|
First Presbyterian Church
Bi-Weekly Newsletter
January 28, 2025
| | |
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE . . .
Pastoral Letter
Joys / Concerns
Worship
Winter Faith Formation
Winter Fellowship Events
Service and Mission Opportunities
| |
|
Dear friends,
Click here to read Pastor Mindy’s letter about how Rev. Joe Harvard and Mayor Wib Gulley found themselves at a crossroads in 1986 and stepped into the courageous space of justice through an effort to eliminate discrimination, fear and bigotry in Durham.
With love and gratitude,
Mindy
| |
|
2025 Pledges Update
As of 1/28/25
Pledges: 178
Amount: $1,036,795.07
Percentage of 92.6
Pledge Goal: $1,119,655.01
Needed: $82,859.94
| |
Condolences
We extend our love and concern to:
Haley Winslow-Stephenson upon the death of her grandfather this weekend.
Bruce Loebrich and family on the death of his wife, Katy Loebrich on January 24th. You may send cards to the following address:
Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home
501 Conant Street
Maumee, Ohio 43537
We remember in prayer:
Catie Brockman, home after being hospitalized with complications related to her pregnancy.
Lin Bentel, recovering from open heart surgery at Parkview Rehab Center.
Jim Gudaitis, husband of Christy Gudaitis, a patient at Duke Hospital.
Kirsten Hanson, family of Laura Hanson, entering hospice care.
Mac McCorkle, hospitalized in ICU in Sydney, Australia, with complications related to pneumonia.
Additional concerns can be found here.
| |
The churchlife app can be used to locate address information for sending cards to individuals and families. You may also contact the church office if you do not have access to the app. | |
|
Dear Friends,
A family in Asheville is searching for a location within 30 minutes to Duke Hospital in preparation and recovery period for a double transplant at Duke. Property criteria is ground floor, 1 bedroom/1 bathroom with living area within 30 minutes of Duke Hospital. We are looking to partner with a non profit, business, or person/ family who has a dedicated/separate unit to host for all of 2025.
| | |
|
|
A note from Emanuel Food Pantry:
One thing has not and will not change — we will stand firm in our efforts to combat food insecurity in our community. Read More Here!
| |
Thank you so much, FPC, for designating the 2024 Christmas Eve offering to the Emanuel Learning Center. Your generous support of $3,130 is helping ensure that this outstanding tutoring program, under the leadership of Mimi Dunn, can continue to flourish and offer a safe and reassuring place to Hispanic children. Our dedicated tutors not only teach needed academic skills, but also help our young people gain confidence and dream about a host of opportunities that they can pursue. During these times when fear and anxiety are all too present for our immigrant families, we are grateful for this program and for all who are standing with us. | |
WORSHIP SERVICE
4th Sunday after Epiphany
Sunday, February 2, 2025
at 11:00 a.m.
Brian Blount, preaching
Brian K. Blount is President Emeritus of Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA and Charlotte, NC. He is an author of numerous articles, and also preaches and directs adult education classes in local congregations. He is married, and he and his wife, Sharon, have two children, Joshua and Kaylin.
| |
MUSIC FOR CHILDREN
Children are welcome to join Lenore Champion and others on Sunday mornings from 9:45-10:00 a.m. in the Godly Playroom to learn and sing songs.
After Worship . . .
Children, aged kindergarten-6th grade, are invited to a time of music with Kathy Parkins in the choir room. We begin around 12:10 p.m.
|
CHILDREN'S FAITH FORMATION
The Preschool Faith Formation class is for ages 3 years to 5 years. Each Sunday, there's free play, a story, a snack, and an activity!
The kindergarten-2nd grade Faith Formation class promises a fun story, big art, drama, and a snack!
The Godly Play class is for 3rd-5th grades. Stories are presented visually with small props. The class is invited to consider "Wondering" questions as they reflect on the story that was presented. Check in for the week and prayer time ends the session!
If your child is interested in taking part in Worship leadership, please let Lenore know!
|
LECTIONARY CLASS
Join us each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in the Robert Daye Meeting Room for discussion of the lectionary readings.
