I have loved sports (all sports) since I was a little boy and continue to enjoy the competition I get to witness. I am also a lover of underdogs, so seeing the thoroughbred Rich Strike come from dead last to winning the Kentucky Derby (at 80-1 odds) this past Saturday was particularly satisfying. Watching the jockey maneuver and move to the inside for the last 200 yard sprint was a thing of beauty.

Come to think of it, God loves underdogs as well, and the Bible provides a rich history of people who overcame tremendous odds to survive, and thrive. A few that come to mind are Noah and the flood and Moses leading the Jews from bondage. Ruth and Naomi. Jonah. And one of my all-time favorites, David slaying the giant Goliath.

There are times we all feel like underdogs, and the last two years have certainly been challenging. Even before COVID, struggles with work, family, friends and just day to day living can overwhelm and challenge us to the point where we feel like we are fighting our own giants. But God is there for us and will always be there. The Psalmist says in 37:24 “though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

So friends, have faith and run the race like Rich Strike did. Be bold and courageous. God is there for us.

In Christ,

Ed Pulliam

Elder for Finance

Our Scripture comes from Exodus 18:13-24 and Luke 2:13-15. Marguerite will continue her sermon series with "Getting Reacquainted: Power."

9:00 in the CLC

11:00 in the Sanctuary

Our 11:00 a.m. worship service is livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

If you're joining us online, you can print an 11:00 service bulletin here.

Thank you so much for taking time to thoughtfully respond to the survey sent to you from the Contemporary Worship Vision Team. We had 158 responses from our amazing church family, and we are so appreciative!! As we read through your responses, we noticed a few themes that kept coming up as important parts of your worship experience…the sermon, the music, and the community/fellowship with your WFPC family! 43% of the responses said that time was the main deciding factor in determining which service you attend. 24% listed music as the prime reason for attending your worship service of choice, 16.5% said location, and another 16.5% chose “other”. The “other” section included music, the sermon, community, and a combination of reasons, just to name a few. We are using your feedback to help us generate a list of qualifications that we feel are necessary and important for a contemporary worship leader. We will also share the survey results with the mission study team for their research. The Contemporary Worship Vision Team plans to offer a time when we can answer your questions and discuss other feedback from the survey. Be on the lookout for this in future announcements. Again, thank you so much for your time and thoughtfulness!

With much appreciation and gratitude,

Reagan Blalock, Janet Briley, Trish Floyd, Kim Newton, Brett Patton, Debbie Pearce, and Marguerite Sirrine

It is with pride that we announce to the church family that Session voted to nominate Millie Seiler as this year’s Outstanding Older Adult. This yearly award goes to a member of the church family who serves the Lord in many above-and-beyond places in the ministry life of the church. Millie joined WFPC in 2014 and quickly established herself as a passionate leader who jumped in to ministry in many arenas: Elder for Mission and Outreach, leader of the Daughters of The King Sunday School, leader of the Giving Tree, volunteering in the Community Garden, volunteering for Walk Through Bethlehem, creating and nurturing our connection to Glory Tabernacle Food Pantry – and this is not the exhaustive list. Millie’s husband, Si Seiler, who is in God’s glory in heaven, received this award a few years back. Millie – we are proud of you and grateful for all you do for WFPC!

There will be a reception of recognition for all Outstanding Older Adults in New Hope Presbytery on Sunday, May 22, 3 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church Rocky Mount.

On April 21, the Session of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church passed the “Resolution Regarding the Retirement of the $1.387 Million Debt” to memorialize the completion of the “retire the debt campaign.” Our Church is DEBT-FREE!

To celebrate this historic event, the congregation and community are called to join together on Wednesday, June 1st with food, fun, fellowship and festivities! The evening will culminate with a debt retirement ceremony. At the ceremony, we will share the story of our journey from our humble beginning to today and will mark the conclusion of this obligation. Church leadership will also share the exciting vision of our new journey as we look at life and service “beyond the debt.”

Watch for details in the Sunday bulletins and online, and we hope to see you and your family on June 1!

We want to celebrate you! Send Janet a picture along with information about your next steps...where are you graduating from? Are you going to college (if so, where)? Do you have a job lined up? Grad school? Gap year? We want to know what you are looking forward to! Send Janet your picture and information by May 8 to youth@wakeforestpres.org. We also want to celebrate you at our “Graduate Recognition” on Sunday, May 22 at the 9:00 worship service. Wear your cap and gown, bring your families, and let’s celebrate your achievements! When you email Janet your information, let her know if you will be able to come to the service, so we will know how many graduates to expect. We look forward to seeing you on May 22!

The Keen family would like to express our immense gratitude to our Wake Forest Presbyterian Church family for your constant support as we continue to navigate living with ALS. Your constant prayers and words of encouragement have buoyed us through the many ups and downs we’ve faced in the past 3½ years.

Most recently, you showed up in force dressed in your Randall’s Ralliers t-shirts at the 2022 Walk to Defeat ALS in downtown Raleigh. Along with your presence and participation at the Walk, you were extremely generous with your monetary donations to support the NC ALS Association and their efforts to find a cure for this disease. The Randall’s Ralliers team was represented at the Walk by at least 128 people, and we have raised $24,950 so far for the ALS Association.

We are forever thankful for your love and support. Thank you. May God continue to bless you and WFPC.

Join us on May 15 at the 11:00 service as we welcome our 8th and 9th grade confirmation class as members of WFPC!

If you were ever in the Chancel Choir and would like to be a part of it again, the opportunity is here. In June, we are having a Sunday filled with the Choir’s “Favorites.” Since they are loved by so many in the choir, chances are you know them too. This is a great chance to be with your fellow choir members and make a “joyful noise” to praise God. We meet Wednesdays at 7 o’clock in the sanctuary. We look forward to seeing you there.

For the month of June, we will have a Beginner’s Class for high schoolers and adults on Tuesdays from 5:45 to 6:45 in the Blue Mod. You do NOT need to read music, just have a desire to learn the skills involved with ringing and producing beautiful music. Please let me know if you are interested in being a part of this group at karenreardon@wakeforestpres.org. This will help me prepare the appropriate amount of music.

It’s that time of year again! The Rose Garden needs regular maintenance to encourage the growth of healthy roses that will produce many flowers for years to come. Pruning old blooms is one of the key factors in promoting new buds, strengthening the plants, and preventing disease. Please join us and volunteer through this SignUpGenius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EA8A72CABFACF8-wfpc

If you have any questions, please text, call or email Traci Marchand 919.271.2714 or tracimarchand@icloud.com