THE BANNER
April 14, 2021
New Pastor Announced
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Pastor Nominating Committee First Presbyterian Church will welcome the arrival of our new Senior Pastor/Head of Staff on June 15.
Congratulations to Ellen Crawford True and to FPC!

If you would like to read about Ellen and her family click here.
Trumpet Recital Livestream Thursday
On Thursday, April 15th at 7:00 p.m., UNCC trumpet students Andrew Beiter and Kira Wagner will present a recital in the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary. Though the maximum attendance for this recital has already been capped, please visit uncctrumpets.com to view the livestream for this concert. Both Andrew and Kira have appeared in our virtual services and would love to have you join them!

Presbyterian Women
SIGN UP TODAY! Please register for our Annual Birthday event: Sunday, May 2nd, at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. We will reflect on our accomplishments over the last year, celebrate the lives and contributions of the women whom we have lost since our last Birthday Event, and install our new Coordinating Team officers and Circle Leaders, as we look forward to the year ahead.

We will offer a birthday gift bag to accompany the event theme. Please indicate if you would like to pick up your bag at the church between 11 a.m. and noon on May 2nd, or if you would like it to be dropped off on your front porch.

Please RSVP here by April 19th. 
Return to In Person Worship Date Announced!
From the reopening committee: We anticipate starting safe and modified in person worship on May 16th (with a sign up genius going live a week before). We will continue to monitor local data and trends and loosen or tighten restrictions as that data directs. For more detailed information, click here.
Covid Vaccine Update
The state of North Carolina has now made the COVID vaccine available to all adults, age 16 and up for the Pfizer vaccine and age 18 and up for the J&J and Moderna vaccines. Not only do these vaccines provide excellent protection for the vaccinated individual, but they also help protect the community by giving the virus fewer targets to infect, getting us closer to herd immunity.

Many people wonder which vaccine they should receive. The first vaccine that is available to you and is easiest for you to get is the right vaccine for you.
The best resources in our community to find a vaccine appointment are:
Many of our local pharmacies, including Moose, CVS, and Walgreen’s are now vaccine providers as well. If you have questions or concerns about the vaccine before receiving it, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Amy Woolwine
Re-opening committee
Memorial Garden in the Spring
On Wednesday, April 7, our Memorial Garden was featured in the Independent Tribune with many beautiful photographs taken by photographer David Roman.

Click here to view the article and David's photos.

photo at right taken by René Prager
First Kids Celebrate "The Week of the Young Child"
During the last two weeks of April, First Kids will join with children around the world the celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Week of the Young Child (WOYC) This annual celebration is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest early childhood education association.
The purpose of the Week of the Young Child® is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
The early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child™ is a time to plan how we—as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation—will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.
Though we are still unable to join together as a whole school, individual classes will celebrate by creating "Our Beautiful World" class murals, and enjoying face painting, chalk play, special snacks, and planting veggies in our new garden boxes.
We hope everyone takes a little time to play everyday, in honor of the early childhood years.
Playing and Learning Together,
Maureen
Youth Sunday - May 9!
Mother's Day, May 9th, will be Youth Sunday. Our entire worship service will be youth led and we hope that all of the youth of the congregation can participate. Please take a moment to sign-up here.
 
We will gather on April 18 and May 2 at 5 p.m. to prepare for Youth Sunday. Please mark your calendars and check your e-mail for additional details.

Questions? Please contact René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org.
College Exam Time!
Please keep our college congregation members in prayer over the coming weeks as exams are already underway for some of our First Presbyterian Church college students. Many colleges and universities altered spring schedules in an attempt to best serve students this semester. These changes mean that some students completed their final exams last week, and others will finish as late as the third week of May.
 
If you or your college student graduated in December, 2020, or will graduate this spring, please contact the church office to let Suzanne Russell or René Prager know so that we can celebrate this milestone.
 
We will be celebrating our High School graduates on Sunday, May 16th. Please look for an upcoming e-mail and watch The Banner for additional information.
Save the Date!
There will be a Church Grounds Work Day on Saturday, May 8. Details to follow in next weeks Banner.
Lay Readers Needed!
Please remember to sign up to be a lay reader for our virtual services. Click here to do so today! The link is listed below weekly.
Services Update - Worship Available on Sunday Morning
Our pastoral staff continues to preach and teach through various means of technology. Please join us for all of our worship opportunities on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/firstpresconcordnc/),
Worship is posted at 8:30 a.m.
Sign-up Links
Sign up to read scripture during our virtual services.
Questions, contact Hunter Morrison: huntermorrison@gmail.com
Lay Liturgists
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Calendar
Sunday, April 18, 2021
Rev. Rush Otey preaching

Thursday, April 15
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
6:00 p.m. Girl Scouts
6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts advancement BOR
7:00 p.m. Trumpet Recital (sanctuary)
Friday, April 16
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Sunday, April 18
8:30 a.m. Worship online
9:45 a.m. Journey Sunday school (sanctuary)
9:45 a.m. S & D Sunday School (online)
4:00 p.m. Officer Training (online)
Monday, April 19
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Tuesday, April 20
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts
6:00 p.m. Dunford Committee Mtg
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Pack 3
Wednesday, April 21
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Church Report
Condolences
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to Gene and Evelyn Barrier Light and their family as Gene's mother, Rubye Powell Light, died on April 7 in Raleigh, NC.
Birthdays
April 15 - Thomas Barefoot, Buddy DeLizza, Claire Farmer, Hayden Horton
April 16 - David Austin, Barbara Hayes
April 17 - Bob Foust, Hannah Patrum, McCann Sheridan
April 18 - Ben Holland, Anne NIblock
April 19 - Elizabeth Campbell, James Gibson, Sydney Lisk, Bob Pierce
April 20 - Emma Teague, Remy Williams
April 21 - Kimmy Byrd, Lucas Kiser, Scott Watson
**To enjoy a sung happy birthday, click here!**
Staff
Rush Otey
Temporary Supply Pastor 

Associate Pastor 
for Care and Mission

René Prager
Interim Youth
Programs Coordinator



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 Hours:
Closed

Memorial Garden:
(704) 786-8009
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
 
Garden Hours: 
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Closed Monday