In this issue you will find the following:

• Pastoral Letter
•  In Our Thoughts & Prayers
•  Worship info
•  Faith Formation for Children
•   Youth Corner
• Faith Formation for Adults
•   Congregational Life/Fellowship Events
• ·Service & Mission Opportunities·       

From the Pastor/Head of Staff

Dear friends,

           So many wonderful ministries are occurring at First Presbyterian Church! Many people have no idea the ways we are working in the city. Some of our ministries focus on emergency needs, particularly food and housing, while others address structural and systemic change. Here are some of the things we are doing – and ways you might be able to get involved!

Feeding the hungry:

           Iglesia Emanuel food program – We support this ministry, which feeds over 600 families a week, the majority who are Latinx, with volunteers and funding. 

Volunteer opportunities are mostly during the day, Monday-Wednesday, and there are many hands needed to make sure those who are deeply affected by pandemic losses and inflation might have food to feed their families. 

           Interested in volunteering Mon-Fri? Sign up here.

           Can’t volunteer during the week? Join us for a beans and rice packing party on Saturday, April 23 at 9 a.m. Sign up here to reserve your spot.

           Want to know more? Contact Margaret Rubiera.

           Urban Ministries of Durham – We support (financially and with volunteers) this neighborhood non-profit, which houses, feeds, and provides support for those who need these services.        

Weekday options available to serve meals and pack lunches – contact Jen MJen McGonigle to learn more about volunteering.

To learn more about the work of Urban Ministries of Durham, click here: https://umdurham.org/ or contact FPC member and UMD board member Walt Barron.

Housing:

           In addition to our support of Urban Ministries of Durham for emergency housing, we also have a team that works with Durham CAN (Congregations, Associations, Neighborhoods) to work for more affordable housing in Durham. We successfully organized to convince Durham County Commissioners to approve 100% affordable housing as a part of the parking deck going up next door, as well as a significant number of affordable units in two other locations in Durham. We continue to work for affordable housing on other sites. Want to know more? Contact Susan Dunlap or Sharon Hirsch.

           We also have a team working on eviction reform. Eviction is at crisis levels in Durham and we work with Durham CAN and Legal Aid to understand the issues and to encourage reforms that keep people in their homes as long as possible. Want to know more? Contact Jane Williams.

           Our Walk-in Ministry program helps people stay in their homes by assisting with emergency needs such as rental assistance and help when utilities are cut off. They also help our neighbors find housing through programs like Housing for New Hope, and job training through Step-up Ministry.

Welcoming the Stranger:

           We currently have two Afghan refugee teams working with CWS (https://cwsrdu.org/). One team supports an adult male. The second team supports a 10-year-old boy and his aunt. Stay tuned for a minute for mission this Sunday about the work of the second team is doing. Interested in learning more? Contact Wendy McCorkle.

Education:

FPC Day School (https://www.fpdayschool.org/history-and-mission) – FPC started this important ministry in 1970. The school, which serves a broad socio-economic and racial community, is now its own non-profit, but we continue to support it financially and with board members. Interested in serving on the board? Contact Carolyn Merritt or Amy Sanchez for more information.

Iglesia Emanuel – We also support with volunteers and donations, the weekly tutoring program at Iglesia Emanuel. On Thursdays at 6 p.m., volunteers work one-on-one with children from the community. Want to know more? Contact Margaret Rubiera or Andy Henry.

And if you think this is a lot, I have barely scratched the surface. 

We also have a Racial Equity Team working to dismantle structural racism. See news below from the team or contact Kathy Krahenbuhl.

We have two support teams trained by the Criminal Justice Resource Center to work with returning citizens. 

We have pastoral care teams, a calling ministry, knitting and quilting teams, a flower ministry, a card ministry, and deacons that care for those in our congregation going through a health or life crisis.

Click here to see the list of organizations we support through our annual budget.

If you want to know about any of these things, check out our website: https://firstpres-durham.org/outreach/ or contact me or the chair of our Service and Mission Committee, Alec Bethune.

If you have not already, I hope you can find the right place where your gifts of time, resource, and talent respond to the deepest needs of the world. 

What ministry is God calling you to today?

I would love to talk with you and explore this question further. 

