In this issue you will find the following:

• Pastoral Letter
•  In Our Thoughts & Prayers/Thank You Notes
• Worship info
•  Faith Formation for Children
•  Youth Corner
• Faith Formation for Adults
•  Congregational Life/Fellowship Events
• Service & Mission Opportunities·       

PASTORAL LETTER

Dear friends,

Last week we received the hard news that our Associate Pastor Mitzi Lesher-Thomas will not be returning to her work at FPC. In early June, she went on a temporary medical leave for 90 days. During that time, she was able to spend time with her husband Troy and her two college-aged children, Mackenzie and Andrew. She has been on three-week cycles of a high dose of chemotherapy to keep the tumor in her brain from growing. These treatments cause fatigue and nausea, sometimes at high levels. She has good days, but not consistently enough for her to feel confident about returning to work. She will begin long-term disability this month.

I want to thank you for being the church for Mitzi. Back in the fall of 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, you welcomed her as your associate pastor. Thank you for receiving her spiritual leadership as a preacher, teacher, and worship leader. Thank you for sharing your stories with her on your porches, over coffee, on Zoom, on a walk. Thank you also for wrapping her in love when she shared her diagnosis in January of this year. Your cards, emails, calls, words and prayers have meant so much to her and her family over the past months of her treatment and temporary disability. As she moved into long-term disability, your cards and prayers continue to buoy her and remind her of the way God’s love shines so brightly through this community of faith.

I also want to thank you for your generosity of financial resources that support our annual operating budget. Because of your support, from the time we called her, we have been able to pay Mitzi a competitive salary with health and pension benefits. The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (USA) offers a high level of support for health care, as well as the recently added temporary disability option. The long-term disability offered by the BOP pays 60% of her salary and all her health and pension dues. I will continue to check in with Mitzi and Troy regarding their medical bills and extra expenses, and will let you know if there are ways we can help support them from afar.

At our regularly scheduled Session meeting last week, the Session approved moving forward with a plan to appoint a search committee to find a temporary supply associate pastor. I have been in conversation with our Executive Presbyter Vanessa Hawkins, and with our Commission on Ministry liaison Susan Landis and have been advised that we have support from the COM to move forward with this plan. This will allow us to have someone in a contract position to take on pastoral leadership in 2-4 months.

This has been an incredibly hard season for Mitzi and her family. It is also a very hard time for all of us at FPC. Thank you for your ongoing support of Mitzi, our staff, and one another.

I leave you with a poem from Jan Richardson, “The Cure for Sorrow.”

Because I do not know

any medicine for grief

but to let ourselves

grieve.

Because I do not know

any cure for sorrow

but to let ourselves

sorrow.

Because I do not know

any remedy

but to let the heart break,

to let it fall open, then

to let is fall open

still more.

Because I do not know

how to mend

the unmendable,

unfixable,

unhealable wound

that keeps finding

itself healed

as we tend it,

as we follow the line of it,

as we let it lead us

on the path it knows.

Because I do not know

any solace

but to give ourselves

into the love

that will never cease

to find us,

that will never loose

its hold on us,

that will never abandon us

to the sorrow

for which it holds

the cure.

Friends, God is that love which will never cease to find us and hold us, that love which will never abandon us, that love which is the cure for our sorrow. May we rest in that never-ending, all-encompassing love.

Grace and peace to you all         

Mindy

CONCERNS

Kerry Holbrook is having back surgery this week.

Greg, son-in-law of Mary Putnam and David Hartman



Paul McCombs, friend of Walk-in Ministry

Ricky Bennett's mom, hospitalized in Wilmington NC.

Franzi Rokoske: follow her health journey via CARING BRIDGE.

