BUILDING COMMUNITY. TRANSFORMING LIVES. ENGAGING THE WORLD. | | | | |
Photo Credit: Bill Hand / New Bern Live | |
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As I write these words, we are in the middle of considerable conversation about a potential snowfall here in New Bern. Opinions were flying fast and furious on Sunday, from those who were ready to go sledding, a few who didn't want to see a single flake, and everything in between.
Whenever snow days enter the conversation, I find myself re-reading a 2005 Washington Post article written by DeNeen L. Brown that begins, "Snow days are our Sabbath days. They bring with them a commandment to pause, to curl up by a fire, stay in your pajamas or go outside and catch a snowflake and marvel at its tiny beauty. Or do nothing."
As I ponder what I love about a good snow day (yes, I am on team snow), I am reminded that resting isn't a special occasion in our faith, it is baked right in to how we are called to live and believe. "Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy." (Exodus 8:20)
You'll notice it doesn't say "Remember the Sabbath when you get your work done." Or "Sabbath is for those who have earned a reward." Or even "Sabbath is for when you can't go anywhere or schedule anything." It just says that we are to take one day a week set apart, for God. To rest and to worship.
Rest is not a guilty pleasure, it is a mandate from God, who knows us better than we know ourselves. God knows the ministries to which we are called and the significance they have to our families, congregations, communities, and world. God also knows what these ministries ask of our hearts, minds, and bodies. How is rest a part of your schedule? Your routine? Can it be?
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Whatever is foreseen in joy
Must be lived out from day to day.
Vision held open in the dark
By our ten thousand days of work.
Harvest will fill the barn; for that
The hand must ache, the face must sweat.
And yet no leaf or grain is filled
By work of ours; the field is tilled
And left to grace. That we may reap,
Great work is done while we’re asleep.
When we work well, a Sabbath mood
Rests on our day, and finds it good.
"X" by Wendell Berry, from A Timbered Choir. © Counterpoint, 1998.
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STEWARDSHIP
Your pledges for 2025
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We are pleased to report that for the 2025 Budget there are
255 pledges for a total of $965,092
The Session of First Presbyterian Church plans to approve the budget in February and will be scheduling the annual meeting for March when we can share more information and our annual State of the Congregation message!
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FEBRUARY 2 SESSION II BEGINS
Adult Education: Faith Formation
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A new session of adult education classes begins this week!
We will continue our current class schedule, including Jesus: A Pilgrimage (Owl Room) led by Wendy Moeller, The Present Word (Session House Parlor) taught by George Evans, and Seeing Gray (Session House) taught by Lana Brunk and Dick Betts. To learn more about these classes and other Faith Formation opportunities, visit the Adult Education page or pick up a printed brochure in the narthex.
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FEBRUARY 12
Fellowship Dinner
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We hope you join us in the J. Murphy Smith Center on Feb.12th at 5:30pm for this month's fellowship dinner! We’ll be serving delicious chicken soft tacos with all the fixings—plus sides and desserts to complete the meal.
This is a great opportunity to connect with your church family, enjoy good food, and share in the joy of community. Bring your appetite and a friend! All are welcome, but please let us know you're coming. Please RSVP by Friday, February 7th using the button below or by calling the church office.
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WENDY MOELLER
William Lee Hawkins Library
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Ours is a house divided, and, no, I am not referring to sports affiliations, neither college nor professional. I care not enough about sports to allow that to be a source of division. Ours is a Sunday morning Faith Formation/Sunday school division. For the last year and a half Rad has been a part of the Faith Formation class led by Dick Betts and Lana Brunk. I call them “The Wanderers,” because they are ever on the move from one room to the next as circumstances dictate.
I, on the other hand, have been participating in the various classes which I am either teaching or with which I have been involved in the planning and facilitating as part of the Adult Christian Education Committee. What a blessing it is to be part of a congregation where multiple options are available on Sunday mornings (and throughout the week) for Faith Formation.
So, why, you ask, did I even bring up this “division”? Precisely so I could introduce our highlighted author of the month. The last two books which the Betts/Brunk class have done have been written by Adam Hamilton, a United Methodist author and senior pastor of a large, multi-location church in Kansas City. They have quickly become fans of his body of work in their faith formation endeavor. So, I would like to propose for your reading consideration this month one of the several Adam Hamilton books which we have in our library on the second floor of the Ministry Center.
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HALF TRUTHS - GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES AND OTHER THINGS THE BIBLE DOESN’T SAY - 230 HAM on the shelves.
This was the book through which our congregation first encountered Adam Hamilton in 2017 when Pam Webb presented it during our Summer Read This Book Faith Formation series.
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The two books which “The Wanderers” class have done are MAKING SENSE OF THE BIBLE - 220.61 HAM on the shelves, and SEEING GRAY IN A WORLD OF BLACK AND WHITE, which they are currently reading, but which is not yet in our collection. Maybe one of them will donate it after the class is over. | |
There are seasonal offerings, THE JOURNEY - WALKING THE ROAD TO BETHLEHEM (if you are still pondering Christmas) - 232.92 HAM, and an accompanying condensed devotional version of THE JOURNEY, in addition to an offering for Lent and Easter, THE WAY: WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS - 232.9 HAM and its accompanying devotional edition, THE WAY: 40 DAYS OF REFLECTION, 232.9 HAM; also, 24 HOURS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD - 232.96 HAM. | Finally, if you want to tackle a little bit of gentle theology, CREED: WHAT CHRISTIANS BELIEVE AND WHY - EXPLORING THE APOSTLES’ CREED - 268.82 HAM. | |
As always, these selections will be available for the entire month on the big table in the William Lee Hawkins Library, 2.27 in the Ministry Center, for your review and hopeful checking out. Consider also our little in-house book club on SEEING GRAY with the Betts/Brunk Faith Formation class any Sunday of your choosing. | | | | |
STACEY GRIFFITH
Backpack Blessings January Build
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For our January event, over 5,000 snack packs were built for distribution to our 3 county elementary and middle school kids. We are currently serving over 950 children in this immediate area.