Grace and peace to you all,

Mindy

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

• Dawn and John Shelton on the death of Dawn’s father (Simon and Jane Carsey’s grandfather), Robert (Bob) Warren. Bob died Sunday, March 27 and his service was held Wednesday, March 30, in Nebraska. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to Dawn and John at:

Dawn and John Shelton

1010 Pondfield Way

Durham NC 27713.

• Tom and Ellen Bacon on the death of Tom's brother-in-law, John Rist, who died last week. A memorial service will be held for John on April 11 in Naples, Florida. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to Tom and Ellen at:

Tom and Ellen Bacon

4201 Swarthmore Road

Durham NC 27707.

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

Wes Carson is recovering at The Forest at Duke health center.

Roger Kalthoff, husband of Jane Williams, home, in hospice care

Chris Wood, stepfather of Sharon Hirsch

Paul Cornsweet      Harold Dunlap       Kerry Holbrook      

Maxie Honeycutt    Jancy Johnstone   George Kafula      

Charlotte Nelson    Mitzi Lesher-Thomas Katy Loebrich 

Care Communities:

Dubose Center at The Cedars, Chapel Hill: Arthur Clark

Durham Ridge Assisted Living: Phillip Herndon

Hillcrest Convalescent Center: 

Julian Boswell,

Maxie Honeycutt

Jim Wolfe

Walter Chambliss (Will Chambliss’ dad)     

I want to give my First Presbyterian Church friends deep thanks for the many blessings showered upon me these past many weeks. Your prayers, cards, calls, emails, visits, flowers, and abundant love and care have been a source of strength and assurance. I am in uncharted waters at present, but God as always is lighting the way. This church has been my home for over six decades and has enriched my life in countless ways. With much love and gratitude - Maxie Honeycutt 

~ Palm/Passion Sunday, April 10 ~

 **9:15-10:15 a.m. – Faith Formation classes

(**Note change in start time.)

9:45 a.m. Egg hunt for younger children and hot cross buns for all!

10:15 a.m. Palm Parade around downtown Durham

We will join with our neighbors in parading around the block and waving palms. Afterwards, we will return to our sanctuary for worship.

11:00 a.m. Worship using Scriptures and songs about Christ’s passion.

~ Stations of the Cross Art Display ~

Throughout Holy Week, April 11 - April 15

First Presbyterian will have designated times to come and pray at the church at the Stations of the Cross art display as depicted by artist Mary Button. As you pray at these stations, you travel across the world twice over in images. Surrounding each station is a border which depicts the movement of Jesus toward the cross.

  ~ Maundy Thursday, April 14 ~

6:00 p.m. Joint Worship - Covenant Presbyterian Church sanctuary

First Presbyterian Church will worship with (at) Covenant Presbyterian Church (2620 Weaver Street, Durham). The service will include Holy Communion to commemorate Jesus’ last supper. FPC’s John Weicher is preaching. 

~ Good Friday, April 15 ~

7:00 p.m. The Tenebrae in the FPC sanctuary

An ancient service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles. This increasing darkness symbolizes the approaching darkness of Jesus' death and of hopelessness in the world without God.

 ~ Easter Sunday, April 17 ~

9:45 a.m. Outdoor Easter morning re-enactment

10:30 a.m. Fellowship time with light refreshments

11:00 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion

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

PC(USA) Special Offering: The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering will be received on Easter Sunday to provide relief to the hungry, poor, and oppressed, and those affected by natural disasters and war.  Online giving is now available via the church’s website.

EASTER LILIES will grace our sanctuary on Easter Sunday. Remember/honor someone on Easter Sunday by donating toward the lilies’ cost. To participate, complete and return a donor card with your donation by Palm Sunday, April 10.

FLOWERING THE CROSS

The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering will be received on Easter Sunday to provide relief to the hungry, poor, and oppressed, and those affected by natural disasters and war.  

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW . . .

EGG HUNT

Palm Sunday, April 10

9:45 a.m.

Inside each egg, we will have pretend money. At the end of the egg hunt, children will be able to choose (out of 3 choices) which charity they would like their 'cash' to go to. The 3 choices will be: 

Families Moving Forward;

Crayons-2-Calculators;

Book Harvest. 