Mitzi Lesher-Thomas:  follow her health journey via Caring Bridge: CARING BRIDGE

Paul Cornsweet    Lee House     Jancy Johnstone    

George Kafula      Katy Loebrich       Jo Ann Moore     

Judy Smith       Carol Wills

Care Communities

Croasdaile Pavilion: Dub Gulley

Dubose Center at The Cedars, Chapel Hill: Arthur Clark

Durham Ridge Assisted Living: Phillip Herndon

Hillcrest Convalescent Center: Julian Boswell, Maxie Honeycutt, Jim Wolfe

The Forest at Duke Health Center: Wes Carson

Family and Friends of the Congregation

Gladys Arrowood, mother of Al Arrowood

Bob, friend of Fred and Jo Ann Moore

Nicky Clegg, granddaughter of Jeanne Hervey

Tom Cotton, friend of Michael Honeycutt

Mimi Cummings, mother of Drew Cummings

Grace, Chris James’ great-niece

Vivian Mast, friend of Josh Walters

Sydnor Patrick, friend of FPC

Aaron Pritchard, friend of Kathy Parkins

Jim Vacca, father of Jamie Chambliss

John Wakefield, cousin of Vernon Neece

Deb Walsh, friend of Celia Dickerson

Janice Faye West, mother of Randy Lang Howard

From the Business Administrator

             On-line giving shot up dramatically during the pandemic. Many folks have continued to use this method of contributing to FPC. This year we were able to add a feature to our on-line giving platform so donors can make a tax-deductible contribution towards the processing fees FPC is charged for on-line transactions. 



             Included below is the complete list of Ways to Give to First Presbyterian Church of Durham. Please contact me any time if have questions about giving.

             --- Tom Bloom, Business Administrator (t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org).

Ways to Give to First Presbyterian Church of Durham

·  CHECK - payable to “First Presbyterian Church” either during the worship service or via mail (305 E. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701).

·  BILL PAY initiated by you through your bank or other financial institution. This is usually a free service and can be used on a one-time or a recurring basis. This is the most cost-effective and easiest way to give automatically.

·  DIRECT DEBIT (monthly) from a checking account. An authorization form can be obtained from Tom Bloom (t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org).

·  TEXT GIVING: Please contact Tom Bloom, Business Administrator, at t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org for instructions.

·  APPRECIATED STOCK: Please contact Tom Bloom, the Business Administrator, at 919-682-5511 (or t.bloom@firstpres-durham.org), for information and instructions.

·  CREDIT or DEBIT CARD Click on the DONATE button on our website (www.firstpres-durham.org). This can be set up on a one-time or recurring basis. If you wish your payments to satisfy a pledge, please be sure you’ve made a pledge (pledges can be made via the website or contact the church for a paper form). You can also schedule payments directly from your checking account. At the time you make an on-line contribution, you may also elect to make a contribution to cover the fees we are charged for this service.

·  CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS from an IRA: Members aged 70½ + who own an IRA may be able to make a qualified charitable distribution directly to First Presbyterian from your IRA and have that gift satisfy a required minimum distribution for this year. Please contact your IRA administrator if you wish to consider this giving option, the Business Administrator can provide any FPC information needed by the plan administrator.  

Sunday, September 11, after Worship

Discover the ways to experience fellowship at our church! Representatives of the many committees, groups, and classes will be available to answer your questions about how to participate in them. Whether it is volunteering at Urban Ministries or working in the church garden or serving on a committee, or any other church activity, the gift of fellowship is part of it. So linger after worship for a while this Sunday to explore all the possibilities!

Sunday, September 11, 2022

9:45 a.m. Faith Formation Kickoff

11:00 a.m. Worship with Communion

For those who worship via live steam, remember to prepare your communion elements before worship begins

so we can all commune together. 

LECTIONARY CLASS

 Sundays, 9:45-10:45 a.m. (year-round):

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 September 11, we will participate in the Faith Formation Kickoff (Rally Day) with all the other classes on the lawn from 9:45-10:45. 

 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.

JOURNEYS CLASS

We have a change to our Sunday school schedule. 

• September 11 will be Rally Day. We will gather outside with food and activities (for all ages), and then retreat to our classroom to welcome any visitors. This will also be a good time to discuss a topic for this fall.
• September 18, we will continue our discussion on friendship, which is based on this essay.
• September 25, we will explore a sermon titled “Mary the Tower” that helps us re-examine the role of woman in Christ’s ministry.

