Dear Friends,

We are in the thick of giving season. Catalogs flood our mailboxes every afternoon promising the perfect Christmas gift for every two-legged and four-legged loved one. Appeals for year-end gifts from beloved charities ask for support for their good work, too. And within the past few weeks you received a letter from the Stewardship committee here at FPC asking for your prayerful pledge toward the work of this congregation in 2023.

This year’s theme is “Faith in Action,” which is fitting because we are an active bunch. FPC is a vibrant hub where love of God and love of neighbor is nurtured and shared in Concord and throughout the world. Many of you have mentioned how much you love reading the very full Banner each week, noting all the ways we are being the church in and for God’s beloved world. I hope you are finding ways to live out your faith in and through FPC, and I hope you will prayerfully consider your pledge for next year, your tangible promise to support God’s work in and through this community of faith.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

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

Bridge Texts: November 9 - November 12

       Wednesday, 2 Kings 4:1-7

Thursday, 2 Kings 4:8-37

Friday, 2 Kings 4:38-41

Saturday, 2 Kings 4:42-44 

November 13 - November 16

Wednesday, 2 Kings 4:1-7

Sunday, Micah 5:2-4; 6:6-8

Monday, Micah 1

Tuesday, Micah 2

Wednesday, Micah 3

The first Sunday of Advent is November 27. For worship each Sunday and for the two services on Christmas Eve, we need readers and lighters. We would love to have a mix of readers each week (from different families, ages, or groups such as circles, Sunday school classes, choir, or youth). The liturgies are simple enough for younger readers to join in, as well. So, form a group, sign up below:

(https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-advent2), and help us worship God as we prepare to welcome the Christ child.

Look for the Angel Tree the next two Sundays, November 13 and November 20, to choose your Angel Tree gift request tag.  For 40 years now since 1982, First Presbyterian Church has worked with The Prison Fellowship - Angel Tree program to strengthen relationships between incarcerated parents and their children. Volunteers from the congregation participate by donating Christmas gifts which are then presented to a child as if they have come directly from the parent behind bars. This is a powerful way for us to share Christ's love by ministering to those suffering through the temporary absence of a parent. In this our 40^th year, we encourage all FPC members in partnership with the Board of Deacons to participate.  

In addition to gift donations, we need volunteers to help write tags and decorate the tree this Saturday from 10 am - 1 pm. We also need volunteer help with handing out tags and delivering gifts. If interested, please email Jenny Chikes at chikes@gmail.com.  All gifts should be delivered to the Fellowship House by Tuesday, November 29.  

THANK YOU! We are so excited to announce that we have a full inventory for the November Grocery Bags!

We will provide food and Food Lion Gift Cards to 13 families at Coltrane Webb Elementary School next week.

Please keep a watch for the December and January needs. We will have to collect both months by December 12, 2022 to meet the timing demands for the school schedules.

Last Sunday, the Christian Education Committee passed out brown gift bags to the children and youth with specific requests for fruits and vegetables —— our project being

 “Thanksgiving Bounty”.  We ask that the bags be returned this coming Sunday, November.13, at the 11:00 AM service during the children’s message. The produce will be part of our “bounty” on November 20th.

If your child did not get a bag and would like to participate, please contact Sallie Dotger, 704-796-4421. If you cannot return the produce on November 13th, please bring them to the church office by Tuesday, November 15th.

            As we enter the second week of our Stewardship Season we continue to consider what annual pledges and gifts we will share to support God’s work within our church and community during the 2023 church calendar year.   

           Throughout November members of our church family continue to share their stories on how being a part of FPC enables them to live their faith in action. 

Carrie Myers is featured in a video clip in this Banner. She reflects on her participation as a member of the choir, a coordinator of Market for Missions, and a volunteer with the Commons. On Sunday, we will hear from new member Ben Lacy who will tell us why he and his wife Carol chose FPC as their church home. 

           You are invited to bring your pledge card to the November 20th service where we will bring our gifts forward as a symbol of our support of God’s work within our church and community. You may also mail it, drop it by the church office, or pledge on line at https//firstpresconcord.org/give/make-a-pledge/. 

           If you or your family are interested in sharing your stories on Faith in Action in our church community, please reach out to Harris Morrison for more information. Contact: harris@harrismorrison.com

Due to recent incidents around the Blessing Box, the Deacons have voted to suspend the filling of the box for now. We feel the safety of members, staff and children must come first. The Diaconate is continuing to address food insecurities within our community and hope to partner with other churches and organizations. 

Our Youth are encouraged to attend on Sunday to help prepare a meal for the Night Shelter.

Middle School: 4:30-5:30, combined dinner: 5:30-6:00; High School 6:00 -7:00 – all in Davis Hall.

Please use this sign-up link to indicate attendance plans AND scroll down to find a list of ingredients that we will need.

2022-2023 Youth: 11/13 - Cooking for the Night Shelter at Youth Group (signupgenius.com)

If any adult congregation members are interested in helping with food preparation from 4:30-5:30, please let René Prager know: r.prager@firstresconcord.org, or sign-up on the sign-up.

Please join us for a brief usher training on Sunday, November 20 directly after worship. This will take no more than 15 minutes. We will review the role of ushers and the usher responsibilities in worship.  We look forward to seeing you!

Thank you for serving our church in this ministry. 

Please contact Cindy Wise for any questions, 704.699.1039

It’s turkey time again! This annual project of the S & D Sunday School class helps to provide Thanksgiving dinner for the organization's clients. Brian Moore has ordered 140 turkeys to be delivered to Operation Breadbasket in early November. Once again we wanted to invite all church members to join us in support of this project this year!

If you wish to donate, you may in one the following two ways:

1.      Make your check out to Brian Moore and mail to him at:

              2401 Bethlehem Church Rd

              Gold Hill, NC 28071

2.      Send your donation to Brian Moore’s Venmo acct @Brian-Moore-813.

Winter is coming and the nights can be cold for our homeless neighbors. Please bring your gently used coats, jackets, and hoodies to the Fellowship

House. Adult coats will be distributed on November 19 at the next Love Feast on the Streets. Children’s coats will be donated to the annual Cuddle Up coat drive sponsored by Cabarrus Partnership for Children. 

Thank you to all who attended the Community Fellowship Luncheon! We enjoyed food and fellowship as well as raised money for Second Course. There were about 150 in attendance with a mix of First Presbyterian Church members and other community members. We are so grateful to gather in Davis Hall and raise money for a wonderful organization.  

Our next B&B gathering is scheduled for Thursday, December 15 at 7 PM at Southern Strain Brewery. The group has chosen The Guncle by Steven Rowley to read and discuss next.

All are invited to this relaxed time of conversation and fellowship. Contact Pastor Ellen with questions. Hope to see you there! 

Monday, November 14th , in Davis Hall from

2:30 PM - 7:00 PM

To schedule an appointment click here and enter 28025 or

visit redcrossblood.org and enter: Cabarrus VIP Blood Drive