April 5, 2023

Walk with us in the coming days and guide us

as we remember that every road to Easter must go through the cross.

~ from the prayer of confession on April 2, 2023

Dear Friends,

After a glorious Palm Sunday, we have now turned our hearts toward the days ahead. This week is a full one, not simply because of the various events on the calendar, but also because of the power of all that we remember, grieve, and celebrate. I look forward to walking and worshiping through the week with you.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Community Stations of the Cross on Good Friday: We have been invited to join our neighbors and walk through the Logan neighborhood together as we read, pray, and remember Christ’s suffering and death. We will gather at 3:15 pm and begin the service at 3:30 pm in the sanctuary of Grace Lutheran Church, 58 Chestnut Dr. SW in Concord. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held in the sanctuary at Grace Lutheran. 

Tenebrae Service: On Friday, April 7, we will gather at 7 PM in the sanctuary for a Good Friday Tenebrae Service. This service—which is new to FPC—dates from the 8^th Century and moves from light to darkness, with the fading light symbolizing the evolving sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of the world. We will hear the story of Jesus’ suffering and death as told in Matthew 26:31-27:60, as read by seven different voices. We will pause along the way to extinguish candles, to sing, to reflect, and to pray. We will end the service with the stripping of the chancel, removing symbols of worship from the church and draping others in black. We will exit the service in silence. This service will also be streamed on our YouTube channel.

Holy Week with FPC

April 6: Maundy Thursday

6:30 PM: Dinner followed by Worship with communion in Davis Hall

April 7: Good Friday

3:30 PM: Community Stations of the Cross, begins at Grace Lutheran Church

7:00 PM: Tenebrae service in the sanctuary

April 9: Easter

7:00 AM: Sunrise service in Memorial Garden

9:45 AM: Flowered Cross service in the sanctuary

11:00 AM: Worship in the sanctuary (Nursery available for this service only)

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

We were excited to have our confirmation partners join us on Sunday! We read Joshua 3:7-4:7 and groups discussed the connection between this scripture and confirmation. We then turned to writing faith statements. Our partners and confirmands worked in pairs to help get thoughts on paper. This week, our confirmands and partners should watch for e-mails with additional information so that confirmands can continue to work on their profession of faith. Completed statements should be turned in at the April 16 meeting. Here is our upcoming schedule:

April 5-6: Watch for an e-mail and connect with confirmation partner to continue work on faith statement

April 9: No Confirmation, Easter Sunday

April 16: Confirmation class, doors open 4:15, faith statement due

April 18: Confirmands meet with session, 6:30pm

April 23: 10:30 in sanctuary in advance of worship

Our Youth Group wrote encouraging messages to our boarding school and college students and packed care packages. The packages will be mailed out in advance of final exams. 

We invite you to join us for the Flowered Cross Service at 9:45 AM on Easter Sunday, April 9^th.

Whether this is your first time or you've done this before, here's what you need to know:

All are invited to clip a flower or two from their yard (azaleas, tulips, or anything else that is in bloom!) OR you can purchase flowers.

The holes on the cross are large enough for 1-3 stems to fit through, bouquets of more will need to be separated in advance.

Some people wrap the base of their stems in moist paper towels and plastic wrap, others bring them without – the choice is yours.

As you are invited forward during worship, bring your flower(s) and place them in the cross. Volunteers will also be there to assist with placement

Please note that Pew Prep will not be offered on Easter Sunday. Extra worship activities can be found in the Worship Bags, available in the narthex. Pew Prep will resume on April 16^th. We hope all of our kindergarten through second graders will join us then, as we begin a fun review of worship skills we covered during this year to help prepare us to make the most of our time in the pews this summer!

For our families with littles in the nursery and for those who have grandchildren under five years old visiting for Easter – the nursery will be open for the 11 AM worship service. 

Love Feast in the Streets: Your help is needed!

