Dear Friends,

What a gift it was to have Brian Blount with us on Sunday! He spoke winsomely of the struggles and temptations we face as we seek to navigate life faithfully as Christ’s disciples in this and every season.

As we continue our time together in Lent, we will be exploring together how the words and stories of Jesus help us piece together who he is and who he calls us to be. This Sunday, we will spend some time with the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). As you read and reflect on this text, which characters resonate with you? What in the story challenges you? What in the story points to grace for you? What does this text say to the church here and now?

Blessings on the rest of your week. I’ll hope to see you Sunday.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

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

The Noisy Offering collection from last Sunday, February 26, came to $382.17!! Thanks, everyone!

We enjoyed another great confirmation session with our confirmation partners! This week we talked about showing Christ’s love. In Youth Group we worked on writing prayers for Youth Sunday.

We hope you will join us this coming Sunday! In Sunday School, we will begin a series on the life and work of Jesus, leading up to Holy Week. Class meets at 9:45 in Room 304 of the Will Young Building.

In Confirmation, we will explore Lesson 8: Will You Devote Yourself to the Church’s Teachings? This week in Youth Group, we will read the book of Ester and celebrate Purim by baking hamantashen.

2022-2023 Youth: 3/5 Youth (signupgenius.com)

The first Tuesdays of the months: March 7th,  April 4th and May 2nd between 1 PM -4 PM, items for the Market for Mission can be dropped off to the Will Young building sale room (306). Carts and help will be available. 

Drop offs will be held more frequently this summer. Members are also welcome to drop items (preferably boxed) to the shelving units outside of 306 at a time convenient for them. Use the elevator near Davis Hall to avoid preschool if during their school hours. Questions??? Call Gina Goff (704) 794-2228 or Carrie Myers (704) 467-0962. Be sure to mark October 7th on your calendars and let us know if you’d like to volunteer. Thank you!!

Presby Wonder Women:

We have two build dates:

Thursday, March 16 and Saturday, May 13.

We still need five volunteers for the March 16 date.

No skills required. Training will be given.

Please sign up here, or by pasting the following link into your ibrowser:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4fa8ae2ea1fa7-habitat#/

Over the next several weeks, the Welcome Committee will highlight members who joined FPC in 2022.

Mat board & rubber bands!

If you have mat board scraps or various size rubber bands that you are looking to get rid of, we’d love to transform them into one of our VBS craft items.

Please drop off items in the foyer of the Fellowship House labeled for VBS. Thank you!

You're Invited!

Please join Friends Empowering Haiti in celebrating 30 years of supporting our brothers and sisters in Bayonnais with a festive evening of food, drinks, and a silent auction

Actionnel Fleurisma, Pastor and Founder of the ICB School, will be our guest speaker

Tickets are $100 per person - purchase here:

https://friendsempoweringhaiti.org/celebrating-30-years/

Questions? Contact Betsy Liles dinnerbell6@gmail.com

           Fish banks were distributed during the Children’s Message on Sunday, along with a sharing calendar. Additional banks and calendars can be found on the table in the narthex. Fish Banks will be received at the Flower Cross service on Easter. Special offering envelops will be available at 11:00 am worship.

When we all do a little, it adds up to a lot! 

One Great Hour of Sharing: A History

In 1946, as victims of war in Europe were struggling through near-starvation and homelessness, a few American Christians responded by raising funds for relief for those in perilous situations. Episcopal Bishop Henry Sherrill lead a small group whose goal was to raise one million dollars in one hour for World Relief. No one is sure the amount that was realized, but the relief efforts have continued with even larger goals in mind every year since.

In 1949, major networks broadcast a show called “One Great Hour” on the Saturday evening before Easter. This broadcast featured President Truman, as well as several popular musicians and actors of the time, and closed with the request to listeners to make a sacrificial contribution at their own place of worship on the next morning. Again, no record of the total donation is recorded, but it is estimated that over 75,000 churches participated in this first One Great Hour offering. 

Presbyterians have been involved in this ecumenical effort since 1947, which now involves nine denominations and Church World Service. In 1990, the General Assembly voted to acted the current structure for allocations:

·       32% to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

·       32% to Self-Development of People

·       36% to the Presbyterian Hunger Program

One Great Hour of Sharing is our denomination’s largest special offering and is received Easter Sunday.