In this issue you will find the following:

• Pastoral Letter
•  In Our Thoughts & Prayers/Thank You
• 2022 Capital Campaign  
•  Worship info
•  Faith Formation for Children
•  Youth Corner
• Faith Formation for Adults
•  Congregational Life/Fellowship Events
• Service & Mission Opportunities·       

From Associate Pastor John Weicher

I am writing this note to you poolside. I know. What a life of leisure. The waiter should be by with my drink any moment now. 

Except, not really. It’s our local pool. It’s 9 am on a weekday. Lucy has swim practice this morning. And my only drink is the large coffee I brought from home, because somehow there is no waitstaff in sight. This is a part of the new rhythm of my life, as spring has turned to summer. I imagine you might have your own new routines and locations in these warm months, especially as we’re in the endemic-y phase of the pandemic (or is it the pandemic-y phase of the endemic?).  While we continue to pray for and provide for those who cannot emerge from COVID quite yet, many of us are beginning to, or continuing to, get out there into God’s big, wide world again. Thanks be to God.

My invitation to you in these warm summer months of new rhythms and routines is to seek our new relationships. We humans, made in the very image of the Triune God, are built for community. God’s very essence is loving relationship – Creator to Christ to Holy Spirit and back again. When we drill down into our souls, we find that ours is as well. We have learned that lesson in the pandemic – life (and faith) are team sports. We can play neither by ourselves. So what do new human relationships look like this summer? I’m glad you asked…

• Our friends at Urban Ministries and the food pantry of Iglesia Emanuel have lots of opportunities to love and serve our neighbors in need. So many of their regular volunteers (you may be one already!) have new rhythms of their own this summer, and they are in need of folks to help out. 
• Join us July 17 for Midsummer Serendipity, an evening for all ages of outdoor recreation (and re-creation), fellowship and dinner. This just the kind of event at which to renew old friendships and plant the seeds of new ones. 
• Summer is a time when folks often visit new congregations, so be on the look out in worship for folks you don’t recognize. Have the courage to welcome the stranger, and if they turn out to be a long-time FPCer who you don’t happen to know already, you can laugh about it together with your new friend. Either way, you’ve entertained angels. 
• Our new Pastoral Associate, the Rev. Amy Bowers Heit, has begun doing some pastoral visitations for us this summer. Reach out to her for a visit or let her know of someone you know who might benefit from one. 
• Try out a faith formation class you might not have been to before – the Lectionary Class, the Journeys Class (both on Sundays at 9:45 a.m.) or Meaning in the Middle (Sundays at 8:00 p.m.). Or try out a week teaching our one room schoolhouse children’s faith formation – 45 minutes with a good book and great kiddos, followed by 15 minutes of outdoor play that is good for anyone’s soul. (Contact Lenore Champion or Katharine Whitmore.)

These last two opportunities point to the new rhythm at FPC this summer, as we sort through staff transition. Amy Heit’s presence and the Faith & Community Class’s absence remind us that this is a summer of staff transitions, and we are all doing our best to get through. (Fear not, Faith & Community resumes on Sept. 11 with a series on enacting reparations.) 

Let this be a summer of new and renewed relationships for us – with our neighbors, with each other, with visitors, with Rev. Amy, with good books and the Good Book, and indeed with God’s own self. It is who we are and who we are made to be. And if you have time for a drink by the pool, all the better. 

God with us in the hard,

John

CONDOLENCES: The love and concern of the congregation are extended to Tim O'Brien and Mindy Douglas on the death of Tim's mother, Ellen O'Brien. Ellen died at UNC Hospital on June 11. A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at FPC on Thursday, June 16 at 11:00 a.m. The family will greet friends at a reception in Watts-Hill Hall following the service. 

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:

Tim O'Brien and Mindy Douglas

1502 Oakland Avenue

Durham NC 27705.

RECEPTION:  If you would like to assist with the reception (serve and/or bring finger food), you can sign up at this LINK FOR ELLEN O'BRIEN SERVICE.

