A Prayer for Wisdom and Peace
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God of all that is seen and unseen, our anxiety rises as the invisible coronavirus spreads. We worry about the impact of this illness on healthcare workers, older adults, those already physically fragile, the vulnerable among us and people whose livelihoods are tied to the regular movement of people and commerce. We recognize in this moment how inextricably connected we are to one another and we hope that this unmistakable realization will shape all our actions in ways that foster the common good, increase compassion and expand communal care.
As people is positions of leadership in religious communities, educational institutions, hospitals, government and local communities face difficult choices about how to address the complex challenges this virus brings, grant them wisdom and courage. Knowing that we are flawed and that our knowledge is incomplete, make us humble in our judgment, patient with one another, and gracious toward those tasked with the burden of making hard decisions in the days ahead.
Bring healing to the sick, strength to the caregivers, comfort to those who mourn, peace to those in quarantine and mercy to all of your beloved creation. Amen.
~ Rev. Jill Duffield, The Presbyterian Outlook #PCUSA
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Recently I was looking for a quote in Joan Chittester’s wonderful book from 2017, Radical Spirit: 12 Ways to Live a Free and Authentic Life, order it here.
Chittester says this about social media in an interview she did with Sojourners Magazine that same year:
Q: You write that the quest for a free and authentic life is common to everyone in every generation and era. How do you think the internet has contributed to this, or does it?
A: It has contributed to certainly a new kind of communication among us — not all of it good; a lot of it, dangerous. When we talk about human community, we certainly now have a tool in our hands that enables us to reach out as we never have before. It broadens our sense certainly of what community is and even of our own place in it.
When I get on the internet and hide behind a false identity, and then allow that hiding to free me from the standards of decency, to begin to use language I would never use in front of my mother, all of a sudden, there’s nothing between me and you, but worse than that, there’s nothing between me and my worst self.
So, is this an instrument of community? Yes, it is, but it depends on the kind of person I am when I come to it, and that’s where the 12 degrees of humility are essential. They create a windowpane through which I see the world, but in that windowpane, I also get a reflection of myself and the way I’m seeing the world and interacting with it.
Q: You encourage readers to seek wisdom, rather than facts. In a culture of alternative facts and fake news, what does this look like?
A: I have to be honest with you, it never occurred to me, as years went by, that my country would look like this as I grew into it, and as it grew into a different world. That’s why I keep pressing the notion that we must seek wisdom.
We must ask ourselves, “What is wisdom?” It is the synthesized truth of life. Let me put it this way: If I’m 9 years old and get my first bike, my parents say to me, “Do not ride this bike on gravel.” What’s the very first thing I do? I ride that bike on gravel. When I come in at night, my face is scratched and my shirt is cut, my elbow is broken open, and everybody at my kitchen table knows exactly what I’ve done.
There are two facts here: I was told not to. Second fact is I did it anyway. What is wisdom? Wisdom is what I learned from doing it, from misrepresenting this fact by refusing to accept the obvious reality of this fact. I now have a new piece of wisdom: My parents were right. Older people know things I don’t know yet. Experience teaches me different things. That’s wisdom.
You can read the rest of the interview here:
Wisdom … “it is the synthesized truth of life.” That’s the quote I was searching for. Wouldn’t it be great if people, Christian or not, used a little more wisdom about what they say and post on social media?
The world would be a much better and kinder and Christ-like place!
Blessings,
Scott Kenefake
Interim/Transitional Minister
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Join us Thursday, 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Commons Prayer Room for Centering Prayer time led by Rev. Lynne Keel. This will continue on Thursdays at noon in the Commons Prayer Room through the season of Lent.
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Come have lunch next Tuesday, March 17 at 11:45 a.m. in Davis Hall when Leah Leath, Chaplain at Atrium Health - Cabarrus, will teach us skills such as mindfulness, relaxation breathing, and a practice of daily affirmations to address stress in our lives. Remember to make your lunch reservations by noon on Monday, March 16.
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First Presbyterian Church Habitat Build
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When
When:
Saturday, March 21, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where
Apostles Build 261 Evans Street NW Concord, NC 28027
rch 21, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
Please confirm your attendance for this upcoming project by completing Habitat’s online registration and liability form
here.
You will receive a confirmation email once registration is completed:
Everyone who volunteers should sign up prior to showing up on the work site. **If you experience trouble with registration, we suggest using an alternative browser.
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You're invited to join us for GIFT Sunday, which is a time of hands-on intergenerational learning. All ages are welcome to experience GIFT Sundays, GIFT, Generations in Faith Together, with a light breakfast at 9:45 a.m. This will be the only Sunday School offering that morning, with all classes meeting together in Davis Hall. A nursery will be provided for infants and toddlers. This is our last GIFT Sunday of the spring, so we will celebrate together and lift up the many ways that we have learned to be a good neighbor this year. Come learn and grown in faith together!
