The Banner Newsletter

THE BANNER

July 1, 2026

Note from Ellen

Dear Friends,

We’ll continue our summer sermon series on July 5 and 12, in conversation with the next two chapters of MaryAnn McKibben Dana’s book, Better Than Normal: Virtues for an Off-Script Life. On July 5, we’ll explore the shift “From Artifice to Authenticity” as we listen to John 14: 1-10. In an age when truth and honesty seem to be up for grabs, what does it mean for Jesus to say he is the truth and for us to live and serve as our true selves?

On July 12, we’ll consider the move “From Blandness to Beauty” and Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18. In the midst of a richly diverse world, why is beauty defined on such narrow terms? How might our lives and our faith be enriched with a more generous view of what beauty is in God’s eyes?

I look forward to worshiping with you as we listen together for God’s Word to us in and through these texts.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Artwork below: “Christ as The Way, The Truth, The Life” from the Chapel of Divino Maestro in Mar del Plata, Argentina and Mike Moyers, “Be Thou My Vision.” Both works are from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

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

Low Power Mode Week

The week of July 6-9 is “Low Power Mode” week. The campus will be closed.

Suzanne and Kim will be away from email and voicemail for the week and will not respond until the week of July 13. Other staff members and I will be working remotely. You can reach us by leaving a voicemail on our office phones (which is emailed to us) or by emailing us.

If there is a pastoral emergency, please contact me on my cell phone.

Passport Kids Camp

Please keep our children, Youth, and chaperones in prayer as they head to Montreat, next week, July 6-9, for a week of Passport Kids Camp.

Dave Rogers and René Prager will take five children and Youth to Montreat for a week of worship, Bible study, fellowship, and fun! This is our second year attending this camp and we hope rising 3^rd-6^th graders will plan to join us in 2027!

Summer Reading Program

We had fun reading Who Counts? on Monday. A special thank you to our guest reader and everyone who helped to greet and lead the activity! Our story reminded us that EACH of us counts – to God and to one another!

We hope YOU will join us for our next session: Monday, July 13, 1:30 PM in the Children’s Library.

Stories and activities may be best suited for elementary age children and families, and ALL are welcome!

A parent or caregiver should plan to stay and engage in activities alongside their child(ren). There will be fun for all!

Red Cross Cabarrus County VIP Blood Drive

Monday, July 14th, in Davis Hall from

2:30 PM - 7:00 PM

To schedule an appointment click here and enter 28025 or

visit redcrossblood.org and enter: Cabarrus VIP Blood Drive

THE BRITISH ARE COMING!!!

. . . To Lunch Bunch on JULY 28th, that is. . . .

July’s guest speaker at Lunch Bunch will be Ed Niven and, though he is a Redcoat, he is 100% American. In fact, he is a card-carrying member of the Sons of the American Revolution. But, somebody has to be the enemy in all of those reenactments! Ed is considered to be a regional expert on King George’s Army during the Revolution. And he will bring some of his collection of artifacts and memorabilia with him. So come and hear about the life of the British soldier in the 18th century and find out how the Revolution looked from the other side as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday in Davis Hall at 1145 on Tuesday, July 28.

Grandchildren and other guests above the age of 8 are invited to take part in this special program.

We’ll have an all-American lunch (details still being worked out) so everyone will need to make a reservation by noon on Thursday, July 23 by calling the Church Reservation line at 704-788-2100 option 7. Please leave your name, the number of meals needed, and a phone number where you can be reached on the recording. Volunteers for easy set up and clean up would be welcome. Contact Cathy Floyd with questions.

. . . AND, just so you know whose side we are on, we are working on booking the best American patriot we can find to be with us in the fall!!!

Presbyterian Giving Catalog Donation

Thank you to all who donated to the Vacation Bible School Giving Catalog coin collection – our VBS participants, volunteers, staff, and congregation members!

A record total of $682.91 was collected. This is enough to purchase 9 Fishing Kits OR just over half the cost of a Fishing Boat! A check will be sent to Presbyterian Giving Catalog this week.

If you’d like more information about the Presbyterian Giving Catalog, please use this link to learn more: Giving Catalog | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Noisy Offering

This past Sunday, June 28, we collected $446.89 to benefit the backpack program at Coltrane Webb. Thank you for your generosity!

Youth Meals on Wheels

Thank you to Sallie Dotger for coordinating a Youth Meals on Wheels route these last three weeks, and a VBS route the week before that.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our neighbors. Thank you to the Youth, volunteers, and staff who have been a part of this year’s program.

Lay Liturgists

read scripture in worship on Sundays.

Nursery

Pew Prep

Ushers

Sanctuary on Sundays

Greeters

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.

Calendar

View the Full Calendar here.

Sunday, July 5, 2026

Rev. Ellen Crawford True

Philippians 4:8-9, John 14:1-10

July 12 - Matthew 26:6-12, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

Friday, July 3

Office Closed

Sunday, July 5

11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary)

Monday, July 6

Campus Closed for Independence Day

Tuesday, July 7

Campus Closed Low Power Mode

7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)

Wednesday, July 8

Campus Closed Low Power Mode

Thursday, July 9

Campus Closed Low Power Mode

Saturday, July 11

9:00 AM Families First NC (E201, E202, Library Conference Room)

Sunday, July 12

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

11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary)

1:00 PM Families First NC (E201, E202, Library Conference Room)

Monday, July 13

7:30 AM Men's Bible Study (off campus)

1:30 PM Storytime (Children's Library)

1:30 PM Cabarrus Rd Cross VIP Blood Drive (Davis Hall)

Tuesday, July 14

7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)

Wednesday, July 15

10:30 AM Bible Study (Library Conference Room)

2:00 PM Staff Mtg (Fellowship House Sunroom)

6:00 PM Christian Ed Meeting (Fellowship House Sunroom)

7:00 PM Book Study (off campus)

Church Report

Birth

Congratulations to Ida and Blake Allen on the birth of their daughter, Harris Lovejoy Allen, on June 20.

Congratulations also to Claire and Stephen Kinane on the birth of their son, Oscar Stephen Kinane on June 21 in Athens, GA. Grandparents are Kay and Jim Wall.

Our Congratulations continue to Emily and William Shelley on the birth of their son, William James Shelley, on June 27 in Charlotte. Grandparents are Virginia and Mark Shelley.

Memorials

William Crowle - operating budget

Birthdays

July 2 - Bryson Hough, Abby True, Matthew Vincent

July 3 - Carrie Myers

July 5 - Seth Jones, Laura Lyon, Kay Wall

July 6 - Bob Bratton, Brenner Moore, Susan Payne, Ali Vincent

July 7 - Will Davis, Adelle Patten, Hannah Ross Patten, William Patten, John Schneider

July 8 - Jennifer Meendering

July 9 - Jennifer Newton, Mary Rohrer

July 10 - Gabriel Chikes, Ashlyn Dempsey, Betsy King, John McCoy, Hugh Morrison

July 11 - Jim Davis, John Eapen, Tony Dale McBride, Jane Pegram