PARKING:  FPC'S parking lot is being reserved for the family and for persons with mobility issues.  We have permission to use the parking lot at St. Philip's Episcopal Church at 403 E. Main St for this service.

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

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: Congratulations to Stacey and Ben Neece on the birth of Georgia Maude Neece on June 7, 2022. Vernon and Beth Neece are the proud grandparents.

MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT: Congratulations to Alex Buck and Eugene Ostrowsky who were married June 4, 2022. Alex is son of Susan Buck and Lenore Champion.

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

CONCERNS

Paul Cornsweet        Kerry Holbrook              Jancy Johnstone         

George Kafula          Mitzi Lesher-Thomas    Katy Loebrich      

Phyllis Verhey         Carol Wills

Care Communities

Dubose Center at The Cedars, Chapel Hill: Arthur Clark

Durham Ridge Assisted Living: Phillip Herndon

Hillcrest: Julian Boswell, Walter Chambliss (Will’s dad), Maxie Honeycutt, Roger Kalthoff, Jim Wolfe

The Forest at Duke Health Center: Wes Carson

Family and Friends of the Congregation

Gladys Arrowood, mother of Al Arrowood

Bob Barton, father-in-law of Andy Henry

Greer & Jenn Brown, friends of Logan Tice

Nicky Clegg, granddaughter of Jeanne Hervey

Tom Cotton, friend of Michael Honeycutt

Mimi Cummings, mother of Drew Cummings

Susan Cyr, friend of FPC

Bill Estes, cousin of Judy Arrowood

Grace, Chris James’ great-niece

Doc & Theresa Huntley, parents of Lesley Curtis

Bea Martin, sister-in-law of Margaret Rubiera

Vivian Mast, friend of Josh Walters

Rosalind Mbugua, sister of Mercy Ndambiri-Curlett

Aaron Pritchard, friend of Kathy Parkins

Richard Smith, husband of Laura Casteel’s co-worker

Jim Vacca, father of Jamie Chambliss

John Wakefield, cousin of Vernon Neece

Deb Walsh, friend of Celia Dickerson

Alice Weicher, mother of John Weicher

Janice Faye West, mother of Randy Lang Howard

Chris Wood, stepfather of Sharon Hirsch 

The church office will be closed on Monday, June 20, 2022 in observance of the  Juneteenth holiday.

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Father's Day

 9:45 a.m. Faith Formation Classes for

Children's, Lectionary, and Journeys  

11:00 a.m. Worship  

John Weicher, preaching

Congregational Meeting following worship

Sunday, June 26, 2022

11:00 a.m. Worship   

Mission Commissioning

Laurie Taylor Weicher, preaching

The Hunger for Change Offering will be received during worship or you can give through FPC's website.

9:45 a.m. Faith Formation for children's, Lectionary, and Journeys classes

LECTIONARY CLASS

 Sundays, 9:45-10:45 a.m. 

Join us each Sunday for discussion, as we meet both online and in person in the Robert Daye Parlor. The class will begin at 9:45, preceded at 9:35 by sharing of news and concerns, and will end at 10:45.

Lent and Eastertide have passed, so we return this week to Ordinary Time in the church year. For the rest of the summer we will be visiting a series of Hebrew prophets, reading of Jesus’ healings and teachings from the gospel of Luke, and exploring the books of Galatians, Colossians, and Hebrews.

On June 19: What has God done for you? Has God healed you, or given you an important task to do, or included you in the family through baptism? As Jesus said to a man he healed, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." 

On June 26: Do you feel that you have been called for some mission? Do you understand the consequences? Do you have the tools? Are you ready to pick up the mantle, or to put your hand to the plow and not look back?

To join remotely via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/194508837.

 (For phone access (audio only), call 253-215-8782.) If you need a copy of the handout of scripture readings, contact David Smith.

Jane Austin Returns for One-on-One Sessions

MANAGING YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM

DURING A TIME OF STRESS

With an overwhelming positive response to her earlier workshops and one-on-one sessions with members and friends of FPC, Jane Austin has agreed to return during the month of June each Tuesday for 45-minute coaching sessions on dealing with stress and trauma.  (Click here to read Jane's bio.)

