Dear Friends,

As I sit down to write this, news is trickling out about another school shooting, this time in Nashville, my beloved hometown. I struggle to imagine the grief those families, teachers, and staff are holding right now. As we reach the end of our Lenten journey, I remain puzzled by the unfinished rough edges of this battered and beloved world. I also remain convinced of our need for a savior who does not dodge the horrors that await him. Instead he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, confronting hatred with love, violence with peace, and injustice with righteous anger. He will wind up giving himself for us and for all, and he will be raised to new life, blessedly promising to bring us with him.

I hope you have made or will make plans to join us for worship during Holy Week. The entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the shared meal on Maundy Thursday, and the story of Jesus’ last few hours underscore the power and joy of Easter. Each year I am reminded again of how much I need Holy Week to remind me that Easter happens not in a fairytale world, long ago and far away, but here in this embattled world God so dearly loves and is determined to save.

I look forward to walking through the week with you, dear ones.

Grace and peace,

Ellen

Holy Week with FPC

April 2: Palm Sunday

11:00 AM Worship with communion *Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the Narthex before Worship begins to participate in the Palm processional. Nursery age children can be taken to the nursery following the procession. We will not have a children's message today.

April 6: Maundy Thursday

6:30 PM: Dinner followed by Worship with communion in Davis Hall

(Sign up here for the dinner by Monday, April 3)

April 7: Good Friday

3:30 PM: Community Stations of the Cross, begins at Grace Lutheran Church

7:00 PM: Tenebrae service in the sanctuary

April 9: Easter

7:00 AM: Sunrise service in Memorial Garden

9:45 AM: Flowered Cross service in the sanctuary

11:00 AM: Worship in the sanctuary (Nursery available for this service only)

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

Please note that Pew Prep will not be offered on Palm Sunday nor Easter Sunday. Extra worship activities can be found in the Worship Bags, available in the narthex. Pew Prep will resume on April 16^th. We hope all of our kindergarten through second graders will join us then, as we begin a fun review of worship skills we covered during this year to help prepare us to make the most of our time in the pews this summer!

For our families with littles in the nursery and for those who have grandchildren under five years old visiting for Easter – the nursery will be open for the 11am worship service. 

Our Youth enjoyed an evening of fellowship off campus on Sunday. After hotdogs and s’mores over the fire, we studied scripture and talked about the season of Lent.

The youth were invited to reflect on things they’ve said or done or left unsaid / undone. After writing down these confessions on paper, they were able to place them in the fire, symbolizing God’s forgiveness. Thank you to Elizabeth Anne for hosting us and leading the lesson.

This week, Youth are invited to participate in:

Sunday School - 9:45 AM, Room 304 Will Young Building - including the Palm Sunday story

Worship - 11:00 AM, Sanctuary, palm procession

Confirmation - 4:30-5:30 PM Davis Hall - With your Confirmation Partner

Dinner - 5:30-6:00 PM Davis Hall - RSVP now!

Youth Group - 6:00 -7:00 PM Davis Hall for all 6th-12th grade - college care packages

Please RSVP - 2022-2023 Youth: 4/2 Youth (signupgenius.com)

Our confirmation class studied Exodus 12:1-20 and Luke 22:7-23, learning about how God provided for the Israelites and how the Passover tradition was observed by Jesus and the disciples. We baked unleavened bread together. We also learned about the gluten free bread that our congregation members bake for communion. Thank you to Gina Goff for helping us with our lesson this week. 

The Barrier Family

Logan and Shaun Barrier joined First Presbyterian in May 2022. Logan is from New Wilmington, PA. She went to Davidson College on a full athletic scholarship, lived in Florence, Italy for a year, and is now an assistant principal at Mount Pleasant Middle School, while also working on an doctorate degree through ECU. Shaun was born and raised in Mount Pleasant, NC. He graduated from UNCC, lived in Jackson Hole, WY for 8 years, and is now working locally on a farm. Logan and Shaun will celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary in June.

Logan and Shaun have two sons, Lipe who is 3 ½ years old, and George who will be two in May. The boys love playing outside on the farm, going to the park, eating ice cream and pizza in downtown Concord, and playing with the “puppy cars” at church.  

The Noisy Offering collection from last Sunday, March 26, was $362.31! Thank you everyone!

Following worship members enjoyed Pizza and Puzzles in Davis Hall. You can see in the picture below that a good time was had by all! Be sure to sign up the next time we offer something so you don't miss out on the fun!

