FIRSTNEWS For
Christ in the Heart of Charlotte
Published by First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte NC January 2019
Session Authorizes Capital Campaign Campaign planning begins for funding strategic plan initiatives
In 2019, First Presbyterian will step up its work on the initiatives outlined in its 2017 Strategic Plan by planning and launching a capital campaign. Emily Johnson will chair the Capital Campaign and lead a Cabinet of at least 15 members of the congregation, who will be announced this month. “As our church embraces what God has in store for our future and prepares to celebrate 200 years of ministry for Christ in the heart of Charlotte, I am thrilled that Emily Johnson is chairing this important campaign,” said the Reverend Pen Peery. “Emily is not only eminently qualified to lead this effort because of her professional career in fund development, but she also has a deep history and commitment to the Church as a life-long Presbyterian and a current Elder here at First Presbyterian.” Emily Johnson Emily’s 17-year career in development and fundraising has included time with the Montreat Conference Center and Trinity Episcopal School. She is currently Director of Development and Marketing for HopeWay, a nonprofit residential mental health facility in Charlotte. “I am honored to gather a group of leaders among us to develop the direction of the campaign based on the good work done through the strategic plan,” Emily said. “The rich history of First Presbyterian and this opportunity provide a path to prepare our church for the future, which Pen Peery is part of our role in strengthening the community around us. We believe that Christ continues to call us to serve that community, and we need to be prepared for what that will mean in our third century here in Center City.” continues on page 4...
Save the Dates
February 3
Souper Bowl of Caring
February 10
FUPC-FPC Discussion Series
February 24
Congregational Breakfast
We Worship
Welcome Our Guest Organist During the month of January, we welcome guest organist Ginger Wyrick, music faculty at UNCC. Ginger will be with us while Director of Music Ministries Will Young takes his first month of sabbatical. In January, Will plans a month of travel to observe, learn from and perhaps even participate as a choir member with music departments at churches around the country with programs that are similar to FPC’s in size and scope. During the summer months, he will travel abroad, incorporating time to visit other church music ministries with periods of reflection and restoration.
We Worship Wednesday Dinners & Choir Rehearsals Resume/Jan. 9 Global Mission Sunday/Jan. 27 Carol & Kirk Choir Workshop/Jan. 12/HS Youth Room/10 a.m. - Noon
We Learn
Registration for Massanetta Middle School Conference/Jan. 6-Feb. 3/ Open to current 5th-8th graders (July 11-14, 2019) Registration for Montreat Youth Conference/Jan. 6-Feb. 3/ Open to current 8th-12th graders (July 21-27, 2019)
Global Mission Sunday Hear about our mission work in Haiti in worship and at brunch during the Formation hour on Sunday, January 27. Preaching during worship at 9 and 11 a.m. will be Pastor Actionnel Fleurisma, with OFCB (Organization of the Christian Force of Bayonnais) in Bayonnais, Haiti. During the Global Mission Brunch at 10 a.m., all are invited to meet and hear from Bill Nathan, a Haitian drummer who will tell the story of his connection to OFCB and his work with formerly enslaved children. The brunch is free and you can RSVP beginning January 13.
Coming up at First Presbyterian Church
Fourth Grade Catechism Class/Sundays, Jan. 6- March 31/P306/10 a.m. Fifth Grade Who Am I? Class/Sundays, Jan. 6- March 10/P304/10 a.m. Confirmation Meeting/Sunday, Jan. 6/10 a.m. MS & HS PYC/Sunday, Jan. 6/6 p.m. MS & HS Youth Council Meetings/Sunday, Jan. 6/Middle School in P301, High School in P321/5:15 p.m. Actionnel Fleurisma
Bible & Beverage/Tuesday, Jan. 8/ Resident Culture, 2101 Central Ave./ 8-9:30 p.m. Confirmation Class Visit to Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte/ Friday, Jan. 11/5:30 p.m.
