THE BANNER
November 6, 2019
Celtic Evensong
This past Sunday evening, many people gathered for an alternate worship service that included hymns, silence, candle lighting, a reflection on spiritual growth, music for meditation, prayers, communion and more. It was a feast for the senses, and from the responses of those who attended the light meal afterward, it was a deeply meaningful service.
Many thanks to Scott and Lynne, to Margaret Irvin and the alternate worship committee members, to Jackie Yost and her two guest musicians, to Carrie Myers,  to Pam McDonald, and to Ron Barus, Margaret Hillman, and Valerie Thomas. 
Carol Hovey, Chair, Worship and Music Committee
The New Reformation
 I have been reflecting on our Reformation Sunday worship service (October 27th)—Luther’s majestic, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” the stirring Choral Anthem, “How Great Thou Art,” and the moving medley (that included “Amazing Grace”) played by our guest Bagpiper as she led us out of the Sanctuary. I am a student of history and I loved it!
In my sermon that day I affirmed the theological inheritance we have received from that era: Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone), Sola Fide, (by faith alone) Sola Gratia (by grace alone), and Solus Christus (Christ alone).
I also suggested (per the late Phyllis Tickle) that every 500 years or so the church goes through “a great rummage sale” and that the era we are living through now is a New Reformation.  
But what does that mean? 
John Shelby Spong puts it this way” “Neither ancient Creeds nor the Reformation can produce a living faith today.” The point he is making is that just as Luther and Calvin applied new thinking to the pressing theological and philosophical questions of their world in the early sixteenth century, so, too, must we do the same in the twenty-first century.  
You see, the questions that Christians are forced to ask today (whether we like it or not!) are qualitatively different from those that the Christians of the sixteenth century were asking. For example, we want to know whether the idea of God still has meaning. We ask whether the historical creeds commit us to things that we cannot possibly still believe. We wonder how or if we can still use those creedal words with integrity. Can those fourth century documents still be authoritative? Can there still be a definition of ultimate truth? Are not the claims of an infallible pope or an inerrant Bible both ridiculous in today’s world?
In short, we must begin the process of finding new words for our faith. The old words (for increasing numbers of people) have lost their ability to serve in this way.  
This likely sounds scary to some—and exciting to others. However, the church has been through this many times before (the collapse of the Roman Empire, the “Great Schism” between east and west in the early eleventh century; 1054, the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation) and come out stronger on the other side.
The journey we are all on (whether we are aware of it or not!) will go beyond the clichés of yesterday and will call us to a new faith for tomorrow for a globalized world. I think it will be an exciting adventure. This may be the theological ride of a lifetime! 
As Spong asserts: “If [Christianity] is to live into the future, it must recover its original meaning and identity. It must shed those aspects of its past that are divisive, condemning and authoritarian. It must abandon creeds and tribal oneness in favor of universal inclusiveness; it must use its formulas to include, never to ban. In short, to live into the future, the Christian church must become a universal community” (Unbelievable, p. 274). 
As always, I am interested to know what you think.  
Blessings,
Scott Kenefake, Transitional Pastor
Church Work Day
Join the Building and Grounds Committee this Saturday morning, November 9, from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. to spruce up the campus and plant pansies. Please bring your own gloves, rakes and trowels. Coffee will be provided!
All Church Read- Neighborhood Church
Join us in November and December as we study the book "Neighborhood Church" by Krin Van Tatenhove and Rob Mueller. Together we will ask the question, "How can we embody the values of love, grace, and justice?" As faith communities, how can our collective embodiment of these values shine even brighter? The answers to these questions must always unfold right here, right now, exactly where God has planted us." 
Books can be bought online or they can be purchased through the church office for $12.
All Adult Sunday School classes as well as the High School Sunday School class are invited to gather in Davis Hall starting on at 9:45 a.m. Even if you don't read the book, we hope you will join us!
Tuesday Lunch Bunch
Come have lunch on November 19 at 11:45 a.m. in Davis Hall and enjoy a presentation "The Camino de Santiago." Join Brad and Linda Barnett as they share stores from their fall pilgrimage in Spain.
Remember to make your lunch reservations by noon Monday, November 18th.
Wednesday Night Fellowship
The Alternative Worship Committee is Calling All Poets! Or those who have always wondered how the hymns we sing at worship on Sunday morning are written. On Wednesday, November 13th at Wednesday Night Fellowship as Jacquie Yost leads us in a liturgical poetry workshop, teaching us how hymns are written and set to music. She will tell us how the hymns we sing are constructed musically and encourage us to write our own poems of praise. After a time of reflection and creativity, we will give our poems to Jacquie. She will put them with tunes, and we will have a worship service where we sing the hymns we have written in praise. Let your creativity shine as you share your talents with all.  
Dinner will be bean pot, collards, fruit, salad and dessert. Be sure to make a reservation with the church office by Noon on Monday, November 11th. There is a sign up sheet in the Fellowship House.
Called Congregational Meeting
There will be a Congregational Meeting following the worship service on Sunday, November 17, for the purpose of affirming the nominees that have been selected for the Pastor Nominating Committee. The names of the nominees will be shared with the Congregation following the November 12th Session meeting.
Angel Tree Kick-Off
Once again, the Board of Deacons in partnership with FPC members is pleased to participate in Angel Tree, a Prison Fellowship program that helps incarcerated parents strengthen relationships with families. Volunteers from the congregation participate by donating Christmas gifts which are then presented to a child as if they have come directly from the parent behind bars. This is a powerful way for us to share Christ’s love by ministering to those children suffering through the temporary absence of a parent. We encourage you to choose an Angel Tree tag from the Angel Tree in the narthex this Sunday November 10 or next Sunday, November 17. We ask that all wrapped gifts be returned to the Fellowship House by Wednesday, November 27 so they may be sorted and distributed to the Deacons on December 3 for delivery to families. Thank you, the Board of Deacons
OFCB in Haiti
If you are a sponsor of a child from OFCB in Haiti, please email a picture with their name to Carrie Myers, csm5620@gmail.com . Carrie and the Commons Team will use it to create a prayer station for them in the Commons. Thanks!
Red Cross Cabarrus County VIP Blood Drive
Monday, September 16th in Davis Hall from 2:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter: Cabarrus VIP Blood Drive or 28025
Sign-up Links
Lay Liturgists
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read scripture in worship on Sundays.

