Fellowship Cafe - Open after 8:25 worship before Sunday School
Cafe hours will be 9:15 am - 10:00 am
If you, your group or your House Church would like to volunteer for a Sunday, please contact Cathy Warren.
Monthly Fellowship Dinners
J. Murphy Smith GYM
The contract for the JMS Gym kitchen and exterior renovation has been awarded to Jonathan Wilkins of Sawgrass Properties. His work crews have begun and expect to finish early in 2020. We'll keep you updated with the progress.
The contract for the JMS Gym kitchen and exterior renovation has been awarded to Jonathan Wilkins of Sawgrass Properties. His work crews have begun and expect to finish early in 2020. We'll keep you updated with the progress.
Where: The Flame (because of kitchen construction in JMS Gym)
2301 Neuse Blvd. New Bern, NC
When: October 2nd
Time: 5:45 pm
Menu: Mixed Green Salad, Lemon Chicken on herbed penne pasta, beef tips in bourguignonne sauce, green beans almondine, honey-glazed baby carrots, cheesy garlic mashed potatoes, and strawberry shortcake
Make your reservations!!
by calling the church office 252-637-3270
or you can email church@firstpresnb.org
No later than Thursday September 26th
Lunch Wagon Upcoming Events!
September 20 - Friday Beaufort Double-Decker bus tour and NC Maritime museum
Double-Decker bus tour and NC Maritime museum for a narrated Double Decker bus tour of the historic area of the city. Following the tour you will be free to visit the Maritime Museum and have lunch on your own at one of the fine Beaufort restaurants.The cost of the narrated tour is $12 which will be collected as you board the church bus at 9:15 a.m. Please have the correct change. The bus will depart at 9:30 a.m. and should return by 4:00 p.m.
Sign up through the Church Office 252-637-3270. Our bus can accommodate 22 people.
October 19 - Saturday Lobster Fest-Salter Path
Mark your calendars. The Lunch Wagon will be going to the Lobster Fest at the St. Francis by the Sea church on Saturday October 19. The lobster dinner will cost $25.00. Tickets go on sale later this month. Details on how to order tickets will be posted when available. Everyone will need to purchase their own tickets. Call the church office to sign up for the bus. 252-637-3270
November ?-History Place, Morehead City-Rodney Kemp-storyteller
December 1 - Sunday Mike’s Farm, Beulaville
January 5 - Sunday Kinston The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Banquet
Double-Decker bus tour and NC Maritime museum for a narrated Double Decker bus tour of the historic area of the city. Following the tour you will be free to visit the Maritime Museum and have lunch on your own at one of the fine Beaufort restaurants.The cost of the narrated tour is $12 which will be collected as you board the church bus at 9:15 a.m. Please have the correct change. The bus will depart at 9:30 a.m. and should return by 4:00 p.m.
Sign up through the Church Office 252-637-3270. Our bus can accommodate 22 people.
October 19 - Saturday Lobster Fest-Salter Path
Mark your calendars. The Lunch Wagon will be going to the Lobster Fest at the St. Francis by the Sea church on Saturday October 19. The lobster dinner will cost $25.00. Tickets go on sale later this month. Details on how to order tickets will be posted when available. Everyone will need to purchase their own tickets. Call the church office to sign up for the bus. 252-637-3270
November ?-History Place, Morehead City-Rodney Kemp-storyteller
December 1 - Sunday Mike’s Farm, Beulaville
January 5 - Sunday Kinston The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Banquet
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The Gift of House Churches
As of June I have had the chance to visit each of the fourteen house churches at least once. For those who are not familiar with house churches, a house church is a group of people who meet together once a month on a particular day and time for food and fellowship and faith conversations. House churches are a really remarkable thing! You meet month in and month out, year after year. You open your homes to one another, you feed one another, you take care of each other, and you welcome new folks into your midst. Some groups spend the precious hour or two a month just catching up with one another, deepening friendships along the way. Some groups choose to learn new things together, using devotionals or a Bible lesson. Some groups serve together, some play games together, some groups pray together. House churches have been a part of the fabric of First Presbyterian for decades, and I think that is part of what makes this church such a strong community of faith. House churches are on break for the summer and will start back up in the fall. If you are not a part of a house church and would like to join up with one (or more!) in the fall, I would be happy to help with that! Or if you would be interested in forming or leading a new house church, I would be happy to help with that too!
