BUILDING COMMUNITY. TRANSFORMING LIVES. ENGAGING THE WORLD. | | |
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Oh- the music! I'm sitting in the church office reflecting on the worship of the last few weeks, and what keeps bubbling to the top of my mind (and heart) is all of the amazing music that called forth deeply felt praise and hope.
A frequent conversation among church staff and leadership is the theological, geographic, and denominational diversity of our congregation. This diversity means that we are the beneficiaries of many different experiences with singing and hymns in worship.
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"Song is a response which engages the whole self in prayer. Song unites the faithful in common prayer wherever they gather for worship.” (Book of Order W.21003).
Music plays a central role in our worship. It calls on parts of our minds and hearts that words alone cannot reach. Hymns are prayers. When the choir sings and the organ plays, we are being led in prayer. (This is one of the reasons why applause can be complicated. Musicians aren’t performing for the congregation but are, rather, helping us worship God.)
Hymns are also personal. They serve as both road signs showing us the way ahead and photographs reminding us of where we have been. I vividly remember singing “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” in chapel as a child. As we sang the words “And I mean to be one too,” I heard the first whispers of a call to ministry.
What hymns are significant in your own life? What hymns help you worship God and call from within you a more profound alleluia?
We come from different places and experiences and gather in our one sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, New Bern. To help us as we pray and plan for worship of God, what hymns would you want us to consider singing? You can fill out the survey online or fill out the paper version that will be available in worship and in the church office.
If you’d like to see a list of the hymns in our hymnal but aren’t in the sanctuary, you can find a list of the titles here: hymnary.org/hymnal/GG2013.
And... you are not limited by the hymnal. Are there other hymns you think the congregation would find beneficial to our worship? You are invited to list those, too. We also have a place for your name. That is not required, but it does help if you provide it so we can reach out if there are questions (or we cannot read your handwriting). Thank you, and we’ll let you know in a few months what we learn!
Peace,
Anna Pinckney Straight
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Winter Adult Education Session - Begins January 7 | |
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Sunday School Classes from January 7 – February 11
For full class descriptions, locations, and more,
visit the website, click below,
or pick up a brochure in the Sanctuary or church office.
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The Present Word - The Present Word is an adult Bible study that focuses on a different theme from scripture each quarter to uncover its deeper meaning and how it is relevant to today. This winter, this class explores what a faith that pleases God might look like. Taught by George Evans in the Session House Parlor.
Let’s Talk: Conversations on Life and Faith - This winter we continue our series, hearing from faith leaders and authors as they ponder the intersection of life and faith. In the second half of each hour, the group discusses the issues presented by our “guest speakers.” Meets in the Session House.
The Story, Old Testament - The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. It reads like a novel, opening participants' eyes to God's master plan, unfolding in the lives of the Bible's characters as well as their own lives. Taught by Lana Brunk and Dick Betts in the Conference Room (Ministry Center, first floor).
Faith and Film - There are many intersections between the movies we love and the faith we practice, and many of these intersections are subtle and overlooked. How can movies help us better understand the messages scripture and our faith tradition? Taught by Jim Copland and meets in the Owl Room. (Ministry Center, second floor) Starts January 14.
New Members Class – Starting January 28, there will be a three-week class for those who would like to learn more about First Presbyterian Church, New Bern and are interested in exploring what it means to be a part of this church family. This class will meet January 28, February 4, and February 11. Participants who would like to become members will be given the opportunity to be welcomed at either the 11:00 am worship service on February 11 or the 8:30 am worship service on February 18. Location TBD. For more information, please contact Anna Pinckney Straight.
