During my first year of seminary, little did I know that my neighbor would go on to become a best-selling author. I lived across the hall from Kathy Long Bostrom, who has since then written many books for children and adults. I see her books on kiosks at the airport. While many popular books on faith and spirituality are “theology lite,” hers are informed by her solid Presbyterian theological education. Her words below are fitting for this Advent season.

I know many, many people right now who are struggling, in pain, depressed, anxious, grieving. The holidays can be tough for so many people and for so many reasons.

I bristle when people say that God not only lets tragedy and illness and loss happen to us to make us stronger but causes these things to teach us a lesson. This is not the God I believe in.

The God I believe in announces through an angel, "Fear not, I bring you good news which shall be to ALL the people. For to you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

The God I believe in tells us, "Be not anxious, neither be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The God I believe in wraps us in loving arms and leads us through the valleys of the shadows, never leaving or forsaking us.

This is the God who comes into the world through an infant, a refugee family, an unexpected couple far from home.

Everyone is welcome to their beliefs. But I needed to share mine.

People, you are loved. God is there by your side, through all the struggles, and will never try to break you, but will love you through whatever comes. Always.

Friends, you are in my prayers.

Kathy reminds me of the spirit of our new group for people living with chronic conditions, which we are calling You Are Not Alone. We meet on third Tuesday mornings, and people share their struggles as well as words of encouragement. Our meetings also have plenty of laughter. We live out the truth that God “wraps us in loving arms and leads us through the valleys of the shadows, never leaving or forsaking us.” One person curious about the group asked, half-jokingly, “How sick do you have to be?” The answer is, you don’t have to be terribly ill for this group. Everyone who lives with a condition that they have to manage, that sometimes restricts their enjoyment of life, that sometimes is a drain to their energy, is welcome.

You never know when you may be living next to a future best-selling author, or when the support group may burst into laughter, or when angels may appear announcing good news of great joy for all the people. So let us, as the Advent scripture reading says, “be alert at all times” for the surprising graces that come to us, often unbidden, but always a blessing.

2025 Pledge Update

At a Glance As of 12/16/2024

Pledges: 159

Amount: $976,545.07

Percentage of 87.22%

Pledge Goal: $1,119,655.01

Needed: $143,109.94

Congratulations to Jean and Charles “Chuck” Wilson Jr. who were honored this fall by the Durham Tech Foundation for their remarkable service and generosity to the College. Read full article here.

Sympathies:

The love and concern of the congregation are extended to John, Laurie, Tate, and Lucy Weicher on the death of John's father. John C. Weicher died December 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. Arrangements to celebrate his life are yet to be announced.

John & Laurie Weicher (Tate and Lucy)

5828 Bayberry Lane

Raleigh NC 27612

We also acknowledge the following deaths:

John Spratt, Jr., father of Susan Spratt, died December 14.

Susan Spratt and David Tendler

32 Lytham Lane

Durham NC 27707

William J. Griffith, father of Trena Griffith-Hawkins, died December 4.

Trena Griffith-Hawkins and Richard Hawkins

4924 Shakori Trail

Durham NC 27707

Concerns:

Dan Hudgins is having surgery this week at Duke Regional Hospital following a fall.
Carlisle Harvard is in hospice care at her apartment home at the Atria at Southpoint Walk.
Mary Ann Ruegg is receiving care in the Health Center at The Forest at Duke.
David Durkop, husband of Lyn Francisco, is hospitalized in Maryland.
Jim Gudaitis, husband of Christy Gudaitis is a patient at Duke Hospital.
Doug Rimmer, brother of Steve Rimmer, is in hospice care

Additional concerns can be found here.

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The churchlife app can be used to locate address information for sending cards to individuals and families. You may also contact the church office if you do not have access to the app.

Dear Friends,

Words cannot begin to express my appreciation for the lovely retirement reception held in my honor on Sunday, December 8. Thank you to everyone who stayed following worship to show me so much love. I am grateful to those who helped with the reception, who brought food, and did the setup and cleanup. Thank you also for the cards and gifts which fully represented the generosity of this congregation. When I began serving here in 2002, I had no idea you would allow me to serve 23 years. I am blessed to have found a place where I could use my ministry gifts to the fullest extent. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

- Valerie McMillian

YEAR END ANNOUNCEMENTS

The FINAL NEWSLETTER FOR 2024 will be issued on Tuesday, December 31. Please submit your announcements and news articles to Valerie in the church office by Friday, December 27.

