THE BANNER

September 21, 2022

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Note from Ellen


Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Serve the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.

~ Psalm 100: 1



Dear Friends,


On Sunday, we will once again collect our Noisy Offering to support the Backpack program, a ministry that serves children and families in our immediate community. During the children’s message, our youngest friends will come through the congregation to collect all of those noisy coins you have been saving in jars or under your sofa cushions. Not-so-noisy bills will be welcome, too.


We will receive this offering on every 4th Sunday going forward. May we give generously as we make a joyful noise with our offerings!


Grace and peace,

Ellen


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


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


Bridge Texts: September 21-25

Thursday, Genesis 35:16-26

Friday, Genesis 37:1-11

Saturday, Genesis 37:12-36, 39:1-23

Sunday, Exodus 1:8-22


September 25-28

Sunday, Exodus 1:8-22

Monday, Exodus 2

Tuesday, Exodus 3:1-12

Wednesday, Exodus 4: 18-27

Thursday Connection

       Thursday Connection meets this week at 2:00 PM in the Journey Classroom in the Education building. Scripture: Mark 10:35-45.

Nursery Help Needed

We’ve had a cancellation in the Nursery this week. If you are able to help care for our little ones, please use this link to sign-up: Nursery Volunteers: Sunday Nursery Volunteers (signupgenius.com)

PW Fall Spiritual Event Saturday October 1

  • Dynamic Speaker, Rev. Lorenzo Small, Sr. "Reaching Beyond Our Own Table"
  • Delicious Food, Second Course
  • Fellowship across our community
  • Bring your spouse, family, friends and neighbors.
  • Make your reservation NOW! YOU WANT TO BE INCLUDED! - DEADLINE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT IT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26!
  •  Click here to register

Monthly BackPack Program Requests

2022-2023 BackPack Program

Coltrane Webb Elementary School

Congregational Mission

 

Our BackPack Program served 10 families for the month of September! We expect the number of families we serve to increase in the next month or so as the school year gets established.

 

Each month families receive a Food Lion Gift Card for $100. (No alcohol or tobacco) In addition the families receive a bag of food. Below is the list of food items we need to collect for October.

 

You can make monetary donations toward the purchase of the gift cards via the FPC website, the fourth Sunday of each month in the noisy offering collection,  or by check. (Please note the BackPack Program is one of the drop-down options on the website.)

 

Donations Needed By: October 10, 2022

 

All Purpose Flour (2 lb. /32 oz)

Sugar (2 lb. /32 oz)

Salt and Pepper (Individual Duo)

Mustard (Yellow, 12 to 14 oz plastic bottle)

Ketchup (20 oz plastic bottle)

Mayonnaise (20 oz plastic bottle)

Vegetable or Canola Oil (48 oz plastic bottle)

Garlic Powder (3 oz)

Onion Powder (3 oz)

Texas Pete Hot Sauce (12 oz)

Vinegar (White) (32 oz plastic bottle)

Grits* (24 oz cannister)

Pudding Cups (3.25 oz/4 per pack)

Jiffy Cornbread Mix (8.5 oz box)

Applesauce Cups (4 oz per cup/6 cups)

Pancake Mix (ALDI, Aunt Maple’s Buttermilk 32 0z)

Syrup (ALDI, Aunt Maple’s Original Pancake Syrup 24 oz)

 

*No individual packets of grits.

Commissioning our DCE

On Sunday, as a congregation, we joyfully promised to support and encourage René Prager as she begins her studies at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte.

René is pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Education while she continues serving full-time as the Director of Christian Education here at FPC.

Please continue to hold Rene in your prayers as she enters this exciting chapter.

First Kids News

The sounds of laughter and little voices are in the air and the halls are filled with colorful artwork as we have welcomed 110 preschoolers to First Kids this year.  


We are pleased to announce that the following talented women are part of our 2022-2023 staff :

 

Director- Maureen O'Bryan

Assistant Director- Pam Prentice

 

Transitional Kindergarten- Jennifer Michalski, Holly Westbrook


5-Day Fours- Laura Lyon, Golda Jay, & Elyse Lambert


M/W/F Fours- Maureen O'Bryan & Kristina Revels 

 

M/W/F Three A- Julia Holshouser & Tara Garrett 

 

M/W/F 3 B- Amber Huggins & Taylor Ozment 

 

T/Th 3AB- Julia Holshouser & Amber Huggins

 

M-F Two A- MaryAnn Harrison & Jessica Raymond

 

M-F Ones- Melissa McGuire & Carolyn Ritchie 

  

Very special thanks goes to the Boy Scouts of Troop 3 for cleaning the playground and fluffing the sand on a hot evening in August and to Pastor Ellen, Pastor Julie, and Rene for donning their bee antennae for our Open House Day. 

We are looking forward to a "Bee-utiful" year.  

Playing and Learning Together, 

Maureen O'Bryan.

Todd Hobbie Sunday School Class

The Todd Hobbie Sunday School class will meet in Davis Hall this Sunday, September 25, at 9:45 AM to begin a study on the Sermon on the Mount.

Commons Reopening

Remember to save a few minutes Sunday to join us after worship to see the newly refreshed Commons.


 The space received a ‘deep clean’ on Monday and is almost ready to welcome folks in.


The Commons will be open Sunday from noon to 2 PM so invite your friends and neighbors to join you!


 The new hours are: 

Open to the public Wed 10 AM - 6 PM and Sat 10 AM - PM.


Group times available Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. 


Sunday open for FPC members till 1:00 PM.

