Sunday, April 5, 2020
No in-person services
One online service at 10:00 a.m.



Dear Friends,
 
One of the practices that I pray that each of us is following during the COVID-19 crisis is the washing of our hands--twenty seconds of washing, not just a quick splash of soap and water.  Many times a day.  Some have suggested that you sing Happy Birthday twice to make sure you are washing long enough.  Let me suggest to a practice that I have embraced for the past three weeks--the slowly singing of the Doxology. It is that short hymn of praise to God that we sing at the conclusion of the offering ritual each Sunday.
 
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
 
The singing of the Doxology during this time has given me a new perspective during these trying days. Yes, these are trying times, but each of us has so, so much to be thankful for.  Help me name a few. Family and friends who are incredibly emotionally and spiritually supportive.  Resources with which to endure even this slow-down in our economy and the loss of so many jobs. A church family that cares for each other and is reaching out to generously provide for others. Health care providers who are daily putting their lives in harm's way to care for all of us.  Parents who are patiently and lovingly working full-time from home and yet still providing a non-anxious and loving presence for their children. The list can go and on.  Let me invite you to name your blessings.
 
Doxology and the giving of thanks even during a crisis can open our eyes to see all that God is doing and all the ways that God is blessing us and has blessed us. 
 
I personally am amazingly blessed.  I am particularly thankful for a family of faith whose huge heart is open to the needs of each other and others in our community. 
 
These days will define us--they will mark us, shape us, and change us.  Let's be people who allow these days to make us more grateful, caring, and generous!
 
Grace and peace,
Ron
 
P.S.  Palm Sunday worship will be different this year. It will not be the same without the palm procession of the congregation from the outside plaza into the sanctuary.  However, your church staff has planned a service that will hopefully usher us spiritually into Holy Week.  I hope you will join us on either Live Streaming or Facebook Live.
 
Online Faith Formation Opportunities 

Online Adult Formation Class --  "Coming to Know God"
 
Taught by Dr. Ed Moore
 
Three-Week Online Class
Monday and Wednesday, 10:00 -11:00 a.m.  Beginning on Monday, April 13, and continuing through April 30
 
This class will be an overview of what anthropologists have learned about the origins of religion. How and when did our ancestors first became religious? How do we define that? And how did those first glimmerings, through all manner of twists and turns, lead to an articulate, thoughtful faith (well, for some of us)?
 
Dr. Moore is no stranger to us here at First Presbyterian Church. He served as Interim Head of Staff at FPC during Dr. Shive's first sabbatical. Ed is a United Methodist clergy who served as District Superintendent in the Baltimore-Washington Conference and a number of churches in Maryland prior to that.  He has a Ph.D. in the History of American Christianity from George Washington University and has served as a professor at Duke Divinity School, Elon University, and the University of North Georgia.  He and his wife, Mary Gowan, used to live in Burlington and participate with us regularly in worship and educational classes.  They currently live in North Georgia and often worship with us online.
 
This class will meet on Zoom.  If you are interested in participating, email Kathleen Seagroves and she will send you a link to the Zoom Class.

Additional Faith Formation
Faith Formation does not stop just because we cannot gather at the building! Join one of these opportunities online!
  • The Point: Adult Sunday morning class meets at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings via Zoom hosted by Willy Fisher. Check-in fellowship time and lectionary study using Feasting on the Word.
  • The Enrichment Class: Adult Sunday morning class meets at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings via Gotomeeting hosted by Henry Carrouth. Studying Accepting that you are fully accepted from The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
  • Tween Time (3rd, 4th & 5th Graders): Meets at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings via Zoom for games, catching up with each other, scripture reading, and prayer
  • 1st & 2nd graders: Meets Mondays at noon via Zoom for an online picnic, faith story time, and games
  • Prek & Kindergarten: Meets Tuesdays at noon via Zoom for online picnic and sharing time
If you would like to participate in any of the above online classes, please contact  Charlotte Nance-Allbright  for the link you will need to access the gathering.  
 

Don't forget that Worship is Faith Formation!
  • 10:00 a.m. on Sundays
  • 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8
  • 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 for the Maundy Thursday Service
All of the above will be available to view on  livestreaming

or Facebook Live

 
If you are watching via Facebook Live, feel free to leave a comment, give a thumbs up or a heart or even a laughing face if the preacher says something funny.  We love receiving pictures of you worshiping at home!
 
In the works (subject to adaptive change):
  • Video recorded classes of the guest speakers for the John Knox Fellowship to share with the class and anyone who wishes to watch the videos at a later date.
  • Zoom Zentangle with a Certified Zentangle Instructor.
Hearing and seeing stuff about Zoom but don't know what Zoom is? Check it out! 
 
