Sunday Fellowship Cafe - Join us for coffee and fellowship from 9:15 - 10:00.

Monthly Fellowship Dinners

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Wednesday, April 5th
5:30 pm thru 7:00 pm
J. Murphy Smith Center
Ham, green beans, macaroni & cheese, rolls & assorted desserts
RSVP no later than 5:00 pm Monday, April 3rd
by calling 252-637-3270 or emailing church@firstpresnb.org
or
Just click the button below
We look forward to seeing you!
​Your Fellowship Team!

Lunch Wagon Events!

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The Lunch Wagon excursion for Wednesday, May 10, 2023, will be to the Weeksville Dirigible Hangar. It was built just prior to World War II and houses dirigibles which were used to protect US ships from German submarines off our coast. Today it is now owned by TCOM which builds aerostats. Although similar in appearance to dirigibles, aerostats are tethered to a ground-based mooring station and do not fly freely. 
There will be much walking through an active manufacturing area with equipment and machinery operating during our visit. 
After the tour, we will eat at the Quality Seafood restaurant in Elizabeth City. Following lunch, we will visit the Museum of the Albemarle. The trip takes 2 hours 20 minutes so we leave the church parking lot promptly at 8:15 am on May 10th and return around 6:30 pm.
Please sign up by April 20th.
​Thank you bunches!
The Lunch Bunch
House Churches
Every year in September/October the House Churches of First Presbyterian begin to meet again. This is a long-standing ministry of the church, and it is a wonderful way to connect with old and new friends in the church. If you have not been attending a house church, we hope that you will consider it! 
 
Here is how House Churches work: Groups of around 10-25 people meet monthly for good food and faith-full conversation. Some House Churches are hosted in different homes each month and some meet in the same place -- at the church (in the Session House or in the Fellowship Café), or at a restaurant or local gathering place. House Churches meet for around an hour and a half to two hours. There are currently 13 House Churches (and there is always the possibility of new house churches forming). They meet on different weeks of the month, different days of the week, and at different times during the day.
 
If you would be interested in joining an existing House Church (or maybe trying a different House Church to meet new people), please contact Anna at anna@firstpresnb.org. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for a delightful time, where new friends are made, and existing friendships are deepened!

​ HOUSE CHURCH HANDBOOK

THE PURPOSE OF HOUSE CHURCH:
As we head into the fall months, we look forward to the return of House Church gatherings.  The purpose of the House Churches is to "build up the body"- to build a sense of community and belonging among our adult members. This program is not under the “Education Commission” but the “Fellowship Commission.” Thus, House Church is not primarily a “learning time” or a Bible Study time. Yet there is meaningful content to House Church. House Churches help people interact and begin to know one another.  But it may be that House Churches may want to meet as smaller groups outside with good social distancing.  House Churches can also connect in other ways, by phone, email, or Zoom.  We have put together some great suggestions for our House Church leaders about ways to have fun and meaningful gatherings over Zoom if the House Church chooses to meet that way.  So keep an eye out for communications from your House Church leaders, and if you are not currently in a House Church and wish to be connected with one, contact Anna at anna@firstpresnb.org

SUGGESTIONS FOR LEADING GROUP DISCUSSIONS:
Keep the discussions moving along – but do not be afraid of short silences. Some people react immediately, thinking out loud.  Others need time to think things through before speaking. You do not have to follow the material provided if it does not suit your group.  If your group bogs down, move on until you find something that generates interest. You are under no obligation to ask every question or use every program. By all means, have fun, get to know one another, and do whatever suits your group the best.

SERVE TOGETHER:
Your House Church group may wish to take on a service project outside of the usual evening gatherings. We encourage you to do so. If you need help with a project idea, contact Maren Sonstegard-Spray or a member of the Outreach Commission.  House churches can also serve together in other ways to facilitate fellowship opportunities in the church. 

​PROGRAM MATERIALS:
Since each house church is different, here are a couple different options for the program portion of each month’s gathering:
Track 1: No program at all.  Enjoy each other’s company. Have a relaxed time of conversation.  House church is one of those increasingly rare times to sit with friends old and new, to learn about one another and develop spiritual friendships and to connect more deeply to the body of Christ.
Track 2: Spiritual Conversations
How is your spiritual life?
Where have you seen God at work in your life?
How have you felt God’s presence in your life?
Where are you seeking guidance from the Lord?
What did you receive from God this week?
What of God have you passed on to others?
Can also include group Lectio Divina on a Gospel reading.
Track 3:  Use selected readings as a devotional or foundation for conversation (Maren will provide you with copies of the book or of selected chapters):
Track 4: Choose Your Own Adventure!  
Members of the house church can take turns providing a short devotional of their own choosing. A house church could pick a book or curriculum with topics they find interesting.