APRIL 2024

It’s Easter! While every Sunday is Resurrection Day, for the next fifty days (until Pentecost) we are officially in the season of Easter. The color for the paraments and our stoles will be white. The confession sequence in worship has been exchanged for the proclamation of a Psalm of praise. Alleluias have returned!

How are you leaning into this Easter season?

What in your life or faith might be in the process of being resurrected?

Where do you encounter the risen Jesus in your life?

One thing we know for sure is that Jesus might be on the mountaintop, but he is in the valleys, too. He's in the alleys and the main streets. He’s at the glorious Sunday feast and the simple meal of broiled fish on the beach.

As you lean into this Easter season I invite you to hold two particular groups in your prayers. First, the confirmation class that is just starting its journey – youth who will spend this season exploring and growing in their faith so they can take on baptismal vows for themselves. Second, the Stephen Ministers who have been in training and all of First Presbyterian Church’s Stephen Ministers who, in May, will be a part of our re-activated program.

The Care Commission plans to reach out to the entire congregation in the coming months. They’ll hope to get updates from you- directory details and the like, but they’ll also have an important questions for you: How can the church be in prayer for you? I hope that you’ll give that some thought so that, when they reach out, you’ll be ready to respond.

As always, I am grateful for the privilege of being engaged in ministry in this place with this congregation – with YOU.

Peace,

Anna

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter!

William Lee Hawkins Library News

For the month of April we are putting a pause on the monthly Revised Common Lectionary related book recommendation series. The Epistle of 1 John would be the selection this month, but there are relatively few books on that tiny volume amongst our collection, so diversionary information will be shared instead.

Your Library Committee (Lynda Bronaugh, Margaret Cooper, Carol Hale, and Wendy Moeller) have been hard at work these last two years, expanding the collection of the Hawkins Library, reorganizing the shelves, and brainstorming ways to encourage reading and utilization of the library by all members of our community, adults and kids alike. Our efforts appear to be paying off as gauged by the number of cards in the little green checkout box, questions about books being sought and conversations about books read. In an effort to entice even more amongst us to take advantage of this valuable resource, this month’s article will be an updated review of HOW TO UTILIZE THE LIBRARY. 

Our library is located on the second floor of the Ministry Center with the Children’s Library in the glass enclosed hallway looking out over the courtyard behind the sanctuary. We have largely switched over to a computerized catalogue of books. For those who may still be uncomfortable using technology, there is a large white notebook on the desk with a two or three year old listing of books and how to locate them, but searching online is really the preferred method and any of the librarians would be happy to assist with that. At the present time there is no computer in the library, but it can be accessed from a personal smart phone or laptop or desk top computer in any location. 

To begin a search, pull up the church’s web page, Link

Look for FORMATION on the headline at the top of the page, or click on the menu bar at the top to access FORMATION. From there search for the Hawkins Library link and then click on “library catalogue” to begin your search. You may search by author, title, or topic. Be aware that spelling is very important here. One missed letter will torpedo the search. After typing in your request and clicking on the search icon to the right, a list of options will appear. The important data to look for is the book’s call number (Dewey decimal number followed by the first three letters of the author’s last name: ie. 226.06 PET). There are four exceptions to this system. Reference books will be listed with REF preceding the other designators, ie: REF 203 TEN, and can be found on the large book case just to the left as you enter the doorway. Fiction books will be located to the right beyond the shelf of Bibles as you enter and are filed under FIC with the first three letters of the author’s last name, ie: FIC LEW. Audiovisual material, DVD’s and tapes, are on the shelf below the smart tv and will be listed DVD with the call numbers to follow, ie: DVD 232.92 WAR. 

Finally, there is a whole shelf (straight ahead as you enter along the back wall) which is for books by FIRST PRESBYTERIAN AUTHORS, former or current members of our congregation. They are catalogued, for example, FPA 230 BEN or for fiction, FPA FIC BEN. On that same book shelf along the back wall between the windows there are a couple shelves for recent books, NEW additions to the collection, or books used in recent Bible studies or Sunday school classes, that spend a few months there before being moved to their permanent spots on the regular shelves. If you are searching for a book which can not be found on the regular shelves, be sure to check this NEW shelf as the book may be new and may not yet have been placed in its final resting place. Consider also that any book you can not find, may, in fact, already be checked out. Looking through the check out cards in the little green box can give you information about this and the name of a person to track down to let them know you are patiently waiting. Finally, the bottom shelf or two on that back wall book case has a perpetual selection of books which are free for the taking, books that are duplicates to our collection or which have been deemed not pertinent to the collection and its mission. Please feel free to take as many of those freebie books as you would like for yourself or for others! In addition, we have an entire shelf of free CD’s to the left of the DVD media shelves. These are largely classical musical recordings. 

