Romans 12:1-21. Faith is about more than believing. Having faith in God also means that we try to behave in a certain way. This text reveals the kind of actions and practices that are consistent with our Christian faith. How can we "walk the walk" in our daily lives? 

Attendance is not limited, but we ask that you pre-register so that we will have a means for contact tracing should the need arise. To pre-register, click on this link: Register Now . You will see two options for the service--either lawn seating or drive-in. Click on the appropriate box and fill out the form. If you have trouble registering online, please contact the office.

We will practice social distancing and face masks will be required. If you do not have a face mask, one will be provided. If you have a lawn chair and can bring it, that will be helpful. You will be instructed as to where to place your lawn chairs in order to maintain social distancing. The church building will be open for restroom use only through the door on the east side. Please click here for complete information about these services.

           Normally this week, students would be returning to their school campuses, but now many are having to try to complete their lessons from home. Let us remember to keep students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other school employees in our prayers during this time of upheaval. Working parents are having to figure out what to do to support their children’s needs and schedules. Right before I wrote this message, college students at the University of North Carolina, who had arrived on campus only a few days earlier, were sent home and will have online classes for the rest of the semester after several spikes of COVID-19 cases. This year with so much uncertainty and so many changes taking place, many of us are being stretched to our limits. Our students will never be the same age again as they are at the start of this school year. Let us remember to extend some grace and support to all those who are making difficult choices regarding the new school year.

           At our outdoor worship service on August 16^th, Ben Cahoon and two of our seventh graders, Jaylen Lindsey and Elisabeth Writtenberry, did a wonderful job offering a blessing for the beginning of the school year. Usually we call that service a blessing of the backpacks, but their message highlighted all of the different things that we need blessed as this school year begins virtually in Dare County. At the beginning of any normal school year, there are major adjustments for teachers, students, parents, administrators, and school employees, but this year those changes are magnified. Ben, Jaylen, and Elisabeth not only prayed for God to bless our students’ pencils and pens, books, and notebooks, but also our modems, routers, hot spots, computers, mobile phones, and webcams. They also prayed for God to bless our masks to help keep each other well. While we grieve at the unwelcome challenges, we also give thanks for God’s surprising blessings that will come. The God we believe in is a God of resurrection power, who brings new things to life out of what we have given up and what has died. The God we worship sustains us and brings us hope and joy. 

           Speaking of joy, it has been a joy to gather with a number of you for two outdoor worship services in recent weeks, including last Sunday. Nonie Booth told me about something moving she witnessed. During the service, a young man rode by on a motorbike and made the sign of the cross, then kissed his lips, and pointed his finger up to God in the heavens. What a beautiful example of how our simple actions can be a blessing to others. We will once again have another outdoor service this Sunday evening, August 23^rd, at 6:00 pm. These outdoor services are live streamed and also available to watch later on our church’s website and YouTube channel. Whether we are watching the services on-line or able to attend the outdoor services, I am grateful for the bonds of love that continue to unite all of us as a family of faith that serves Jesus Christ.   

Please pray for Helen Beshens who had a heart attack on August 7th and who has now been released from OBX Hospital to Peak Resources in Nags Head for recovery. Helen is in Room 214 and has a phone in her room. Her direct number is 596-0234 and she welcomes calls. 

Rev. Tom Murphy died on Sunday, August 16th. Tom was founding pastor of Roanoke Island Presbyterian Church, where he served for many years. He preached at OBPC on several occasions and has moderated our Session. Please pray for Tom's wife, Mary Helen, their children, their grandchildren and all of his friends and colleagues. To read Rev. Murphy's obituary, please click here.

We offer prayers of Christian sympathy to Susan Callens and her family following the death of her husband Robert Paul "Tex" Callens on August 5. To read his obituary, please click here. A small, private funeral service will be held at OBPC. It will be live-streamed for friends and family who cannot be here. If you would like to watch the funeral, click on the following link at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 22nd: Robert Callens Funeral.

We offer prayers of Christian sympathy for the family of former member Frank T. Butler, Jr., who died on August 3rd at the age of 89. To read his obituary, please click here.

This Week’s Health Question: Have you wondered why the church is asking people to preregister just to sit outside the church building for a worship service?

This Week’s Health Answer: It’s a bit scary to realize that anyone of us can be the church’s Typhoid Mary (or Marvin). Many people are asymptomatic transmitters of the contagious COVID-19 virus. When someone tests positive, the public health nurses have to quickly contact everyone who shared space and time with that person. Having immediate contact information, really speeds the contact tracing, and keeps our church and economy open. Thanks for caring!

Office Hours--the Bible Study offered by Columbia Theological Seminary, is continuing. The next series of classes will be about the Book of James on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:00 pm from August 5th until September 2nd.  To learn more about this bible study, go to the Office Hours Facebook page by clicking here or to the Columbia Theological Seminary page here. The syllabus for the course, which is titled, "The Book of James: Wisdom and the Way of Jesus," is available by clicking here.

You may recall that at it's February 2020 meeting, the Session of OBPC agreed to designate its annual $1,200 of missionary support to John Etheredge, an elder from Rocky Mount who is currently in Ghana. In a letter from July, John writes:

           Since moving to Ghana, I have read the message from Matthew 9:38 a dozen or more times. I keep hearing three things coming from this text:

           The harvest is plentiful. I found people who want to learn a new way, with very few resources or know-how. There is such a great need for doctors, nurses, teachers, carpenters, electricians, painters, and just people with no special skill but just a love for Jesus.

           The workers are few. Technology is so far behind what we are accustomed to in the U.S. Workers cut back the shrubs around buildings and fences with machetes. There is a building going up next to where I live, and the builders pour concrete, then carry it in a bucket on their heads, up a ladder.

           Pray to God for workers. If I can do it (something like this, coming to Ghana), so can you. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your endeavors. It may not be Africa; it could be in your own community.

Click here to read the rest of John's letter about his work in Ghana.

Outer Banks Presbyterian Church

907 S. Croatan Highway, Milepost 8.5

PO Box 2199

Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

Email: office@outerbankspresbyterian.org

Website: www.outerbankspresbyterian.org

During this time of irregular office hours,

you may reach Pastor Jody or administrative staff

by calling the office at 252-441-5897 and leaving a message or by sending an email to