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First Presbyterian Church
Bi-Weekly Newsletter
September 5, 2023 Issue 18
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IN THIS ISSUE . . .
Pastoral Letter
Joys / Concerns
Worship
Faith Formation
Fellowship Events
Service and Mission
Opportunities
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LINKS
Online Calendar
Phishing & Spoofing
Ways to Give
Flowers for Worship
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Pastoral Letter
Dear friends,
In today’s New York Times “The Morning,” David Leonhardt discusses the surge in school absences across the nation over the last few years. Apparently, during the pandemic, students got used to staying at home. Before March 2020, kids didn’t necessarily love getting up and going to school, especially if a test or something or someone that caused them extra anxiety awaited them that day. But for the most part, children and teens got up and went to school (and their parents made them) because “Going to school was the normal thing to do.” “Then,” writes Leonhardt, “suddenly, it wasn’t.”
Stanford economist Thomas Dee has completed one of the most comprehensive studies of this new trend. He ruled out what he thought might be obvious explanations for this surge in absenteeism, e.g., places with greater Covid spread, and found instead that “the biggest reason for the rise seems to be simply that students have fallen out of the habit of going to school every day.”
Read Mindy's entire letter by clicking here.
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WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday, September 10
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
11:00 a.m.
Worship with Communion
Mindy Douglas, preaching
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Sunday, September 17
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
11:00 a.m. Worship
John Weicher, preaching
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Sunday, September 10
Faith Formation
Fall Kickoff
All Faith Formation classes will gather in Watts-Hill Hall at 9:45 a.m. to . . .
Enjoy light refreshments!
Learn about fall classes!
Children and youth can check out classrooms
and meet teachers!
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Philippians in
Six Sessions
Paul wrote the book of Philippians from a prison cell as a letter to a community he loved.
Even though he was imprisoned, this book is full of themes of joy and community life together. We have a lot to learn from Paul about faith during times of adversity. While we will focus on the study of scripture, this group will also be a way to deepen our spiritual lives and our fellowship with each other. If you are interested please let Susan Dunlap know, sjd4@duke.edu.
Susan will consult with all who are interested to determine the best time and frequency for these gatherings.
| Looking for some late-summer reading? Pick up Proud Shoes, by Pauli Murray! The Faith & Community class starts back up on September 17 with two weeks of discussion about this unofficial patron saint of Durham. This book is a great introduction/refresher. Join us in-person in Watts-Hill Hall at 9:45 a.m. on September 17 and September 24. | |
Lectionary Class
(meets year-round)
Join us each Sunday at 9:45 in the Robert Daye Meeting Room (East Parlor) for discussion of the lectionary readings.
September 10: How should you deal with someone who does wrong? Confront? Condemn? Retaliate? Just walk away?
September 17: Alexander Pope’s poem says, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” But it can be hard to put divine tolerance, much less forgiveness, into practice in our lives.
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MnMs (Meaning in the Middle) Fellowship
We're back! Our first faith formation and check-in hour will be via Zoom on Sunday, September 10 at 8 PM. As per usual, we will send the Zoom link via email that Sunday.
In-person: We have two options for the in-person faith formation crew.
1-Continuing: If we can find 1-2 point people to organize that group and there is general interest, we can continue on with an in-person MnM option. Interested in being a point person? Let Emily and Mary know ASAP.
2- Joining Faith and Community: If we don't have 1-2 point people and/or there is not much interest in the 9:45 in-person format, we will direct any MnMs present on Sunday mornings to join with the Faith and Community class.
Monthly gatherings: Emily and Mary will continue to organize monthly gatherings.
Formerly known as SCRATCH, we meet on Sunday mornings in-person and Sunday evenings to share the ups and downs of our lives and discuss a (very) short reading about faith. We talk about how to find God and meaning in the middle of wherever we are: as Christians, as professionals, as friends and family, as parents, as middle-of-life adults (whatever that circumstance might look like for you). We also gather monthly and have an annual retreat for planning and fellowship.
To learn more about this class, contact Mary Berry o Emily Diy.
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DOCUMENTATY SCREENING
Carolyn Crowder (friend of Macky Alston) has made a documentary called AT THE RIVER about white Christian pastors who broke ranks and stood for Civil Rights, following Black leadership across the South. The film will be screening in Raleigh on Sunday afternoon at 4.30 on September 24 at White Memorial Presbyterian Church. For information about the film. click here. For screenings near you, check this listing.
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Sacrament of Baptism:
Grace Alexandria Baker, daughter of Lara Duffney and Art Baker, was baptized on Sunday, September 3 during worship.
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Condolences/Memorials:
The love and concern of the congregation are extended to Marcia, Stephen and David Lorimer on the sudden death of Marcia's brother (Stephen and David's uncle). Robert Sciretta died September 2, after suffering a massive heart attack.
A Celebration of Life service with lunch, music, and visiting will be held for Phil Boyle (husband of Scottie Seawell and father of Erin, Rachel, and Lauren Boyle, on Saturday, September 16 at Pluck Farm in Mebane NC. The memorial will be held from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and the celebration will take place from 11:30-3:30 p.m.
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Prayers:
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Mary Myers, mother of Christy Gudaitis
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Bob Parkins, husband of Kathy Parkins, recovering at home following a visit to Duke Medical Center ER
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Robert (Bob) Clark, regular online worshipper, recovering from hip surgery in Plymouth, NC
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Spencer Reeves, regular online worshipper, recovering from surgery
Click HERE to see our full list of concerns.
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Friends,
On behalf of Crayons-to- Calculators and Southwest Durham Rotary Club, I would like to extend my thanks to the members of First Presbyterian Church who contributed school supplies in the recent drive to Crayons-to-Calculators, the organization that contributes donated school supplies to the staff and students of Durham Public Schools System.
-Mal King
| The Emanuel Learning Center is very happy to announce that Mimi Dunn, one of our newest FPC members, has accepted the position of Director. Under Mimi’s capable leadership, we are confident that this outstanding tutoring program, located in Iglesia Emanuel and supported by our church, will continue to make a wonderful difference in the lives of Hispanic students. If you would like to learn more, please contact Mimi. | |
Bird Slide Show
David and Judy Smith have visited Brazil many times on their birding trips. In January of this year, they went to the northeast corner of that wonderful country, a region explored less often by traveling birders, and they came home with lots of good photos. Join them for a slide show on Tuesday, September 19, at 7:00 p.m. in Watts-Hill Hall.
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FIRST FRIENDS
ANNUAL BEACH TRIP
This is a reminder: The beach trip is September 29-October 1. Please contact Kathy Conner or Deborah Momsen-Hudson if you are not receiving trip details.
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DONORS NEEDED for WORSHIP FLOWERS
Click here to see what Sundays remain available. Arrangements cost $65, which is paid to the church.
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) assisting victims of Maui Wildfires
An initial response grant was disbursed to address immediate emergency needs, and PDA will be present through the long-term recovery phase. You can give to FPC (memo Maui Wildfires). FPC will send our funds to PDA at the end of September. To help now, you can give via phone by calling 1-800-872-3283. To send a check directly to PDA, please designate where you want your gift to go on the memo line (DR000165 - Maui) and mail to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
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SEPTEMBER
FPC Commitments
prepare and serve breakfast, 7 - 9 a.m. (4 volunteers needed)
prepare lunch bags, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (3 volunteers needed)
prepare lunch bags, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (3 volunteers needed)
Other UMD opportunities:
https://umdurham.org/volunteer/
Sign up with Jen McGonigle
202-421-5870
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