Your Post Pandemic Ministry
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We are living through unprecedented times and the economic fallout from the pandemic on churches and non-profits has been profound. Small membership churches that do not have significant reserves to fall back on are laying-off staff, and most medium and large membership churches are operating under budget deficits due to reduced pledge and endowment income. They also are facing difficult staffing decisions.
But despite the difficulty of these days for congregations, it is important to start thinking about your “post pandemic ministry.”
Some of the trends of the near future are already coming into focus:
- Online worship (in some form) is here to stay. It will become an extension of “in-person” ministry when the pandemic is over.
- Return to “in-person” worship is likely to be slow for many people with pre-existing health conditions. This population will not feel “safe” until the virus has been well contained and controlled.
- Churches will need to re-think their staffing models considering reduced resources and changing ministry needs (this will be the major task of your new Senior Minister when he or she arrives).
- Those on the “margins” of congregations may drift away, but others who have been “awakened” spiritually by the pandemic are likely to start connecting with churches.
- Large churches are likely to continue to get larger and many smaller churches will likely close (the pandemic has accelerated this long-standing trend).
What might this mean for FPCC? FPCC has the challenge of responsibly managing its financial resources while making strategic investments in the new future we are all living into. Most of these decisions will be made long after I am gone, but I encourage you to
“take your time and do it right.”
After the 2008
“great-recession” many churches made deep cuts that they later regretted and found to be counter-productive (for example, they found that rehiring for clergy positions had become much more expensive because of a much smaller post-recession candidate pool who were able to negotiate much higher salary and benefits packages).
So, my advice is to start planning for the eventual recovery
now. Do not focus exclusively on the near-term challenges but think about the new opportunities for ministry that will present themselves over the next 12-24-36 months.
Our churches will eventually re-open and there will be both continuity and difference going forward.
But things will not be the same. And in my view, that is a good thing. We have an opportunity to create a
reformed and reforming church that is much closer to the image of Christ and the kingdom of God.
Blessings,
Scott Kenefake
Interim Pastor
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Staycation Bible School- TODAY IS THE SIGNUP DEADLINE!
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Join us
July 27-31
as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Experience Vacation Bible School from the comfort and safety of your home this year, or take VBS with you if you will be traveling!
- Sign up to receive a Staycation Bible School kit that will be available for pick up from the church the week before our VBS adventure begins. This will include Bible stories, crafts, snacks and service ideas for you to do as a family!
- There will also be a daily video delivered to your inbox each day of the week with the Bible story, as well as links to music and movement videos and songs. You can choose the time each day your child will watch the video and when to do the crafts and other explorations.
- Staycation Bible School is for children aged 4 through 5th grade. Families will need to fill out a one-time registration form where they will enter all children of their family who will be using a kit.
- Once registered, look for more information in your inbox about kit pick up times and other VBS related questions. You can also contact Rachel with any questions you might have as well.
We hope you will join us!
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S & D Sunday School Class
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The S & D Sunday School class invites you to join us via Zoom on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. In our virtual hour together, we enjoy some social time and are studying Adam Hamilton's book:
Half Truths. We will continue to look at Chapter 1 on Sunday, July 19th. If you are looking for a copy of the book, we have 2 copies left on hand. Please contact Rene Prager at thepragers@yahoo.com for more information.
Here is the link to join the Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9595158676
Meeting ID: 959 515 8676
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Habitat for Humanity needs your help during Covid-19
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Home is where we shelter from the storm and hold our friends and family close. Home is where we gather to grieve our losses and rejoice in our triumphs. In our community, one group uses hands and hearts to bring people home. Due to the pandemic, and the loss of several fund raising events, Habitat for Humanity needs your help. A link below is provided for contributions from the congregation, and during the month of July, those contributions will be matched up to $5000 by your Board of Deacons! Please give now. Help Habitat bring people home.
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. At the midway point of July we have collected
$6,975.00
Keep up the good work!
Go to our website to give by
clicking her
e and choosing the Habitat for Humanity fund from the drop-down box. If you'd like to pay by check make it payable to FPC, put Habitat in the memo line, and mail to the church's PO Box 789, Concord, NC 28026.
