Churchwide

The congregational breakfast serves as the youth fundraiser for the year, and every ticket purchase and donation goes directly and fully to the Youth Mission Fund. The Youth Mission Fund ensures that we are able to keep the price as low as possible for our families and keeps all of our youth mission trips and retreats open to all, regardless of financial ability. Breakfast will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude before worship at 10:45 a.m. With your ticket purchase, you are also entered into a raffle to win tickets to the Charlotte Knights, Charlotte Hornets, and more! All tickets are $12, and children four and under are free. We thank you so much for supporting youth ministry here at First Presbyterian!

Heath Ministry and the Red Cross will host a blood drive on Sunday, March 5 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Wood Fellowship Hall Overflow. It takes about one hour to give blood. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of the appointment. | Schedule your appointment

In her talk, President Rev. Dr. Serene Jones will unpack years of observations about trauma and how it resides in our bodies, trapping us in the past. She has seen that telling our stories invites God’s grace and love to interrupt our lives and help create a new path forward. In the program’s second half, Dr. Justin Johnson, a board-certified psychiatrist at HopeWay, will join her. The two will share ideas on trauma and healing from their respective wellsprings of experience. | Purchase Tickets

The Easter Egg Hunt will be divided into waves by age for children from birth through fifth grade. The age groups are: up to two, two-three years old, Pre-K through Kindergarten, grades 1-2, and grades 3-5. Dinner will be served. This is a free event, but we are accepting donations for candy and prizes to fill the eggs. Please drop off donations at the church to the attention of Delilah Jane Phillips. | Register  

The Service of Tenebrae sets the tone for Good Friday by recreating aspects of the passion story using scripture, solemn hymns, and the gradual darkening of the church as candles are extinguished. Attend in person or on livestream. | Watch live

An early-morning Easter service in the park with coffee, donuts, and local churches participating. The Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee will be preaching. This service is open to the public – you do not need to be a member of a participating church. Bring the whole family – children and dogs welcome. Seating will be provided, or bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to sit in the grass. We need volunteers to help with providing the breakfast snacks. Please sign up here if you can bring coffee, donuts, fruit, plates, or napkins.

Attend our traditional service at 11 a.m. on Easter morning. There will not be Sunday School but there will be First Church. Remember to bring some flowers to add to the cross! There will be no Contemplative service at 9 a.m.

Join other women of the church for a fabulous spring mountain retreat weekend. Our speaker will be Rev. Grier Booker Richards, the Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Adult Faith Formation at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. This is a great weekend of intergenerational fellowship, study, spiritual growth, and relaxation at the beautiful Kanuga Conference Center. There will be plenty of free time for shopping, hiking, and exploring. | Register: fpc.tiny.us/pwretreat

Youth Sunday is when youth members of the church lead the 11 a.m. worship service for the congregation. Twelfth grade youth give reflections and homilies on the theme and scripture chosen by them. This year, the theme for Youth Sunday is "The Door is Always Open" with Revelation 3:20 as the guiding scripture passage.

All are invited to stay after worship for this boxed lunch fellowship event on the church lawn.

The Ivey Handbell Ringers will perform their annual homecoming concert as they return from their tour of Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec City. They will present selections from their tour concert programs. This event is free to attend.

During worship, Lucy Crain will be ordained and Rev. Gail Henderson-Belsito will be preaching. Following worship, stop by the ice cream cart for a free ice cream treat! In honor of Lucy’s ordination, please consider bringing a food donation for Loaves and Fishes. There will be a drop off area in front of the church. 

Kick off fall with a complimentary breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, and coffee! We'll fellowship together and you can learn how you can fill – and share – your cup spiritually this fall at FPC. | RSVP  Shoe Drive! As you purchase new shoes for your own child, please consider purchasing a pair for a child at Westerly Hills Academy, as well. New shoes, sizes youth 12 through adult 7, will be collected as part of worship on Sunday, August 27th. If you have gently used children’s shoes, please consider donating them to the Crisis Assistance Free Store. Contact Heather Herring with questions.    