OFCB and Actionnel work with a school, medical clinic and a non-denominational church in the mountains of the Bayonnais region of Haiti, where Actionnel grew up and returned to raise his family after receiving his education in Haiti and in the U.S. The area is home to tens of thousands of residents, struggling for daily survival, many trying to support families with subsistence farming.
Rehearsing Scripture/Sunday, Jan. 13/Wood Fellowship Hall/10 a.m.
Bill was forced into slavery after the death of Bill Nathan his mother when he was seven. He has since been able to study drumming in Senegal and Gambia, Africa, and performs at churches and universities around the U.S.
Youth Mission Giving Wall/Jan. 27-Feb.24
Third Grade Learning to Use My Bible Class/Sundays, Jan. 13-March 10/P320/10 a.m. MS & HS Grade Level Dinners/Sunday, Jan. 13/Offsite/6 p.m. MS & HS PYC/Sunday, Jan. 20/6 p.m. K-5th Mission Impossible: Loaves & Fishes/Saturday Jan. 26/Meet in Historical Lobby/9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MS & HS PYC/Sunday, Jan. 27/6 p.m. Youth Ski Trip/Feb. 1-3 Souper Bowl of Caring/Sunday, Feb. 3/During worship
Montreat Worship & Music Conference/June 16-21 Registration is open for current 3-12 graders. Contact Caryn Overbey (coverbey@firstpres-charlotte.org).
We Learn
Rehearsing Scripture/Jan. 13 The Reverend Dr. Anna Carter Florence, Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching at Columbia Seminary, will lead worship and Formation for adults and youth. Her topic, Rehearsing Scripture, offers a novel way to read scripture in community—entering the text, encountering it and coming back with something deep and true. 2019 Willard Lecture in May Tickets will be available in early March for the 2019 Willard Lecture by Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a New York Times best-selling author whose TED Talks have been viewed more than three million times. Rise Above: Becoming a Healer for An Ailing World will be the topic when Dr. Haidt (pronounce it “hite”) speaks at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 p.m.
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First Welcome Class for New Members/Sunday, Feb. 3 and 10/P206/10 a.m. FUPC-FPC Discussion Series & Lunch/Sundays, Feb. 10-24/Alternating locations/12:15 p.m. Bible & Beverage/Feb. 12/ Resident Culture, 2101 Central Ave./8-9:30 p.m. Congregational Breakfast/Sunday, Feb. 24/Wood Fellowship Hall/9:30 a.m.
We Serve
Room in the Inn/Mondays & Tuesdays through March 26 Moving Ministry/Jan. 12/Crisis Assistance Furniture Bank, 333 Dalton Road Global Mission Brunch/Jan. 27/Wood Fellowship Hall/10 a.m. Point in Time Homeless Population Study/Jan. 31/Wood Fellowship Hall/4:30 a.m. Haiti Mission Trip/Feb. 13-20 Cuba Mission Trip/March 13-20, 2019/Matanzas, Cuba
We Learn, continued from previous page Calendar, continued from previous page
We Care
Understanding & Connecting with Today’s Teens/Thursday, Jan. 10/ Sharon Towers/3-4 p.m. First Fruits Fellowship/Monday, Jan. 14/Napa on Providence/6:30 p.m. Talk It Over: Women’s Health Issues/Thursday, Jan. 31/Home of Michelle Frenzel/7 p.m. Prime Timers Brunch Bunch/Sunday, Feb. 10/Offsite/Noon Sharon Towers Valentine Party/Tuesday, Feb. 12/Hunter Hall at Sharon Towers/6:30 p.m.
Church Leadership & Administration
Lunch & Examination of New Officers/Sunday, Jan. 13/ 2:15 p.m. New Officers Installation & Ordination/Sunday, Jan. 20/During 11 a.m. worship Offices closed for MLK Holiday/Monday, Jan. 21 Diaconate Meeting/Sunday, Jan. 27/Pattie Cole Room/6 p.m. Session Dinner and Meeting/Sunday, Jan. 27/Frances Browne Dining Room/ 6 p.m.