Year-End Giving

Contributions statements were mailed to all those who had pledge balances as of November 30. Timely payment of pledges by December 31 will allow First Presbyterian to pay its end-of-year bills promptly and to meet its benevolence obligations for 2024.

Please remember that the church must receive your charitable contributions by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 if dropped off at the church; or the gift must be postmarked by December 31, 2024, if mailed, to be deductible on your 2024 taxes.

If you wish to make a contribution by credit card, this may be done through the parish’s website (www.firstpres-durham.org) at any time. To be deductible on your 2024 taxes, please initiate the gift by Friday, December 27. On-line contributions scheduled for December 28, 29, 30, or 31 will not reach us in time.

If you wish to make a donation through a gift of stock, please notify Tom Bloom, Business Administrator (t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org) as soon as possible.

Members aged 70 ½ + who own an IRA may be able to make a tax-excludable gift directly to First Presbyterian and have that gift satisfy any required minimum distribution for this year. Please contact your IRA administrator ASAP if you wish to consider this giving option for tax year 2024.

Sunday, December 22

Fourth Sunday of Advent

11:00 a.m.

John Weicher, preaching

New members will be introduced and welcomed into the church during worship.

The PC(USA) Christmas Joy Offering will be received this Sunday along with the Hunger for Change Offering. The Joy offering supports church workers in their time of need, and students of Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges, providing opportunities for them to learn, grow, and lead in their faith.

Sunday, December 29

First Sunday after Christmas

No Faith Formation Classes

11:00 a.m. Worship

Sam Miglarese, preaching

No Chancel Choir - Ben Maxwell will provide music during worship.

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN

Children are welcome on Sunday mornings from 9:45-10:00 a.m. in the Godly Playroom to learn and sing songs. Lenore Champion leads this time with children.

Children's Music

returns in 2025

Children, kindergarten-6th grade are invited to a time of music with Kathy Parkins in the choir room following worship each Sunday (begins about 12:10 p.m.)

The Preschool Faith Formation class is for ages 3 years to 5 years. Each Sunday, there's free play, a story, a snack, and an activity!

The kindergarten-2nd grade Faith Formation class promises a fun story, big art, drama, and a snack!

The Godly Play class is for 3rd through 5th grades. Stories are presented visually with small props. The class is invited to consider "Wondering" questions as they reflect on the story that was presented. Check in for the week and prayer time ends the session!

If your child is interested in taking part in Worship leadership, please let Lenore know! (l.champion@firstpres-durham.org)

FAITH & COMMUNITY CLASS

We meet on Sundays from

9:45-10:45 a.m.

in Watts-Hill Hall.

Faith & Community is reading The Book of Forgiving, by Desmond and Mpho Tutu in December. The Tutus share about a fourfold path to forgiving. On November 24, we started with the first three Chapters. We will end with the final 3 chapters and wrap everything up on this Sunday, December 22. No class on December 29.

JOURNEY'S CLASS

Sundays at 9:45 a.m.

in the Wilson Parlor

This Sunday, before we go on a short break, Journeys will discuss two differing views of Jesus' theology.

Please read the following short essays to prepare, and preferably in this order:

The Forgotten Radicalism of Jesus; NYT OpEd by Peter Wehner

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/opinion/jesus-christ-christmas-incarnation.html

What the NYT Gets Wrong about Jesus; A response to Peter Wehner’s OpEd

https://www.thedailybeast.com/what-the-new-york-times-gets-wrong-about-jesus/

No class on Sunday, December 29.

For more information on this adult class, contact Andy Henry, Eric Wiebe, or Paul Baldasare.

LECTIONARY CLASS

Join us each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in the Robert Daye Meeting Room for discussion of the lectionary readings.

December 22: The good news of Christmas is that God chose to come to us in human form. Blessed are those who believe that there was, and will be, a fulfillment of what was spoken by the Lord.

December 29: No class on this Sunday. Merry Christmas!

MEANING IN THE MIDDLE

meets Sundays

8:00 p.m., via Zoom

(Link is sent in weekly email)

We are using the resource d365, a Presbyterian / mainline devotional to guide our discussion. There is no reading or prep required, and our topics vary from week to week, so you won't have missed anything.

We need leaders for our weekly Zoom discussions and our monthly in-person gatherings. The sign-up sheet for both is here. If you haven't already done so, please sign up for two weeks on the spreadsheet, and a giant THANK YOU to those who have already signed up.

