Welcome to the 2021 Season of Peace!!!
PC(USA) SEASON OF PEACE
September 5th - October 3rd
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27
This 4-week pilgrimage is designed to deepen the pursuit of peace for congregations, small groups, families, and individuals. Through daily “Path of Peace” reflections, “Peace Cards” for children and families, Bible and book studies for adults, children’s curriculum, a coloring poster, an intergenerational peace fair, and other downloadable resources, Participants are invited to define and deepen their calling as peacemakers. This season is a time of encouragement, challenge, inspiration, and education.
This year’s theme returns to a text that the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has used for a number of years to guide its work. It is the concluding hope of the second letter to the Thessalonians: “May the God of peace grant you peace at all times in all ways.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16) It is our hope that you will be enriched, renewed, and enlivened in all the times and ways of your peacemaking and global witness.
First United will observe the Peace & Global witness Offering, October 3, 2021!
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October 3, 2021, is World Communion Sunday and Special PC (USA) Offering in observance of Peace & Global Witness Offering.
Your gifts to the Peace & Global Witness Offering join Presbyterians worldwide to help people experience the freedom and dignity that Christ wants for everyone.
Let us offer the peace of Christ at all times, in all ways. If we all do a little, it adds up to a lot!
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Our first subject matter is "Original Sin". In preparation for our next gathering, please read the excerpt from Calvin's Institutes on this topic.
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2021 Fall Semester Bible Study Plan
Life Groups
Other proposed groups are:
- Tweens Life Group
- Teens Life Group
- Young Adults Life Group
- Men’s Life Group
- Seniors/Retirement Life Group
If you are interested in establishing and leading a group, please inform Elder Daphne Williams at (daphne_williams08@yahoo.com) or Rev. L.
Small, Sr. (at pastor@fupcc.org).
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Due to the changes implemented by Gov. Roy Cooper regarding COVID-19 guidelines for the state of NC, we have lifted some of the restrictions for our in-person worship service.
- Registration is no longer required.
- We are no longer adhering to capacity limits within the sanctuary.
- We will no longer be taking temperature checks and requiring you to sign in before worship service.
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You STILL must wear a mask at all times.
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For church Re-Opening Information, click here
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Other ways that we are bringing you the Word of God!!!
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Our worship service is streamed live every Sunday @ 11 am from FUPC's sanctuary via our church's website (www.fupcc.org), Facebook page (@firstunitedcharlotte), and Zoom.
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NOTE: As we continue to partner with First Pres, we will be back to worshiping with them every 4th Sunday via First Presbyterian Church's TV ministry, channel 64- WAXN.
Meeting ID: 879 8931 0381
Passcode: 933562
Dial-in: 1-301-715-8592 and follow the prompts
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This
Black History Moment brought to us by History.com:
"Marva Collins"
A woman passionate about learning, Marva Collins received her early education in Atmore, Alabama, a town where the segregated school system provided very few resources for African American students. Marva eventually attended Clark College in Atlanta and, after graduation, returned to Alabama. She taught for two years in the Alabama school system before moving to Chicago, where she worked in the public school system for fourteen years.
Frustrated by the Chicago Public Schools’ low standards, Collins decided to open her own school in 1975 on the second floor of her home, naming it the Westside Preparatory School. The first students included her son, daughter, and several neighborhood children, some of whom were considered learning-disabled. At the end of the first year, every student scored at least five grades higher on their standardized tests. Soon, Collins’ success attracted national attention. She and the Westside Preparatory School were profiled by 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, Time, and Newsweek, and were the subject of a television movie, The Marva Collins Story.
Her achievements prompted President Ronald Reagan to offer her the post of secretary of education, which she declined in order to continue the development of Westside Preparatory School.
At the end of 1996, Collins decided to return to the Chicago Public Schools to supervise three schools that had been placed on probation. She specifically requested the schools with the worst academic records and lowest parental involvement, and in only half a year improved the rating of two of the three schools by 85 percent. During the following year, the Marva Collins Preparatory School of Wisconsin opened its doors to its first class of students, and other schools have since opened in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Florida. Collins trained more than 100,000 teachers since the opening of the Westside Preparatory School and traveled to Africa with the Young Presidents’ Organization in order to spread her methodology to educators worldwide. She received more than forty honorary degrees and in 1982 was honored as one of the Legendary Women of the World.
Collins passed away on June 24, 2015, at the age of 78.
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Christian Nurture/Service News |
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Dear First United Presbyterian Church (USA),
From an early age, Taneesha understood the importance of having a safe, stable place to call home. She was just four years old when she and her mother embarked on the Habitat journey of homeownership and now she's in the process of building a home of her own alongside her husband and two young boys.
"Every week I ride by our future home. I can see the excitement in my children's eyes when they say, "Mom! That's our new home!" I cannot put into words how much this means to our family - kids playing in the backyard in our new quiet neighborhood. It will be so peaceful just sitting on the porch of our new home that we helped build from the ground up."
Partnering with like-minded believers, Habitat creates stable homes and improved communities, where families build self-sufficiency, improve their financial outcomes, and ultimately live better lives.
First United Presbyterian Church's contribution of $2,000.00 on September 8, 2021, provides so much more than financial support. It provides hope and the opportunity for families to thrive. We are proud to say that 100% of your gift goes directly to families like Taneesha's.
Your partnership is truly valued and the investment you have made builds strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.
With gratitude,
Laura Belcher
Laura Belcher, President & CEO
Habitat Charlotte Region is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (tax id 56-1366233) and your donation is tax-deductible as allowable by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for this donation.
