Dear Friends,

From its beginning, the gospel of Mark moves at a sprint, so when the text slows down a bit, we are meant to slow down, too and listen in a different way. This Sunday, we will spend some time in chapter 4 when Jesus tells parables and then naps in a boat during a storm. Jesus has already proclaimed that the kingdom of God has come near-or is at hand-with his arrival. Here he begins to paint pictures of what that kingdom is like, and in these pictures, he describes seeds and harvests. What does it mean for the kingdom to be like a seed or a sprout? How does that shape our faith and our living here and now?

Grace and peace,

Ellen

In Case of Inclement Weather on Sundays, check FPC's social media, and your email, for updates.

Monday through Thursday, if Cabarrus County Schools are closed for weather, our office will also be closed, and the staff will work remotely.

Staff working remotely due to work on Fellowship House Building. Will return to the office on Tuesday, January 16.

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

There will be no evening Youth Group on January 14^th. Instead, we plan to gather off-campus for a lunch. Youth Choice! See the Youth Instagram account to cast your vote or e-mail René Prager – r.prager@firstpresconcord.org. We will decide on one location for the 14^th and save other ideas for future outings.

Evening Youth Group resumes on January 21^st, as we begin planning for Youth Sunday – and squeeze in at least one game of Sardines!. Please plan to join us! 5:30 PM for dinner and 6-7 PM for Youth Group. 2023-2024 Youth: 1/21 Youth & Confirmation (signupgenius.com)

Thank you to Amber Williams for coordinating our Youth dinners again this semester and for providing dinner on January 7^th! Here is a link to the meal sign-up - First Presbyterian Youth Group Meals: Youth Group Dinners (signupgenius.com) Youth families are encouraged to select a date to provide dinner for our group. Interested congregation members are also welcome to pair up and provide dinners. We are grateful! Questions can be directed to Amber. Additional info is on the sign-up.

We are planning ahead – for Youth Sunday, Senior Recognition, and Massanetta and Montreat summer trips.

Please SAVE THE DATE for our 12^th grade recognition – April 7^th and Youth Sunday – April 14^th. Share your attendance plans with us here - 2023-2024 Youth: Youth - Save the Date(s)! (signupgenius.com)

Help us shape our summer plans by letting us know all weeks you can attend programming - 2023-2024 Youth: Youth - Summer 2024 (signupgenius.com)

We hope to lock in summer dates by mid-January, so please reply today. If you are not a Sign-up genius fan, please feel free to e-mail your responses and availability to René Prager.

This Sunday S&D will begin its study of "What Christians Can Learn From Other Religions" by J. Philip Wogaman. All are welcome to join in.

Due to building issues in the Fellowship House, S & D class will meet in the Library Conference Room, 2^nd floor of the Education Building on January 14^th. The class plans to return to their regular location in the Fellowship House on January 21^st.

Thursday Connections...

The next Connections book study will begin January 25, 2024 at 2 PM in the Commons, with Rev. Casey Aldridge leading the discussion of Priya Parker’s book 'The Art of Gathering…How We Meet and Why it Matters.’ 

Mark you calendars now for this winter read and as one reviewer remarks…"Read it for its wisdom, its charm, its insight, and its ability to make every encounter with others more meaningful and enjoyable."

Books can be ordered online through Amazon or Thrift Books.

Racial Equity Reads

Everyone is invited to join us at 7 PM on Monday, January 29, in The Commons, as the Racial Equity Reads group begins our study of “The Cross and the Lynching Tree,” by James H. Cone.

The book wrestles with two poignant symbols of suffering and struggle that have dominated the lives of Black Americans since the Civil War — “how grace upstages disgrace through the power of the cross,” wrote the Rev. James A. Forbes of New York City.

Cone was Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

You are encouraged to buy the book from a Black-owned bookseller. You can order it from Shelves, a Black-owned mail-order bookseller in Charlotte, by emailing orders@shelvesbookstore.com, or from Mahogany Books in Washington, D.C. (mahoganybooks.com). It is also available from Amazon.com.