Session Highlights from the October 8, 2019 Meeting
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• The elementary youth are planning to make care packages for the homeless. The Session happily approved a request, presented by Katharine and Grace Morrison, to raise money through events such as bake sales to support this effort.
• Session members voted to endorse Kim Stamey as an Inquirer with the Presbytery of Charlotte for the Ordination process and for becoming a Commissioned Lay Pastor. Please join us in supporting and celebrating Kim in her journey.
• The Session approved the hiring of Ellen Loncz of M3 Meridian Studios, a marketing firm in Charlotte, to assist us in developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy.
• A church grounds workday is scheduled for Saturday, November 9, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Please save this date and join in to help maintain the beauty of our grounds and landscaping.
• The Session approved a request of First Kids to have a raised bed fall garden on the grass beside the playground as part of their Healthy Lifestyles grant program. They will plant, harvest, and eat from the garden.
• As part of the risk assessment and safety planning with our insurance company, the Session approved adding small windows to a number of classroom and office doors in our buildings.
• The committee planning alternative services for our congregation and community reported plans for Ensemble Nobiles, a vocal quintet from Germany, to perform in the sanctuary on Thursday, October 24 with a preview at Wednesday Night Fellowship on October 23. A special Celtic Service will be held on November 3 at 5:00 p.m with a simple dinner to follow.
• Stewardship season has begun! Keep Sunday, October 27th on your calendar for Dedication Sunday. We will begin with breakfast and our inter-generational GIFT Sunday School, share our pledge cards during worship and be led out of the sanctuary by a bagpiper, and end with a celebratory picnic on the lawn!
The Session meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Minutes are open and available by request after they are approved at the following month’s Session meeting.
To connect with church officers, all Deacons and Elders and their committee assignments are listed on the church website under the “ABOUT” tab, “Staff and Leadership.”
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Habitat for Humanity Campaign Update
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Thank you to everyone who has already made a contribution to the 2019 Habitat for Humanity campaign. With just a few more days to go until our campaign ends this Sunday, October 20th, we have raised $3,550 toward our church goal of $10,000. Remember to please make your check payable to First Presbyterian Church and write "Habitat" on the memo line.
Just a reminder that we will have a volunteer workday in January, 2020 and anyone who can swing a hammer or use a paint brush is welcome to volunteer. No prior experience needed!
Thanks again, The Board of Deacons
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Dedication Sunday October 27, 2019
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Please join us for Dedication Sunday where we will commit our time, talent, and treasure for the coming year. This will be a joyful Sunday to give thanks for the many good gifts that God has given us. All are invited to share in the joy of giving as we dedicate our gifts to God. After worship we will follow the
Bagpiper outside to continue the celebration with lunch and fellowship together during our picnic on the Church grounds. There is fun for the whole family with more music and games on the lawn! Don't miss the fun! To ensure that we have enough food, please sign up
here.
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Save the Date for GIFT Sunday
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Join us Sunday, October 27th for a time of hands-on intergenerational learning. All ages are welcome to experience GIFT Sundays - Generations in Faith Together, a new Sunday program by the Christian Education Committee. Beginning with a light breakfast at 9:45 a.m., we will be learning about how being a good neighbor invites us to share our gifts. This will be the only Sunday School offering that morning, with all classes meeting together in Davis Hall, and nursery will be provided for infants and toddlers. Come learn and grown in faith together!
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Wednesday Night Fellowship
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Join us on Wednesday, October 23, for a special performance by vocal quintet ENSEMBLE NOBILES following dinner in Davis Hall. Dinner will be chicken stroganoff, rice, veggie, fruit, salad, and dessert.
Be sure to make a reservation with the church office by Noon on Monday, October 21st. There is a sign up sheet in the Fellowship House.
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Ensemble Nobiles Performs!
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Plan to attend two very special upcoming musical concerts next week. The vocal quintet ENSEMBLE NOBILES has generously agreed to sing a concert in Davis Hall on Wednesday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m. (following the Wednesday night dinner) and on Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Both concerts are
free
and open to the public, and will feature two separate programs, so please consider coming to both! Repertoire will include the composers Sibelius, Tallis, di Lasso, Dvořàk, and Reger. A free will offering to defray some of their travel costs will be taken at the concert on Thursday evening.