Sneak Peek at the Refreshed Commons

The Youth Group enjoyed an evening in The Commons in advance of the opening this Sunday. Jonathan Ewart provided an introduction to several of the prayer stations to eleven middle school and ten high school Youth. The Feed My Soul (rice), Playdough, and Chalkboard stations were among the favorites of both groups. Parents gathered for a short parent meeting during the joint Youth dinner. Any parents who missed the meeting should look for an e-mail with additional information, 2022 Youth calendar, and opportunities to provide Youth meals.

Another Night of Girl Scout Fun!

Girl Scouts gathered on September 15th across the First Presbyterian campus. The Daisy Troop explored the Dreamworks “Spirit” patch, covering all the ways young girls can care for friends and their favorite animals by following the Girl Scout Law (pictured with homemade stick horses), The Brownies earned their Trail Adventure badge, practicing how to plan and prepare for a Trail Adventure, about gathering gear, how to use a compass, and about leave no trace. Juniors continued to work on a new badge and joined Troop 334 for some classic Girl Scout songs. MaryAnn Johnson was a guest presenter for Troop 334 as they had fun with tie-dye. 

FPC College Students


It is that time of year to collect college addresses. If you have a child in college, please e-mail their complete USPS mailing address AND their e-mail address to René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org. Please e-mail this information even if their address is unchanged from last year. Addresses due by the end of September for our fall college care package mailing.


PC(USA) Peacemaker to Visit Concord


PC(USA) Peacemaker to Visit Concord

Sunday, October 2, 2022


We are delighted to welcome Maina Talia of Tuvalu to First Presbyterian Church on World Communion Sunday, October 2. Tuvalu is a small island nation, roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia, that is endangered by rising sea levels. Talia will speak of the realities of life for people in Tuvalu to help us, and other churches he visits, better understand the threats posed by climate change. In his country, Talia has worked with various non-governmental organizations on environmental topics and was instrumental in securing funding for an early warning system to communicate during cyclones.

On October 2, he will lead a joint Adult Sunday school class in Davis Hall, participate in worship, and meet with our youth in the afternoon. 

News from the APNC

As the new programming year begins, the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee is reminded of the energy that runs through this place. We are blessed as a church family and look forward to sharing that blessing with our next Associate Pastor....whoever that may be! Please continue to offer prayers and support for our committee. This is an exciting time in the life of First Presbyteria Church Concord! Over the next few months you will hear from us in one form or another BUT know we are diligently at work for you!

Sign-up Links
Lay Liturgists
Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.

Nursery
Sign up here to volunteer in the Nursery on Sundays.
.
Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
sanctuary flowersplease click here
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.



Calendar

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Rev. Ellen Crawford True, preaching

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 Genesis 39:1-23

Thursday, September 22

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)

2:00 PM Thursday Connection (Journey Classroom)

6:30 PM Boy Scout Advancement Boards of Review (Ed Bldg)

7:00 PM Books and Brews (Southern Strain)

7:00 PM Moms Night Out (Southern Strain)

Friday, September 23

9:00 First Kids Preschool (Will Young)

Saturday, September 24

2:00 PM Christenbury Funeral (Fellowship House Chapel)

Sunday, September 25

9:45 AM Elementary SS (Children's Chapel)

9:45 AM Middle/High School SS (Room 304 Will Young)

9:45 AM Todd Hobbie Class (Davis Hall)

9:45 AM Journey Class ( Journey Room Ed Bldg)

9:45 AM S & D Class (Fellowship House)

10:30 AM Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)

11:00 AM Worship with Noisy Offering (Sanctuary or Live-stream)

12:00 PM Commons Reopening (Commons)

3:15 PM Children's Choir (Small Choir Room)

4:30 PM Middle School (Davis Hall)

5:30 PM Youth Meal (Davis Hall)

6:00 PM High School (Davis Hall)

Monday, September 26

6:30 PM Worship and Music (Journey Classroom)

Tuesday, September 27

9:00 First Kids Preschool (Will Young)

6:00 PM Cub Scouts (Davis Hall)

7:00 PM Weblos (Davis Hall)

7:00 PM Boy Scouts (Youth Room)

7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)

Wednesday, September 28

9:00 First Kids Preschool (Will Young)

10:30 AM Bible Study (Fellowship House)

7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)

Church Report

Birthdays

September 22 - Earl Myers, Beth Younce

September 23 - Kevin Garrison, Lina Gibson, Betsy Liles, Mary Margaret Underwood

September 24 - James Hedgpeth, Rebecca Iglehart, Mac Shelley

September 25 - William Austin, Richard Canter, Jennings Tyler Hough

September 26 - Bill Richey, Margaret West, Ross Wilder

September 27 - Connor Dunlap, Amy Klutz, Buddy Leatherman, Bob Prescott, Pat Wannamaker

September 28 - Tyler Stark, Walter Vuchnich

**To enjoy a sung happy birthday, click here!**

Staff
Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff 
ellen.crawfordtrue@firstpresconcord.org

Julie Hill
Temporary Associate Pastor


René Prager
Director of Christian Education



Director of Music and Organist

Choirmaster

Suzanne Russell
Church Administrator

Kim Mazzola
Financial Administrative Asst.

Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent


Director of First Kids


Wedding Director
Contact Info
First Presbyterian Church
(704) 788-2100

70 Union Street North
Concord NC 28025 

Mailing Address: 
PO Box 789 Concord NC 28026-0789

Church Office Hours: 
Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed Friday

The Commons Prayer Room:

Sundays open for FPC until 1:00 PM

Open to the public  Wednesday 10 AM - 6 PM

                                Saturday     10 AM - 3 PM         Group times available Tuesday, Thursday and Friday                                                


Memorial Garden: memorialgarden@buddgroup.com


36 Spring Street SW

Concord NC 28025

 

Garden Hours: 

Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Closed Monday

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