…Let it be here
that safety will rest.
Let it be here
that health will make its home.
Let it be here
that peace will show its face.
Let it be here
that love will find its way.
Here
let the weary come
let the aching come
let the lost come
let the sorrowing come.
Here
let them find their rest
and let them find their soothing
and let them find their place
and let them find their delight.
~ From “THE YEAR AS A HOUSE: A Blessing” by Jan Richardson
Friends,
I think most of us would agree that we are not greeting 2022 in the way we had hoped we would. Our Christmas celebrations were wonderful, and yet, the virus is still a very present problem, once again upending things. I give thanks for your gentleness and graciousness with me and with one another as we find creative ways to stay connected while also attending to the health and safety of friends, neighbors, and strangers alike, especially the most vulnerable among us. Thank you for continuing to wear masks in worship and inside here at church. Thank you for your flexibility in moving meetings online. Thank you for staying the course, trusting that God is with us now and always.
Happy New Year, dear FPC friends. As Jan Richardson writes in the blessing above, may this year be one in which “love will find its way.”
Grace and peace,
Ellen
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Save the Date to Help Fight Hunger!
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Sunday, January 23, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. in Davis Hall First Presbyterian Church is holding our annual Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event. This is a great opportunity for the entire family to take part in an important program to help feed the hungry all over the world. A Sign Up Genius link will be in The Banner as soon as it is available.
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2022 Opportunities for Children and Youth
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As we move into the new year, here are some of the ways our children and families can connect with one another and grow closer to God:
9:45-10:45 am Sundays:
Nursery for our one to four year-olds,
Elementary Sunday School for K-5th grade, and
Middle//High School Sunday School for our Youth
11 am worship:
Nursery is available for one to four year-olds,
Pew bags are available in the narthex for children attending worship. Included in the bag is a children’s Bible, coloring page, crayons, and other activities. Bags can be returned to the rack in the narthex after worship.
Children’s Message – All children are invited to come forward after the first reading to hear the children’s message. If they are not attending Pew Prep, they may return to their seats after the message.
Pew Prep – for our kindergarten through second grade worshipers. After the children’s message, Pew Prep students will walk to the Children’s Chapel with our volunteers and learn more about what happens in worship and why. These mini lessons are age focused to help prepare our young worshipers to fully participate and understand worship. They will return with volunteers during the Doxology. They are invited and encouraged to bring their offering to Pew Prep.
Other opportunities:
Confirmation Class – for 8th through 12th graders who have not yet completed Confirmation. Class starts January 9th.
Youth Group – for our 6th-12th graders, on most Sundays dinner is offered at 5:30, followed by Youth Group, 6-7 pm.
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Confirmation Class starts this Sunday, January 9 th, for our 8 th and 9 th graders, and any 10 th-12 th graders who have not yet completed Confirmation. We are using the Big God Big Questions curriculum. If you have a youth interesting in joining this year’s Confirmation Class and you have not already registered, please e-mail René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org for more information. Please keep our Confirmands in prayer as they make this next step in their personal faith journey.
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Blessing Box Caretaker 2022 sign-up is now available!
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Please consider having your group sign-up for a month this coming year.
Click here to visit the sign-up genius, or copy and paste the link below into your browser. Thank you for supporting this exciting mission!
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I will be placing an order this month for name tags. If you are in need of one because you never had one or yours has gone missing, please send me an email: suzanne.russell@firstpresconcord.org or give me a call in the office, 704-788-2100, press 2 for my extension.
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Join our Youth Group fun!
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Plan to join us this Sunday, January 9th, for FUN and GAMES (including Grog) at Youth Group!
If you have a fun board game that you'd like to share, please bring that too.
All 6th-12th graders are welcome to join us for dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by Youth Group from 6-7.p.m.
Pictured here: We kicked off 2022 on January 2nd with a great discussion on Proverbs and created take home boards with inspirational verses to live by.
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Nursery Volunteers Needed
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We continue to need volunteers in the nursery. If you are interested in helping, please use this sign-up link: Sunday Nursery Volunteers
You may volunteer for the Sunday School hour or worship hour. All volunteers must have Child Protection training. Please contact René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org for the links to the training and the paperwork for the church office.
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Lay Liturgists
Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
Commons
Sign up here to open or close the Commons.
Nursery
Sign up here to volunteer in the Nursery on Sundays.
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Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.
Ushers
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Sunday, January 16, 2022
Rev. Ellen Crawford True, Preaching
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Thursday, January 6
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
6:30 p.m. Girl Scouts (Ed Bldg)
7:00 p.m. Mothers of Murdered Offspring (Commons)
Friday, January 7
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Saturday,January 8
Sunday, January 9
9:45 a.m. Journey SS (Ed Bldg)
9:45 a.m. S & D SS (FH)
9:45 a.m. Todd Hobbie SS (Davis Hall)
11:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)
3:15 p.m. Children's Choir (small choir room)
4:30 p.m. Confirmation Class (Davis Hall)
5:30 p.m. Youth Dinner (Davis Hall)
6:00 p.m. Middle & High School Youth Groups (Davis Hall)
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Monday, January 10
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Tuesday, January 11
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting
6:30 p.m. Session (Davis Hall)
7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Youth Room)
7:00 p.m. Al Anon (Commons)
7:00 p.m. PW CT Meeting (TBD)
Wednesday, January 12
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
10:30 a.m. Bible Study (Davis Hall)
7:30 p.m. Choir Practice (Choir Room)
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Memorials
John Fulghum - music fund, families in need
Heath Hedgpeth - operating budget, Memorial Garden and General Endowment
Jim Waters - music fund, building fund, Memorial Garden Endowment Fund
Birth
Congratulations to Thomas and Liza Christy on the birth of their son, Samuel Quinn Christy, born December 26, 2021. Grandparents are Chris and Kay Christy of FPC and Will and Nancy Adams Quinn of Greenville, SC.
Birthdays
January 6 - Jennifer Payne
January 8 - Rindy Moore
January 9 - Sandy Aldridge, Cynthia Bethune, Hamilton Jones
January 10 - McLeod Phillips
January 11 - Susan Hannah, Abigail Hedgecock, Chip Hoover, Molly Morrison
January 12 - Hoyt Carlough, Remy Robbins Helfer, Grant Martin
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Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff
René Prager
Director of Christian Education
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Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Kim Mazzola
Financial Administrative Asst.
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Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent
Director of First Kids
Wedding Director
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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 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Friday
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The Commons Prayer Room Hours:
Monday Closed
Open for scheduled groups:
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Open to the Public:
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC
Memorial Garden:
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday
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