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One of the things I love about our stewardship theme for this year: Remember Your Baptism is that I don’t remember my baptism. I was four months old at the time, and while there are a couple of photos of the day (see them below!), I do not, actually, remember it.
It reminds me that remembering our baptisms isn’t about memory, it’s about action, choice, faith, and hope. I remember my baptism when I see people working and advocating and serving and loving together. I remember my baptism when I am a part of that, too.
And when I look back, I see so many saints who have been a part of teaching me what it means to remember my baptism - I want to do that for others, and this is one of the things I’m praying about as I prepare to fill out my pledge card, the card that will indicate what I plan to contribute financially to the church in 2026.
We mustn't ever take it for granted that congregations like First Presbyterian Church, New Bern exist. We are able to live out the love of God made manifest in Jesus in this place in 2025 because individuals for the last 208 years have remembered their baptisms and made choices about their time, talents, and treasure that prioritized their faith. We are a part of the communion of saints-- surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who have traveled this way before and who can help shine a light on the path God invites us to travel in the here and now.
On Sunday, we will celebrate All Saints Day. As a part of the communion Prayer of Great Thanksgiving we will speak aloud the names of the members of First Presbyterian Church, New Bern who have died in the last twelve months. After that, you will be invited to speak aloud the names of those in your own life who have died and whose loss you feel. For All the Saints is more than a hymn, it is a word of gratitude and possibility.
I’m looking forward to worshiping with you soon. It is good to be together!
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NOVEMBER 2
Concert Series: Organ Recital
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The First Presbyterian Church Concert Series continues on Sunday, November 2nd at 4:00 pm. Director of Music and Organist Daniel J. Sansone will perform an organ recital on the Fisk Organ (opus 89).
Featured on the program will be works by Johann Sebastian Bach, César Franck, Felix Mendelssohn, and Ned Rorem.
For further information please visit our website or call the church, 252-647-3270.
Free admission and open to everyone!
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NOVEMBER 12
Fellowship Dinner
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Join the FPC community around the table for our November Fellowship Dinner in the J. Murphy Smith Center (508 Middle Street).
We’ll enjoy a Turkey Dinner with sweet potato casserole, broccoli salad, dressing, yeast rolls, and pumpkin pie.
Please RSVP by Monday, November 10, at 12:00 pm using the sign up below or by calling the church office.
We hope to see you there!
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On November 16, Youth Sunday will be celebrated at both services, 8:30 am and 11:00 am. It will be a great opportunity for Grades 6-12 to help lead worship and share their gifts with the congregation.
We will be reflecting on
Isaiah 9:1–7 — “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”
Together, we’ll celebrate being God’s beloved children, part of a faithful community, and bearers of Christ’s light in the world.
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It is been a wonderfully exciting Fall for our Music Ministry here at First Presbyterian Church.
This past Summer was a very busy one as Pat Kerr Rowlett eased into the position as Associate Director of Music after an illustrious tenure as Director of Music. I transitioned from the position of Associate Director of Music to the newly appointed Director of Music.
That meant a move from my cozy office across from our chapel in the Ministry Center to the lovely large and spacious office in the Music Suite. My work really began as I planned calendars and rehearsals for all of our musical ensembles, frequent meetings with Pat to continue to learn the ropes, meetings with Kerri and Bailey to plan the year with our pre-school children, and plan concerts for our amazing 2025-2026 Concert Series.
We currently have two adult choirs, a children’s choir, two groups of pre-school children and a handbell choir that meet weekly for rehearsals/classes. These volunteers do an extraordinary job providing glorious music for our worship here at First Presbyterian Church. Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our church family, and so very important for the success and growth of our many programs in Ministry.
Looking ahead, the concert series continues with an organ recital on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 4:00pm and will feature our Fisk Organ (opus 89). I hope you will join us for a wonderful afternoon of music. Also, mark your calendars for December 19th when we will have our Service of Christmas Lesson & Carols. These and other programs can be found on our church website.
In closing, I am very grateful for the blessing to serve as the Director of Music and look forward to so many exciting things ahead.
Blessings,
Daniel J. Sansone
Director of Music
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WENDY MOELLER
William Lee Hawkins Library
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By time most of you read this November First Edition, we will have celebrated in worship on All Saints’ Day and will have commemorated the “saints” lost to us in the previous year. We use the Library article each year at this time to highlight books donated to our collection during the previous year in memory of those who have died since the previous November. This year the list was shorter than normal such that I hope I have not lost track of any books so donated. If so, please let me know.
Given recently in memory of Charlotte Richardson by her Presbyterian Women Circle 4 is Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora. This award winning memoir is written from the perspective of a nine year old boy who fled civil war in his Central American homeland to reunite with his parents in the United States. Its speaks to the current immigration crisis from the perspective of family, community, and stranger welcoming. Although I have not personally read it, it sounds like it would be a very worthwhile read for anyone who has been a part of Anna’s current Faith Formation class Jesus and the Twenty-First Century: Navigating Today's Big Issues Faithfully. For the month of November it will be on the big table in the William Lee Hawkins Library on the second floor of the Ministry Center available for checking out. After that, it will return to the stacks under 811.6 ZAM.
The second book, a novel, was given several months ago in memory of Margaret Cooper by Circle 1, Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy. We have actually profiled it in this column previously when it was referenced in a sermon by Anna during the summer of 2024. It also is a story of “family” and community, belonging and welcoming, which comes to us from across the pond, set in a small, English village. If you miss it during November, it will later be filed in the Fiction section of the library under FIC VAN.