February 2: Some of the greatest figures in the Bible were called prophets. Does the prophetic call guarantee prestige and honor? Do prophetic powers bring security and success?
February 9: A voice of authority. A voice that speaks, and you know it is true. A voice that commands, and you obey. Where does that authority come from? Do we recognize it when we hear it?
|
MEANING IN THE MIDDLE
Sundays 8:00 p.m., via Zoom
(Link is sent in weekly email)
We are using the resource d365, a Presbyterian / mainline devotional to guide our discussion. There is no reading or prep required, and our topics vary from week to week, so you won't have missed anything.
We need leaders for our weekly Zoom discussions and our monthly in-person gatherings. The sign-up sheet for both is here. If you haven't already done so, please sign up for two weeks on the spreadsheet, and a giant THANK YOU to those who have already signed up.
| |
YOUTH CALENDAR
Youth Sunday is February 9
Middle School
Faith Formation Classes
will meet Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in the basement classrooms.
| |
High School
Faith formation
will meet Sunday at 9:45 a.m.
|
FAITH & COMMUNITY CLASS
We meet on Sundays from
9:45-10:45 a.m.
in Watts-Hill Hall.
This week, we welcome Russell Pierce, the executive director of Housing for New Hope, to Faith & Community to talk about what’s happening around issues of homelessness and to people experiencing it in Durham. H4NH does great work, and we’re eager to hear the latest.
|
JOURNEY'S CLASS
Sundays at 9:45 a.m.
in the Wilson Parlor
We are currently reading and discussing the New Testament Book of Acts of the Apostles and will be using from time to time as a resource the Interpretation Series—ACTS: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching by William H. Willimon.
All are welcome to join.
For more information please contact Andy Henry, Eric Wiebe, or Paul Baldasare.
| | |
|
JANUARY YOGA
led by Jane Wettach
Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.
Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
Meet at the church.
Location to be determined based on class size.
| | |
|
SONAM
(Singers of New and Ancient Music)
Saturday, February 1st at 4 pm
Presents "The Divine Feminine and Powerful Women.”
| |
|
|
BIRD WATCHING SLIDE SHOW
February 2, 2025 at 7:00pm
Robert Daye Meeting Room
In November of last year, David and Judy Smith spent three weeks on a birding tour of Chile, and they returned with lots of photos and stories to share. Read More Here!
| | | |
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Circle & Bible Study
Monday, February 3rd
10:30 a.m. | Daye Meeting room
New faces welcome.
| |
PRAYER SERVICE FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE
On Wednesday, February 5, at noon, we will gather in the sanctuary to pray for all who are facing challenges during these times. We will read scripture, offer each other encouragement, and ask God to "grant us wisdom and grant us courage for the living of these days." For more information, contact Susan Dunlap.
| |
COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
Thursday, February 6th from 1 - 6 p.m.
Show your support for patients in need this winter. Sign up via www.redcrossblood.org and use code "firstpres".
| |
FIRST FRIENDS AND FAMILIES GAME NIGHT
February 8th 6 - 9 p.m.
FPC Fellowship Hall
Bring your favorite game(s), a dish to share, and perhaps something to contribute to mocktails/creative seltzer drinks. For example, Emily has already said she will bring lemons, limes, oranges, grenadine, and maraschino cherries. (thanks, Emily!)
Oh, if you are not a board gamer, come anyway! There's always a table of folks who just chat ( :
| |
THINGS THAT MATTER
BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, February 11 at 6:00pm
Fellowship Hall
Join us for Poems, during Things That Matter Book Club. Laura McNab will host and would appreciate helpers. We will discuss the poetry of Nikki Giovanni. Please bring a favorite poem to share.
| | |
|
Financial support for relief efforts can be designated to DR000165, which supports the church’s response to wildfires in the U.S. Gifts can be made online by phone at 800-728-7228, ext. 5885, or by check made payable to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with “PDA-CF25-E” written on the memo line and mailed to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. | | | | |
