Love the Bird

“Love the bird is on the way…”

~ “People, Look East,” Glory to God, #105

Beginning this Sunday, a new friend will meet us in the sanctuary. Love the Dove will perch in different places each Sunday to help us prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth. A hint will be available each week in the Narthex. Where will Love be this week?

Important Youth Group Information!

We have FOUR Youth events over the next 11 days and we hope all of our 6^th-12^th graders can join us for all of it!

Sunday, December 8^th:

5 pm – Christmas Pageant rehearsal in the sanctuary (6^th grade and up only)

6:30 pm – Night Shelter serving for our 16-19 year old high school Youth

Sunday December 15^th:

3:45-4 pm – Arrive in sanctuary for dress rehearsal, pageant is at 5pm

5:45 pm – Christmas party in the Fellowship House

It is helpful if we have advance sign-ups for these events to ensure ample costumes and reading roles for the pageant.

After pageant rehearsal, we will have dinner in Davis Hall and load up food items for the shelter. Please indicate if your Youth needs a ride from the church to the shelter. Parents can plan to pick-up a the shelter at 7:30.

Our annual Youth Christmas party will follow the pageant. Youth are encouraged to bring a wrapped gift ($15-$20 range) for the gift exchange.

Parents can plan to pick-up from the Christmas party at 7:30pm.

Here is a single link for all 4 events: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0948ACAB2DABF49-53691648-youth#/

A LOVELY WAY TO HELP WEARY WESTERN N.C. PASTORS



Our neighbors in the Presbytery of Western N.C. have shared that their pastors - especially those most impacted by Hurricane Helene - are exhausted. They have been working overtime to oversee the distribution of water and other supplies, provide rent and mortgage assistance and care for a traumatized community. If you have a beach house or a lake house that you would be willing to offer for a week of respite time for these pastors, please contact Rev. Rachel Matthews, the Western North Carolina Presbytery contact person at rachel@waldpres.org. An angel will receive new wings for every vacation home offered. Thank you!

Book Buddies

We have two Thursdays In December to read to the children at Irvin Elementary with a few vacancies. 

Thursday December 5 at 10:00 AM 

Thursday December 12 at 10;00 AM

Your can sign up with the link below,

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA4AE2DA7FACF8-53062742-book

or email Carol Lacey: grammytwins@yahoo.com

Deacons Host Kids Night In

This Saturday, December 7th, drop the kids off at Davis Hall for an evening of crafts, movies, games, and hot cocoa. Taco Bar for dinner. Kids ages 3-12, must be potty trained. Register by tomorrow, Thursday, December 5, through the link below. Please alert us to any dietary restrictions in the signup genius. Please contact a Deacon with any questions. Thanks!! 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA4AE2DA7FACF8-53055055-kids

Middle and High School Sunday School

Please note that there is NO Middle nor High School Sunday School this week, December 8. BOTH groups will meet on December 15.

Middle School (6^th-8^th grade) – AND parents are invited to breakfast in The Commons at 9:45 AM.

High School meets at 9:45 AM at Press & Porter – come and grab something to eat or drink and enjoy fellowship and bible study.

Open House December 8

Open House at the Trues' 146 Spring Street NW, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Please drop by for fellowship and treats!

*Please park on Marsh Street or on Union Street North. The driveway will be available so that those who need an easier entrance may be dropped off and picked up near the back door.*

Christmas Pageant

Our annual Christmas Pageant is Sunday, December 15^th at 5:00 PM in the sanctuary. All children, age 4 and up, are encouraged to participate in the retelling of the story of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Please use this sign-up: FPC24: 2024 Christmas Pageant Participants & Volunteers to let us know the way(s) your child(ren) can participate. There is also a need for adult volunteers before, during, and after the Christmas pageant. Those opportunities are also listed on the sign-up.

All children who are or will be 4 years old on December 15^th are invited to participate as an angel. 5 year olds through 4^th graders will be barn animals. Our 5^th graders are invited to be junior shepherds. 6^th-12^th grade Youth are invited to be a costumed participant and/or serve as a scripture reader. 