If you would like to participate in any of the above online classes, please contact Charlotte Nance-Allbright for the link you will need to access the gathering. 
 
If you do not have access to online resources and you would like us to send you a faith formation resource in the mail or email, please contact Charlotte Nance-Allbright.

Choir
Chancel Choir
Zoom gatherings each Wednesday evening. This forum gives our faithful singers a chance for fellowship and to see one another in this time of physical distance. 

Children's Choir will gather for an end of the year online party via Zoom.

Youth & Young Adults 
  • Youth Group: Both Junior High and Senior High groups will meet every Sunday night via Zoom. Junior High will meet from 5:00-6:00 p.m. and Senior High will meet from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Dough Devotions: All Senior High Students can join us Tuesday mornings starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Snapchat Group. The Devotion will be given at 9:30 a.m. via Snapchat and Facebook Live and all are welcome to tune in!
  • Young Adult Zoom Gathering: The Young Adult Group will gather via zoom for bi-weekly events.  Our first gathering will be a virtual game night next Friday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m.
If you are interested in joining these meetings, please contact Taylor Barner.



This is the Season of Gratitude and Generosity -- #givingnotgivingup  

Even in the face of this pandemic, we are grateful for all that FPC-Burlington has to offer us. Here is a video from an appreciative FPC family that is "Giving, not giving up!"

We encourage you to post your own videos to your Facebook timelines and tag the church and use  #givingnotgivingup, or send your videos/pics to Jane Cunningham to post for the church.

Financial gifts to your church are more critical than ever. Please consider continuing your support. You may donate to FPC online here! S croll down to the blue button that says "Give." You may also mail your offering check to the church, attention Lacey Way at 508 West Davis Street  Burlington, NC 27215. 

Thank you!


News & Events 

Seven Deadly Sins -- Lenten Wednesday Worship
Our final Lenten Wednesday Worship service will be held on Wednesday, April 8 at 11:30 a.m. This worship service will be available via FACEBOOK LIVE and will be live video streamed. This 30-minute service will be led by clergy within our congregation and staff, and will include hymns, prayers, scripture, and a homily. We hope you have enjoyed making services these a part of your Lenten discipline this year.

Worship this week will focus on Sloth, one of Seven Deadly Sins. This classification of sins originated with the desert fathers of the 3rd and 4th Century, especially Evagrius Ponticus, a monk and ascetic, and one of the most influential theologians in the late 4th Century church. Each of the Seven Deadly Sins misses the mark of God's intentions for us. During this Lenten season, we have sought to redirect our lives in new ways.
  • April 8: Sloth - Ron Shive
If you are a Facebook user, visit our Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/fpcburlington/) on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. to view the Lenten Wednesday Worship.

To access the live video streaming of worship click on the "Live Streaming" box at the bottom of the website home page ( www.fpcburlington.org). 

No in-person service will take place at this time.

Watch Our Maundy Thursday Service Live, April 9 at Noon
Please note that the time will be 12:00 p.m., rather than our customary 7:00 p.m.
If you are a Facebook user, visit our Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/fpcburlington/) on Thursday, April 9 at 12:00 p.m. to view the Maundy Thursday Worship.

To access the live video streaming of worship click on the "Live Streaming" box at the bottom of the website home page ( www.fpcburlington.org). 

No in-person service will take place at this time.

Spiritual Practice Video from Nan Perkins
During these stressful times, you are invited to join Nan Perkins  by video here
in a spiritual practice recommended by the FPC Contemplative Ministry group - The Practice of Presence: The Three Breaths.

Easter Lilies
Easter lilies will be present for worship in the sanctuary and will beautify the sanctuary chancel for Live Streaming and Facebook Live worship. To order a lily as a memorial or honorary flowers ($27 each) please order online here or download the attached form, print it, complete it, and mail it to the church with your check (make checks payable to First Presbyterian Church and mark "Easter Lilies"). Or you can scan your completed form and email it to Kathleen Seagroves. Please contact the church (336-228-1703) if you have questions.

Also, please note that due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Church Office is closed. The staff will be working from home or at the church as needed. We will be very happy to answer your questions via phone or email. 

