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One of the gifts of our polity, reflected in the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is the requirement that each congregation hold an annual meeting. The Session has called our annual meeting for March 22, 2026.
In years when we have business requiring action, we typically meet before or after one of the worship services. This year, because there are no items requiring a vote, I will offer a brief “state of the congregation” report within our regular worship services, just prior to the offering at both 8:30 am and 11:00 am.
I will share an update on our finances, reflect on the ways we have seen God at work among us this past year, and speak to what the Session is prayerfully discerning for our future. If there are questions you carry or matters you hope will be addressed, I invite you to reach out. Our life together is strengthened when we listen well to one another.
Two additional notes for our common life:
- I encourage you to complete the brief survey for our summer sermon series. Rather than soliciting specific topics, it asks where you find yourself, in life and in faith. What questions are stirring? Where are you sensing challenge, hope, or invitation? You can find the survey below, and I look forward to hearing from you!
- The Thursday Bible study I am teaching (most Thursdays — we will not meet on days I am out of town, such as March 12) is moving to the Owl Room and will now include a Zoom option for those unable to attend in person. Please let me know if you would like the link.
Grateful to be walking this Lenten journey with you,
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Jim Brown comes to FPC by transfer of his membership from White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh where he was an active usher and member of the college of Elders. A native of Raleigh, Jim attended Broughton High School and played football at East Carolina University. Jim’s vocation was in the banking industry and in retirement he became the managing director of the Independent College Fund of NC. Jim recently relocated to the Viridian at Carolina Colours to be closer to his daughter and her family in Morehead City. He is looking forward to resuming regular usher duties here at FPC!
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John and Katherine Burns come to FPC by transfer of their membership from Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
John and Katherine met when they were in college at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, but went their own way. Thirty-four years later, life brought them back together. At that time John was in Atlanta and Katherine was in Flordia, so when they married they found a place in the middle – Southern Pines, where they found their way to the Presbyterian Church. This past year, once John had retired from his career in real estate and Katherine from her work in HR with health systems, they decided to make the move to New Bern to be closer to family and because they decided they wanted to embrace ever bit of adventure life can offer. John and Katherine love to play golf and travel and particularly like it when their travel includes playing golf.
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Byron Capps and Christine Roddy come to FPC by reaffirmation of their faith. Byron and Christine met at a wedding in Cashiers, North Carolina and they have lived all over, from Kansas to Washington and most recently northern Virginia. But, having grown up in Ahoskie, Byron always hoped that Eastern North Carolina would be a place they might live, and when an opportunity opened up for them to move to New Bern they made the decision to head south and aren’t looking back. Byron is an oral surgeon and Christine is an attorney. Christine and Byron are parents to Kiki, a six-year-old student at the Epiphany School of Global Studies.
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Jane Kistler Halweg and Jack Halweg come to FPC by reaffirmation of faith. Jane and Jack met in Charlotte when Jack was working in landscaping and Jane was working in the tennis shop at a local Country Club. In addition to living in Charlotte Jack and Jane have lived in Asheboro (Jack worked at the North Carolina Zoo) and in New Bern (Jane was the director of Craven County Habitat and Jack worked for the Parks and Recreation Department). When they retired they moved to France, but after a couple of years (Covid years) they realized that they missed Bojangles and the state in which you can find more Bojangleses than any other. Jane loves being outdoors and crafts of all kinds, including making Swedish Stars that she sells in all sort of craft markets and gift shops. Jack is a Formula 1 enthusiast who is currently (as of this writing) deeply invested in Olympic Curling.
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Fran Hughes comes to FPC by reaffirmation of her faith. Fran moved to New Bern with her husband 2 1/2 years ago. Retired from working with at-risk children in the Wake County School system, Fran is active at the YMCA and in the triathlon community (she’s retired from serious triathlons but still swims, bikes, and runs). Fran became acquainted with New Bern through the annual MS ride, in which she has participated for the last 21 years, raising more than $500,000. She now serves on the board of Bike MS as well as the board of Rooted Interiors of North Carolina a non-profit whose mission to transform lives through design by providing complete interiors to those emerging from homelessness.
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Jessica and Chris Malewicz come to FPC by reaffirmation of their faith. Jess and Chris moved to New Bern in October of 2024. At the time they lived in Allentown, PA but their kids had graduated and their friends thought they should check out New Bern so they relocated to River Bend and haven’t looked back. Chris is an RN and Jessica is a specialist in the field of Autism. They love the relaxed atmosphere of the area and the open and friendly atmosphere in First Presbyterian.
