Early Worship Service for Lent Starts this Sunday
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The 8:45 a.m. service returns on Sunday, March 8th (which is also Daylight Saving Time: Spring forward!). The service will have a contemplative feel and will draw upon resources from our Book of Common Worship, Celtic elements, and Taize’. Congregational singing will be accompanied by piano, as well as an occasional soloist or guest musician. Each week we will also celebrate Communion by Intinction. We look forward to seeing you!
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Keeping Each Other Healthy
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How do we practice common sense guidelines at our local churches and other public places? I appreciate these guidelines from Rev. Stacey Midge and the Session of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio:
Some of you may have growing concerns about COVID-19 (coronavirus) and flu transmission in church. The Pastor and Session are tracking updates from the CDC and preparing for any emergency measures that may need to be taken. Currently there is no emergency - and we'd like to keep it that way!
The best ways to prevent the spread of illness are:
1) Stay home when you are sick, especially if you have a fever. Stay home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
2) Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If you don't have a tissue, cough into your elbow.
3) Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
4) Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
5) Did we mention, stay home if you are sick? We know you love the community. We know you love worship. You are very important to us. We will gladly send you a copy of the sermon and a bulletin with the choral music. We will happily call you and chat all you want. Be generous, but not with your germs.
On Sundays at church, the human contact of our passing of the peace ritual is very important to many of you! And yet, during this time, please consider giving verbal greetings from 2-3 feet, or place your hand over your heart and allow everyone space to not be touched. You may not know if someone has a compromised immune system.
For Communion, we will be offering large cubes of bread instead of tearing them from the loaf, to minimize contact. Sanitizer will be available and encouraged for use before Communion. Let's all try extra hard to dip the bread in the chalice, but not our fingers.
And for those you on Twitter, follow this thread by a scientist who has examined the research on how germs are passed through religious rituals (spoiler alert: partaking in Communion (regardless of method) is safe!:
read here
Blessings,
Scott Kenefake
Transitional/Interim Pastor
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Join us Thursday, 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Commons Prayer Room for Centering Prayer led by Rev. Lynne Keel.This will continue on Thursdays at noon in the Commons Prayer Room through the season of Lent, concluding on Maundy Thursday, April 9.
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Daylight Savings Time Returns
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Don't forget to turn those clocks ahead Saturday before bed so you won't be late for worship on Sunday!
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This Sunday, March 8th, is Girl Scout Sunday. Girl Scout Sunday is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in March, marking the anniversary of the first Girl Scout meeting in the United States: March 12, 1912, in Savannah, GA. All Girl Scouts, past and present, are invited to wear their Girl Scout pins on Sunday to celebrate 108 years of Girl Scouts in the United States. All congregation members are invited to join the Girl Scouts for cookies and lemonade in the courtyard, following the 11 a.m. worship service.
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Presbyterian Women's Spring Luncheon
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Don't forget to make your reservations for the Presbyterian Women's Spiritual Nurture Spring Luncheon this Sunday, March 8th, 12:15 p.m. featuring Jamie Valvano.
Invite a friend to join you! Consider bringing a VIP who might not have transportation.
Reservations are due by
tomorrow, March 5th. Child care will be provided.
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Wednesday Night Fellowship
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Join us for Wednesday Night Fellowship on March 11 at 6:00 p.m. for a spaghetti dinner, followed by a presentation about senior health and wellness by Teresa Kiser of the Cabarrus County Senior Center. Please remember to make your reservations by noon on Monday, March 9.
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Thanks to everyone for their generous support of Presbyterian Women's Backpack Program, a weekend food program that supports students at Coltrane Webb Elementary School. We get numerous questions about what kind of food can be donated, so we will be making monthly recommendations for those of you who enjoy a hands-on helping experience. For March 2020 we are focusing on the following:
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Spam (approximately 7 ounce cans)
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Pancake mix
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Pancake syrup (please, no glass containers)
You can put your purchases in any of the red wagons which are typically in Fellowship House, Davis Hall, and the Education Building foyer.
Thank you for your support!
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Plans are underway to create the 2019 Joy of Giving Annual Report, a project of our church Foundation Board and Stewardship Committee. The Annual Report illustrates how our church family used God’s gifts in 2019 to touch so many lives, both in our church family and in the community.
