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THE BANNER
December 12, 2018
Candlelight Christmas Pageant
Join us on Sunday, December 16th, at 5:00 p.m., as our youth present the birth narrative of Jesus in the form of a Christmas pageant, joined by our four-year old children as Christmas angels. 
** As a special addition to this year's pageant, the youth will invite kindergarteners through 5th graders to join in the pageant as animals in the manger. No advance preparation is necessary -- parents of children who would like to participate can simply pick up a costume and put it on your child when you arrive. Children will be invited up when the time is right. 
** To help our community, we will also be sharing the "Gift Offering" again this year, so please come with a canned food item to donate to our local food pantry.  Because we are an Earth-Care Congregation, this year we invite you not to wrap your cans in tissue paper, so we can be good stewards of the earth.
** Following the pageant, we will once again bear witness to the coming birth of Christ with a candlelight singing of "Silent Night" on the front steps of the sanctuary. Please come and worship with us!
Christmas Concert at Taylor Glen
THE WHOLE CONGREGATION IS INVITED TO...... 

A concert of Christmas music by the Sanctuary Choir at Taylor Glen on Wednesday, December 19th at 6:30 p.m. in the Taylor Glen auditorium. The choir will present the music they could not present in worship on December 9th due to weather cancellation. So, come hear the music we all missed, and reach out in fellowship and love to the residents of Taylor Glen. We hope it will be a demonstration of Christmas by and for all of us.
Pledge Cards Needed
We are still waiting on a few pledge cards for 2019. If you have not returned yours to the church office, please do so as soon as possible.
Presbyterian Women Year-End-Update
BACKPACK PROGRAM
First Presbyterian’s Backpack Program has been busily serving 14 students at Coltrane-Webb Elementary this school year. In addition to providing each student with food for four people every weekend, we have also purchased can openers and pots and pans for our families and 18” rolling suitcases to replace the ones that are falling apart. At Thanksgiving, each family received a $50 Food Lion gift card along with their food for the week. At Christmas, the families will receive a $100 gift card. Program funds were also used to install coded locks on the new doors in the hallway in front of The Commons, our community prayer room.
The program relies on many volunteers each week, including those who take inventory, the shoppers, the packers, the delivery teams, and the folks who return the suitcases from the school to the church. The Presbyterian Women’s Circles are avid supporters of the program, as are several scouting troops. There are also individuals who regularly donate food items to the program, as well as those who make financial contributions.
As we near the end of 2018, many of our church families are considering additional ways they can support the ongoing programs of the church, including the Backpack Program. If you would like to make a financial contribution, please send your check to First Presbyterian Church, and indicate Backpack Program on the memo line. For your convenience, you can also make a payment online by credit or debit card.
THE TODD AND BETSY HOBBIE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian Church established a scholarship fund in October 2012 in honor of and appreciation of Todd and Betsy Hobbie. The Hobbies’ early ministry led them to the Congo, and its needs remain important to them. The scholarship fund provides tuition for two Congolese nursing students at the Bulape Hospital School of Nursing through the non-profit organization Congo Helping Hands, a mission of the Presbyterian Church, USA.
Each year the goal of the Presbyterian Women is to provide tuition for four years of school to two nursing students. The cost of tuition for four years is $800.00. Donations from the congregation support the continuation of these scholarships. As 2018 comes to a close, many church members are considering ways to support ongoing church programs. Donations can be made by check to First Presbyterian Church. Please indicate The Todd and Betsy Hobbie Scholarship Fund in the memo line or you may donate online by credit or debit card.
2018 Contributions and Stock Transfer
Please remember that year-end contributions must be received in the church office by noon on December 31st or placed in the offering plate on Sunday, December 30th. For stock transfers, please notify Deborah Mesimer so that the proceeds can be applied to the correct account in a timely manner.
Sign-up Links
Lay Liturgists
Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship 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.
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.  
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.
Calendar
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Rev. Grady Moseley

If you requested 2019 offering envelopes, you may pick up your envelopes in the narthex.
Sunday, December 16
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Worship
3:00 p.m. Children's Choir
4:00 p.m. Combined Youth Choir
5:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Pageant
6:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship End-of-year Party
Monday, December 17
First Kids Preschool Closed
11:30 a.m. AA
Tuesday, December 18
First Kids Preschool Closed
7:00 p.m. Session
Wednesday, December 19
First Kids Preschool Closed
7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study
12:00 p.m. Cabarrus Wellness Coalition
4:30 p.m. Interim Senior Pastor Search Com.
6:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Concert - Taylor Glen
Thursday, December 20
First Kids Preschool Closed
Friday, December 21
First Kids Preschool Closed
Sunday, December 23
10:00 a.m. Fellowship Time
11:00 a.m. Worship
Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24
First Kids Preschool Closed
12:00 p.m. Church Office closes
4:00 p.m Youth Choir
5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service
10:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service
Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25
First Kids Preschool & Church Office Closed
Wednesday, December 26
First Kids Preschool & Church Office Closed
Thursday, December 27
First Kids Preschool Closed
Friday, December 28
First Kids Preschool & Church Office Closed
Sunday, December 30
11:00 a.m. Worship
New Year's Eve, Monday, December 31
First Kids Preschool Closed
12:00 p.m. Church office closes
New Year's Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2019
First Kids Preschool & Church Office Closed
Church Report
Birthdays
Dec 12 - Janna Mitchell, Dennis Plyler, Lauren Reese
Dec 13 - Sadie Carlough, Doug Kelling, Steven Thomas, Todd Watson
Dec 14 - Jack Chaffin, Mary Ingram
Dec 15 - Nikki Bauman, Peyton Bryant, Paul Lentz
Dec 16 - Steve Johnson, Kenneth Pegram, Beulah Thorson
Dec 17 - Peter Chikes
Dec 18 - Trey Hoover, Charlotte Ostema, Pam Poindexter, Chris Prager
Dec 19 - Scarlet Davis, Lisa Fortin, Sydney Johnson, Ben Peterson
Dec 20 - Jeff Kies
Dec 21 - Carter Olson
Dec 22 - John Bare, Linda Grist, Angie Harrison, Helen Morrison, Holly Robbins, Susan Spader
Dec 23 - Jason Cagle, Hayden Dunlap, Bebe Grey
Dec 24 - John Turner
Dec 25 - Sally Cochran, Walker Hedgecock, Harriett Phillips
Dec 26 - Marc Niblock
Dec 27 - Michael Fortin, Britt Leatherman, Ava Stafford
Dec 28 - Jensen Schmidt
Dec 29 - Patty Patten
Dec 30 - Irvin Newberry
Dec 31 - Linda Barnett, Chris Lippard, Sara Newberry, Alison Turner
2019
Jan 01 - Clark Hawfield, Margaret Hillman, Kyndal Lemelin, Kasey Rohrer, Fred Schafer, Kaitlin Simpson, Roy Stamey, James Winkler
Staff
Associate Pastor 
for Care and Mission

Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation

Director of Music and Organist
Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent

Director of First Kids

Church Hostess

Wedding Director
Contact Info
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
The Commons Prayer Room Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Open for Scheduled Groups
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 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 - 4:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Closed Monday