IN THIS ISSUE . . .

Pastoral Letter

Holiday Schedule

Joys / Concerns

Worship

Faith Formation

Fellowship Events

Service and Mission Opportunities

LINKS and SIGN-UPS

Online Giving

Online Calendar

Phishing & Spoofing



Ways to Give

Sign up to deliver worship flowers

Office volunteers - open dates

Pastoral Letter

Dear friends,

The prophet Isaiah cries out:

In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ⁴Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

In my sermon Sunday, I challenged us to consider the ways we might participate in God’s vision for a level playing field for all. The ways we do this are as many and diverse as we are. We may “prepare a way for the Lord” in an endless number of ways, including but not limited to:

·        Preparing and/or serving food for our neighbors at Urban Ministries of Durham

·        Leading a campaign for RIP Medical Debt to abolish medical debt for North Carolinians

·        Sorting food for Emanuel Food Pantry

·        Serving on the Racial Equity Team

·        Advocating for universal health care access

·        Building relationships with neighbors who are different from you

·        Tutoring children at Iglesia Emanuel or with Durham Literacy Council

·        Volunteering at FPC’s volunteer desk or Walk-in Ministry

·        Working with one of our refugee resettlement teams

·        Joining a team to partner with a returning citizen

·        Attending Racial Equity Institute training

·        Supporting FPC and other organizations that work for justice and equity for all

·        Praying

The ways God’s people work smooth out their calling to lift up the valleys and level out the mountains are many and varied. I know you all have many other ways that could be added to this list. Thank you for all you do for God’s people in our world! If you are interested in exploring ways you might participate in this Kin-dom building work, please let me, or one of our pastors know. We would love to explore this question with you!

This Advent, as we prepare our hearts to receive the gift of God becoming human in Jesus Christ, may we consider the ways God might be calling us to live out Christ’s love and light in the world.

Peace to you all, my friends.

Mindy

OFFICE: The church office will be closed the week of Christmas (December 25-29) and on Monday, January 1, 2024. For pastoral concerns, contact Mindy Douglas or Esther Hethcox.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: The Walk-in Ministry's last day of interviews for 2023 will be Thursday, December 21. Interviews will resume on Monday, January 8 and continue on the regular schedule of Monday and Thursday mornings when funds are available.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: This is the last newsletter for 2023. The first newsletter for 2024 will be issued on Wednesday, January 3. Please get your next news articles in to Valerie by January 2.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Please welcome Jim Adams and Dennis Hill who were received into membership by the Session on Sunday, December 10, and introduced to the congregation during worship.

Jim Adams (pictured below) was born in Missouri and raised in Tennessee. He is retired (travel and pharmaceutical industries) and currently teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) at Durham Tech. Jim is a graduate of Vanderbilt and Duke universities and enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, American Sign Language, yoga, and politics. He joins FPC by reaffirmation of faith. 

Dennis Hill (pictured above) was born in Kannapolis, NC. He is an ordained minister and retired pastor, having served locally at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. He is a graduate of Mars Hill College, the NC School of Pastoral Care, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dennis enjoys watercolor painting, writing, get-togethers with friends, and politics. He joins FPC by reaffirmation of faith.

Sacrament of Baptism: Vivian Ann Crabtree, child of Meredith and Taylor Crabtree received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, December 10 during worship. Her parents and siblings, Sam and Jude. were present at her baptism.  

Good News: First Presbyterian Church had a successful shopping day at Bull City Fair Trade on November 19^th. The total spent by those who chose to have 10% of their purchases donated to the FPC Walk-in Ministry was $2,409.18, so rounding up, the amount given to the church to help those in crisis is $241. Thanks to everyone who shopped and made this donation possible.

Birth Announcement: Congratulations to Mercy Ndambiri Curlett on the birth of a grandchild. Shiloh was born to Sonia Ndambiri and Shelton Gill on November 8^th.

Congratulations to the following graduates (Class of 2023):

• Tyler Adams, son of Mindy Douglas, UNC-Wilmington
• Lauren Boyle, daughter of Scottie Seawell, UNC-Asheville
• Aiden James, son of Wil and Jenni James, UNC-Charlotte.

Congratulations to Carl Rist who took the oath of office this week and began serving on the Durham City Council.

