Christ is risen!
Raise your spirits from the caverns of despair.
Walk with gladness in the morning.
See what love can do and dare.
~ from Hymn #248 “Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!”
Dear Friends,
I am still smiling thinking about our first Easter together. Thank you to everyone who made it such a wonderful Sunday. As you probably know, Easter is not simply a day but a season that extends for 50 days until Pentecost. A hymn from Sunday includes one of my favorite lyrics: “See what love can do and dare.” What will we do and dare together in this Easter season in the name of Jesus Christ, God’s love made flesh, our crucified and risen Savior?
Grace and peace,
Ellen
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Sunrise at Memorial Garden |
Scenes from a beautiful Easter Morning! |
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Some pictures from Easter Sunday's wonderful services. |
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Highlights from the April 12, 2022 Session Meeting |
- -The Session presented Gina Goff with a gift to express their profound gratitude for her many years of service as Clerk of Session.
- -The treasurer presented the monthly financial reports, and the church remains in solid financial standing.
- -The Session reviewed several upcoming dates in the life of the church, including the recognition of Jane Maurer's service during the May 15 service and a campus workday on May 14.
- -The work to choose the APNC (Associate Pastor Nominating Committee) is nearly complete and the Session approved a congregational meeting for May 15 to elect the committee.
- -The Session approved a donation from the church of $10,000 per year for 5 years to help Union Seminary-Charlotte endow a new chair.
- -The Buildings and Grounds committee reported that the work on the new boiler will begin soon and that work on the windows of the Fellowship House will continue throughout this year.
- -The Session's next meeting will be May 10.
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What is Thursday Connection? |
Thursday Connection is a gathering for anyone who wants to engage in conversations of faith during the week. Topics/Series are determined by the gathering. This week we begin a 5-week study on Adam Hamilton’s book, Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn’t Say. A short video by the author will kick off our discussion this Thursday. Books will be available at the first gathering. A $10 donation is welcome.
When: Thursdays, April 21- May 19 at 3:00 PM
Where: Journey Classroom (Please note change of location!)
Who: All are invited! Come when you can or make a commitment for
the series. Each week stands on its own.
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BACKPACK PROGRAM PASTA EXPLOSION MAY 2022 |
The Backpack Program specialty bags for May 2022 focuses on an Italian theme. Please drop off any of the items listed below in Fellowship House during Church office hours. Items provided by Wednesday, May 11, will be packed and delivered on Thursday, May 12. Our goal is to prepare 11 bags.
Pasta – spaghetti (1-pound)
Pasta – elbow macaroni (1- pound)
Spaghetti sauce (with or without meat; cans or plastic containers only)
Ragu double cheddar sauce (15.5-ounce box)
Canned ravioli
Canned diced tomatoes
Chef Boyardee pizza maker (makes 2 pizzas)
Pepperoni packs (refrigerate after opening)
Parmesan cheese (grated)
Canned mushrooms
Ramen noodles (any flavor; 6-packs)
Applesauce cups (6-packs)
Cookie packs
Thank you for your continuing support of this important mission of Presbyterian Women!
(When delivering items to the Fellowship House, please be mindful not to block access to the elevator.)
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It was great to see so many of our college students back home for Easter! We enjoyed worshiping together - at Sunrise, Flowered Cross, and Easter Sunday in the sanctuary. Please lift our college students in prayer as final exams for some start as early as Monday, April 25th. Care packages from our Youth Group will be shipped out over the coming weeks to offer a little extra encouragement from Concord.
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Our Youth are encouraged to attend Youth Group on Sunday for a program on incorporating service into our lives. Please bring some cut flowers from your yard! We will be putting together some arrangements to spread cheer. Youth should also dress for the weather, as we will spend some time cleaning up along Church Street.
Middle School – 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Dinner 5:30 - 6 PM
High School 6 - 7 PM
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The Girl Scout camp out in the mountains on April 9th turned in to a Camp In after high winds and
sub-freezing temperatures were noted in the forecast. The girls enjoyed cooking outdoors and pitching tents in Davis Hall. They look forward to rescheduling their trip in the near future.
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Everyone is invited to join our Racial Equity Reads group, reading on your own over the summer. Then after Labor Day we’ll begin a discussion group about the books we read. (Watch this space!)
The first book is “Dear White Peacemakers,” by Osheta Moore, a pastor and writer. You may want to order it through a Black-owned bookstore, such as Shelves Bookstore (shelvesbookstore.com) in Charlotte or Mahogany Books in Washington, D.C.
After we discuss that book, we’ll turn our attention to “The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism,” by Jemar Tisby, who earned a master of divinity degree from the Reformed Theological Seminary and is working on a Ph.D. in history.
As a Matthew 25 church, we are committed to promoting racial equity in our community and beyond. Systemic racism must be an area of deep concern to our congregation because it affects all of us as well as people who are marginalized or in need – hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned, strangers, poor, or oppressed in other ways.
For more information, or just to talk about racial equity, email Scott Verner at sverner@yahoo.com.
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The Girls in God group will not meet this Sunday, April 24. |
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Lay Liturgists
Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
Commons
Sign up here to open or close the Commons.
Nursery
Sign up here to volunteer in the Nursery 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.
Ushers
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Sunday, April 24, 2022
Ellen Crawford True, preaching
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Thursday, April 21
3:00 PM Thursday Connection (Journey Room)
Saturday, April 23
2:00 PM Wedding (Sanctuary)
Sunday, April 24
9:45 AM Journey SS (Ed Bldg)
9:45 AM S & D SS (FH)
9:45 AM Todd Hobbie SS (Davis Hall)
9:45 AM Welcome Class (Fellowship House Library)
10:30 AM Sanctuary Choir (Choir room)
11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary or Live-stream)
4:30 PM Middle School Group (Davis Hall)
5:30 PM Youth Dinner (Davis Hall)
6:00 PM High School Group (Davis Hall)
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Monday, April 25
9:00 AM First Kids Preschool
Tuesday, April 26
2:00 PM Staff Meeting
7:00 PM Cub Scouts (TBD)
7:00 PM Boy Scouts (Youth Room)
7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)
Wednesday, April 27
9:00 AM First Kids Preschool
10:30 AM Bible Study Fellowship House library)
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Birthdays
April 21 - Kimmy Byrd, Lucas Kiser, Wells Mitzel, Scott Watson
April 22 - Caroline Batts, Matt Dugan, Brian Floyd, Marina Snellings, Mary Wilder
April 23 - Jay Hollis
April 24 - Ann Gluf, Jay Johnston, Will Lisk, René Prager
April 25 - Hillman Brown, Allison Goff Clark, Mark Conversano, Mark Hollis, Anne Reese
April 26 - Kennedy Kiser, Laura Roseman
April 27 - Walter Hannah, Emerson Lisk, Dot Monroe, Keila Snellings
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Ellen Crawford True
Senior Pastor/
Head of Staff
Julie Hill
Temporary Associate Pastor
René Prager
Director of Christian Education
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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 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Friday
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The Commons Prayer Room Hours:
Monday Closed
Open for scheduled groups:
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Open to the Public:
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday
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