THE BANNER

January 24, 2024

Note from Ellen

Dear friends,

In our text for Sunday, Jesus tells a distraught father, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” If only it were that easy. Fear is powerful, which is why so many wield it with abandon. And yet in scripture we are told not to be afraid over and over and over again. What are you afraid of? And what might our faith have to do with fear? I invite you to join me on Sunday as we wonder together about being faithful in a fear-filled world.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

This Sunday, January 28, will be our monthly Noisy Offering Collection to benefit the Backpack Program at Coltrane Webb Elementary School. Bring your change, dollars welcome too!

In Case of Inclement Weather on Sundays, check FPC's social media, and your email, for updates.

Monday through Thursday, if Cabarrus County Schools are closed for weather, our office will also be closed, and the staff will work remotely.

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

Congregational Meeting

The Session has called a Congregational Meeting to present the budget and vote on the terms of call for Pastor Ellen and Pastor Casey, for this Sunday, January 28. The meeting of the corporation will also take place.

Tell Me More

Have you recently moved to our community and are looking for a community to support you and help you feel connected? Or have you worshipped or served with First Presbyterian a number of times, but still have more questions than answers around what Presbyterians believe, what it means to become a church member, or what this particular church gets up to? Or are you already a member, but want to get more involved in the life or work of this congregation and just haven't known where to begin?

No matter what your questions are, anyone interested in learning more about life at FPC is invited to join Pastor Casey and others for a conversation on Sunday morning at 9:45 AM in the sunroom in the Fellowship House. Coffee and refreshments will be provided. All are welcome!

Confirmation Class

Confirmands and Partners will meet on Sunday, January 28^th in Davis Hall. All are invited to arrive between 4:15 PM and 4:30 PM and we will start promptly at 4:30PM. Confirmands should work on pages 116-117 in their journals in advance of class and bring journals with them. We look forward to this time together.

Youth Group News!

Last Sunday, our Youth began planning for Youth Sunday, which will be on April 14^th. If you missed Youth Group and would like to participate, there are still a number of ways to do so. Please contact René Prager or attend our next Youth Group to learn more!

This Sunday we are exploring prayer requests. We invite all actors, observers, reflectors, and thinkers to join us! Youth is open to all 6^th-12^th grade students. Dinner is at 5:30 PM and Youth is 6:00 -7:00 PM in Davis Hall.

2023-2024 Youth: 1/28 Youth & Confirmation (signupgenius.com)

Birthday Celebration!

Our two centenarians, Jennie Bethune and Helen Morrison, celebrating Jennie's 107th birthday on January 23, 2024.

CCM Monthly Needs

2023 was a record-crushing year for the CCM Food Program, especially for the main Crisis Center Food Pantry. At the Crisis Center, we served 10,802 household visits, 23% higher than our previous record year of 2020. Across the whole Food Program, we served 33% more households than in 2022, and we distributed about 1.03 million pounds of food. I won’t bore you with lots more record-breaking stats. However, please know that all was only possible because of our wonderful community partners. Please don’t stop!

As we move into the new year, we continue to see no end to the trends. Already in January at the Crisis Center we have served about 650 households, and fully expect to serve more than a thousand again. We already have given out much of the food supply we had built up in November and December.

Currently, the pantry items we are in biggest need of are:

Canned Chicken

Other Canned Meats (Hash, Chili, Vienna Sausages, etc.)

Peanut Butter

Canned carrots, potatoes and mixed vegetables

Pasta Sauce

Any kind of canned beans (baked, Chili, Kidney, etc.)

Any Canned Fruit (Mixed, Peaches, Pears, Pineapple, etc.)

Shelf-stable Milk

Diapers

As always, we especially seek low sodium items, no-added-sugar items, and whole grain items.

Currently we have plenty of:

Tuna

Green Beans

Corn

Spaghetti

Macaroni & Cheese

Thank you for the continued support from our church and community partners. Our Crisis Center at 246 Country Club Drive NE in Concord serves as the warehouse for most of the food. We will gladly accept all donations at that site from 9:30 AM to 1`:00 PM Monday through Friday. Bethel Baptist Helping Hands Food Pantry, located at 1209 1/4 Opal Street in Kannapolis, will gladly accept donations from 9 am to 1 pm on Monday and Thursday. The food pantry located at Westford Methodist on Highway 49 and the Kannapolis Food Pantry at West Point Baptist Church can accept donations on Saturday morning from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The Feeding Our Souls Food Pantry at Bethel Church in Midland, and North Kannapolis Baptist Church Food Pantry will accept donations by calling the church in advance.

