THE BANNER

September 28, 2022

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Note from Ellen

God loves a cheerful giver. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:7


Dear Friends,


This coming Sunday, René Prager and I will meet with some of this year’s confirmands and their parents as we begin exploring together what it means to be a member of the church. We will encourage them to participate in worship leadership over the next few months, specifically as lay readers or as ushers.


You are invited to consider signing up to usher as a family or with friends as well. Ushering is one concrete and important way to be involved in welcoming members and visitors to worship and by receiving the morning offering when we respond to the great good news of God’s grace in Jesus Christ by giving of ourselves and the gifts God has showered upon us.


We are also hoping that some new faces will sign up to serve as lay readers. It is so good to hear a variety of voices in worship, enabling us to listen for God’s word in new ways. I will be leading a workshop for returning and new lay readers on October 9 in the sanctuary during Sunday school. You’ll have a chance to learn more about why we do what we do, and you’ll have a chance to practice.


Thank you for the many ways you enable us to serve God faithfully. I am looking forward to seeing new faces and hearing new voices as we worship God together!


Grace and peace,

Ellen


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


Bridge Texts: September 28-October 2

Thursday, Exodus 11

Friday, Exodus 12:29-32

Saturday, Exodus 13:17-22

Sunday, Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29


October 2-5

Sunday, Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29

Monday, Exodus 15:1-21

Tuesday, Exodus 15:22-27

Wednesday, Exodus 16:1-21

FPC College Students

It is that time of year to collect college addresses. If you have a child in college, please e-mail their complete USPS mailing address AND their e-mail address to René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org. Please e-mail this information even if their address is unchanged from last year. Addresses due by September 30 for our fall college care package mailing.

World Communion Sunday, October 2, 2022

The first Sunday in October is designated as World Communion Sunday, which celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our siblings around the world. Though it is true that every Sunday, and particularly when we gather at the table, is a celebration of our oneness in Christ, on this day we are intentional about remembering this truth. The communion table, as well as the music and some of the liturgy, will reflect the gifts of the people of God from around the world.

 

World Communion Sunday (originally called World Wide Communion Sunday) is a gift of the Presbyterian Church to the larger ecumenical church. The first celebration occurred at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1933 where Dr. Hugh Thompson Kerr served as pastor. It was not until during the Second World War that “the spirit caught hold, because we were trying to hold the world together. World Wide Communion symbolized the effort to hold things together, in a spiritual sense. It emphasized that we are one in the Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  Come to the table!

PC(USA) Peacemaker, Maina Talia, to Lead Joint Sunday School Class

PC(USA) Peacemaker to Visit Concord

Sunday, October 2, 2022


We are delighted to welcome Maina Talia of Tuvalu to First Presbyterian Church on World Communion Sunday, October 2. Tuvalu is a small island nation, roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia, that is endangered by rising sea levels. Talia will speak of the realities of life for people in Tuvalu to help us, and other churches he visits, better understand the threats posed by climate change. In his country, Talia has worked with various non-governmental organizations on environmental topics and was instrumental in securing funding for an early warning system to communicate during cyclones.

On October 2, he will lead a joint Adult Sunday school class in Davis Hall, participate in worship, and meet with our youth in the afternoon. 

Commons Reopened!

Thank you to all who visited following worship last Sunday. Open to the public on Wednesdays        10 AM - 6 PM and Satudays 10 AM - 3 PM.    Small groups are also encouraged to schedule time together (contact Kimberly Leatherman or Jonathan Ewart) FPC members will have additional hours to visit as well on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Please help us spread the work about this special place! 

Monthly BackPack Program Requests

2022-2023 BackPack Program

Coltrane Webb Elementary School

Congregational Mission

 

Our BackPack Program served 10 families for the month of September! We expect the number of families we serve to increase in the next month or so as the school year gets established.

 

Each month families receive a Food Lion Gift Card for $100. (No alcohol or tobacco) In addition the families receive a bag of food. Below is the list of food items we need to collect for October.

