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Dear church family,
It is so wonderful to be back in Concord! I want to express my deep gratitude for the warm welcome you have given me these last two weeks. It has been such a joy to worship with each of you and to get settled into my new role here. I am so excited to serve you, serve with you, and build community here through our fellowship events, including with those of you planning to attend this Sunday’s Cannon Ballers game in Kannapolis.
The fifth and final installment of our “Games People Play” series will therefore have us consider the religious dimensions of baseball. Baseball was, at one point in time, my favorite sport. Even though I left the diamond for the tennis court when I was about thirteen or fourteen years old, I have to say that I continue to see something beautiful and even sacred in the sport. We will dive into the story of Balaam as it comes to us from Numbers 22:20-35, exploring what Balaam and baseball have in common, and what they can teach us about what it takes for us to “get home.”
I have felt God calling me to “come home” for quite some time. But what, and where, is our home base? Is there anywhere that our restless hearts can feel safe, and at peace? If so, how can we get there? I think Balaam and baseball both have something to say in response to these questions, and I look forward to thinking through them with you this Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Casey (at the bat)
Our final Selah of the summer will be on Sunday, August 6. Worship will begin at 5 PM in Davis Hall and be followed by dinner. All are welcome to attend! The cost for dinner is $12 for ages 12 and up. Children under 12 eat free. Dinner reservations must be made using this link or by calling the reservations line: 704-788-2100, #7, by Noon, on Thursday, August 3.
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
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This Sunday, July 30, will be our Noisy Offering Collection for July. Bring your change (dollars accepted too!) in support of the Backpack Program benefitting Coltrane Webb Elementary School..
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Blessing of the Backpacks | Save the Date: Sunday, August 6th will be the Blessing of the Backpacks | |
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Books & Brews meets this Thursday, July 27, at 7:00 PM at High Branch Brewery in Gibson Mill to discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.
All are welcome—whether you’ve finished the book or not!
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Thank you to our Youth for helping to deliver our Meals on Wheels route these past two weeks.
Our final Monday route is July 31st.
All 6th-12th grade Youth are invited to consider this opportunity. Please use this link to sign-up:
Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels (signupgenius.com)
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New Confirmation Class Kicking Off August 20th! | |
All youth, rising 8th grade and older, are invited and encouraged to participate in our 2023-2024 Confirmation Class.
Please plan to join us for our Parent and Confirmand meeting on Sunday, August 20th, 9:45 AM in the Fellowship House Sunroom.
We will cover Lesson 1: What is Confirmation? and explore what the confirmation journey will look like.
To help us plan, please RSVP by August 13th, using the link below:
Confirmands: 2023-24 Confirmation Class (signupgenius.com) or
e-mail René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org .
Confirmation class will meet in the fall and winter. Confirmation Sunday is scheduled for February 11, 2024.
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August drop off days for the mission sale | |
Three more opportunities to bring us your treasures in August: 1st, 15th and 29th from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM to the ramp of the Will Young Building. We appreciate having donations be clean and in working order.
If those times are not convenient for you, items can be left on the wire racks outside of room 306 in the Will Young Building.
It’s too hot for cleaning attics now, but be thinking ahead to September when it is a little cooler and you can find those items you would like to bring in..
Have a friend, relative or neighbor who is downsizing? See what they might want to donate to our sale too!
This is our mission project that raises funds for Haiti through Friends Empowering Haiti. https://friendsempoweringhaiti.org/. Check with Gina (704) 794-2228, Carrie (704) 467-0962, Harriett Phillips or Sallie Dotger if you have questions.
Home Decor and Holiday/Seasonal items
Vintage & Collectible items
Kitchen & Small Appliances
Children’s Toys, Puzzles, Pet items
Linens, Towels, & Bedding Tools, Rugs: clean & in good shape
Art & Pottery; Jewelry
Small Stands, end tables, small desks (ask about other furniture)
Like new Shoes & Purses
Clothing: ONLY Outerwear / Sweaters
That special item someone will love! Right Harriett?
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Love Feast in the Streets | |
Sponsored by Esther’s Heart, Love Feast in the Streets provides meals and various services to our unhoused neighbors in Concord. FPC is providing the volunteers for this monthly event on Saturday, August 5, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, at Central United Methodist. Volunteers will greet our neighbors, serve meals, and guide people to the medical services, barber, clothing tables, and shower facilities. 10-12 volunteers are needed!
Please sign up now:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4fa8ae2ea1fa7-love#/
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Lay Liturgists
Sign up here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
Nursery
Sign up here to volunteer in the Nursery on Sundays.
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Ushers
Sign up here to volunteer in the
Sanctuary 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.
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Sunday, July 30, 2023
Rev. Casey Aldridge
Philippians 3:12-21, Numbers 22:20-35
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Thursday, July 27
11:00 AM Youth (Fellowship House)
7:00 PM Books & Brews (Highbranch Brewery)
Sunday, July 30
9:45 AM S&D Class (Fellowship House)
10:00 Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
11:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary)
1:00 PM Cannonballers Game (Kannapolis)
Monday, July 31
10:15 AM Youth Meals on Wheels Route (Fellowship House)
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Tuesday, August 1
1:00 PM Market drop off (Will Young, 306)
2:00 PM Staff Meeting (Fellowship House Sunroom)
7:00 PM Board of Deacons (Library Conference Room)
7:00 PM CE Meeting (Fellowship House Sunroom)
7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)
Wednesday, August 2
10:30 AM Bible Study (Fellowship House)
6:00 PM Buildings & Grounds Committee (Library Conference Room)
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Birthdays
July 28 - Paul Caldwell, Olivia McMillan, Jack Phillips
July 29 - Bess Bryant, Heidi Johnston, Ben Williams
July 30 - Elizabeth Brannan, Marianne Morgan, Robert Rogers
August 1 - Keith Alley, Locke Floyd, Mary Garrison, Chris Leeman, Aya Paul, Porter Peterson
August 2 - Daniel Ellis, Hunter Horton
To enjoy a sung Happy Birthday, click here!
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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 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed Friday
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The Commons Prayer Room:
Open to FPC: Sunday until 1:00 PM,
Tuesday10 AM - 5 PM, Thursday 10 AM - 5 PM
Open to FPC and the public: Wednesday 10 AM - 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 3 PM
Group times available with prior arrangement
Memorial Garden:
info@firstpresconcord.org
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed Monday
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