FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

"Downtown by history and by choice"

Bi-Weekly Newsletter

November 16, 2021 - Issue 23

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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

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for worship

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In this issue you will find the following:

Pastoral Letter
In Our Thoughts & Prayers/Thank you notes
Worship info
Faith Formation for Children
Faith Formation for Adults
Youth Corner
Congregational Life/Fellowship Events
Service & Mission Opportunities
Community Invitations

From the Pastor

Dear friends,

Some years ago, I heard a presentation on stewardship by the Rev. Ed Henegar of Western North Carolina Presbytery. He began his presentation by asking the question:

How do members view their contributions to the church?

He explained that many church members view their contributions to the church in one of three ways:

1) As membership dues

2) As a non-profit donation

3) As payment for services

But, he argued, there is a fourth and better way. This is the way of viewing contributions to the church as an expression of gratitude for all God has done for us.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:4-10,

“But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

As Christians, we claim God’s activity and transformative power through Christ Jesus in our lives. Once we were no people. Now, in Christ, we are God’s people. We are the Body of Christ. Everything we are, everything we have, every forgiveness and second chance we have been given comes from our gracious and loving God. When we recognize this, our lives become fully and completely lived in gratitude to God.

This is what we, as followers of Christ believe. This is not what the world believes. The world believes that if you work for it, if you earn it, then you are entitled to it and you deserve it. The world gives for three reasons – 1) out of a sense of obligation; 2) out of a sense of requirement or 3) out of a sense of guilt. When we give for these reasons, we have no joy. In fact, we will be angry and resentful. But when we give out of gratitude for all that God has done for us, our lives are transformed with joy because we are able to give back freely and without fear. We are able to live into the grace God has so freely given us. And in such joyful generosity, we share with others the goodness and the joy that we have found in Christ.

How will you give this stewardship season? May your tithes, offerings, pledges and gifts be given in grateful response for all that God has done for you and may you rest in God’s arms of grace and mercy today and every day.

With love and deep gratitude for you all in Christ,

Mindy

CONDOLENCES: The love and concern of the congregation are extended to Chris and Meredith Brown, Logan and Evelyn, on the death of Chris' grandfather, Leroy Brown.

CONCERNS:

Vivian Mast, friend of Josh Walters

Paul McCombs, friend of FPC

Richard Smith, husband of Laura Casteel's co-worker

Jim Brown, father of Chris Brown, recovering from surgery

Roger Kalthoff, husband of Jane Williams, at Hillcrest following foot surgery

Linda Foster Momsen, mother of Deborah Momsen-Hudson

Tim Tyson, friend of FPC and patient at Duke Hospital

Paul Cornsweet

Carlisle Harvard

Kerry Holbrook

Mike Wilson and daughter Mariah, recovering from the COVID-19 virus

Click here to see more CONCERNS

What a glorious day we had on Saturday, November 13! 49 volunteers came to the parking lot at Iglesia Emanuel, and together we bagged and stored 6,000 pounds of rice and beans for the Food Pantry. It was a beautiful, intergenerational event, filled with animated chatter and lots of energy. Thank you, thank you FPC members for your enthusiastic support of this very important ministry. At the end of the morning, we were singing Allelujah!

Margaret and Miguel Rubiera

Thank you to the Prayer Shawl Group: The scarves given to our confirmands during worship on Sunday, November 7 were knitted by the Prayer Shawl Group: Johanna Bernhardt, Marsha Butler, Linda Carter, Susan Dunlap, Barbara Fish, Dale Gaddis, Mary Gitata, Jancy Johnstone and Ashley Swavely.

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

Thank you to the many of you who have joined us and already sent your pledges for our 2022 Justice & Joy Stewardship Campaign! This Sunday, November 21 is Dedication Sunday, when we ask all of you to make your pledge to support our life and ministry for the next year. So far, we have received pledges representing 35% of our goal! Please prayerfully consider how your family might “stretch beyond where we are” this year as we work to create “a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread, a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing” as we serve God in the heart of Durham. You can bring your pledge to the worship service and place it in the basket at the front of the sanctuary, mail it to the church or pledge online here. Help us continue to create Justice and Joy!

November 21

Dedication (Pledge) Sunday

Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Worship & Communion

In-person in the sanctuary

(masks required)

and online via FPC's YouTube channel

Mindy Douglas, preaching

The Advent Festival and Alternative Gift Market

begin at 12 noon.