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William Lee Hawkins Library News | |
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Last Spring and Fall, the Monday Evening Women’s Bible Study spent several months in two books by Jaime Clark-Soles, a professor at a Methodist seminary in Texas. The first on the Gospel of John was Reading John for Dear Life and the second on Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth was First Corinthians - Searching the Depths of God. (Both of these highly recommended selections will shortly be added to the William Hawkins Library on the second floor of the Ministry Center.) Selecting two study books that were not strictly topical, as we have done on multiple occasions in the past, but which were both deep dives into a single book in the Bible turned out to be a very engaging and rewarding experience for the couple dozen women in our Monday group. So much so that I have been led to have our theme for these Library articles in each month’s newsletter for the year of 2024 revolve around Bible commentaries and Bible study guides on individual books of the Bible. There is such a wealth of material in our library, both the old standards, the classics, and newer, more contemporary looks at these individual books of scripture.
Selecting a book of the Bible to be featured each month, I have simply gone to the Revised Common Lectionary which is the standardized list of daily and weekly scriptures, generally one Old Testament, one Psalm, one Gospel and one Epistle. This is the list our denomination and our congregation typically uses to guide our ministers in their sermon selections. There is a three year cycle that starts with Advent every year. We have just entered into Year B. For the month of January Epistle lessons come from First Corinthians on three of the four Sundays. And, so, to complement your individual Bible study and enhance your appreciation of the sermons, I would like to suggest:
- Knox Preaching Guide, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians by William Baird (226.5 HAY BAI)
- Paul for Everyone - 1 Corinthians by Tom (NT) Wright (225 WRI)
- The Letters to the Corinthians: The Daily Study Bible Series by William Barclay (220.7 BAR)
- First Corinthians - Interpretation Bible Studies by Bruce N Fisk (222 IBS FIS)
And especially:
- Jaime Clark-Soles book mentioned above, First Corinthians - Searching the Depths of God.
Do not be intimidated at the thought of a commentary. Each of these is broadly applicable to readers of all backgrounds and levels of Biblical literacy. All four of these will be available in the middle of the large conference table in the library beginning on January 1.
Let this be a year that you spend more time and meet God in formative Bible study. How about that for a New Year’s resolution?!
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Lunch Wagon - January 7, 3:30 PM | |
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Join us for the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival at the St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Kinston on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
The program is an ancient celebration of Christmas in music, drama and dance. The costumes are beautiful. There are even animals walking down the church aisles as part of the pageantry! The choral music is wonderful. Admission is free. There will be a free-will offering.
A dinner banquet follows the performance with the cost of $40 per person. The banquet offers a full meal of wonderful options, including wine, all set in the king’s decorated hall. To purchase dinner tickets, visit https://onrealm.org/stmaryskinston or call St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at
252-523-6146.
The performance we will attend starts at 5:00 pm, but seats fill up quickly, so we will leave the church parking lot at 3:30 pm. We will return to New Bern around 8:30 pm. Contact Nancy Perdue for more information. This is an event you won't want to miss!
Contact the church office to sign up to join us, or select the link below - the bus is almost full but you can still drive along on the adventure!
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Backpack Blessings Build - January 8 & 9 | | |
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Who is ready for 2024??? Let's get this year started right with an opportunity for service in January! Sign up to help pack weekend food bags for kids in Jones, Craven and Pamlico Counties! | |
Notre Dame Liturgical Choir - January 10, 7:00 pm | |
Patrick Ryan Installation - January 14 | |
Fellowship Dinner - January 24, 5:30 pm | |
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Join us for our January Fellowship dinner in the JMS Center on Wednesday, January 24 at 5:30 pm. We'll be enjoying a baked potato bar with all of the fixings!
Be sure to RSVP for your group to let us know how many taters to cook.