Dr. Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at the NYU-Stern School of Business. His research focuses on the emotional foundations and cultural variations of morality. He uses his research to help people understand and respect the moral motives of those with whom they disagree. Bible & Beverage/Jan. 8/Resident Culture Jonathan Haidt This discussion and fellowship with the Reverend Pen Peery and other FPC men resumes on Tuesday, January 8, at Resident Culture Brewing, 2101 Central Avenue, 8-9:30 p.m. Other dates for 2019 are February 12, March 12 and April 9. K-5th Grade Mission Possible: Loaves & Fishes To help our elementary children learn about the good work of our FPC benevolences, we plan a special morning each year to focus on one of our helping ministries. On Saturday, January 26, our children in grades K through five will learn about Loaves & Fishes. This activity will include: • time to hear how Loaves & Fishes started at FPC • getting a tour of the pantry, and • participating in a hands-on service project Meet at the church in the Historical Lobby at 9:30 a.m. Friends are welcome and the activity will be finished by 12:30 p.m.
PW Circles
Please bring a canned good to donate to Loaves & Fishes. Register under Tickets & Signups on the Now@First page on the church website.
Circle 4/Monday, Jan. 7/Pattie Cole Room (S203)/2 p.m.
Youth Mission Giving Wall Stop by the Giving Wall on Sundays, January 27-February 24, and choose an envelope with the amount you would like to donate to support the Youth Mission Fund.
Circle 11/Thursday, Jan. 3/Home of Margaret Rainey, 701 Colville Road/5 p.m. Circle 15/Tuesday, Jan. 8/Home of Melissa Self, 2009 Dartmouth Place/9:45 a.m. Circle 6/Tuesday, Jan. 8/Home of Vicki Hankins, 1912 Beverly Drive/10:30 a.m. Circle 10/Tuesday, Jan. 8/Home of Heather Turner, 3300 Providence Lane/7 p.m. Circle 12/Tuesday, Jan. 8/Home of Martha Ogburn, 6316 Woodleigh Oaks Drive/7 p.m. Circle 13/Tuesday, Jan. 8/Sharon Towers City View Club Room/ 7 p.m. Circle 5/Monday, Jan. 14/Sharon Towers City View Club Room/10:30 a.m. Circle 3/Tuesday, Jan. 15/Home of Barb Neidinger, 461 Pine Road, Davidson/1 p.m. Circle 14/Thursday, Jan. 17/Dilworth Tasting Room, 300 East Tremont Avenue/7 p.m. Circle 2/Thursday, Jan. 24/Foxcroft Wine Company, 1235 East Boulevard/7:30 p.m.
You can also donate online under Tickets & Signups on the Now@ First page on the church website, beginning January 27.
We Care
First Fruits Fellowship/Monday, Jan. 14 Everyone is invited to drop by this new fellowship offering at Napa on Providence, 110 Perrin Place, at 6:30 p.m. Contact the Reverend Mary Margaret Porter (mporter@firstpres-charlotte.org) with questions or ideas for future locations. Discussion on Understanding Teens at Sharon Towers Are you curious about your grandkid’s world? Do you sometimes wonder why teens do what they do? Join Southeast Psych’s Jonathan Hetterly and Elise Howell for Understanding and Connecting with Today’s Teens, a free discussion for residents and the community on Thursday, January 10, 3-4 p.m. at Sharon Towers. Hetterly received his M.A. in Counseling and his Master of Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Howell received her M.A. in Christian Counseling from GordonConwell and her B.A. in Psychology at Winthrop University.
Whenever registration, tickets or other sign-up is required, visit the Now@First page on the church website under Tickets & Signups.
Help Hetterly and Howell customize their presentation, sponsored by FPC’s Health Ministry, by sending questions you may want to ask to Kristin (kfoster@firstpres-charlotte.org).