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sanctuary flowers please click here
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Wednesday Night Fellowship
6:00 p.m., Davis Hall
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Do you have a love of cooking and feeding hungry youth? Please consider signing up with a friend to supply a meal for our Youth Fellowship program on Sunday nights. The youth's stomachs thank you! Rachel will send out meal specifications, including allergy needs, etc.
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Calendar
Sunday, November 10
Rev. Dr. Scott Kenefake
    Luke 20:27-38    
Thursday, November 7
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
5:00 p.m. Girl Scouts
Friday, November 8
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:30 a.m. Adult Literacy Tutoring
Saturday, November 9
8:00 a.m. Church Grounds Work Day
Sunday, November 10
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Choir
11:00 a.m. Worship-Moment for Mission
3:00 p.m. Children's Choir
4:00 p.m. Youth Choir
4:30 p.m. Circle 5
5:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship
Monday, November 11
Veteran's Day
10:00 a.m. Garden Council
11:00 a.m. Circle 4
11:30 a.m. AA
4:00 p.m. Finance Committee
7:00 p.m. Boy Scout District Roundtable
Tuesday, November 12
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
10:00 a.m. Adult Literacy Tutoring
7:00 p.m. Session
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Troop 3
Wednesday, November 13
7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Stud y
8:30 a.m. DAR HS Good Citizen Judging/Lunch
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m. Fellowship Supper
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir

Church Report
Memorials
Charles Bibby -  Families in Need
Jane Nierenberg - Families in Need
Honorariums
Woody Collins -  Todd & Betsy Hobbie Scholarship Fund
Todd Hobbie -  Todd & Betsy Hobbie Scholarship Fund
Birthdays
November 7 - Merl Hamilton, Jessie Robbins
November 8 - Gerry Knorr
November 9 - Kevin Barbee
November 10 - Bill Covington Jr., Tom Hartsell IV, Eleanor Irving, Nancy Simpson
November 11 - Freddy Bell, Lawrence Lentz
November 12 - Bob Brannan III, Madison Love, Clay Maguire, Gio Salazar
November 13 - Jeb Fox, Christine Nelson, Tim Paul
Staff
Scott Kenefake
Interim Senior Pastor 

Associate Pastor 
for Care and Mission

Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation
Director of Music and Organist

Choirmaster

Suzanne Russell
Church Administrator

Financial Secretary
Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent

Director of First Kids

Church Hostess

Wedding Director
Contact Info
First Presbyterian Church

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
The Commons Prayer Room:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday/Thursday/Friday - Open for Scheduled Groups
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC

Memorial Garden:
(980) 621-0719
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