Things Every Parishioner Should Consider When Their Church is Searching for a New Pastor
Rev. Dr. Jan Edmiston, General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Charlotte, writes a personal blog, titled: A Church for Starving Artists, that frequently addresses pressing issues in Congregational Life. This past week, three of her blogs focused on issues (and the out-of-date thinking!) that often guides pastoral search committees and their congregations when looking for a new Pastor.
These blogs are listed below:
Enjoy!
Scott Kenefake
Transitional Pastor
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February 2020
Church Retreat/Staycation!, February 21-23, (Friday-Sunday)
Friday, February 21st
Dinner, 6:00 p.m., Davis Hall
Keynote: 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary
"Shifting Ground: Conversations and Practices for Churches
in an Age of Change"
Childcare available
Saturday, February 22nd
Breakfast, 8:00 a.m., Davis Hall; Children & Youth programming to run concurrently with Workshop
Workshop, 9:00 a.m.--1:00 p.m.,
"OK Boomer, What's Next? Religion in a Time of Change"
[Trends, Facts About Cultural Change]
Davis Hall, with midpoint break
Childcare available
Sunday, February 23rd
9:45 a.m.,
GIFT Sunday, A Conversation with Diana Butler Bass,
Davis Hall
Worship, 11:00 a.m.
"Get Up and Do Not be Afraid"
Exodus 24:12-18, Matthew 17:1-9
Diana Butler Bass, Preaching
Childcare available
Books by Diana Butler Bass that will be on hand for purchase and signing throughout the Weekend:
Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening
Broken We Kneel: Reflections on Faith and Citizenship
Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks
Grounded: Finding God in the World-A Spiritual Revolution
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Just a reminder that you have until
tomorrow,
January 30, 2020 to sign up anonymously for the flag discussions by going to
this link, or by calling Suzanne Russell in the church office, 704-788-2100 and letting her know which group you wish to be in, want the flags to stay, want the flags removed, or unsure, need to get more information.
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Presbyterian Women’s 2019 Dunford Fund Grants
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The Presbyterian Women were able to grant requests for $21,945 to various projects in the community in 2019 from the income from the Dunford Fund. They include the Ridenhour Scholarship awarded to our seminary student Casey Aldridge, grants for internal projects of the Presbyterian Women such as the Backpack Program and the Todd and Betsy Hobbie Scholarship, and mini-grants to various external organizations and individuals doing work in our community.
These external mini grants make up the large majority of Dunford awards. Grants were made this year to:
-The Early Childhood Foundation of Cabarrus County to pay for “Conscious Discipline” workshops, books and workbooks offered to all preschool teachers in Cabarrus County.
-The Robertson Family of First Reformed Church of Landis who are gathering resources to move to Tanzania and serve as missionaries.
-The SandBox serving area families of seriously ill children with programs such as their annual “Prom” and providing travel expenses to distant appointments and other assistance.
-A Rose of Thanks for mailing expenses for care packages collected by area churches and sent to deployed military women.
-The Boys and Girls Club to pay after school care expenses for 2 children.
-Racial Equity Cabarrus to provide 10 scholarships locally for their workshops.
-Cooperative Christian Ministry for a volunteer appreciation event
-William Black Lodge (at Montreat) for food and housing for a retreat for pastors of smaller churches.
-Meredith Sheridan’s Girl Scout Gold Award project to furnish a teen room for foster children at DHS
-The Academic Learning Center for tutors for low income children
-Present age Ministries for a counseling room for young victims of human trafficking referred by local law enforcement, schools and courts.
The Dunford Fund was left in the care of the Presbyterian Women of our church in 1980 by Nancy Ridenour Dunford in honor of her mother, Mrs. Johnsie Sims Ridenhour, one of our faithful members. Income from the fund is “to be used for yearly projects of the women of the church”. Grants are made quarterly and there is an application process. For more information, contact Cathy Floyd, treasurer.
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Teach Us to Pray: Re-Imaging Our Idea of Prayer
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Curious about prayer? Looking for a place to learn more about prayer, ask questions, explore and practice? Join us on Thursdays through February 20 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Commons Prayer Room in a conversation about prayer led by Rev. Rachel Vogado. (This conversation will be taking place during the lunch hour, so feel free to bring a bagged lunch if you would like.)
Using a set of images by artist Scott Erickson, we will explore some of the frustrations surrounding our personal prayer practices, and then discover ways to reframe how we can enter into a deeper conversation with the Divine.
Unable to join, but hate to miss? Join us via Zoom, and share in a digital conversation with us. By tuning in, you can see the images we are using and tune into our conversation. We will also have a digital host, in case you would like to ask a question or share a comment. Join the meeting by clicking
here, which will direct you to set up a free Zoom account. Rev. Rachel Vogado is happy to help answer any questions about Zoom or how to connect with us; you can find her email address below.
