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Worship This Sunday
November 19, 2023
| 10:00 am in the Sanctuary | Call 888-969-5508 to listen to the service |
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Sermon Title:
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"To All of Those Who Have, More Will be Given" - Rev. Dr. Stewart Rawson, preaching
Scripture Readings:
- Psalm 90:1-12
- Matthew 25:14-30
Hymns:
- Holy God, We Praise Your Name
- God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
- As Those of Old their Firstfruits Brought
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“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul—and sings the tunes without the words—and never stops at all.”
--Emily Dickinson
Walk and Talk this week (8am on Tuesdays—come join us!) consisted of about 13 people, including a baby. It was a lovely morning and we chatted about our families and exciting upcoming trips and holidays and things happening at the church. As we were stepping back on FPC grounds, our conversation turned to the world. It was not as light as the rest of the walk. We talked about our utter dismay at what is happening in Israel/Gaza and frankly, being frozen in not even knowing what to do or say. We talked about worrying for those children now and the future of the world for our children and our children’s children.
“What can we possibly do?” Well, the first realization is that we cannot lose HOPE. And then, We pray. We read. We pay attention to the news, even when we want to turn it off. We advocate. We talk about it. We do not put our heads in the sand. It doesn’t necessarily solve any of it, but we must not lose HOPE. As people of faith, HOPE is at our core. Not blind hope, but a hope that sits with us, letting us know that we are not alone and that we must keep on.
I love Emily Dickinson’s image of HOPE perching in our souls, singing the tunes to us, never stopping.
May we always keep that HOPE in our souls and hearts.
Peace, Carrie
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2023 Budget Update
As you may recall, a Narrative Budget was presented and reviewed with the congregation in February 2023.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW NARRATIVE BUDGET
Based on the planned 2023 budget - we projected that our income would be approximately $120,000 less than our expenses. We have undertaken multiple efforts over the past nine months to reduce expenses, but at this point we are still $110,000 short.
Please consider the many ways First Presbyterian Church of Burlington, NC carries out God's work in our church, community, and world - and prayerfully consider how you may be able to help close this shortfall in funding.
FPC Year-End Giving Reminder
For those who have inquired about end-of-year contributions, please note the following:
Gifts must be charged to your credit or debit card by 11:59 pm, December 31, 2023.
Or, if they are mailed, they must be postmarked with a date no later than December 31, 2023.
Stock gifts are recorded as of the date the church receives the funds. You are encouraged to initiate stock gifts no later than Friday, December 15th, to allow for processing and transfer time. Please notify Tori Stadler, our Financial Administrator, once you have initiated a stock transfer to the church.
Credit card gifts can be made online through Tithely on the FPC website by clicking the link below:
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Contemplative Ministry - Fall 2023 Offerings
Greetings from the FPC Contemplative Ministry Planning Team to our extended contemplative family. Our newsletter (linked below) shares information about:
- "Quiet Space" Meditations
- Ongoing Contemplative Ministry Offerings
- Contemplative Practice for Daily Use
Click on the link to read more about this vital ministry of FPC!
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FPC Walk & Talk Continues each Tuesday Morning Unless it Rains or the Temperature is below 32 degrees!
Walk and talk takes place every Tuesday at 8:00 am. We meet on the steps outside the the chapel entrance. The group walks at a leisurely pace for about an hour.
Questions? Contact Carrie Tuttle
[email protected]
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You are invited to the John Knox Fellowship Class on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in the John Knox Room.
We have been blessed this fall session to have three of our esteemed retired ministers teach the class. Frank Covington kicked it off in September and into October and George Lashley just completed a 5-Sunday series. Each lesson was excellent and greatly appreciated by all who attended. Now Bob Ellis will take over and bring us to the end of the session in December.
Our teachers are using the Presbyterian curriculum called "Feasting on the Word," which follows our church lectionary. One advantage of this is that we study the same scripture each Sunday for both our Sunday school lesson and sermon/worship service, allowing us to view the passage from different perspectives.
Bob will continue the Bible study series in November with the 'Parable of the Talents' (Matthew 25:14-30) on the 19th and 'Loving the Least of These' (Matthew 25:31-46) on the 26th. On December 3, we will join other members of the church for our annual Intergenerational Day. Then Bob has something special for us.
On December 10, Bob will give a lesson entitled "The Bible: Illness and Health," and on the 17th, "The Church: Caring, Nurturing, and Support for Persons Struggling with Life." Bob notes that both lessons "are intended to help all of us become more aware of the needs of individuals and families and to provide skills on how to listen and respond to an array of life situations in a caring and supportive manner." He reminds us that "being a 'Matthew 25 Church' means going outside our comfort zones and reaching out in love to folks we normally avoid or around whom we are uncomfortable. We can't build a real community unless we can escape our fears and anxieties with Christ's help."
We hope very much that you will join us this Sunday at 9am in the John Knox Room for inspirational Bible studies and lessons on living Christian lives. We'll have the coffee on.
