The time has come to celebrate the renewal of our life together, as we begin another program year. Join us September 9, 2012 for Homecoming Sunday, at Faith United Presbyterian Church. We will begin our morning with our Sunday school kick-off at 9:15 a.m. with "Blessing of the Animals."  Our worship celebration will follow at 10:30 a.m. with special guest speaker, Dr. Courtney Cowart, author of An American Awakening, and our special music will feature Eudaimonia Brass with John Spurgeon, Dave Ericson, Ben Bredemeier,and Dean Petrie. Following worship, dine on bratwurst, burgers, and other tasty food at our church picnic. Come, celebrate the gift of Faith!

More about our guest speaker... Dr. Courtney Cowart was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1960. Her formative years were spent in the orbit of many of Atlanta's most famous civil rights leaders and her mother worked as an assistant to Coretta Scott King. Her earliest memories of the church are of rallies and demonstrations led by activist priests. At age 30, Cowart entered The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York, where she read for two degrees - A Masters and a Doctorate in Spiritual Formation and Development and American Church History. She had recently completed the terminal degree in her field and was working as Program Officer for Spiritual Formation and Social Transformation at Trinity Church Wall Street in September 2001, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center a block and a half from her office. She and a group of 30 leading theologians, including the present Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, were trapped for a time and then evacuated onto the street as the North Tower nearly buried them alive. Four days later Cowart returned to the site and led in the formation of a renowned recovery ministry at Trinity's St. Paul's Chapel, which became known as "The Little Chapel That Stood." Four years later her national church deployed her to New Orleans days after Hurricane Katrina. Since 2005 she has served at the side of the Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana, helping to forge a justice movement of sacred activists committed to building the Beloved Community from the ravages of the worst disaster in U.S. history. In October, 2008, her memoir, An American Awakening was launched at Ground Zero's St. Paul's in a moving ceremony that brought together heroes of both tragedies. Dr. Cowart has become a nationally respected voice on the topic of sacred citizenship and the heightened engagement of Americans in service, politics, government, and public life that has emerged in America since 9/11.

Every other year animals, large and small come by two's (or one's or mores!) to Faith United Presbyterian Church to be blessed. Once again, all are welcome to bring their owners on Homecoming Sunday, September 9, for it's fourth "Blessing of the Animals." Beginning at 9:00a.m., pets and friends will gather on the north lawn of the church for a brief service. Pastor Myers, will then give a hands on blessing of each animal and pray for a long life of joy and good health. (Pastor Myers doesn't love bats or snakes so there may be a hands-on the cage blessing for these animals.)

This day is inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, whose life exemplified harmony between humans and animals. When we bless something, we focus our attention on the perfection that God put into it when God created it.   Bring your animals and take part in this joyous and festive occasion. Please bring your animal in a carrier or on a leash. If you have questions, or would like more information, please call the church office, 734-5129.