Olive Picking in Palestine 
Join Dr. Ron Shive in a journey to Israel to assist with an olive harvest. This program is operated by the Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) of the East Jerusalem YMCA and the YWCA of Palestine. It raises awareness and advocates on the international level for the Palestinian cause and for ending the colonization of people. One of their main tools is the  Keep Hope Alive - Olive Tree Campaign. Through this campaign, the JAI organizes olive picking activities with the Alternative Tourism Group to help Palestinian farmers and their families pick their olives in their threatened fields, and to form a type of protective presence to them, show solidarity, and support their steadfastness. This is to respond to the ongoing Israeli soldiers and settlers attacks to the fields and trees, as well as the prevention of many farmers accessing their land.
Dates: October 16-26, 2020. There will be 4-5 days of olive picking, as well as an introduction to life under occupation, through excursions, meetings and tours.
Total anticipated cost: $2050 - $2350 per person, plus incidental expenses.
To reserve your spot, a $500 per person deposit should be sent to the church. Questions? Contact Dr. Ron Shive: 336-228-1703 or  rshive@fpcburlington.org .

Outreach News 

Red Cross Blood Drive Re-Cap
The American Red Cross held the First Presbyterian Memorial Blood Drive on Tuesday, March 31 in Calvin Hall from 2:30-7:00 p.m. The goal was 25 units. There were 33 donors presenting with 28 units collected. There is currently a critical need for blood so it was good the collection exceeded the goal. Many thanks to the volunteers who registered donors, worked in the canteen and baked or donated food to be served in the canteen. Thank you to church staff who assisted with the blood drive. A special thank you to all the blood donors for making a difference!
Lucy Kernodle, Site Coordinator

Two Local Mission Opportunities During the COVID 19 Crisis  
Both of these opportunities have been whole heartedly embraced by the  Local Missions Committee and the Session.
a) Supper Meals for Families at Andrews Elementary  
Jin-Jin Blackburn and Charlotte Allbright have been working with Pam Burney, the Social Worker at Andrews Elementary, to identify 40-60 families that are nutritionally challenged due to the loss of work, etc. They are working to secure enough food for food boxes for each family of four for one week. Our challenge is to secure the food, prepare the boxes, and deliver them to Andrews. Pam Burney and the teachers at Andrews are prepared to deliver these to the families. We will order the food from Just Save in Graham and it will be picked up and delivered to the church on Tuesday night.  
 
We are partnering in this ministry with the Burlington Masjid and Shaher Sayed.  They will be assisting in the payment and collection of food, and packing of the boxes on Thursday from 10:00 a.m.-noon in Calvin Hall.  
 
Your financial support for this ministry is needed for the next 6-8 weeks. We are estimating that this endeavor will cost close to $2000/week or $35/family. The Partners in Missions Committee has voted in favor of foregoing our usual One Great Hour of Sharing Offering during this season, so that we can fully support this local need. Would you consider supporting one family ($35)/week for the next 8 weeks?  All gifts should be donated online or mailed to Lacey Way at the church office with the designation for "Feeding Our Children."
 
b) Feed the Hungry Food Collection
For a number of years now, we have been supporting the Salvation Army Food Pantry by collecting canned and dry goods. We would like to continue this and urge you to step up your donations. A box has been placed outside the church at the Child Development Center entrance on the Fifth Street side of the church, where you can leave your donations by simply driving through and placing them in the box. Bruce Shields is coordinating this increased effort with Salvation Army to assure that the collected food is delivered each week. In April we're collecting canned meat and drink mixes for the food pantry.

Crossroads
CrossRoads recognizes April as National Child Abuse  Awareness and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  CrossRoads is an adult and child advocacy center that  provides support services for adults and children who have  been victims of sexual assault, abuse, and human  trafficking. We provide services such as confidential  counseling and advocacy, child medical evaluations,  Trauma-informed therapy, crisis intervention and support  groups.  During the month of April, we like to take the opportunity to  educate the community about child abuse and sexual  assault. It's a great opportunity to make the community  aware that we are here. If you would like to make a donation to Crossroads, you may  visit their website here.

Furniture Ministry Operations Suspended     
Due to a concern for the safety of our volunteers and clients, all Furniture Ministry operations are suspended until further notice. This includes furniture delivery, donation pickup and accepting new referrals. Once we have a date for safely resuming operations, we will notify our congregation and our volunteers and post the information on the church website and Facebook page.    



You may give through our online platform Tithely here or mail your contribution to the church office. Thank you for your support!
Concerns and Celebrations
Cameron Weston
Doris Mottinger
John Walton - Melanoma
John Erwin - Chemo 4/2 - UNC

Christian Sympathy is expressed to Catherine Matthews at the death of her mother, Martha Wells Haworth, on March 27.

Christian Sympathy is expressed to Ken Lee at the death of his father, George Osburn Lee, on March 30. 
See what's happening on our page!