Blog

Another cross on the FUPC campus adorns the Clay Bell Memorial Fountain. Rev. Clay Bell answered the call to preach at FUPC in 1965. He served during the ’60s and ’70s, a time of growth for the congregation, and was widely recognized for his leadership and mission work. He left for a position in Illinois,… Read more »

Searching for crosses on Presbyterian Hill, you’ll find this cross on communion ware. In the Presbyterian tradition, Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, holds a special place: One of Two Sacraments Presbyterians consider Communion one of the two sacraments. The other is baptism. We see these as divinely ordained acts that express faith and encounter God’s… Read more »

Beneath the sanctuary cross, the handbell choir is getting ready to present “Lift High the Cross,” a popular processional hymn which is the focus of the Lenten season at FUPC this year. The hymn was originally prepared for a festival of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, held in Winchester Cathedral in 1887…. Read more »

The banners welcoming visitors and members to the courtyard change with the seasons. our Lenten banners were designed in 2022 by Debbie Power. Two of the series of four banners feature images of the cross. The banners were added to the FUPC campus as part of the building campaign of 2018, when the sheltered outdoor… Read more »

The cross many people know as the Presbyterian cross has its roots in the Celtic tradition and the Scottish Reformation. The Celtic cross is characterized by a circle around the intersection of the arms of the cross and may also be decorated with details like interlacing patterns or knots. This design emerged in early Christian… Read more »

The FUPC music program has been a high priority of the church from the beginning. At one time, the church had five choirs, as well as adult and youth handbell choirs and a praise band. Currently, with Isaac Thomas as Minister of Music, we have a Chancel Choir, handbell choir known as Bells on the… Read more »

Our theme of “Lift High the Cross” draws our focus on to God’s grace.  Knowledge of God’s unconditional love brings forth gratitude.  People who practice intentional gratitude regularly say that it helps them to be more aware of the positive in their lives.  Why not start today? What are you thankful for?

The stained glass window in Fellowship Hall includes a stylized cross. Fellowship Hall was used for worship services when the church was first built. Each family was asked to buy chairs for their own family members plus one guest, according to the church history book, and a pulpit was in place beneath the Davies rose… Read more »

The Gathering Place is a new name and use for the narthex of the church. What’s a narthex? It’s an enclosed gathering space opposite the main altar of a church, and most people nowadays don’t actually know what the word means. In fact, the word has changed its primary meaning since it first came into… Read more »

Kristi, Director of Christian Education, is another staff member with a cross in her office. In fact, she has more than one. The one pictured was given to Kristi by friend and mentor NiAnn Thompson on the occasion of her retirement. NiAnn had a collection of crosses and she marked her retirement by distributing them… Read more »