Marriage Announcement: Congratulations to Ana Kasibhatla and Ruben Cruz who were married on March 1, 2021. Ana is the daughter of Susan Dunlap and Prasad Kasibhatla and granddaughter of Harold Dunlap. Ana was baptized and confirmed at FPC.

Condolences: 

The love and concern of the congregation are extended to Elizabeth High on the death of her brother-in-law, Ronald E. Nettles, on March 2. Ronald was married to Elizabeth’s sister Esther, and they lived in Meadville, Mississippi. 

Congratulations to Megan Champion on the birth of her first child. Stephen Davis Champion was born February 26, 2021. Excited and happy relatives are Lenore Champion & Susan Buck (grandparents), Kayla Champion (aunt), and Alex and Jaxon Buck (uncles).

 Recovering at their homes

Care Communities:

Family and Friends of the Congregation:

919-698-3653 (cell)

Daylight saving time begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 14. Remember to SPRING your clocks forward one hour before going to bed on Saturday, evening, March 13, to avoid being an hour behind on Sunday morning.

Many of you heard Gray Wilson (Chair of the Budget Subcommittee) present the 2021 operating budget at the Annual Congregational Meeting on February 21. We also wanted to be sure you had a chance to look at the Session approved full budget (click on this link), which is always available to members.  Gray, Mindy Douglas (Pastor), Wendy McCorkle (Chair of Finance), Torrell Armstrong (Treasurer), or Tom Bloom (Business Administrator) would welcome your comments or questions. Thank you for your generous support of First Presbyterian Church.

Mindy Douglas, preaching

Jean Cary, liturgist

Former FPC seminary intern Natalie Wolf will lead the Faith and Community class in the second of a two-part series about reading liturgies and prayers from Christians in the Philippines, South Africa, Italy, and Jamaica, and wondering together: “What happens to our faith when we pray with those who are on the margins of society?” Zoom link. Class begins at 10:00 a.m.

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 March 14: What does it take to remove our sins? Surely there is a price we must pay or a difficult task we must perform or a punishment we must endure, in order to be forgiven.

On March 21: What do you do when what you've always done doesn't work any more? It can be frightening to abandon the old ways – old structures, old covenants – and try something very new, but the rewards can be wonderful. As Jesus said, bury the old seed and it will grow into a new plant.

 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.

Journeys Class: Journeys has begun a new series on the intersection of science and religion called “Painting the Stars.” Living the Questions provides a series of videos and written support materials to help progressive Christians wrestle with basic questions of faith. The goal is to educate congregations on the unfolding challenges of our times. Please use Link #1: to access the Painting the Stars video series. 

Link #2 will take you to supplemental material for each of our classes. 

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 still on for our usual meeting time, Sundays at 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. We are currently discussing "Home by Another Way" by Barbara Brown Taylor. Join via Zoom

Join the discussion via Zoom by clicking here.

Meeting ID: 821 9606 2443

Passcode: 407014

Dial from your location: 1 301 715 8592

STEP 1: Sign up to donate a virtual lily using this link to complete the Lily donation form.

STEP 2: Go to the church's website to make your corresponding donation. Click here.

NO INTERNET ACCESS: you can request a lily donor card be mailed to you. Return the card by US mail with your donation (any amount) to the Church office by March 29. Make check payable to First Presbyterian Church, memo: Lilies.

Funds received in excess of the amount needed to purchase lilies will be ADDED to the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering. The deadline to participate in this virtual lilies opportunity is Palm Sunday, March 28.

The PC(USA) annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering provides relief to the hungry, poor and oppressed, and those affected by natural disasters. The link to give online is now active. Click on the DONATE button from FPC's website homepage to give to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

11:00 a.m. Virtual Worship

(Watch on FPC's YouTube channel.

Click on WORSHIP from the church's website.)

7:00 p.m. Virtual Worship with Holy Communion

(Watch on FPC's YouTube channel.

Click on WORSHIP from the church's website.)

Time TBA - Stations of the Cross

(FPC grounds, weather permitting)

11 a.m. Virtual Worship with Holy Communion

(Watch on FPC's YouTube channel.

Click on WORSHIP from the church's website.)

Join the Creation Care Committee in a discussion of biodiversity: what it is, why it’s important, and what humans have sometimes done in ignorance to disturb the balance of ecosystems and even cause extinction of species. Join us at our monthly Creation Care meeting, Thursday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. (Zoom). All are welcome. For more information about the Creation Care Committee, check out our page from the church’s website.

This study is led by Mindy Douglas.

Click here to join the class.

Mark your calendars, practice your stick figures and be ready to laugh!

Deacons will host some Zoom fun and fellowship on March 19 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Join us for an online version of Pictionary (no artistic skill needed) and enjoy some fellowship together. Bring your favorite beverage, game night snack, and meet us on Zoom. Zoom link.

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. Most people come by car. They line up well before the 2 o’clock start time on Wednesday afternoon, waiting patiently for blocks and blocks in the neighborhood behind the church. Many families have 3 or 4 children in the car, and their excited faces tell us how much they look forward to discovering what food awaits them. A few people come by foot. They either live close enough to walk, carrying the heavy bags of food back home with them, or they come by bus. Recently, an older Latina woman came by bus. She mentioned that she comes every week, and shares the food she receives with an even older white couple who live in the apartment next to her. That week, we had received a large number of frozen casseroles. When asked if she would like an extra one to share, she gladly said yes. We gave her a stronger, reusable bag to carry her sizable load, and she left, praising God and blessing us, as she made her way back to the bus stop. 

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. 

Upcoming we are Events 

"we are," which stands for working to extend anti-racist education, is a non-profit organization that provides anti-racism training for children, families, and educators. We use a three-pronged approach to dismantle systemic racism in education by offering summer camps for children in rising 1st-5th grade, professional development for educators, and workshops for parents & families."

Registration for our annual "Let's Talk Racism" Conference is now live! Be sure to join us March 19-20, 2021 for our first virtual conference! If you registered for the conference last year, we still have your registration and payment on file and you will not need to take any further action. If you are unable to attend this year's conference and you are already registered, click here to transfer your registration to someone of your choosing no later than March 17, 2021. If you have any additional questions or concerns please feel free to email us at admin@weare-nc.org.

This year, we are is sponsoring four, week-long summer camps for kids in rising 1st-2nd grade and rising 3rd-5th grade. We are encouraged by the new administration’s COVID action plan. Accordingly, we aim to hold this year’s camps in person. Registration per camp is $300. Scholarships & transportation are available for families who have a financial need. Because the guidelines for this summer are yet to be determined, we are only seeking a non-refundable $25

Email admin@weare-nc.org if you have questions.