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News & Updates from Your CPC Family
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Gathering to Build the Temple
by Yoram Raanan
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Sunday, May 24, 2020
Please note the earlier time for Worship this week.
Worship
: 10:00 a.m.
Scripture Reading: II John, 1-6
; John 18:33-38
Message: Big Words, Big Ideas:
Beauty
Online Service Participants - 10:00 a.m.
Ministers:
Dr. Duane Hix; Rev. Mitzi Lesher-Thomas; Rev. Alan Bancroft
Music Director: Ed Yasick;
Special Music: Alan Ward, cello
Lay Reader: Lynn Voss
Worship will be streamed to the internet
(You do not need a Facebook account to access this link.)
(NOTE: After Worship, we'll turn off Facebook Live
and share a time of fellowship on Zoom using the link
in the Coffee Fellowship note below )
(Please, if you have Joys and Concerns, submit them by e-mail
to
Duane
or
Mitzi
by Saturday before the service. We will note them to publish
in the weekly Joys and Concerns update
and will include them
in our announcement during the service.)
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Virtual Coffee Fellowship after Worship
Here's the link to the virtual coffee hour after worship this Sunday,
11:00 a.m. to 11:30, or whenever you get tired of talking!
Join Zoom at this link
Pastor Nominating Committee minutes and reports
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On the Reopening of our Church Facilities
After the governor's most recent announcement about North Carolina's next phase of reopening, it is clear that worship will be "virtual" for awhile yet to come. Rest assured, however, that your pastors and Session will be thoughtfully planning for our own situation in the days ahead, keeping in mind the safety of our congregation and its most vulnerable members.
The next Session meeting is June 1 and our path forward toward reopening will be discussed. That said, we would also like to have input and hear your concerns, hopes and suggestions as we navigate these uncertain times, so we will be planning opportunities for such dialogue in the near future.
We are considering a town hall meeting to hear those thoughts from you, and will notify you with adequate notice when that occurs. We will at all times remember our calling to care for our members and exhibit a glimpse of the kingdom of Jesus Christ to the world.
Dr. Duane Hix Bridge Interim Pastor
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Calling all Zoomers! Update News!
Using Zoom to connect to family, meetings, or Bible studies? It's time for an update!
Zoom has rolled out an update with enhanced security. They did the complicated stuff; we simply need to download the update (just as you may have done for other programs on your smartphone, tablet, or computer).
This link will take you to their Download Center
Click the big, blue Download button under 'Zoom Client for Meetings' and follow the instructions from your computer.
Note: if you do not download the update prior to May 30th, you will be prompted to do so before you can join any meetings after that date.
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At Home Faith Formation for Families
The Faith Together class will meet for the final time at 11:00 this coming Sunday morning, May 24. (Use the info below to join in via Zoom.)
This week's lesson focuses on the Ascension story in Acts 1. We will talk about how
Jesus promised his friends that they would receive the Holy Spirit, and how he instructed them to be his witnesses, not only in Jerusalem, but also in the surrounding areas and "to the ends of the earth." We'll begin in our usual way of "breaking bread" together, so have a snack ready to go. Have basic craft supplies ready to make a spiral prayer craft. "See" you then!
The
Children in Worship
lesson for this week is the story of Ascension, filmed in our familiar Children In Worship room. In this story, based on Acts 1:8-11, spend some time wondering about the following: How Jesus' friends felt when Jesus went away; if they kept looking for Jesus, how they knew Jesus was still with them; how they felt when Jesus told them God would give them the special gift of the Holy Spirit, and what will they do with that gift?
The Illustrated Ministry lesson will continue to be posted on the CPC Family Facebook page on Sunday mornings, if you would like additional activities to do with your family.
Get ready for Pentecost! At home Pentecost kits are available for pick-up outside the church office. If you would like one, but are unable to stop by the church, please let Jen Pierce know and we will either mail it or do a porch drop-off. Included in the kit are coloring sheets that we would like for you to color and return to us by May 28 for display during worship on May 31. Complete instructions will be included in the kit.
