas fellowship on Friday, December 20 at Noon.

There will be a Christmas Eve Service on December 24 at 7:00 pm.

Stepping Heavenward, Pruitt Nursing Home Ministry … Help is need for this ministry to the elderly. If you would be willing to serve 1 or 2 Sundays a month, please let Pastor Luke know, or call the church office.

Mentors in the School System
If you have an extra hour a week, you can make a difference in a student’s life as a dependable, dedicated adult. You won’t need to teach or tutor, simply be present and engage. Be a mentor through Family Connections of Stephens County in our local school system. 1 hour, 1 day a week, for one school year. To get started, contact Emily Sprowls at mentor@stephensfamilyconnection.org.   

We are starting a puzzle exchange for the winter months. If you have puzzles you've done and don't want anymore, you can donate them to the puzzle exchange. You can also pick up a new puzzle to do. The puzzles will be on the bookshelves in the church workroom. Come help yourselves for a new challenge and fun! 

Please follow the guidelines below:

• If you bring a puzzle, make sure the box is taped shut so we don't lose pieces.

• Please help keep the workroom neat by putting all puzzles on the shelves.

• After you do a puzzle, keep it, pass it on, or bring it back.

• Enjoy hours of fun!

IW of the Month

Daniel & Tori Greenfield

Prayer Requests & Praises

1. It's that time of year again... We will host our Thanksgiving Meal with friends from the kids' school this Friday, November 22nd. This year, we've invited the families from Silas' class to join us. We have 20 families signed up right now! Yay! Please pray it's a special time of not only sharing our favorite holiday with these friends but also a time of deepening relationships and sharing the love of Jesus.

2. Daniel and Raelyn have their annual camping trip with other dads and kids from her grade this coming weekend, November 23-24. Please pray for fun, safety and good conversations.

3. The second round of the presidential elections will be held Sunday, November 24th. Please pray for Uruguay and the next leaders of this country.

Monthly Prayer Focus

OUR NATION, Part II

Pray for the new leaders of the nation - for God to work in them, through them, and that they would seek God’s guidance in being servant leaders. Pray according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” May we remember that God is sovereign over all and that true power resides in Jesus Christ. Pray that God’s people would live peaceable and godly lives in all wisdom and would turn to God in prayer in moments of fear or frustration instead of expressing ourselves on social media. May the leaders that God has established know we are praying for them as kingdom minded citizens.

All of Jesus for All the World
Alliance Ministries

Bosnia

Please pray for a parenting support group starting this week. Pray for open doors to share Christ’s love in word and deed.

 Closed Access Countries

Please pray for a pastors’ conference at the end of the month, November 27-29. Pastors from across a war-torn country will be gathering to worship, encourage one another, and enhance their skills as leaders. Pray, too, for safe travels.

Highlights

Office Hours
Tuesday - Friday
10am - 5pm

Sunday 11/24

Discipleship 316
9:00 am, FLC

Coffee & Connection
10:00 am, FH

Worship Service
Kingdom Kids
Nursery & Toddlers
10:30 am
Sanctuary & livestream

Sunday Evening Gathering
6:00 pm, FH

Young Adults
6:30 pm, FLC 217

TUesday 11/26

Avita Thanksgiving Meal
12:00 pm, FLC

wednesday 11/27

Women’s Prayer Group
10:00 am, Prayer Room

Wednesday Prayer for Renewal
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Sanctuary

Campus Closed
5:00 pm

Thursday 11/28

Happy Thanksgiving!
Campus Closed

FRday 11/29

Campus Closed

Saturday 11/30

Campus Closed

Sunday12/1

Discipleship 316
9:00 am, FLC

Coffee & Connection
10:00 am, FH

Worship Service
Kingdom Kids & Nursery
10:30 am
Sanctuary & livestream

Sunday Evening Gathering
6:00 pm, FH

Young Adults
6:30 pm, FLC 217

LOOKING AHEAD

12/5, TFC Christmas Candlelight Concert
12/8, Toccoa Symphony Christmas Concert
12/12, Elder’s Meeting
12/14, AW Christmas Brunch
12/15, Church Christmas Dinner
12/17, Admin Board Meeting
12/20, Friends
12/22, Youth Christmas Party
12/24, Christmas Eve Service
12/25-1/2, Campus Closed

FH = Fellowship Hall