Retirement: Congratulations to Susan Dunlap who was honored this week at Duke Divinity School, retiring from her position as consulting faculty in pastoral care since 1995.

Birth Announcements: Congratulations to Katharine Somerville Whitmore and William Whitmore on the birth of their first grandchild. Oscar Avens McLeyne Heron was born April 27th in Quito, Ecuador! Mom Kriddie Whitmore, dad Keegan Heron, and baby Oscar are all well!

Congratulations to Sybil King on the birth of a second grandson. Caysen Rodney Williams was born April 24th to Caronica Williams and Sybil's son Darius Williams. Caysen joins older brother Darius Jr. They reside in Arkansas.

The House family returns this week from Philadelphia Children's Hospital where their son Lee has been undergoing tests.

Click HERE to see prayer concerns.

Special thanks to Mickey Velkey for hosting the April Daytimers luncheon at Bennett Pointe Grill on April 28.

Thank you to the Racial Equity Task Force and Sybil King for organizing and holding a successful Lunch and Learn event with Jimmie Hawkins on May 1. The event was well attended; lunch was tasty; the discussion was inspiring.

Thursday, May 4

Blood Drive

Sign up online to donate blood at RedCrossBlood.org using code firstpres. This blood drive is open to the public.  For more information about this drive, contact FPC’s organizer, Julie Whiddon, at foxylady2642@yahoo.com

or 919-730-6673.

MEN OF FAITH

Open to all men of the church, Men of Faith is now meeting the first Friday of every month for breakfast at Mad Hatter on Main Street. It is an opportunity to enjoy one another, share concerns and participate more fully in the life and ministry of the Church.

We meet this Friday, May 5. Hope you can make it.

For more information contact Eric Wiebe.

Join us for a Spring Fling on Saturday, May 6 at Croasdaile's Sparks Park shelter. The meal is a potluck. Bring a favorite dish to share, paper goods (or your own dishes), and chair(s).  Come for fellowship, games, and fun, 5:00-7:00 p.m.  Croasdaile MAP

Click RSVP if you plan to join us or call the church office: 919-682-5511 x 215. When you respond, please indicate the dish or food category you will bring and the number participating from your household.  

Age-graded faith formation classes for children are held on the second floor of the Christian education building from 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Faith and Community Class

Justice Involved

Former associate pastor Marilyn Hedgpeth liked to use the phrase “justice-involved” for folks who had interacted with our judicial system – as plaintiffs, witnesses and particularly defendants or people who were incarcerated. This May in Faith & Community, we’re spending time on being justice involved. Join us in Watts-Hill Hall from 9:45-10:45 a.m.

On May 7, we’re learned about and talking about cash bail with Rep. Martha Morey and Peter van Dorsten. 

On May 14, Jennifer Copeland, the executive director of the North Carolina Council of Churches, is talking about the death penalty. 

Lectionary Class

Join us each Sunday at 9:45 in the Robert Daye (East) Parlor for discussion of the lectionary readings.

On May 7: The exhilaration of Easter is fading into memory, and we are left with more mundane matters. Will our faith help us grow in holiness and do great works? Will it preserve us in times of uncertainty and suffering?

On May 14: Are we alone? Must we, as Paul said, "search for God and perhaps find him"? Or do we have a better way?

MnMs (Meaning in the Middle) Fellowship

We are in need of discussion leaders on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings. If you're interested in leading, sign up here.

THINGS THAT MATTER BOOK GROUP

Our next book group meeting will be held Tuesday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. Marsha Butler will be leading the discussion of The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. Hendrika Vande Kemp will be hosting us at her home, 5511 Grand Mesa Drive, Durham 27713. Hendrika is very happy to welcome us at 7 PM. Please let her know if you are coming so she can plan for the numbers.

WEEKLY BOOK STUDY

Discussion Schedule

  May 9/10 -

Part IV - Redemption

May 16/17 -

Part V - Hope

 Join Zoom Meeting

 ZOOM LINK

Sunday, May 7, 2023

5th Sunday in Eastertide

11:00 a.m. Worship & Communion

Mindy Douglas, preaching

Sunday, May 14, 2023

6th Sunday in Eastertide

11:00 a.m. Worship and the blessing of high school seniors and thank you to teachers

Mindy Douglas, preaching

Sunday, May 7

New Officers Training

Watts-Hill Hall

12:30-2:00 p.m.

Monday, May 15

New Officers

Examination by the Session

7:00 p.m. Watts-Hill Hall

Sunday, May 21

New Officers Ordination & Installation

during the 11:00 a.m. worship

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Sunday, May 7 - Church Mission led by Mindy Douglas and Esther Hethcox.

Sunday, May 14 - Polity led by Wilson Gunn and theology led by Heidi Biermann.

Sunday, May 21- Worship led by Nora Tisdale.

The class will meet in room 205 of the Christian education building.

Sunday, May 7

FPC’s Racial Equity Task Force to discuss a summer literacy project with Freedom School.

Anyone interested is invited to the Racial Equity Task Force meeting on Sunday, May 7 after worship (12:15 p.m.) in the Wilson Parlor. Denise Rowson will join us; she has long been associated with the Freedom School in Durham. It offers a six-week summer literacy and cultural enrichment program designed to serve children and youth in grades K–12. We plan to talk with Denise about how individuals and FPC might be involved with activities of service during the summer at the school.

The church office is still in need of weekday volunteers. If you are interested in a half-day (4-hour) shift, sign up on the OPEN SHIFTS scheduler. To learn more about this important ministry, contact Sarah Wright at 919-218-7890.

MEDIA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

 The audio and video streaming consoles at the back of the sanctuary are operated by volunteers, and we need more. The equipment may look intimidating, but training and mentoring is provided. If you’re not afraid of technology and are interested, please speak to one of the operators on any Sunday. Middle school and high school youth are particularly welcome.

HEAD USHER NEEDED

ON 5TH SUNDAYS

Are you willing to be a head usher on 5th Sundays? We only have four of these Sundays lor the year. The next one is July 30. If you have no experience, totally fine, we have a document of instructions and it is not a difficult task. Esther Hethcox is happy to walk through the duties with you. You can reach out to Esther with any questions. 

SHARING WORSHIP FLOWERS WITH THOSE WE LOVE

Visiting someone after worship? Please take them a bouquet, courtesy of the FPC Diaconate! About 10 minutes after worship--after you're done shaking the preacher's hand!--please head to the kitchen to pick up a beautiful bouquet of flowers, arranged by the Deacons. Please tell the Deacon arranging the flowers who you are taking them to, so we don't take duplicates. Thank you for spreading the beauty of God's creation--these flowers bring joy to those unable to attend worship, recovering from illnesses, 

grieving, celebrating or simply in need of the reminder they are loved by their church and God. Please email Brianna Bennett or Esther Hethcox with any questions. Thank you!

SERVICE & MISSION

Partnership with

Sankofa Farm

First Pres, through the Creation Care Committee, is once again this year participating in a community supported agriculture (CSA) project. 

Read more about this project HERE.

Shop for vegetables: www.sankofafarms.com.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Tom Bacon,

George or Johanna Bernhardt, Cris Rivera, or Larry

Brockman.

COMMUNITY INVITATIONS

Durham Habitat is hosting our periodic Interfaith Build on Friday, May 5.

Details on how to sign up are HERE.

The shifts are from 8:30 - 11:30am or 12:30 - 3:30pm, and we do a simple lunch between shifts to break bread together and build fellowship.

All are welcome. We'd be honored to have some parishioners from First Presbyterian participate!