Advent devotional materials can be picked up

Children can make Advent crafts

Purchase Advent Wreaths with candles

Purchase gifts from local mission partners

Purchase lunch from Bull City Eatery food truck

Sunday, November 28

First Sunday of Advent

CHILDREN'S FAITH FORMATION

This fall, classes for PreK-5th grade will be held via zoom from 10:00-10:30 a.m. through at least October to ensure our children stay safe! Click here to go to class.

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Godly Play 3rd_ 4th_ and 5th grades _1_.png

Calling All Kids

(and their grownups)

Active Advent

Faith Formation

On December 5th, December 12th and December 19th, kids and interested adults will gather outside between 10:00 and 10:45 each Sunday morning for faith formation - all together! We will make videos acting out the Christmas story for our Christmas pageant. Maybe you want to be an angel, a shepherd, Mary, or Joseph? Come one, come all! We have plenty of costumes.

FAITH FORMATION FOR ADULTS

The second conversation on the Book of Job and suffering will be held at FPC this Sunday, November 21, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the Robert Daye Meeting Room and on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87372211056).

Attendees are encouraged to read the biblical book of Job (two especially good contemporary translations: by Robert Alter and by Stephen Mitchel) and Kushner’s book. (Note this is different from Kushner’s other book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People.)

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FAITH & COMMUNITY CLASS

The Faith & Community Class is on a break. We encourage everyone to participate in other adult faith formation opportunities – the Lectionary Class, Journeys, Meaning in the Middle, Becoming and INSPIRE Book Group.

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***New Schedule***

WOMEN'S SPIRITUAL FORMATION CLASS

The Women's Spiritual Formation Sunday morning class is now meeting the first and third Sundays of every month at Susan Dunlap's house (1527 Hermitage Court) at 12:45 p.m. Contact Susan to learn more about the topics being studied.

BECOMING

***Click here for the Zoom link for

November 21 only***

Join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. for a hybrid gathering (masked, in person, in the fellowship hall) or on Zoom. We'll gather for prayer and begin Dr. Lisa Wolfe's series Uppity Women of the Bible as we consider Ruth, Song of Songs, Judith and Esther.

LECTIONARY CLASS

Sundays in the Robert Daye Meeting Room (East Parlor)

and via Zoom at 9:30 a.m.

ZOOM LINK

The class will begin at 9:40, preceded at 9:30 by sharing of news and concerns, and will end by about 10:30.

On November 21: On the last Sunday before Advent, we celebrate Christ as King. What does it mean to be subject to a king? What do we owe to our king?

On November 28 (First Sunday of Advent): We plan our lives -- careers, investments, families -- as though everything will continue pretty much as it has in the past. What if that's not true? Would you change your plans if Jesus were returning tomorrow?

For phone access (audio only), call 253-215-8782. If you need a copy of the handout of scripture readings, contact David Smith.

MnMs CLASS

(formerly the Scratch group)

Sundays at 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

ZOOM LINK

If you'd like to lead the discussion for a future week, the sign-up sheet is here.

As always, we'd love to have you join, whether or not you've had time to listen to the podcast, and new faces are always welcome!

JOURNEY'S CLASS

We meet on Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

in the Wilson Parlor and via Zoom.

ZOOM LINK

This week Journeys will continue

discussion of chapter 4, Nowhere Among the Gentiles. All are welcome to join and having done the book reading is not required for joining the discussion. Andy Henry, Eric Wiebe, and Paul Baldasare are class leaders.

YOUTH CORNER

LINK TO MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASS

We’re hybrid, so join in person (Youth Room) or via Zoom, Sundays from 10-10:30 a.m.

The high school faith formation class has ended for 2021. Confirmation Class meets in person on Sundays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the youth room.

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

Let's give a CARD SHOWER!

Our dear member, Arthur Clark, will observe his 99th birthday on November 28. Let's help him celebrate this blessed milestone by showering him with cards (receiving 99 cards would be great!). Send cards to:

Arthur Clark

101 Green Cedar Lane

Chapel Hill NC 27517

First Friends Amber Hike

Is the Thanksgiving weekend feeling long? Do you need to work off a little bit of the holiday meals? If so, then we’ll see you on Sunday, November 28, 2:00 p.m., at the Henry’s house, 1407 Arbor St., Durham, 27701, for an urban hike. We’ll walk along the South Ellerbee Creek, pass some interesting Durham sites, and then get a beverage of choice at one of the outdoor spaces near Central Park. The contact/coordinator for this event is Andy Henry (919-599-9405).

