Dear friends,

Today, as spring rejoices all around us, we celebrate the good gift of God’s creation. This week we observe Creation Care week and Earth Day (April 22). Of course, we know that if we are to care for the world so graciously given to us, we must do it more than just one day or one week a year. As a Creation Care Congregation, First Presbyterian Church shares in an ongoing commitment to live in harmony with God’s creation. We recognize the ways that our daily choices leave a footprint on the world around us. We want to leave behind the smallest footprint possible, or when and where we can, leave the land, sea, and air better and cleaner than we found it. To do so, we will educate ourselves and one another and learn to make decisions that improve and do not harm our environment around us. All creation has been given to us as a gift. We are called to care for it.

John Calvin, 16^th century reformer, writes:

“Let everyone who possesses a field, so partake of its yearly fruits, that the ground is not injured by negligence; but let those endeavor to hand it down to posterity as received, or even better cultivated. Let them so feed on its fruits that they neither dissipate it by luxury, nor permit it to be marred by neglect. Moreover, let everyone regard themselves as stewards of God in all things which they possess. Then they will neither conduct themselves dissolutely, nor corrupt by abuse those things which God requires to be preserved . . . . The creation is quite like a spacious and splendid house, provided and filled with the most exquisite and the most abundant furnishings. Everything in it tells us of God.” (edited for inclusive language)

I hope that you will see the information below from our Creation Care Committee and join in our daily efforts to care for the world God has given us. If you are interested in serving on this team, let me know! We would love to have you join us.

On another topic, I want to continue to encourage all members and friends of the congregation to receive their vaccination. If you have questions about the vaccine, please let me know and I will put you in touch with one of our COVID-19 advisory team members. They would be happy to answer questions or discuss concerns with you, as would I. Also, please see two opportunities below (one Tuesday and one Saturday) if you would like to receive a vaccine. If you need help with transportation, please let us know! We want to be able to gather soon in a way that is safe for everyone. The more people are vaccinated, the more we will protect our whole community.

The Session is in the process of making decisions about when and how we can return to worship and in-person events. Many outside events are already planned and we encourage you to take advantage of those as you are able. We will be together soon. God will make a way. Thanks be to God!

See you soon, my friends. In the meantime, you are in my prayers. May God’s grace and peace surround you with hope and joy. May you know God’s constant and comforting presence with you.

This April/May, participate with the FPC Creation Care team with these steps:

1) Learn: Attend Faith and Community adult faith formation on Sundays through April to hear about current projects and opportunities

2) Discuss: Virtually screen the film Kiss the Ground for free April 16-26 (see info below) and join our monthly Creation Care meeting on Thursday May 15, 7:00 p.m. for a group discussion on how regenerative agriculture has the potential to rebalance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world.

3) Advocate: Break free from plastic and learn about bills aimed to combat plastic pollution at its source https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/webinars

4) Get out: Join the FPC Community clean-up with Keep Durham Beautiful, May 8th, Long Meadow Park, 9-11:30am (see additional details below)

5) Sign up: for the CC Team's newsletter for continued information on greening our congregation and caring for God's creation: https://mailchi.mp/cba62ad25247/fpc-durham-creation-care-info

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As part of our ongoing recognition of the importance of our stewardship of the earth, the Service and Mission Committee and the Creation Care Committee will be holding a Durham Clean Up Day on Saturday morning, May 8, from 9:00-11:30 a.m. We will be cleaning up Long Meadow Park on Liberty Street, just a few blocks east of the church, in collaboration with Keep Durham Beautiful. All ages are welcome to join us, and it's a great way to safely socialize with other members of the congregation while doing something worthwhile for our community. Gloves, trash bags and grabbers will be provided, or you can bring your own. Since we won't be able to have sign-up sheets at church as we normally would, just contact Tom Bacon to let us know you would like to join us.

12 noon to 6:00 p.m.

Patients and community members will be able to walk in to the Wheels Fun Park vaccination clinic and receive their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. No appointments are required during this time. Encourage your friends and family to participate in this exciting opportunity to receive their first dose of the vaccine! Click here.

To register: https://covernc.unch.unc.edu/ - Access code: BULLS

Where: Lincoln Community Health Center

Need more information about COVID-19 vaccines? Click here.

