Dear Friends,

We have landed in the heart of a good, full Fall at FPC. This past weekend was filled with a wonderful gathering hosted Presbyterian Women on Saturday, a visit with our new friend, Maina Talia, our World Communion celebration, and the beginning of a new Confirmation class.

Our Blessing of the Animals celebration is scheduled for October 16 at 4 PM. This joyful service will take place on the Fellowship House lawn, but it will look a bit different from the service we had anticipated. Due to escalating rates of canine respiratory disease (and the ease with which it spreads between dogs), we are asking that no one bring dogs to the event this year. Other pets (crated or leashed) are welcome, as are photos of pets, photos or drawings of wild animals, and stuffed animals. There will be light refreshments, and we will be collecting items for the Humane Society as we seek to celebrate and care for all of God’s creatures great and small.

I hope you’ll come and invite your neighbors and friends. It is always good to gather for worship and fellowship on a beautiful fall day!

Here are the wish list items from the Humane Society:

Vienna Sausages

Canned chicken breast

Boil in bag rice

Pedigree puppy food

Pedigree SMALL DOG dry food

Pedigree Canned puppy and adult food

Purina Kitten Chow

Fancy Feast wet kitten food

Large and small Kongs

Any type of kitty litter

Large bath towels

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: October 6-October 9

Thursday, Exodus 17:1-7

Friday, Exodus 17:8-16

Saturday, Exodus 18:13-27

Sunday, Exodus 19:3-7, 20:1-17

October 9-12

Sunday, Exodus 19:3-7,20:1-17

Monday, Exodus 31:12-18

Tuesday, Exodus 32:1-18

Wednesday, Exodus 32:19-33

On Sunday, October 9, Pastor Ellen will lead an informal workshop for returning and new lay readers in the sanctuary during Sunday school. You’ll have a chance to learn more about why we do what we do, and you’ll have a chance to practice. It is so good to hear a variety of voices in worship, enabling us to listen for God’s word in new ways. Join us!

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: PDA is one of the most faithful groups working on recovery from disasters of every kind. They also commit to stay with communities and help with long-term recovery needs. You can support their work by clicking here: https://pda.pcusa.org/

Lunch Bunch

Wednesday, October 12 in Davis Hall

Bible Study 10:30 AM    Lunch 11:45 AM

Come for one or both.

Click here sign up after worship on the list on the table, or call the office to make a reservation for lunch by 9 AM on Monday, October 10.

Lunch Bunch is a time of food and table conversation with friends old and new.

All are welcome!

This is a question that eight of our Youth explored with their parents / grandparents on Sunday in our first of two Confirmand / Parent meetings. We talked about covenant, confirmation, and membership, and read from Joshua 24. Confirmands received their Big God, Big Questions journal as we covered the first lesson in the curriculum.

We are offering an alternate Confirmand / Parent meeting on Wednesday, November 16, from 5:30-6:30 PM. All 8^th grade and older Youth who plan to participate in Confirmation this year and were unable to join us Sunday, should attend the alternate meeting with a parent. Please sign-up here by October 15^th so that we can order ample journal / home guides for everyone:

2022-2023 Youth: Confirmation Meeting (signupgenius.com)

We will resume Confirmation classes with Lesson 2 on January 8^th.

Stewardship Kaleidoscope in Savannah was attended by Rev. True, Susan Brooks and Valerie Thomas.

Ellen, Susan, and Valerie had the opportunity to learn and worship through a variety of speakers, plenary sessions and workshops including renowned author A.J. Jacobs and stated clerk of the General Assembly Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson among other wonderful preachers. We learned that giving can be a year-round discipline, that the PCUSA does incredible and deep-reaching work with its funds and that the church may be undergoing a reformation of sorts. It is all good news and exciting to be a part of the work of Christ to be open to change as we recover from the worst of Covid and adjust to new ways of worship while maintaining the best of traditions. 

"This year's CROP Walk is right around the corner and we need your help to reach our goal!

The walk is Sunday, October 9th in downtown Kannapolis (you may also walk at home if that's more convenient). Registration is at 1 PM and the walk will be at 2 PM, starting at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church.

This fun event supports the fight against hunger and poverty both locally and globally.

Please use this link to make a contribution to our FPC Concord team or to join us at the walk!

https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/team/fpc-concord "

As a Matthew 25 congregation, First Presbyterian Church of Concord is committed to promoting racial equity. To advance our understanding of racial inequities, the Racial Equity Reads group meets every other Sunday to discuss our first book of autumn, “Dear White Peacemakers,” by Osheta Moore.

Our next discussion is this Sunday, October 9,  3 - 4 PM in the Library Conference Room. We’ll discuss chapters  4-7. We invite you to join us! You can catch up by reading the short introductory pieces and chapters 1-3. Questions? Email sverner@yahoo.com.

The Todd Hobbie Sunday School Class will not meet this Sunday, October 9.

The class will resume on October 16.

We will have a Welcome Class in the sunroom of the Fellowship House next Sunday, October 16, at 9:45 AM..  Please join us

You are invited to attend a community fellowship luncheon to be held at First Presbyterian Church to support Second Course on Sunday, November 6.  Details on the attached flyer.

Our middle and high school youth spent Sunday evening with Maina Talia as he led a presentation on the climate crisis in Tuvalu. Maina joined the youth for dinner, and conversation continued through dessert. Before the evening came to end, he requested this group photograph.

Youth are reminded to attend the Lay Reader workshop at 10 AM this Sunday in the sanctuary with Pastor Ellen. This will be our Sunday School class this week. We hope all Youth will also sign up for the CROP Walk and join us in Kannapolis at 1:30 PM to register.                                   

CROP Walk is our Youth Group activity for October 9^th.

2022-2023 Youth: 10/9 Youth CROP Walk (signupgenius.com)

SAVE THE DATE – October 16^th is our Youth downtown Concord scavenger hunt from 4:30-6 PM (6^th-12^th combined): 2022-2023 Youth: 10/16 - Youth Group (signupgenius.com)

October 23^rd Youth - 2022-2023 Youth: 10/23 Youth Group (signupgenius.com) We are looking for a volunteer to provide and serve dinner on the 23^rd. 

PW celebrated its Fall Spiritual Event on Saturday, October 1st with speaker, Rev. Lorenzo Small, Sr. from First United Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC. He spoke about Reaching Across Our Own Table with emphasis on how important it is to put some Jesus in it. He was captivating and inspiring.

In addition to enjoying fellowship with members of our church, members of other churches across the community attended and we enjoyed extended fellowship.

This outreach would not have been possible without the help of So Many!! The Fall Event Committee went well beyond with their talents, time and whatever it took to make things happen. It was an amazing team to work with. Colin Bramlette of Second Course provided us with a delicious lunch.  Thank you to PW and the Dunford Fund. A shout out to every member of the staff; everyone in the kitchen; those taking up money and the list goes on and on. We cannot thank everyone enough for your dedication and efforts in making this a wonderfully uplifting and spiritual event.

BackPack Program

October Grocery List

Date Needed: October 10, 2022

All Purpose Flour (2 lb. /32 oz)

Garlic Powder (3 oz)

Onion Powder (3 oz)

Texas Pete Hot Sauce (12 oz)

Applesauce Cups (4 oz per cup/6 cups)

Pancake Mix (ALDI, Aunt Maple’s Buttermilk 32 0z)

Syrup (ALDI, Aunt Maple’s Original Pancake Syrup 24 oz)

Follow the Banner for details of a work day in November!!!