Two years after his death a member of our congregation, referencing her gratitude for the ministry of Timothy Keller, donated Forgive (211 KEL), Keller’s comprehensive meditation on the costly work of reconciliation and the community which becomes possible when we take seriously that mandate.
Those are the offerings as you mark All Saints’ month this November. Be aware, also that your Library Committee (Mary Anne Caudle, Carol Hale, Lynda Bronaugh, Wendy Moeller) is working on a project to encourage the saints amongst us, the younger ones. Much as we have done a recent refreshing of the Children’s Library in the glass hallway corner on the second floor of the Ministry Center, we have been recently working on a collection of books for the youth room (across the hall from the library) available for checking out by the older kids and teenagers. Check that area out the next time you are wandering around the second floor. We would welcome any suggestions you might have as to faith enhancing books for that age group which we might add to our collection.
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OPPORTUNITY
Gifts From The Heart
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| |  | What is our "Gifts from the Heart" ministry? In 2014, our church started the Gifts from the Heart alternative gift purchasing market. This is an opportunity to give the gift of hope by giving monetary donations to one, two, or all three of the three outreach ministries slated during December 2025 at First Presbyterian Church. Some of the ministries that Gifts from the Heart at First Presbyterian Church have supported in the past include Coastal Women's Shelter, Backpack Blessings, UKIRK at ECU, Craven Literacy, First Presbyterian Preschool, Habitat for Humanity, Reviving Lives, and Camp Albemarle. During the month of December, a GFTH table will be set up each Sunday morning to make it easy to participate in giving. You will have the opportunity to purchase cards in $10.00 increments to give friends, co-workers, and family members. By giving the cards, you are telling the recipient that a donation was given in their name. Your donations will go directly to the ministry of your choosing. We encourage children to participate. Children may purchase cards for giving for $5.00 each.
This year our three focus ministries will include Food Bank of ENC, Craven County Disaster Recovery Alliance, and Arts to End Genocide. You will have the opportunity to read information about each of these ministries in upcoming Weekly Words and First Editions. You will hear from Minute for Mission speakers during Sunday services starting November 30 and continuing in the month of December.
We hope you will agree that this is a superior gift option for anyone on your list. Do you have questions about Gifts from the Heart? Julia Speight (252-876-2867) and Kim Avolis (252-671-4938) are happy to answer any questions.
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OPPORTUNITY
Advent Devotional
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This Advent, we warmly invite the members and friends of First Presbyterian Church—that’s you!—to contribute a short devotional to our very own Advent 2025: Waiting, Watching, Welcoming, Wonder. From November 30th through January 6th, each day will feature a reflection of 350 words or less, written by someone in our church family. You’re invited to sign up for one special day and share your voice.
Together, we’ll create a living, breathing Advent devotional—one day, one reflection, one heart at a time. Your words will guide our community as we journey through this season of hope, anticipation, and awe. We have 38 spaces to fill. We ask that you offer a written meditation upon Scripture passage assigned for that day that is no more than 350 words in length.
This is a chance to enter into Advent as a community, to reflect on God’s promises, to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming, and to marvel at the wonder of God at work in our lives. Join us, and let’s make this Advent a shared experience of faith, reflection, and joy.
We ask that you sign up below and submit your written mediation to
Patrick Ryan at patrick@firstpresnb.org no later than Monday, November 10.
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Presbyterian Women’s November Outreach program is the annual churchwide Thank Offering. Thank Offerings provide grants for a wide variety of projects at both national and international levels. Circle members are invited to bring a check in any amount they choose, made out to Presbyterian Women and with “Thank Offering” on the memo line, to their November Circle meeting, or mail them to the church. You do not have to be a Circle member to contribute! We are engaged and passionate in all we do to make this world a better place.
Our Together in Thanksgiving luncheon will be held on Sunday, November 16, following worship. Circle members are asked to bring a salad or dessert to share. PW Historian, Jaina Olesen, will present PW History Part 2, “Our Mission Continues.” All ladies of the church are welcome to attend. Please join us for food and fellowship!
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DEBBIE MURRAY
Craven Literacy Council
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On September 23rd, Craven Literacy Council launched a cookbook named “Food Without Borders.”
Recipes were collected from CLC students, tutors, and staff representing many tastes and traditions. The luncheon gave everyone the opportunity to prepare their dish. It was a delightful day filled with new experiences, opportunities to share and practice English skills. You can learn more about the Craven Literacy Council on their website.
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OUTREACH COMMISSION
Water Bottle Fillers & RCS
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The Outreach Commission approved funding requests from Religious Community Services (RCS) and the Coastal Carolina Disaster Resilience Agency (CCDRA) to install new water bottle fillers at each of their locations. With a shared commitment to reducing single-use plastics, FPC, RCS, and CCDRA are taking practical steps toward greater environmental stewardship and sustainability. According to Jowita Zerilli, RCS’s Chief Compliance & Community Engagement Officer, the new filler has already helped RCS save money by eliminating the need to purchase pallets of bottled water, while also helping protect our planet for the future.
In addition to providing funds, FPC sends teams to RCS two Mondays and one Thursday each month to prepare and serve the 10:30 am meal they provide each day. We all arrive at 8:30 am and plan to stay until noon. Meals are planned and RCS staff members lay out the donated food and most of the cooking utensils needed for the day. Prudence Wing is our hard-working coordinator. If you would like to help please contact the church office to sign up.
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