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Note from Casey
Dear friends,
Last week we heard and remembered how God made a way for an enslaved community to leave the narrow place of Egypt and the oppression they experienced under Pharaoh. And God remains with the Israelites on the other side of the Red Sea, too, guiding them through the wilderness and giving them a ten-point program that Moses receives in this week's lectionary text (Exodus 19:3-7 and 20:1-17). We often think of "the law" handed down at Sinai as a set of rules, but rules are not simply things to avoid. Like a ruler or yardstick, rules can enable us to measure how we organize our life together. The commandments are not simply burdensome regulations that show us the bare minimum, but gifts from God that helped an emancipated community formulate new rhythms, patterns, and habits. They represent a covenant that God makes, rooted in what God has done for the descendants of Jacob — but they also point ahead, functioning as what theologian Jan Milic Lochman has called "signposts to freedom." Join us this Sunday as we consider where these signposts might lead us to.
Peace,
Casey
Artwork: The Tablets of the Law, a lithograph by Marc Chagall (1962)
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
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Rescheduled Food Trucks & Fellowship Event
Join Wednesday, October 14, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for smoothies, games, and music along our Fellowship House drive-through. We will have a number of tables set up between the sanctuary and playground with space for cornhole, board games, and unstructured play for families.
We will also be joined by Just Juice CLT, a juice, smoothie, and açaí bowl food truck. Bring your own dinner to enjoy with a healthy and refreshing juice drink, or get a protein smoothie or açaí bowl for your main course! We hope to see you there for another great night of outdoor fun and fellowship.
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Recycle Your Newspapers at FPC, We will Donate Them to the Animal Shelter
The animal shelter is in need of many supplies, including old newspapers which are harder to come by every day.
Bring yours to the Fellowship House foyer, put them in the collection box, and we will get them to the shelter where they will be put to good use.
Thanks as always for your response to the needs of our community!
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Volunteer at Wings of Eagles Ranch Day Camp!
Wings of Eagles Ranch is a local nonprofit that serves children and adults with special needs through therapeutic horseback riding, outdoor adventures, and other supportive programs.
Volunteers ages 14 and older are needed for the Wings of Eagles Day Camp on Saturday, October 24. There are jobs for everyone, and no experience with horses is necessary—just bring a willing heart and a desire to help!
All volunteers must complete a volunteer application and attend one of the following training sessions:
- Monday, October 20, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday, October 22, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Please sign up here to indicate your interest:
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Coltrane-Webb Coat Drive
The Deacons’ Mission Committee is excited to partner with Coltrane-Webb STEM Elementary School this year. We’re beginning our work together with an October coat drive!
The school has identified a need for extra coats that can be given to students when colder weather arrives. We can help make sure every child has something warm to wear this winter.
Throughout October, we’re collecting new children’s coats with the tags still attached.
Donation boxes will be located:
In the narthex
In the Fellowship House
Every coat will go directly to a child who needs it. Thank you for helping us keep Coltrane-Webb’s students warm!
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A Really Special Program and a New Date
for the October Lunch Bunch
Because Davis Hall will be in use for the annual First Kids Scholastic Bookfair, this month’s Lunch Bunch has been moved up a week to Tuesday, October 20 at 11:45 AM. Be sure to mark your calendars because you really don’t want to miss this one!!!
Dr. Lee Gray, Professor Emeritus in Architectural History from the School of Architecture at UNC Charlotte, will give a talk titled “Four Historic Churches – Four Design Stories.” Dr. Gray’s talk will address the unique design and construction issues associated with building four historic churches located in Rome, London, and Turin. His talk will touch on the related issues of challenging clients, challenging architects, challenging building sites, and challenging religious programs. His talk will include a visual presentation of the four churches that will illustrate the architecture features related to these “challenges”. Lee lives just a few blocks from our church and is known to be a very authoritative and entertaining speaker so this will be a treat for us.
