Sing a New World into Being

Dear friends, Over the past years, faith communities have endured an unfathomable challenge, namely, to survive and ultimately prevail through a global pandemic. The resilience of FPC has been remarkable. While we continue to confront serious public health concerns, rapid changes in our economy, and the warming of our planet, one thing remains abundantly clear: FPC stands, adapts, and thrives in the Durham community. The pandemic taught us that we are made for community. We cannot thrive without it. Together, we experience joy, meaning, and purpose. In 2023, for example: we filled the sanctuary for the ordination of Esther Hethcox to bless her ministry; we drew a record crowd to the all-church picnic on a hot, steamy summer day; and we volunteered regularly at Igelsia Emanuel to bag rice and beans and prepare food boxes for more than 600 families every week! God is calling us to pay attention to the ways we live in this world. Our annual budget supports many missions and ministries while also providing staff leadership and a physical place to worship, gather, and serve. As a church, we respond to the needs around us – for the basics of life (food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education) and for community, equity, justice, wholeness, meaning, and a chance for all to flourish in this world. We also need to be realistic about what we can and cannot do in our current economy. The Session drafted a 2024 Needs Budget that includes difficult reductions to Personnel and to our Service and Mission funding. If we exceed our stewardship goals this year, we can revisit these planned cuts. If we do not meet our goals, we will need to consider additional cuts to Personnel and Service and Mission.

Service & Mission

As long-time members of First Presbyterian, we find it important to pledge each year and give back in both our finances and time for what God generously has provided us as a family. One of the many reasons is the Service & Mission Committee that Alec & Rachel have been members on. As parents of two delightful kids, we want the world to be a better place for them, but also for everyone else, too. The committee serves a diversity of initiatives, but one of the things that is most important to us is giving back to the community at large. We are extraordinarily proud of FPC’s generous support of a diversity of community groups, ranging from organizations trying to alleviate poverty and homelessness to supporting racial justice and the aging population. The thing we love most about the church is not only the fact that church opens its checkbook but also that it is deeply hands-on and engaged in the many organizations it supports.

Inclusion & Welcome

There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28 A faithful church is an inclusive church. We are welcomed as we are, and we come as we are. Here we are “incorporated” into the Church, the Body of Christ. Here is where we can find the heart’s true home and our own unique calling in God’s mission. Our faith community family has been incorporated into this way of life from a variety of circumstances. We are gay, transgender, straight, autistic, progressive, conservative, believers, doubters, big, small, Black, White, well-to-marginally educated, married, divorced, single. Length of membership spans 1 to 68 years. None of us are rich, a few are economically comfortable, and some are down- right poor. Our journeys have included Taoism, Buddhism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Christianity, and “None.” Our Christian forms have included Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, Non-denominational, Unitarian, United Methodist, and Baptist.

Worship & Education

Worship is personal; it is our hearts that are warmed. But worship is also interpersonal. It is personal when John Weicher calls us to confession, but it is interpersonal because it is John who calls us. It is personal when Andy Henry gives us a piece of bread and says, “The bread of life.” But it is interpersonal because it is Andy. Worship is personal when Lesley Curtis moves us by singing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” but it is interpersonal because it is Lesley who sings and not a recording. The Scripture reading is personal because we are the ones who hear, but it is also interpersonal because it is Cordelia Ramont who reads it to us. Not least of all, our call to worship is personal because we are the ones who are called, but it is interpersonal because God first calls us.

Community

Community was one of the major features that drew us to First Presbyterian Church. When we moved to North Carolina in 2007, we did quite a bit of “church shopping,” visiting a wide variety of churches in the area. After several years seeking a church home, Kristin decided to join FPC in 2012, largely because it had an active and vibrant young adult group. Her parents were a little slower to “take the plunge,” but upon the birth of grandson Dayton in 2014 we knew that we wanted to share our faith journeys as a family unit. We were especially drawn to the inclusive nature of this congregation. It was clear from the beginning that everyone was welcomed and affirmed. Because “it takes a village,” we wanted our village to be filled with interesting and committed Christians who shared our vision for what the world could be. Good community requires open-mindedness, talented leadership, thoughtful vision, and strong connections. FPC is blessed with all of these.