To sign out a book, just put the date of checkout and your name (legibly written) on the card in the back pocket of the book and slip the card into the little green card file box on the desk. There is no time limit on how long you can keep a book. If someone else wants it, we may track you down after an appropriate period of time. So, when a book is returned, simply place it in the wire basket on the desk and the librarians will make sure it gets carded and returned to the appropriate shelf.

Please call any of us about questions you might have with regard to specific books or how to access the collection. We field these questions all the time. Some old notices mention an email address to find us, but that is not in use. Phone calls are preferred.

Finally, talk about your books with friends in and out of the congregation. This is an important way in which FORMATION occurs amongst us, a means of strengthening the faith of ourselves and others. And if there is a book you feel would be a good addition to the collection, either call one of the librarians or simply add the title to the little paper notebook on the desk where we keep track of suggested books to purchase. And now would be a really good time to find a great book, as Summer Read This Book Sunday school class will be starting in a few weeks, an opportunity for you to share with others a special book which has impacted your life of faith. Anyone interested in this opportunity is encouraged to contact any of the members of the Adult Christian Education Committee.  



Wendy Moeller

Fellowship Dinner: April 17

Join us for this month's Fellowship Dinner! We'll be enjoying a Chicken Burrito Bar with chicken, rice, black beans, tortilla chips and more.

Please RSVP below. For headcount purposes, please let us know the total number attending with you. Hope to see you there!

Music Notes

On March 13 we celebrated Treasures Old and New-a Hymn Festival, narrated by Mary Louise Bringle. “Mel” gave detailed notes about the history of each hymn text including stories about each author. We sang a variety of hymns, including a gospel “waltz” based on “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” (which Daniel Sansone accompanied with jazzy style) along with standards “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”. Thanks to Daniel and choir members who sang some beginning verses of the hymns.

All of our choirs are preparing for Holy Week—children are shouting Hosanna as are the adults. The Sanctuary Bells and the Covenant Choir are preparing for Spring Ring, which will be held on Wednesday April 17 after the Fellowship Dinner. This year the Craven Ukes will be joining us. They rehearse on Thursday afternoons in the Choir and are very grateful for the use of the space. Our own Winston Dixon plays bass with them, adding rhythm and variety to their sound. 



Yours in Christ,

Pat Kerr Rowlett

Director of Music

Adult Education - Session III

Session III of our Adult Education series begins April 7.

Not only do new Sunday School classes begin, we also have many ways for you to build your faith through the week!

Our hope is that you can find a way this Spring to build your faith.

• Present Word - Session House Parlor - led by George Evans 
• The Story - Conference Room, 1st floor of the Ministry Center - led by Dick Betts and Lana Brunk 
• Creation Care - Owl Room, 2nd floor of the Ministry Center - led by Helen Robinson and Sara Schweitzer. The Creation Care class will use the book, Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. Copies are available today in the office.  
• New Member's Class with Anna Pinckney Straight

Check out the full class schedule on the First Pres Adult Education page or download a copy of the full Adult Education Brochure here:

Presbyterian Women Activities

On February 24-25, Janet Bryan and Sue Spiker participated in the Presbytery of New Hope PW Retreat in Columbia, NC. The retreat with the theme, The Way of the Heart: Finding Meaningful Connection with God, Ourselves and One Another, was led by Rev. Elizabeth Wittmer from Bear Grass Presbyterian Church. It provided a time of sacred space for introspection, for growth, and for forging deeper connections. Marge Shelton graciously provided a clothespin cross to take to each participant. They were included as part of the worship service. Next year’s retreat is scheduled for February 21-23, 2025 in the same location. It will be an event not to be missed!

At home at First Pres, our own Presbyterian Women’s Circles prepared and served the enticing food for the six Lenten Luncheons in February and March. They will end this year’s study of Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts at their May meetings. The End-of-the-Year Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, June 4, at the New Bern Golf and Country Club. Details to follow but mark your calendars now for this special event.

Helping Hands Volunteers Needed

The “Helping Hands” committee of the Care Commission is in great need of additional volunteers to visit our homebound members or those residing in care centers. We need men as well as women on our team. For additional information, please contact Patrick Ryan or Christin Grady. Thank you for your interest!

March Backpack Blessings

Once again many First Pres folks gathered with others from the hospital, partner churches, and FOUR different youth fellowship/leadership/school groups to pack our 5,000 weekend snack packs for this Build. 

The kids, aging from young 3rd and 4th graders, all the way through Middle and High School, were real speed demons and we were finished with our segment of 500 weekend kits in record time. The work on March 11 and 12 will give us the 5,000 total weekend supplemental food kits needed for the next 6 weeks. Expect to see another Build opportunity to finish out our year. 

