FAITH FORMATION

FOR CHILDREN

THEME: Flourishing In Faith.  

Age-graded classes for children are now being offered. Children meet at 9:45 on the second floor of the Christian education building.

Sunday, September 24

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11:00 a.m. Worship

Mindy Douglas, preaching

The Hunger for Change Offering will be received during worship.

On World Communion Sunday, October 1, we celebrate that Christ's peace extends throughout all creation. We celebrate that we are connected, we are loved, and we are not alone. We also receive the Peace & Global Witness Offering which supports efforts of peacemaking locally and throughout the world.

Sunday, October 1

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11:00 a.m. Worship

John Weicher, preaching

A Study of Philippians

Begins September 24

Join us on Sunday mornings

from 9:45-10:45 a.m.

in the Basement Parlor

(across from Youth classrooms)

For more information, please contact Susan Dunlap, sjd4@duke.edu.

Lectionary Class

(meets year-round)

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

September 24: The Hebrew scriptures say repeatedly that the Lord is “gracious and merciful...and abounding in steadfast love.” But how do we feel when the Lord’s love is showered on those we consider undeserving? Is God’s grace unfair?

October 1: Jesus is very clear: what we actually do is more important than what we say we will do. Repentance – a change to a better life and to obedient actions – leads to forgiveness.

MnMs (Meaning in the Middle) Fellowship

We meet via Zoom at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings. The Zoom link is sent each week to those on the listserve. To learn more about this class, contact Mary Berry or Emily Diy.

Learn about

FPC CARE Teams

On Sunday, October 1, in the Faith & Community Class, our members who have been serving on CARE teams (Communities Acting for Refugee Empowerment) helping refugee families to settle into U.S. life, will be discussing their experiences, triumphs, failures and joys. We hope that many church members will attend both to learn about this vital ministry of FPC and to be encouraged to participate on future CARE teams. Join us in Watts-Hill Hall at 9:45 a.m. For more information, contact Gordon Campbell .

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.

COMMUNITY-WIDE

TRUNK or TREAT

We need your help!

Have you ever wanted to really do it up right for Halloween, but feel like your house is just too much? Have we got a ministry for you! Last year, we had a blast with FPC’s first-ever Trunk or Treat as FPC children and some kiddos from the community trick-or-treated at some tricked-out trunks in our parking lot. This year, we are hoping to invite even more of our neighbors and kids from the Day School, and we need your help! We need lots more trunks to be decorated and candy to be given out. There will also be face-painting and hotdogs (to balance out all that candy).  All FPCers are invited to decorate a trunk. Contact Stephen Berry if you have questions and to sign up to decorate a trunk.

We extend our sympathies to the following:

Christy and Jim Gudaitis on the death of Christy’s mom. Mary Myers died September 9.

Christy and Jim Gudaitis

4914 Eno Woods Trail

Durham NC 27712

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Heidi Biermann on the death of her grandmother. Jean Jasman died September 14 in Spirit Lake, Idaho at the age of 95. 

Heidi Biermann

506 Finley Street

Durham, NC 27705

********************

Cheri Reece on the death of her brother-in-law. Dr. Edward D. Schultz died September 14 in Pennsylvania.

Cheri Reece

549 Smallwood Dr

Durham NC 27703

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 Prayers:

Carol Wills is now a resident of Hillcrest Convalescent Center - Room 2406.

Lynda Frank, mother of Leah Graves, is hospitalized in Oklahoma following heart surgery.

UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, and staff following an armed robbery incident on the campus on September 13.

Residents of Morrocco who survived a devastating earthquake near Marrakesh.    

Residents of Libya who survived massive flooding in the port of Derna.

Click HERE to see our full list of concerns.

Medical debt is the source of incredible inequities, keeping families mired in debt and impeding their ability to build assets. Plus, it adds enormously to emotional stress.

In 2022, the Session of FPC voted to set aside $50,000 from our capital campaign to help eliminate medical debt.

The first of three campaigns raised $26,000 and paid off $5 million in medical debt.

FPC's second campaign, which ended July 31, 2023, raised over $34,000 and has paid off over $7.5 million in medical debt for North Carolinians. Click here to see who was helped from the second campaign.

Thank you to FPC members, our friends, and especially University Presbyterian Church of Chapel Hill, for giving to this second campaign.

BUILDING EXPANSION COMMITTEE UPDATE

Members of the Building Committee will be available after church on the next two Sundays. Look for Tyler Momsen-Hudson and Lanny Pratt in Watts-Hill Hall on September 24 and October 1. These will be informal question and answer sessions. 

The Building Committee is pleased to share that the City of Durham’s Historic Preservation Commission approved the architectural design of our proposed plan to renovate and improve the facilities at FPC. Details of the plan can be found HERE, in the application for the Certificate of Appropriateness. This is an important milestone. For over a year, the Building Committee has worked with local architects (MHAworks) to develop a plan that incorporates the elements put forth by the Vision Committee in conversation with the congregation. We now have the green light from the city to proceed with this project.

The next steps are to finalize the design in partnership with our general contractor (Romeo Guest) and to ensure that we have enough funds to complete the project. Currently the cost, as estimated by our general contractor, exceeds the funds raised by our Capital Campaign. The Building Committee is discussing options to deal with this shortfall with members of the Finance Committee and the Session. We will report more on this important issue in the next newsletter.

DURHAM PRIDE Parade

Saturday, September 23, 2023 Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m.

FPC will walk in the parade again this year. All are welcome to join us. Wear colorful and festive clothing and comfortable shoes. 

FPC participants, please meet on Duke’s East Campus by 10:00 a.m., at the gazebo or at FPC’s parade post #105 along the stonewall.

Day Timers’ Luncheon

Tuesday, September 26

11:30 a.m.

at Bullock’s Barbecue

3330 Quebec St., Durham

***Cash or check only***

 Hosted by Mickey Velkey

RSVP:

Marilyn.velkey@usa.net

601.750.3619 cell

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 plan to go and are not receiving trip details.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)

Disaster Relief--International Disasters & Emergencies (DR999999) and specify which disaster(s) you are supporting:

Morocco (earthquake)

or Libya (flooding).

To give by phone, call 800-872-3283. To send a check, please mail to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

P.O. Box 643700

Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.

SEPTEMBER 

Remaining Commitment



Thursday, September 28

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 

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.