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The Weekly Word at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Chapters in Life


This past weekend, I helped our daughter, Erin, move to Washington, DC. Everything went well – despite the heat and driving a U-Haul right past the Lincoln Memorial on our way to her house in the northwest part of the city! We both decided that it was a wise move on her part not to bring a car with her. She is living with four other recent college graduates in a big, old house – ask me sometime about getting her dresser up to the third floor on some of the narrowest staircases I’ve ever seen. It’s a really cool part of the city – she’s a ten-minute-walk from two different Metro Stations, as well as lots of restaurants and shops along Connecticut Avenue, which is the main thoroughfare she’s close to. It reminded me a lot of living in Europe – walking to what you need, relying on public transportation, and a wide diversity of people living in a close-knit neighborhood.


Erin will be working at the National Institutes of Health on a post-baccalaureate fellowship. She will be working in a lab that is doing diabetes research, and three of her roommates are also working at the NIH. She is excited about what she will be learning in this setting, working collaboratively with mentors and colleagues, all of which will help her decide what her focus might be for her vocation in biology and research. 


I reflected on a lot of things this weekend as I walked with Erin through this time. I was grateful that she is gainfully employed after finishing her college degree, living on her own outside our house. I was sad that this marked a significant change in our family dynamics, as the four of us would be together less and less in the future. I was nostalgic as I remembered our parents helping us get set-up in our new home when we settled in Charlotte after seminary. I am hopeful for what might be ahead in her future, and what all of her colleagues might do in the years ahead to make a positive impact on our collective health.


I also recognized that there are many who are not as fortunate as her – or us – as so many are unsure right now of what the future might hold. There are many around us who are struggling with making ends meet. There are many who are hurting, who are grieving, who are anxious. As we walk through the various chapters of our life, I am constantly reminded that my experience is likely very different than that of my neighbor. But it is through our shared life in community that we can celebrate our joys, comfort one another in our sorrows, and build-up one another when we are in need. I hope you feel that strength and presence in a particular way this day as we live our lives of shared discipleship.


With a full and grateful heart,

Frank

THIS SUNDAY AT WBPC

Worship Service – 10:30am – Click HERE for the bulletin. We will welcome Sam Trickey with the National Farm Workers Ministry to share a minute for mission in the morning service.

@The Table Worship – 5:00pm on Zoom. Click HERE for the order of service, which includes the link for the Zoom gathering.

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No Sunday School until Fall – Sunday school and Children’s Chapel are on summer hiatus.


WBPC T-SHIRTS STILL AVAILABLE! 

The WBPC youth are a bit short of their fundraising goal and have extra t-shirts to sell! Claim your desired sizes on the Sign-Up Genius link HERE.


There is a $20 minimum donation per t-shirt. Payment can be made via check or online. Checks can be made out to WBPC with "Granny's Purse - T-shirts" in the subject line. Please mail checks to the church with Anna's name in the attention line OR place them in her mailbox in the church office.


There are several options for pick up. You're welcome to pick up your t-shirts during office hours (Monday - Friday, 9am - 2pm), pick them up after worship service on Sunday, July 24 or arrange for a porch drop off. 


Email youth@wbpresbyterian.org if you have any questions! 


MISSION OUTREACH: WELCOMING OUR NEIGHBORS

The Shams family moved into our neighborhood this month after escaping Afghanistan with the US military in September. The family has been in Raleigh for a few months and we are excited that they now have a house for their family of 7. Because of the father's work with the US Army, they fled on a 60 hour journey from Kabul to New Mexico where they stayed for two months in a camp. They are adapting to life in a new country while they speak little English and have had to move a few times already.


Four of the children will attend AB Combs in the fall and the father is working at a printing company. They are working with Lutheran Family Services for support in many areas. There are certainly needs that WBPC and our neighborhood can assist with. As we determine those needs we will be reaching out to anyone interested in helping out.


We had a lovely gathering of neighbors and church members who came on July 16 to meet and welcome the Shams to our community. Thank you to all who came! If you'd like to learn more about them and how we might be able to support them, please email Kevin Fischer at wkfischer1@gmail.com.


MISSION OUTREACH

Presbyterians Engage in God's Mission: "A Ministry of Intellect and Street Smarts" - Click HERE to learn more.