You are invited to sign up here for a 45- minute, one-on-one session with Jane.  Sessions will be held in the Wilson Parlor. 

No charge for the sessions. Love offerings accepted.

If additional sessions are needed, contact Jane at 520-465-4612 or email Jane at jaustinsd@msn.com.

Exploring FPC’s Racial History

Are you interested in doing a deep dive into FPC’s history, specifically through the lens of race, race relations, Jim Crow, and civil rights? At our March Session meeting, the Session approved a team that would investigate this history. Join Amy Dillon and Kerry Holbrook in this important investigation. Contact Mindy Douglas for more information!

In honor of World Refugee Day, Church World Service invites us to–Unraveling the untold Black refugee narrative– a special virtual event hosted by CWS and Refugee Council USA on Thursday, June 16 at 8 p.m.  

This live Facebook panel discussion explores the experience of Black refugees in America through the lens of former refugees: activist Shukri Abdirahman, physician and author Dr. Habib Fanny and award-winning writer and educator Habso Mohamud.  

RSVP here for this free event, and then join us at 8 pm on June 16 as we celebrate the resilience, strength and courage of refugees everywhere.

June 18, 2022 - Washington DC

We're headed to the Rally!

The Poor Peoples Campaign March on Washington (PPC) is on June 18, 2022.

The Racial Equity Taskforce has made arrangements with Rally.co for a bus to depart from FPC’s parking lot and travel up and back on June 18^th. It will be a full day and an opportunity to meet and march with Bishop Barber and thousands of others from across the US who come to Washington DC to highlight the poverty, racism, inequity, and injustice people face every day in the US and the systems that enforce and perpetuate it, and we want to demand a change. We have a core group who have committed to go, and we hope that you will join us in person and in prayer.

Given our pre-dawn departure, we’ll need to prepare a breakfast bag for each rider and ask for people to volunteer to do that and donate food/drinks for snacks and sandwiches. If you would like to be a part of that activity, please contact Jane Williams, Jon Abels, or Kathy Krahenbuhl.



We also welcome contributions to sponsor other riders, including those from other congregations in Durham who wish to join us. To make a financial contribution you can go online at FPC to see various ways to donate to the “PPC Bus Support” or send a text at (919) 373-3254 and write the dollar amount you wish to give (e.g. $95 PPCBus) and send it. You can also leave a check in the mailbox at church for business manager Tom Bloom with “PPC Bus Support” written in the memo line. Thank you for your support and participation.

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.

A Little Muscle + Big Heart = Wonderful Volunteer!

Summer is here, and with these warmer months come plenty of opportunities to volunteer, to help build our Beloved Community. The Food Pantry at Iglesia Emanuel continues to serve an average of 650 families every week. We are totally volunteer run and would welcome new (and returning) faces to be part of this vital ministry. Please consider signing up for a 2-hour shift any Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. We work hard but have lots of fun in the process of providing healthy food for struggling families. If you are 14 or older and willing to put your muscles to work, join us! Young people 12 and older, with a responsible adult, are also welcome. To sign up, simply click here. Contact Margaret with any questions.

FPC’s Creation Care Committee has been working for several months with the Faith and Farmer Program of the Rural Advancement Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) in Pittsboro to create a community-supported agriculture program (CSA) with local black farmers. We are delighted to announce that we have found a farmer, Kamal Bell of Sankofa Farms, in Efland, https://www.sankofafarmsllc.com/, to partner with us, and the CSA began the week of June 6. Sankofa Farms follows sustainable practices, using no pesticides. We have two other congregations joining us for the CSA, Eno River UU Fellowship and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. 

The CSA will run for eight weeks. The weekly cost will be $30, and the full cost of $240 for the season will have to be paid up front. Half shares will also be available. Weekly deliveries will be made to the church on either Tuesday or Thursday afternoon. 

If you have questions, please contact Tom Bacon (919-219-4826) or Larry Brockman (919-824-1579) for more information.