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Marsha and Tom Percival come to FPC by reaffirmation of their faith. Tom and Marsha met when Tom was a student in Forestry at NC State University and she was a student at Meredith College. Tom grew up on dairy farms in rural New Jersey, giving him a love for the land that has never dissipated. His vocation is in forestry/raw land consulting and Marsha’s vocation was in elementary education. After living in Lumberton for forty years, the opportunity came up for them to find their forever home and they both agreed it had to be New Bern. Not only was their family and a desirable location a requirement for Marsha, New Bern has an excellent Rock Steady program. Since her diagnosis with Parkinsons she has found Rock Steady to be an important part of her life, and when in Lumberton she drove 90 minutes each way to be a part of it – she loves having it just a few minutes away from her home here in New Bern.
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Jane Schirmer comes to FPC by transfer of her membership. Like the Halwegs, when Jane retired and moved to New Bern, it was the second time she had moved here. In her career with the YMCA Jane lived all over – Richmond, Petersburg, Birmingham, and most recently, Jacksonville, NC where she served as the Executive Director, overseeing the building and start of the New River YMCA. She is now delighted that her role with the YMCA is to enjoy it. Jane’s daughter and granddaughter live in Snow Hill and she resides in River Bend with her goldendoodle Slou.
| Frank and Chris Horne come to FPC by reaffirmation of their faith. Frank and Chris Horne moved to New Bern from Virginia Beach a few years ago. They are among the many who realized, during Covid, that if they were going to work remotely and could live anywhere, they’d like to be in New Bern, where Frank has family roots. Frank works in banking (fellow new member Jim Brown was his first boss – they made the connection at the first New Member’s Class!) and Chris is active in many areas of life in New Bern, including being one of the Mahjong teachers at FPC’s new class that started this past fall. Right now, however, they are in Charlotte as Frank recovers from recent surgery, so they ask for prayers for God’s healing and strength to surround them. | |
MARCH 11
March Fellowship Dinner
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Our next Fellowship Dinner is March 11 at 5:30 pm!
We’ll be serving up a festive Tex-Mex feast! Plan to join us for flavorful food, warm fellowship, and plenty of good conversation. Come hungry!
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INTERFAITH REFUGEE MINISTRY
Dinner on Five Continents
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Join Interfaith Refugee Ministry for an evening of incredible food and entertainment on Saturday, March 7, at the Harrison Center, 311 Middle Street, New Bern.
Last year, this event raised over $25,000, all of which went directly to supporting refugee families. This year, they’re aiming even higher—and would love your help!
Tickets may be purchased using the link below or at their office located at 1913 Trent Blvd, New Bern. For any questions, please call 252-633-9009.
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CREATION CARE TEAM
Let's Learn About Water
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This spring, Faith Connection, in partnership with First Presbyterian Church, Centenary United Methodist Church, and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, will host a community-wide educational series centered on the 2026 Stewards of the Earth theme: “Water: A Precious Resource.”
These events are free and open to the public. You are invited to bring a friend and join us as we learn together about the vital role water plays in our region and our world.
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MARCH 29-APRIL 5
Holy Week at FPC
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CATHERINE CAMPBELL
Grace Before Gravy
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Food has always been one of the ways we care for one another around tables, at potlucks, at house churches, for youth dinners, after baptisms and funerals, during celebrations, and even just ordinary Sundays. This cookbook is a collection of those shared meals and the love that shows up around them.
We invite you to submit a favorite recipe - or ten! Please submit a separate form for each recipe. You’ll also have the option to share the story behind a recipe if you’d like, as well as your family’s blessing or prayer spoken before a meal. Stories and blessings are optional but deeply welcome; recipes are the heart of the project.
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This is a cookbook for real life. We’re especially excited to receive, modern, practical recipes in addition to the treasured standards (PLEASE spill grandma's secret ingredient to her pound cake!!)... the kind that fit into busy weeks and shared schedules: crockpot and Instant Pot favorites, one-pan meals, weeknight dinners, smoothies, make-ahead breakfasts, and go-to dishes you actually make again and again. If it’s something you’d proudly feed your people on a Tuesday night or bring to a church gathering without overthinking it, it belongs here.
Does your kid make a mean scrambled egg? Is their secret ingredient 99 shakes of pepper? We want that recipe, too. We welcome recipes from cooks of all ages, especially children and youth who are learning their way around the kitchen. If a recipe comes from a young chef, please include their age so we can celebrate and honor their growing skills. These recipes are a joyful reminder that everyone has something to bring to the table.