Adult Faith Formation
Bible and Beyond
Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. this class continues a series on the History of Christianity from the 4th century/time of Constantine forward. Based on videos from The Great Courses' series each meeting begins with a 30 minute video followed by discussion.
Guided by Alan and Lisa Ward this is a great exploration of the churches ancient roots.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87566098356?pwd=Y294SFVKNzlQNGNKRmtvTTBVQTlOUT09
Friday Women's Bible Study:10:00 a.m.
We're focusing on the stories of unnamed women in the Bible. Any are welcome to join at any time.
Meeting ID: 433 476 350
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US
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Fair Trade
is coming to you!
The Fair Trade team has begun making deliveries, and is ready
to deliver coffee, tea,
and/or chocolate to your front door! (within 20 miles of CPC)
Here is how this will work.
- Email your order to Betty Boyd at elizabethgboyd4@gmail.com. (See inventory information below.) State the specific item(s), quantity desired, and total owed in your email. (We request a $10 minimum order.)
- Betty will check inventory and then send an email confirming the total amount due.
- Go to the CPC website. Click Online Giving at the top of the home page. Then click Give Online. Look for the Fair Trade Products line, enter the total amount due, and complete the transaction. (This transaction is a purchase and not actually a gift to CPC.)
- We will be notified when payment is received.
- Betty will email you with the date and approximate time of delivery.
Currently in Inventory
Whole bean regular coffee
: Mind, Body and Soul - $9.00/bag
Ground regular coffee
: Mind, Body and Soul; French Roast; Hazelnut Crème - $9.00/bag; Sisters Blend - $10.00/bag
Ground Decaf coffee
: Plain; Hazelnut Crème - $10.00/bag
Tea:
- Irish Breakfast; Green; Peppermint; Ginger - $4.00/box
Hot Cocoa Mix
: $7.00/can
Dark Chocolate Bars
: Caramel Crunch; Very Dark; Mint - $4.00/each
Milk Chocolate Bars
: Plain; Caramel Crunch - $4.00/each
6 Chocolate minis
: Dark Chocolate; Milk Chocolate; Mixed - $2/bag
15 Chocolate minis
: Dark Chocolate; Milk Chocolate - $5/bag
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Mindfulness Meditation Live!
Join Jason Troiano on the main Cary Presbyterian Facebook Page, Wednesday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m. for a live experience of mindfulness meditation.
Can't make it then? It will be saved as a video on the main page for viewing anytime you need to re-center.
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Cool Books Club News
Our book of the month is
A Country Between: Making a Home where Both Sides of Jerusalem Collide by Stephanie Saldana. A review from Goodreads states: "Behind every dark moment, there is another hidden world. The trick is to hold out long enough to make it there."
When American writer Stephanie Saldana finds herself in an empty house at the beginning of Nablus Road, the dividing line between East and West Jerusalem, she is a new wife trying to navigate a fragile terrain, both within her marriage and throughout the country in which she has chosen to live.
Pregnant with her first child, Stephanie struggles to protect her family, their faith, and herself from the cracks of Middle Eastern conflict that threaten to shatter the world around her. But as her due date approaches, she must reconcile herself with her choice to bring a child into a dangerous world. Determined to piece together life from the brokenness, she sets out to uncover small instances of beauty to balance the delicate coexistence between love, motherhood, and a country so often at war.
In an urban valley in Jerusalem, A Country Between captures the fragile ecosystem of the Middle East and the difficult first years of motherhood in the midst of a conflict-torn city. What unfolds is a celebration of faith, language, family, and love that fills the space between what was shattered, leaving us whole once more.
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Wednesday Night
Bible Study Continues
Embracing the Prophets
in Contemporary Culture
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., Rev. Hix leads a new Bible Study via Zoom.
