Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45
This week’s texts are familiar to many: Ezekiel’s vision of a valley filled with “dry bones” and the story of Lazarus in John’s Gospel. The common message in both texts is that God transforms desolation—even death—into life, indeed, into a new creation. Very often we look at a situation and the condition appears to our eyes as a valley full of bones. But we are encouraged to take our stand beside Ezekiel and proclaim our hope to the dry bones. “Thus, says the Lord, I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live!” You who gave up hope, who gave up dreaming—who have settled for a comfortably routine life of work, bills and dirty laundry. You who think your best years are behind you. You who think the Lord God has forgotten all about your little life.
To you, we say, “Arise!” Arise from the heap of discarded dreams. Arise to discover that the Holy Spirit is breathing life back into you. Arise to live with magnificent hope!
|
|
Looking Ahead to Holy Week and Easter
|
Last week the Session suspended all activities on our church campus through the end of March with the intent to reevaluate the situation on April 1st. As Moderator of the Session, I cannot speak for the governing body, but with the closing of the Public Schools until May 15th and Mecklenburg County’s recent “shelter in place” order, I suspect that it will still be a while before we can safely worship together in the sanctuary.
As a result, the pastoral staff has been busy planning “virtual” worship services for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter. Each of these services will engage viewers/participants in interesting ways (stay tuned for details!).
Thanks for your continued prayerful support. Please contact us with any needs.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Scott M. Kenefake
Interim/Transitional Minister
scott.kenefake@firstpresconcord.org
|
|
As we all work to "Flatten the Curve," let's Lenten the Curve as well! Since we had to cancel our Thursday Centering Prayer gatherings, we are going to host a time of Lenten devotion online Thursdays at 12 p.m. via Zoom. You may join Zoom via a link:
https://zoom.us/j/917474633
or you may call (646) 558 8656. The Meeting ID is
917 474 633.
|
|
Notes about Digital Connections
|
As we continue to work on ways to worship and deepen our faith as a church when we cannot physically meet, we wanted to share some information about how to stay connected with us digitally.
We will be using the church Facebook page and Instagram to share videos, engage with faith practices, and find ways to worship. Both those accounts can be found by searching for @firstpresconcordnc
We will be also using Zoom for many different ways to connect! Zoom is an app based program that allows us to have digital meetings and gatherings with both phone call and video connections. Zoom accounts are free, and anytime we host a gathering via Zoom you can access the event via the link that is posted or emailed out.
Clicking the link to join a meeting will take you to the page to set up an account if you have not already done so. I encourage you to go ahead and get an account and get familiar with the program.
If you are looking for more information about zoom, and needing some questions answered, here are some helpful quick video tutorials:
|
|
You're invited to join us for virtual Sunday school as we will gather to connect, hear stories from and for our faith, and learn together. All ages are welcome! It is probably helpful to have some paper and something to write or draw with close by as there will be time to reflect and create. We will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom; you can access the meeting here:
https://zoom.us/j/491764209
or call (646)558-8656 and use Meeting ID:
491 764 209
See the above article for more information about Zoom. To participate fully, I'd suggest the clickable link, because that way you can see and hear. Gather your family around the computer as we learn and grown in faith together!
|
|
An Update from the Deacons
|
In the past week, we have been calling our older adult members along with our Visitation team to chat and receive prayer requests. Additionally, the Deacons approved $750 to supplement our Coltrane Webb Back Pack program with Food Lion gift cards, $3,000 to help Meals on Wheels create additional shelf stable meals, and $2,000 to replenish the food pantry at WM Irvin Elementary.
We will continue to listen for the needs of our congregants and our community and respond with Christ's love. If you are aware of additional needs, please let Lynne Keel
(lynne.keel@firstpresconcord.org) or Janna Mitchell (
janna.mitchell1212@gmail.com) know.
|
|
The preschool hallway and playground are eerily quiet. Pots of gold, kites and rainbow artwork from early March still hang on the walls.
The hugs, funny conversations and laughter are sorely missed, as we, with the rest of the world, look forward to being back together again.
The good news is that we are all still staying in touch virtually!
Our devoted staff have quickly turned their homes and backyards into mini-classrooms and are offering on-line preschool to our students.
Others have emailed their classroom activities as well as ideas from the multiple websites that have sprung up to help the, now huge, home-school community.
We know how important it is to support our families and to keep connected to our little ones. I am so proud of how our staff has risen to this challenge.
Some of our whole-group activities are being posted on Facebook on "First Kids Families." If any church member, with a Facebook page, would like to see what fun we've been up to, please contact me at
Frstkids@yahoo.com
Registration Confirmation Notes were mailed to all students who returned applications for the 2020-2021 school year. Eight of our eleven classes are full, but the waiting list is not too bad. Please let us know if you are interested in hearing more about our program.
We Wish You Well from First Kids.
Ms. Maureen
|
|
Earth Care Congregation Recertification
|
Thanks to the efforts of Kathy Pilkington, we received a certificate this week that re-certifies First Presbyterian Church of Concord as an Earth Care Congregation.This means we have made thoughtful, intentional steps toward being better stewards of the environment in our worship, mission, teaching and building maintenance programs. In this time of bad news all around us it is good to receive something positive!
|
|
April 7 Circle 3 - Cancelled
|
The Tuesday lunch circle 3 scheduled for April 7, has been cancelled.
|
|
Lay Liturgists
Sign up
here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
|
|
Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Rev. Dr. Scott Kenefake preaching
|
|
 |
Thursday, March 26
12:00 p.m. Devotion on Zoom
Sunday, March 29
9:30 a.m. Sunday School on Zoom
11:00 a.m. Worship on Facebook
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, March 31
7:00 p.m. Al Anon meeting
|
|
|
|
Birthdays
March 26 -
Britt Austin, Victoria Schneider, Linda Wightman
March 27
- Jean Henderson, George Mongold Jr., Findley Moore, Kate Prager
March 28
- Kathryn Byrd, Pierson Davis, Ginny Moore
March 29
- Sara Wilder Bryant, Allen Dobson, Candy Ellis, Ray Morgan Jr.
March 30
- David Harrison, Mitzie Moore
March 31 -
Pamela Dennis, Gina Goff
April 1 -
Pam McDonald, Michael Rohrer
|
|
Scott Kenefake
Interim Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation
|
|
Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Financial Secretary
|
|
Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent
Director of First Kids
Church Hostess
Wedding Director
|
|
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
|
|
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) 788-2100
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