Proceeds from this cookbook will support Youth Trips and the Preschool PTO, helping strengthen our church community across generations. You can submit your recipe via the link (please use a different form for each recipe) or you can drop off a paper copy in the box in the church office. Recipe submissions will be accepted through April 15, with the goal of having cookbooks available for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Pricing to be announced later.
We will do our best to honor all submissions as they are shared. To ensure clarity and consistency in the final cookbook, we may make formatting or editing adjustments while preserving the spirit and voice of each contribution. Thank you for sharing what nourishes your table with our church family.
Oh, and if you like the title, let us know - if you have another really good idea, please share it at the end of the form above!
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CARLA BRANTNER
Call for Gardening Angels Volunteers
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The Gardens at FPC help to serve as a peaceful retreat from everyday stress for many people, and to enhance the serenity of our church.
“Garden Angels” are those individuals who help make them ideal places for meditation, reflection, and spiritual renewal.
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Typical needs from this group would be:
- Assist in the initial springtime clean-up. This includes fertilizing, dead heading, and general cleanup around existing plants as needed, along with the filling of the urns.
- Ongoing maintenance throughout the season of plants and pots as appropriate.
Time commitment would be both limited and flexible. If you enjoy being outside and are interested in this type of volunteer opportunity, please contact the church office and leave your name and email address. A future communication will be provided at a later date with more details to follow.
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OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY
Girls' Run Club - JT Barber Elementary
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A Fun New Volunteer Opportunity for First Pres Women - Runners and Non-Runners Alike!
The Outreach Commission has been exploring ways to show “love of neighbor” within our New Bern community. We recently discovered that the school counselor and P.E. teacher at J.T. Barber Elementary School (located about 1.5 miles from our church) are trying to start an after-school girls’ run club, which requires extra adult volunteers.
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They held their first meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19, with 10-12 girls. Mary Ringwalt, a member of the Outreach Commission, and Fran Hughes, a new church member and avid runner, have been working with the two school staff members to see how our church can help bring to life their vision of an uplifting and active girls’ after-school program.
We would love to have two or three First Pres women volunteers each week, per session, to help the two school coaches during the after-school meetings. For February and March, the girls will meet in the school gym from 3:15-4:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The schedule will change in April to Mondays at 3:15 due to the girls having after-school tutoring. The ultimate goal is to have as many girls (with volunteer helpers) as possible participate in the one-mile Super Kids Fun Run (part of the Neuse River Bridge Run 2026) on Friday, May 1 at 5:30 pm at Union Point Park.
This is a limited time commitment - just a couple of hours each week for a couple of months, with the hope that the school can grow its program next fall. If you are interested in helping, or have any questions, please contact Mary Ringwalt (email and phone number available from the church office) or let the church office know.
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…..” Hebrews 12: 1-2
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CAROL HALE
CHILDREN AND YOUTH CORNER
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It has been a while, but here is an update to our First Presbyterian Children’s and Youth library.
The William Lee Hawkins Library has given birth to yet another library space! The Young Adult books from the William Lee Hawkins library have been moved to the Youth Room across the hall from the Hawkins library. The checkout system is simple: choose a book, sign the library card and date it, then place the card in the box, enjoy the book and later return the book so that others may also enjoy! Feel free to leave a stickie on the book with your comments and recommendations for other future readers.
There are new books in the youth library, as well as non-fiction and fiction alike, including several inspirational daily devotion selections for youth and young adults. Please come and explore!
One of my favorite books, Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand, is based on World War II. She was urged to rewrite her best seller for middle and high school aged students. Here is a brief introduction to her adaptation.
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Unbroken Adapted for Young Adults
“Heroes” come in all forms! Please come and meet Louie Zamperini through the eyes of this historical novel, Unbroken. The Adapted for Young Adult version could be a shared reading experience between a young adult and a parent.
A little background to get you hooked---Louie grew up in Torrence, California where he was supported not only by his parents but his community as well. He could actually have been considered a bit of a juvenile delinquent who persevered and who became an Olympic athlete and a World War II airman bombardier. The historically critical time period that was World War II served both to help the United States emerge as a world power due to the brave men and women who served, as it also united our nation at home. World War II was a pivotal point in US History and yet the importance of that is often lost in high school classrooms due to time constraints. The novel highlights the importance of family, friendship, sacrifice, faith, and forgiveness which are able to guide us through troublesome times.
Louie’s story of courage and faith, growing up in the Great Depression, later as an airman, a castaway, and a prisoner of war is truly an inspiring story full of ideas you may wish to discuss.
Be sure to see the PG-13 rated movie that is available after you read this novel! Enjoy!
