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THE BANNER
February 12, 2020
February Events

Spiritual Enrichment Weekend
February 21-23, (Friday-Sunday)
featuring Diana Butler Bass : Read about Diana here




Friday, February 21st
Dinner, 6:00 p.m., Davis Hall - dinner will be: Chic-fil-a nuggets, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and banana pudding
Keynote: 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary
"Shifting Ground: Conversations and Practices for Churches   in an Age of Change"
Childcare available
 
Saturday, February 22nd 
Breakfast, 8:00 a.m., Davis Hall;- breakfast will include sausage casseroles and other breakfast goodies
Elementary aged programming to run concurrently with Workshop
Workshop, 9:00 a.m.--1:00 p.m.,  "OK Boomer, What's Next? Religion in a Time of Change" [Trends, Facts About Cultural Change]
Davis Hall, with midpoint break
Childcare available
 
Sunday, February 23rd
9:45 a.m., GIFT Sunday, Reflecting on our time with Diana Butler Bass, Davis Hall
Worship, 11:00 a.m.
"Get Up and Do Not be Afraid"
Exodus 24:12-18, Matthew 17:1-9
Diana Butler Bass, Preaching
Childcare available
 
Books by Diana Butler Bass that will be on hand for purchase and signing throughout the weekend: 
Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening 
Broken We Kneel: Reflections on Faith and Citizenship
Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks
Grounded: Finding God in the World-A Spiritual Revolution
Pastor Nominating Committee Update
The Pastor Nominating Committee welcomed Jan Edmiston, General Presbyter, Presbytery of Charlotte and 3 other Presbytery leaders to our first meeting on January 22 nd . The responsibility of Presbytery is to guide the PNC through the pastoral call process by providing training, oversight and assistance. We have completed our training and are meeting weekly on Wednesday evenings in The Commons. The first step in our call process is to complete a Ministry Information Form, (MIF), an in-depth form from the PC USA Church Leadership Connection, detailing everything about our church and what we are seeking in a new Senior Minister. This is a very important part of the process and ministers seeking a call will refer to this in their search. The PNC is diligently working to complete all segments of the MIF in as much detail as possible. Our goal is to present it to the Session at their March meeting; as soon as the MIF is approved by our Session and Presbytery we can, and will, begin looking at and interviewing potential ministers.

 As noted in information on calling a pastor from PC(USA), Presbyterians believe that God uses committees, papers, procedures, and our polity, sprinkled with a generous measure of prayer, Scripture, and worship, to help us discern who it is that God is calling to be our pastor. Please know this is a timely process designed by the Presbytery with the best interests of our church in mind, and your PNC takes this process seriously.

We begin each meeting by reading scripture and praying for God’s guidance on this journey. We ask that our church members please pray for us as well as we meet each week and discern who God is calling to lead our church.

We hope you received the brief survey on the top 3 qualities you would like to see in a new Senior Minister. Please take the time to complete the survey by February 17 th .

Peace from the Pastor Nominating Committee,
Betsy Liles – Chair, Dave Goff, Margaret Hillman, Cheryl Kelling, Rindy Moore, Mack Morgan, Todd Phillips, Kathy Pilkington, Nathan Woolwine
Teach Us to Pray: Re-Imaging Our Idea of Prayer
Curious about prayer? Looking for a place to learn more about prayer, ask questions, explore and practice? Join us on Thursdays through February 20 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Commons Prayer Room in a conversation about prayer led by Rev. Rachel Vogado. (This conversation will be taking place during the lunch hour, so feel free to bring a bagged lunch if you would like.)
Using a set of images by artist Scott Erickson, we will explore some of the frustrations surrounding our personal prayer practices, and then discover ways to reframe how we can enter into a deeper conversation with the Divine.