Rev. Dr. Maren Sonstegard-Spray
The Gift of House Churches
As of June I have had the chance to visit each of the fourteen house churches at least once. For those who are not familiar with house churches, a house church is a group of people who meet together once a month on a particular day and time for food and fellowship and faith conversations. House churches are a really remarkable thing! You meet month in and month out, year after year. You open your homes to one another, you feed one another, you take care of each other, and you welcome new folks into your midst. Some groups spend the precious hour or two a month just catching up with one another, deepening friendships along the way. Some groups choose to learn new things together, using devotionals or a Bible lesson. Some groups serve together, some play games together, some groups pray together. House churches have been a part of the fabric of First Presbyterian for decades, and I think that is part of what makes this church such a strong community of faith. House churches are on break for the summer and will start back up in the fall. If you are not a part of a house church and would like to join up with one (or more!) in the fall, I would be happy to help with that! Or if you would be interested in forming or leading a new house church, I would be happy to help with that too!
Rev. Dr. Maren Sonstegard-Spray
2019-2020 HOUSE CHURCH HANDBOOK
THE PURPOSE OF HOUSE CHURCH:
The purpose of the House Church program 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 we want there to be some meaningful content to House Church. We want what we do at House Church to help people interact and begin to know one another. The warmth and joy of being together is to be promoted at all times.
THE STRUCTURE OF HOUSE CHURCH:
On the appointed night of each month the House Churches meet at a previously determined home of a member of the respective House Churches, or restaurant, or meeting space in the church. For those house churches who do potluck, each person in the House Church brings a food dish (previously assigned) and these dishes form the meal that takes place followed by the program fashioned from the materials provided (or of their choosing). The meetings should open and close with prayer.
THE FOOD ASSIGNMENTS FOR HOUSE CHURCH:
Food assignments vary with each House Church. Do that which suits your House Church best. (Your group may wish to select a “secretary” for the group who will send out emails or reminder cards a week prior to the upcoming meeting - reminding the members of the group of the date, time, and what food they planned to bring). Typically the monthly hosts are to provide plates, napkins, cups, eating utensils, and beverages.
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. House churches are encouraged volunteer together to help with the Fellowship Café for a month or provide desserts for Fellowship meals. Please contact the chair of the Fellowship Commission to learn more about these ways to serve.
WHITE ELEPHANT OPTION:
You may choose to hold a White Elephant gift exchange at your December or January gathering. Each person brings a wrapped gift. Set all the gifts in the middle of the room. Create numbered cards for the exact number of people who have brought gifts. As the leader, go around and let people draw one of the numbered cards from a hat. The person with #1 gets to go first. After that person selects one of the gifts and opens it, then #2 has a choice. He/she may select another gift from the pile of unopened gifts or to take the gift person #1 selected. If he/she takes the gift from #1, then #1 can go and select another from the pile. Then person #3 can take one from the pile or from either of the first two. If #3 takes person #2's gift, #2 can then go to the pile or take the gift from #1… the swapping can go on and on - and always produces lots of laughter.
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):
Option 1: The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister – short chapters reflect on many aspects of aging, the purposes and concerns, the struggles and surprises, the potential and the joys. These are the capstone years, the time in which a whole new life is in the making. The gift of these years is not merely being alive, it is the gift of becoming more fully alive than ever.
Option 2: Biblical Literacy: The Essential Stories Everyone Needs to Know by Timothy Beal – includes brief introductions and short selections from different parts of the Bible.
Option 3: The Great Poems of the Bible by James Kugel – selections of poems from the Bible followed by discussion about the conditions surrounding each poem, offering readers wonderful insight to better understand the poems.
Option 4: A Renewed Spirituality: Finding Fresh Paths at Midlife by Lynne Baab – Lynne Baab introduces time-tested patterns of spiritual discipline, showing how they may help us combat spiritual restlessness and ennui, helping us find fresh paths for the years ahead.
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.
First Presbyterian Church
Family Camp
Huge Success!
Our 2019 Family Camp was
Saturday, April 27th at beautiful Camp Albemarle
The fun began at 1:00 pm when YOU arrived!
There were games and activities or just a chance for you to visit and catch up with friends.
Tree climbing, bouncy house & tower!
Around 4:00 pm a catered meal of BBQ and Fried Chicken w/sides and cobbler & banana pudding.
Family Camp
Huge Success!
Our 2019 Family Camp was
Saturday, April 27th at beautiful Camp Albemarle
The fun began at 1:00 pm when YOU arrived!
There were games and activities or just a chance for you to visit and catch up with friends.
Tree climbing, bouncy house & tower!
Around 4:00 pm a catered meal of BBQ and Fried Chicken w/sides and cobbler & banana pudding.