Dear Friends,
This Sunday we will offer a Blessing of the Backpacks, and we will pray for students, teachers, and staff as another school year begins. It is a challenging time in almost every corner of the world. We long for children to be safe and happy everywhere, and so we the church pray and show up and encourage and show up some more. And we ask that God be with us and with all in the days ahead. As I reflected on all that is going on in the world and in our own backyard, I found myself humming one of my favorite hymns which is a prayer, too:
God be the love to search and keep me
God be the prayer to move my voice
God be the strength to now uphold me
O Christ, surround me
O Christ, surround me
~from #543 “God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me”
May God love and keep you; may Christ surround us and guide us, one and all.
Grace and peace,
Ellen
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2021 Habitat for Humanity Campaign Kicks Off |
During 2021, the Covid pandemic continues to create financial challenges for Habitat for Humanity. Examples include the loss of $60,000 due to the cancellation of both a special event and the Collegiate Challenge Build by visiting college students who we normally feed and house during their stay in Concord. In addition, $200,000 was budgeted for 45 home repairs such as wheelchair ramps and roofs. The immense need for home repairs during 2021 rose from 45 to 96 repairs. This cost $400,000 requiring Habitat to use funds from their reserves to make this happen.
The Habitat affiliate was founded in 1989 through the leadership of our minister Rev. Jim Holderness and Dr. Peter Chikes, a member of our church. And, for many years we have proudly provided annual gifts and participated in building houses. Today our 2021 Habitat Campaign kicks off with an exciting announcement. Because of the continuing crisis, our Diaconate has agreed to match up to $5,000 of gifts from our church family to inspire and encourage gifts for Habitat during the next four weeks!
A link below is provided for contributions from the congregation. Please give now so we can help Habitat continue to give people a hand up!
Go to our website to give online by clicking here and choosing the Habitat for Humanity fund from the drop-down box. If you'd like to pay by check make it payable to FPC, put Habitat in the memo line, and mail to the church's PO Box 789, Concord, NC 28026.
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As part of our ongoing commitment to anti-racism work, our next Racial Equity Reads book will be "I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown. Whether you have engaged in this work for a long time or are just curious about this journey, we welcome everyone to join us for open and gracious conversation.
We will begin our six week video and discussion series this Thursday, August 19th at 4 p.m. VIA ZOOM.
As always, we encourage you to purchase your book through black-owned booksellers, if possible.
For more information and the Zoom link, please contact Lynne Keel at lynne.keel@firstpresconcord.org
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Blessing of the Backpacks |
The Back to School Blessing of the Backpacks is this Sunday, August 22nd. If you are a student of any age, teacher, or a family with students, know that we are praying for you!
Please join us for worship at 10 a.m. and bring your backpack! When you arrive on Sunday, please place your backpack on the chancel steps. There will be a special blessing offered in our worship service. After worship, you may pick up your backpack and a special backpack tag to remind you that we are praying for you all year long.
We hope you will join us as we pray for our students, teachers, and schools!
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Session Meeting Highlights from August 10, 2021 |
- Maureen O’Bryan updated the Session about the upcoming First Kids Preschool year and shared that 110 children are enrolled. All of the safety protocols practiced last year will continue this year. The recommendations from the CDC and local public health officials are that preschools have everyone 2 years and over wear masks indoors. The session voted to approve that First Kids would require masks indoors for staff and for children 4 and up, and to highly encourage and promote mask wearing for 2-3 year olds. The 2021-22 budget for First Kids was also approved.
- The Session joyfully approved employing René Prager as Youth Project Coordinator and Interim Communications Director through the end of the year.
- Repair and restoration of the upper level of the Education Building, on the Church Street side, will occur in the next 3-4 weeks including tree trimming, roof repair and replacement of the 4 columns.
- Mark your calendars to lend a hand!
- Sunday School classrooms clean and prep day - August 28th
- Rise Against Hunger meal packing – August 29th
- Church grounds workday - October 9th!