Sponsored by Esther’s Heart, Love Feast in the Streets provides meals and various services to our unhoused neighbors in Concord. FPC is providing the volunteers for this monthly event on Saturday, April 15, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Volunteers will greet our neighbors, serve meals, and guide people to the medical services, barber, clothing tables, and shower facilities. 10-12 volunteers are needed!

Please sign up now: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4fa8ae2ea1fa7-love#/

If you have questions, you may speak with Dakeita Vanderburg or Elizabeth Anne Dover Bishop. 

We were experiencing wifi and internet issues on Sunday and were unable to record worship. We are happy to share this video of the Introit and Palm Procession.

https://youtu.be/BVtd_-hIvw8

If others have video and or images to share, please e-mail René Prager at: r.prager@firstpresconcord.org.

 The nominating committee continues to make progress on our search. We’ve had some extremely talented individuals apply for the role. Many of them have highlighted the MIF (job description) as piquing their interest in the position, particularly the line that states we are looking for an individual that is “collaborative, creative and imaginative”. The fact that we are looking for new ways to increase mission work in our community has also sparked imaginations. This is an important part of the new role, as our community continues to grow, which means the needs of the community continue to grow as well. 

Thank you for all your support. We will continue to update you on our progress. 

Please keep the committee and the candidates in your prayers!

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

Restoring Hope, Feeding the Hungry,

Empowering the Oppressed

your impact

$3.1 million        granted by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in the United States and 15 countries

80                        grants impacting 23 countries given by Presbyterian Hunger Program

over 3,000           people trained in food production around the world

191,182               Gift of the Heart Kits and Blankets distributed

276                      certified PC(USA) Earth Care congregations helped care for creation

1,500                   trees planted in Nigeria, in addition to others around the world

$15,000               Funded Metropolitan Tenants Organization

$9,000                 Funded the Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication

786                      Presbyterian congregations purchased eco-palms for sustainable

forestry and livelihoods

$15,000               Funded Struggle for Miami's Affordable and Sustainable Housing, Inc.

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

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received on Easter.

OGHS envelops will be available in the pews at 11:00 AM. 

We will meet to Discuss the First Four Chapters of Nonverts at 4:30 PM on Monday, April 17, at Pharr Mill Brewery and Barbecue.  



The S & D Sunday School class invites the congregation to join in providing Easter hams to families-in-need served by Operation Breadbasket. S & D class members will purchase and deliver 140 hams to Operation Breadbasket in time for their Easter distribution. If you would like to donate, please make your check out to Brian Moore and either drop it off at the church office, or mail to him: 2401 Bethlehem Church Rd, Gold Hill, NC 28071. Thank you!

Spring Cleaning? Here's an opportunity to shred those old documents and protect your privacy! FPC is sponsoring a community Shred-a-thon so pass the word:

Thursday, April 20th

10:00 AM - Noon

Fellowship House Circlular Drive

*Limit of 4 boxes per car*

The group has chosen The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb (a North Carolina native) as our next book.

We will meet at the Market Bar at Gibson Mill on April 20 at 7 PM. Hope to see you there!

Thursday Connection Resumes April 20 at 2:00 PM

At Thursday Connection, we will be reading and discussing Kate Bowler’s book, No Cure for Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear). Bowler is an associate professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke University. In 2015, at 35 years old, she was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer. In this book, Bowler “searches for a way forward as she mines the wisdom (and absurdity) of today’s ‘best life now’ industry, which insists on exhausting positivity and on trying to convince us that we can out-eat, our-learn, and out-perform our humanness.”

We will likely be discussing this book through early June. Books cost $15. Please contact Pastor Julie by April 5 if you would like her to order a book for you.

Annual Church Family Picnic

Sunday, April 30th

5:00 PM with dinner served at 5:45 PM.

A time for Fellowship and Food 

Niblock Family Farm located at 4000 Poplar Tent Road

BBQ chicken and fixins by Chef Colin Bramlett

Please bring a quilt or lawn chair.

$7 per person - $25 max per family

(pay online or at the picnic)

We look forward to a fun evening!

Please RSVP by making your reservation NOW. or call the reservation line: 704-788-2100, press 7