As always, we experienced fabulous support from our First Presbyterian members (25!) with a special thanks to our many First Pres participants... Kathy Ingraham, Priscilla and Stan Van Horn, Patti Fleming, Stas and Brenda Humienny, Bob Little, Sheila Orth, Wendy Moeller, Kirsten Sonstegard, Holli Banks, Cathy Howell, Margaret Pritchett, Bob Little, Karen Reed, Anne Goldman, Gwen Lessrd, Olivia Peterson, Chris Kelso, Linda Staunch, Jim Findley, Tim Lubsen, Cille Griffith, and Phil Swain. Several of our members also came as members of the lunch Rotary group who have just donated over $12,000. to Backpack Blessings! And things wouldn't come together without the dedication of our Backpack Blessings Board Member and delivery fairy, Jane Dail. Thank you to each and every one of you! This was the first snack pack build for 2025.
As always, a special thanks to the wonderful staff at First Pres who support this work and our congregation who provide the willing hands and hearts, as well as Outreach funding support, for this important ministry.
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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY
PIANO LESSONS
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Have you always wanted to know more about the piano but have never asked? Have you always wanted to take piano lessons? Here’s an offer you cannot refuse!
Daniel J. Sansone, Associate Director of Music and Organist here at First Presbyterian Church is offering private piano instruction for all ages.
If you are interested and would like to learn more, please contact Daniel at: daniel@firstpresnb.org. or call the church office at 252.637.3270.
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PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Soup and Service Luncheon
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Presbyterian Women held their traditional Soup and Service luncheon on January 19th after a five-year hiatus due to COVID and other factors. It was a timely sequitur to Rev. Anna Pinckney Straight’s sermon that day, entitled “You Have a Gift,” because the focus was on ways that we might serve others. Amanda Norwood from Interfaith Refugee Ministry (IRM) spoke about the many needs of refugee families coming into our area and how we can help them.
In addition, Helen Robinson, representing First Pres’s newly formed Creation Care Committee, updated attendees on the committee’s goals and some of the projects they are beginning to implement. There are so many ways that we can make use of the gifts with which we have been blessed!
With the arrival of unusually cold weather this January, the luncheon’s theme “Cozy Up” was also quite relevant. The bowls holding crackers were wrapped in multicolored scarves. Hats, mittens, and gloves donated by the Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team were strewn down the length of the tables. Some of these will be donated to IRM and the rest to Religious Community Services (RCS).
Coordinating Team Moderator Janet Bryan thanks the eight members of the team who made the delicious soups and to everyone on the team who helped make the luncheon a success.
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CATHERINE CAMPBELL
Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
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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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PAT KERR ROWLETT
♫ Music Notes
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Congratulations to Lauren Blackerby on a beautiful oboe concert presented on Sunday January 12. The concert had been scheduled for Friday January 10 but was rescheduled due to threatening weather conditions. The concert was well attended and featured the Daybreak and Sanctuary Choirs, Erica Smith and Pat Rowlett, sopranos. Daniel Sansone masterfully accompanied the entire concert (and many of the pieces were quite difficult). All the musicians had led music at one or both services in the morning, so thanks to them for being willing to stay after church after such a long day.
Belated thanks to all our choirs for a spectacular Advent/Christmas season. The Covenant Choir, Daybreak Choir, Preschool Choir, Resurrection Singers, Sanctuary Bells, Sanctuary Choir and Youth Ensemble all contributed beautifully to our services. A special thanks to the Daybreak and Sanctuary Choirs for their presentation of the Vivaldi “Gloria” on December 15. Rehearsals of the piece began in September and included learning Latin text as well as quite difficult rhythmic passages. Well done!
If you’re interested in joining in on all this “Joyful Noise,” contact Pat, Daniel or Susan by email, or call the church office.
On Sunday January 19, Patrick mentioned that we provide space for theatre rehearsals. We also provide space for the Carolina Chamber Music Festival to hold its annual Festive Family Concert. The concert is free and open to the public, but many people don’t know about it. Local piano, voice and Suzuki string students will have the opportunity to play with the professional CCMF musicians. The concert is Sunday, February 16 at 3 pm in the Sanctuary.
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FAITH FORMATION
Women's Retreat
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Join the group from FPC heading to the annual Women’s Connection Conference in Montreat this August! This is a wonderful time for women to connect with old and new friends, a time to care for yourself, and a time for space and Sabbath. We will attend together and share in powerful and authentic worship led by women, provide space for honest and faithful conversation, and allow time for discernment and renewing rest. The keynote speaker is Amy-Jill Levine, who describes herself as an unorthodox member of an Orthodox synagogue and a Yankee Jewish feminist who works to counter biblical interpretations that exclude and oppress.
REMINDER: Rather than registering for the conference individually, we will register as a group through First Presbyterian. Learn more and sign up to let us know you’re coming!
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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
Susan Mabie
Director of Resurrection Singers
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
Communications
comms@firstpresnb.org
Louis Foye - Sexton
Richard Colflesh - Maintenance
property@firstpresnb.org
Stephen Ministry
stephenministry@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 20th 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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