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(For
information on the 2008 Church Retreat, click
here !)
Fellowship:
“Wherever two or three
are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)
At First
Presbyterian, Concord, we do our best to put these words of Jesus
into practice, believing that as our church family gathers together,
we all gain greater insight into and appreciation
 of God’s work in
our lives.
In addition to
weekly worship services and Christian Education opportunities the
“fellowship” events listed here are important ways for you to become
more connected to God, to the world, and to other members of this
community of faith.
Wednesday
Night Fellowship Dinner
From September to April, members and visitors of all ages gather
in Davis Hall from 5:45-6:30 on Wednesday Nights for the best meal
in town! Prepared by our Church Hostess, Melinda Barbee, and a
group of dedicated volunteers, the Fellowship Dinner is a great
opportunity to “check-in” with your church family in the middle of
the week. The meal is $5 per person, limit of $20 per family.
Standing reservations can be made by contacting the church office or
filling out a blue card during a Sunday worship service.
Adult Bible
Studies
Bible study, while a ministry of Christian education is also an
opportunity to grow closer and go deeper into the things of faith
with fellows church members. There are currently three weekly bible studies that you can be a part of:
Wednesday Night
Bible Study, 6:30pm-7:00pm. Taught by Todd Hobbie
Sunday Evening
Kerygma Bible Study, Taught by Leslie Piper
Thursday Morning
Book Series, Taught by Leslie Piper
These groups DO
NOT meet during May-August.
Church Picnics
Each fall, the annual Church family picnic is held at one of the
area parks or farms. These events always feature plenty of games,
good food, music, arts and crafts, and sometimes even horse rides!
Church Retreat
Sometimes to
really appreciate the gifts of community and fellowship, you just
need to get away—and that’s exactly what the Church Retreat provides
you. The annual congregational retreat is a Friday-Sunday affair
that includes a number of activities in which church members of all
ages can relax, form deeper relationships, enjoy God’s creation, and
experience spiritual renewal. This year, the retreat returns to
Montreat, NC, on a new weekend, May2-4! Just minutes east of
Asheville, NC, Montreat is the perfect backdrop for connecting with
nature, with each other, and with God. Click
here to download the
brochure and registration form for the 2008 retreat.
 Senior
Ministries
Senior Citizens (over 50) meet in September-May on the third
Tuesday of the month for “Lunch Bunch.” These gatherings are in
Davis Hall and include lunch and a message by Ken Craig, the Parish
Associate. In addition, this group takes 3 or 4 out of town trips
each year. Past destinations include Williamsburg, Savannah, the
Flat Rock Players, and Blowing Rock Stage Theater, among others.
Men’s
Breakfast
On the second Sunday of every month, the men of the church
gather for an 8:30 am breakfast and a brief devotion. This same group also hosts a
cookout in the early fall
and a picnic in June, usually held at the Niblock farm. Gatherings
are, for the most part, informal and laid back and a great
opportunity to find connection and friendship.
Presbyterian
Women
One of our most active fellowship and service groups is
Presbyterian Women.
The mission
statement of Presbyterian Women is:
Forgiven and Freed by God in Jesus
Christ
and Empowered by the Holy Spirit,
we commit ourselves:
to nurture our Faith through prayer
and Bible study;
to support the mission of the
Church worldwide;
to work for justice and peace;
and to build an inclusive, caring
community of women
that strengthens the Presbyterian
Church (USA)
and witnesses to the promise of
God’s Kingdom.
The Presbyterian
Women of First Presbyterian Church invite you to join us in one or
all of our activities. We are busy throughout the year with circle
meetings, preparing funeral meals, helping with projects within the
church, reaching out to members in need, visiting shut-ins, serving
dinner at the night shelter, planning and attending spiritually
nurturing events…the list goes on and on. The Presbyterian Women is
open to all ages and welcomes you with open arms. Brief descriptions
of some of our activities are described below.
We hope you will
join us
—Betsy Liles, PW
Moderator, 2007-2008
 CIRCLES
There are six circle groups under the guidance of the
Presbyterian Women. These meet monthly at various locations and are
open to one and all. This is a wonderful way to meet other church
members, have a short Bible Study or devotion and sign up to
participate in special service activities for our church, such as
helping with a funeral meal or serving dinner at the Night Shelter.
SPICED
SATURDAY
Spiced Saturday is held in the fall of each year. It is a fun
day filled with food and fellowship for all Presbyterian Women. The
event and entertainment vary from year to year but are always
interesting. Anything from wrapping the perfect Christmas present,
having a cooking class, listening to an inspirational speaker to
painting gourds can be expected!
JOY GIFT
DINNER
The Joy Gift Dinner is held annually during the Christmas Season
and is a chance for all church members to come together for a
delicious, specially prepared holiday dinner while enjoying special
entertainment. The Joy Gift Offering is collected at this time and
is a church-wide offering given at Christmas. It is an opportunity
for us to share our gifts with others who need them.
BIRTHDAY
DINNER
In May the Presbyterian Women gather together for a meal to
celebrate all that has occurred throughout the year and to install
new officers for the upcoming year. The Birthday Dinner began as a
way to recognize our heritage, and women were challenged to give one
penny or one dollar for each year of their life. These offerings
have now evolved into whatever amount each person feels comfortable
with and has enabled a long succession of new mission projects to
come to fruition. |