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STACEY GRIFFITH
BACKPACK BLESSINGS
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February's Backpack Build was another great outreach opportunity that many in our congregation participated in. Some 'newbies', Carla Brantner, Diane Elliott, and Tracy Vanzura along with Mike Vanzura. Welcome! Stan and Priscilla Van Horn, who come multiple times, are recent but oh so active helping hands!
We always appreciate the many members who are faithfully there...this month Mary Lynn Keener with Jack Pyburn, Cory Hunter, Nancy McAden, Pat Gillis, Gray Wheeler, Taylor McClellan (also relatively new to our congregation but oh so active!), Kirsten Sonstegard, Gwen Lessard, Wendy Moeller, Beth Paul, Olivia Peterson, Bob Little, Kim Avolis, and Sheila Orth.
We were also joined once again with a large group of Civitans who number several of our congregation amongst them. Our own Jane Dail is a Board Member and delivery fairy who picks up the allotted bins for our targeted school, and delivers them to the counselor on site.
I am always impressed by the large group of volunteers from multiple counties that come representing Food Lion employees. Food Lion provides as much of the food, at a reduced price, as they possibly can. We are grateful for their partnership with us! The hospital also produces volunteers as well as financial support. This is a great community effort and each of us is an important piece of it.
As always, all this would not be possible without the generous staff support we receive, along with the monies, prayers, and willing hands and hearts that our membership brings faithfully to this important ministry! Thank you all!
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OUTREACH COMMISSION
An Update from Haiti
| | The following is an email that was recently sent to supporters of the Haiti Reforestation Partnership. We are grateful to share it with our wider community. | | |
Dear friends,
Let me introduce you to Madame Enez.
This week I watched her carefully roasting peanuts over an open flame. Slow. Patient. Intentional. The smell alone could carry you straight to a Haitian kitchen.
She is making mamba — Haiti’s traditional peanut butter.
But this is not the smooth, uniform spread you find on grocery store shelves. Mamba is bold. It carries heat and character. It is made with sel (salt), piment (hot pepper), and djondjon (ginger). It reflects the land and the hands that prepare it.
And now, it is one of the products that will be sold at the new CODEP store.
Alongside mamba, they will offer:
Locally grown peanuts
- Ground corn
- Coffee
- Chocolate
- Handcrafted wooden boards
- These are not just products. They are proof that even in difficult times, the community continues to create, produce, and trade.
Many of you have asked why our newsletters slowed down. The truth is, the work never slowed. Life in Haiti has required focus, flexibility, and presence on the ground.
But stories like Madame Enez’s remind us that the mission is not only about trees and gardens. It’s about income, dignity, and cultural continuity.
The CODEP store is small. The margins are modest. But the impact is meaningful.
Every jar of mamba represents:
A woman’s labor
A household’s income
A local economy strengthened
A tradition preserved
This is what sustainable work looks like. Not flashy. Not loud. But steady. We’re grateful to you — because your support makes it possible for CODEP members to keep building enterprises like this.
From reforestation to mentorship, from hurricane recovery to peanut butter production — the work continues.
And so does the hope.
With appreciation,
Michael Anello
Executive Director
Haiti Reforestation Partnership
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DEBBIE MURRAY
Celebrating 35 Years of Haiti Reforestation Project
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The Haiti Reforestation Partnership (HRP), founded 35 years ago by a sailor and members of New Bern’s First Presbyterian Church and Christ Episcopal Church, has dedicated itself to supporting communities in Haiti through sustainable initiatives such as tree planting, agriculture, and aquaculture. Over the years, HRP has enabled Haitians to strengthen their land and achieve greater self-sufficiency.
In October of 2025, HRP commemorated its 35th anniversary in New Bern, North Carolina, gathering 40 attendees for an evening event on the Trent River. The celebration featured presentations on HRP’s history, current projects, and future goals. Speakers included Winston Dixon (First Presbyterian and founding member), who provided a historical overview; Michael Anello (Executive Director), who shared updates from recent visits; and Joel Millikan (major donor and contributor), who emphasized the importance of continuing HRP’s mission. The event honored the organization’s achievements, including the planting of over 19 million trees, and reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing support for Haitian communities. Many members of New Bern’s First Presbyterian Church attended this event with pride as they remembered trips made to Haiti in the 1990s with their families.
The anniversary event raised awareness of and deepened the commitment to the focus of HRP’s work. The dinner, conversations, flowers, and view of the river gave the night as much sparkle as the accomplishments of HRP and the promise of ongoing hope for our Haitian neighbors.
| | We are grateful to be part of this meaningful collaboration and especially look forward to welcoming our community to First Presbyterian Church on March 22. Mark your calendar and join us! | | | | |
