NEW Adult Sunday School Class -

Introduction to Spiritual Practices

You are invited to join our six-session workshop series on Spiritual Practices. In week 2, on September 21, we will dive into the spiritual practice of reading scripture. Participants will learn about and practice Lectio Divina.

We will gather at 9:30 AM in room 201 of the Education Building (aka “The Journey Room”). The class series runs weekly through October 19^th. Join us each week or drop in as you are able. Following the six-session series, we will meet again on October 26^th to explore what’s next! You are welcome to bring a favorite journal with you or select one in class on Sunday.

If you have any questions, please reach out to René Prager at r.prager@firstpresconcord.org. René is excited to lead this series and has scheduled it to run alongside the Children’s Choir and Music & Motion offerings, which also begin at 9:30 AM.

TODD HOBBIE SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

We invite you to join us this Sunday as we welcome Dr. Adrian Bird. We will meet at 9:45 AM for fellowship and announcements with class starting promptly at 10:00 am. Dr. Bird will also join us

September 28, October 12, 19 and 26 and November 2 – for:

The Church's Emerging Understanding of Itself: A Journey through the Book of Acts

Dr. Adrian Bird currently serves as the University Chaplain at Queens University of Charlotte, and teaches courses in Scripture, Inter-religious Encounters, and Christian History through the Philosophy and Religion department. Adrian previously taught for ten years at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte. With extensive experience living and working in a variety of international, cross-cultural settings, including Zimbabwe, India and the UK, Adrian enjoys learning about Christian life, missiology, and discipleship in the global context. Adrian’s wife is the Senior Pastor at Sharon Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, and they have two children, Nathan and Lydia.

CHILDREN'S CHOIR AND

MUSIC & MOTION CONTINUES

Recruiting all Kindergarten thru 8th graders for Children's Choir! Join Ms Jacquie to learn new music on Sundays from 9:30 AM to 9:55 AM before heading to Sunday School. Meet in the Children's Choir Room on the 3rd floor of the Education Building.

NEW THIS YEAR: Music & Motion fun for younger kids (2-5 year olds) at the same time as Children's Choir (9:30 AM - 9:55 AM on Sundays) in the Children's Library. 

Please reach out to Elly Steel ellysteel@gmail.com for more details.

Youth – RSVP by Noon this Thursday, September 18th!

School is out on Tuesday, September 23^rd (Cabarrus Co & Cannon). 6^th-12^th grade Youth are invited to join us for a daytrip to a waterfall and Krispy Kreme donuts.

We will leave the church parking lot at 8:00 AM and return around 12:30/1:00 PM.

Please RSVP by noon, Thursday, September18^th so that we can confirm transportation.

2025-2026 Youth: 9/23 Youth Waterfall / Krispy Kreme Day trip

Passport Kids Camp at Montreat!

Who: Current 3^rd-6^th graders

What: Passport kids at Montreat Conference Center - Montreat Conference Center - Montreat, NC - Christian Summer Camps and Mission Trips For Children and Youth Groups | Passport Inc (passportcamps.org)

When: July 6-9 (morning of July 6 and return the afternoon of July 9)

Cost: $350 total (includes 3 nights in Assembly Inn, meals from dinner July 6 - breakfast July 9)

A Non-refundable deposit of $150 is due by Sunday, September 28, the non-refundable balance will be due by January 25th.

Children will share rooms with 2-5 to a room based on room options and total participants. The dining facility does provide food options. Please communicate any food allergies in advance of the payment deadlines.

Why: This faith-based camp has received high reviews from other PCUSA leaders. It is a wonderful way to see all that Montreat has to offer while growing closer to God in a structured scripture-based program. A lot of camp-style FUN is built into the schedule! Our 2025 group LOVED Passport Kids Camp!

Please contact René Prager – r.prager@firstpresconcord.org with questions. We plan to schedule a few informal gatherings ahead of the camp so that campers can get to know each other and the chaperone team.

Please prayerfully consider carving out this special time for your children to participate in this program!

Youth Group News!

Make plans to join us for Youth Group on Sunday!

Middle School – 4:30-6pm and High School – 5:30-7pm. We are in Davis Hall!

