Condolences: The love and concern of the congregation are extended to:

• Beth and Howard Eisenson on the death of Beth's mother, Peggy Mordecai, on April 4. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Beth and Howard at the following address:

Beth and Howard Eisenson

1423 Acadia St

Durham NC 27701.

• Bernard Kimani and Grace, Lawrence and Leone Mbugua upon the death of Bernard’s father George Kimani Ruiyi and Grace’s cousin Felister Njeri Njuguna.  Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Bernard and Grace at the following address:

Bernard Kimani & Grace Mbugua

2004 Braeburn Dr

Apex NC 27539.

* * * * * * * * * *

Birth Announcement: Congratulations to Abi and Derek Warmack on the birth of their first child. Cora Bissette Warmack was born April 15. Cora is the first grandchild of Cherrie and Andy Henry and niece to Sam Henry.

Click HERE to see prayer concerns.

Faith and Community Class

Information not available

at time of issue. Stay tuned.

Class will be held this Sunday, April 23 at 9:45 a.m. in Watts-Hill Hall.

Lectionary Class

Join us each Sunday for discussion, as we meet both online and in person in the Robert Daye Parlor. The class will begin at 9:45, preceded at 9:35 by sharing of news and concerns, and will end at 10:45.

On April 23:

Now that we have heard the Easter message, what should we do? Do the familiar stories leave us unchanged? Or do we get up and go somewhere with them?

On April 30: As Easter people, we expect to enjoy the good things that have been promised: abundant life, fellowship, and so on. But what's all this about suffering?

To join remotely via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89195306050. (For phone access (audio only), call 253-215-8782.) If you need a copy of the handout of scripture readings, contact David Smith .

MnMs (Meaning in the Middle) Fellowship

1) We are in need of discussion leaders on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings. If you're interested in leading, sign up here.

2) If you are able, please sign up for the House family's gift card meal train. They will be at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with Lee from April 23 through May 2. In addition to praying for them, we have set up a gift card meal train. Snag a day just as you would a typical meal train and fulfill the sign-up by purchasing a gift card for DoorDash or the CHOP cafeteria (links provided in the meal train).

WEEKLY BOOK STUDY

You can order this book

from one of these links:

www.amazon.com www.abebooks.com www.christianbook.com

Discussion Schedule

 April 18/19 -

Part I - Christianity as Love

 April 25/26 -

Part II – Creation

(need volunteer teachers

 this week)

 May 2/3 -

Part III - Fall

 May 9/10 -

Part IV - Redemption

 May 16/17 -

Part V - Hope

 Join Zoom Meeting

 ZOOM LINK

Saturday, April 22

Concert:

A Stranger in a Strange Land

Mallarmé Music joins with the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra

3:00 p.m. – FPC Sanctuary

Mallarme Music 

https://www.mallarmemusic.org/

NC Baroque Orchestra

 https://www.ncbaroqueorchestra.org

Tickets: $20 Adults

$5 children and students

Link to purchase tickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=171384

Monday, April 24

Book Review: Pauli Murray – The Life of a Pioneering Feminist

& Civil Rights Activist

10:00 AM in the Chapel at Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church

927 W Trinity Ave, Durham

 Trinity Avenue Presbyterian invites you to hear Rosita Stevens-Holsey, niece of Pauli Murray, review her book. This biography of Pauli Murray is a groundbreaking new nonfiction book written in verse with the purpose of making the Pauli Murray story accessible to both young and seasoned readers. Questions and RSVPs please to Sally Adkin for TAPC Reads, sadkin@nc.rr.com.

Sunday, April 30

9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Intergenerational Faith Formation Activities

Theme: Creation Care

(Adult, children, and youth classes combined in Watts-Hill Hall)

11:00 a.m. Worship

Guest Preacher: Jimmie R. Hawkins

Director, PCUSA Office of Public Witness

3:00 p.m.

Women’s Voices Chorus

“My Soul is Awakened”

Music conveying themes of renewal, transformation, enlightenment, and self-realization, through the lenses of varied cultures, languages, and musical styles,

and featuring women composers.

* * * * * * * *

Monday, May 1

Lunch and Learn

with Jimmie R. Hawkins

12 Noon – 2:00 p.m.

in Watts-Hill Hall

sponsored by FPC’s Racial Equity Task Force

Jimmie will discuss his new book:

Unbroken and Unbowed:

A History of Black Protest in America.