BIBLICAL JUSTICE FORUM – AUGUST 1

On August 1, BJF class will continue with The Restoration Bible Study from NEXT Church. You may access the curriculum HERE. If you want to view the curriculum and cannot access it, email Sandy Irving (s-dirving@earthlink.net). On August 1 we will study session 5 entitled Restoration as a New Thing (Isaiah 43: 1-21) and Ruby Freeman (BJF participant) will lead us.


You may join our discussion on Monday at 12pm noon via Zoom. Click HERE for participating in Monday's meeting. 

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THANK YOU!


Dear WBPC friends, 


Thank you all for the kind words of congratulations and for all the cards and gifts to celebrate our engagement! Even though James is a new face to many, he felt so welcomed and we both felt incredibly celebrated. We are so grateful to the Worship Committee members who took time and effort to make it such a beautiful occasion, and to all who helped make it such a fun and memorable celebration. Thank you for your kindness and generosity! 


-Elizabeth Davis and James Everhart


RECAP OF THE 225TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PCUSA

The General Assembly completed its work on July 9, after meeting in a hybrid manner over more than two weeks. Click HERE to read a summary of their work as compiled by the Presbyterian Outlook. You can also visit ga-pcusa.org for more detailed information.


UPDATE ON FELLOWSHIP HALL

As we shared a couple of weeks ago, we experienced a flood in the Fellowship Hall earlier this month when an exterior drain became clogged. The Property Committee has been working on getting the room dried out and working on our next steps. The Session met last night to approve the expenditure of $22,000 for this project, which includes the remediation and removal of all the original asbestos tiles, many of which came loose and curled up from the water, and the installation of a new vinyl-plank floor. These funds will come from our operating reserves, and will be paid back through the Capital Improvement Fund. This amount is after we have received payment from our insurance company for the claim. The tile removal is scheduled to begin August 16, and the floor installation is scheduled for August 27. If you would like to learn more or help with this project, please contact Larry Shelton (919-795-4099; lsheltonnc@gmail.com). We thank you for your continued patience and support during this time, and we look forward to having the Fellowship Hall back in use very soon!


CALLED CONGREGATIONAL MEETING - AUGUST 7

The Session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, August 7, at the conclusion of the morning worship service for the purpose of electing the Church Officer Nominating Committee for 2022. Those who have agreed to serve include: Art Chard, Denise Weeks, Martha Barrick, Bobby Simpson, and Judy Shelton. Nominations may be made from the floor. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Frank Mansell or Art Chard.


DIVORCE CARE

If you are considering separation or divorce, don’t try to go through it alone. Connect with a DivorceCare group either in person or online. You’ll find caring people who understand the issues you face and practical counsel for decision making and managing stress. Contact DivorceCare HERE or speak with a Deacon or Elder for a list of several groups that meet in The Triangle area, churches or online.


PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS

If you have a prayer concern, please contact Frank Mansell (frank@wbpresbyterian.org), Marcia Bennett (sen1969@hotmail.com), or Betty Dean (betdean@nc.rr.com) and request that it be added to the Prayer Chain. Please note that any confidential prayer requests will not be added to the Prayer Chain.

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RESERVATIONS, PICTURES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please refer to the Calendar if you have questions about meetings. If you want to reserve a room, please email admin@wbpresbyterian.org. If you have photos from Church events this year, please share them with us. You may upload your pictures directly to our shared Church album by clicking HERE.


If you would like your birthday included on the monthly birthday list, please update your personal information on Realm or contact the church office.


WE'RE HIRING! WBPC is seeking an Administrative Assistant AND a Director of Christian Education & Community Engagement. If you or someone you know is interested, please click HERE for more information.


Please note that Quentesa Pierce is now working only as our Social Media/Website Coordinator, and she has a new email address: wbpcsocial@gmail.com. Please feel free to use that for any content or pictures you wish for us to share on social media. Thanks!


As we search for a new Administrative Assistant, please send any announcements for the bulletin or Weekly Word to both admin@wbpresbyterian.org and frank@wbpresbyterian.org. Thank you!

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Click HERE for July birthdays!


Click HERE for August birthdays!

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