HELP WANTED - Seeking Volunteers to Move Costumes

If you are available after worship on Sunday, we are looking for volunteers to help us move Christmas Pageant costumes from the closet outside Davis Hall to the sanctuary.

Please gather near the chancel after worship and look for René Prager.

Love Feast on the Streets this Saturday

We are eagerly looking for Volunteers for our next Love Feast on the Streets on Saturday, December 7th from 8:00-9:30 at Central United Methodist Church where we will help serve a meal to those in need and enjoy fellowship with them. If anyone has a jacket or coat or other gently used item that they would like to bring to donate, then these items are always welcome too!

LoveFeast on the Streets: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FA8AE2EA1FA7-love#/

Night Shelter Meal Sign-Up

FPC is responsible for meals for the night shelter December 8 - December 14. Use this Sign -up if you can help:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C4CA9AF2BA1F58-50339417-september/34504699#/

Habitat Work Day

As you know, our church supports the vital work of Habitat for Humanity through our annual Spring fundraising campaign. In addition, for many years we have provided work crews to help with construction of individual homes. In 2023, our Presby Wonder Women participated in the Women Build effort, and this Spring we provided a landscaping crew for a new home in Concord. Our church Benevolences include a $5,000 line item which goes directly to construction of an individual home, and our members are offered the opportunity to participate in that construction. So now it’s time to put our muscle where our money is! Our congregation has committed to providing a 10-member work crew on Thursday, December 12, for a home being built on Wilson Street in Kannapolis. This is a fun all-day (9:00 AM to 3:30 PM) activity that anyone 18 years or older can enjoy. We will be helping the regular work crew of Weekday Warriors to finish out the inside of the house. No skill is required, but enthusiasm is expected.

To sign up for one of the 10 slots, use this link to SignupGenius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA4AE2DA7FACF8-53523402-habitat#/

Once you have signed up, you will receive further information via email. Contact John Benbow (FishonJMB@aol.com) with any questions.

Pew Prep Resumes January 12^th

Please note that Pew Prep will take a brief break and will resume on Sunday, January 12^th. Children will find an extra book in the worship bags and are encouraged to pick-up the “Sermon Words” in the narthex, resuming December 15^th. We encourage congregation members with children in Pew Prep and others on the Pew Prep team to select a date in January or February to serve as the lead or second adult: Pew Prep: 24/25 Pew Prep - Volunteers.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this program possible in 2024!

Banner Update

We will not be publishing a Banner on December 25 and on January 1, as both Christmas and New Year's Day fall on a Wednesday this year.

Anyone with information they would like to have in the Banner prior to the next published Banner date of January 8 2025, must meet the deadline of 4:00 PM on Monday, December 16, 2024. It will then go into the December 18th Banner, the last publication for 2024.

Email articles and pictures to: suzanne.russell@firstpresconcord.org

Thank you!

Lunch Bunch Christmas Treats

Mark your calendars to join us on Tuesday, December 17, at 11:45 AM in Davis Hall, for our annual Lunch Bunch Christmas celebration.

Carrie Myers will provide special piano music during our lunch and lead us in a few Christmas carols afterward. Then we will go across the street where Susan and John Schneider will welcome us into their beautifully decorated home for a tour. A lover of all things Christmas, Susan has collected Christmas ornaments and decorations since she was a child and the family has six Christmas trees to display them.

Reserve your place now by calling the church reservation line at at 704–788–2100 option #7, no later than Thursday, December 12.

Year End Giving

Please remember that year-end contributions must be received in the church office by  Noon on Tuesday, December 31.



For stock transfers, please notify Suzanne Russell: suzanne.russell@firstpresconcord.org so that the proceeds can be applied to the correct account in a timely manner.

Thank you!

Advent Family Event

First Presbyterian celebrated the first day of Advent on Sunday, December 1. We enjoyed hot chocolate and fresh popped corn, made cranberry popcorn garlands, and pinecone peanut butter birdseed treats.  Christmas carols around the tree culminated  in the lighting of the Christmas Tree on the Fellowship House

Noisy Offering Results

Last Sunday we raised $648.50 for the backpack program at Coltrane Webb our Noisy Offering Collection!