BUILDING COMMUNITY. TRANSFORMING LIVES. ENGAGING THE WORLD.

SEPTEMBER 2024

On July 1, 1980 something seismically significant occurred in the life of First Presbyterian Church, New Bern: Pat Kerr Rowlett began her ministry in the music program.

Between then and now, there have been some 2,303 Sundays. Even taking into consideration time off, that’s over 2,000 Sundays (and over 2,000 choir rehearsals) when Pat has led us in deepening our relationship with God through music. And along the way she has never stopped learning and sharing those learnings with us. She is a deeply valued colleague and musician. We have been (and continue to be) abundantly blessed.

This past spring, Pat let the Choirs and the Personnel Committee know that she has made the decision to retire in May of 2026. She is going to continue to work full-time through May of 2025 and after that will work part-time through May of 2026. She is ready to enter a new phase of her life and try some new things, and for that (and for her) we give thanks.

Daniel Sansone (who celebrates the 1st anniversary of his arrival at First Presbyterian Church today!) will, as planned, be stepping into the role of organist and music director when Pat retires. They have been planning this transition since his arrival, and we all know that we are in very capable hands. Daniel, too, is a gifted and joyful leader.

The VERY good news is that (as you might have noticed) I haven’t said how much we will miss Pat. That is because we won’t have to miss her! Pat is also a deeply valued member of First Presbyterian, and the nature of how this transition will work means that this does not need to change. In fact, one of the things Pat is looking forward to is being able to play handbells and sing in the choir.

Rest assured that we will have time to celebrate Pat before her retirement. We’ll share details as they unfold, but I wanted you to know this significant news and confirm the plan is already in place.

In other news, I hope that you will take note of the many offerings included in this newsletter. When we welcome new members we challenge them to find at least one place at First Presbyterian Church where they inhale the love of God and one place where they exhale/share that love. With breakfast on the 8th, a brand new Music Series, House Church, Youth Groups, Faith Formation on Sundays and during the week, Outreach opportunities, and more --- there is no shortage of places to breathe in and breathe out!

If you are interested in something but don’t see it, get in touch with us - we’ll either help you find what you are looking for or tell you how to create what you feel called to do

Happy fall, y’all. It is good to be together.

Anna Pinckney Straight

William Lee Hawkins Library News

Duke BLUE, NC State RED, East Carolina PURPLE! It is the season! Not the start of football, not even the start of the academic year, but a season of politics. Has any one noticed? In the confusion and the cacophony of this time in which we find ourselves, here are three things I know to be true:

Our congregation at First Pres runs blue and red and purple and all gradations in between and for the 42 years I have been a member I have been proud, rather grateful, that we have been able to remain in community with one another despite our differences, both theological and political.
We are not called to run and hide from the dilemmas and debates of our society, but to bring our kingdom values to this time and place in which we live.
“In the midst of our own discomfort and hesitancies…God is much larger than our finite brains [and politics] can comprehend.” (Shannon Evans)

In that spirit, I would like to offer up our five selections from the William Lee Hawkins Library for the months of September and October, leading right up to November 5th.

Public Faith in Action: How to Think Carefully, Engage Wisely and Vote with Integrity by Miroslav Volf - 261.7 VOL
Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies by NT Wright - 225 WRI
Letter to the American Church by Eric Metaxas - 260.00 MET
Journey to the Common Good by Walter Brueggemann - 222.3 BRU
A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic by Stanley Hauerwas - 252 HAU

Here are the quotes (and I am not telling you to which book they belong!):

“God expects infinitely more of us than simply saying we ‘believe’…it is actually what we do that matters, because our actions illustrate what we actually believe.”
“Can Christians defend pluralism and liberal democracy and remain faithful to King Jesus?”
“This book offers readers a nuanced understanding of the relationship between Christ, the kingdom, the church and politics.”
“The answer to the question of the Church’s role in society is the same answer God gave to the Israelites thousands of years ago.”
“…practical guidance for thinking through complicated issues and faithfully following Jesus as citizens of their countries.”
“The problem with our society is not that democracy has not worked, but that it has and the results are less than good.”
“The Church stands as a political alternative to every nation, witnessing to the kind of social life possible for those that have been formed by the story of Christ.”