Unable to join, but hate to miss? Join us via Zoom, and share in a digital conversation with us. By tuning in, you can see the images we are using and tune into our conversation. We will also have a digital host, in case you would like to ask a question or share a comment. Join the meeting by clicking  here, which will direct you to set up a free Zoom account. Rev. Rachel Vogado is happy to help answer any questions about Zoom or how to connect with us.
Visitation Team
The Visitation Team will meet February 16th right after worship at 12:15 p.m. in the Library Conference room in the Education building. The purpose will be check in about visiting and contacting all of our home bound and shut-in members. If you have previously been on the team, if you have just recently agreed to visit, or if you have an interest in visiting, please try to attend. The committee wants to insure we are in touch with our members on a regular basis. An updated list of those to visit will be provided.
For more information, please contact Jerry Dyer at (704)305-0901 or jdyer1947@gmail.com.
It's Time for Nominations for Church Officers
Church officers are important leaders within our congregation and in carrying out our mission in the community. 
At this time, the congregation is asked to nominate church members to serve 3-year terms on the Session or Board of Deacons. To nominate someone, please discuss the nomination with that person to assure that they are willing and able to serve. 
Fo r BOARD OF DEACONS  candidates, think of members who have gifts for congregational care and passion for community outreach. Alongside the pastors, deacons are leaders who provide spiritual care and other support to the people of our congregation. They organize and carry out mission work in the community and beyond. They welcome and greet visitors, assist in worship and help to assimilate new members in the church. Deacons also organize fellowship activities in the congregation.
For  SESSION  candidates, think of members who are committed disciples of Jesus Christ and possess the wisdom and discernment to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Elders on the Session oversee all work of the church, including administrative, budgetary and personnel matters; building and grounds maintenance; worship, music and sacraments; Christian education programs; stewardship and giving; and many other issues related to our mission and ministries. Working hand in hand with the ministers , ruling elders make decisions that seek to follow the will of God in all these matters. In accordance with the Book of Order, the Session also has oversight over the work of the Board of Deacons.
As directed by our Manual of Church Procedures, our Congregational Nominating Committee consists of representatives from the current Elders, Deacons, Presbyterian Women, Sunday School, Youth, and Clerk of Session. This committee will meet on February 19 to consider names of nominees for the Classes of 2023 to be presented for a congregational vote.
After talking with your nominees, please email names to suzanne.russell@firstpresconcord.org by Tuesday February 18 th

  Current Deacons
  ·         Class of 2020  - Nicki Bryant, Chip Clark, Matt Dugan, Davilla Gilbert, Janna Mitchell, Jerry Otteni, Valerie Thomas
·          Class of 2021  - Ron Barus, Susan Brooks, Brooks Fulton, Mary Garrison, Margaret Hillman, Anne Morrison
·          Class of 2022  – Donna Cline, Jerry Dyer, Mary Kathryn Ewart, Jessica Garmon, Edy Johnston, Dean Phillips, Don Seitz
 
Current Elders
·          Class of 2020  - John Bishop, Pat Chaffin, Arabella Malone-Trahey, Todd Phillips, Jane Spainhour,
Kay Wall, Nathan Woolwine
·          Class of 2021  - Evelyn Barrier, Holly Cagle, Wade Holland, Carol Hovey, Jeff Monroe, Chrissy Rotan,
Dave Sheridan
·          Class of 2022  – Peter Chikes, David Harrison, Jim Holloway, Donna Knorr, Margaret Moore,
Hunter Morrison, Kathy Pilkington
Sunday Evenings in Lent

Sunday Evenings in Lent, Book Study & Dinner
(March 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29), 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.*
 
First Presbyterian Church of Concord (FPCC) and Racial Equity Cabarrus, (REC) read about REC are sponsoring a five-week study of the book, Waking Up White, by racial justice educator, Debby Irving,
read about the study here , and more about Debby here from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. @ FPCC (Room TBD depending on group size).

Discussion leader will be Rev. Dr. Scott M. Kenefake, participants to include members and friends of FPCC, members of the larger community, and the six participating congregations of REC.
Dinner to follow in Davis Hall @ 6:00 p.m. 
 
