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At 11:00 am worship, our kids will sing, lead as liturgists, and we will bless our Preschool staff. Stick around after worship for a BBQ chicken fellowship meal, plus bounce houses, snow cones, and family fun for everyone.
RSVPs help us in our planning, sign up below!
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MAY 4
Final Monday Evening Women's Bible Study
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Monday, May 4 will be the final Women's Bible study! The bible study will resume Monday, September 14.
Interested in getting involved next Fall? Reach out to the church office, Wendy Moeller, or Beth Paul.
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Our next Fellowship Meal will be May 13 at 5:30 pm! Join us in the J Murphy Smith Center for a delicious meal featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, broccoli salad, baked beans, deviled eggs, chips, and desserts!
We hope to see you for great food, warm fellowship, and lots of good conversation. Sign ups help us plan, please use the button below. Come hungry!
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MAY 24
Moving to One Service
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MAY 31
Celebrating Pat Kerr Rowlett
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On May 31, we will gather for a special worship service to give thanks together.
Our full music ministry, Sanctuary Choir, Bell Choir, Children’s Choir, and Resurrection Singers, will lead alongside organist Daniel J. Sansone, with scripture shared by Catherine Campbell, Patrick Ryan, Vaughn Purnell, and Anna Straight.
Following worship, all are invited to a reception honoring Pat Kerr Rowlett and celebrating her extraordinary ministry.
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JUNE 2
Presbyterian Women - Year End Luncheon
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Presbyterian Women will hold a Year End Luncheon on Tuesday, June 2, at 12:00 pm at The Emerald, 5000 Clubhouse Drive in Greenbriar. Please note that this is a new venue. The menu will include strawberry salad topped with grilled chicken and choices of dressings, pecans, and goat and feta cheese, along with crackers, dessert, and iced tea. All ladies of the church are welcome.
The program will include installation of new officers and presentation of the Honorary Life Membership.
| | You may sign up before May 22 by getting a check for $20 made payable to Presbyterian Women (‘luncheon’ in the memo line) to your Circle leader or to Treasurer Pat Rowlett in her church mailbox. The annual Birthday Offering will also be collected at the luncheon or at your final Circle meetings. We hope you will join us! | |
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Submissions Due by May 12
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The Nominating Committee has begun prayerfully discerning who God is calling to serve as an Elder in the class of 2029 (an Elder is a member of the Session, the leadership body of the church) as well as who will serve on the Nominating Committee for 2027.
Do you know someone who has shown faith, leadership, or has that potential and might be called? Are you feeling called to leadership?
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If so, we'd love to hear from you. You can fill out the form below, email nominating@firstpresnb.org, or reach out to any member of the nominating committee.
We would love to have your suggestions before our next meeting – May 12.
With our gratitude,
The 2026 Nominating Committee: Lexie Donlin, Steve Mabie, Norma Morra, Knox Procter, Debbie Murray (elder), Leslie Pinkston (elder and chair)
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FAITH CONNECTION
Community Heroes Recognized
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On Saturday, April 18, First Presbyterian Church was honored by Faith Connection as a Community Hero at the annual Earth Day Celebration at Martin Marietta park.
FPC, along with The Old Pinnix Restaurant, Sound Rivers, the Stormwater Division of the City of New Bern, and Web Slaughter (Trent Woods resident) were recognized for their "outstanding initiative in practicing environmental stewardship in the New Bern area."
Helen Robinson shared, "First Presbyterian Church received national certification in 2025 as an earth care congregation. To achieve this recognition they demonstrated noteworthy environmental achievements in programs and facilities. First Presbyterian Church has also led the way in building community partnerships with other organizations and encouraging other local non-profits to be good stewards of the earth."
As part of the celebration, poems were submitted by children all around New Bern. In total, 92 students submitted poems, 6 of those were submitted on behalf of SALT participants. Four members of FPC were awarded prizes.
- Emilia Werline - Grade 3, First Place
- Bates Gibbs - Grades 4-5, Second Place
- Ava Dunn - Grades4-5, Third Place
- Laura Siu - Grades 4-5, Third Place
Additionally, the following students submitted poems Brooks W, Hayes Gibbs, and Emma Landry Warren.
You can view all of their poems using the links below.
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Want to get more involved with creation care? Join the First Presbyterian Creation Care team for the Craven County Clean Sweep event! Every quarter, Craven County has an event where we pick up trash in various locations throughout our County.
The First Pres Creation Care committee wants to form a team from our congregation to help keep God's earth trash free! This is not a long-term commitment; you just come when you can!
We'll meet at 9:00 am, Saturday May 2nd, at the Craven County Administration Bldg, 406 Craven St. Please wear closed toe shoes and bring gloves if you wish, all other equipment (like trash grabbers) will be provided!
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CATHERINE CAMPBELL
First Pres Online Store
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We’re excited to launch something brand new for First Pres that brings together spirit, style, and support for our kids and youth!
For the first time ever, we are partnering with Bender Apparel to offer official First Presbyterian Church apparel, alongside beloved First Pres Preschool designs. This fundraiser directly supports our youth trips and preschool programming, helping us continue to create meaningful experiences for children and students throughout the year.
There are three unique designs available for both Preschool and First Pres Church apparel, giving you options across a range of styles, price points, and thicknesses. Whether you are looking for something light and simple or a cozy sweatshirt, there is something for everyone. Even better, you can choose from a full rainbow of colors, and sizes range from infant through adult, making this a true churchwide collection.
Here’s how it works:
Early bird ordering is now open through the link below. The first store closes and goes to print on May 26, with pickup available in the church office a couple of weeks later. After that, the store will reopen for a second summer ordering window, with a second print run going in August, just in time for back-to-school season.
