~ from the PC(USA) Book of Common Worship

Dear Friends,

Amazingly, one year has passed since I became your pastor. I am deeply grateful for you and for this community and for all that we share as we attend to God’s call to us in this place. While this past year has been one filled with joy and celebration, it has been one where we have walked through losses together, too. We continue our “Telling Secrets” worship series this Sunday when we will reflect together on grief. Grief, as you well know, comes in many forms and in response to endings and changes of all kinds, including death. In the midst of quarantine, communities of faith could not grieve together in the ways we had come to expect, and that in itself was a loss. So as we look ahead to Sunday, may we give ourselves and others room and grace to grieve, even as we lean on one another and on the God who shows us boundless compassion and offers us abundant hope in Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Grace and peace,

Ellen

We invite the congregation to participate in our VBS Mission projects by donating any of the following items to the back foyer of the Fellowship House by June 26^th: The mission they will support follows each item list:

Large bags of dry cat or dog food, boxes of Ziploc gallon size plastic bags (Meals on Wheels)

Full size Shampoo, toothpaste, individually packaged toothbrushes, bars of soap, boxes of Ziploc gallon size plastic bags (Junior Charity League)

Packages of Lance crackers, granola bars (EMT Care Packages)

Inexpensive BINGO prizes – nail polish, small lotions, patriotic items, ball caps, word search books, coloring books/crayons (Coltrane Life Center)

Look for the labeled box in the Fellowship House foyer. If you have questions, please connect with Sallie Dotger or René Prager.

“The Staff, church leadership and members of First Presbyterian would like to express a sincere thank you to Jock Liles & Liles Construction for providing the temporary heaters and installation services to allow continuing worship in our Sanctuary this past winter. Thank you Jock !

Do you have a box truck to help move artificial Christmas trees from storage to the church?

We are also still in need of the following items for VBS:, sleigh, dark colored umbrella, yellow poster board, seat cushions measuring approx. 21”x 24”, medieval costumes, brown wrapping paper & twine, mannequin, battle horn/cattle horn, duct tape, white sheets, yellow or red tablecloths, and 2 canopy tents. If you have any of these items, please let René Prager know. r.prager@firstpresconcord.org

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 323 enjoyed a Girl Scout Sleepover Camp-In on Friday, June 10 - Saturday, June 11. Camp-In fun included a trip to The Creamery, pizza, crafts, s’mores, a movie, and popcorn as well as camping in at Davis Hall.

Thank you First Presbyterian Church for sponsoring Brownie Troop 323!