Is there anything more healing
than an open door?
If you’re seeking sanctuary,
if the waters are rising— listen.
It may be hard to hear,
but God is always saying,
“Come on home.”
~ from “Come on Home,” written by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed
| A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
Friends,
As the calendar races toward Christmas, it has been wonderful to see so many of your faces in worship. I hope you will extend an invitation to others to join us on Sunday mornings, on Christmas Eve, and in the coming year. I also want to extend an invitation to our Longest Night Service at 7 pm in the chapel on December 21. This service is one of my favorites. It is a quieter, more reflective service, carving out a space for those who are struggling with the push for all to be “holly jolly.” This service is for all who are anxious, all who are struggling, all who are grieving, and all who are weary. Together we will listen to the promises in scripture, we will pray, we will light candles, and we will be reminded that Christ comes to save us all. In Christ the door is always open, and through him God is always saying, “Come on home.”
Grace and peace,
Ellen
*Reminder - we will not have Bible Study on Dec 22 and Dec 29.*
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Are you still looking for the prefect Christmas gift? We have a handful of First Presbyterian Church shirts available. They will be offered on a first come, first served basis by signing up for the style / size you would like. Once your sign-up is complete, you will receive an e-mail confirmation within 24 hours with options for pick-up in the Fellowship House during office hours or Sunday morning.
A $10 donation per shirt is suggested.
The shirts are royal blue with the church logo on the front left chest and "More than Sunday" on the back. The lettering is white. All are Gildan brand shirts. The t-shirt is unisex sizing and the v-neck is a ladies cut.
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Our Youth thoughtfully designed and created a new Advent Prayer wall.
Please take a moment to visit and add your prayers for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
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Holiday Schedule for the Children and Youth |
Nursery – We will have Nursery during Sunday School and Worship this Sunday, December 19th.
On December 26th and January 2nd, there will be NO Nursery during Sunday School, only during Worship.
Pew Prep – This Sunday is our last Pew Prep for 2021, we will resume on January 9th.
Elementary, Middle School, and High School Sunday School meet THIS Sunday and resume on January 9th.
Youth Group – NO Youth Group Dec 19 & 26, we look forward to gathering again on January 2nd!
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On Sunday evening, the Youth and children of the church led us through the story of the birth of Jesus in our annual Christmas Pageant. A special thank you to our middle and high school Youth and the Youth leadership team for their dedication to bringing this treasured story to life for us this season. |
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Friends Empowering Haiti Matching Gift Offer |
Friends Empowering Haiti has an anonymous donor offering the opportunity to match up to $50,000, on a dollar-to-dollar basis, for all donations made by individuals through the end of the year. Any designation of funds, (food, clinic, etc.) will be matched in that same fund, doubling the impact. Please consider making a gift by 12-31-21 to help our friends and students in Haiti.
• Gifts can be made through the church noting it is for Friends Empowering Haiti
• Online at www.friendsempoweringhaiti.org
• Or mailed to Friends Empowering Haiti
PO Box 34563
Charlotte, NC 28234
Please contact Betsy Liles with any questions.
Dinnerbell6@gmail.com 704-791-6166
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2022 Stewardship Campaign Reminder |
The Stewardship/Finance Committee appreciates the wonderful response of pledges and gifts to support the 2022 Stewardship Campaign. We encourage those who have not sent in their pledges or gifts to please do so at your earliest convenience. These are used by the Stewardship/Finance Committee to prepare the 2022 Operational Budget of the church which allows our church family to touch the lives of so many both within our church and through community mission outreach programs. You may mail it or drop it by the church office or pledge online here. |
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Just a reminder that the PW has a Meal Ministry committee that is charged with supporting our church members in need. We typically support families dealing with illness or injury, new babies or new family members, or any other need that may arise where meals can help. Please keep this ministry in mind as we care for our church members and reach out to Amanda Williamson ( amanda.rinker.williamson@gmail.com) with any needs you may have or are aware of within our church. |
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Nursery Volunteers Needed |
We continue to need volunteers in the nursery. If you are interested in helping, please use this sign-up link: Sunday Nursery Volunteers
You may volunteer for the Sunday School hour or worship hour. All volunteers must have Child Protection training. Please contact René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org for the links to the training and the paperwork for the church office.
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As we near the end of 2021, giving our church and/or our First Presbyterian Foundation an additional gift of appreciated stock if you are itemizing deductions not only allows you to avoid paying a capital gains tax on this stock but provides our church additional gifts to be used to support God’s work now and in the future.
Your direct gift of an appreciated stock to the church allows the church to benefit from the entire value of the gifted stock and you benefit by avoiding paying the capital gains taxes and being able to write off the full value as a donation if you have owned the stock for more than a year! As you consider this gift, talking with your tax preparer can provide more insight into the advantages for you and for our church.
These additional end-of-year gifts are significant as we determine how many more lives we can touch within the church and community. Please contact Suzanne Russell, church administrator, to learn how to donate appreciated stock to our church.
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More Scenes from the Pageant |
A few photos from the candlelight conclusion of the Christmas Pageant - Silent Night
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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.
Nursery
Sign up here to volunteer in the Nursery 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.
Ushers
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Sunday, December 19, 2021
Rev. Ellen Crawford True, Preaching
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Thursday, December 16
9:00 a.m.First Kids Preschool
7:00 p.m. Mothers of Murdered Offspring (Commons)
Friday, December 17
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Saturday, December 18
4:00 p.m. Girl Scouts (Davis Hall)
Sunday, December 19
9:45 a.m. Journey SS (Ed Bldg)
9:45 a.m. S & D SS (FH)
10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Choir (Choir Room)
11:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)
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Tuesday, December 21
11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting (FH)
7:00 p.m. Al Anon (Commons)
7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (TBD)
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Youth Room)
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Condolences
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to the family of Jim Waters as they mourn his passing on November 23, and to the family of John Fulghum as they mourn his passing on December 8.
Birthdays
December 16 - Steve Johnson, Kenneth Pegram, Beulah Thorson
December 17 - Peter Chikes
December 18 - Charlotte Ostema, Chris Prager
December 19 - Charlotte Cox, Scarlett Davis, Sydney Johnson, Ben Peterson
December 20 - Jeff Kies, Edwin Macaluso
December 21 - Carter Olson
December 22 - John Bare, Linda Grist, Helen Morrison, Holly Robbins, Susan Spader
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Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff
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 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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:
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday
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