- Amy Woolwine and Kevin Garrison will attend the August 21st Presbytery meeting that will be held via zoom and will include welcoming Ellen into the Charlotte Presbytery.
- The Session approved calling a congregational meeting on September 12 following the worship service to amend Ellen’s terms of call due to changes in the moving expenses previously approved.
- The Session asks for your continued grace and vigilance as we continue to practice ways to gather and worship together while also providing care and safety for one another and our community.
- The next Session meeting will be held on September 14, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
As Presbyterians, decisions that affect our worship, education, spiritual nurture, physical property, and budget are made by our elected leaders. To connect with church officers, see the list of Elders and Deacons and their committee assignments on the church website under the “ABOUT” tab, “Staff and Leadership.”
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.
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On Sunday, August 29th,
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in Davis Hall
We need your support to reach our goal
to package 10,000+ meals.
(due to covid restrictions we are limited to 50 volunteers)
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Together in Education with First Kids |
Harris Teeter’s Together in Education (TIE) program is a “painless” fund-raising program for schools (public or private – preschool through 12th grade) in our communities. The program gives schools a chance to earn funds for their school when shopping with a linked VIC card. Any customer can link their VIC card to support up to 6 schools. When customers purchase select Harris Teeter Brands products using their linked VIC card, Harris Teeter contributes a percentage of those purchase dollars to the schools.
You may link your card to First Kids (# 6125) at any checkout register, online, or with your HT app. We would be glad to link it for you if that is easier, just email the name on your card and phone number associated with the card to Frstkids@yahoo.com.
100% of funds earned from the TIE program are placed in our First Kids Scholarship Fund. Thank you for being "together in education” with First Kids.
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Early Childhood Foundation of Cabarrus County (ECFCC) is hosting a BBQ Fundraiser here at the church on Friday, August 27th. Delicious chicken BBQ meals, prepared by Port-A-Pit, will be available for pick-up between 5 and 7 p.m. in Davis Hall .
You may reserve tickets for $10.00/Person by visiting ecfcc.org/fundraisers. All proceeds help economically disadvantaged children in our community. Thank you for your support!
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Please click here to visit the Sign-up Genius for details and to volunteer to usher for Sunday service in August, or paste this link into your browser: |
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HAVING TROUBLE FINDING WORSHIP ON YOUTUBE? |
Here is a simple guide to help you find our virtual services on YouTube:
2. search First Presbyterian Church, Concord NC
3. click on the church logo
4. you will arrive at the home page of our channel
Once on the home page you are under the HOME tab. You have the option to click on any service you would like to view. If you go to the tab labeled VIDEOS you will see the library of uploaded and live streamed videos that have been produced.
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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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Sunday, August 22, 2021
Rev. Ellen Crawford True, Preaching
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Thursday, August 19
4:00 p.m. Racial Reads (Zoom)
5:30 p.m. Memorial Garden Assoc (Library Conference Room)
6:30 p.m. Boy Scout Advancement Boards of Review (Ed Bldg)
Sunday, August 22
9:00 a.m. Choir Practice (Choir Room)
10:00 a.m. Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)
11:00 a.m. S & D Class (Fellowship House)
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Tuesday, August 24
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (Davis Hall)
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (Davis Hall)
7:00 p.m. Al Anon (Commons)
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Birthdays
August 19 - Debby Brown, Chelsea Green
August 20 - Robert Fulghum, Adeline Fulton, Carie Irving, Franklin Niblock
August 21 - Greg Andrews, Bill Cochran, Martha Dobson, Stephanie Reese
August 22 - Courtney Finney
August 23 - Mac Clark, Grace Davis, Chip Moore
August 24 - David Austin, Shelly Johnson, John Shaw
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Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
René Prager
Interim Youth
Programs Coordinator
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Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Kim Mazzola
Financial Administrative Asst.
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Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent
Director of First Kids
Wedding Director
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First Presbyterian Church
(704) 788-2100
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 Hours:
Closed
Memorial Garden:
(704) 786-8009
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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