As my last Sunday in worship is June 13, I thank each and all of you for the honor of serving with you since early November. It has been a wondrous gift for me to go through the liturgical seasons with you from Advent through Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, and along the way to observe the other church traditions of Thanksgiving, New Year’s, MLK weekend, Youth Sunday including a confirmation, ordination and installation of Elders and Deacons, Memorial Day, and more. You have an inordinately gifted staff, and I have so appreciated their forbearance with my technological ineptitude and their collaboration and friendship on all things. During the pandemic year you met your benevolent commitments and began some new ones, and solidified a budget for 2021, and provided for maintenance and care for all the FPC buildings and grounds. You generously supported special offerings including a new Blessing Box, and more than a ton of food for food pantries, and meals for the homeless shelter cooked by adult members and by youth, and holiday turkeys for hundreds of people. There were also many phone calls and zoom meetings and e-mails and personal notes and choir practices by which we stayed connected and raised our spirits. There were online worship videos, Bible studies and reading groups, and a weekly newsletter to keep us reliably informed and hopeful. As social distancing allowed, there were pastoral consultations and some visits and at least three graveside services, and children’s/grandchildren’s births were celebrated along with a baptism. The Reopening Committee has been prudent and wise and hopes to go out of business soon!  The Elders and Deacons and PW leaders, and so many others, display a visibly deep love for Christ and the Church as well as keen and prayerful insight and the mature capacity to listen and to plan. Your Pastoral Nominating Committee has brought an experienced and energetic new minister to town in due time, and she is now hard at work on her first sermon for June 20! Two amazing natural images of the months for me were the floral cross on Easter morning, and the astonishing growth of the zucchini and other plants in the new raised boxes established by First Kids—seeds growing rather secretly but now unmistakable gifts of the Creator’s fruitfulness. If zucchini can be majestic, there it is near the playground!

One of the histories of First Presbyterian Church is called “The Psalm Singers of Concord Town.” Presbyterians have long held the Psalms close to our hearts and minds and worship. I keep several at hand. Psalm 1 is a summons at the beginning to an ethical life. Psalm 23 of course many of us memorized early on and has been a strength as we have walked through the valley of the shadow of death and also have been pursued by goodness and mercy every day. Psalm 27 begins “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 51 reminds us of our personal and corporate need for penitence and forgiveness. Psalm 77 is among the many profound laments which are so poignant around the globe in our time. Psalm 121 is beloved because it assures us that the Lord will keep our going out and our coming in from this time forth and forevermore. The Psalter concludes with soaring images of a symphonic praise (148-150) which include young and old, sea monsters, birds, flowering things—everything that breathes. But maybe through the years the Psalm of Presbyterians is Psalm 100. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing . . .” As I now “go out,” I am certain that will be your witness together always, in such reliable and surprising ways. Though many things may have changed during the pandemic, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit” abide in you and for you.

Sunday worship attendance in the Sanctuary has been increased to 175 people.

Contact Suzanne Russell in the office if you have any questions. Thank you.

The excitement of VBS is building as we prepare for S’more Adventures with God! We are looking for a small team of people to be part of our set-up crew each morning. June 21-24 (Monday through Thursday), we will set the stage for camping fun starting at 8 a.m.. Most rotations are outside this year, which allows us to have a safe, outdoor VBS program, but it does involve a little extra work with daily set-up. If you can contribute to the success of our program with less than an hour’s worth of effort each morning, please let René Prager know: r.prager@firstpresconcord.org.

We will return all below donations unless you specify otherwise!

Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes.

Backpack

Tents

Camp cot

Camp stools

Inflatable raft

Blue sheets

Canteens

2” or less branches, cut 24” long….a lot of these!

Cooking tripod

Blue plastic tablecloths or roll

Rope….sisal 20 yards

Fake plants like ferns and bushes

Tents

Visit the NEWS section of the church web site for up-to-date information on the re-opening of our Church campus for worship and other activities. We anticipate things to change frequently over the next several weeks and will post all updates for the congregation under that section of the website.