Dear Friends,

On Sunday we will begin to look more closely at Jesus’ parables in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus insists that in him the kingdom of God has come near. Yet it is hard for me to see God’s kingdom when earthquakes devastate neighborhoods oceans away or when children go hungry a few blocks away. Jesus was born into a world that struggled with violence, hunger, and heartbreak, too. And he invited his followers to imagine a different world alongside him, a world transformed into the kingdom of God. This week’s text (Matthew 13: 24-33) invites us to imagine the kingdom of God not as a faraway fairy tale but through the lens of a field of wheat and weeds, yeast in bread dough, and a mustard seed. What does the kingdom of God look like to you? I hope to see you Sunday morning when we will imagine together.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

We will have our annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, February 12 following worship for the purpose of presenting the 2023 budget and approving the 2023 Terms of Call for Pastor Ellen. The meeting of the corporation will also take place.

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

Wednesday: Matthew 10

Thursday: Matthew 11

Friday: Matthew 12

Saturday: Matthew 13:1-23

Sunday: Psalm 84:1-7; Matthew 13:24-43

Monday: Matthew 13:44-58

Tuesday: Matthew 14:1-21

Wednesday: Matthew 14:22-36

Please join our Youth led efforts THIS Superbowl Sunday as they raise awareness and money to help those with food insecurity.

Show your team spirit by wearing RED in support of the Kansas City Chiefs or GREEN in support of the Philadelphia Eagles.

After worship, you can drop your checks (to First Presbyterian Church), cash, and coins in the collection bowls held by our Youth.

Donations given to Youth dressed in RED will go to support the Coltrane-Webb backpack program.

Money collected by Youth in GREEN will support Cooperative Christian Ministries.

Two great opportunities to help our community! Donate generously and help to make this collection a high-scoring game!

Your APNC continues to be excited about the possibilities as the search continues for our next Associate Pastor. If you'd like to read more about the position you can find the Ministry Information Form here. Your continued prayers for the committee and the candidates is much appreciated as we listen for God’s leading.

On Sunday, our middle and high school class re-opened the church theater, viewing The Prince of Egypt movie, as part of their study of Moses. Confirmation class explored the question: Who is your Savior?

Thank you, Carrie Myers and Rebecca Patten, for a wonderful Youth meal! Youth Group talked about Jesus is the bread of life and ways that He teaches us to be the bread of life for others. Youth wrote thank you notes for recent Youth meals, created Valentine’s Day cards for Meals of Wheels clients, and worked on efforts to raise money for the Backpack program and Cooperative Christian Ministries as part of next week’s Souper Bowl of Caring collection immediately following worship.

Look for a Sign-up Genius: 2022-2023 Youth: 2/12 Youth (signupgenius.com) and parent e-mail with full details of middle and high school opportunities for February 12^th.

**Confirmation Class meets in the MORNING on February 12 – 9:30-10:45 in Will Young Building, room 304.** Sunday School will be 9:45-10:45 – location TBD.

Since the pandemic, there has been a shortage of drivers for Meals on Wheels Cabarrus. They have even had to pay drivers to ensure all routes are covered.

If you would like to be part of an FPC team and share a meal delivery route, please speak with Elizabeth Anne Dover Bishop, Dakeita Vanderburg, or Pastor Julie. If you want to understand what is involved, Harriett Phillips would be happy to talk with you. 

Thank you to everyone who supported our First Presbyterian sponsored Girl Scouts at their first cookie booth of the season! Whether you bought by the box or by the case, our Girl Scouts appreciate you! 76 boxes were sold on Sunday afternoon. Please watch the Banner for information on the next cookie booth.

One of the groups currently using the Commons is Cooperative Christian Ministries Housing Team. They have been visiting every Friday morning since Christmas to pray for our clients and each other.  FPC supports a number of non-profits financially but this is another way of offering support to the employees and volunteers doing the work. 'Compassion fatigue' is real and having a place for restorative time can help.  

First Presbyterian is sponsoring a work team for Habitat’s Women Build and we need you! Here are a few of the details:

• The house is being built for a mother raising four children on her own
• The construction site is in Magnolia Crossing, off McGill Road near Hwy 29
• Construction begins the week of February 23 and will be completed in June (weather permitting)
• While fundraising and construction will be done primarily by women, men may sign up to help!
• You must be 18 years old. 16- and 17-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult.
• If you don’t want to volunteer on the construction site, you can provide lunch for the work crew or help in other ways.
• We need a minimum of 10 team members! Due to the number of organizations participating, we may only have one or two work dates.
• Please sign up NOW using the link below:

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/HabitatforHumanityCabarrusCou/2023WBsponsorteamMember.html

* We need at least 10 people to sign up before we get dates for our team.*

Join us next Thursday, February 16, at 7 PM at Pharr Mill Brewing and BBQ, 363 Church St N. All are welcome! Contact Pastor Ellen or Hunter Morrison with questions.

The next book for the Racial Equity Reads group is "The Color of Compromise," by Jemar Tisby. The first meeting is scheduled for 3 PM on Sunday, February 26, in The Commons. We'll start by discussing the first two chapters.

You're encouraged to order the book from Shelves, a Black-owned bookstore in Charlotte, by emailing orders@shelvesbookstore.com. The book is also available on Amazon.com.

More details will be announced in coming weeks. For more information email sverner@yahoo.com.

Presbyterian Women's Spiritual Nurture Spring Event

with Speaker Rev. Dr. Alice Ridgill

Sunday, March 5, 2023

12:15 PM in Davis Hall

Invitation and sign-up coming soon