Time Change this Weekend!

Don't sleep in and miss worship this Sunday.

Change your alarm before you drift off to sleep!

November Youth Group News!

Make plans to join us this month for Youth Group!

11/2 – Game Night! Youth Group is combined 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM. Join us for a fun evening of sardines and other Youth Choice games. Invite a friend! 2025-2026 Youth: 11/2 Youth Group

11/9 – We are in the Kitchen! Middle School is 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM and high school is 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. Help cook up a delicious meal for the Night Shelter clients! 2025-2026 Youth: 11/9 Youth Group Preparing dinner for the Night Shelter

11/16 – Shopping for Salvation Army Angel Tree Gifts – combined Youth 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM. We will meet at the Walmart in Kannapolis for this meaningful experience. 2025-2026 Youth: 11/16 Youth Group Angel Tree Shopping

11/23 – High School Lunch @ Pump Social following worship. 25-26 High School Youth: 11/23 High School Sunday School Lunch

11/23 – Youth Group – more information to follow!

11/30 – No regular Youth Group. We hope Youth will attend the annual Advent Tree Lighting on the front lawn of the Fellowship House

Please save the date – Christmas Pageant is December 21. Rehearsal is December 7. More information to follow.

Pictured here are Youth from our gathering on Sunday. Together the Youth packed 35 care packages for our boarding school and college students. These will be sent out ahead of exams. We also enjoyed a few (but not enough!) rounds of sardines.

Interfaith Friendsgiving with Mosaic of Charlotte on November 12

At 6:00 PM on Wednesday, November 12, before choir practice and our annual deacon social, we are excited to host a Friendsgiving meal in Davis Hall with our friends and neighbors at Mosaic of Charlotte, a local community of Muslims dedicated to fostering unity, service, and interfaith dialogue. Before we go our separate ways for Thanksgiving, we will gather to meet, eat, and get to know our Muslim neighbors better as we reflect on the place of gratitude and thanksgiving in our respective religious traditions. Members of Mosaic will supply turkey and mashed potatoes, but please consider cooking sides or additional entrees to be shared, and RSVP at the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA4AE2DA7FACF8-60022463-interfaith

Become a Book Buddy!

Sponsored by the First Presbyterian Deacons



We are excited to invite you to join our Book Buddies Program at Irvin Elementary School. Each Wednesday morning at 9:45 AM, volunteers from First Presbyterian have the opportunity to read with first grade students and support their growth as young readers.

We can accommodate up to six volunteers each week. You may bring your own favorite children’s books, or we can provide some for you. Depending on the needs of the classroom, volunteers may also assist with small group reading or light instructional activities.

All volunteers must complete a Cabarrus County Schools background check before participating. This is free and can be completed online here: https://securevolunteer.com/Cabarrus-County-Schools/home.

If you would like to take part, please sign up online using our SignUpGenius link This is a wonderful way to share your time and help instill a love of reading in children.

Bible 2 Class

Our 4^th and 5^th graders are invited to participate in a Bible 2 Lunch and Learn class on Sunday, November 16^th. We will gather in the Fellowship House following worship. Class will conclude at 2:00 PM.

Please RSVP here - 4th & 5th graders: Bible 2 Lunch & Learn Class

Youth Group Wish List

As our Youth prepare for a Night Shelter meal and some Christmas fun, they are seeking the following items. Please drop off any items to the Fellowship House by next Monday, November 3^rd.

28 ounce canned crushed tomatoes

15-16 ounce Canned beans: kidney, black, pinto, butter, cannellini

Gluten-free cornbread mix

Gluten-free cookies

14-16 ounce frosting: white/vanilla, strawberry, chocolate

Assorted decorating gel/frosting 

Fall Beautification Day

Enjoy the Fall weather, build community, and help keep our campus beautiful! Please join us Nov 15th 8:00 AM - Noon as we address some of those seasonal tasks that help keep our church grounds looking pretty and feeling welcoming.

We will have some tools available and we can accomplish more if you bring some of your own. Bring gloves and a willing heart.

Thank you for adding your hands to make light work!

First Kids News

We are having a Boo-ti-ful month celebrating all things fall. Last week we took 202 kids and family members to Almond Farm to enjoy a hayride, corn maze, petting zoo, the corn pit plus multiple play areas and very cool slides built in the side of the hill. Each child selected a pumpkin to compliment our pumpkin studies. 

Thursday and Friday of this week we will Trunk or Treat to the church offices and upper parking lot, then end our day with Halloween parties. 