A special thanks to our many First Pres participants...June and Spencer Goodwin, Wendy Moeller, Sheila Orth, Nancy Perdue, Morag Cheesman, Mary Keener, Gwen Lessard, Linda Staunch, Mike Moman, Anne Goldman, Kathy Ingraham, and of course, our Board Member and delivery fairy, Jane Dail.

As always, a special thanks to the wonderful staff at First Pres who support this work and our congregation who provide the willing hands and hearts, as well as Outreach funding support, for this important ministry.

Refugee Lessons

First Presbyterian is almost one year into its co-sponsorship of a refugee family with Interfaith Refugee Ministry [IRM], associated with Episcopal Migration Ministries [EMM]. The experience has generated lessons for future co-sponsorships and for other churches.

EMM recently posted a series of blog articles exploring sponsorship and its lessons.

https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/first-presbyterian-church-new-bern/

The first days of the sponsorship required flexibility. Circumstances, such as dates and donations, constantly changed. Later unexpected urgent requests for transportation or help with problems arose. A coordinator, supported by team of volunteers with varied skills, was essential to keep track of changes and their consequences.

The Hurtados differed from U-S stereotypes of destitute refugees from Latin America. Neat and well dressed, it’s difficult to imagine that they’d faced threats of violence that forced them to leave Colombia. Even trips to the grocery store challenged our assumptions. They didn’t care for most “Mexican” foods.



Other lessons emerged especially regarding transportation and communication. Translator apps worked wonders for brief encounters, but experienced Spanish speakers were necessary for deep conversations. Transportation in a town with few public transit options, remains the greatest challenge.

Mike Murrie

Habitat for Humanity Lunch

Some of our Outreach Commission members

recently prepared and delivered 30 lunches for student volunteers

from University of Findlay in Ohio. Such a wonderful group!

Thank You

Thank you! Thank you! and a million more Thank Yous!!!

Thanks to your support the Craven Community College Early Childhood Educators Club has been elevated to a higher professional level. Club members are thrilled with the final product. We look forward to wearing them to every community event as well as our general club meetings. 

We had our first community event on Saturday, March 9, 2024, by volunteering and supporting Craven Smart Start Building Brighter Futures 18^th Annual Conference held here on the New Bern Campus. 

I will be forever grateful,

Maria Eid, M.S. Ed. 

Early Childhood Education Faculty

Advisor, Early Childhood Educators Club 

Craven Community College

If you are interested in a detailed calendar of upcoming Children, Youth, and Family Ministry opportunities, or volunteering, please reach out to

Catherine Campbell, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry: catherine@firstpresnb.org

Mark Your Calendars!

Friday, May 3 at 7:00 pm ~

Organ Recital with Daniel Sansone

Sunday, May 5 ~

• Children's Sabbath at 8:30 am
• Rothermel Lecture at 2:00 pm

Want to know more? Visit the calendar page on firstpresnb.org

First Presbyterian Church, New Bern Staff

Anna Pinckney Straight - Pastor

anna@firstpresnb.org

Patrick Ryan - Associate Pastor

patrick@firstpresnb.org

Catherine Campbell - Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry

catherine@firstpresnb.org

Pat K. Rowlett - Director of Music

pat@firstpresnb.org

Daniel Sansone - Associate Director of Music & Organist

daniel@firstpresnb.org

Susan Mabie

Director of Resurrection Singers

Tim Elliott - Facilities Manager

property@firstpresnb.org

Dawn Inglis - Office Administrator

church@firstpresnb.org

Kerri Wheeler - Preschool Director

kerri@firstpresnb.org

Summer Hough - Financial Administrator

summer@firstpresnb.org

Sarah Ross - Director of Communications

comms@firstpresnb.org

Louis Foye - Sexton

Richard Colflesh - Maintenance

property@firstpresnb.org

pastoroncall@firstpresnb.org

After office hours or on the weekend,

a good way to reach a pastor is to

email the pastor on call.

Share your News!

Have an article for the newsletter? Want an announcement placed in the bulletin? See something we should post on social media? Have photos of a church event to share? Email comms@firstpresnb.org to get your news shared!

Bulletin Deadline:

Mondays at 12:00 pm

Weekly Word Deadline:

Mondays at 12:00 pm

First Edition/Monthly Newsletter Deadline:

the 15th of the month at 12:00 pm

Physical Address

400 New Street,

New Bern, NC 28560

Mailing Address

PO Box 1069,

New Bern, NC 28563

Church Office Hours

Monday - Thursday

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Friday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Contact Information

252.637.3270

church@firstpresnb.org

www.firstpresnb.org