Click here to watch our YouTube video on this campaign.
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Current Needs for Cooperative Christian Ministry
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Greetings to all our faithful food donation partners!
Last week we set a couple of records for our Crisis Center Food Pantry—last Tuesday we served a record 69 households in one day (3 hours!), and for the whole week we served a record 248 households. As we anticipated, the extra benefits are beginning to dry up and the need for food is increasing. As a result, our non-perishables inventory is getting pretty slim again! So we need your help.
Would your church or organization plan a special summer food drive for us? We know some churches have begun assembling physically again, and this would be a great opportunity to serve the community. Others may want to do one-day drive through drive, or have a location where members can drop food off on an on-going basis. In the past, some churches participated in a “1,000 Can Challenge” each summer, and we would welcome that again!
It still is best to deliver the food to the Crisis Center between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Mondays-Fridays. We can receive it later in the afternoon on Mondays through Thursdays with an appointment.
Our current big needs are:
Any kind of canned vegetables
Any kind of canned beans
Any kind of canned fruit
Peanut Butter and Jelly/Jam
Soup
Rice
Toilet paper and paper towels
As always, we especially seek low sodium items, no-added-sugar items, and whole grain items.
Right now, we have plenty of the following:
Dried Beans
Macaroni & Cheese
Cereal
Canned chicken and tuna
Plastic Grocery bags (!!!)
Thank you for the continued support from our church partners. Our Crisis Center at 246 Country Club Drive NE in Concord serves as the warehouse for most of the food. We will gladly accept all donations at that site from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bethel Baptist Helping Hands Food Pantry, located at 1209 1/4 Opal Street in Kannapolis, will gladly accept donations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday and Thursday. The food pantry located at Westford UMC on Highway 49 and the Kannapolis Food Pantry at West Point Baptist Church can accept donations on Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Feeding Our Souls Food Pantry at Bethel UMC in Midland, North Kannapolis Baptist Church Food Pantry and the New Life Baptist Food Pantry will accept donations by calling the church in advance.
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Red Cross Cabarrus County VIP Blood Drive
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Monday, July 20th, in Davis Hall
2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
to schedule an appointment.
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Services Update - Summer Worship Schedule
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Summer Worship is posted at 10:00 a.m.
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Lay Liturgists
Sign up
here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
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Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.
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Shepherd for Sunday School
Sign up
here to be a Shepherd in our Elementary and Middle School Sunday School.
A Shepherd helps our teachers by being another adult in the room, to make sure that we have a safe classroom, and to fulfill the requirements of our Child and Youth Protection Policy. If you have questions about what it means to be a Shepherd, please reach out to one of the members of the Christian Education Committee or Rachel Vogado.
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Youth Newsletter
Sign up here to receive the Youth Newsletter for detailed information
about all events related to youth who are in 6th-12 grade.
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Sunday, July 19, 2020
Rev. Dr. Scott Kenefake preaching
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Sunday, July 19
10:00 a.m. Worship online
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Condolences
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to the family of Tim Neal, whose mother, Dorothy Neal died on July 6.
Birthdays
July 16
- Kathy Carpenter, Plase Christenbury, Sarah Macaluso
July 17
- Shirley Brannan, Anna Ruth Morrison
July 18 -
Julie Cannon, Sara Dobson, Nan Ellis, Josh Hitt
July 19
- Nicki Bryant
July 20
- Adam Burke, Gray Cannon, Nancy Ferguson, Will Rotan
July 21
- Lindsay Hitt, Scott Verner
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Scott Kenefake
Interim Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation
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Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Financial Secretary
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Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent
Director of First Kids
Wedding Director
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First Presbyterian Church
(704) 788-2100
70 Union Street North
Concord NC 28025
Mailing Address:
PO Box 789 Concord NC 28026-0789
Church Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Closed Friday
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The Commons Prayer Room Hours:
Monday: Closed
Open for scheduled groups:
Tuesday,Thursday, Friday
Open to Public:
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 am - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC
Memorial Garden:
(704) 786-8009
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Closed Monday
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