Blessings,
Bruce Shields
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Mark Your Calendar - Coming Events! | | |
We will learn more about and make Christingles! The Christingle has its origins in a Moravian children's service held in a castle in Germany on Christmas Eve in 1747. The bishop conducting the informal service gave each child a lighted candle, tied with a red ribbon, in memory of the Savior’s coming which he said has kindled a flame in each heart which keeps burning "to His joy, and our happiness.” Much later, this simple candle was replaced by a more elaborate Christingle which is rich in symbolism. When you take a break from creating your Christingle, you can decorate a cookie provided by the Fellowship Team or visit the Alternative Giving displays hosted by the Mission Team. A morning full of fellowship and faith. Your RSVP will help us have enough supplies for the Christingles. Contact [email protected] or call 336-228-1703. The more the merrier! | |
Alternative Giving Fair will open at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 3 in Shive Hall! Our local mission partners will have their displays up and will have honor cards ready for you to buy. Representatives for our local mission partners will be available to talk with you between 9:00-10:00 a.m. or 11:00-11:30 a.m. In addition to honor cards, we will have some candles and body care items from Benevolence Farm and handcrafted items from Peru, Haiti, and Zambia for purchase. Visit before or after worship December 3, 10 or 17 or during business hours (Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or Friday 8:00 a.m. – noon) if coming during the week. Checks and cash only. Exact change preferred as our ability to make change is limited. Contact Charlotte Nance-Allbright for more information ([email protected] or 336-228-1703 x 223). | |
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Meals on Wheels
Alamance County Meals on Wheels (ACMOW) is our mission focus for November. This agency offers hot nutritional home-delivered meals, frozen home-delivered meals, and winter weather emergency meals to homebound seniors in our community. ACMOW serves over 525 seniors on 24 different hot and frozen meal routes. Please refer to the Food Pantry List and the Birthday List posted on the Missions Bulletin Board or the links provided below to see what supplementary food items and birthday treats you can contribute for the ACMOW clients. Please leave your donations in the bin marked "Meals on Wheels Donations" by the CDC entrance. Thank you for giving generously!
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Furniture Ministry Work-Day Thank You!
Thanks to the 30+ volunteers who came to our Furniture Ministry workday on November 4, including several tennis players from Elon! Together, we served 11 grateful families including 21 children who now have beds of their own to sleep in. The volume of families served continues at a record pace, and we are in need of donations - specifically full sheet sets, comforters of all sizes, lamps, bath/hand towels, wash clothes, bath mats, kitchen tables/chairs, chests of drawers/dressers, coffee and end tables and pots/pans. Donations can be dropped off at our warehouse on Monday afternoons between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. If you need us to pick up your items, please call the Furniture Ministry phone at 336-212-2937. And be sure to mark your calendar for our next workday on Saturday, December 16.
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The Food Pantry
Please bring non-perishable foods for the Food Pantry. Drop them off in the collection bins outside the CDC entry anytime during the week or when you come to worship on Sunday morning.
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Trip to Birmingham/Montgomery
The Racial Justice Task Force has been in conversation with our 508 Partners at First Baptist Church about a trip for our congregations to take together to Birmingham/Montgomery in February 2024. We would like to get an idea of who is interested in participating so that we can move forward with planning. If you think you would like to go, or if you want to ask more questions, please contact Carolyn Hunt at 336-213-4817 or [email protected].
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Concerns and Celebrations | | |
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On-Going Prayer Concerns…
Elise West - Peak Resources (PT)
Joyce Harkey
Joyce Kestler
Rosemary Wellford
Perry Cornelius
Laurie / Trevor Downs
Barbara Higgs
Kathryn Parker- daughter of Doris and Don DeSarro
Keith and Mary Lou Massie
Marion Stadler
Diane Barnwell
Fran Reed
Kelly / Jonathan Glenn
Dean Vaughn
Fred Sisley
Kathy / Peter Johnson
Sue McCrone-Bradshaw
Bob Ellis Family
Mildred Massengill
Linda Mason
Billie Scobey
Patty Roberts Temples
Christian sympathy is expressed to the family of Jeanie Sutton at the death of her sister, Ruth Privette, on October 31, 2023. A service will be held on November 18, 2023 in Kinston, NC.
Christian sympathy is expressed to the family of Nancy Thomas at her death on November 13, 2023. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Pine Hill Cemetery, on November 18, 2023. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at FPCB.
Please note:
Requests for prayer are intended to be private and confidential. Please be respectful of the privacy of those on the list. When in doubt, please consult with one of the pastors.
Pastor on Call November 17-19: Carrie Tuttle 336.708-0451
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Church Business and Finance | | |
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Financials & Meeting Minutes
Click here to view the September 2023 Financial Statement
Click here to view the September Session Minutes
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Pledge & Give
You may give through our online platform Tithely here or mail your contribution to the church office: 508 West Davis Street, Burlington, NC 27215. Thank you for your support!
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