In partnership with Sun Counseling and Wellness, FPC is offering three classes designed to empower parents with knowledge and techniques to support their child’s mental health journey. Classes will take place at First Presbyterian Church, located at 200 W Trade Street in Uptown Charlotte. All classes are free of charge and open to parents with children from birth to college. Free parking is available in the church parking lot. Depending on your interests, you may attend one, two, or all three courses. Childcare is available, and dinner is available for purchase beginning at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, September 13, 6 p.m.: Understanding Feelings (Emotional Intelligence) with Hailey Goodwin, MA, LCMHCA and Andrea Juarez, LCSWA. This presentation will shed light on how to help your children understand, express, and cope with their feelings. Explore what it means to have a healthy range of emotions and healthy coping tools to support in communicating and working through difficult emotions. Wednesday, September 20, 6 p.m.:  Parenting Techniques (for co-regulation, tantrums) with Maggie Jennings, MS, LCMHC, RPT. The terms “regulation” and “dysregulation” have been thrown around recently. There is so much information for parents on what to do and what not to do – it can […]

The Fall Gathering is PW’s annual kickoff event. We will gather for lunch following worship to enjoy fellowship and hear about plans for the upcoming year. Our guest speaker will be Principal Kiesha Pride, who will tell us about her greatest joys and challenges during her first year leading Westerly Hills Academy. New staff members at FPC will be introduced, and directories will be available to take home. <p data-pm-slice="1 1 Register

This event is hosted by Advocacy Ministry's Education Subcommittee to educate and inform attendees about Westerly Hills Academy and the work FPC is doing there. Education panel featuring Kiesha Pride, Principal of Westerly Hills Academy; Jasmin Harris, Communities in Schools Coordinator at Westerly Hills Academy; Dr. Sheba Surratt, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Sun Counseling and Wellness; Emily Elliott Gaffney, Chief Executive Officer at Heart Math Tutoring. <p data-pm-slice="1 1 Register

Queen's Pharmacy will be on-site to provide vaccines. Flu and COVID vaccines will be available for ages seven and up. RSV vaccines will be available for ages 60+. No appointment is needed, walk-in only. Sign up at the button below to expedite your registration on the 15th. Register .

*Rain or shine!* In case of rain, the festivities will be moved inside throughout the church. Boo Bash - the party of the year. Bounce houses galore on the front lawn. Ministry areas will provide tables with games and candy. Fun decorations and photo opportunities. Pizza for dinner! Please RSVP so we can order accordingly. <p data-pm-slice="1 1 RSVP

Help us decorate a Habitat for Humanity playhouse to celebrate our upcoming build this fall! We will have the opportunity to paint a design on the playhouse and enjoy fellowship and light refreshments. The playhouse will find its forever home at a Habitat house, where it will bring endless joy to a child who dreams of their own special place. This is a great intergenerational opportunity to get involved with Habitat – children and adults can help adorn the playhouse with love and artistry! You'll also be able to learn more and sign up for our upcoming build dates in November. Or, sign up for a build day at the button below. Sign up for a Nov. Build Day

Please join us for a complimentary lunch with our dear friend from Haiti, Actionnel Fleurisma. Actionnel will share the status of the mission in Haiti and the good work being done through EWO and Friends Empowering Haiti. RSVP by October 20 to ensure your lunch! Sign up

Plowshares Book Club will discuss “Common Ground: Talking About Gun Violence in America” by Donald Gaffney, pastor, Sandy Hook alumnus, and gun owner, who encourages honest conversation and offers a way forward for those who wish to work for a common solution. Sign up

A panel will empower participants to take practical actions that promote a safer community. A light lunch will be provided free of charge, but please register so we can plan accordingly. Panelists include Juliet Kuehnle, Sun Counseling and Wellness; David Jacobs, M.D., A Way Forward; Tracie Campbel, Office of Violence Prevention at Mecklenburg County; and Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler. Sign up for childcare here. Representatives from the following gun violence prevention activist organizations will also be on site: 1. Moms Demand Action and  ATF proposal to close online and gun show background check loopholes 2. March Fourth 3. YourNeighborsForChange Note: This series will not seek to advocate for or against gun ownership or align with any particular political agenda. Register for Panel Contact Related Events: ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL SERIES October 15, 22, 29 | 9:45 a.m. | WFH Overflow and Zoom Adults will participate in a three-week Sunday School series to focus on God’s call to value human lives, the impact of gun violence in Charlotte, grappling with emotional reactions, and envisioning an alternative way forward. | Zoom link | Contact YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL SERIES October 15, 22, 29, November 5 | 9:45 a.m. | Youth Rooms (will join adults on […]

Give something that means something. Donate blood and save up to three lives during this national blood shortage! If you are able to give blood, please considering scheduling an appointment. Worship will be live streamed in the fellowship hall for those who give during the 11 o'clock hour. Questions? Email Catherine, FPC's faith community nurse. Sign up