Old Testament Professor Walter Brueggemann guides us in a video study of Biblical Prophets, like
Jeremiah, Micah, Hosea, and the other figures who arose to challenge the religious and political leaders of Israel and Judah. Despite relative economic prosperity in those centuries, the nations once dedicated to God now followed false gods and perverted divine justice.
This will be a six-part series. Each session includes an introduction by Prof. Brueggemann
to a theme that the prophets raised. Then we will watch as a small group gathered to discuss
that theme will ask questions to prompt discussion. The second half of the hour allows us to
launch a discussion of our own, trying to see how the prophets' words could guide the decisions of our everyday life today.
The link for the Wednesday Night at 7:00 p.m. Zoom study is below.
You can refer to the same link each week.
Topic: Embracing the Prophets Bible Study
Time: This is a recurring meeting
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. beginning May 6.
Meeting ID: 841 4743 2173
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CPC Cares: A Local Response
to a Worldwide Emergency
In response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Cary Presbyterian Church has established the
CPC Cares: COVID-19 Community Assistance Fund
. The purpose of the fund is to financially assist our members, friends and community partners during this time of crisis. Half of the offering received will be immediately disbursed to Dorcas Ministries and The Carying Place, two local charities with large CPC financial support and volunteer involvement. The other half will be retained to help with financial assistance for CPC members, friends and neighbors in need. Any funds remaining after the crisis has passed will be disbursed to The Carying Place, Dorcas Ministries and other charities.
As of May 14, we have received gifts of over $18,000! We have sent donations of $4,184 each to Dorcas Ministries and The Carying Place, and we made a $1,000 gift to our neighbor, A Place at the Table.
We received a wonderful thank you note from Leslie Covington, Executive Director of The Carying Place. Her are Leslie's words of thanks:
"I wanted to send a huge THANK YOU to Cary Pres for ALL you're doing for us through CPC Cares during this very challenging landscape of COVID-19. The love that Cary Pres has for us has always been apparent but this means much more than you could ever imagine. I so look forward to the time when I can thank you all in person and please share all of my appreciation with your Pastor, leadership & sweet congregation. We exist for our families because of compassionate hearts & minds like yours❤️!"
If you wish to make gifts directly, here are links to Dorcas Ministries and The Carying Place.
We appreciate all of your gifts. During this time of severe worldwide crisis, we strive to remember all of those less fortunate, and help where we can, and if we are able.
If you have any questions, please contact elders Todd Crouse, Hal Drumheller, Craig Hofmeister or Barbara Carew (finance manager).
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Nominations for 2021 Church Leaders
Now Being Accepted
The CPC Nominating Committee is now seeking nominations for Elders and Deacons to serve as church leaders beginning in January 2021. Nominations will be accepted through May 31.
If you believe you, or someone you know, would be a thoughtful, spirit-led leader of the congregation please complete the Officer Nomination Form available by request by email from office@carypresbyterian.org
, or as a hard copy available from the church office.
The form gives a brief description of Elder and Deacon responsibilities and requests that you include why you think the person you recommend will make a good church leader.
Please email your nominations to Tim Farless or place the paper version of the form in Tim's mail slot in the church office, in the offering plate, or mail a copy to the church. Thank you!
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Memorials & Endowment Committee
Announces 2020 Grant Cycle
Application Deadline: June 19
Is there a mission or faith-based activity you are passionate about, but is not yet sponsored through the CPC budget? If so, a grant awarded by the Memorials & Endowment Team is a great way to obtain capital needed to foster such a project.
The purpose of an M&E grant is to provide resources to support faith-based initiatives. These initiatives must align with the overall purpose of the Endowment Fund, which is to provide opportunities for members to support the benevolent, educational, and mission work of the whole church. The grants are short term, non-recurring gifts and are not intended to replace existing budgets or support ongoing projects. Any CPC member may apply.