Girl Scout Cookie Season!

Girl Scout Troop 334 is hosting a season-opener Cookie Booth on the front lawn of the Sanctuary this Sunday, January 28^th, 12:30 PM -2:30 PM.

Please stop by and stock up on all your favorites!

Girl Scouts at Work!

Our Girl Scout troops were busy on Thursday evening. Our K-3 graders were involved in preparing for cookie season as our 4^th-12^th graders continued work and wrapped up badges they’ve been engaged in over recent meetings. The Daisy Troop took turns in the role of cookie seller and customer and taste tested each of this year’s cookies. Brownie Troop 323 worked on two Girl Scout cookie badges – Meet Me Customer and Cookie Decision Maker as they kicked off Girl Scout cookie season creating new sales posters.

Junior Scouts worked on their “Think Like a Programmer” journey this week. They used tangrams with partners to explore algorithms, and incorporated templates into a story telling activity. They also began developing skills and programs that they will execute to create beaded sun catchers during our next meeting. Our Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassador Girl Scouts have been working on their Dinner Party badge. Last fall, they met Lynn Neal at Polished for an introduction to party planning. On Thursday, they hosted a Black and Gold themed party in the Fellowship House with their parents as guests.

2024 Love Feast on the Streets

Here is the link for the 2024 Love Feast on the Streets Signup Genius.

We are gearing up for a new season of caring with Love Feast on the Streets sponsored by Esther's Heart Ministries. During these events, we have the opportunity to clothe, feed and check in with those living on the streets. We will be serving our unhoused neighbors 7 times this year and details on how to signup are in the link below! We need approx 10 people each session. We cannot say enough about the love that is shared through this ministry.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FA8AE2EA1FA7-love

Sign-up Links

Lay Liturgists

read scripture in worship on Sundays.

Nursery

Pew Prep

Ushers

Sanctuary on Sundays

Greeters

Sanctuary 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.

Calendar

View the Full Calendar here.

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Rev. Ellen Crawford True

Psalm 131; Mark 5:21-43

Thursday, January 25

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg

2:00 PM Thursday Connections (Commons)

6:00 PM National Alliance for Mental Illness (Commons)

6:30 PM Boy Scout Advancement Boards of Review (Ed Bldg)

7:00 PM Books and Brews (off campus)

Friday, January 26

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)

Sunday, January 28

9:45 AM S & D Class (Fellowship House)

9:45 AM Todd Hobbie Class (Davis Hall)

9:45 AM Journey Class (Journey Classroom)

9:45 AM Tell Me More Class (FH Sunroom)

10:00 AM Sanctuary Choir (Choir Room)

11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary)

12:00 PM Congregational Meeting (Sanctuary)

12:30 PM Girl Scout Cookie Booth (front lawn)

4:30 PM Confirmation (Davis Hall)

5:30 PM Youth Dinner (Davis Hall)

6:00 PM Combined Youth (Davis Hall)

Monday, January 29

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)

2:00 PM Staff Meeting (FH Sunroom)

7:00 PM Racial Equity Reads (Commons)

7:00 PM Boy Scouts (WIll Young Bldg)

Tuesday, January 30

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg

1:00 PM Library Committee Workday (Library Conference Room)

7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)

Wednesday, January 31

9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg

10:30 AM Bible Study (Library Conference Room)

6:30 PM Worship and Music (Journey Classroom)

7:30 PM Choir Practice (Choir Room)

Church Report

Condolences

The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to the family of Shirley Brannan as they mourn her passing on January 17, 2024. A Memorial Service will be held in our sanctuary at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 17, 2024. The service will be live-streamed. Wilkinson's Funeral Home is serving the family.

Birthdays

January 25 - Mark Carlough, Paul Chikes, Marie Dockery, Jim Epler, Craig Pless

January 26 - Bailey Williams

January 27 - Courtney Clark

January 28 - Kathryn Kiser, Jerry McLester, Ginger Solomon

January 29 - Michael Gray, Julie Lopez, Olivia Reiff, Robbie Sherrill

January 30 - Alyson Caldwell, Susanne Hamilton, Dave Rogers

To enjoy a sung Happy Birthday, click here!

Staff

Ellen Crawford True

Senior Pastor/Head of Staff

ellen.crawfordtrue@firstpresconcord.org