THE BANNER
January 26, 2022
A Note from Ellen
Dear Friends,

There are so many things I am grateful for this week including a lively Rise Against Hunger event, vibrant discussion and new friendships with our confirmands and their partners, and Julie Hill’s arrival. Thank you for all the ways you give of your time and energy to the vibrant ministry that goes by the name of First Presbyterian Church.

Please continue to take good care of yourselves and our neighbors. Introduce yourselves to Julie when you can. Continue to pray for our confirmands, our leaders, our congregation, and our staff. The past seven months have been full and fast! And by the grace of God, so many good things lie ahead. As the song says, “We’ve only just begun.”

Grace and peace,
Ellen
Youth Rise Against Hunger
Over twenty of our Youth joined in the Rise Against Hunger event on Sunday as their Youth Group activity. From scooping ingredients, running bags full of food to the next station, adding rice, weighing and sealing bags, to the counting and packing of the cases, members of our Youth Group pitched in to help fill the 10,152 bags of food at the event
Follow, Like, Comment and Share!
Are you on Facebook or Instagram? So are we! Please ‘like’ and ‘follow’ our pages for announcements and photographs of the many happenings at First Presbyterian Church. When you “like”, “comment”, and “share” our posts, it helps us to spread our news to other church members and to the larger community.
 

Instagram - @firstpresconcordnc 
Busy Sunday at FPC!
Toby Prewitt and Bob Bratton were recognized for their years of service to FPC during worship this past Sunday. Toby is shown in the photo to the left receiving his plaque from Britt Leatherman while Jim Monroe was at the podium speaking.
Later in the day members assembled to package 10,152 meals to feed others during this year's Rise Against Hunger event in Davis Hall.
Todd Hobbie Sunday School Class
 On Sunday the Todd Hobbie Class will welcome the Rev. Dr. Deborah Conner who will teach January 30, February 6, and February 13. Deborah received a B.A. from San Francisco State University, an M.Div. from Columbia Seminary and a D.Min. from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Iowa, focusing on issues related to clergy leadership and congregational care.  Deborah has served churches in California, Georgia, and North Carolina as an Elder and Pastor. Most recently she served Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Congregational Care. Deborah will teach on both letters to the Corinthians with a focus on 2 Corinthians 2-7.
Caring for Our Little Ones
We are looking to hire someone to work in the nursery on Sunday mornings. If you or someone you know is interested in this position, please contact René Prager, Hunter Morrison, or a member of the personnel committee (Donna Knorr, Merl Hamilton, Anita Brown) for more information.

Who is your Lord and Savior?
This is the Big Question that our Confirmands explored on Sunday. We welcomed our congregation partners this week and allowed time for learning about one another before introducing each other to the group. Our scripture readings included:
 
Exodus 3:13-15
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 1:21-23
 
Confirmands and partners shared names that we use for Jesus (Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace) and attributes (loving, forgiving) that we connect with Him. Before closing in prayer, we traced our feet on card stock and wrote down ways that we can follow Jesus on each "footprint". What are ways that YOU follow Jesus?
Volunteer Opportunities in January!
Please help us fill our open volunteer positions this month.
Middle and High School Sunday School – one volunteer this Sunday and two for next Sunday – please e-mail René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org
Girl Scout News
The Girl Scouts met last Thursday. Pictured here are our Daisy Girl Scouts who welcomed a new member to the troop and earned their “A Sister to Every Girl Scout” petal. Brownie Girl Scouts completed their painting badge and our Junior and Older Girl Scouts planned an upcoming international event called Thinking Day. If any church members have international travel or living experiences that they would like to share at the February 17th event, please contact René Prager at: thepragers@yahoo.com.
Sign-up Links
Lay Liturgists
Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.

Commons
Sign up here to open or close the Commons.

Nursery
Sign up here to volunteer in the Nursery on Sundays.
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Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
sanctuary flowers, please click here
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.

Ushers
Sign up here to usher on a Sunday.

Calendar
Sunday, January 23, 2022
Rev. Ellen Crawford True, Preaching
Thursday, January 20
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
6:30 p.m. Boy Scout Advancement Boards of Review (Ed Bldg)
7:00 p.m. Mothers of Murdered Offspring (Commons)
Friday, January 21
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Sunday, January 23
9:45 a.m. Journey SS (Ed Bldg)
9:45 a.m. S & D SS (FH)
9:45 a.m. Todd Hobbie SS (Davis Hall)
11:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)
3:15 p.m. Children's Choir (small choir room)
4:30 p.m. Confirmation Class (Davis Hall)
5:30 p.m. Confirmation/Youth Group Dinner (Davis Hall)
6:00 p.m. Middle/High School Youth Groups (Davis Hall)
Monday, January 31
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Tuesday, February 1
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting
7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Youth Room)
7:00 p.m. Al Anon (Commons)
Wednesday, February 2
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
10:30 a.m. Bible Study (Davis Hall)
7:30 p.m. Choir Practice (Choir Room)
Church Report
Birthdays
January 27 - Courtney Clark
January 28 - Kathryn Kiser, Jerry McLester, Ginger Solomon
January 29 - Michael Gray, Julie Lopez, Olivia Reiff, Robbie Sherrill
January 30 - Alyson Caldwell, Susanne Hamilton, Dave Rogers
February 1 - Agustin Niblock, Elaine Stamey
February 2 - Holly Cagle, Avery Garmon, Thomas Moore, Miller Peterson, Sarah Neal SImpson
**To enjoy a sung happy birthday, click here!**
Staff
Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff 
ellen.crawfordtrue@firstpresconcord.org

Julie HIll
Temporary Associate Pastor


René Prager
Director of Christian Education



Director of Music and Organist

Choirmaster

Suzanne Russell
Church Administrator

Kim Mazzola
Financial Administrative Asst.

Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent


Director of First Kids


Wedding Director
Contact Info
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 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Friday
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:
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
 
Garden Hours: 
Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday