Dear Friends,

By now, I’m guessing that you have at least a few presents wrapped and a few cards mailed. Some of you have packed up and headed out to see friends and family, while others are preparing for dear ones to arrive. I hope I’ll get a chance to see you as we gather for worship on Saturday evening and/or Sunday morning, and I hope you will invite others to join us, too. On Christmas Eve we will gather at 5 pm and at 10 pm to hear the Christmas story, to sing, and to gather around the table for communion. Sunday morning—Christmas Day—will be filled with lots of carols, this month’s noisy offering, scripture, prayers, and one of my favorite children’s stories. 

As 2022 winds to a close, I hope you know how grateful my family and I are for you and our life together. I look forward to all that 2023 holds in store for us and for the community as we do our faithful best to follow where Christ leads.

Grace and peace, dear ones, and Merry Christmas!

Ellen

Our December Noisy Offering will be taken up on Christmas Day.

Young Adult Christmas Gathering



FPC young adult friends and members who are in town for the holidays will gather at Southern Strain Brewery on Wednesday, December 21 at 6 pm. Contact Clay Maguire or Pastor Ellen with questions. Hope to see you there!

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

When:  Wednesday, December 21 at 7:00 PM

Where: Fellowship House Chapel

What:   Scripture, Prayer, Silence, Music, Candle lighting, Community

Who:   This service is for everyone who seeks comfort amid heartache and for all who yearn for a more peaceful and just world.  

●    From the Worship and Music Committee comes the proposal that we return to the passing of more traditional Communion trays of bread (gluten-free) and juice in March 2023. This proposal was approved! Of note, ANYONE who has been ordained as a Deacon or Elder in the church at any time can serve Communion. We will need 8 servers each Communion Sunday, so please consider participating as we resume passing Communion trays of bread and juice.

●    The Buildings and Grounds committee continues to do the hard work that keeps our church campus looking beautiful. They are working on current needs, as well as keeping their eyes on future issues, including the need for a new roof on the Will Young building and upgrading our doors to improve campus security where needed.

●    The Session continued our study of Think Again by Adam Grant, with a discussion of Chapter 4. We discussed constructive conflict, the difference between task conflict and relationship conflict, and the importance of maintaining a “challenge network” (a trusted group of people willing to provide respectful, honest critique).

Thank you to everyone who attended the Joy Offering Dinner as well as those that contributed to the offering. The total collected was $2,010! Second Course prepared a delicious meal and the jazz that was provided by Eric Landsperger and Chris Jones set a perfect tone for the holiday season. What a wonderful way to fellowship with friends not seen in many months while contributing to a wonderful Presbyterian cause!  

Nursery will be offered for the 5pm Christmas Eve worship service. All children attending worship on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day will find extra activities in the worship bags.

Pew Prep will take a short break and resume on January 8^th.

Please note that the church office will be closed as follows for Christmas and New Year's:

Office Closed Thursday, December 22 - Reopens, Tuesday, December 27

Office Closed Friday, December 30 - Reopens, Tuesday, January 3

As you begin to deck the halls – or as you take down your decorations weeks from now, please be aware that we are accepting artificial Christmas trees of all sizes.

The lights do not need to work, but we would like trees to be green (some artificial trees come in a range of colors). We will store these at the church for props for future Vacation Bible school and other programs.

Please contact René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org or 704-788-2100 x 4 to schedule a drop off. We do not need the trees this holiday season, so there is no rush. We would prefer to repurpose gently used trees that you are planning to discard versus purchasing new ones. 

Our middle and high school Girl Scouts prepared a taco dinner for the Salvation Army Night Shelter last week.

Girl Scouts for our Daisy, Brownies, Juniors, and middle/high school girls will resume on January 5^th.

Lunch Bunch

WEdnesday, January 11 in DAvis Hall

Bible Study 10:30 AM Lunch 11:45 AM

Come for one or both.

Make a reservation for lunch by Sunday, January 8. Call the reservation line: 704-788-2100, press 7.

Save the Date: Books & Brews on January 12, 2023

Books & Brews will start off the year with We Are the Light by Matthew Quick, the author of The Silver Linings Playbook. This book has been described as “timely, lovely, and sometimes heartbreaking novel of grief and hope.” The group will gather at Twenty-Six Acres Brewing Company (7285 W Winds Blvd NW, Concord, NC 28027) at 7pm on January 12, 2023. Contact Hunter Morrison or Pastor Ellen with questions. All are welcome!

The Future of the Church in America



On January 8, 15, and 29, Dr. Dave True will visit the Todd Hobbie Class. On January 8th and 15th, Dave will discuss a recent Pew Report that claims that if "recent trends in religious switching continue, Christians could make up less than half of the U.S. population within a few decades." Dr. True will unpack this and other trends and explore how we might view the church's future and its call. Then on January 29, Dave will consider what the church today might learn from the book of Ruth. In February, Dave will lead three classes on three keys of Christian faith in a Reformed key. 

Please remember that year-end contributions must be received in the church office by the Noon on Thursday, December 29 as that is the last calendar day for 2022 giving.

For stock transfers, please notify Suzanne Russell so that the proceeds can be applied to the correct account in a timely manner. Thank you!

Vacation Bible School is scheduled

June 26-29, 2023

9AM - Noon