Books (Paperback and Kindle) can be ordered here

Book is also available here


Registration is due by Thursday, February 27th.

Save the date!
Debby Irving will be speaking at FPCC (for an REC sponsored community event) on Friday evening, April 24 th, at 7 p.m, in the sanctuary.  
Say Yes to the Prom Dress!
Donate your gently used prom, homecoming, bridesmaid, and other formal dresses – your dress will help a girl attend prom! This drive is sponsored by El Puente Hispano, a nonprofit organization that hosts a tutoring program for Hispanic children in Concord. You may drop off your donation in the Fellowship House between now and March 6th. For more information about the drive or El Puente Hispano, contact Suzanne Hamilton at shamilton911@icloud.com . 
Racial Equity Cabarrus Movie Event
In preparation for our Pilgrimage to Montgomery in the fall, All Saints’ and five other churches in Concord and Kannapolis that are partners in Racial Equity Cabarrus, will view the recently released, widely acclaimed, movie  Harriet.  It is a story of Harriet Tubman who escaped slavery to become a leading abolitionist. She led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom along the route of the Underground Railroad. Following the movie, we will enter into a guided discussion in small groups. There will be popcorn, of course. All Are Welcome. Sunday, February 23rd at 4 pm. Trinity United Methodist Church, across the street from A.L. Brown High School.
Sign-up Links
Lay Liturgists
Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship 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.
Wednesday Night Fellowship
February 26, 2020
6:00 p.m., Davis Hall
Sign-up  
Shepherd for Sunday School
Sign up here to be a Shepherd in our Elementary and Middle School Sunday School.
A Shepherd helps our teachers by being another adult in the room, to make sure that we have a safe classroom, and to fulfill the requirements of our Child and Youth Protection Policy. If you have questions about what it means to be a Shepherd, please reach out to one of the members of the Christian Education Committee or Rachel Vogado.  
Youth Newsletter
Sign up here to receive the Youth Newsletter for detailed information
about all events related to youth who are in 6th-12 grade.
Calendar
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Rev. Dr. Scott Kenefake Preaching
Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Matthew 5:21-37
Thursday, February 13
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
12:00 p.m. Prayer Class
2:00 p.m. Literacy Tutoring
Friday, February 14
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:30 a.m. Adult Literacy Tutoring
3:00 p.m. Youth depart for Asheville
Saturday, February 15
Asheville Youth Weekend
Sunday, February 16
Asheville Youth Weekend
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Choir
11:00 a.m. Worship
12:15 p.m. Visitation Team Meeting
3:00 p.m. Children's Choir
4:00 p.m.Daisy Troop 3631
Monday, February 17
First Kids Preschool and Office Closed
11:30 a.m. AA
7:00 p.m. Boys Scout District Roundtable
Tuesday, February 18
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:00 a.m. Commons Committee
7:00 p.m. Al Anon meeting
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Troop 3
7:00 p.m. PW CT
Wednesday, February 19
7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
6:30 p.m. PNC meeting
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
Church Report
Birthdays
February 13 - Kay Crawford, Pat Crowe, Bryan Hovey, Buell Little Jr., Chip Ritchie, Sydney Rogers
February 15- Eric Gluf, Amanda Williamson
February 16 - Clara Meade Burke, Anne Crocker
February 17 - Bill Rinker Sr.
February 18 - Elaine Blackman
February 19 - Andy Martin, Rachel Perdue
Staff
Scott Kenefake
Interim Senior Pastor 

Associate Pastor 
for Care and Mission

Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation


Director of Music and Organist

Choirmaster

Suzanne Russell
Church Administrator

Financial Secretary

Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent

Director of First Kids
frstkids@y ahoo.com

Church Hostess

Wedding Director
Contact Info
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
The Commons Prayer Room Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Open for Scheduled Groups
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC

Memorial Garden:
(704) 786-8009
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
 
Garden Hours: 
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Closed Monday