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2024 McPherson Lectureship
February 23, 2024 
Please join us for the 2024 McPherson Lectureship on Sunday, March 10, with Willie James Jennings, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale Divinity School.
Dr. Jennings is a graduate of Calvin College, later earning the M. Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary and the Ph.D. in Religion and Ethics from Duke University. He taught at Duke Divinity School and served as the interim pastor of several North Carolina Churches, before accepting his current position at Yale. Jennings is an ordained Baptist minister who is widely recognized for his writing in the areas of liberation theologies, cultural identities, and anthropology. He is the author of The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race (Yale, 2010), Acts: A Commentary, The Revolution of the Intimate (Westminster/John Knox, 2017), and After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging (Eerdmans, 2020).
If you’d like to order copies of Dr. Jennings’ books in advance from Rofhiwa Books, please use this link.
Sunday, February 25 and March 3
In anticipation of Dr. Jennings’ visit, we will discuss some broad ideas from his writings in the Faith and Community Faith Formation Class. Steve Rimmer and Lea Bingham will lead the discussion on February 25, and Susan Dunlap will lead the class on February 3. Participants could re-read Chapters 1-10 of the Book of Acts in preparation.
Sunday, March 10
Dr. Jennings will be speaking at the following events:
9:45-10:45 Faith and Community Faith Formation Class, Watts-Hill Hall
11:00-12:00 Worship Service
3:30-5:00 Community Conversation Watts-Hill Hall (childcare available, but please RSVP by calling the church office)
The McPherson Lectureship is dedicated to enriching the faith and life of First Presbyterian Church as well as the Durham, NC community. This lectureship is made possible through an endowment initially given to FPC by the McPherson family in memory of lifelong members Dr. and Mrs. Samuel D. McPherson, Sr, and Dr. Samuel D. McPherson, Jr. It was established in 1999 by Mrs. Margaret “Peaches” McPherson (wife of Dr. McPherson, Jr.) and her family. Following Mrs. McPherson’s passing in 2018, the lectureship now also honors her life of service and generosity.
Monday, March 11
9:00-10:45 Clergy Breakfast, Watts-Hill Hall (please RSVP to the church office)
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
February 08, 2024 
LENT BEGINS!
Join us on Wednesday, February 14 as we begin the season of Lent.
12 noon – Ash Wednesday Midday Prayer Service (includes the symbolic imposition of ashes) in the church’s memorial garden.
6:00 p.m. – Ash Wednesday Evening Worship in the sanctuary (in-person only) with the symbolic imposition of ashes and holy communion. A light meal of soup and bread will be available in Watts-Hill Hall following this service.
All are welcome to join us.
Proposed Building Expansion – Update 2024
February 06, 2024 
FPC Announces Spring Blood Drive!
May 01, 2024 
Thank you to the 20+ donors who showed up on Thursday, May 2 to give blood. You helped make our spring blood drive a success!
For more information on giving blood, contact Julie Whiddon (919-730-6673), FPC’s organizer and Red Cross volunteer.
Join us for evening worship on Christmas Eve
December 23, 2023 
| Link to 5:00 p.m. live stream of worship Link to 5:00 p.m. online worship bulletin On Sunday evening, December 24 at 5:00 p.m., we will hold our annual Christmas Eve service which includes THE LORD’S SUPPER and CANDLE LIGHTING. All are welcome. PARKING: The church’s parking lot is being reserved for those who need handicap parking or have limited mobility. Able-bodied members and friends are asked to use the lot next door to the church or the new Queen Street parking garage, as well as open spaces at the public library (access these various areas from the 300 block of E. Liberty Street). There is also parking across from the church on E. Main Street and on E. Parrish Street (Board of Elections office). Allow yourself extra time if using this remote parking. Thanks for your cooperation. The CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING will be shared with Welcome Baby and The Emanuel Food Pantry. Thank you for your generous giving. CHILDREN ARE WELCOME IN WORSHIP. There is no childcare for this 5:00 p.m. service. An activity bulletin will be available at the beginning of worship and battery-operated candles will be provided for children to use during the candle lighting at the end of worship. |
Memorial Service for Andy Widmark
November 13, 2023 
Monday, November 13, 2023
10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of FPC
The family will greet friends in the foyer following the service.
Pastries and coffee will be available in Watts-Hill Hall.
Join us during the season of Advent!
November 22, 2023 
Sunday, December 3
Advent Festival and Alternative Gifts Fair
9:45 a.m. in Watts-Hill Hall for children and youth and following worship for everyone else
- Advent devotional materials can be picked up
- Advent activities provided for children and youth
- Purchase alternative gifts from mission partners
- Enjoy light refreshments
Friday, December 8
Vocal Arts Ensemble Holiday Concert
(Free admission, sanctuary, 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, December 9
Durham Holiday Parade
(Watch parade live from sanctuary steps, 10:00 a.m.)
Sunday, December 17
Lessons & Carols (sanctuary, 11:00 a.m.)
Children’s Christmas Pageant (sanctuary, 5:00 p.m.)
All-Church Potluck (Watts-Hill Hall, following the pageant)
followed by a Carols Sing-Along
Sunday, December 24
Christmas Eve
Worship (sanctuary, 11:00 a.m.)
Candlelight and Communion Service (sanctuary, 5:00 p.m.)
FPF Community-Wide Trunk or Treat Event
October 24, 2023 
| Join us for TRUNK or TREAT! Have you ever wanted to really do it up right for Halloween, but feel like a house is just too much? Have we got a ministry for you! Last year, we had a blast with FPC’s first-ever Trunk or Treat as FPC children and some kiddos from the community trick-or-treated at some tricked-out trunks in our parking lot. This year, we are hoping to invite even more of our neighbors and kids from the Day School, and we need your help! We need lots of trunks to be decorated and candy to be given out. All FPCers are invited to decorate a trunk. To sign up, contact Stephen Berry ([email protected]). The event is THIS Sunday, October 29, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. There will also be face-painting and hotdogs (to balance out all that candy). |