Mindy Douglas has been invited to preach at this week's Mid-Week Advent Worship service at St. Joseph's AME Church. All are welcome to join Mindy at this service - Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m.

Link to November 28 Worship

On Sunday, November 28, FPC's internet connection was down. Those of you who had planned to watch the live broadcast of worship were unable to do so. However we were able to capture the service (audio and video) for later viewing via our YouTube channel. Use this link if you wish to watch FPC's first Sunday of Advent worship. Mitzi Lesher-Thomas is preaching.

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Our mission and life together in the heart of Durham - inclusion and welcome, service and justice, worship and community– is possible because of your support during our annual Stewardship Campaign. The Stewardship Committee is grateful that so many of you have already answered the call to support our Justice and Joy campaign to support our work in 2022. As of November 30, we have received 132 pledges, totaling $782,609.80 representing 73.28% of our campaign goal. Thank you to all who have already pledged. If you have not yet, please, return your pledge card in the mail or make your pledge at our website online. Thank you for building justice and joy in the heart of Durham.

Vision Team Update:

The team continues to meet regularly. We have been working with our architects to make changes that will reflect the collective feedback of the congregation and we hope to have plans to share with you in January! We are excited about the proposed changes and the many ways they will increase and enhance our ability to serve the city around us, support our mission partners, and grow in faith and connection as a community of faith. Thank you for your patience. We want to get this right! 



The Vision Team: Mac McCorkle, Karen Romines, Paul Baldasare, Sharon Hirsch, Tyler Momsen-Hudson, Phyllis Supple, Mindy Douglas

Second Sunday of Advent - December 5

9:45 a.m. – Faith Formation for Adults, Confirmands, and Youth

10:00 a.m. – Active Advent Faith Formation for Children

11:00 a.m. – Worship with Communion

Third Sunday of Advent - December 12

9:45 a.m. – Faith Formation for Adults, Confirmands, and Youth

10:00 a.m. – Active Advent Faith Formation for Children

11:00 a.m. – Worship

  Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 19

 9:45 a.m. – Faith Formation for Adults, Confirmands, and Youth

10:00 a.m. – Active Advent Faith Formation for Children

11:00 a.m. – A Service of Lessons and Carols

 The Hunger for Change Offering will be received during worship.

 The PC(USA) Joy Gift Offering will also be received.

The Joy Gift Offering supports financial assistance programs of the Board of Pensions and PC(USA) racial ethnic schools and colleges. Online and text-giving are other ways to give to the Joy Gift Offering.

Caroling and Sweet/Savory Treats 

On Sunday, December 19, join us for an evening of caroling, fellowship,

and a sweet/savory exchange.

• Bring sweet or savory treats, individually packaged to share/exchange.
• At 4:00 p.m. we'll gather in the courtyard to share our favorite carols.
• At 4:30 p.m. we'll share some caroling with our neighbors. (If you don't feel comfortable walking to nearby Urban Ministries or Families Moving Forward, you're invited to the fellowship hall where we'll be getting ready for the sweet/savory exchange.)
• At 5:00 p.m. we'll all gather in the fellowship hall to exchange goodies and share favorite Christmas memories or traditions. At this time, outside & distanced, we may sing without our masks; for all indoor gatherings we will continue to mask.

5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve

in the sanctuary (masks and social distancing requested)

The story of the birth of the Christ Child is celebrated in a pageant video, and also in word and song, and the service concludes with Communion by candlelight. An offering will be received to support Welcome Baby of Durham.

FAITH AND COMMUNITY CLASS

Afghanistan and the Refugee Crisis

As we prepare to welcome and support a refugee family from Afghanistan, the First Presbyterian Afghan Refugee Committee has invited Dr. Joe Arlinghaus, an expert on Afghanistan and friend of Jean Cary, to speak to the Faith and Community Class on this Sunday, December 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Watts-Hill Hall. He will share about Afghanistan’s history and what led to the refugee crisis.