We will be baking brownies and cookies for the Market for Mission Bake Sale. If you need service hours, Mrs. Prager is happy to sign-off on the time you spend baking.

Please let us know if you can attend - 2025-2026 Youth: 9/21 Youth Group Baking for Market for Mission

Bring a friend!

Other upcoming Youth events -

9/23, Waterfall & Krispy Kreme road trip! - 2025-2026 Youth: 9/23 Youth Waterfall / Krispy Kreme Day trip

9/28, Combined Youth Scavenger Hunt in Downtown Concord

10/4, Youth Market for Mission bake sale volunteers - 2025-2026 Youth: 10/4 Youth Market for Mission bake sale table volunteers

Gleaning America’s Fields, Feeding America’s Hungry

We hope you will join us Tuesday, September 23 at 11:45 AM, for a delicious lunch ($10) and a very interesting program. Maria Gandy is the coordinator for this area of North and South Carolina for the Society of St. Andrew and will be with us to tell about this organization.  It operates like a well oiled machine as it gleans fields for food that is desperately needed by people. The SoSA staffers talk with farmers and ask them to share their surplus crops and then find people who are willing to gather and glean the fields. It is distributed to Soup Kitchens, Shelters and Food Pantries. Also, every dollar you give to the organization helps with the distribution of the food. It helps keep good food out of land fills and from being plowed under in the fields. The Society of St. Andrew has developed and put in practice one of the most efficient models for food recovery in the United States.

Many of you may be familiar with the Barbee Farms.  You may have purchased their fruits and vegetables at their farm store off Poplar Tent Road or when you shopped at Harris Teeter or Lowe’s!  They have been involved with this wonderful organization for a number of years. Charlie Barbee will be with us to talk about the gleaning. I think you will come away with awe as you see what is being done locally to help others. There are other opportunities to help this wonderful organization. Be sure and call 704-788-2100 no 7 to make your reservation. Invite a friend. All are welcome.

Room Change for Journey Class

Members of the Journey Sunday School class are encouraged to gather in The Commons on September 14 at 9:45 AM!

See you there.

Our Church's Children's Library

It was a great time in the Children's Library during Rally Day, 

and big thanks to Jane Pegram for all of the preparation for that day.

Our church is blessed to have a wonderful selection of children's books for check-out, so bring your children and grandchildren for a visit before or after Sunday School or Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, located on the second floor of the Education Building.  

Blessing of the Animals

On Sunday, October 5, at 3:00 PM, we will gather on the Fellowship House lawn for the Blessing of the Animals service.

We will be collecting donations for the Cabarrus County Animal. The staff and volunteers work very hard to provide a safe, comfortable, and loving environment for these animals. Please bring your donations, (see list below) and Session members will deliver the items to the shelter.

Invite your friends and neighbors as we gather to worship God and to give thanks for, celebrate, and care for all of God's creatures great and small. Join us for human snacks and pet treats!

See you there!

Requested Donations:

Newspaper

Paper towels

Dawn dish soap

Laundry detergent

Puppy pee-pads

Bleach

Canned paté cat food

Gently used towels and blankets

Cat toys

Durable dog toys like Kongs and Nylabones

Gently used leashes and collars

Gently used medium and large dog crates

What is Death Cafe?

A "Death Cafe" is simply a discussion group for people to have an open and compassionate conversation about death and dying, a topic that touches all of us. The goal is to decrease our cultural stigma in talking about this subject and to increase awareness of issues surrounding death and dying in an effort to help each other make the most of our lives. 

This is not a grief support group nor an end-of-life planning session. It is simply a discussion about this natural part of life. Churches are already involved in the spiritual aspects of illness and dying, 

and having these conversations can deepen our understanding of this topic as a spiritual issue.

Join us on either October 19th or 26th in the Commons, where we will start promptly at 3:00 PM and end promptly at 4:30 PM. 

A Sign-Up Genius link is below.   

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA4AE2DA7FACF8-58160056-death

Youth – Fishing at the Farm

Our Youth gathered at the Moore family farm on Sunday for the official Youth Kick-off. They enjoyed an evening of fishing, yard games, great food, fellowship, and s’mores. A huge thank you to Brian and Margaret Moore for hosting and to Thomas and Rindy Moore for leading the fishing fun!