These authors, theologians, and pastors run the gambit, and maybe you don’t even need to know where they are on the spectrum before you select which to read. Pick up one of these books in the next several weeks as you prepare for the election. Let it be an exercise in hearing another's VOICE. Maybe that VOICE will articulate perfectly your long held beliefs in a way you have not been able to. Maybe that VOICE will help you see with new clarity an issue about which you previously were in a muddle. Maybe that VOICE will articulate a view counter to your own strongly held convictions and yet it will draw you into more effective advocacy for your own position. Maybe that VOICE will do nothing more than help you learn how to patiently listen to someone else’s viewpoint, the inner promptings of another who shares your core beliefs, but who has studied an issue and reached a conclusion different from your own. Any of these would be experiences from which we can all benefit.

The books will all be on the big table in the library on the second floor of the Ministry Center during September and October, because that is how important I think they are. Grace and peace as you read in the coming weeks! He promises us both!

-Wendy Moeller

Financial Stewardship Update

As of July 31, First Presbyterian Church has received $562,938.

We're 58% through the year and have received

48.1% of our 2024 budget: $1,170.380

At this point last year we had received $548,456, or

52.2% of the 2023 budget: $1,050,000

Over the last three years, we have averaged receiving,

at the end of July, 48.9% of the annual budget

Thank you for your generosity and response to God's call

past, present, and future!

Music Notes

The Music Ministry has been busy planning for the Fall, and we have a big announcement to make: We have established a Music Committee that is planning the First Presbyterian Church Concert Series. Daniel Sansone has led a similar series in churches that he has served and is heading up this committee. We have a series we really think you will enjoy.

All concerts will be open to the public and free of charge. If you know of an artist or group that you have a contact information for, please let us know for the 2025-2026 season.

We're kicking off the series with Ronn McFarlane on

Saturday, September 21 at 7:00 pm.

Grammy-nominated lutenist, Ronn McFarlane, strives to bring the lute - the most popular instrument of the Renaissance - into today's musical mainstream and make it accessible to a wider audience. Born in West Virginia, Ronn grew up in Maryland. At thirteen, upon hearing "Wipeout" by the Surfaris, he fell madly in love with music and taught himself to play on a "cranky sixteen-dollar steel string guitar." Ronn kept at it, playing blues and rock music on the electric guitar while studying classical guitar. He graduated with honors from Shenandoah Conservatory and continued guitar studies at Peabody Conservatory before turning his full attention and energy to the lute in 1978. The next year, Mr. McFarlane began to perform solo recitals on the lute and became a member of the Baltimore Consort. Since then, he has toured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe with the Baltimore Consort and as a soloist.

CHOIRS

Just as our children are returning to school, it’s time to return to choir rehearsals! There are many opportunities to participate in our Music Program:

Covenant Choir, Grade K-5 Mondays 4:00 pm-5:15 pm, beginning September 9.
Preschool Choir will now be held for all 3 and 4-year-old children attending First Presbyterian Church Preschool. (During Preschool hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays, beginning September 11 and 12.)
Confirmation Choir will be composed of small ensembles. Time TBD
Daybreak Choir (8:30 service) and Sanctuary Choir (11:00 service) - Youth and Adults. These two choirs rehearse together Thursdays 5:15 pm beginning September 5. We will be presenting Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria during worship services on December 15.
Resurrection Singers 2nd Thursday 5:00 pm. Contact Susan Mabie if you are interested.

All rehearsals take place in the Choir Room on the second floor of the Ministry Center. Registration for Covenant Choir can be made online or by filling out cards that will be available in the Sanctuary.

Pat Rowlett

Fall Kickoff Breakfast

September 8, 9:40 am-10:40am

Get ready to kick off a fantastic new year of Faith Formation with a delicious breakfast on Sunday, September 8 at 9:40 am in the Session House! We invite everyone to join us for this special intergenerational event, where we can come together as a church family to celebrate and prepare for the exciting year ahead.