The Christian Education committee has agreed to provide donations to each of these in the amount that the kids donate. After they choose their charities, they will get a goodie bag with candy and a book!! Adults can add real money to each jar if they want!  

LENTEN and SPRING BOOK STUDIES

March 8 - April 13

ZOOM LINK.

View the SCHEDULE HERE.

Coordinator and Office Volunteers Needed

The church is beginning to open up as pandemic numbers trend in a positive direction. As a result, we would like to allow our community support groups (Al-ANON, Overeaters Anonymous and AA) to return in the weekday. We now need morning office volunteers to monitor entry into the building and answer the phone. We are also in need of someone to coordinate our pool of office volunteers.

Please contact Valerie in the church office if you would like to serve a morning shift, (9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) one or more mornings of the week, or the Friday afternoon shift (1:004:30 p.m.). Orientation to duties is available.

First Presbyterian has a terrific group who will be walking in this year’s CROP Hunger Walk to raise money to provide more meals for hungry people in Durham, and greater food security in communities around the world. This year’s walk is Sunday afternoon, April 10, and we have set a goal for FPC to raise $4,000 toward Durham’s goal of $150,000. We still have a way to go to reach our goal, so please consider donating to support those who are participating. FPC CROP walkers include Emily Wilkins, Jody Maxwell, Kerry Holbrook, Shirley Frederick, Tim O'Brien, Mindy Douglas, Karolyn Mangeot, Andy Henry, Jane Williams, Margaret and Miguel Rubiera, Teddie and Tony Brown, Laura Hanson, Judy and David Smith, and Ellen and Tom Bacon.

Click on the link below to either join the FPC Team or make a donation in support of those who are walking.

https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/team/first-presbyterian-church-durham

Don't worry this is just the first of spring pop-up opportunities.

Art or birding not your thing, keep your eyes out for upcoming opportunities around music, and trivia!

Have a hobby or interest you'd like to share? Willing to 'host' a hike on your favorite trail? Have the best backyard for s'more's or a campfire? Looking for some company to wander Duke Gardens? Contact Mitzi Lesher-Thomas about creating a spring pop-up!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D49A9AC29A75-first

Upcoming (and on-going!)

Fellowship Opportunity

Next gathering is April 21

6:30-7:30 p.m.

Each third Thursday of the month we'll gather for a relaxed time of fellowship. No RSVP needed, all ages welcome, light munchies provided and more food available from J. Lights Market & Cafe if you want to make it your dinner or enjoy Two Roosters Ice Cream for dessert!

Someone from FPC will always be there so come when you can, leave when you must. 

FPC BLOOD DRIVE

Thursday, May 5, 2022

from 1:00-6:00 p.m.

at FPC - Watts-Hill Hall

Go online to RedCrossBlood.org and use code firstpres to schedule your appointment. 

If you are healthy and it has been over 50 days since your last blood donation, please come out to donate. Most donations take about an hour, so book your appointment, roll up your sleeve, and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross.

For more information, contact Julie Whiddon (919-730-6673), FPC's organizer and Red Cross volunteer.

From FPC's Creation Care Team

April 26. 2022

7:00-8:15 PM on Zoom

Register here

Worldwide about 33% of soil is degraded. U.S. soil is disappearing 10 times faster than it’s being replenished naturally. Can a city-dweller do anything to help? 

Join our speakers Frank Franciosi (US Composting Council), Muriel Williman (NC Composting Council) and Rev. Susannah Tuttle (NC Interfaith Power & Light) in a webinar on building healthy soil, protecting water resources, increasing food productivity while increasing the ability of soils to store carbon and help combat global warming. Learn how you can help right on the spot during the webinar to support composting legislation in Congress.

Hosted by ICCT, cosponsored by NC Council of Churches, Orange-Chatham Interfaith Care for Creation, the Episcopal Diocese of NC, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, and Pachamama RTP.

More information and registration here

Upcoming Speakers for Growing thru Grief

Growing thru Grief offers small group support to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Here is our schedule for April:

April  5   Where do I go from here? Finding Meaning, by Heidi Gessner

April 12  The Plan Ahead, by William Holloman and Bill Dahl

April 19  A Guide to Accessing your Inner Resources through Grief, by Suzanne Allen

April 26    How to Survive Early Grief—Eight Simple Steps for an Unbearable Time, by Artie Hendricks

Our 4 pm meetings begin with a presentation about a part of the grief process and then we break into small groups for conversation and sharing. With the pandemic, we are meeting on zoom, though we hope to return to in-person meetings. To register, contact admin@growingthrugrief.org by 8 am on the Monday before the meeting.

