Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda

Dear Friends,

As you may know, on the last Sunday of October each year, we celebrate Reformation Sunday and give thanks for God’s work in and through the church that arose from Martin Luther’s questioning whether the Medieval church was being faithful to who God was calling her to be. Some translate the Latin phrase above as “the church reformed, always reforming.” I have also read that it can be translated, “the church reformed, always being reformed.” Either way, this re-forming, this transformation is always subject to the Word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In other words, when we are at our faithful best, we do not change the church just to keep up with current trends. Instead we adapt and respond by prayerfully studying scripture together, worshiping together, playing together, serving together, and listening for the whispers of the Holy Spirit together, as God shapes us into the church God longs for us to be. The church is never a fixed point, but always part of God’s work of ushering in God’s new creation.

Just one year ago, we officially began a new chapter together when I was installed as your senior pastor. That day marked a change, a transformation in my life, and in the life of this congregation. We have just begun our journey of studying, worshiping, playing, serving, and listening together. I remain excited and hopeful about all that God has in mind for us in and through this place. And I remain deeply grateful for you and our life together.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Just a reminder from last week's banner, this Sunday, October 30, a video crew will be here to record some of the worship service. They will be in the balcony, quietly filming as we worship as usual. You will probably not notice them at all.

This Sunday, as on every Sunday, your presence makes a difference. I hope you will plan to be part of giving the larger community a glimpse of FPC in all its vibrancy and energy that Sunday (and every Sunday!). Church is more than a door, more than a web site, more than a steeple. Church is church because of Christ and his people.

*Our October Noisy Offering raised $321.50 for the Coltrane-Webb Elementary School Backpack Program!

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

Bridge Texts: October 27 - October 29

Thursday, 1 Kings 1:22-27

Friday, 1 Kings 1:28-53

Saturday, 1 Kings 2:13-25 

October 30 - November 2

Sunday, 1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28

Monday, 1 Kings 6:1-22

Tuesday, 1 Kings 8:1-13

Wednesday, 1 Kings 8:54-61

In October, First Presbyterian Church and Central United Methodist Church provided support to 24 families at Coltrane Webb Elementary School. (This is an increase of 3 families over September!) Our support included a $100 Food Lion Gift Card and a generous bag of food. In addition, FPC provided 13 families a set of pots and pans. Central Methodist provided 11 families a crock pot and 9 families a can opener. Thank you to everyone who supported the program in October! The BackPack Program has a lot of needs coming up with the holidays approaching.

November Grocery List

Mashed Potatoes (Instant): 13 oz to 16 oz

Tuna (Can): 5 oz or 12 oz

Granola Bars: Box

Cereal (Box): 12 oz

Vegetable or Vegetable Beef Soup (Large Can): 18 oz

Pudding Cups: 4 per package

Green Beans (Can): 14.5 oz

Flavored Rice (Example: Rice-a-Roni): 6.9 oz

Raisins : 6 pack

Brownie Mix (Box): 16 oz to 18 oz

Herb Stuffing Mix: 12 oz

Chicken Broth (Canned): 14.5 oz

Yams (Canned): 15 oz

Saltine Crackers (Box): 16 oz – 4 sleeves per box

Pasta Sauce (Plastic Container): 24 oz

Spaghetti Pasta: 16 oz

Books & Brews: Can there really be anything hopeful or redemptive in a novel about life after a devastating pandemic? Yes! This Thursday, October 27, you are invited to join a discussion of Station Eleven at High Branch Brewery in Gibson Mill, 325 McGill Avenue, at 7 PM.

Contact Pastor Ellen with questions. See you there!

FPC is hosting a community fellowship luncheon to support Second Course and You Are Invited! Join us on Sunday, November 6 at 12:30 PM.     More Details on the attached flyer.

We are enjoying  beautiful weather this week

but remember last week? The nights can be cold

for our homeless neighbors. Please bring your gently

used coats, jackets, and hoodies to the Fellowship

House. Adult coats will be distributed on November 19

at the next Love Feast on the Streets. Children’s coats

will be donated to the annual Cuddle Up coat drive

sponsored by Cabarus Partnership for Children. 

The Journey SS class is collecting hoodies/sweatshirts (something to cover up and keep warm) for Irvin Elementary school. 

Sizes requested XS-XL .Items can be lightly used. If this is something you'd like to help support, please drop items off in the Journey classroom (Education Building room 201) this Sunday morning, October 30th OR the following Sunday, November 6th. Thank You!              

Did you forget to sign up for the Healing Support Luncheon?

It’s not too late. Call the church office, 704-788-2100, ext. 7 by end of day Thursday, October 27. The luncheon will take place at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, November 1 in Davis Hall. Kristin McDaniel, Bereavement Clinician with Hospice of Cabarrus, will be the guest speaker.

 For whom is the lunch being given? For those experiencing acute grief and those who know the dull ache of grief over time. Please feel free to invite friends and neighbors. 

Youth Group Photo Scavenger Hunt

A few more images from our recent downtown Concord scavenger hunt are below.

Another shout-out to the adults who ran around town with the Youth and those who agreed to station themselves throughout town to to assist with the clues and instructions.

We are moving into the holiday food drive season, which is wonderful—because our inventories have been very low. This is the time of the year when we seek to rebuild those inventories to carry us through the winter. We also continue to serve an increasing number of families—getting close to the same numbers we served in 2020. So thank you so much to all of you and your congregations who support us faithfully and generously.

By the way, if you missed our Celebrate Hope live virtual event, you can still view it. Go to www.cooperativeministry.com and near the bottom of the home page there is a link. We hope you will take the time to see what great things God has been doing and is about to do through CCM.

Currently, the pantry items we are in biggest need of are:

·    Spaghetti Noodles and any kind of dried pasta

·    Any kind of canned vegetables, especially green beans and corn

·    Diced Tomatoes

·    Dried Pinto Beans

·    Any kind of canned beans (Baked, black, pinto, kidney, etc.)

·    Canned Fruit (except fruit cocktail)

·    Any kind of Canned Meats (except tuna!)

·    Pasta Sauce

·    Peanut Butter

·    Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

As always, we especially seek low sodium items, no-added-sugar items, and whole grain items. 

Currently we have plenty of:

·    Tuna

·    Soup

·    Macaroni & Cheese

·    Canned Mixed Fruit

Thank you for the continued support from our church partners. Our Crisis Center at 246 Country Club Drive NE in Concord serves as the warehouse for most of the food. We will gladly accept all donations at that site from 9:30 AM to 1 PM Monday through Friday. Bethel Baptist Helping Hands Food Pantry, located at 1209 1/4 Opal Street in Kannapolis, will gladly accept donations from 9 am to 1 pm on Monday and Thursday. The food pantry located at Westford UMC on Highway 49 and the Kannapolis Food Pantry at West Point Baptist Church can accept donations on Saturday morning from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The Feeding Our Souls Food Pantry at Bethel Church in Midland, and North Kannapolis Baptist Church Food Pantry will accept donations by calling the church in advance.