Dear friends and fellow disciples,
 
What a beautiful week to glory in God's creation! This weekend a pile of us will travel to Montreat for our All Church Retreat. Pray for us as we journey and seek God and fellowship together. Those who are staying behind will be in good hands in worship on Sunday with pastors current and past: Alex Stayer-Brewington, our current Interim Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry, will be preaching, and Paul Ransford, who held the same position with Westminster from 1997-2007, will be our liturgist. You may have more fun than normal on Sunday!
 
Here are a few more good things to know as we roll towards the weekend:
NEW Church School Elective Begins Sunday: Bible 101, Part 2 - “Exploring the Covenants of the Old Testament”  
Come and explore the covenants of the Old Testament, the stories surrounding them, and why they're important in our relationship with God. Each lesson stands alone and no prior knowledge is needed, so drop in any Sunday and learn something new! Sundays at 9:45am, Room 205, Facilitators: Marsha Scouten and Emily Strader.
Wall of Giving to Support WPC Youth  
Stop by the Mission Center to view the awesome Wall of Giving and help us raise funds for youth summer trips and scholarships. Take an envelope from the wall, fill in your contribution information, and say a little prayer for our wonderful youth and the good folks who walk alongside them.
Search Committee Nominations
As I mentioned in worship last Sunday and in last week’s newsletter, the Session has approved job descriptions for three key staff positions: Associate Pastor of Congregational Care & Mission, Associate Pastor for Youth & Families, and Director of Christian Education. You can view the job descriptions  here . The Nominating Committee has begun the work of building search committees for each of these positions. If you’d like to nominate someone or if you’re interested in serving, just send an email to  nominatingcommittee@wpcdurham.org , or drop a note into the white box in the Mission Center’s reception area. There will be a Congregational Meeting on March 3 at 11:00am to approve the members for each of these search committees.
Welcome Damon Tweedy to Aperture on Wednesday, February 20
Dr. Tweedy will read from his bestselling memoir  Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor’s Reflections on Race and Medicine , and discuss his experiences grappling with race, bias, and the unique health problems of black Americans. Come for dinner at 5:45pm, then stick around afterward for this important conversation. Register  here .
I'll be away at the coast for a few days next week, with a group that Haywood started some years ago for pastors of mid-sized and large churches in North Carolina. It is a rich time of fellowship and sharing, helping each other shoulder the load and learning from each other. I'm grateful for a church that sets aside time and money for its staff to be lifelong learners. We'll juggle a lot over the next few weeks, and before long we'll settle into Lent, as God prepares and equips us for the journey of discipleship in these days.

Peace to you, friends.