Monthly Fellowship Dinners

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Please plan to join us Wednesday, December 7th for our monthly fellowship meal.  The meal will be served beginning at 5:30 pm through 6:30 pm.
Join us for a  meal provided by our Fellowship team.
This will be at the J Murphy Smith Fellowship Center.  There is no charge for the meal and you can dine in or carry it out. Donations will be accepted. We can't wait to see our Church families for great food and fellowship! 
 
Please contact the church to sign-up at church@firstpresnb.org or 252-637-3270 by Monday, December 5th at 5 pm.
Fellowship Team
We look forward to seeing you on December 7th  for an evening of great food and fellowship.
photo taken by George and Emily Henson

Lunch Wagon Upcoming Events!
December
On Thursday, December 1, the Lunch Wagon will be traveling to Cary to attend the Chinese Light Festival. The reviews from previous years indicated that this is a fun and interesting festival. The park is decorated with lighted Chinese lanterns and lighted scenery. We will be attending the Twilight tour beginning at 4:30 pm and ending by 6:00 pm. The admission price is $25.80. This festival sells out quickly so you will need to make and pay for your reservation by Tuesday, October 18. We will plan to eat after our tour ends at a restaurant TBD. You will be responsible for the cost of your dinner. We will meet in the church parking lot at 1:45 pm with the bus leaving promptly at 2:00 pm. We will return to New Bern between 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The bus is limited to 15 people. If there is more interest, carpooling may be needed. If you have questions, contact Yvonne Olmstead or Nancy Perdue.
Contact the church at 252-637-3270 or church@firstpresnb.org to register or let the front desk know when you drop off your check.
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.