Dr. Joe Arlinghaus is a Kentucky native who joined the Peace Corps after college and served for two years in Nepal (1965-67) as a high school teacher. He later studied Hindi, Urdu, Persian, and Pakhto languages and received his PhD in History from Duke University, where his interest in South Asia and the Middle East led him to write a dissertation on the early history of the Afghan tribes. While working as an Army civilian at Fort Bragg for 30 years, he functioned as a cultural analyst responsible for Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. He deployed to Afghanistan eight times between 2002 and 2011; and has lived, studied, and taught in South Asia for a total of seven years.

DIRECTORY UPDATE COMING SOON!

Don't let this opportunity pass you by!

If you have new or updated contact information or your family or individual photo did not make it into the last directory (or you have a more recent one) -- here's your chance. You may submit your photo and/or updated contact information through the Church Life App or email the photo or contact information to Administrative Assistant, Sybil King at: s.king@firstpres-durham.org. The deadline is Monday, December 6. 

150th Anniversary Celebration highlights . . .

CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS

in the windows of First Presbyterian Church



There are laminated guides to the windows on the table in the foyer and in the narthex. May the display (and guide) deepen your understanding of these timeless symbols and so deepen your worship experience. 

Audio-Visual Technical Director Needed

FPC is looking for a part-time, non-exempt Audio-Visual Technical Director of worship Production. The position is 10 hours a week, including Sunday mornings. First Presbyterian Church the position pays a minimum of $16.92 an hour which is negotiable.  A full job description is available here. If interested, please send application letter and résumé (including contact information for two references, preferably from the two immediate past or current employers) to AVTechnical@firstpres-durham.org.  NOTE: Church members and active friends of the congregation are not eligible to apply.

Iglesia Emanuel Food Pantry

617 — That’s the number of families we served last week at the Food Pantry! There were 617 very grateful families, or about 2,500 people, who took home abundant amounts of nutritious food to add to their Thanksgiving tables. A huge thank you to all who continue to support this vitally important ministry by volunteering in person, bagging rice and beans from home, purchasing food, or with your financial donations. Food insecurity is a heart-breaking reality in our community, but together, we are making a dint in its impact. Please continue to be part of the solution! 

• Click HERE to volunteer in person
• Click HERE to bag rice and beans from home, or donate food
• To make financial donation, write check to Iglesia Emanuel, with “Food Pantry” on memo line. Mail to: Iglesia Emanuel, 2504 N Roxboro, Durham 27704. 
• To donate online, go to emanueldurham.org, click on “Donate,” and write “Food Pantry under comments.
• Questions? Contact Margaret Rubiera.

 

Muchas Gracias!! 

Evictions Court Watching

Durham is facing an evictions crisis, and Durham CAN wants to do something about it. When a tenant receives an eviction filing, they go before a magistrate at the Durham County Courthouse. An eviction filing stays on the tenant’s record for 7 years even if the tenant is not evicted, and it has a negative impact on getting a job, finding another place to live, and getting credit. CAN is organizing teams for "court watching" to monitor this legal process. We have to opportunity to provide visible support for them in the courtroom as well as point eligible tenants to places where they might receive rent money. CAN trains everyone before they engage in court watching, so we know the protocol and what to watch for. If anyone is interested in this important way to address evictions in Durham, please contact Jane Williams, janepsych1@mac.com.

Durham CAN is seeking to understand the perspective of landlords in the matter of evictions. CAN has initiated a city-wide listening campaign in order better grasp the needs and challenges of being a landlord when tenants are unable to pay the rent. No matter if you rent out 1 or 2 units or hundreds of units, we would like to hear from you. If you would like to share your experience as a landlord, please contact Susan Dunlap, sjd4@duke.edu.

Growing thru Grief meets year-round, except for major holidays. Here is our schedule for the month of December:

               Dec. 7     Creating Ritual as a Means to Healing, by Debra Brazzel

               Dec. 14   Cello Solos by Debbie Davis

               Dec. 21   To be announced, by Mike McCleod

               Dec. 28   Looking Back at Grief, by Bill Dahl

Our 4:00 pm meetings begin with a presentation about a part of the grief process and then we break into small groups for conversation and sharing. With the pandemic, we are meeting on Zoom, though we hope to return to in-person meetings. To register, contact admin@growingthrugrief.org by 8:00 a.m. on the Monday before the meeting.

Growing thru Grief is sponsored by a coalition of religious and civic organizations; there is no charge to attend.