Youth & Confirmation Sunday 2019

This past Sunday our church was blessed by our youth group who lead both services. They provided the lay leading, music, sermon, sound, ushering, and Time for Young Disciples

message.

Along with the youth leading service we welcomed Payton Nolley and Sarah Butterfield as new members upon their completion of confirmation. A huge thank you goes out to their mentors, Elizabeth Philhower and Randy Miller. Thank you for supporting these two young ladies as they became members of our church.

Their beautiful cakes were made by Margy Butterfield, Sarah's mom and cake maker extraordinaire at Sarah Ann's Cupboard in Conover.

Senior, Courtney Roquemore, provided a wonderful sermon, which included her recounting the tale of how her family came to FPC Newton and how God prepared her to move and to reach out to others and turn their mourning into dancing.

Seniors, Callie Inscoe and Addie Joplin along with member Bob Neil provided the special music. Callie played Here I Am Lord arranged by Joel Raney and The Lord of the Dance also arranged by Joel Raney with accompaniment from our two organists Susan Albano and Susan Strickland.

Addie was joined by Bob Neil and together they sang My Sweet Lord by David Crowder while playing guitars.

Anna Kirby and Lauren Holcomb provided our Young Disciples message. It was based on John 21: 1-19, how Jesus told the disciples to cast their net on the opposite side of the boat. In which they caught so many fish they could almost not pull in their nets. In a last second decision Greyson Eneix, the Jesus understudy, had to go on in Sam's absence. Thank you Greyson for stepping in for us.

The rest of the youth provided the lay leading parts and ran the sound booth. It was an all youth produced service and we couldn't be more proud of them.

This was also the first event for our new fearless leader, Laura Sparks. She is the new FPC Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries. She began her new position on May 1st, 2019 and is looking forward to the many youth adventures that are in store.

If you are interested in becoming part of our amazing youth group please do not hesitate to contact Laura Sparks, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries at lsparks@fpcnewton or call the church office at 828-464-0648 for more information. We would love to have you join us!

Easter Egg Hunt This Sunday!

First Presbyterian Church -Newton Middle and High School Youth will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 14th in the high school youth room. Breakfast will be provided by the Christian Education Committee followed by the hunt. If the weather is rainy or cold, hunt will be conducted indoors. Following the hunt, all children and youth will head upstairs to prepare for the Palm Sunday processional.

The Backpack Program of Catawba County receive help from WNC Presbyterians

Fifty-two youth and adults from Western North Carolina Presbyterian Churches of USA were hosted by First Presbyterian Church in Newton the weekend of March 15-16th for WNC Presbytery High School Mission Retreat. Members from Gastonia, Black Mountain, Hickory, Asheville, Newton, Brevard and Morganton Presbyterian congregations spent Friday night at FPC Newton in preparation for a day of service in the Newton area assisting ECCCM Food Pantry; ECCCM Thift Store; Yaussy Presbyterian Mission Center; The Corner Table and The Backpack Program of Catawba County.

The Backpack Program of Catawba County, hosted by Amanda Freeland- Director, was another morning service location. Seventeen youth and adults worked for 2 hours preparing 9 pallets of food orders for area schools to pick up on Monday morning and restocked the individual food bag pantry.