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Capital Campaign, continued from page 1
Emily said the first task of the Capital Campaign Cabinet will be to work with Elders and Deacons to define the scope of the campaign, then provide the opportunity for the congregation to provide input. “Critical components of the strategic plan will require funds beyond the church’s operating budget,” Emily said. “It’s going to be important, especially in these early stages, to hear from the congregation before we move forward.” The Cabinet will also provide regular updates to the congregation, especially about how any funds that are raised will be used to advance strategic initiatives. “On the cusp of our bicentennial celebration, we will also be paving the way to our future,” said Pen. “What an exciting time and a significant opportunity we have as members of First Pres.”
Weekly Activities Calendar
The following activities occur each week on the days indicated. Check out the Events Calendar, beginning on page 2, for special events at various times throughout the month.
Sundays
Sunday Morning Fellowship Information tables, headline news & coffee in Wood Fellowship Hall, 8:45-11 a.m. Worship Sanctuary, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday Morning Formation for All Ages Details in Wood Fellowship Hall Various locations, 10 a.m.
Mondays
Al-Anon Meeting Noon Room in the Inn Through March, 5:30 p.m. (also on Tuesdays)
We Care, continued from previous page
Talk It Over: Women’s Health Discussion + Fellowship Get some of your questions about women’s health issues answered without an appointment or a co-pay at this informal gathering with other women from First Pres on Thursday, January 31, at 7 p.m. We’ll have light snacks and beverages, as well as time for fellowship and a Q&A period with physician and member Dr. Anne Barnard (Schmitt). RSVP by Friday, January 25, to Parish Nurse Kristin Foster, RN (kfoster@firstprescharlotte.org) to receive directions to the home of our hostess, member Michelle Frenzel. FUPC/FPC Lunch + Discussion Series Enjoy fellowship and discussion at FPC with our friends from First United Presbyterian Church on Sunday, February 3, at noon.
We Serve
Tuesdays AA Meeting 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study Pattie Cole Room (S203), 11:45 a.m.
Wednesdays
Wednesday Evening Music Ministry Schedule
• Dinner, $8 adults; $5 children 5-11, free for children under 5. Cash or check Wood Fellowship Hall, 5:15 p.m.
• Youth Choir, 6:30-7:15 p.m. • Calvin Handbell Ensemble, 7:05-7:30 p.m.
Room In The Inn/Mondays & Tuesdays/Through March 26 Help us provide hospitality to our neighbors who need a safe, warm place to sleep through the coldest months of the year. On Mondays and Tuesdays through March, First Pres provides food, fellowship and shelter to 12 guests who are experiencing homelessness. We serve dinner, spend time with our guests and provide breakfast and lunch for the following day. If you can volunteer to serve dinner, spend the night or otherwise offer hospitality, please sign up online or contact Ministry Team Coordinator Mary Scott Peterson (mpeterson@firstpres-charlotte.org).
• Knox Handbell Ensemble, 7:15-8 p.m. • Sanctuary Choir, 7:30-9 p.m. • Ivey Handbell Ensemble, 8:00-9:00
Souper Bowl of Caring/Sunday, Feb. 3 Our youth will participate in a special collection on this day to support initiatives to fight hunger locally and around the globe. Watch for the collection baskets as you exit the 9 and 11 a.m. services.
Thursday Morning Bible Study (women) Pattie Cole Room (S203), 9:30-11 a.m.
18 Westerly Hills Academy Students Need Tutors Tutors are still needed to serve children at Westerly Hills Academy, and training opportunities are available. There are currently 18 students who could benefit from tutoring but aren’t being served due to the number of tutors available. Tutors work with third-grade students for one hour per week, or tutoring “buddies” can sign up together for one shift every other week. HELPS is a research-based, scripted fluency intervention supported by both Read Charlotte and Augustine Literacy Project. The curriculum is provided and is easy to follow. Sign up on the Now@First page on the church website or contact Melissa Walker (mmwalker65@gmail.com).
Thursdays
Men’s Bible Study Frances Browne Dining Room (P212), 7 a.m.
Fridays AA Meeting 11:30 a.m.
Saturdays
Sandwich Kitchen FPC kitchen, various times
Whenever registration or other sign-up is required, visit the Now@ First page on the church website under Tickets & Signups.
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