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Christmas Week (Monday, Tues, and Wed.) found willing hands and hearts for the Backpack Blessing Holiday Meal assembly and distribution. In total, we packed 480 boxes of Holiday food so each of our 240 recipient families (and yes, this is more than last year) got two big boxes of food staples, a large shopping bag of additional items, a box of canned goods plus a Holiday meal (thanks to Food lion for all the turkeys!) for each family. We unpacked and stocked the food on the tables, assembled the food boxes and bags, then broke down the shipping containers, and built more basic food boxes for the next shift to fill. For once, many of us were kept busy for the entire 2 hour stint...and folks cheerfully engaged in whatever needed to be done. As always, First Pres. was central to the success of this ministry. Eight of us found the time during this Christmas Week to lend willing hands to this endeavor. A tip of the hat to Karen Reed, Debbie Lifer, Bob Little, Stas and Brenda Humienny, and June and Spencer Goodwin.
Thank you, as always, to First Pres. for your continuing support of time, treasure, and talent to this ministry. And a special thanks to our wonderful staff without whom we could never continue to contribute to this ministry in such a meaningful way. And though this particular 'special' food outreach only happens once a year, this was one of MANY Backpack ministry builds First Pres. participated in this year. A total of approximately 100 First Presbyterian members engaged in at least one of these food/snack pack builds during the course of 2023. And this year, we had a 'BONUS BUILD' offering during our Family Holiday Advent Craft Sunday. Our own Jane Dail, who is a Board member of Backpack Blessings, orchestrated this 'special' build with Pastor Patrick, lending a real service component to our first Sunday in Advent celebration. We look forward to continuing our support for this ministry which serves Craven, Jones, and Pamlico County school age kids and their families as we move into 2024 and beyond.
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The family of Betty Harris Rowe wish to express their appreciation and love for all the support and blessings rendered during the recent illness and passing of Betty.
Thank You,
O.V. Rowe
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C.S. Lewis Performance - March 3 | |
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Get Further Up and Further In the heart and mind of C.S. Lewis. The Adult Christian Education Commission would like you to know that award-winning actor Max McLean's play is coming to Raleigh. This one-man performance captures C.S. Lewis' magnetic personality, astonishing eloquence, and self-deprecating wit. This is a live onstage experience that ventures deep into the soul of one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the past century. Buy your own tickets and let us know so we can make plans to travel to Raleigh together!
Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 3 pm
Tickets are $59 - $99
Downtown & West Raleigh
2 E South St., Raleigh, NC, 27601
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If you are interested in a detailed calendar of upcoming Children, Youth, and Family Ministry opportunities, or volunteering, please reach out to Catherine Campbell, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry: catherine@firstpresnb.org | | |
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First Presbyterian Church, New Bern Staff
Anna Pinckney Straight - Pastor
anna@firstpresnb.org
Patrick Ryan - Associate Pastor
patrick@firstpresnb.org
Catherine Campbell - Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry
catherine@firstpresnb.org
Pat K. Rowlett - Director of Music
pat@firstpresnb.org
Daniel Sansone - Associate Director of Music & Organist
daniel@firstpresnb.org
Tim Elliott - Facilities Manager
property@firstpresnb.org
Dawn Inglis - Office Administrator
church@firstpresnb.org
Kerri Wheeler - Preschool Director
kerri@firstpresnb.org
Summer Hough - Financial Administrator
summer@firstpresnb.org
Sarah Ross - Director of Communications
comms@firstpresnb.org
Louis Foye - Sexton
Richard Colflesh - Maintenance
property@firstpresnb.org
pastoroncall@firstpresnb.org
After office hours or on the weekend,
a good way to reach a pastor is to
email the pastor on call.
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Share your News!
Have an article for the newsletter? Want an announcement placed in the bulletin? See something we should post on social media? Have photos of a church event to share? Email comms@firstpresnb.org to get your news shared!
Bulletin Deadline:
Mondays at 12:00 pm
Weekly Word Deadline:
Mondays at 12:00 pm
First Edition/Monthly Newsletter Deadline:
the 15th of the month at 12:00 pm
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Physical Address
400 New Street,
New Bern, NC 28560
Mailing Address
PO Box 1069,
New Bern, NC 28563
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Church Office Hours
Monday - Thursday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Friday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
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