This is a wonderful way to show your First Pres pride, support our youngest learners and youth programs, and get some great new gear for your family all at the same time.
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WENDY MOELLER
William Lee Hawkins Library
| | Hopefully, by now everybody is aware of the special service of celebration and music which we will be having on Sunday, May 31st, in honor of Pat Rowlett’s retirement after 46 years of dedicated service to this church and to her Lord. This month’s article is a bit of a lead up to that, but first (and this is very important!) there is mood music which you need to avail yourself of before reading the article. Just click on the link… | |
Now a bit of a treasure hunt for Pat’s favorite things amongst the books from the William Lee Hawkins Library selected for highlighting this month:
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Snickers from the Front Pew: Confessions from Two Preacher’s Kids by Todd Hafer [817 HAF]. And then, ask Pat to share some of her own humorous stories about what it was like to grow up the daughter of Rev. Daniel Burke Kerr, life-long Presbyterian minister.
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The Presbyterian Handbook by Geneva Press [285.1 GEN] for those of you who, unlike Pat, are still figuring out what it means to be a member of a Presbyterian congregation.
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Columba’s Iona: A New History by Rosalind Marshall [941.154 MAR], site of pilgrimage for Pat, who is very much of Scottish clan Kerr.
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Dogspell: A Dogmatic Theology on the Abounding Love of God by Mary Ellen Ashcroft [231 ASH] and Pawverbs for a Dog Lover’s Heart: Inspiring Stories of Friendship, Fun, and Faithfulness by Jennifer Bleakley [223.7 BLE], recognizing Pat’s love of her four-legged friends.
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If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat: 10 Lessons to Trusting God by John Ortberg [248.4 ORT]. Be careful if you bring up boating with Pat; there are those of us who think she still has PTSD from at least one of her boating expeditions with Captain Pete.
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And another “boat” story for our smallest members ….Tiny Baby Moses: The Story of Baby Moses in the River Nile by Julie Dietrich from the children’s library, reminding us of Pat’s love for the children and grandchildren of this congregation over those forty plus years.
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And who of you knew that before Pat became Director of Music she had a career as a math teacher? I believe that one of the ways in which God communicates with us in all the complexity of the universe is through mathematics, but finding a book for that one was a bit of a challenge. Try 3:16 - The Numbers of Hope by Max Lucado [248.4 LUC], a book much enjoyed several years ago when it was studied in one of our adult Faith Formation classes.
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Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell [FIC CAL], a fictional life of Dr. Luke (the author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles) in honor of Pat’s own Doctor Pete, her husband and much beloved New Bern physician for almost forty years here in New Bern. Parenthetically, Chris Kelso will be presenting this book on August 16th to our summer Faith Formation class.
| | As you peruse or read any of these, all of which will be on the big table in the library for the month of May (second floor of the Ministry Center), may you reflect back with gratitude for the ministry of Pat Kerr Rowlett. And, after reflection, share with her your thankfulness for her life among us! | |
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Spring Gathering
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Several Presbyterian Women from First Presbyterian Church of New Bern traveled to First Presbyterian Church of Kinston on April 18 for the Spring Gathering of the Presbytery of New Hope.
Those attending included (left to right) Ann Griffin-Hall, Carole Koi (New Hope Historian), Pam Gaskill (First Pres PW Secretary), Jaina Olesen, (First Pres PW Co-Moderator), Janet Bryan (New Hope Scholarship Chair), Janet Benrey-Swain, Sue Spiker, Rebecca Forest, and Elaine Berberich (First Pres PW Moderator).
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PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Spring Cleanup
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If you go into the Session House in the next week or so, you might notice an extra sparkle to it. You would be right!
On April 21 a group of hard-working Presbyterian Women gathered there for a spring cleanup, organized by Jaina Olesen and Carla Brantner. A kitchen crew cleaned out all the cabinets, inventoried their contents, and got it all reorganized. Others worked in the main room and other areas, washing windows, woodwork, walls, baseboards, and mopping floors.
Thanks to Catherine Campbell for helping in the kitchen, to Tim Elliot for getting all of the cleaning supplies, and to Richard Colflesh for his joyful assistance. The ladies not only accomplished a major task, but shared camaraderie and had a lot of fun to boot. The event was so successful that we may want to make it an annual affair.
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DEBBIE MURRAY
Haiti Reforestation Partnership
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The Haiti Reforestation Partnership (HRP) Board held a meeting on April 25th in Charlottesville, VA. The work continues from what started with many First Presbyterian folks 35 years ago.
The sculpture above is made of stone by a Haitian artist.
For more information about HRP; contact Debbie Murray or check out their website below.
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PAM GASKILL
Camp Albemarle
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Camp Albemarle is preparing for another incredible summer, and is still accepting registrations for both the residential and day camp programs. Each summer, campers grow in faith, build lasting friendships, and experience the joy of God’s presence in a meaningful and life-giving way.
As they prepare for the season ahead, there are several exciting enhancements underway to enrich the camper experience, from refreshed gathering spaces and renovations to the bathhouse, to new opportunities for adventure and connection along the waterfront. It is a joy to see these updates come to life as they continue to invest in the future of this ministry.
How can you help? Camp Albemarle welcomes you sending potential campers their way and they welcome your prayers for our summer staff and the campers who will be with us—that lives will be changed, faith will be deepened, and Christ will be known in a real and personal way. You are warmly welcome to visit camp anytime and see firsthand what God is doing here.
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PHOTO REQUEST
Update Your Realm Account
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We want to ensure we have the most up to date photo of you for our Realm directory.
Please send an updated photo to church@firstpresnb.org or stop by the office to have your photo taken.
Do you have the Realm Connect app on your phone? If not, use the button below to download it directly to your phone.
Reach out with any questions!
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