 

You can make monetary donations toward the purchase of the gift cards via the FPC website, the fourth Sunday of each month in the noisy offering collection,or by check. (Please note the BackPack Program is one of the drop-down options on the website.)

 

Donations Needed By: October 10, 2022

 

All Purpose Flour (2 lb. /32 oz)

Sugar (2 lb. /32 oz)

Salt and Pepper (Individual Duo)

Mustard (Yellow, 12 to 14 oz plastic bottle)

Ketchup (20 oz plastic bottle)

Mayonnaise (20 oz plastic bottle)

Vegetable or Canola Oil (48 oz plastic bottle)

Garlic Powder (3 oz)

Onion Powder (3 oz)

Texas Pete Hot Sauce (12 oz)

Vinegar (White) (32 oz plastic bottle)

Grits* (24 oz cannister)

Pudding Cups (3.25 oz/4 per pack)

Jiffy Cornbread Mix (8.5 oz box)

Applesauce Cups (4 oz per cup/6 cups)

Pancake Mix (ALDI, Aunt Maple’s Buttermilk 32 0z)

Syrup (ALDI, Aunt Maple’s Original Pancake Syrup 24 oz)

 

*No individual packets of grits.


The Confident Caregiver: Saturday, October 8

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

McGill Baptist Church

5300 Poplar Tent Road

Who should attend: Caregivers, family, friends, and professionals

 

In the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease, those who were care partners now become hands-on caregivers. Join representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association for this half-day workshop and hear caregivers and professionals discuss helpful strategies for safe, effective and comfortable care.

Coffee and lunch provided by Sponsors Morningside of Concord and Home Instead.

For more information and to register:

inyurl.com/ConfidentCareCabCo or 800-272-3900.

Crop Walk October 9

"This year's CROP Walk is right around the corner and we need your help to reach our goal!


The walk is Sunday, October 9th in downtown Kannapolis (you may also walk at home if that's more convenient). Registration is at 1 PM and the walk will be at 2 PM, starting at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church.


This fun event supports the fight against hunger and poverty both locally and globally.


Please use this link to make a contribution to our FPC Concord team or to join us at the walk!


https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/team/fpc-concord "


Racial Equity Reads

As a Matthew 25 congregation, First Presbyterian Church of Concord is committed to promoting racial equity. To advance our understanding of racial inequities, the Racial Equity Reads group meets every other Sunday to discuss our first book of autumn, “Dear White Peacemakers,” by Osheta Moore.


Our next discussion will be 3 - 4 PM October 9 in the Library Conference Room. We’ll discuss chapters  4-7. We invite you to join us! You can catch up by reading the short introductory pieces and chapters 1-3. Questions? Email sverner@yahoo.com.

Community Meeting


You are invited to attend a community meeting at Central United Methodist Church, 30 Union Street N, on October 10 at 7 PM. Click here for a detailed flyer.

Youth Group

All 6th-12th grade Youth are encouraged to attend a COMBINED Youth Group on Sunday from 4:30-6 PM. We are hosting PCUSA Peacemaker, Maina Talia of Tuvalu who will speak to the group about rising sea levels and the current impacts on his Pacific Island country. Dinner will be provided. Please use this link to RSVP and bring a friend!



https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-102

 

Our Youth Group gathered on Sunday for some adventures in baking, as we prepared for a couple of upcoming events. 

Journey Sunday School Class Update

JOURNEY will not meet this Sunday, 10/2/22. Members are invited to join the joint adult Sunday School class with our guest speaker in Davis Hall

Ushering Opportunities!

Interested in Ushering? Here’s what to do:  


  • Ushers arrive 30 minutes before the service so at 10:30 AM on Sundays
  • Open inner & outer church doors and secure each door with hooks located behind them. 
  • Greet and welcome members & guests and offer each a bulletin.
  • Close the inner & outer church doors when the service starts. 
  • Collect the offering
  • Collect friendship pad sheets following the service.
  • Open the inner & outer church doors during the last hymn.


Complete written usher instructions are available in the Narthex.    

Please consider joining us and sign up here

Church Grounds Work Day!

