THE BANNER

January 18, 2023

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Note from Ellen

Welcome Buz! Rev. Dr. Buz Wilcoxon grew up in Fairhope, AL. He attended Presbyterian College (BA) and Columbia Theological Seminary (MDiv & DMin). For 14 years he served Presbyterian churches in Greenville, SC and Mobile, AL. In July 2022 he began serving as the inaugural Marianne & E.G. Lassiter Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life at Presbyterian College. Buz serves on the board of trustees for Columbia Theological Seminary and has written a number of hymns that have been published in Presbyterian resources. He and his wife, Ryann, are the proud parents of two children: Lohi (12) and Wilson (10).


Buz will lead a combined adult Sunday school class on January 22 at 10 AM in Davis Hall. The class topic will be "Adventurous Faith: Being the Church Today." He will also be our preacher for worship that day.



Usher sign up link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-fpcusher


Lay Reader sign up link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-scripture


link for online worship:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfpzVUz-ZgaCJuogIMor8Iw/live


link to Ellen's sermon podcasts:  https://bit.ly/Sermons_FPCConcord



Wednesday: Matthew 4: 8-11

Thursday: Matthew 4: 12-17

Friday: Matthew 4: 18-22

Saturday: Matthew 4:23-25

Sunday: Matthew 5:1-16

Monday: Matthew 5:17-20

Tuesday: Matthew 5:21-26

Wednesday: Matthew 5: 27-36

Come to the Commons for Prayer and Meditation

Talking with God and listening for His word are two hallmarks of our faith. The Commons is well stocked with plenty of books, visual prompts, and other resources to enhance our prayer life, and provides a place for new opportunities to communicate with God.  The Commons is open to our congregation members on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am until 5pm, and to others in the community on Wednesdays 10am-6pm and Saturdays 10am-3pm. Please do drop in (and even bring a friend) and see if there are new ways to stimulate your communication with God

Thursday Connection

Thursday at 2 PM in the Commons


We will be discussing chapter 1: What Hope Is Not from the book,

Hope: A User’s Manual. Don’t have time to read this week?

Come anyway/


Confirmation - Trusting in the Gracious Mercy of God

Confirmands and confirmation partners gathered on a week ago Sunday afternoon to meet and to study lesson two in our Big God, Big Questions curriculum.

We focused on the first half of our first big question: Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?

Our sixteen confirmands will resume on January 22nd. Confirmation partners will join us again on February 26th.

The Congregational Care Ministry Team Needs Your Help!

Prayerfully consider becoming a First Friend. First Friends visit those who can no longer attend church. Visiting alone or in pairs, you will be assigned one or two people with whom to stay in touch for the next 6 months: February- July. Please contact Susan Hannah or Pastor Julie if you feel called to this important ministry.

Welcome Class: This Sunday

Guests of FPC are warmly invited to come to the Fellowship House this Sunday at 9:45 am to meet other new folks and learn about the church. Greeters will be in the parking lot to direct you. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Julie.  

Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch has moved to a different week! Beginning in February, Lunch Bunch will meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month. Next gathering: February 22. 

Girl Scout Cookie Rally

Our Girl Scout troops attended the annual Girl Scout cookie rally in Charlotte this weekend. They learned about goal setting and running a business. Initial cookie orders are submitted today, so if you are interested in placing an order and have not done so, now is the time! Cookies arrive the first week of February. Don’t worry, the troops always order a few extras and you can get yours from a Girl Scout or at cookie booths, while supplies last, until 

We Need You!

As we kick off programming for 2023, we are looking to build our volunteer teams. Please prayerfully consider being part of one or more of these groups:


Elementary Sunday School – We have a dedicated team of four, but would like to add a couple more people to our sub list: Elementary Sunday School Team: Elementary Sunday School (signupgenius.com)


Middle & High School Sunday School – Join our teaching team or the sub list MS / HS Sunday School teachers: MS / HS Sunday School (signupgenius.com)


Nursery Volunteers – Youth and adults to help care for our youngest congregation members during worship, approximately 10:30-noon Nursery Volunteers: Sunday Nursery Volunteers (signupgenius.com)


Pew Prep – You’ll receive a lesson to cover the 20-30 minutes of this educational class that starts after the Children’s Message and concludes during the Offertory Pew Prep: Pew Prep - Volunteers (signupgenius.com)


Providing dinner for Confirmands/Youth group – please e-mail René Prager at: r.prager@firstpresconcord.org

Todd Hobbie Sunday School Class Update for January 29

The Wisdom of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz for the Church Today 

This session explores what insights (if any) the ancient story of Ruth offers the church today as it seeks to be faithful in our post-secular culture. Today many people encounter religion and spirituality in supposedly secular forms of culture, such as novels and films, political gestures, and wellness routines. Is it possible that the characters of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz bear the secrets of keeping faith in and with our post-secular context?

Sign-up Links

Lay Liturgists

Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to

read scripture in worship on Sundays.


Nursery

Sign up here to volunteer in the Nursery on Sundays.

.

Ushers

Sign up here to volunteer in the          

Sanctuary on Sundays


Sanctuary Flowers

To give the congregation a gift of

sanctuary flowersplease click here

to sign-up for one or more Sundays

during the year.

Calendar

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Rev. Buz Wilcoxon preaching

          

Thursday, January 19

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)

10:00 AM Thursday Morning Coffee (Gibson Mill)

2:00 PM Thursday Connection (Commons)

6:00 PM Girl Scouts (Ed Bldg)

Friday, January 20

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)

Saturday, January 21

8:30 AM Love Feast in the Streets

Boy Scout Banquet (Davis Hall)

Sunday, January 22

9:45 AM Middle/High school SS (Room 304 Will Young)

9:45 AM Combined SS Classes (Davis Hall)

9:45 AM Welcome Class (Fellowship House)

11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary)

4:30 PM Confirmation (Davis Hall)

5:30 PM Youth Dinner (Davis Hall)

6:00 PM Combined Youth (Davis Hall)

Monday, January 23

6:00 PM APNC (Journey Classroom)

Tuesday, January 24

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)

2:00 PM Staff Meeting (FH Sunroom)

6:00 PM Cub Scouts (Davis Hall)

7:00 PM PW CT meeting(Library Conference Room)

7:00 PM. Boy Scouts (Youth Room)

7:00 PM Al Anon Meeting (Commons)

Wednesday, January 25

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)

7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)

Church Report

Birthdays

January 19 - John Bishop, Doreen Devore, Julia Patrum, Pat Waters

January 20 - Jerry Dyer, Bill Morrison

January 21 - Marianne Hahn

January 22 - Donna Knorr, Ben Vernery

January 23 - Jennie Bethune

January 24 - Julie Epler, Claire Kinane, H.L. Ruth

January 25 - Mark Carlough, Paul Chikes, Jim Epler, Craig Pless, Leigh Sparks

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 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed Friday

The Commons Prayer Room:

Open to FPC: Sunday until 1:00 PM,  

Tuesday10 AM - 5 PM, Thursday 10 AM - 5 PM

Open to FPC and the public: Wednesday 10 AM - 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 3 PM     

Group times available with prior arrangement


Memorial Garden:

fieldofdreams@yahoo.com


36 Spring Street SW

Concord NC 28025

 

Garden Hours: 

Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Closed Monday

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