Note from Ellen

Dear Friends,

One of the topics we discuss in officer training is the ordination vows (or constitutional questions) that all ruling elders, deacons, and teaching elders (ministers) answer when we are ordained and every time we are installed. The questions begin with Jesus, as they should: “Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?”

The rest of the questions walk through promises leaders make about the shape of their ministry, including promising to “be a friend among [our] colleagues in ministry.” Ruling elders and teaching elders also promise to participate in the life of the larger church.

Answering “I do” and “I will” to these questions is one of the reasons I agreed to serve on the Commission on Ministry for Charlotte Presbytery. As a member of COM, I have the honor and privilege of developing relationships with other clergy as well as elders from other PC(USA) congregations. One congregation I have been working with is Bethpage United Presbyterian Church, an African American church in Concord. Their former pastor, Rev. Alex Porter, served on my installation commission. They are now in the process of seeking a pastor and have invited me to preach for their worship service this Sunday, April 28. While I will miss worshiping with you, I am grateful for the ties that connect us throughout Concord and beyond. Please keep our friends at Bethpage United in your prayers as they seek the pastor who will lead them in this next chapter. And I’ll see you in worship on May 5 (if not before).

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Usher sign up link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-fpcusher

Lay Reader sign up link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-scripture

link for online worship:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfpzVUz-ZgaCJuogIMor8Iw/live

link to Ellen's sermon podcasts:  https://bit.ly/Sermons_FPCConcord

Calling all parents and grandparents – April is VBS registration month! Please get those forms completed and turned in the church office today! Paper copies have been mailed home or you can find the form on our website here. VBS is FREE, but advance registration is required.

We are looking for 500 clothespins for one of our VBS activities. If you have wooden clothespins that you’d like to donate, please drop them off labeled for VBS in the Fellowship House foyer.

We are still seeking a few more volunteers - VBS 2024: VBS Volunteers (signupgenius.com) or contact Bill Cochran.

Books and Brews

Books and Brews meets at 7:00 PM this Thursday, April 25th, at at Cabarrus Brewing Company to discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Campus Beautification Day

The next Campus Beautification Day is this Saturday, April 27, 8:00 AM - Noon

It will be a fabulous opportunity to spend time in the gorgeous spring weather and to get to know or expand relationships with additional outdoorsey-minded members of the congregation. Bring gloves, tools and your smile.

Habitat for Humanity 2024 Campaign Kicks Off April 28

Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus was founded in 1989 by local churches under the leadership of Dr. Peter Chikes and Rev. Jim Holderness of our church. Since then, it has become one of our most important community resources for providing affordable and safe housing for our neighbors.

The need for safe housing is greater than ever. Habitat is currently in the midst of a five-year plan to increase its capacity of delivering a minimum of 5 new houses to the community each year. It is also committed to providing Critical Home Repairs to address health and safety issues for existing homes.

Thanks to our faithful and generous congregation, our church continues to be a vital contributor to Habitat’s efforts to build houses for low-income families, giving both money and thousands of hours of volunteer labor. April 16 will mark the beginning of our annual fund-raising campaign to support the work of Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County. Our campaign runs through May 12, and our goal is $10,000.

There are several ways you can give:

·        Write a check to FPC with Habitat for Humanity in the “For” line and drop it into the offering plate or mail it to the church office at P.O. Box 789, Concord, NC, 28026.

·        Go to the church’s website at www.firstpresconcord.org, navigate to “Give Now,” and select Habitat for Humanity in the dropdown fund menu.

Thank you for past and ongoing support of this important Christian mission.

Night Shelter Meals

It's time to volunteer to provide meals for the Night Shelter! First Presbyterian's final week of this school year is Sunday, April 28 - Saturday, May 4.

Night Shelter Volunteers: April/May 2024 Night Shelter Meals (signupgenius.com)

Youth Group Focus on Earth Care

Our Youth is spending the end of April on Earth Care related programming. On Sunday, they watched the movie, The Lorax. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

This Sunday, all 6^th-12^th graders are invited to join us from 5-6:30 as we welcome Juliann Chavez, the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Concord. After her brief presentation, she will lead us in the trash pick-up in the neighborhood around First Presbyterian Church.

We are still looking for a volunteer(s) to provide dinner for the Youth on Sunday. If you are interested and able, please sign-up here - First Presbyterian Youth Group Meals: Youth Group Dinners (signupgenius.com) or contact Amber Williams for more details.

Following Youth on Sunday, our Youth, aged 16+, are encouraged to help serve dinner at the Night Shelter.

Please take a moment to sign-up for Youth group and the Night Shelter - 2023-2024 Youth: Youth Group 4/21-5/5 (signupgenius.com)

Milestones – College Graduation

Are you graduating from college this spring? Or is your child or grandchild graduating? Please e-mail René Prager – r.prager@firstpresconcord.org to let her know so that we can recognize them.

Save the Date(s)!

4^th and 5^th graders are invited to participate in a Lunch and Learn on May 5^th after worship, noon - 2:00 PM, and bibles will be presented during worship on May 12.

4th & 5th graders: 4th & 5th grade Bible class (signupgenius.com)

Please contact René Prager with any questions.

PW Spring Event

Girl Scout Troop 334 Awards Night

Girl Scout Troop 334 held their annual awards presentation on Thursday evening in the courtyard. Each scout shared details about one activity from the year. Three scouts: Scarlett Stelley, Zoe Locust, and Eunice Uche were recognized for earning the My Promise, My Faith award this year. Zoe Locust was also recognized as a graduating senior for her contributions to the Girl Scout movement. The troop plans to camp this weekend and participate in an Escape Room adventure in May.