Dear friends,

           I have never been one to rush the passing of time. In hindsight, it (time) is always gone too quickly anyway, right? We should savor every moment. But what about 2020? Surely, there is not much to savor in this year. Most of us are ready to see 2020 in our rear-view mirror, to put it behind us, to let the vaccine free us for life together again. 

The New Year is a welcome celebration this year, as the past year has been hard in endless ways - painful, plodding, lonely, grief-filled, confusing, fearful, and mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. At the same time, however, 2020 has been for some a time of deep joy – with new babies, weddings, engagements, graduations, new love, space to explore new hobbies, and time to reflect on the meaning of life, relationships, and God. In this way, this year has been like every other year . . . and yet it has been like no other year we have ever experienced. But through it all, God has been with us. We have never been abandoned or left alone. God is with us even now, as we move into a winter that will include more cases of the coronavirus while also including more vaccines. We move closer to the time when we can be together again. That brings me much joy. I have missed you all and I know how much you have missed one another.

           Every year at this time, I turn to the words of Howard Thurman, and this year I want to share them with you to use as you reflect on the New Year that begins on Friday.

           “This is a New Year. . .. It may mark the end of relationships of many years’ accumulation. It may mean the first encounter with a stark tragedy or radical illness or the first quaffing of the cup of bitterness. It may mean the great discovery of the riches of another human heart and the revelation of the secret beauty of one’s own. It may mean the beginning of a new kind of living because of marriage, of graduation, or one’s first job. It may mean an encounter with God on the lonely road or the hearing of one’s name called by Him, high above the noise and din or the surrounding traffic. And when the call is answered, life becomes invaded by smiling energies never before released, felt, or experienced. In whatever sense this year is a New Year for you, may the moment find you eager and unafraid, ready to take it by the hand with joy and with gratitude.”

Friends, I pray that as you enter this New Year, you will enter it with joy in your hearts over God’s great and enduring love, with gratitude as your guiding spiritual gift, with hope as the light that guides your way, and with courage as your steady companion. God is with us. 

With love,

Care Communities:

Brookdale Durham: Julian Boswell

Croasdaile Pavilion: Bob Rankin

Dubose Center at The Cedars, Chapel Hill: Arthur Clark

Durham Regent: John Kerr, Ann Prospero  

Durham Ridge: Phillip Herndon

Emerald Pond: Paul Cornsweet

Hillcrest Convalescent Center: Walter Chambliss, father of Will Chambliss

The Forest at Duke: Fran Bryant

Family and Friends of the Congregation:

Evelyn Bass, aunt of Valerie McMillian

Brendan Bequette, a friend of Margaret & Miguel Rubiera

Peggy Boulden, mother of Dick Boulden

Linda Capers, a friend of Li-Chen Chin

Daniel Cheney, brother of Johanna Bernhardt

Meg Courtney, daughter of Bob & Mary Lee Clark, friends of the congregation

Maureen Darcey, a friend of Brianna Bennett 

Phil Goss, a friend of the congregation

Peggy Mordecai, mother of Beth Eisenson

Shannon Putman, daughter of Mary Putman

Robert Reaves, husband of Floalice Reaves, a friend of the congregation

Joe Rudigier, brother of Jeanne Hervey

I finally get to display the beautiful crèche created by the prayer shawl team, and gifted to me as a farewell gift last year!  And as much as I miss everyone at FPC, the wonderful memories of each unique child of God more than fills that void. Blessings to all for a “hunkered down holiday season”!

Love and joy,

NOTE: this photo was also included in the congregational Christmas Eve pageant video!

If you wish to make a contribution by credit card, this may be done through the parish’s website (www.firstpres-durham.org) at any time. To be deductible on your 2020 taxes, please initiate online gifts by Tuesday, December 29. On-line contributions scheduled for December 31 will not reach us in time.

If you wish to make a donation through a gift of stock, please notify Tom Bloom, Business Administrator ([email protected]). If you have recently transferred stock to FPC, but have not notified the church, please contact Tom Bloom, Business Administrator, ASAP. 

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Hunger for Change - These funds are sent to the Presbytery of New Hope to combat hunger locally. The Presbytery disperses the funds to hunger relief programs based on a grant application process. Urban Ministries of Durham, Presbyterian Urban Ministries, and Iglesia Emanuel are frequent recipients. In 2019 FPC’s Walk-in Ministry received a grant which was used to purchase blessing bag supplies. 

Christmas Joy - 50% of your gifts to this PCUSA special offering make it possible for students to learn and grow in faith at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color; the other 50% of your gifts provide assistance for current and retired church workers and their families with critical financial needs.

Christmas Eve Offering - This year's offering will be allocated to three organizations, with each receiving one-third of the amount received. The organizations are Welcome Baby, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, and the food ministry at Iglesia Emanuel. 

You can mail your offerings to the church, give them online here, or text the appropriate code (Hunger, XMASEVE, XMASJOY) to 917-373-3254. 

Sunday School for children begins at 9:00 a.m. and for adults at 10:00 a.m.

Worship will be streamed live at 11 a.m. on FPC's YouTube channel via the church's website: https://firstpres-durham.org.

John Weicher, preaching

Sunday School for children begins at 9:00 a.m. and for adults at 10:00 a.m.

Worship will be streamed live at 11 a.m. on FPC's YouTube channel via the church's website: https://firstpres-durham.org.

With an evolved Supreme Court, reproductive rights and justice are back in the news (if they ever really left). Faith & Community is exploring these important issues, under the leadership of Scottie Seawell and Heather Wallace, using the book Trust Women: A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice. This series runs from January 3 to February 7, and we are hoping to be joined by a variety of experts later in the run of the class. Reading the book is encouraged but not necessary. This class is for all people. Click here to join us via Zoom.

Bill Hendrickson will feature FPC member Connel Fullenkamp as his guest on Monday, January 4. Fullenkamp will discuss American and international economics during and following this dreadful pandemic.  Fullenkamp is Professor of the Practice of Economics and Director of Undergraduate Studies of Economics at Duke University. He specializes in the investigation of financial market development and regulation of financial markets.

Study books for 2020-2021 are still available at the church (in the Volunteer's office). Contact church staff if you need a copy. Contact Linn Lopez (919-596-5707) for ways to connect with Presbyterian Women in 2021.

The Things That Matter Book Group will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, January 12, at 7:00 p.m. Marcia Lorimer will be sending the link prior to the meeting. Marila Cordeiro-Stone will be leading our discussion of The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. Join in even if you haven’t finished the book. We just enjoy seeing you during these times of separation.