Bring your family, friends, and appetite as we enjoy a morning of fellowship, food, lawn games, and good conversation. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others and hear about all the great programs and activities we have planned for the new Faith Formation year. Let’s start this new season with joy and anticipation, united in our commitment to grow in faith together. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sunday Morning Faith Formation

Session 1, September 15 - October 20

Adult Education Faith Formation

Sundays from 9:40 am-10:40 am.

There are three opportunities in this first session.

We encourage you to learn and grow with us!

Present Word – The Present Word is an in-depth Bible study for adults that dives deep into God’s Word, studying the Bible over a six-year period and focusing on a specific theme each quarter. This class meets in the Session House Parlor and is taught by George Evans.

Making Sense of the Bible – Reading Making Sense of the Bible by pastor Adam Hamilton, this class will explore many of the questions we have about scripture. Hamilton is interested not only to discover the message each biblical author intended for their first hearers, but also how we can faithfully interpret scripture today. This class meets in the Conference Room (First floor, Ministry Center) and is led by Lana Brunk and Dick Betts.

Exploring Writing as a Spiritual Practice – How can we use writing and its many forms and functions, to explore our faith and spiritual journeys? By using various resources while prayerfully seeking guidance, we will examine, explore, and experiment with the gifts of words, thoughts, and our own voices. This class will allow us to better question, understand, and celebrate our faith, while sharing with and learning from one another. No formal writing skills are required, and you are free to share or not. We will have journals available, but you are welcome to bring your own. This class meets in the Owl Room (Second floor, Ministry Center) and is led by Gayle Hardy. “Writing it down is, in itself, laying it at the foot of the Cross. And we are free to leave it there. That is inviting Him to the story.” G.H.

Monday Evening Women's Bible Study

7:00 pm-8:30 pm on Zoom, starting Sept. 9

Forty years ago when Eugene Peterson’s classic A Long Obedience in the Same Direction first came out, Americans were quick fix people. Not much has changed! Peterson’s musings on the Psalms of Ascent, 120-134, sung as the ancient Hebrews climbed the long hill to the Jerusalem Temple, encourage us even today in the slow path of discipleship - worship, service, joy, work, happiness, humility, community, and blessing.

This study is led by Wendy Moeller and Leslie Pinkston. The book can be ordered from multiple online sources. For questions or to be put on the Zoom list, please contact the church office.

Calling Fabric Artists of FPC!

Do you quilt, needlepoint, or cross stitch? Do you work with fabric in other ways?

We are beginning the process of looking for new Bible bookmarks for the Sanctuary that not only use the different colors of the church year but will also incorporate symbols particular to each season.

If you would like to learn more or be a part of this project, please contact Anna Pinckney Straight.

CROP Hunger Walk - September 29

In just a few weeks, First Presbyterian CROP Walkers will gather at Union Point with other church teams and community groups from all over the city to fight food insecurity both here and around the world. The CROP Walk is always a wonderful opportunity to work together for a worthy cause, but this year the First Presbyterian team has an added incentive: our own Steve Mabie is one of two honorees for this year’s walk! We congratulate Steve on this well-deserved recognition and thank him for his unparalleled record of service to the CROP Walk.

Steve has a long history with the CROP Walk. He participated in walks in Raleigh when he lived there, and has been active in the New Bern Walk since he and Susan arrived here in 1997. For the past eight years, Steve served as the Walk Coordinator for New Bern. During his time in this leadership role, Steve has seen the walk grow steadily, bringing in a larger and more diverse group of walkers, developing a centralized steering committee, and raising ever more funds to fight hunger. He has strengthened the CROP Walk’s ties to both RCS and Faith Connection. Throughout his tenure Steve’s commitment to the Walk has been sustained by his conviction that combating hunger is the right thing for the church to do.

All members of the First Presbyterian community are invited to participate in this year’s efforts, whether by joining us on the one- or three-mile walk, sponsoring an individual walker, or supporting our team financially. Marianna Dunn has graciously agreed to serve as our team leader again this year, and she would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

To learn more about the Walk or to join our team,

please visit the New Bern CROP Walk website.

