THE BANNER
July 14, 2021
A Note from Ellen
Through Light and Shadow

through light and shadow
I am led, I follow,
through the ins and outs
the ups and downs
of these days,
when my heart is failing,
when my spirit rejoices,
when I can barely put one foot
in front of the other
still you beckon me on...
when I stumble you support me,
when I can go no further
you carry me,
through light and shadow,
in death's dark vale,
and on the mountain peaks
you lead me,
through tangled webs,
on rocky ground,
on smoother paths,
through light and shadow
you lead me,
I follow,
may I never
walk alone...

from: https://sallysjourney.typepad.com/sallys_journey/

Dear Friends,

This coming Sunday we will continue with the gospel of Mark as we hear one of the stories of Jesus miraculously feeding 5000 people on a hillside (Mark 6:30-44). We will also hear the beloved Psalm 23. Where do you see yourself in these texts? In what ways does Christ call to you to rest and be fed?

May you always know that “through light and shadow,” you are loved and led.

Grace and peace,
Ellen
Last Call for T-shirt Designs!
All Youth are invited to help design the back of the 2021-2022 Youth t-shirt!
Winning entry will receive a Chick-fil-A gift card!
Designs are due by July 20th to the church office, attn: René Prager or by email to: r.prager@firstpresconcord.org
Christian Education Needs Sunday School Teachers!
Please consider joining a teacher team for the coming year. We use the teams model so each individual is only expected to teach 2 Sundays per month at the most. We had success with this pre-Covid, and hope to build upon that when classes resume in September.

Age groups to pick from:
Elementary School
Middle School
High School

Please email info@firstpresconcord.org if you can help!
Thanks for your consideration to join in the enrichment of the lives of the youth in the church!
A Weekend Unplugged
The Middle School Youth participated in a weekend camping retreat at Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area near Mount Mitchell, North Carolina. The group stopped at Tom’s Creek Falls for a short waterfall hike on the way to camp on Friday. They pitched their tents and enjoyed a devotion, dinner, and s’mores around the campfire. Saturday’s highlights included a tubing adventure down a segment of the South Toe River and a riverside hike, walking tacos for lunch, and apple cobbler in a Dutch oven for dessert. The six Youth planned Sunday’s worship service and enjoyed conversations and games together during their unstructured time in the evening. After packing up camp, we headed down to the river for morning worship on Sunday. The Youth composed beautiful prayers and meaningful sermons to complete Sunday’s youth-led worship.

With just a brief period of rain, we were all thankful for cool and comfortable weather! A special thanks to our chaperones: Fritze Batts, Timbs Fulghum, and Debbie Harris for their hard work and loving care! It was a wonderful weekend of new and renewed friendships and an opportunity to grow closer to God.
High School Youth Service Project Event
All High School Youth are invited to join us Wednesday, July 21, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. for an evening of service projects. We will make sandwiches for Opportunity House and learn more about their program.
We will also assemble hygiene kits for the Junior Charity League clothing room.
Please use this link to RSVP, or e-mail René Prager: r.prager@firstpresconcord.org.
Red Cross Cabarrus County VIP Blood Drive
Monday, July 19th, in Davis Hall from 2:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
To schedule an appointment click here and enter 28025 or
visit redcrossblood.org and enter: Cabarrus VIP Blood Drive
Worship Sign-up Change
The sign-up genius has been eliminated for the rest of the summer. Please join us for worship whenever you can!
Sign-up Links
Lay Liturgists
Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
.
Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
sanctuary flowers, please click here
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.
Calendar
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Rev. Ellen Crawford True, Preaching

Thursday, July 15
6:30 p.m. Boy Scout Advancement Boards of Review (Ed Bldg)
Sunday, July 18
9:00 a.m. Choir Practice (Choir Room)
10:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)
11:00 a.m. S & D Class (Fellowship House)
11:00 a.m. Journey Class (Education Bldg)
Monday, July 19
2:30 p.m. Cabarrus County VIP Blood Drive (Davis Hall)
Tuesday, July 20
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting (Fellowship House)
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (Davis Hall)
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Davis Hall)
Church Report
Birthdays
July 16 - Kathy Carpenter, Plase Christenbury, Sarah Macaluso
July 17 - Shirley Brannan, Anna Ruth Morrison
July 18 - Julie Cannon, Sara Dobson, Nan Ellis, Josh Hitt
July 19 - Nicki Bryant
July 20 - Adam Burke, Gray Cannon, Nancy Ferguson, Will Rotan
July 21 - Lindsay Hitt, Scott Vermer
**To enjoy a sung happy birthday, click here!**
Staff
Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff 
ellen.crawfordtrue@firstpresconcord.org

Associate Pastor 
for Care and Mission

René Prager
Interim Youth
Programs Coordinator



Director of Music and Organist

Choirmaster

Suzanne Russell
Church Administrator

Kim Mazzola
Financial Administrative Asst.

Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent


Director of First Kids


Wedding Director
Contact Info
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 am - 4:00 pm
Closed Friday
The Commons Prayer Room Hours:
Closed

Memorial Garden:
(704) 786-8009
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
 
Garden Hours: 
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Closed Monday