First Church Family,
What a wonderful respite we have had from the heat this week! Though I know the temperatures are going to rise again, this week has made me look forward to fall.
Over the past days we have hired exceptional replacements for our Melanie Anderson and her assistant in our Robbins Preschool.
Kendra Stuebe, from Christ Methodist Church in Hickory, will serve as our New Director and Lead Teacher. She has experience in the field and appropriate degrees and credentials.
Our own Erika Murphy will serve as Assistant Director and Teacher. She too has wonderful gifts for the position and has had both of her boys, Evan and Salem, come through the program.
Kendra and Erika will begin their work with us officially on August 15, to prepare for the preschool’s first day of students on September 7. We will have an opportunity for you to meet and begin to get to know them soon. Please pray for our teachers and incoming students.
Vacation Bible School begins Monday morning, August 9. Please make certain that children in your family are registered. We are going to have a wonderful week together. Both volunteers and students will be masked for VBS.
On Monday, hundreds of pounds of food and hygiene products (and a new microwave) were delivered to fill the food pantry at CCC&TI. That ministry serves students who can’t afford even the simplest food or hygiene products during their days on campus. Thank you for your commitment to that ministry.
I don’t know of another congregation that has the kind of commitment to serving the poor as we do. I sense God’s pleasure for our faithfulness, and I pray that you might sense God’s pleasure as well.
Finally, as you know, COVID cases have recently increased among non-vaccinated persons across our state. I learned today that our county is among the 20 most susceptible areas for an outbreak. We are taking this new increase very seriously and will continue to take strong precautions with those among our fold, including our children who have not been vaccinated.
Please wear a mask and remain socially distant if you have not been vaccinated, and consider doing so even if you are vaccinated. And please encourage friends and family members to get the vaccine as soon possible. We will continue to monitor the situation in our local area and communicate with you regularly.
Blessings,
Pastor Dave