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Memorial Garden Spring Cleaning Giveaway
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The Spring House (the tiny brick building which is part of Memorial Garden on Spring Street) is in the process of being emptied of its contents. While most of its contents are not worth keeping, there are 4 pieces of furniture which may be had at no charge to anyone who is interested in them.
The pieces include an extra-long Chippendale style sofa, 2 wing chairs and a small case piece that currently sits beside the sofa. That piece is neither a table nor a small chest, but it is about the height of the top of the arm of the sofa and does provide a small amount of storage space. All the furniture is very sturdy. The sofa and the 2 chairs need to be reupholstered and cleaned; the case piece needs a good cleaning.
Anyone interested in any or all pieces should contact Robert Jolly, the manager of the garden. His hours at the garden are 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Whoever wants the furniture is responsible for moving it. While there is no charge for the furniture, a donation to Memorial Garden would be appreciated
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There will be a potluck luncheon on March 22 following the 11:00 a.m. worship service featuring a message from Betsy and Jock Liles about the bridges being built in Haiti as well as World of God, the organization that coordinates our Haiti children sponsorship program. Volunteers are needed to receive food prior to worship, and to help set-up and clean up after lunch.
Contact Valerie Thomas if you can help:
vstmd@ctc.net.
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Opportunity House is hosting a Port-A-Pit chicken dinner on Tuesday, March 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Midway United Methodist Church, 708 S. Main Street in Kannapolis. Dinners are dine-in or take out, and delivery is available for orders of 10 or more dinners. Tickets are $10.00 each, and can be purchased from Britt Alley or Susan Brooks.
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Save the Date for First Kids and First VBS Summer Camp
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First Kids Summer Camp
Week 1 June 1 - 4, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Week 2 June 8 -11, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
(Rising 2 year olds - 2nd grade)
First VBS Summer Camp
June 15 - 18, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
(Rising 2 year olds - Kindergarten & 1st Grade - 5th Grade)
Join us as we explore this Great Big Beautiful World where kids will discover the beauty and wonder of God's creation through art, music, science, story time, mission, outdoor fun and more. Campers will learn how to love God the Creator and follow in the way of Jesus. Together we will notice the ways we impact the natural world through our choices and actions and will find ways to join God in caring for all of creation. "I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever." Psalm 52:8
Look for more information and registration coming soon!
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Lay Liturgists
Sign up
here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
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Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.
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Wednesday Night Fellowship
March 25, 2020
6:00 p.m., Davis Hall
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Shepherd for Sunday School
Sign up
here to be a Shepherd in our Elementary and Middle School Sunday School.
A Shepherd helps our teachers by being another adult in the room, to make sure that we have a safe classroom, and to fulfill the requirements of our Child and Youth Protection Policy. If you have questions about what it means to be a Shepherd, please reach out to one of the members of the Christian Education Committee or Rachel Vogado.
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Youth Newsletter
Sign up here to receive the Youth Newsletter for detailed information
about all events related to youth who are in 6th-12 grade.
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Sunday, March 15, 2020
Rev. Dr. Scott Kenefake preaching
Psalm 32
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Thursday, March 12
8:30 a.m. ALC Board
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:15 a.m. Preschool Advisory Board
12:00 p.m. Prayer Class
2:00 p.m. Literacy Tutoring
Friday, March 13
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:30 a.m. Adult Literacy Tutoring
Sunday, March 15
8:45 a.m. Worship
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
9:45 a.m. Confirmation Class
10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Choir
11:00 a.m. Worship
3:00 p.m. Children's Choir
4:00 p.m. Daisy Troop 3631
5:00 p.m. Lenten Book Study and Dinner
5:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship
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Monday, March 16
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
11:30 a.m. AA
2:00 p.m. Red Cross Blood Drive
Tuesday, March 17
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
11:45 a.m. Lunch Bunch
7:00 p.m. Al Anon meeting
7:00 p.m. PW CT
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Troop 3
Wednesday, March 18
7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:00 a.m. Commons Committee
6:30 p.m. PNC meeting
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
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Condolences
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to the family of Tom Barefoot, whose mother, Virginia Newton Barefoot, died on March 3, 2020 in Fayetteville, NC.
Birthdays
March 13 -
Lalla Overby
March 14 -
Steve Burke, Barry Cannon, Kristi Dugan, Reed Martin, John Morrison Jr., Susan Simpson, Debbie Smith
March 16
- David Farmer
March 17
- Andrew Olson, Cathy West
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Scott Kenefake
Interim Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation
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Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Financial Secretary
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Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent
Director of First Kids
Church Hostess
Wedding Director
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First Presbyterian Church
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 Hours:
Monday: Closed
Open for scheduled groups:
Tuesday,Thursday, Friday
Open to Public:
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 am - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC
Memorial Garden:
(704) 786-8009
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1 p.m. - 5:00 pm
Closed Monday
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