Condolences:

The love and concern of the congregation are extended to the family of Lynn Hays, FPC member who died April 18 at the age of 91. The family has requested a small service be held in the FPC Memorial Garden on Wednesday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m. Please keep the family in your prayers. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family home:

Ed Overton and wife Abby, friends of Doug Butler; Abby suffered a stroke following surgery

Margaret Sims

Care Communities:

Brookdale Durham: Julian Boswell 

Croasdaile Pavilion: Bob Rankin

Dubose Center at The Cedars, Chapel Hill: Arthur Clark

Durham Ridge Assisted Living: Phillip Herndon

Emerald Pond: Paul Cornsweet

Hillcrest Convalescent: Walter Chambliss, father of Will Chambliss

The Forest at Duke: Fran Bryant

The Laurels of Chatham County: Ann Prospero

Carolyn Bonner, wife of Deborah Momsen-Hudson’s coworker Al Bonner

Flora Estrella, a relative of Beth Stringfield and Cris Rivera

Grace, Chris James’ great-niece, suffering from a degenerative condition

Phil Goss, a friend of the congregation

Peggy Mordecai, mother of Beth Eisenson

Shannon Putman, daughter of Mary Putman

Carlton Round's mother who is fighting cancer; Carlton is a friend of Li - Chen Chin

Mindy Douglas, preaching

The Hunger for Change Offering is received on the fourth Sunday of each month. You can mail a check to FPC or give online from the church's website. Thank you for your generous giving.

John Weicher, preaching

Zoom link

This Sunday, April 25, the Creation Care Committee will conclude its discussion on being an earth care congregation. On May 2, the Journey's Class will lead a discussion on spirituality. Class begins at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to join via Zoom or by phone access.

Adult Lectionary Class

Join us as we discuss the lectionary texts for the day at 10:00 a.m., preceded at 9:45 by sharing of news and concerns.

On May 2: "I am the vine, you are the branches." What kind of fruit do we bear? The fruit of love for brother and sister? The fruit of the good news? Or some other kind of fruit? Join via Zoom. For phone access (audio only), call 253-215-8782.) If you need a copy of the handout of scripture readings or need the actual ID for the Zoom connection, contact David Smith.

Adult Journeys Class:

Journeys will discuss topics for the syllabus for this summer May (2021) and next fall (September 2021) on this Sunday, April 25. Two books that are under consideration for this summer, and will be discussed in class this Sunday, include: Encountering God by Diana Eck and We shall be changed: Questions for the Post-Pandemic Church, Mark D.W. Edington (editor). The class will also prepare to lead a discussion in spirituality on the following Sunday, May 2 for the Faith and Community class.  Join via Zoom. Contact Andy Henry for more information.

Women’s Spirituality Group: Contact Leah Graves for the links to join this class at 10:00 a.m.on Sundays for spiritual formation, and/or following Sunday worship for a virtual lunch together, and checking in with one another on Tuesdays - all three events via Zoom.

SCRATCH: We're back on for our usual meeting time, Sundays at 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. We are currently discussing chapters in "Home by Another Way" by Barbara Brown Taylor. Join via Zoom. New faces always welcome!

Signup required to participate.

Must be age 65+ and fully vaccinated.

Masks and social distancing required.

Contact Mitzi Lesher-Thomas

to confirm you are signed up to attend.

Must be fully vaccinated to attend.

Masks and social distancing will be required.

Contact Susan Dunlap to join the meeting via Zoom.

Got 'adulting' figured out but aren't yet wondering where the time went?

Juggling life, work, family (in all its variations and 4-legged family included)

Part pop-up (come as you can, leave as you must)

Bring your coffee (or just a clean cup) and enjoy some conversation

Join us for a child friendly devotion at the amphitheater by the lake

Lenore Champion will provide some programming for children, while adults have time to reconnect and plan for the upcoming year

Pack your own picnic and plan to hang around and enjoy some fellowship time at camp.

Questions/concerns contact Mitzi.

FPC is full of people with a rich variety of interests. From birding to book discussions, beer tasting and backyard gardens. Check out the variety of opportunities to meet someone new, indulge a curiosity, or connect with other enthusiasts.

Please note - out of love for one another and in accordance with CDC and COVID Team guidelines we continue to limit the size of gatherings and ask that you mask and stay socially distant. Some events involve food or drink - this is permissible as long as appropriate distance is maintained. Check out all the opportunities and sign up here to connect with other FPC'ers. One final note - some offerings begin at a member's home - these addresses will be sent to those who have signed up closer to the date of the event. Questions - email Mitzi.

Volunteers needed at Urban Ministries

For years, FPC has committed to provide volunteers to help prepare and serve meals at Urban Ministries of Durham. Even through the pandemic, members of FPC and those connected to us, have faithfully showed up as volunteers. If you are fully vaccinated and itching to serve again, please know that you are needed. As always, only volunteer when you are comfortable doing so. We need volunteers for Friday, April 30, to prepare breakfast and fill take-out boxes, 7 - 9 a.m.

Contact Jen McGonigle to sign up for a slot or call her at 202-421-5870. If you have interest in serving at Urban Ministries at other times and in other ways, click this link: https://umdurham.org/get-involved/opportunities.html.

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At the Iglesia Emanuel Food Pantry, we see miracles every week. We prepare for 550 families. 590 families show up, and there is enough food for all.

Come, be part of the miracle at 2504 N Roxboro. Join other volunteers for a 2-hour shift, bag rice and beans from home, donate food, or give a financial donation. Together, we will continue to spread God’s love throughout our community in this most tangible way.