God of ripe raspberries and busy Monday mornings,
the same God in the midst of suffering and inspiring revolution, here we are.
I pray for courage.
No one ever told us how much courage it takes to live whole-heartedly, did they?
No one told us how brave we would have to be.
And yet here we are.
I pray for courage to rise up in us so that we can get up out of our beds for another day
and do what we need to do to carry on,
to move with you towards justice and shalom and feasts.
I pray for an appetite to eat good food
and I pray we’ll go to bed on time and sleep well.
I pray we’ll be good to our own selves in the midst of all this.
I pray for our hands to find work that has meaning and goodness and for respite.
May we remember to pause and give thanks for even the smallest of graces,
knowing you are singing in the midst of them. Amen.
~ by Sarah Bessey
Dear Friends,
What a wonderful Rally Day we celebrated together! Thank you to the Christian Education committee who pulled out all the stops. It was so good to be with you on the lawn, in the sanctuary, and in the Commons as we gathered to begin anew in our beloved spaces.
I hope that you are finding your way to (or back to) spaces and places with FPC that are dear to you in the coming weeks. May we embrace new and familiar ways to come alongside one another in our calling to live whole-heartedly in Christ’s name.
**At last night's meeting, due to the Delta variant and the rise in infections in our community, the session voted to require masks indoors on the FPC campus regardless of vaccination status at least until the October 12 session meeting.
Grace and peace,
Ellen
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We hope that all Presbyterian Women will join us in the church courtyard for our Kick-Off Event next Tuesday, September 21 at 5:30 p.m.!
You can pick up your PW Directory and Study Guide while you visit outside with friends - old and new! Light snacks will be available. If it is a rainy evening, then we will meet in Davis Hall (masks required).
Please respond by clicking here for the Sign-up Genius link, or copy and paste the website below into your browser.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044FAEA82DAAFA7-presbyterian1
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Thank You to our Sunday School Volunteers |
We are excited to have a great group of SUNDAY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS this year:
K-5:
Amy Murphy
Pam McDonald
Kara King
Fritze Batts
Middle School:
Laura Roseman
Amy Murphy
Allison Jones
Nicki Bryant
High School:
Cathy & Chip West
Kevin Garrison
Knox Morrison
Please consider signing up to be shepherd in one of these groups this year. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship House lobby.
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Urgent Nursery Volunteers Needed! |
Please help us keep the promises that we made at the baptisms of the children of our church by volunteering in the church nursery in the coming weeks.
We are continuing to work on a long-term plan for the nursery, but need assistance now. . If you are vaccinated and have your child protection training, and are able to help care for the young children of our congregation, please sign-up below.
You may volunteer to help during the Sunday school hour or during church, or both.
All volunteers are asked to mask while indoors.
If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Moore at 704-467-7789.
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Sunday School begins this Sunday, September 19th.
Here is some helpful information:
K-5 meets in the children’s chapel located on the second floor of the Education Building (Room E204)
Middle School (grades 6-8) meets on the third floor of the Will Young Building (Room W304),
*PLEASE use entrances on either side of the building across from the Fellowship House to access stairs going up to the third floor. ONLY use these doors.
High School (grades 9-12) will meet in the Commons Prayer room located on the ground floor of the Education Building. Take the elevator from the second floor (at the Keurig Connection Hub) down to the Commons.
Nursery age children will be on the second floor of the Will Young building.
*PLEASE ring bell at the First Kids main door, located under the canopy drive through, and the volunteer will come and greet you. ONLY use this entrance. (Rooms E202 & E203)
S&D Class meets in the living room of the Fellowship House.
Todd Hobbie Class meets in Davis Hall.
Journey Class meets second floor of Education Building (Room E201)
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Update of Mission Market... |
The market to support our friends in Bayonnais, Haiti is fast approaching. Donations continue to come in (and can thru Tuesday, September 21st) We enlisted help for the October 2nd sale at last week’s Rally Day (THANK YOU!!)
Today’s plea is for Sunday, September 26th, the EXODUS of sale items. Immediately following the 11 a.m. service, helpers will be dispersed to 3 separate storage areas to move items to Davis Hall. Wear comfy shoes and clothing that day, bring a 2 wheeler if you have one (put your name on it) and make one trip or several. In 2019 it took a little over an hour to get everything moved. There will be items of all different weights, including light weight lamps and stuffed animals! This assistance is invaluable in getting us ready for the final week of sale prep and will be SO appreciated!
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Session Meeting Highlights from September 14, 2021 |
- The Session prayerfully considered the many concerns being voiced about safety in our campus buildings in light of the Covid 19 resurgence. They voted that, effective immediately, masks must be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status. The continued need for masks indoors will be reevaluated at each monthly Session meeting.
- A contract with Double Hung Window Restoration, in Greensboro, was approved for beginning the restoration and repair of the 90+ year-old leaded windows in the Fellowship House. A heartfelt thanks goes to the Hugh Morrison and John Morrison families for their very generous donation for this first phase of restoration.
- Improved sound for streaming of services from the sanctuary is coming! The Session approved adding microphones that should greatly enhance the sound including the music and congregational responses for the streaming audience.
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Mark your calendars to lend a hand at the Church grounds workday - October 9th beginning at 8:00 a.m.
- Amy Woolwine and Kevin Garrison reported that the highlight of the August 21st Presbytery meeting, held via zoom, was welcoming Ellen into the Charlotte Presbytery. They appreciated the worship service and music as well as the business conducted enthusiastically by the diverse members of the Presbytery.