Lunch will be provided.

$10 box lunch.

Reserve a box lunch here.

Unbroken and Unbowed will be available for purchase and autographing. Costs is $25.00.

SERVICE & MISSION

The Racial Equity Task Force will meet again on Sunday, May 7 following worship.

• Sign up to help with Communion
• Help with Ushering
• Serve as Office Volunteer

  If you've got friends you'd like to bring or perhaps a college student home for the summer, be sure to invite them to join you and make an outing of volunteering!

APRIL DATES (FPC Commitments)

• Friday, April 21st, prepare breakfast and fill take-out boxes, 7 - 9am (4 volunteers needed)
• Thursday, April 27th prepare lunch bags, 9:30-10:30am (3 volunteers needed)
• Link here for other UMD opportunities: 

https://umdurham.org/volunteer/

Contact Jen McGonigle at 202-421-5870 for more information.

Sunday, April 23

New Officer Training

12:30-2:00 p.m.

Watts-Hill Hall

(Lunch provided)

Sunday, May 7

Officer Training Make-up Day

(Location and Time TBA)

Monday, May 15

Examination by the Session

(Location & Time TBA)

Sunday, May 21

Ordination & Installation

during the 11:00 a.m. worship

New Members will be received this Sunday, April 23 during the 11:00 worship. If you are ready to join FPC, please contact Mindy Douglas or Esther Hethcox. Session approval is required to be received into membership

Membership Classes - 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Sunday, May 7 - Church Mission

Sunday, May 14 - Polity and theology

Sunday, May 21- Worship

Location to be announced.

Meeting Our

Unhoused Neighbors 

As a downtown church, we have the opportunity to meet many kinds of people, including our unhoused neighbors. Some of you may want to discuss ways to interact with people experiencing homelessness who we meet in the parking lot, on the street, or in the church building. If so, come to this brief discussion after church, April 23, in the Daye Parlor. Marie Sappenfield, Mary Jo Keenan, and Susan Dunlap will lead the discussion.  For more information, contact Susan Dunlap, sjd4@duke.edu.

Saturday, April 22

9:00 a.m. - 12 Noon

We will be joining efforts on litter clean up with the creation care committee as we observe Earth Day and Creation Care Sunday.

Contact Barbara Buckley is you have questions about the work to be done.

Daytimers' Luncheon

Tuesday, April 25 at 11:30 a.m.

Bennett Pointe Grill

4625 Hillsborough Rd, Durham

RSVP to Mickey by April 23:

Marilyn.velkey@usa.net

601.750.3619 cell

919.864.9823 home

*********************

Spring Pop-Up:

Forest Bathing

Saturday, April 29

11:00 a.m.

Location: F Shelter in Duke

Learn more and sign up here.

*********************

FPC Spring Fling Potluck

Saturday, May 6

5:00-7:00 p.m.

Croasdaile Pavilion

Paper plates will be used so please bring your own plates if desired. Bring your own chair(s). Come for fellowship, games, and fun! Watch for the EVITE.

COMMUNITY INVITATIONS

Dementia Community Event

at the Durham County Human Services Building, 414 E. Main Street, on April 29, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event invites individuals living with dementia, caring with someone living with dementia, or interested in learning more about the neurocognitive disorder. 

Durham Habitat is hosting our periodic Interfaith Build on Friday, May 5th. Details on how to sign up are HERE. The shifts are from 8:30 - 11:30am or 12:30 - 3:30pm, and we do a simple lunch between shifts to break bread together and build fellowship. All are welcome. We'd be honored to have some parishioners from First Presbyterian participate!

DURHAM CAN'S

Re-founding Day

 First Pres has pledged 20 people to attend. CAN members need a big turnout to establish our power in Durham, power in areas important to our church, such as affordable housing, gun violence, poverty, and transportation. For more info:

https://www.durhamcan.org/durham_can_refounding_day .

Participate in Farm Church's Photo Fundraiser! Local photographer, Kat Wilson, will be taking professional headshots, family photos, couple photos, friend photos, pet photos, and just-because-photos! 100% of the proceeds will go towards Farm Church to further the mission of leveraging the resources of the farm to address food insecurity in Durham. The photo fundraiser will be in Durham (different sites available) on Saturday, April 22 & Sunday, April 23 (9-11 a.m. & 4-6 p.m. both days). We encourage you to learn more and register (by April 19) here!