Join us on Saturday, October 8, from 8 AM to Noon to beautify our campus grounds!  Don't miss this opportunity for fellowship outdoors.


CCM Monthly Need


In the CCM Food program, our numbers remain high and we continue to serve a LOT of households who are new to CCM. Our inventory is getting critically low!

 

Currently, the pantry items we are in biggest need of are:

·    Any kind of canned vegetables, especially green beans and corn

·    Diced Tomatoes

·    Dried Pinto Beans

·    Any kind of canned beans (Baked, black, pinto, kidney, etc.)

·    Canned Fruit (except fruit cocktail)

·    Any kind of Canned Meats (except tuna!)

·    Macaroni & Cheese

·    Pasta Sauce

·    Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

As always, we especially seek low sodium items, no-added-sugar items, and whole grain items. 

 

Currently we have plenty of:

·    Tuna

·    Soup

·    Canned Mixed Fruit

   

  • Thank you for the continued support from our church partners. Our Crisis Center at 246 Country Club Drive NE in Concord serves as the warehouse for most of the food. We will gladly accept all donations at that site from 9:30 AM to 1 PM Monday through Friday. Bethel Baptist Helping Hands Food Pantry, located at 1209 1/4 Opal Street in Kannapolis, will gladly accept donations from 9 AM to 1 PM on Monday and Thursday. The food pantry located at Westford UMC on Highway 49 and the Kannapolis Food Pantry at West Point Baptist Church can accept donations on Saturday morning from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The Feeding Our Souls Food Pantry at Bethel Church in Midland, and North Kannapolis Baptist Church Food Pantry will accept donations by calling the church in advance.

Books and Brews


The next Books & Brews will meet on Thursday, October 27 at 7 PM at the Wine Room (5401 Village Dr NW, Concord, 28027).

The book will be Station Eleven.

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, October 2, 2022

Rev. Julie HIll, preaching

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 Genesis 39:1-23

Thursday, September 29

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

2:00 PM Thursday Connection (Journey Classroom)

7:00 PM Christian Education Meeting (Zoom)

Friday, September 30

8:00 AM PW Event setup (Davis Hall)

9:00 First Kids Preschool (Will Young)

Saturday, October 1

12:00 PM PW Fall Spiritual Nurture (Davis Hall)

Sunday, October 2

9:45 AM Elementary SS (Children's Chapel)

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

9:45 AM Combined Adult Sunday School (Davis Hall)

10:30 AM Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)

11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)

12:00 PM Confirmation Meeting (Davis Hall)

3:15 PM Children's Choir (Small Choir Room)

4:30 PM Middle / High School Combined (Davis Hall)

Monday, October 3

9:00 AM Preschool (Will Young)

6:30 PM  Circle 1 (Fellowship House)

Tuesday, October 4

9:00 First Kids Preschool (Will Young)

2:00 PM Staff Meeting (Fellowship House Sunroom)

6:00 PM Cub Scouts (Davis Hall)

7:00 Board of Deacons (Library Conference Room)

7:00 PM Boy Scouts (Youth Room)

7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)

Wednesday, October 5

9:00 First Kids Preschool (Will Young)

10:30 AM Bible Study (Fellowship House)

6:30 PM Building & Grounds (Library Conference Room)

7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)

Church Report

Birthdays

September 29 - Eli Farmer

September 30 - Lily Bryant, Dean Phillips

October 1 - Matthew Bishop, William Niblock

October 2 -  Timothy Cline, Elaine Mervin

October 3 - Gregory Watson

October 4 -  Leland Bishop, Marcia Brooks, Jane Conversano, Reese Meendering, Jeff Nelson

October 5-  Chloe Cline, Tyler Hough

**To enjoy a sung happy birthday, click here!**

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:

Sundays open for FPC until 1:00 PM

Open to the public  Wednesday 10 AM - 6 PM

                                Saturday     10 AM - 3 PM         Group times available Tuesday, Thursday and Friday                                                


Memorial Garden: memorialgarden@buddgroup.com


36 Spring Street SW

Concord NC 28025

 

Garden Hours: 

Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Closed Monday

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