Rothermel Foundation Lecture- October 20

At 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 20 in the First Presbyterian Church, New Bern Sanctuary, the Rothermel Foundation presents Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., Director of the Vatican Observatory. His program is entitled Big Bang Cosmology and Divine Creation: The New Physics and the Old Metaphysics.

Learn more at at rothermelfoundation.org

Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian Women are looking forward to beginning their 2024-2025 Bible study, Let Justice Roll Down: God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation, at their regular meeting times in September. We always welcome new members who wish to become part of a small group of ladies who meet monthly to form deeper bonds with each other, explore and discuss spiritual issues, and deepen their faith through their journey together. You can contact individual Circle leaders or the church office if you need more information.

Circle meeting times and places are as follows:

Circle 1: First Tuesday, 10 am in the Library. Leader is Mimi Dixon.
Circle 2: First Monday, 10 am in the Ministry Center Café. Leader is Martha Strickland.
Circle 3: Third Monday, 10:30 am in the Church Parlor. Leader is Kim Avolis.
Circle 4: First Tuesday, 1:30 pm in the Ministry Center “Owl Room” and on Zoom. Leader is Pam Gaskill.
Circle 5: First Wednesday, 7 pm in the Ministry Center Café. Leader is Carole Koi.
Circle 6 (and possibly 7): Planned for younger women. TBA

Please contact the church office to get in contact with any of our Circle leaders.

Fall Kickoff Luncheon!

Janet Bryan,

Presbyterian Women Moderator,

welcomes attendees

Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team Members

serving plated lunches

Carol Koi presenting

an overview of this

year's Bible Study

Over 60 ladies (and Pastor Patrick) enjoyed the food and fellowship at the Presbyterian Women’s annual Kickoff Luncheon on August 25th. The program provided an overview of the Bible Study, Let Justice Roll Down: God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation, that Circles will be using this year. It also provided general information about Presbyterian Women and our Circles that begin meeting in September. A good time was had by all!

Backpack Blessings - A New School Year!

It was a terrific kickoff to our schoolyear involvement with Backpack Blessings. Five thousand snack packs were built for distribution through the first five weeks of our three county elementary and middle school program. We are currently serving over nine hundred children in this immediate area.

We experienced blowout support from our First Presbyterian members with a special thanks to our many First Pres participants... Wendy Moeller, Gwen Lessard, Anne Goldman, Kathy Ingraham, Stas and Brenda Humienny, Pam Gaskill, Judy Paquin, Olivia Peterson, Bob Little, Kirsten Stonstegard, Nancy McAden, Priscilla Van Horn (multiple times!),Chip and Linda Chagnon, Karen Reed, Kathleen McBride and of course, our Board Member and delivery fairy, Jane Dail. Thank you to each and every one of you!

As always, a special thanks to the wonderful staff at First Presbyterian Church, New Bern, who support this work and our congregation who provide the willing hands and hearts, as well as Outreach funding support, for this important ministry. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity that comes around every month and doesn't require a larger commitment. Watch the Weekly Word for announcements about when it is happening and how to sign up or reach out to the church office and we can put you in touch with someone who can tell you more about it!

Thank Yous

Hello, just wanted to thank ya'll for signing up to add to the Worship Service by providing a floral arrangement. I do enjoy breaking them down to give to our Church family members. It would be most appreciated, if at all possible, to return the vases to the Church.

With God's Grace,

Tracy Fritzsche

For the past year, Sarah Ross has worked with First Presbyterian Church, New Bern as our Communications Director. She let us know a few weeks ago that she is moving on to pursue full-time employment, and this is her final newsletter. We are grateful for all of her good, creative work that will continue to support the ministry of First Presbyterian Church, New Bern through communications and we wish her well in all that is ahead!

Children, Youth, and Family Ministries

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

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

Communications

comms@firstpresnb.org

Louis Foye - Sexton

Richard Colflesh - Maintenance

property@firstpresnb.org

Stephen Ministry

stephenministry@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