- With much appreciation for her ministry here, the Session approved calling a congregational meeting on October 17 to dissolve Lynne Keel’s call.
- The Session asks for your continued grace and vigilance as we continue to practice ways to gather and worship together while also providing care and safety for one another and our community.
- The next Session meeting will be held on October 12, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
As Presbyterians, decisions that affect our worship, education, spiritual nurture, physical property, and budget are made by our elected leaders. To connect with church officers, see the list of Elders and Deacons and their committee assignments on the church website under the “ABOUT” tab, “Staff and Leadership.”
The Session meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Minutes are open and available by request after they are approved at the following month’s Session meeting.
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Thank you to the Hillman family for hosting our Middle and High School Youth Kick-off!
We look forward to a great year ahead! Starting Sunday, Middle School will meet 5-6 p.m. and High School will meet 6-7 p.m. This month, our community focus is on supporting our friends in Haiti. We will be making baked goods for the Market for Mission sale.
Parents should watch for an e-mail with the new Health Form and September / October calendar.
If you have any questions or would like more information about Youth Group, please contact René Prager: r.prager@firstpresconcord.org.
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Girl Scout Kick-off Meeting! |
All girls, kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to join us Thursday, September 16th, 6:30-7:30 p.m., for a parent-scout meeting. Parents can learn more about Girl Scouts and our family of Girl Scout troops and the girls will enjoy a variety of Girl Scout fun!
On Saturday, several of our Girl Scouts prepared dinner for the Salvation Army Center of Hope Night Shelter. The menu was tacos and rice, and a box of Girl Scout cookies for dessert. The girls delivered the meal to the shelter and then enjoyed a trip to the Creamery and a walk through historic downtown Concord.
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2021 Habitat for Humanity Campaign Winds Down |
Still time to give to this year's campaign which will close on Monday, September 20th. Thanks to everyone who has already given. We encourage those who haven't to consider a gift to those Habitat clients who are working hard to own their own home.
A link below is provided for contributions from the congregation. Please give now so we can help Habitat continue to give people a hand up!
Go to our website to give online by clicking here 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.
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A huge thank you to the Christian Education Committee (Hunter Morrison, Amy Murphy, Margaret Moore, Harriett Phillips, and Aaron Rotan) for putting together an amazing Rally Day celebration on Sunday! It was wonderful to gather with friends, familiar and new, as we enjoyed fellowship, great food, and an opportunity to learn about the many ways to participate in the missions and ministries of First Presbyterian Church. |
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A beautiful prayer vigil was held on Sunday to mark the reopening of The Commons after an eighteen month closure during the pandemic. The event was open to the public and began on the lawn of the sanctuary and processed to The Commons.
For more information about the Commons or to volunteer your time, please contact Kate Morrison (kmorrison78@gmail.com) or Kimberly Leatherman (leathermankc@gmail.com).
Photos by E. Morrison and M. Morrison
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Red Cross Cabarrus County Blood Drive |
Monday, September 20th, in Davis Hall from 2:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
To schedule an appointment click here and enter 28025 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter: Cabarrus VIP Blood Drive
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Ushers Needed for September |
Please click here to visit the Sign-up Genius for details and to volunteer to usher for Sunday service in September, or paste this link into your browser: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090e4ca8ad2dabf49-september
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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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Sunday, September 19, 2021
Rev. Ellen Crawford True, Preaching
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Thursday, September 16
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
4:00 p.m. Racial Reads Group (Zoom)
6:30 p.m. Boy Scout Advancements Boards of Review (Ed Bldg)
6:30 p.m. Girl Scouts (2nd fl Ed Bldg)
7:00 p.m. Mothers of Murdered Offspring (Commons)
Friday, September 17
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Sunday, September 19
9:45 a.m. Journey Sunday School (Ed Bldg)
9:45 a.m. S & D Sunday School (FH)
9:45 a.m. Todd Hobbie Sunday School (Davis Hall)
11:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)
12:00 p.m. Congregational Meeting (Sanctuary)
3:15 p.m. Children's Choir (Sm Choir Room)
4:15 p.m. Middle School Choir (Lg Choir Room)
5:00 p.m. Middle School baking (Davis Hall)
5:15 p.m. Youth Choir (Lg Choir Room)
6:00 p.m. Youth baking (Davis Hall)
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Monday, September 20
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
2:30 p.m. Cabarrus County VIP Blood Drive(Davis Hall)
5:00 p.m. Finance Committee (Library Conference Room)
Tuesday, September 21
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
1:30 p.m. Market drop-off
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting
5:30 p.m. PW Kick-off Event (Courtyard)
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (Davis Hall)
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Davis Hall)
7:00 p.m. Al Anon (Commons)
Wednesday, September 22
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
7:30 p.m. Choir Practice (Choir Room)
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Condolences
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to the family of Argie Hardy who died in Concord on September 2.
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to Anita Brown and her family as they mourn the passing of her brother, Carmel "Mel" Anderson, who died in Pennsylvania on September 14.
Birthdays
September 16 - Fred Brooks, Paul Campbell, Willis Nesbit
September 20 - Bethany Beaver
September 21 - Grant Conversano, Danny Meendering
September 22 - Beth Younce
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Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
René Prager
Interim Youth
Programs Coordinator
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Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Kim Mazzola
Financial Administrative Asst.
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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 the Public:
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 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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