Last Sunday afternoon found our church parking lot filled with bounce houses, staffed with face painters, loaded with cake walk goodies, and lined with 21 colorful trunks – all prepared and ready to welcome the families of our surrounding neighborhood. It was a full, fun, and festive day! A steady parade of unicorns, teddy bears, mermaids, ninjas, princesses, and storm troopers enjoyed trick or treating from trunk to trunk. There were even bowling and bean bag toss games set up for the children to enjoy.  
 
Candy may have been the star of the day, but the popcorn made by Stan Blakemore and the hotdogs prepared by Annie and Gary Franklin were a big hit with everyone. Mike Mee reported that Donnette rigged the Cake Walk so everybody came away a winner, and Janet Bonds led a few other gals in creating face-painting fashion.
 
Ann Browning and a team of TAN teachers added 2 trunks with games, shared candy donated by TAN parents, and brought more energy than any child may have mustered. Stella and Wayne Brock converted a truck bed into a graveyard of horrors, June Pryor and Marti Neighbors brought yellow mums and pumpkins for a festive touch, and Katie and Jimmy Matthews created an undersea world with a Finding Nemo  plastic tablecloth, some balloons, and an assortment of fluffy stuffed sea creatures. Joye Taylor had children get candy from the cooler she had set up at her beachfront, and Bill Waldrip disguised himself as a fluffy panda with a menacing grin. Everyone did such and good job with their trunks! The day was truly one of joyful fellowship. 
 
Thank you for supporting Trunk or Treat this year.  Whether in person, with contribution, or by prayer, your participation made a difference. It was a great day.
 

War Eagle or Roll Tide? This year, as part of our holiday outreach, FCC will be sponsoring Thanksgiving meals for 50 families in partnership with Oak Mountain Ministries. A list of the foods needed for each meal kit is listed below. Then we need you all to bring your game face! Donations will be placed on a team table of the contributor’s choosing, and the table with the most donations wins bragging rights for the next year! And if you don't claim either team there will be a table for you too.

Collections will start at the church on Sunday, November 3rd and will go through Wednesday, November 20th. Families will come directly to the church on Saturday, November 23rd to pick up their meals. This is a great opportunity to speak with these families and learn more about people in our community. Please contact Kimberly Jones or Sarah Ford if you are interested in helping to distribute meals on November 23rd. We will announce the challenge winners on Sunday, November 24th!

Each meal kit needs:
canned corn (2 15oz cans)
canned green beans (2  15oz cans)
instant mashed potatoes (2 packs)
instant gravy mix (2 packs)
StoveTop Stuffing Mix - Chicken or Turkey  (1 6oz box)
Martha White Cornbread Mix (needs water or milk, 2 packages)
Small Crisco Vegetable Oil (16oz)
9" pre-made pie crust 
Libby's Pumpkin Pie Mix (1 30oz can)
evaporated milk (1 12oz can)
cranberry sauce (1 14oz can)

The above ingredients should cost roughly $23 (priced at Walmart). If you are unable to go shopping in person, you can donate money towards a meal by clicking here and choosing "Thanksgiving Outreach Team Challenge" from the drop down menu. Be sure to specify your team in the memo line!

If you are relatively new to First Christian, or are interesting in learning more about the congregation, or wish you knew where to get involved - come have lunch and conversation on November 10 from 11:30-1:30. This small group gathering is designed especially for people who want to know more about who we are and how you can connect in ministry and mission, even if you have been attending First Christian for quite some time or have only been here once before. Contact the church office to sign up (so we'll have a count for lunch preparation) or Robin Blakemore for more information. 

Interested in a ladies' small group for fellowship and study? Ona Ruth Women’s group typically meets the second Sunday of the month. Our next meeting is on Sunday, November 10th, following worship. We will meet in the gym for lunch and fellowship. Our service project for the Lovelady Center will be the focus at this meeting. We will be making afghans and assembling toiletry bags for ladies. These items along with a prayer bracelet will be provided to the Lovelady Center to be given to ladies when they are first admitted to the center. It is our hope and prayer that these items will offer some comfort and warmth to individuals coping with a very difficult situation.

All women are welcome at Ona Ruth!!  Come and enjoy good food, fellowship and prayer with this caring group of ladies.

Planning to attend? Please call Barbara Ray (864-313-5059) or Linda Byrd (205-960-2442) so they can provide our hostesses, Edith Carreras, Lisa Burdette, and Judy Zauner, a head count to plan for food. If you have questions, feel free to call Joye Taylor at 205-447-0209.

On our November Young at Heart trip, Ms. Shirley McCrary, a local docent for the old town of Mooresville, (the Williamsburg of Alabama), will give us  a walking tour of the town with an abundance of local knowledge. We will have lunch in Decatur at City Café and then visit the Shrine. Please contact Jim Langley to sign up as soon as possible. The trip cost is $10 and lunch is at your own expense.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, we will “Deck the Halls” from 4:30-6:30 PM, so come bring your family and a crock pot of soup to share.  

Praise Kids will rehearse at 4:30 PM and when they are done will have the opportunity to make a Christmas craft. Adults and youth will work on decorating the sanctuary, gathering area, and other spaces for Advent and Christmas.

The Adventure Nook, FCC's Mother's Day Out and Preschool, Christmas Program and Silent Auction will be held the evening of Tuesday, December 10th at 6:00 pm. The Adventure Nook is looking for donations of items that can be auctioned to raise money for the program. If you would like to donate an item or a talent, please email Donna Penn.

Members and friends who are interested in a beginners' Pickleball class are invited to join us on November 7, 14, and 21 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. This introductory class is open to anyone who would like to try their hand at Pickleball. No equipment needed! 

Regularly scheduled Pickleball is currently being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7 pm and Saturdays from 9-11 a.m., unless otherwise noted. No need to bring any equipment, and if you aren't familiar with the game, we will teach you! All members and friends are welcome to join in on the fun or just come by to watch the players in action!