Many of you took photos throughout 2019 during church programs and activities. Jim Monroe, who is coordinating the annual report, asks that you search your phone cameras and send to him any that you feel might be used in the Annual Report. Please choose the largest format possible which ensures the best resolution. Send them to his email address:
jdmonroe66@hotmail.com
As part of a new communications initiative, we are establishing a Master Photo Folder in the church office. As you take photos during 2020 and while they are fresh on your mind, please forward them to Suzanne Russell at
suzanne.russell@firstpresconcord.org so they may be placed in the new Master Photo Folder. Again, choose the largest possible format to ensure the best resolution.
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Come have lunch on March 17 at 11:45 a.m. in Davis Hall when Leah Leath, Chaplain at Atrium Health - Cabarrus, will teach us skills such as mindfulness, relaxation breathing, and a practice of daily affirmations to address stress in our lives. Remember to make your lunch reservations by noon on Monday, March 16.
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Red Cross Cabarrus County VIP Blood Drive
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Monday, March 16th in Davis Hall
2:30 PM to 7:00 PM
to schedule an appointment.
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First Presbyterian Church Habitat Build
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When
When:
Saturday, March 21, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where
Apostles Build 261 Evans Street NW Concord, NC 28027
rch 21, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
Please confirm your attendance for this upcoming project by completing Habitat’s online registration and liability form
here.
You will receive a confirmation email once registration is completed:
Everyone who volunteers should sign up prior to showing up on the work site. **If you experience trouble with registration, we suggest using an alternative browser.
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Opportunity House is hosting a Port-A-Pit chicken dinner on Tuesday, March 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Midway United Methodist Church, 708 S. Main Street in Kannapolis. Dinners are dine-in or take out, and delivery is available for orders of 10 or more dinners. Tickets are $10.00 each, and can be purchased from Britt Alley or Susan Brooks.
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Lay Liturgists
Sign up
here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship 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.
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Wednesday Night Fellowship
March 11, 2020
6:00 p.m., Davis Hall
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Shepherd for Sunday School
Sign up
here to be a Shepherd in our Elementary and Middle School Sunday School.
A Shepherd helps our teachers by being another adult in the room, to make sure that we have a safe classroom, and to fulfill the requirements of our Child and Youth Protection Policy. If you have questions about what it means to be a Shepherd, please reach out to one of the members of the Christian Education Committee or Rachel Vogado.
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Youth Newsletter
Sign up here to receive the Youth Newsletter for detailed information
about all events related to youth who are in 6th-12 grade.
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Sunday, March 8, 2020
Rev. Dr. Scott Kenefake preaching
Genesis 12:1-4, John 3:1-17
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Thursday, March 5
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
12:00 p.m. Prayer Class
2:00 p.m. Literacy Tutoring
Friday, March 6
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:30 a.m. Adult Literacy Tutoring
Sunday, March 8
8:45 a.m. Worship
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
9:45 a.m. Confirmation Class
10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Choir
11:00 a.m. Worship- Girl Scout Sunday
12:15 p.m. PW Spiritual Nurture Luncheon
1:30 p.m. Circle 5
3:00 p.m. Children's Choir
4:00 p.m. Youth Choir
5:00 p.m. Lenten Book Study and Dinner
5:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship
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Monday, March 9
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
11:00 a.m. Circle 4
11:30 a.m. AA
7:00 p.m. Boy Scout District Roundtable
Tuesday, March 10
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
7:00 p.m. Al Anon meeting
7:00 p.m. Session
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Troop 3
Wednesday, March 11
7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m. Fellowship Dinner
6:30 p.m. PNC meeting
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
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Memorials
Mary Kathryn Ewart
- Backpack Program, The Commons, Buildings & Grounds Endowment Fund, Families in Need
Lillian Youngblood
- Families in Need
Honorariums
Susan Brooks
- Backpack Program
Birthdays
March 5
- Jennie Davis
March 6 -
Clemi Hacker, Sam McGuire, Salem Newton, Kep Younce III
March 7 -
Carrell Brooks, Dan Brown, John Fulghum, Carol Leeman, Steva Mervin
March 8
- Phil Cline, Margaret Moore, Willis Nesbit, Todd Phillips
March 9
- Evelyn Brrier Light, Susan Dulmage, Bill Hulett, Keaton Newton
March 10
- Jim Holloway Jr., Nancy Jo King, Amy Olson
March 11
- Charles Brandon Jr.
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Scott Kenefake
Interim Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation
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Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Financial Secretary
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Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent
Director of First Kids
Church Hostess
Wedding Director
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First Presbyterian Church
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 Hours:
Monday: Closed
Open for scheduled groups:
Tuesday,Thursday, Friday
Open to Public:
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 am - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC
Memorial Garden:
(704) 786-8009
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1 p.m. - 5:00 pm
Closed Monday
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