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Reflections needed for Lenten Devotional
January 28, 2022 
Lent always includes an invitation to turn from all that is old and broken and toward new life in Christ. As we turn from a scarcity mindset toward an ever-growing awareness of God’s abundant grace, mercy, and love we hope you’ll share your reflections on the theme of Enough.
Specifically, share
- a song (YouTube link or original video recording),
- a reflection through visual art (again your own or something in the public domain),
- OR a poem or writing (whether original to you or the reflections of another – please limit these to 250-300 words max).
We’ll share these reflections with the community via email and social media as our common devotion.
To sign up, contact John Weicher and he’ll work with you on content and a date.
Support the Poor People’s Campaign
January 26, 2022 
| Let’s get on the bus!
The Poor Peoples Campaign March on Washington (PPC) is on June 18, 2022, and we want to get as many people from FPC to come with us. The Racial Equity Taskforce has made arrangements with Rally.co for a bus to depart from FPC’s parking lot and travel up and back on June 18th. It will be a full day and an opportunity to meet and march with Bishop Barber and thousands of others from across the US who come to Washington DC to highlight the poverty, racism, inequity, and injustice people face every day in the US and the systems that enforce and perpetuate it, and we want to demand a change. We have a core group who have committed to going, and we hope that you will join us in person and in prayer. To reserve your seat, you’ll need to go online to book it and pay $95 for the roundtrip fare. When we fill this bus, we understand that the Rally.co will add another bus to depart from FPC. We hope to fill several. We don’t want the cost to be a barrier for anyone who wants to attend. If you need financial assistance, please contact our pastor Mindy Douglas. Given our pre-dawn departure, we’ll need to prepare a breakfast bag for each rider and ask for people to volunteer to do that and donate food/drinks for snacks and sandwiches. If you would like to be a part of that activity, please contact Jane Williams, Jon Abels, or Kathy Krahenbuhl. More details will follow. We also welcome contributions to sponsor other riders, including those from other congregations in Durham who wish to join us. To make a financial contribution you can go online at FPC to see various ways to donate to the “PPC Bus Support” or send a text at (919) 373-3254 and write the dollar amount you wish to give (e.g. $95 PPCBus) and send it. You can also leave a check in the mailbox at church for business manager Tom Bloom with “PPC Bus Support” written in the memo line. Thank you for your support and participation. |
FPC returning to Virtual Worship
January 08, 2022 
| Dear friends,
As the number of COVID cases spikes in Durham and our hospitals swell to their capacity (and beyond), we have been advised by our COVID team that for the safety of FPC and our larger community we need to move back to virtual worship. This announcement, made at this late hour on Saturday, January 8, will not reach everyone before tomorrow. Therefore, we will not completely shut down in-person worship. We are, however, urging everyone who gets this message to worship from home tomorrow. Beginning on Sunday, January 16, and until further notice, only worship leaders and tech support will be in the sanctuary. As a reminder, our worship service is available through our website: www.firstpres-durham.org – click the worship button and then the “Watch on YouTube” button. You can find the bulletin there as well. We also invite you to sign in, so we know you are with us. You can find the service any time after 11 a.m. tomorrow. It is disappointing, to say the least, to have to return to online worship, especially during this season of celebration of our 150th anniversary, but I am glad that the option is available to us. I continue to be grateful for the incredible work of our tech team – Jody Maxwell, Keith Rokoske, John Fricks, and J.L. Klink, who make it possible for us to share worship from many different places and spaces. May God be with all those who are sick or who are caring for the sick. May God be with us all. Grace and peace to you, Mindy Douglas, FPC Pastor/Head of Staff |
Happy 150th Birthday to FPC!
December 31, 2021 
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
Dear friends,
One hundred and fifty years ago today, when Durham was only a two-year-old dot on the map, Granville County native Dr. Richard D. Blacknall, a physician and druggist, along with ten others (seven transfers from other churches and three members of Orange Presbytery) organized what we now know as First Presbyterian Church.