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

Restoring Hope, Feeding the Hungry,

Empowering the Oppressed

your impact

$3.1 million        granted by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in the United States and 15 countries

80                        grants impacting 23 countries given by Presbyterian Hunger Program

over 3,000           people trained in food production around the world

191,182               Gift of the Heart Kits and Blankets distributed

276                      certified PC(USA) Earth Care congregations helped care for creation

1,500                   trees planted in Nigeria, in addition to others around the world

$15,000               Funded Metropolitan Tenants Organization

$9,000                 Funded the Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication

786                      Presbyterian congregations purchased eco-palms for sustainable forestry and

livelihoods

$15,000               Funded Struggle for Miami's Affordable and Sustainable Housing, Inc.

When we all do a little, it adds up to a lot!

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received on Easter.

OGHS envelops will be available in the pews at 11:00 AM. 

One Great Hour of Sharing Fish banks will be received at the Flower Cross Service on Easter.

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The first Tuesdays of the months: April 4th and May 2nd between 1:00 PM -4:00 PM, items for the Market for Mission can be dropped off to the Will Young building sale room (306). Carts and help will be available. 



Drop offs will be held more frequently this summer. Members are also welcome to drop items (preferably boxed) to the shelving units outside of 306 at a time convenient for them. Use the elevator near Davis Hall to avoid preschool if during their school hours. Questions??? Call Gina Goff (704) 794-2228 or Carrie Myers (704) 467-0962. Be sure to mark October 7th on your calendars and let us know if you’d like to volunteer. Thank you!!

The S & D Sunday School class invites the congregation to join in providing Easter hams to families-in-need served by Operation Breadbasket. S & D class members will purchase and deliver 140 hams to Operation Breadbasket in time for their Easter distribution. If you would like to donate, please make your check out to Brian Moore and either drop it off at the church office, or mail to him: 2401 Bethlehem Church Rd, Gold Hill, NC 28071. Thank you!

Reformed Christianity, Grace Alone, and the Church Today

Dr. Ottati will introduce the classic reformed theme of the "covenant of grace" and its implications for how we understand predestination and the purpose of the church. In doing so, he'll consider passages from Genesis, Romans 5, and the Scot's Confession.  

Douglas Ottati is the Craig Family Distinguished Professor of Reformed Theology and Justice. Before coming to Davidson, he taught at Union Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He is also the past president of the Society of Christian Ethics.

Love Feast in the Streets: Your help is needed!

Sponsored by Esther’s Heart, Love Feast in the Streets provides meals and various services to our unhoused neighbors in Concord. FPC is providing the volunteers for this monthly event on Saturday, April 15, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Volunteers will greet our neighbors, serve meals, and guide people to the medical services, barber, clothing tables, and shower facilities. 10-12 volunteers are needed!

Please sign up now: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4fa8ae2ea1fa7-love#/

If you have questions, you may speak with Dakeita Vanderburg or Elizabeth Anne Dover Bishop. 

Maundy Thursday

April 6

6:30 PM Dinner and Fellowship

7:15 PM Worship with Communion

Maundy Thursday derives its name from the Latin meaning “commandment.” Traditionally on this night, as we will do this year, the church listens to the story of the night before Jesus’ arrest according to the Gospel of John. John narrates Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and commanding them to love one another as he has loved them. Though not part of John’s gospel, Maundy Thursday is also a night when the church recalls the supper Jesus shared with his disciples in an upper room on the night that he was betrayed. As a way to recall the fellowship Jesus had with his disciples that night, we will share communion around tables. Children will assist in the liturgy at the table.

Please make reservations for dinner here or call the church reservation line, 704-788-2100, press 7 

A meaningful and lovely prayer service for Ukraine was held in The Commons Sunday night. The service was crafted primarily by Carrie Myers and was led by members of our congregation, as well as neighbors from the community. Around 40 people attended and at least six churches in our area were represented. The liturgy and prayers were printed in the bulletin. Copies of the bulletin are available in the Fellowship House.

Thursday Connection Resumes April 20 at 2:00 PM

At Thursday Connection, we will be reading and discussing Kate Bowler’s book, No Cure for Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear). Bowler is an associate professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke University. In 2015, at 35 years old, she was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer. In this book, Bowler “searches for a way forward as she mines the wisdom (and absurdity) of today’s ‘best life now’ industry, which insists on exhausting positivity and on trying to convince us that we can out-eat, our-learn, and out-perform our humanness.”

We will likely be discussing this book through early June. Books cost $15. Please contact Pastor Julie by April 5 if you would like her to order a book for you.