Middle School Youth Faith Formation class will meet this Sunday, December 22 at 9:45 a.m. in the basement classroom.

No Middle School Faith Formation class on Sunday, December 29.

The High School Youth Faith Formation class is on holiday break until January 2025.

Tuesday, December 24

5:00 p.m. Worship

All are invited to our annual Christmas Eve worship service in the sanctuary. Mindy Douglas will give the sermon. We will celebrate the Lord's Supper and conclude the evening with a candle-lighting service.

CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING

Please give generously!

Our Christmas Eve special offering this year will support the Emanuel Learning Center at Iglesia Emanuel. Since 2019, this tutoring program has been serving Latino students from kindergarten through high school in a 1:1 setting, allowing students and tutors to develop strong and trusting relationships. This relationally rich tutoring creates a learning environment that students are excited about, where their strengths are centered, their culture is celebrated, and each child’s unique interests drive their learning experience. The Learning Center is currently being directed by FPC member Mimi Dunn, and many from our congregation have been outstanding tutors.

At this time in our history, there is a marked increase in anxiety among our immigrant neighbors. The threat of deportation and job loss adds stress to every member of the family, and directly impacts the ability of students to learn. The Emanuel Learning Center has the opportunity to continue to offer a safe and encouraging space, to help these young people realize their potential and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Demand for tutoring continues to rise, and our hope is to expand so that we can include many more than the 25 students who are enrolled at this time. On this Christmas Eve, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us all respond with exceptional generosity as we provide needed support for the Emanuel Learning Center, and affirm our solidarity with our immigrant neighbors.

Deadline Approaching

Nominations are now open for the Class of 2028 Deacons and Ruling Elders, and anyone desiring to serve at-large on the 2025-2026 Nominating Committee. Nominees should be members you know who have shown a special dedication to the church, who would bring a needed talent or expertise, or who might like to serve but have been hesitant to step forward. Or, if you yourself feel called to serve, do not hesitate to write down your own name. Nomination forms are on the table in the foyer. After completing both sides of the form, detach and place it in the offering plate or return it to the church office. The deadline for nominations is December 31. Click here to nominate online.

A Caring Group

for People Living with Health Challenges

These can be very challenging, and it is often hard to share them with other people. If this describes you, you may be interested in a place to find conversation, support, prayer, and fellowship with others who face similar challenges. We have started a group that will provide these things, facilitated by Susan Dunlap and Amy Heit. For more info, please contact Susan at sjd4@duke.edu or 919-801-5968.

FIRST ACTS - PART II

Save the Date!

Sunday, January 12

4:00-6:00 p.m.

Wilson Parlor

All are welcome to continue reading “Inherit the Wind” together. We started the reading when we first met in October, this time we will read to the end. You can still come even if you were not present at the first reading. It’s the story of the Scopes “monkey trials” of 1925 – which explores many of the human emotions and conflicts on display in today’s public discourse. The focus is on what is being taught in our schools. Back then it was evolution (“evil-ution”), today it might be gender identity or CRT. The issues might change but reactions are the same.

SAVE THE DATE

First Friends

January Potluck

Friday, January 17

hosted by

Susan Dunlap and

Prasad Kasibhatla

More info and an EVITE to come.

WORLD MISSION

FPC partners with PC (USA) Mission Co-Workers:

Jhan and Ian Dotel-Vellenga, Nicaragua

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/vellenga/

Jeff and Christi Boyd, Democratic Republic of the Congo

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/jeff-and-christi-boyd/

Please keep them, the people they work with, and the work they do, in your prayers. Using the links above, you can find out more about them and subscribe to their newsletters. You may also read today's edition of the PCUSA Mission Yearbook. Click link below.

Link to PCUSA Mission Yearbook

You may remember that our last letter from Mission Partners Christi and Jeff Boyd was about malaria in Congo and sub-Saharan Africa. In Sunday's PCUSA Mission Yearbook there was an article about this issue with a link to send an e-mail to our US Senators and Representatives about support for a malaria vaccination program. We did not see any of our members of Congress as supporters yet. It is easy to just sign your name, or you can personalize the message.

Here's the link to the Mission Yearbook entry:

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/yearbook/November-17-2024/

Here's the link to the e-mail to Congress:

https://www.votervoice.net/PCUSA/Campaigns/118056/Respond

-Karolyn Mangeot