Growing thru Grief is sponsored by a coalition of religious and civic organizations; there is no charge to attend.

The North Carolina Presbyterian Historical Society’s Spring Tour will be in one of the first areas of Presbyterian settlement in North Carolina, just below the Virginia line in Granville and Vance counties on Saturday, April 23. The Nutbush and Grassy Creek congregations date from 1755-1756, Old St. John’s Episcopal was built in 1773, and in Oxford the group will learn the histories of two Presbyterian churches and a very important school. Registration is $20 including lunch. The schedule, registration form, and address are on the website at www.ncphsociety.org, or contact 919-455-1493 for a copy.

From the Afghan Refugee Sponsorship Team

On March 20, a 10 year old boy and his aunt moved into a two BR rental duplex that FPC's Afghan Refugee Team two identified, furnished and stocked with food and other essential household items. While maintaining privacy for this family is essential, we can tell you that Church World Services says this is an unusual case because it requires reunification of the boy with his parents from whom he was separated during the airlift from Kabul. 

For now, this little family is incredibly happy to be in their own home. Many of you contributed and moved furniture, lamps, kitchen equipment, household supplies, towels, sheets, blankets, rugs, a TV, clothes, food, and other staples. The boy, now in school, has a constant smile on his face and is overjoyed by his new used bike, also contributed by a member of our Church. Thank you! You have made a world of difference for this family.

We have committed to paying rent and utilities for 6 months. With rent at $1,500/month, gas and electricity estimated at $200/month, security deposit and other miscellaneous expenses, we believe we need a total of $11-$12,000 to help this family get their bearings and gain self-sufficiency in the US. 

The Church already had about $4,700 reserved for refugee work. Some of that has been used by Team 1 to help an Afghan man earn professional certification in his area of expertise so that he can work in the US. Bottom line, we need to raise $7-$8,000 to support our family for 6 months as they move to self-sufficiency.  If more money is given than needed, we will reserve it for refugee work in the future. 

We will be assisted in our fundraising by the youth of FPC -- please buy their tt-shirts and hats! We also ask that you send a check to FPC or donate on-line to the "Afghan Refugee Project". We'll let you know how the fundraising goes and send news as we can about the family. 

With gratitude,

 Lesley Curtis and Wendy McCorkle on behalf of the FPC team

(Tom Bacon, Teddie Brown, Jean Cary, Brent Curtis, Sandy Roberts, Karen Sindelar, and others still working on their background checks.)

Day of Service

Saturday, April 23

9:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Here it comes! Another fun-filled Day of Service at the Iglesia Emanuel Food Pantry! Let's celebrate spring and our bountiful blessings by gathering together on Saturday morning, April 23, in the parking lot of Iglesia Emanuel, 2504 N Roxboro, to bag an abundant amount of rice and beans. This is a great opportunity to combine visiting with old and new friends with lending a hand in a practical way to the ministry of the Food Pantry. Sign up here to reserve your spot. Monetary and food donations are highly encouraged! Most needed food items: canned protein (tuna or chicken) and cereal. Let's stock the pantry to the brim! For more information, contact Margaret Rubiera.

June 18, 2022 - Washington DC

We are taking a bus to the Poor People's Campaign March on Washington on June 18, 2022. It will leave from the FPC parking lot , and we want to fill it up. Jane Williams is the contact person to get your name on the list (who knows, maybe we'll need two buses). We hope you'll join us.

Thanks to everyone who is comfortable volunteering!  COVID prevention/spread guidelines remain in place. If you are fully vaccinated, contact Jen McGonigle to sign up for one of FPC's regular time slots each month, or call Jen at 202-421-5870.

Links here for other UMD opportunities:

https://umdurham.org/donate/casserole-recipes.html

https://umdurham.org/assets/files/Recipes-English-and-Spanish-Final-081214.pdf

There are also some other opportunities (hygiene kits/etc.) and they can be found at the link below: https://umdurham.org/get-involved/opportunities.html.