Welcome Buz! Rev. Dr. Buz Wilcoxon grew up in Fairhope, AL. He attended Presbyterian College (BA) and Columbia Theological Seminary (MDiv & DMin). For 14 years he served Presbyterian churches in Greenville, SC and Mobile, AL. In July 2022 he began serving as the inaugural Marianne & E.G. Lassiter Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life at Presbyterian College. Buz serves on the board of trustees for Columbia Theological Seminary and has written a number of hymns that have been published in Presbyterian resources. He and his wife, Ryann, are the proud parents of two children: Lohi (12) and Wilson (10).

Buz will lead a combined adult Sunday school class on January 22 at 10 AM in Davis Hall. The class topic will be "Adventurous Faith: Being the Church Today." He will also be our preacher for worship that day.

Usher sign up link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-fpcusher

Lay Reader sign up link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-scripture

link for online worship:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfpzVUz-ZgaCJuogIMor8Iw/live

link to Ellen's sermon podcasts:  https://bit.ly/Sermons_FPCConcord

Wednesday: Matthew 4: 8-11

Thursday: Matthew 4: 12-17

Friday: Matthew 4: 18-22

Saturday: Matthew 4:23-25

Sunday: Matthew 5:1-16

Monday: Matthew 5:17-20

Tuesday: Matthew 5:21-26

Wednesday: Matthew 5: 27-36

Talking with God and listening for His word are two hallmarks of our faith. The Commons is well stocked with plenty of books, visual prompts, and other resources to enhance our prayer life, and provides a place for new opportunities to communicate with God.  The Commons is open to our congregation members on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am until 5pm, and to others in the community on Wednesdays 10am-6pm and Saturdays 10am-3pm. Please do drop in (and even bring a friend) and see if there are new ways to stimulate your communication with God

Thursday at 2 PM in the Commons

We will be discussing chapter 1: What Hope Is Not from the book,

Hope: A User’s Manual. Don’t have time to read this week?

Come anyway/

Confirmands and confirmation partners gathered on a week ago Sunday afternoon to meet and to study lesson two in our Big God, Big Questions curriculum.

We focused on the first half of our first big question: Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?

Our sixteen confirmands will resume on January 22nd. Confirmation partners will join us again on February 26th.

Prayerfully consider becoming a First Friend. First Friends visit those who can no longer attend church. Visiting alone or in pairs, you will be assigned one or two people with whom to stay in touch for the next 6 months: February- July. Please contact Susan Hannah or Pastor Julie if you feel called to this important ministry.

Guests of FPC are warmly invited to come to the Fellowship House this Sunday at 9:45 am to meet other new folks and learn about the church. Greeters will be in the parking lot to direct you. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Julie.  

Lunch Bunch has moved to a different week! Beginning in February, Lunch Bunch will meet on the 4^th Wednesday of the month. Next gathering: February 22. 

Our Girl Scout troops attended the annual Girl Scout cookie rally in Charlotte this weekend. They learned about goal setting and running a business. Initial cookie orders are submitted today, so if you are interested in placing an order and have not done so, now is the time! Cookies arrive the first week of February. Don’t worry, the troops always order a few extras and you can get yours from a Girl Scout or at cookie booths, while supplies last, until 

As we kick off programming for 2023, we are looking to build our volunteer teams. Please prayerfully consider being part of one or more of these groups:

Elementary Sunday School – We have a dedicated team of four, but would like to add a couple more people to our sub list: Elementary Sunday School Team: Elementary Sunday School (signupgenius.com)

Middle & High School Sunday School – Join our teaching team or the sub list MS / HS Sunday School teachers: MS / HS Sunday School (signupgenius.com)

Nursery Volunteers – Youth and adults to help care for our youngest congregation members during worship, approximately 10:30-noon Nursery Volunteers: Sunday Nursery Volunteers (signupgenius.com)

Pew Prep – You’ll receive a lesson to cover the 20-30 minutes of this educational class that starts after the Children’s Message and concludes during the Offertory Pew Prep: Pew Prep - Volunteers (signupgenius.com)

Providing dinner for Confirmands/Youth group – please e-mail René Prager at: r.prager@firstpresconcord.org

The Wisdom of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz for the Church Today 

This session explores what insights (if any) the ancient story of Ruth offers the church today as it seeks to be faithful in our post-secular culture. Today many people encounter religion and spirituality in supposedly secular forms of culture, such as novels and films, political gestures, and wellness routines. Is it possible that the characters of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz bear the secrets of keeping faith in and with our post-secular context?