Dear Friends,

In this Sunday’s text [Mark 12:1-12], we meet Jesus and the disciples on the other side of Palm Sunday. Jesus has ridden in on a donkey and turned over tables in the Temple. He is no longer preaching, teaching, and healing at a distance. He is in the thick of Jerusalem, standing face to face and toe to toe with religious and Roman authorities. The religious leaders are intent on questioning Jesus and challenging his authority, even as he challenges theirs. This is a violent parable, a difficult one to grapple with. Texts like this one have also been horribly misappropriated throughout the centuries to justify persecution of our Jewish siblings. How then should we read it? What good news does it offer to us and to the fractured world in which we live?

May God bless our wondering and lead us in the way of joy, hope, justice, and peace in Jesus’ name. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Parking Reminder for this Sunday Morning: To allow space for the W & L University Singers bus to park when it arrives Sunday morning, cars will only be able to park on the Wells Fargo side of the back parking lot on Sunday morning. You are encouraged to park in the FPC lot on the other side of Church Street, in the Wells Fargo lot, or on Union Street. Be sure to return to the sanctuary at 3:00 PM for the free concert!

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

Bobby Jo Valentine in the Commons this Thursday!

We are excited to host Bobby Jo Valentine in the Commons on Leap Day at 7:00 PM! Visit his website and listen to Temporary Weather and hear why we are looking forward to his performance. "He is a soulful artist who makes music and poetry that is good medicine for everyone and has won multiple awards for his songwriting. Bobby Jo has given a Ted Talk and is a believer in the power of tiny everyday acts of love to heal our world." 

Donations to National Association Mental Illness Cabarrus will be accepted, but the concert is free and open to the community. Come and bring some friends!

Suggest Deacons and Elders for 2024-2027

The Congregational Nominating Committee is now seeking nominations of congregation members to serve as Deacons and Elders in the Class of 2027. Names can be submitted during worship on Sundays or to Suzanne Russell in the church office, via email or phone. Click here for a nominating form. Names should be submitted by March 18. The committee recommends that, before nominating a congregation member, you confirm with that member that they are willing and able to serve in one of these positions.

The Book of Order defines a Deacon as a person of spiritual character, honest repute, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion and sound judgment. Deacons should be enthusiastic about sharing the redeeming love of Jesus Christ with the poor, the hungry, and the oppressed.

Ruling elders should be persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Working with our ministers, ruling elders exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of the congregation as well as the whole church.

Youth Group Explores Scripture

Our Youth Group held their 2^nd Youth Sunday workshop this past week. Middle School explored Psalm 30, diving into both exegetical work in preparation for sermon writing and into art for our bulletin covers. After a delicious dinner provided by Susan Hannah, our high school youth explored Acts 3:1-10. They created a number of interpretive art pieces, which will be displayed in the sanctuary on Youth Sunday, April 14^th.

Due to the local spring break schedule, Youth will not meet in the evenings of March 3 or 10. We will gather again on March 17^th!

Racial Equity Reads

The Racial Equity Reads group will meet in The Commons at 7:00 PM Monday, March 4, to discuss Chapters 2 and 3 of “The Cross and the Lynching Tree,” by James H. Cone.

Cone’s book examines the disturbing similarities between the crucifixion of Jesus and the lynchings of Black people during the Jim Crow era.

Our group is informal, and you are invited to join any time. You are encouraged to order the book from a Black-owned bookseller such as Shelves, a mail-order-only bookseller in Charlotte (orders@shelvesbookstore.com), or Mahogany Books in Washington, D.C. (mahoganybooks.com). The book is also available on Amazon.com.

The selections we read and discuss are intended to broaden and deepen our understanding of the origins and history of systemic anti-Black racism in America, and its effects on both Black and white people. For more information email sverner@yahoo.com.

Noisy Offering Results

Our noisy offering collection on February 25 was $325!

Tell Me More

Have you recently moved to our community and are looking for a community to support you and help you feel connected? Or have you worshipped or served with First Presbyterian a number of times, but still have more questions than answers around what Presbyterians believe, what it means to become a church member, or what life in this particular church looks like?

No matter what your questions are, anyone interested in learning more about life at FPC is invited to join Pastor Ellen and Pastor Casey for a conversation on Sunday, March 10 at 9:45 AM in the sunroom in the Fellowship House. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

There will be an opportunity for those who attend to join as members on March 17, although you do not need to become a member to attend our Tell Me More class. Bring your dreams, doubts, and questions to learn more about what this church community is all about.

VBS Planning is Underway!

We held our first planning session meeting on Sunday and we hope YOU can join us for our next meeting!

If you are interested in being on the leadership team and/or a volunteer the week of VBS, please let us know by signing up on this link: VBS 2024: VBS Volunteers (signupgenius.com)

If you have any questions, please contact either René Prager or Bill Cochran.

CCM Monthly Needs

January was another record-breaking month at the Crisis Center Food Pantry, as we served 1,141 households during the month. Across our whole program, we served 2,007 households, about a 30% increase over January 2023. Normally we see a slowdown in February, as households receive their income tax refunds. However, so far we have not seen that yet this year!

We are grateful for the annual Boy Scouts’ Scouting for Food drive a couple of weeks ago, which brought in more than 4 tons of food. We also were able to purchase 8 pallets of wholesale food. Nevertheless, we still have a lot of areas where the inventory is low.

Currently, the pantry items we are in biggest need of are:

·    Canned Chicken

·    Other Canned Meats (Hash, Chili, Vienna Sausages, etc.)

·    Canned carrots, potatoes and mixed vegetables

·    Pasta Sauce

·    Canned beans (especially baked, Black, Chili, and Kidney)

·    Canned Fruit (Mixed, Pears, Pineapple—but not peaches)

·    Shelf-stable Milk

·    Diapers

As always, we especially seek low sodium items, no-added-sugar items, and whole grain items. 

Currently we have plenty of:

·    Tuna

·    Pinto Beans

·    Green Beans

·    Diced Tomatoes

·    Peaches

·    Spaghetti

·    Rice

·    Soup

Thank you for the continued support from our church and community partners. Our Crisis Center at 246 Country Club Drive NE in Concord serves as the warehouse for most of the food. We will gladly accept all donations at that site from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM Monday through Friday. Bethel Baptist Helping Hands Food Pantry, located at 1209 1/4 Opal Street in Kannapolis, will gladly accept donations from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Monday and Thursday. The food pantry located at Westford Methodist on Highway 49 and the Kannapolis Food Pantry at West Point Baptist Church can accept donations on Saturday morning from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The Feeding Our Souls Food Pantry at Bethel Church in Midland, and North Kannapolis Baptist Church Food Pantry will accept donations by calling the church in advance.

Girl Scouts Welcome Mayor

The Girl Scouts will be hosting a special meeting on Thursday, February 29^th, 5:45-6:30 pm. Concord Mayor, Bill Dusch, will be the guest speaker as the girls work on their Democracy badge.