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Hello Church Family!!!
The Habitat for Humanity Groundbreaking and Dedication Ceremony has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 2nd, 2021.
This means that you still have time to sign the stud, representing FUPC, that will be blessed and incorporated into the new house. Don't miss this opportunity!!
As we share the good news of how God is working through our congregation to serve our neighbors and partner with members of our Faith Community to meet our mission, it is important that we share our story as a Matthew 25 Congregation.
Hours of Availablity to Sign the Stud are from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on the following dates:
- Sunday ~ September 26th
- Monday thru Friday ~ September 27th - 30th
- Friday ~ October 1st
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Habit Charlotte Church Partners Fall 2021 Build
~ Start Date: October 2nd ~
We are filled with joy for the opportunity to participate in another Habitat for Humanity build! The home will be a 3 bedroom house located at 2629 Remington Street, Charlotte, NC 28216. Mr. Jerton Dixon, a native Charlottean, is the homeowner. He is a proud West Charlotte alum and a graduate of Winston Salem State University. If you have not had the opportunity to participate in this ministry and work with members from other congregations and denominations who are helping others reach the milestone of homeownership, try and schedule some time this year.
Please note the following:
- Habitat for Humanity Work Schedule link below lists the date where FUPC is responsible for providing devotion, lunch, bottled water, and snacks.
- We also need church volunteers available to handle any non-logistics that may arise.
- Updated Building Information for Volunteers
- Updated COVID Guidelines for Volunteers
Check with members of the Christian Nurture/Service Ministry Team to determine other ways you can participate in this initiative. Your gifts, time, and offerings support the work of this ministry!
Click the Links below for more information:
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Church Family, please keep the following members in your hearts, thoughts, and prayers as they recuperate and recover:
- Caryle Blakeney-Bennett
- Barbara Cannon
- Shepard Foley
- Ronald Mullen
- Eugene Stitt
- Valerie Tutt
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Happy Birthday to Our Sept Honorees!!!
James "Frank" McNair ~ Sept 2nd
Isiah Williams ~ Sept 7th
LaShanda Barber ~ Sept 11th
Barbara Byers ~ Sept 11th
Melanie Maxwell ~ Sept 12th
William "Bill" Harris ~ Sept 13th
Gaynelle Grier ~ Sept 15th
Kara Rogers ~ Sept 17th
Jennell Reed ~ Sept 18th
Dorothy Allison ~ Sept 19th
William "Bill" Malone, Jr. ~ Sept 19th
Renea Stitt ~ Sept 20th
Tammye Layer ~ Sept 20th
Beatrice Pagan ~ Sept 27th
Amora Cannon ~ Sept 30th
Elijah J. Newton ~ Sept 30th
Alexis Small ~ Sept 30th
Happy Birthday to Our October Honorees!!!
Estelle Harris ~ Oct 1st
Jane Reid ~ Oct 2nd
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Happy Anniversary to Our Sept Love Birds!!!
Eric & Stephanie Davis ~ Sept 2nd
Ronald & Martha Mullen ~ Sept 14th
Anthony & Castonia Dozier ~ Sept 21st
Jeffrey & Lolane Yongue ~ Sept 29th
Arthur & Ellen Smith ~ Sept 30th
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FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE TEAM
Attention faithful FUPC congregants!!! We need volunteers to be a part of our new Facilities and Maintenance Team. We believe God has given each of us unique gifts and called us to serve. Sharing God's love in a tangible way through service is a reflection of our faith and Christ’s example.
It is the responsibility of this team to maintain the facilities and grounds. To do this takes a lot of volunteer coordination between the Facilities and Maintenance (F&M) Team, Administration Unit, staff, and the congregation, as approved by the Session.
The Facilities and Maintenance Team will meet bi-monthly (days and time TBA). December and summer months may be excluded. Team members should be able to work together to find solutions to a variety of issues ranging from heating to roofing, electrical, and plumbing repairs, as well as the outdoor maintenance of the grounds, and also with due consideration of the need for upkeep of the overall appearance. It is a plus for F&M Team members to be willing to volunteer for labor on occasion to help save on costs.
It takes significant funds and volunteer teamwork to maintain our facilities and grounds. Maintaining our house of worship in service to the Risen Christ is part of the mission of First United Presbyterian Church.
Among the duties of Facilities and Maintenance are:
- Determining the scope of work to be done and whether or not the team feels the work can be performed by qualified church members or whether it should be posted for bids and contracted out to a qualified contractor.
- Contracting vendors in coordination with the Office Manager (as approved by Session from Administration Unit).
- Obtaining bids and making recommendations on the repair and/or replacement of the church’s mechanical systems and equipment.
- Obtaining bids and making recommendations for such services as cleaning, lawn care, and snow removal.
- Yearly inspection of building and grounds, reviewing findings and making recommendations on the annual F&M Team budget.
- Long-range planning for maintenance and improvement of the facilities and grounds.
If you are interested in providing your time and gifts to be of service to this team, please contact the church office at (704) 376-8014.
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Need a Good Read? Then Pick Up
"Fowler's Snare: Assassination and Resurrection of the Human Spirit"
By. Abby Flanders
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First United Family, this is Abby Flanders' book prominently displayed at Park Road Books in Charlotte, NC. Please do your best to support our sister in Christ and church members This is an extended version of the original. The cost is $12.99. Thank you for your prayers and support! Many blessings!!!!!!
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EVENT DATE: Sat, Oct 2, 2021 @ 8:30 AM EDT
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