Dear Friends,

This week’s text brings us to the heart of Holy Week in Mark’s text. Jesus moves in and out of the Temple teaching and preaching and riling religious and Roman authorities with every word. Our passage for Sunday (Mark 13:1-8, 24-37) includes what scholars refer to as Mark’s “Little Apocalypse,” where Jesus describes a Temple destroyed. A beloved hymn reminds us that “The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.” What does that mean when the walls come crumbling down, when what we can see, touch, and hang on to are revealed to be more fragile than we imagined?

May God bless our wondering, our reflections, and our worship as we move closer to the cross and to the promised day of resurrection.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Holy Week graphic (art by John Stuart, www.stushieart.com) - see below

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

Hard-boiled Eggs wanted!

Our Youth Group will be dyeing & decorating eggs on Sunday, March 17^th.

We are looking for some partners to hard boil a dozen+ eggs!

If you are willing to help, please bring your hard boiled eggs to the church by noon on Sunday.

Please label the egg carton “Youth” and drop them off either in the Fellowship House kitchen refrigerator or the Davis Hall refrigerator.

If you have dye, stickers, or other decorating supplies that you plan to discard, we are also happy to accept those donations!

FPC 2024: Hard boiled Eggs for decorating (signupgenius.com)

Girl Scout Sunday

March12th marked the 112^th anniversary of the first Girl Scout meeting in the United States. We celebrate this anniversary on Girl Scout Sunday, this week, March 17th. First Presbyterian Church sponsors four Girl Scout Troops: Daisy Troop 3631, Brownie Troop 323, Junior Troop 3142, and Cadette/ Senior / Ambassador Troop 334. The troops are active in supporting the mission work of the church, including the Salvation Army Center for Hope Night Shelter as well as other community partnerships.

ALL Girl Scouts in the congregation – past and present scouts, leaders, and volunteers are encouraged to wear their Girl Scout pin to worship.

The Girl Scouts invite the congregation to join them on the front lawn for Girl Scout cookies following worship this morning.

Youth FUN and Games!

Please plan to join us this Sunday, March 17^th, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM for FUN and GAMES NIGHT!

This is combined Youth – 6^th-12^th grade.

We will be dyeing & decorating Easter eggs, playing sardines, and other games!

2023-2024 Youth: 3/17 - Youth Group - Game Night (signupgenius.com)

We hope to see you there! Bring a friend.

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Easter Hams for Operation Breadbasket

The S & D Sunday School class invites the congregation to join in providing Easter hams to families-in-need served by Operation Breadbasket. S & D class members will purchase and deliver 100 hams to Operation Breadbasket in time for their Easter distribution. If you would like to donate, please make your check out to Brian Moore and either drop it off at the church office, or mail to him: 2401 Bethlehem Church Rd, Gold Hill, NC 28071. Donations can also be made using Brian's Venmo account @Brian-Moore-813. Thank you!

Suggest Deacons and Elders for 2024-2027

The Congregational Nominating Committee is now seeking nominations of congregation members to serve as Deacons and Elders in the Class of 2027. Names can be submitted during worship on Sundays or to Suzanne Russell in the church office, via email or phone. Click here for a nominating form. Names should be submitted by March 18. The committee recommends that, before nominating a congregation member, you confirm with that member that they are willing and able to serve in one of these positions.

The Book of Order defines a Deacon as a person of spiritual character, honest repute, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion and sound judgment. Deacons should be enthusiastic about sharing the redeeming love of Jesus Christ with the poor, the hungry, and the oppressed.

Ruling elders should be persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Working with our ministers, ruling elders exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of the congregation as well as the whole church.

Earth Care Meeting

The Earth Care Team is meeting this Sunday, March 17, at noon, in the Fellowship House Library. New Members are always welcome!