Weekly Book Group

Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m.

Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.

All sessions via Zoom - Link to class

A CALL FOR OFFICER NOMINATIONS

The Nominating Committee has begun its work of developing the slate of candidates for Ruling Elders and Deacons (Class of 2025) and the 2022-2023 at-large members to the Nominating Committee.

You can submit your nominations:

via a Google form (click here) or
complete the paper form found in the worship bulletin and place it in the offering basket on Sunday, or
contact Mary Ann Compton by email or by phone (919-452-6500).

The deadline for nominations is November 30, 2021. Thank you for your help!

Mary Ann Compton and Stephen Berry

Co-chairs of the Nominating Committee

DIRECTORY UPDATE COMING SOON!

Don't let this opportunity pass you by!

If you have new or updated contact information or your family or individual photo did not make it into the last directory (or you have a more recent one) -- here's your chance. You may submit your photo and/or updated contact information through the Church Life App or email the photo or contact information to Administrative Assistant, Sybil King at: s.king@firstpres-durham.org. The deadline is Monday, December 6.

150th Anniversary Celebration highlights . . .

CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS

in the windows of First Presbyterian Church

As part of the 150th anniversary of FPC, we are featuring our sanctuary's stained glass windows in a bulletin board display. For more than one hundred years, First Presbyterian Church has held worship services in the third house of worship to occupy the corner of Roxboro and Main. The sanctuary, dedicated in 1916, was designed and appointed with the intent of drawing the eye, mind, and heart beyond oneself and into the presence of the Holy. Christian symbols in the windows represent the teachings of our faith and the life and ministry of Jesus. There are laminated guides to the windows on the table in the foyer and in the narthex. May the display (and guide) deepen your understanding of these timeless symbols and so deepen your worship experience.

Part-time Job Opportunities at FPC

Audio-Visual Technical Director Needed

First Presbyterian Church, an active, caring, and inclusive church in downtown Durham, is looking for a part-time, non-exempt Audio-Visual Technical Director of worship Production. The position is 10 hours a week, including Sunday mornings. First Presbyterian Church the position pays a minimum of $16.92 an hour which is negotiable. A full job description is available here. If interested, please send application letter and résumé (including contact information for two references, preferably from the two immediate past or current employers) to AVTechnical@firstpres-durham.org. NOTE: Church members and active friends of the congregation are not eligible to apply.

Sunday Morning Custodian Needed

First Presbyterian Church, an active, caring, and inclusive church in downtown Durham, is looking for a custodian for Sunday mornings (building and grounds preparation, security, and event set-up and clean-up). The position is 5 hours a Week. Pays $16.92 an hour. Hours are approximately 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with some flexibility required. A criminal background check will be conducted. A full job description is available here . If interested, please send application letter and résumé (including contact information for two references, preferably from the two immediate past employers) to sunday-sexton@firstpres-durham.org . Church members and active friends of the congregation are not eligible to apply.

SERVICE & MISSION OPPORTUNITY

Evictions Court Watching

Durham is facing an evictions crisis, and Durham CAN wants to do something about it. When a tenant receives an eviction filing, they go before a magistrate at the Durham County Courthouse. An eviction filing stays on the tenant’s record for 7 years even if the tenant is not evicted, and it has a negative impact on getting a job, finding another place to live, and getting credit. CAN is organizing teams for "court watching" to monitor this legal process. We have to opportunity to provide visible support for them in the courtroom as well as point eligible tenants to places where they might receive rent money. CAN trains everyone before they engage in court watching, so we know the protocol and what to watch for. If anyone is interested in this important way to address evictions in Durham, please contact Jane Williams, janepsych1@mac.com.

Durham CAN is seeking to understand the perspective of landlords in the matter of evictions. CAN has initiated a city-wide listening campaign in order better grasp the needs and challenges of being a landlord when tenants are unable to pay the rent. No matter if you rent out 1 or 2 units or hundreds of units, we would like to hear from you. If you would like to share your experience as a landlord, please contact Susan Dunlap, sjd4@duke.edu.

New COVID prevention/spread guidelines are now in place. If you are fully vaccinated, contact Jen McGonigle to sign up for one of FPC's regular time slots each month, or call Jen at 202-421-5870. If you have interest in serving at Urban Ministries at other times and in other ways, click VOLUNTEER.