Thank you to all who visited out Book Fair on Sunday. All sales help us earn points to purchase books and learning materials for our classroom. 

We wish each of you more treats than tricks this month!



Learning Together,

Maureen

Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch on October 21st was a crowd favorite. 20 guests enjoyed Chef Margaret’s Japanese menu of two cream soups, one with chicken and one with tofu, edamame and cucumber salad with Asian vinaigrette, and vegetarian sushi with wasabi and pickled ginger. When told the Japanese don’t usually eat dessert, she surprised us with sliced kiwi and green tea and matcha ice cream.

Pastor Casey’s slide presentation of his and wife, Jordan’s trip to Japan opened doors to its customs and culture that were insightful, enlightening, and meaningful. They explored several major cities, including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka and some lesser known cities, Nara, Kinosaki, and Fukuoka, introducing us to insights and experiences that are, well, foreign to most of us. The custom of bowing to show respect is still widely practiced. Casey shared his knowledge of Buddhism and Shintoism and how they relate to the culture today. (South Korea, near Japan, has many Christians, even Presbyterians!)

When asked where he’d like to travel next, Casey said, “Thailand.” Lunch Bunch with Thai food and another Slide Show? That can easily be arranged!

Introduction to Spiritual Practices

Members of the Introduction to Spiritual Practices pose with the banner the class created during their 6-week session. 

CCM Monthly Needs

In the past, the Lord has been faithful in supplying our every need. This time of the year, we receive more food than in other months. That being said, the food we receive goes back into the community at a faster rate than ever before. The need is great, the heart for serving these people needs to be greater. As a whole, God is moving in and through His people. Donations during the months of November and December are a huge reason why we can keep serving the number of people we do. As a community, let us rally together in order to supply the community we live in with food. We ask specifically for a rise in food donations to serve our clients in need. In expectation of what God is doing and is going to do here, we ask that you consider partnering with us as we seek to help those in crisis take the first step to living a healthy life.

Our current biggest needs are:

·    Canned Chicken

·    Carrots

·    Green Beans

·    Baked Beans, Brown Beans, Blackeye Peas, Black Beans

·    Spaghetti (long noodle)

·    Rice

·    Mac 'n Cheese

·    Tomato Soup

·    Ramen Noodles

·    Mixed Fruit

·    Peanut Butter

·    Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

·    Diapers

We remain appreciative of items which are “low-sodium,” “no-added-sugar,” and “whole grain.” Visit https://cooperativeministry.com/wp-content/uploads/CCM-Healthy-Pantry-Donations.pdf for details on nutritional donations.

In addition to our main pantry at 246 Country Club Dr. @ 9:30 AM -1:00 PM Mondays-Fridays, CCM’s satellite pantries also accept grocery donations. They include:

1. Bethel Baptist Helping Hands, Kannapolis @ 9:00 AM -1:00 PM Mondays and Thursdays

2. Westford Methodist, Concord @ 8:30 AM -11:30 AM Saturdays

3. West Point Baptist, Kannapolis @ 8:30 AM -11:30 AM Saturdays

4. Bethel Methodist Church, Midland @ appointment by phone (704-888-2653)

5. North Kannapolis Baptist, Kannapolis @ appointment by phone (704-933-2125)

Noisy Offering Results

Last Sunday's noisy offering collection was $354.29!

Summary of the October 14 Session Meeting

The Session held its regular stated meeting on October 14, 2025, with 23 members and staff present.

·        Church Treasurer, Susan Brooks, reported that as of the end of the 3^rd quarter, actual revenue and expenses compare favorably against the budget.

·        Pastor Hovey reminds us that members in the hospital should alert the church if they would like a pastoral visit. The hospital no longer makes that contact on behalf of patients.

·        The Finance and Stewardship Committee has carried out an exciting Stewardship Season culminating in our Dedication Sunday on Oct. 26.

·        Upcoming church events:

-       All Saints Day and the Healing Support Luncheon – Nov. 2

-       The Fall grounds workday is scheduled for the morning of November 15. Please consider giving a few hours to the upkeep and beautification of the grounds!

-       Angel Tree angels will be available Nov. 16 & 23; gifts due back Dec. 2.

-       Christmas Parade – Nov. 22

-       Our church will participate in the Holiday Tour of Homes on Dec. 13^th & 14^th.

·        Ellen shared that the construction on the Yorke Room in Memorial Garden continues and is being funded by an anonymous donor. The completed project will be a really nice functional expansion of the building.

·        Session members are reading and discussing the book, Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara.