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THE BANNER
July 1, 2020
Race Together - Four week FREE workshop
Most of us want to better understand Race and Racism in the U.S. but might be overwhelmed and not know where to begin. Others of us have some information but want to understand the topics more clearly. The Race Together team believes if we are more fluent in our understanding of Race and Racism, we can be more aware of its nature and how it impacts us all. More importantly, we will be more equipped to dismantle it and combat its effects from where we stand. Click here to Learn More and/or Register.
Staycation Bible School (VBS)
Join us July 27-31 as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Experience Vacation Bible School from the comfort and safety of your home this year, or take VBS with you if you will be traveling!
  • Sign up to receive a Staycation Bible School kit that will be available for pick up from the church the week before our VBS adventure begins. This will include Bible stories, crafts, snacks and service ideas for you to do as a family!
  • There will also be a daily video delivered to your inbox each day of the week with the Bible story, as well as links to music and movement videos and songs. You can choose the time each day your child will watch the video and when to do the crafts and other explorations. 
  • Staycation Bible School is for children aged 4 through 5th grade. Families will need to fill out a one-time registration form where they will enter all children of their family who will be using a kit.
  • Once registered, look for more information in your inbox about kit pick up times and other VBS related questions. You can also contact Rachel with any questions you might have as well.
Sign up early to claim your kit by clicking here! Registration is due by July 15th. 
 We hope you will join us!
Update on our Nursing Students in the Congo
Each year since Todd Hobbie's retirement, the Presbyterian Women have awarded the Todd and Betsy Hobbie scholarships to nursing students in the Congo. The scholarships are funded by donations from our church members, and total $1600 a year. Sixteen hundred dollars does not sound like much, but it goes a long way in the Congo. It supports two new students each year for their entire 4 year nursing education program.  Tuition at the school is $250 a year. The student’s family comes up with $50 of this and we pay $200.

When school starts again, we expect to have 2 freshmen, 2 sophomores, 2 juniors, and 2 seniors under the Hobbie Scholarship sponsorship. When these students graduate, they expect to work in the medical center for a short time, and then be stationed in remote village clinics which offer the only medical care available to the people in outlying areas.

Woody Collins at Congo Helping Hands, which is based in Indianapolis, is our liaison with the school at the medical center in Bulape. Earlier in the spring, Woody reported to us that the school had been shut down due to the pandemic.  The country was terrified because clean running water for simple handwashing is scarce in many provinces. PPE and medical equipment were almost nonexistent and they only had 5 ventilators in the country. There is better news now. Woody has more recently sent an update that the provinces around the nursing school in Bulape are, fortunately, free of the virus, and schools in the area are preparing to reopen.  

The Presbyterian Women are pleased to have been able to honor Todd and Betsy Hobbie with this program. As most people know, Todd and Betsy served as missionaries in the Congo. These 8 future nurses and the ones that will hopefully follow in the coming years, will serve many of their people. Th e opportunity to make a difference in the world through our small gifts here is great. A donation of $200 will educate a nurse for one year. That nurse will not need a translator, and will not show up for a couple of weeks and then fly back home to a developed nation. The Congo is home to him or her, and that is where he or she will serve for many years. 

There are few places in the world where our donations can make such an impact.  
At this time, there is enough money in the Hobbie Scholarship fund to cover expenses for 2 more students after this year. Donations to continue this ministry can be made to the Presbyterian Women and designated for the Todd and Betsy Hobbie Scholarship. Cathy Floyd has more information for anyone who are interested. Thank you.
Services Update - Summer Worship Schedule
Our pastoral staff continues to preach and teach through various means of technology. Please join us for all of our worship opportunities on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/firstpresconcordnc/),
Summer Worship is posted at 10:00 a.m.
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.
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, July 5, 2020
Rev. Lynne Keel preaching

Saturday, July 4
Memorial Garden Closed for Holiday
Sunday, July 5
10:00 a.m. Worship online
Monday, July 6
Office Closed for Holiday
Tuesday, July 7
7:00 p.m. Al Anon meeting
Church Report
Memorials
Aunt "Vida"- Music Fund
Jill Nierenberg- Families in Need
Dr. Joseph Vernon Davis, Jr.- Backpack Program, Memorial Garden
Lillian Youngblood - Families in Need
Condolences
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to the family of Jill Nierenberg who died on June 15, 2020 in Davidson.
Birthdays
July 2 - Bryson Hough, Parish Moffitt
July 3 - Carrie Myers
July 5 - Seth Jones, Laura Lyon, Kay Wall
July 6 - Bob Bratton, Brenner Moore, Susan Payne
July 7 - Will Davis, Hannah Ross Patten, Adelle Patten, Willian Patten, John Schneider
July 8 - Amina Mansour, Jennifer Meendering
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

Wedding Director
Contact Info
First Presbyterian Church
(704) 788-2100
s uzanne.russell @firstpresconcord.org  

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
Open for scheduled groups:
Tuesday,Thursday, Friday
Open to Public:
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 am - 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 - 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Closed Monday