The Prayer Shawl Group would like to add some new members. If you knit or crochet and would like to learn about our various projects, please contact Barbara Fish, 919-475-8301. We invite interested persons and current knitters to our next meeting planned for Sunday, September 18 following worship in the Robert Daye Meeting Room.

Maybe needlepoint is your thing?

A small group is working on a needlepoint banner for the church. If you do needlepoint (also known as canvas embroidery), please contact Barbara Fish, 919-475-8301, for more information.

Medical debt is the source of incredible inequities, keeping families mired in debt and impeding their ability to build assets. Plus, it adds enormously to emotional stress. That's why First Presbyterian Church is leading this campaign as one reparations strategy. The potential to WIPE OUT DEBT for pennies on the dollar is amazing! When you make a pledge to our capital campaign, you are already supporting this project. If you have not already made a campaign pledge, we hope you will join us in giving to our Building Beloved Community campaign! Contact Tom Bloom if you wish to contribute to FPC's capital campaign project.  Invite your friends and family to give separately to the RIP Medical Debt by going to their site: ripmedicaldebt.org.

Fall Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Project

First Pres is again participating in a CSA this Fall so members can have access to a steady supply of fresh vegetables in partnership with a farmer of color, Sankofa Farms in Efland. The CSA is done in collaboration with RAFI-USA’s Farm and Faith Partnerships Project, and with two other congregations, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Eno River UU Fellowship. The Fall CSA will begin on Thursday, September 22, with distribution of boxes of vegetables at First Pres from 4:00-6:00 each week for six weeks. The cost will be $30 per week for a full share and $15 for a half-share. For more information, contact Tom Bacon (tbacon44@gmail.com or 919-403-9683). 

Hello Everyone,

 THANK YOU to those who have been volunteering. Please be sure to consider making lunches as we have been short on those shifts and that is just as important as serving. :)

NOTE: The clothing closet & food pantry also have opportunities, so be sure to let me know if that is something you're interested in.

 UMD has updated their website & opportunities, so definitely check it out!  

Consider UMD when you're trying to plan a family activity (family volunteer shift!) or if you want to coordinate a team building day at work or just doing something to give back with a group of friends. If you're interested in this type of opportunity, please let Jen know and she'll help get you in touch with the right people!

SEPTEMBER DATES (FPC Commitments)

• Friday, September 16th, prepare breakfast and fill take-out boxes, 7 - 9am (4 volunteers needed)
• Monday, September 19th prepare lunch bags, 9:30-10:30am (3 volunteers needed)
• Thursday, September 22nd, prepare lunch bags, 9:30-10:30am (3 volunteers needed)

SEPTEMBER DATES (Other opportunities):

• Saturday, September 10th - prepare food and fill take-out boxes, 8:30-9:00am (3 volunteers needed)

• Tuesday, September 20th - Food Pantry - 8:30am to 11:30am (2 volunteers needed)

• Thursday, September 29th - prepare food and fill take-out boxes, 5-7pm (2 volunteers needed)

Links here for other UMD opportunities:

https://umdurham.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Sausage-Breakfast-Casserole-Recipe.pdf

https://umdurham.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Recipes-English-and-Spanish-Final-081214.pdf

There are also some other opportunities (hygiene kits/etc.) and they can be found at the link below:

 https://umdurham.org/get-involved/opportunities.html

Contact Jen McGonigle to sign up for one of FPC's regular time slots each month, or call Jen at 202-421-5870.

A Little Muscle + Big Heart

= Wonderful Volunteer!

Summer is here, and with these warmer months come plenty of opportunities to volunteer, to help build our Beloved Community. The Food Pantry at Iglesia Emanuel continues to serve an average of 650 families every week. We are totally volunteer run and would welcome new (and returning) faces to be part of this vital ministry. Please consider signing up for a 2-hour shift any Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. We work hard but have lots of fun in the process of providing healthy food for struggling families. If you are 14 or older and willing to put your muscles to work, join us! Young people 12 and older, with a responsible adult, are also welcome. To sign up, simply click here. Contact Margaret Rubiera  with any questions.