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Celtic Evensong with Communion
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On the first Sunday evening in November (November 3rd, 5:00 p.m, sanctuary) we will be offering a special contemplative worship service (30 minutes or so in length) that has filled a deeply felt need for many in churches around the country (including lots of Presbyterian congregations!)—and around the world in recent years and is accessible to people who have little or no experience with Christianity, those who gave up on the church long ago, and others who are adherents of other religious traditions or members of other churches. So, please invite your friends, family, and neighbors.
It is a Christo-centric service that is a fresh expression of ancient worship. The service includes Holy Communion, significant periods of silence, calming music, candlelit ambiance, real life reflections/meditations by laity in place of the conventional sermon, and the laying on of hands for healing for those who want to receive it.
The instrumentation for the service is normally classical—violin, cello, flute, oboe, harp, classical guitar, along with accompanying piano. The music is often classical, as well, with a generous representation of music from Celtic traditions, both Old World Celtic (Ireland, Scotland, Wales) and New World Celtic Appalachian derivatives), emphasizing those pieces with an undertone of joy and hope.
We will enjoy a simple meal together following the service.
Church Historian, Diana Butler Bass, had this to say about the service on her Facebook page:
click here
I look forward to seeing those who can come.
Blessings,
Scott Kenefake
Interim Pastor
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A good number of people in the congregation have recently requested an opportunity to explore ways to take a "deeper dive" into current Presbyterian Church USA mission initiatives on a local, national, and global level. For those interested, we will have a brief 30 minute "brainstorming" meeting in the Fellowship House following worship on Sunday, November 3rd, at 12:15 p.m. In preparation for the meeting, please peruse the links below, as well as:
Presbyterian Church (USA)
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Lay Liturgists
Sign up
here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
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Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year
.
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Wednesday Night Fellowship
October 23
6:00 p.m., Davis Hall
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Youth Newsletter
Sign up here to receive the Youth Newsletter for detailed information
about all events related to youth who are in 6th-12th grade.
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Do you have a love of cooking and feeding hungry youth?
Please consider signing up with a friend to supply a meal for our Youth Fellowship program on Sunday nights. The youth's stomachs thank you! Rachel will send out meal specifications, including allergy needs, etc.
Sign up
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Sunday, October 20, 2019
Rev. Lynne Keel preaching
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
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Thursday, October 17
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
Friday, October 18
9:00 a.m. First Kids Family Picnic
9:00 a.m. Commons Committee
9:30 a.m. Adult Literacy Tutoring
Sunday, October 20
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Choir
11:00 a.m. Worship - Moment for Mission
3:00 p.m. Children's Choir
4:00 p.m. Youth Choir
4:00 Daisy Troop 3631
5:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship
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Monday, October 21
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
11:30 a.m. AA
Tuesday, October 22
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
10:00 a.m. Adult Literacy Tutoring
5:00 p.m. Emergency Response Team Mtg
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Troop 3
Wednesday, October 23
7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Stud
y
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
1:00 p.m. Staff Luncheon
6:00 p.m. Fellowship Supper
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
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Birthdays
October 16
- Sam Davis Jr., Lauren Salazar, Joe St. John
October 17
- Debbi Burke, Peter Faust, Argie Hardy
October 18
- Hunter Morrison
October 20
- Sarah Bradley, Craig Gilbert, Debbie Harris, Lisa Kies
October 21
- Meg Aldridge, Wayne Cline Sr., David Fesperman, Myrna Gaylord, Mark Shelley, Meredith Stafford, Maxton Voncannon
October 22
- Knox Morrison
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Interim Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation
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Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Financial Secretary
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Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent
Director of First Kids
Church Hostess
Wedding Director
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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
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The Commons Prayer Room:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday/Thursday/Friday - Open for Scheduled Groups
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC
Memorial Garden:
(980) 621-0719
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Closed Monday
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