Dear Friends,
After catching a glimpse of some red leaves tucked high in a tree, I was reminded that the seasons are changing, even if the temperatures are holding steady. Each change of seasons offers an invitation to pause and give thanks for God’s faithfulness no matter what color the leaves may be or how early the sun may set. And so as we enter a new season at FPC as well, we are invited to reflect on God’s unfailing faithfulness to and through FPC for more than two centuries. This Sunday we will celebrate Todd Hobbie’s being named Pastor Emeritus, an honorary title bestowed on a beloved pastor in recognition of his or her years of gracious service in a particular congregation. I am deeply grateful for Todd’s ministry with FPC, for his promise to continue to join us for worship and fellowship in the years ahead, and for his being a valued friend and colleague. I hope you will come and celebrate Todd on Sunday as we rejoice together over the many ways God has been faithful and promises to remain faithful in this and every season.
Grace and peace,
Ellen
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Save the Dates!
October 24: The Presbytery of Charlotte will officially install Ellen Crawford True as Senior Pastor of FPC at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary. A reception will follow.
October 31: FPC will celebrate and say farewell to the Rev. Lynne Keel on her final day with us. A reception will follow.
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The session has called a congregational meeting for October 17 immediately following worship for the purpose of dissolving the call between Lynne Keel and FPC effective October 31, 2021.
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Church Work Day, Saturday, October 9 |
Join us Saturday, October 9th. Your building and grounds committee will begin working on the church campus at 8:00 a.m. and everyone is invited!
See you then!
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SPONSOR A CHILD IN HAITI AND BE A HAITI HERO |
There is still time to adopt a child in Haiti!
Friends Empowering Haiti works with EWO, (Haitian creole for hero), to sponsor children in Bayonnais. A sponsorship costs just $40 a month and can change a child’s life forever.
By sponsoring a child you'll get to build a personal relationship with a student through letters, prayer. Your sponsorship will provide everything they need to get their education, from meals to school uniforms. It even gives them access to a medical clinic if needed.
Please consider empowering a student to be a hero in their community, and help save Haiti!
For more information on sponsoring a child please visit:
Click here to view ta video and consider sponsoring a child and becoming a Haiti Hero!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qxxle4ZEtKRi_ggLZKRSRIwJGpbTeB91/view?usp=drive_web
Please contact Betsy Liles, Friends Empowering Haiti Board Member, with any questions.
Dinnerbell6@gmail.com or 704-791-6166
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Market for Mission was a Huge Success! |
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Thanks to everyone who helped make this year's Market for Mission successful! The final tally is not in yet, but here are a few scenes from that busy day!
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Middle School and High School Sunday School Painting |
Our Middle and High School Sunday School classes will meet together again this week, October 10, in Room 304 in the Will Young Building. They will be painting and should dress accordingly. Please bring a shirt that you can wear over church clothes for painting. |
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Our Middle and High School Youth Group received $469.21 in donations for the cookies and muffins they created at Youth Group in September. Six types of muffins and three varieties of cookies overflowed from large baskets at the start of the morning. Before noon, they were completely sold out! Thank you to all of the families who donated baking ingredients and to the youth and youth leaders for all their hard work in the kitchen.
A special shout-out to our volunteers on Saturday!
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2021 Crop Walk this Sunday, October 10, at 2 PM |
The annual CROP Walk is this Sunday, October 10th at 2pm! We are in need of more participants and donors in order to meet our $1,000 team goal!
If you'd like to participate you can join us at Forest Hill United Methodist Church or you can participate by walking around your neighborhood if that works better for you. Registration is at 1:00 p.m, The walk begins at 2:00 p.m. and is expected to finish around 3:00 p.m.. Please consider joining our team or donating in support of our team using this link!
Online donations are preferred using the link above, but you may also bring cash or check donations on the day of the walk. Checks should be made out to "CWS/CROP."
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There will be a Congregational meeting immediately following worship on Sunday, October 17, for the purpose of dissolving the call between Lynne Keel and FPC effective October 31, 2021 |
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This week, our Youth Group assembled 29 care packages for our college students. Youth with siblings in college shared stories of their brothers and sisters and we lifted each up in prayer. The Care packages will be mailed out just prior to end of semester exams in November / December.
Youth Group on October 10th is the CROP Walk! Please plan to join us on the walk and donate to the cause if you are able.
Youth should use this link to RSVP: 2021 Middle & HS Youth: Youth Group CROP Walk (signupgenius.com)
Be at Forest Hills UMC at 1:45 p.m. The walk starts at 2 p.m. and should be finished by 3 p.m.
There is NO evening Youth Group on October 10.
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Volunteers Needed for Pew Prep |
We are in need of several volunteers for Pew Prep in the coming weeks. If you are have taken the Child Protection training and are available during worship, please consider signing up to help.
Pew Prep starts after Ellen’s Children Message and you will return to the sanctuary with the children during the doxology.
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First Presbyterian is pleased to be able to offer nursery for Sunday mornings! In order to provide a safe environment for children and workers, please keep your children at home if they have sniffles, a runny nose, fever, cough, or other signs of illness. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation.
We also need volunteers to keep offering the nursery on Sundays. We are continuing to work on a long-term plan for the nursery, but need assistance now. If you are vaccinated, 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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The sign-up link to usher in October and beyond is below. Please consider helping in this important ministry. Thank you!
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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.
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Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.
Ushers
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Sunday, October 10, 2021
Rev. Ellen Crawford True, Preaching
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Thursday, October 7
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:30 a.m. Preschool Committee Meeting (Library Conference Room)
11:50 a.m. Preschool Early Dismissal
6:30 p.m. Girl Scouts (2nd Fl Ed Bldg)
7:00 p.m. Mothers of Murdered Offspring (Commons)
Friday, October 8
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Saturday, October 9
8:00 a.m. Church Work Day
11:00 Memorial Service for Tom Hoskins (Sanctuary and Davis Hall)
Sunday, October 10
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)
12:00 p.m. Reception for Todd Hobbie (outdoors or Davis Hall)
1:30 p.m. CROP Walk registration
2:00 Youth at CROP Walk
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Monday, October 18
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Tuesday, October 19
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (Davis Hall)
7:00 p.m. Session (Zoom)
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Davis Hall)
7:00 p.m. Al Anon (Commons)
Wednesday, October 20
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
10:30 a.m. Bible Study (Davis Hall)
7:30 p.m. Choir Practice (Choir Room)
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Birthdays
October 7 - Dennison Moore, Mark Payne
October 8- Braedon Hough, Christopher Jones
October 9- Courtney Sparks
October 10 - Pat DeLizza, Emily Lippard, Don Seitz, Scott Sherrill
October 11 - Rebecca Patten, Elizabeth Payne
October 12 - Rachel Andrews, Tripp Carpenter, Trip Ruth
October 13 - Isabel Cook, Alicia Watson
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Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
René Prager
Interim Youth
Projects Coordinator
Interim Communications 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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