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Dear Friends,
We now find ourselves well into the Advent season. This Sunday marks our final Sunday with the Old Testament or Hebrew scriptures (for now). We will hear from Ezra about a snippet of life in Jerusalem after many of the exiles have returned home. They bring with them a mix of expectations and dreams, much like we do. What memories do you carry of returning home after an extended time away? What was comfortingly familiar? What had changed? How did your dreams of home differ from reality? Over the next 10 days or so, we will continue preparing to welcome the Christ child, the one who makes a home with us. What dreams might he carry for us?
Grace and peace,
Ellen
We will Not have Bible Study on December 20,
we Will have Bible Study on December 27.
Longest Night Service
December 20, 2023
On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, we will gather for our annual Longest Night service at 7 pm in the chapel in the Fellowship House. This service seeks to carve out a space in the midst of a celebratory season for all who are grieving, lonely, weary, angry, or afraid. Through scripture, prayer, music, and silence, we will be reminded that the God we meet in Jesus Christ comes to us wherever we are. Together we will hear once again God’s promise of peace and comfort for each of us and all of us in Jesus Christ. Please join us. All are welcome.
Artwork by John Stuart, www.stushieart.com
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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Advent wreath readers are needed for Christmas Eve at 10:00 PM!
Sign up here:
(https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948acab2dabf49-advent2, and help us worship God as we prepare to welcome the Christ child.
A copy of each week's script is on a clipboard in the Narthex if you would like to see it.
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We will not be publishing a Banner on December 27, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Anyone with information they would like to have in the Banner prior to January 3, 2024, must have it to Suzanne by Noon on December 19, 2023, to go into the December 20th Banner, as it will be the last publication for 2023. Send articles to: suzanne.russell@firstpresconcord.org
Thank you!
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Youth - Fortnite, Stirfry, and Christmas Cookies
Not your normal theme night! But join us for the fun! By request, we’ve added Youth Group to the calendar on Sunday, December 17th, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM in Davis Hall.
We would like to borrow projectors and other equipment to run multiple games simultaneously. If you can help with equipment, please let René Prager know at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org.
Not a Fortnite fan, Elizabeth Anne will be supervising an easy stirfry recipe and we will also do some Christmas cookie baking.
Plan to join us! 2023-2024 Youth: 12/17 Youth Fortnite, Stirfry, and Christmas Cookies (signupgenius.com)
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Christmas Pageant
Thank you to our Youth and children for leading us in worship on Sunday evening as they shared the story of the birth of Jesus.
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Repurpose Your Christmas Trees | |
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As you take down your decorations weeks from now, please be aware that we are accepting artificial Christmas trees of all sizes.
The lights do not need to work, but we would like trees to be green (some artificial trees come in a range of colors)
We will store these at the church for props for future Vacation Bible schools and other programs.
Please contact René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org or 704-788-2100 ext 4 to schedule a drop off. We do not need the trees this holiday season, so there is no rush. We would prefer to repurpose gently used trees that you are planning to discard versus purchasing new ones.
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Todd Hobbie Sunday School Class: Love Never Dies
Last Sunday, Pastor Casey dove into the dizzying philosophy of French-Jewish thinker Emmanuel Levinas, to show how Levinas argues that when we love others, we live on in them. Arguing against other philosophers who were preoccupied with anxiety about death and dying, Pastor Casey showed how Levinas describes us as living beyond death in our children, students, and all whom we raise and teach. This week, the Todd Hobbie class will still gather at its usual time for fellowship, coffee, and card signing, although without a program or speaker. On December 31, Casey will be back to remind us of Levinas' ideas and relate them to Christian practices around All Saints' Day or the Day of the Dead.
If you want to catch up on our fall series on 'Life Beyond Death,' you can do so here on Casey's podcast channel: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TBKD9SsbWfbTWnzyWoKlo.
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Please remember that year-end contributions must be received in the church office by Noon on Thursday, December 28 as that is the last calendar day for 2023 giving.
For stock transfers, please notify Suzanne Russell so that the proceeds can be applied to the correct account in a timely manner. Thank you!
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Listening Together
On December 3, members of our congregation and Concord community gathered in The Commons for a creative worship service organized around scripture and the three forms of connection discussed in Dr. Vivek Murthy's book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. In reflecting on the Song of Songs and intimate connection with others, those who attended the service shared stories, sang old favorites, and built a playlist of what songs make us think of good, ideal love. The result is a 24-track playlist of genre-crossing music filled with love, which you are welcome to listen to on Spotify at the link below.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6dbpIQyHr2Wtv3c6aTtksZ?si=be39358b772944ce
| Youth at the Night Shelter | |
Our Youth has been preparing meals for the Night Shelter since 2021 and they were recently able to go and serve in person. They look forward to their next date in 2024. | |
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PW Advent Communion and Lunch
The Presbyterian Women Advent Communion and Lunch Committee would like to thank everyone who made this first celebration special. It was a time for reflecting, preparing our hearts and minds spiritually, and enjoying community fellowship over lunch. If you participated in any way, no matter how small or big, it was Appreciated.
It was a wonderful way to begin Advent and begin preparation for the coming of the Christ Child.
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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.
Pew Prep
Sign up here to volunteer to help with pew prep on Sundays.
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Ushers
Sign up here to volunteer in the
Sanctuary on Sundays
Greeters
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, December 17 , 2023
Rev. Ellen Crawford True
Luke 2:25-32; Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13
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Thursday, December 14
9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)
6:00 PM National Alliance for Mental Illness (Commons)
6:30 PM Boy Scout Board of Advancement (Ed Bldg)
Friday, December 15
9:00 AM First Kids Preschool (Will Young Bldg)
Sunday, December 17
9:15 AM Rehearsal Guest Musicians (Sanctuary)
9:45 AM S & D Class (Fellowship House)
9:45 AM Todd Hobbie Class (Davis Hall)
9:45 AM Journey Class (Journey Classroom)
10:00 AM Rehearsal, Choir and Guest Musicians (Sanctuary)
11:00 AM Worship w/special music (Sanctuary)
4:30 PM Combined Youth (Davis Hall)
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Monday, December 18
7:00 PM Boy Scouts (Will Young room 304)
Tuesday, December 19
6:00 PM Cub Scouts (Davis Hall)
7:00 PM Al Anon (Commons)
Wednesday, December 20
7:00 PM Longest Night Prayer Service (Chapel)
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Condolences
The sympathy and condolences of the congregation are extended to the family of Mary Anne Ritchie as they mourn her passing in Wilmington, NC on December 6, 2023.
Birthdays
December 14 - Mary Ingram
December 15 - Peyton Bryant, Paul Lentz
December 16 - Steve Johnson, Kenneth Pegram
December 17 - Peter Chikes
December 18 - Charlotte Ostema, Chris Prager
December 19 - Charlotte Cox, Scarlett Davis, Sheila Hale, Sydney Johnson, Ben Peterson
December 20 - Jeff Kies, Edwin Macaluso
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: Tuesday - Sunday
Open to FPC and the public:
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
March 15 - September 15
Tuesday- Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
September 15 - March 15
Closed Monday
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