Condolences: The love and concern of the congregation are extended to:

• Wilson & Pam Gunn and family on the death of their grandson, Jacob Hodge. 
• Jennifer Creadick and family on the sudden death of her twin brother, Jeff Cook. Jennifer now lives in Minnesota. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to her at 2619 Ulysses St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418.
• Kappy & Perry Black and family on the death of Kappy’s sister, Maria Carr Harrell on December 3^rd. Maria was the daughter of longtime FPC members Al & Katherine Carr and grew up in this church.
• Ford, brother of Kerry Holbrook, on the sudden loss of his dear friend Bobby, and Bobby's widow Karen.

Concerns:

• Beth Brockman, following her arrest (with 17 others) at the US Mission to the United Nations where they demanded that the U.S. sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
• Doug Butler, recovering at home from surgery.
• Franzi Rokoske, recovering from surgery.
• Emily Wilson, daughter-in-law of Jean & Chuck Wilson, is recovering from surgery.
• Robert Lewis, Jr., son of Robert (Bob) Lewis, Sr., recovering from surgery.
• Spencer Reaves, who worships regularly with FPC, is recovering for surgery.

Additional concerns can be found here.

2024 Pledge Update

As of December 11, 2023

Pledges: 166

Amount: $944,760.52

Percentage of Goal: 88.15%

Pledge Goal: $1,071,766.00

Needed: $127,005.48

YEAR-END GIVING

Contributions statements are being mailed soon to all those who had pledge balances as of November 30. Timely payment of pledges by December 31 will allow First Presbyterian to pay its end-of-year bills promptly and to meet its benevolence obligations for 2023.

Please remember that the church must receive your charitable contributions by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 29, 2023; or the gift must be postmarked by December 31, 2023, if mailed, to be deductible on your 2023 taxes.

If you wish to make a contribution by credit card, this may be done through the church’s website (www.firstpres-durham.org) at any time. To be deductible on your 2023 taxes, please initiate the gift by Wednesday, December 27. Online contributions scheduled for December 29, 30, or 31 will not reach us in time.

If you wish to make a donation through a gift of stock, please notify Tom Bloom, Business Administrator (t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org) as soon as possible.

Members aged 70 ½ + who own an IRA may be able to make a tax-excludable gift directly to First Presbyterian and have that gift satisfy any required minimum distribution for this year. Please contact your IRA administrator ASAP if you wish to consider this giving option for tax year 2023. 

Ways to Give

to First Presbyterian Church of Durham

·  CHECK - payable to “First Presbyterian Church” either during the worship service or via mail (305 E. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701).

·  BILL PAY initiated by you through your bank or other financial institution. This is usually a free service and can be used on a one-time or a recurring basis. This is the most cost-effective and easiest way to give automatically.

·  DIRECT DEBIT (monthly) from a checking account. An authorization form can be obtained from Tom Bloom (t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org).

·  TEXT GIVING: Please contact Tom Bloom, Business Administrator, at t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org for instructions. For those already using Text Giving, please note that the phone number has changed to 833-962-2843.

·  APPRECIATED STOCK: Please contact Tom Bloom, the Business Administrator, at 919-682-5511 (or t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org), for information and instructions.

·  CREDIT or DEBIT CARD Click on the DONATE button on our website (www.firstpres-durham.org). This can be set up on a one-time or recurring basis.  If you wish your payments to satisfy a pledge, please be sure you’ve made a pledge (pledges can be made via the website or contact the church for a paper form).  You can also schedule payments directly from your checking account. At the time you make an on-line contribution, you may also elect to make a contribution to cover the fees we are charged for this service.

·  CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS from an IRA: Members aged 70½ + who own an IRA may be able to make a qualified charitable distribution directly to First Presbyterian from your IRA and have that gift satisfy a required minimum distribution for this year. Please contact your IRA administrator if you wish to consider this giving option, the Business Administrator can provide any FPC information needed by the plan administrator.  

Sunday, December 17

11:00 a.m. A Service of Lessons & Carols

Children’s Christmas Pageant (sanctuary, 5:30 p.m.)

All-Church Potluck (Watts-Hill Hall, 6:00 p.m. ) followed by a Carols Sing-Along

Attention parents: There is not A Time with Children section during Sunday's worship. Children will remain in the nursery/childcare for the duration of worship.