Everyone is welcome at Lunch Bunch. Dough Girls will prepare Chicken Parmesan, potato casserole, tossed salad, lemon bars and a roll for lunch. The cost is $15. Reservations for food must be made by calling our church reservation line at 704-788-2100 option 7 and leaving your name and number of guests you are bringing by noon on Thursday, October 15th. Join us to learn something new this month!
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Girl Scout Investiture and Rededication
The Girl Scout Troops sponsored by First Presbyterian Church held their annual Investiture and Rededication Ceremony in the sanctuary on Thursday. This special ceremony officially welcomes new members into Girl Scouts and allows returning members to reflect on living into the Girl Scout Promise and Law. New members received membership pins.
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Blessing of the Animals
The Blessing of the Animals service was a Wonderful Celebration of God’s Amazing and Beautiful Creatures. There was an incredible gathering of 15 dogs, 4 cats and many others present in photos!
Pets and their families enjoyed the fellowship of meeting new and old friends, loving the attention, and the delicious treats for all.
A big thank you to church staff for making this all come together.
No THANK YOU is big enough for All the GRACIOUS and AWESOME DONATIONS. They will be divided between the Cabarrus County Animal Shelter and the Human Society of Concord / Cabarrus Co. Your gifts will help to make life much better for many shelter friends.
Enjoy these photos:
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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.
Pew Prep
Sign up here to volunteer to help with pew prep on Sundays.
Library Holdings
Click above for a list of books in our library.
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Ushers
Sign up here to volunteer in the
Sanctuary on Sundays
Greeters
Sign up here to volunteer in the
Sanctuary on Sundays
Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
sanctuary flowers, please click here
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.
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Sunday, October 11, 2026
Rev. Casey Aldridge
Matthew 5:17, Exodus 19:3-7;201-17
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Thursday, October 8
9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)
9:20 AM Preschool Committee Mtg (Will Young 304)
Friday, October 9
office closed
9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)
Saturday, October 10
1:00 PM Families First (E201, E202, Library Conference Room)
Sunday, October 11
9:45 AM S & D Class (Fellowship House)
9:45 AM Todd Hobbie Class (Davis Hall)
9:45 AM Journey Class (Library Conference Room)
10:30 AM Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary)
1:00 PM Families First (E201, E202, Library Conference Room)
3:00 PM Circle 5 (Fellowship House)
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Monday, October 12
7:30 AM Men's Bible Study (off campus)
11:00 AM Circle 4 (off campus)
12:00 PM Narcotics Anonymous (Commons)
7:00 PM Boy Scouts (Youth Room)
Tuesday, October 13
6:30 PM Session Mtg (Library Conference Room)
7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)
Wednesday, October 14
9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)
10:30 AM Bible Study (Library Conference Room)
12:00 PM Narcotics Anonymous (Commons)
2:00 PM Staff Mtg (Fellowship House Sunroom)
5:00 PM Food Trucks & Fellowship (Upper Parking Lot)
7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
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Honorariums
The Choir - Music Fund
Lunch Bunch - Lunch Bunch Program
Memorials
Nancy Bibby - Library Fund
Steve Christy - Memorial Garden
Dale Nixon - Music Fund
Birthdays
October 8 - Braedon Hough, Christopher Jones
October 10 - Lipe Barrier, Jeff Griffin, Emily Lippard, Don Seitz, Scott Sherrill, Megan Tignor
October 11 - Cameron McDonald, Rebecca Patten, Elizabeth Payne
October 12 - Rachel Andrews, Tripp Carpenter, David Hobson, Trip Ruth
October 13 - Dawson Niblock
October 14 - Isabel Cook, Alicia Watson, Amanda Woods
To enjoy a sung Happy Birthday, click here!
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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
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The Commons Prayer Room:
Open to FPC: Tuesday - Sunday
Open to FPC: Saturday 10 AM - 3 PM
Group times available with prior arrangement
Memorial Garden:
info@firstpresconcord.org
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
March 15 - September 15
Tuesday- Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
September 15 - March 15
Closed Monday
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