Not sure if a certain initiative falls within the parameters of the grant guidelines? Please review the guidelines at the link on our website page, or contact one of the committee members with any questions regarding the application process.
The application deadline is Monday June 19 and approved grants will be announced by August 15, with funds disbursed by September 15 or as needed thereafter. Grant applications as well as policy guidelines are located in the church office and online at our website page.
The M&E Team looks forward to reviewing your grant,
Donna Adkins, Barbara Carew, Elizabeth Guthrie, Tim Goettel, and Scott Peoples (Team Lead).
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Upcoming Online Classes and Meetings
Due to the unique, open-ended nature of the current stay-at-home situation,
we will list upcoming scheduled classes and meetings below
in E-link each week (in place of making website calendar changes
and additions and listing them on the calendar grid below).
If you have group classes and meetings that should be added
to those below, please e-mail all necessary information
- Faith Together Sunday School Class: 11:00 a.m. via Zoom (final Sunday is May 24)
- Mindfulness Meditation Live with Jason Troiano: Wednesday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m. on the main CPC Facebook page
- Embracing the Prophets - Bible Study with Rev. Hix: Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Bible and Beyond: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Women's Bible Study: Fridays at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom
- Christian Education/Faith Formation Team Meeting: June 15 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
CPC Calendar for May 24
through May 31
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Zoom? To Where? For What?
Been hearing a lot about Zoom? Not sure what it is?
Or if you're interested in checking it out?
Zoom is a video conferencing tool that enables multiple people to 'gather' for meetings, coffee hour, or family hang-out's without leaving home.
Using Zoom to Stay in Touch:
A message from Mitzi
In this time of social distancing it's all the more important to stay connected by whatever means possible. Zoom will be one way we look to move forward with committee meetings and social gatherings.
If you haven't used Zoom before here are two helpful tutorials:
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CPC AND COVID-19: OUR MINISTRY, OUR DECISIONS
Friends and Members,
CPC is currently observing state of NC stay at home guidelines. (See the post Reopening Our Church Facilities in this newsletter for current plans.) Please remember that your church staff, the Deacons and Session will respond to your needs as best we can under current circumstances, and we hope you will keep in touch with us.
We also remind you that expenses at CPC continue even though the offering plate cannot be passed at worship, so please send your pledges and contributions to the church until we meet again in person. Here is the link to our online giving option -http://carypresbyterian.org/online-giving
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CPC Calendar is on the CPC Website
If you're interested in the dates of services and events at CPC or need
to know what rooms are available at the church at specific times on specific days, you can find that information on the
CPC website calendar at this link.
(When you go to the CPC website, find a link at the top of the home page.
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Send Your News and Announcements
Bulletin and e-Link announcements
for an upcoming newsletter or bulletin
need to be received in office email
by 12:00 noon on Wednesday
prior to the first day they need to run.
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The CPC Church Directory is Online
For a link to instructions about using the directory
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If you have not accessed the directory yet, an invitation will have to be sent to you by Servant Keeper. If you need this new invitation, email office@carypresbyterian.org with your name and an invitation will be requested for you. All invitations are good for only two weeks.
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The public CPC Facebook page is a great continuing source of information about what is upcoming and what has happened at CPC. Visit it frequently for news and pictures you won't see elsewhere, and share the posts with your friends and on your own Facebook page!
Follow the links to the public page and the CPC family page below:
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CPC Church Service Podcasts
CPC Service podcasts are added weekly to Soundcloud and to the website
on this page.
They appear with the most recent service at the top of the page, with the illustration from that week's bulletin as an identifier (Soundcloud page shown above).
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Did You Know?
Cary Presbyterian Church is a part of a larger family of churches comprising the New Hope Presbytery.
From Efland to the Outer Banks, spanning 33 counties, with 122 congregations representing 28,314 members, we are a Mid-Council of the Presbyterian Church (USA) serving eastern North Carolina.
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