Dear Friends,

I spent last week in Wrightsville Beach attending the annual gathering of 16 PC(USA) pastors known as The Well. This group has been meeting annually in different locations since 2009, and I joined in 2012. This is the first time we have all been able to gather in person since 2019. It was such a gift. We prepared papers on preaching texts ahead of time, then we spent mornings and afternoons discussing those papers. We spent two hours one afternoon working with a New Testament scholar, Dr. Scott Spencer. We began each day with a brief time of worship, we closed each day with good food, and we wound up staying up late every night sharing stories, laughter, and a few tears. Throughout the week, we walked on the beach, we listened to the ocean, we took turns holding a 15-week-old baby named Helen, and we worried and dreamed and wondered about the church and about what lies ahead. We look different than we did 10 years ago, as does the church we serve. And yet—as I do every year—I came home immensely grateful for time spent with these wise and winsome colleagues and inspired for the work and witness God still calls us to in Christ’s name.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Fritze Batts is a native of Concord, NC, and was raised and confirmed at FPC Concord. After 20 years away, Fritze and her two children, Caroline age 18, and Dylan age 13, moved back to Concord and rejoined her home church. After college, Fritze spent a year serving as a PC (USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Hollywood, CA. Over the years, she has remained active in the life of the church in a variety of capacities, as a Sunday School teacher, youth leader, and Presbyterian Women member. Prior to returning to Concord, she served as Ruling Elder and mission committee moderator at First Presbyterian Church in Rockwall, TX. She currently is a member of the Diaconate, co-teaches the elementary Sunday school class, participates in Presbyterian Women through Circle 4 and as a member of the PW Coordinating Team, and loves attending the Journey Sunday school class. In her spare time she works as a registered nurse at Atrium Health University City in Charlotte.

I’m Jeff Monroe, and I am a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church of Concord. I have served as a Deacon and an Elder, and recently chaired the Admin & Personnel Committee as part of the Session. Our committee was responsible for numerous successes including calling Rush Otey to serve as our Interim Pastor. My wife, Kathryn, and I have two children, Josh (25) and Hannah (22). I also served as a Youth Group Advisor and Youth Sunday school teacher in the past.

I am Hunter Morrison and am a lifelong Presbyterian. I grew up here at First Presbyterian Concord and am active in the life of the church today with my two daughters, Grace (13) and Eliza (9).

I have worked, locally, in the insurance industry for 12 years and opened my own agency in 2014.

I have served on the Diaconate and am currently serving as an Elder, chairing the Christian Education Committee.

In 2018 I started the Journey Sunday School class and continue leading that group today. I was actively involved in creating the Commons and introducing it to our community. During the pandemic I spearheaded the effort to begin Livestreaming our Worship services and continue working to ensure our technology is at its best…for those on campus and off!

I have a deep devotion and love for First Presbyterian Church and all its people. God has allowed me to do so much through the church and grow in ways I never imagined possible. First Presbyterian Church is so fortunate in its history, having servants of the past as a shining light that guides the work we do today and in the future. I am grateful to be a part of this work and honored to have been considered to serve on this committee. I know that through Christ we can accomplish anything.

I am Valerie Sakach Thomas, a lifelong Presbyterian who was raised in a bilingual Hungarian-Presbyterian Church in Western Pennsylvania. Upon moving to Concord in 1994 and visiting many churches with our family, we were quickly convicted by Todd Hobbies’s preaching and the Sanctuary Choir’s singing. I have since been active with teaching Sunday School to KG and Middle School and active with Youth as our children were growing up. I sang with the choir for about 15 years and formed a Teen Choir for a year or two as well. When we still had the Junior Church perform a summer musical I helped with that (and would love to see that resurrected, side note!). I have been a member of a PW circle over the years, as my job has permitted. Most recently I served as a Deacon and am currently on Session. I am a mostly retired pediatrician of over 40 years, the last 20 working as Pediatric Director at the Cabarrus Health Alliance. I am mom to three, Gigi to four and wife to Harold Thomas. I love hiking, my dog Skye, travelling in our RV, my book club, yoga, Americana and Bluegrass music festivals, and meeting new people.

If you or someone you know has an interest in and enjoys working in audio/video then there’s a spot for you on our team. We are looking to add some folks to our team of broadcasters that operate the Live Stream of Worship on Sunday morning, from the Sanctuary.

For more information email or call Hunter Morrison.huntermorrison@gmail.com or 704-807-8799

Our Youth have been studying the scripture readings for Youth Sunday; painting artwork; and creating and writing prayers, a Children’s message, and sermons for several weeks. On Sunday, they practiced their roles for Sunday’s worship service. Please plan to join us Sunday, May 8^th, for Youth Sunday!

May is VBS registration month! Please click the link here for your registration form to join us June 27-30.

We welcome all 2 year olds through rising 5^th graders. 

Items needed for VBS!

We are looking for artificial Christmas trees, a sleigh, a wardrobe, and any clothing items reminiscent of the 1940’s or from medieval times.

If you are interested in helping to paint sets, we could also use your help! Please contact René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org

FPC played a formative role in establishing the Cabarrus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Over the years, our church and volunteers have been steadfast supporters of this important organization.

On Sunday, May 1, Audrey Chapman, a Habitat Board member, shared her personal experience of having a Habitat home during our worship service.You can hear her full remarks on our youtube page by  Clicking here

Let us celebrate our long-standing support of Habitat and meet our goal of raising $10,000 for the 2022 campaign!

As a reminder, you can:

The deacons provided lunch and gift cards to the firefighters at B shift Station #1.

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To schedule an appointment click here and enter 28025 or

visit redcrossblood.org and enter: Cabarrus VIP Blood Drive