Bible Class & Bible Presentation for 4^th & 5^th Graders

Attention all families with 4^th and 5^th grade students! It is time to celebrate an important milestone. This spring, we invite and encourage all of our 4^th and 5^th graders to participate in an introductory bible class ahead of our bible presentation in worship. We will also extend an invitation to this group of young people to sign-up to serve as a lay reader in worship.

Please use this sign-up to provide us with the way your child’s name should read on the bible cover. Please respond by March 17^th to allow ample time for personalization and shipping. 

4th & 5th graders: 4th & 5th grade Bible class (signupgenius.com)

Racial Equity Reads

The Racial Equity Reads group will meet in The Commons at 7:00 PM, Monday, March 18, to discuss Chapter 4 of “The Cross and the Lynching Tree,” by James H. Cone.

Cone’s book examines the disturbing similarities between the crucifixion of Jesus and the lynchings of Black people during the Jim Crow era.

The selections we read and discuss are intended to broaden and deepen our understanding of the origins and history of systemic anti-Black racism in America, and its effects on both Black and white people.

Our group is informal, and you are invited to join any time. You are encouraged to order the book from a Black-owned bookseller such as Shelves, a mail-order-only bookseller in Charlotte (orders@shelvesbookstore.com), or Mahogany Books in Washington, D.C. (mahoganybooks.com). The book is also available on Amazon.com.

For more information email sverner@yahoo.com.

Olympic Dreams Come True

Have you dreamed of being in the Olympics? Join us this summer for Vacation Bible School! We are seeking volunteers – rising 6^th grade through adults – to help with planning, preparation, and station and group leaders for the week of VBS!

If you are interested in being on the leadership team and/or a volunteer the week of VBS, please let us know by signing up on this link: VBS 2024: VBS Volunteers (signupgenius.com)

Two specific roles we are looking to fill: Volunteer Co-coordinator (communication with volunteers regarding schedule and t-shirt sizes) and Set Design (visualize where backdrops and art can be placed to create immersive environment)

If you have any questions, please contact either René Prager or Bill Cochran.

March Lunch Bunch

Mark your calendar for a special Lunch Bunch on Wednesday, March 27, at 11:45 AM. Enjoy another of Margaret's delicious meals and hear an amazing speaker, Ann Conway. We all go through difficulties and grief at times in our lives and her message will help prepare you for those "storms". Read Ann's Bio below. Call the reservation line by Monday, March 25, 704-788-2100 #7. Invite a friend to join you! The cost for lunch is $9, payable at the door.

ANN CONWAY BIO

Ann Conway is a wife, mother of two children, (whom she home-schooled!), and gifted communicator.  Ann and her husband, Sam taught and worked with various ministries for over thirty years and were also involved with the NASCAR racing community, both in work and ministry.   

With her humorous and compelling demeanor, Ann has been speaking to audiences of all ages, sizes and backgrounds for several years.  She has been a featured guest on the "FamilyLife Today" Radio Broadcast with Dennis Rainey for a two-day program, a guest speaker at Moody Press in Chicago, featured speaker for city-wide outreach programs, women’s retreats and home school conferences.

This vivacious and enthusiastic woman shares from personal experiences, communicating the love of God in a manner that will get your attention.  You'll laugh . . . you'll cry . . . but most of all, Ann's message will leave you challenged and encouraged as a child of God.

Red Cross Cabarrus County VIP Blood Drive

Monday, March 18th, in Davis Hall from

2:30 PM - 7:00 PM

To schedule an appointment click here and enter 28025 or

visit redcrossblood.org and enter: Cabarrus VIP Blood Drive

Congregational Care Committee

The congregational care committee of the deacons would like to let the congregation know that a variety of materials provided by NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) are available at a display in the church library (in the education building). There are numerous pamphlets involving education about specific mental health illnesses, as well as pamphlets that describe ways to help with those issues. Please feel free to go by anytime and take whatever you like! If you’d like further information, please go to the NAMI website: https://namicabarrus.org/

Save the Date!

Mark your calendar for the PW Spring Spiritual Nurture Event on Saturday, April 20.