Never heard of the Commons? The Commons is a large & sacred space to help you get some one-on-one time with God. Think of it as a prayer room for people who live in the real world. You can find us at 75 Church Street NE, Concord NC 28025. You can park in the parking lot at First Presbyterian Church. Learn more about the Commons
here!
Finally, we would love to know if you plan to join us so we can know how many to prepare for, whether in person or via Zoom. Send an email to
Rachel and let her know if you plan to attend! We hope you will join us!
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Come have lunch on February 11 at 11:45 a.m. in Davis Hall and learn the best practices for interacting with individuals diagnosed with dementia and providing support to their caregivers and families.Remember to make your lunch reservations by noon on Monday, February 10th.
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Sunday, February 9th,
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in Davis Hall
We need your support to reach our goal
to package 10,000+ meals.
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March 2020
Sundays in Lent*—8:45 a.m. Worship returns in the Sanctuary
This worship service will feature Communion by Intinction each week, a contemplative feel, inclusive language, acoustic music, engagement of all five senses, a brief Mediation on the readings from Scripture, within a recognizably “Reformed” format, ending by 9:30 am.
Schedule:
March 1,
Youth Sunday: Combined Worship at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary
March 8, Worship at 8:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
March 15, Worship at 8:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
March 22, Worship at 8:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
March 29, Worship at 8:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
April 5
th (Passion/Palm Sunday), Worship at 8:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
*If sufficient attendance and support for this service is demonstrated, the service
may
be continued through the Season of Easter, ending on Sunday, May 24
th
. The summer worship schedule begins on Sunday, May 31
st
, when worship will move to 10:00 a.m.
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Sunday Evenings in Lent, Book Study & Dinner
(March 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29), 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.*
First Presbyterian Church of Concord (FPCC) and Racial Equity Cabarrus, (REC)
read about REC
are sponsoring a five-week study of the book,
Waking Up White,
by racial justice educator, Debby Irving,
Discussion leader will be Rev. Dr. Scott M. Kenefake, participants to include members and friends of FPCC, members of the larger community, and the six participating congregations of REC.
Dinner to follow in Davis Hall @ 6:00 p.m.
Books (Paperback and Kindle) can be ordered
here
Book is also available
here
Save the date!
Debby Irving will be speaking at FPCC (for an REC sponsored community event) on Friday evening, April 24
th, at 7 p.m, in the sanctuary.
*
To register, call or email the Church Office by Thursday, February 27
th
.
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New build date for First Presbyterian Church:
Saturday, March 21, 2020
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Details and a sign-up link in a future Banner
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Lay Liturgists
Sign up
here to be a lay liturgist to
read scripture in worship on Sundays.
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Sanctuary Flowers
To give the congregation a gift of
to sign-up for one or more Sundays
during the year.
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Wednesday Night Fellowship
February 12, 2020
6:00 p.m., Davis Hall
.
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Circle 3 Lunch
Tuesday, January 7
11:45 a.m., Davis Hall
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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.
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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.
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Sunday, February 2, 2020
Rev. Dr. Scott Kenefake
Micah 6:1-8, Matthew 5:1-12
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Thursday, January 30
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
12:00 p.m. Prayer Class
2:00 p.m. Literacy Tutoring
5:30 p.m. Memorial Gardens BOD
Friday, January 31
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
9:30 a.m. Adult Literacy Tutoring
Sunday, February 2
9:45 a.m. Confirmation Class
9:45 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Choir
11:00 a.m. Worship
2:30 p.m. Youth Fellowship
4:00 p.m. Daisy Troop 3631
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Monday, February 3
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
11:30 a.m. AA
6:30 p.m. Circle 1
7:00 p.m. Boys Scout District Steering Com
Tuesday, February 4
9:00 a.m. First Kids Preschool
11:45 a.m. Circle 3
7:00 p.m. Al Anon meeting
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts Troop 3
7:00 p.m. Board of Deacons
Wednesday, February 5
7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study
9:00 a.m. First Kids
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting
6:30 p.m. PNC meeting
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir
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Birthdays
January 30
- Alyson Caldwell, Susanne Hamilton, Dave Rogers
January 31
- Julie Epler, Claire Kinane, H. L. Ruth IV
February 1 -
Agustin Niblock, Elaine Stamey
February 2 -
Holly Cagle, Avery Garmon, Thomas Moore, Sarah Neal
February 3
- Nancy Chikes, Karen Rogers
February 4 -
Elizabeth Anne Dover, Steve Ferguson, Doug King
February 5
- Daniel Carlough, Joe Simpson, Caroline Voncannon
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Scott Kenefake
Interim Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
for Care and Mission
Associate Pastor
for Christian Formation
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Director of Music and Organist
Choirmaster
Church Administrator
Financial Secretary
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Heath Ritchie
Maintenance Superintendent
Director of First Kids
Church Hostess
Wedding Director
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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
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The Commons Prayer Room Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Open for Scheduled Groups
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday mornings for FPC
Memorial Garden:
(704) 786-8009
36 Spring Street SW
Concord NC 28025
Garden Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Closed Monday
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