THE BANNER
August 17, 2022
Note from Ellen
Dear Friends,

This Sunday, August 21 promises to be a good, full day at FPC. Our next Welcome Class will meet at 9:45 am to learn about discipleship and membership at FPC. We will Bless Backpacks during our 11 AM service and pray for everyone heading back to school over the next few weeks. We will linger and visit over Sips & Sweets on the lawn following worship. We will pack meals for Rise Against Hunger in the afternoon. And we will gather again for worship during our 5 PM Selah service.

This Sunday offers a wonderful opportunity for neighbors and friends to come and catch a glimpse of what life at FPC is all about. Maybe all they need is an invitation from you!

See you Sunday!

Grace and peace,
Ellen

Join us for the Selah Service: Sunday at 5:00 PM in Davis Hall.

Sunday, August 28, we will be having supper following our final Selah Service of the summer. Sign up here for dinner. Reservations are due by Monday, August 22, 2022.

link for online worship: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfpzVUz-ZgaCJuogIMor8Iw/live
Blessing of the Backpacks
Join us for 11AM worship this Sunday and invite a friend for the Blessing of the Backpacks!

Everyone who is going back to school (children, youth, adults, students, teachers, school staff), is invited to come forward during the Children’s Message, with your backpack, if you brought it.

After the blessing, we will have backpack tags for you to attach to your backpack. Additional backpack tags will be available in the narthex if you prefer not to come forward during the Children’s Message.
Youth - Summer Outreach
Monday was our final Meals on Wheels route for the summer. Thank you to Sallie Dotger for bringing back this amazing opportunity for our Youth and thank you to each of the adult and Youth volunteers who helped to deliver the meals along our route this summer.
Join One of Our Teams!
We are building teaching / care teams for Elementary Sunday School (K-5), Middle & High School Sunday School (6th-12th), Pew Prep (K/1 DURING worship), and Nursery (infant-preschool).
 
Curriculum / Lessons will be provided, as well as any additional training you feel that you'd like!
 
We are looking to build teams of 6+ people each for the Elementary Sunday School team and the Middle / High School Sunday School Team. Sunday School is 9:45-10:45 AM. Pairs will co-lead lessons and teach approximately once every 3 weeks. 
 
Pew Prep is a 20 minute mini lesson on worship for our K/1st graders. It occurs during worship - from the end of the children's message to the Offering. We are looking for at least 4 volunteers to be regulars - serving approximately once a month, and an additional 8-12 volunteers who are willing to help out approximately once every other, or every third month.
 
Nursery - Our nursery is open during both Sunday School and worship, but generally we need volunteers (both adult and middle/high school teens) to help during worship. We would love to add about 4-6 additional volunteers to our current team.
 
If you'd like more information about any of these teaching or care teams, please e-mail Rene Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org. Thank you!

Session Meeting Highlights August 9, 2022

    The treasurer reported that the church remains in solid financial standing, despite recent stock market losses. He noted that we are slightly behind in receipt of pledges. We remain grateful to the Cannon Foundation for their financial support of our boiler replacement and window replacement in the Fellowship House.
    Susan Otteni and Amy Murphy will represent the church at the upcoming Presbytery meeting at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.
    The Session approved the Worship and Music committee’s proposal to move towards a more traditional method of dispersing Communion elements. We will continue using prepackaged Communion packets through at least December, but we will return to church officers (Elders and Deacons) dispersing the elements during the service when it is time for Communion.
    The Session discussed the article “The MVG: The Most Valuable Guest’ by Priya Parker, particularly with regard to how the work of being a good guest could apply to our life together at FPC.
Back to School Drive
It takes a lot to equip a classroom and the burden of much of that expense falls on the teacher.
This year we are sponsoring several teachers at Irvin Elementary. Be on the lookout for a separate
email with links to their wish lists. Please give as you are able.
Claimed for More
Ten of our congregation members / staff participated in the 2022 Women’s Connection at Montreat, August 12-14.

Natarsha Sanders (sermon) and Jasmine Evans (music) led our opening and closing worship. A deeper dive into Jonah was led by Anna Carter Florence, and Sarah Bessey hosted a book signing and was the keynote speaker for Saturday evening.
A variety of classes from yoga and hiking, art and choir, to grief and the Presbyterian Women bible study were offered during the day on Saturday. It was a wonderful time for fellowship, sabbath, and growing closer to God. If you are interested in any of the many conference offerings for adults at Montreat, consider visiting the Montreat Conference Center website to join their mailing list or follow them on social media.
Welcome Class
Welcome Class: This Sunday, August 21, at 9:45 AM in the Fellowship House

If you have been visiting with us and would like to know more about the First Presbyterian of Concord, you are warmly invited to attend the Welcome Class. Childcare will be available. If you have questions, please contact Julie Hill. 
Asheville Road Trip
Thank you to each congregation member who donated items for 12 Baskets Café. Last week, several Youth participated in our day trip to Asheville.
We took a moment to surround ourselves in the beauty God created with a walk to Pearson’s Falls in Saluda. Most of our day was spent at 12 Baskets Café, part of the Asheville Poverty Initiative.
Youth helped volunteers put together boxes of food for those in need. We also learned more about the organization and listened to the stories of those in community with us. We are all givers and receivers! It was wonderful to be welcomed by this community.
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.
.
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, August 21 , 2022
Rev. Ellen Crawford True, preaching
Scripture: John 14: 1-4, Revelation 7:9-17         
Thursday, August 18
5:30 PM Memorial Garden Association (FH library)
Sunday, August 21
9:45 AM S & D SS (FH)
9:45 AM New Member Class (FH)
10:30 AM Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)
3:00 PM Rise Against Hunger (Davis Hall)
5:00 PM Selah Service (Davis Hall)
Tuesday, August 23
12:00 PM Commons Meeting (Commons)
2:00 PM Staff Meeting (FH sunroom)
7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)
Wednesday, August 24
10:30 AM Bible Study (Fellowship House)
Church Report
Condolences
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to the family of Nancy Lunger White as they mourn her passing on August 15, 2022. Here is a link to her obituary.
Birthdays
August 18 - Carol Hovey
August 19 - Debby Brown, Chelsea Green
August 20 - Robert Fulghum, Adeline Fulton, Carie Irving, Franklin Niblock
August 21 - Greg Andrews, Bill Cochran, Martha Dobson, Stephanie Reese
August 22 - Courtney Finney
August 23 - Mac Clark, Grace Davis, Chip Moore
August 24 - Dylan Batts, Shelly Johnson, John Shaw
**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:
Open only for scheduled groups

Memorial Garden: memorialgarden@buddgroup.com

36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
 
Garden Hours: 
Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed Monday