I am not sure that our minds are able to imagine what that day might have been, not really, but we can give thanks for those who had a vision and a calling. Their vision was for a community of faith in this new town of Durham. Their calling was to bear witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a result of this vision and calling, a community of faith formed on the corner of Roxboro and Main, where it has been and continues to thrive (even in a pandemic) for 150 years.
Though our season of celebration is a six-month season around this exact date, I cannot let the day pass without giving thanks to God for the vision and calling given to these eleven (and others not present) on this day so many years ago. I doubt they could have imagined what this community would mean for so many individuals and families, nor could they have imagined what this community would mean for Durham itself.
We have a chance this day to look back and give thanks, even as we look ahead with awe and wonder, leaning into what God’s call to us for the years and decades ahead might be.
If you have a moment today, I invite you to think back to that small but faithful gathering that set this church on its course for so many years to come. And I invite you to say a prayer of gratitude for God’s movement then and continued movement now.
Happy birthday, First Presbyterian Church.
Happy New Year, my friends.
With love and gratitude,
Mindy Douglas
FPC celebrates Sesquicentennial in 2022
December 31, 2021 
Organized on New Year’s Eve 1871, First Presbyterian Church has been a beacon of Christian faith and hope where “cross the crowded ways of life” in downtown Durham for 150 years.
We are pleased and excited to announce that former pastors and associates will return to the pulpit in January 2022 as our 150th Church Anniversary celebration continues Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m.
January 2 – Marilyn Hedgpeth
January 9 – Joseph Harvard
January 16 – Cherrie Henry
January 23 – Sam Miglarese
January 30 – Lori Pistor
First Sunday after Christmas
December 24, 2021 
| Sunday, December 26 John Weicher, preaching The FPC Wind Quintet will provide music during worship. The Chancel Choir is on holiday break. The last Hunger for Change offering for 2021 will be received this Sunday. Thank you for helping to combat hunger locally and around the world by giving to this special PC(USA) offering. All Faith Formation classes are cancelled this Sunday, December 26. Worship is at 11:00 a.m. in-person and live-streamed. Masks are required when inside the building. |
THIS SUNDAY: A Service of Lessons & Carols
December 13, 2021 
December 19, at 11:00 AM. Come hear the First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir sing carols and anthems- live and in-person – in a service modeled after the Service of Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, England. The public is invited! Masks are required when inside the building and social distancing is appreciated.
Unable to attend in-person worship this Sunday? The service will be live-streamed via FPC’s YouTube channel. Click on the word “WORSHIP” from this website’s home screen at 11:00 a.m. to connect to our live-streamed worship.
Lesley Curtis presents “A Christmas Offering”
December 07, 2021 
Sunday, December 19 at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church.
This event is free and open to the public. Come enjoy songs of the season sung by our very own Lesley Curtis. All attendees are asked to wear a mask while inside the building.
Let’s watch the Durham Parade together!
December 03, 2021 
OUTDOOR FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
You are invited to park at the church and gather in front of the sanctuary (Main Street steps) and cheer on those walking in the parade this Saturday, December 18 from 11:00 a.m. to about 1:00 p.m. FPC will provide hot chocolate (bring your own mug and a blanket to keep warm).
Sing Carols and Exchange Sweet & Savory Treats
December 03, 2021 
On Sunday, December 19, join us for an evening of caroling, fellowship, and a sweet/savory treats exchange. Bring sweet or savory treats, individually packaged to share/exchange.
- At 4:00 p.m. we’ll gather in the courtyard to share our favorite carols. At this time, outside & distanced, we may sing without our masks; when indoors, we will continue to wear masks.
- At 4:30 p.m. we’ll share some caroling with our neighbors. (If you don’t feel comfortable walking to nearby Urban Ministries or Families Moving Forward, you’re invited to the fellowship hall where we’ll be getting ready for the sweet/savory exchange of treats.)
- At 5:00 p.m. we’ll gather in the fellowship hall to exchange goodies and share favorite Christmas memories or traditions.