The Weekly Word at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Healing from Grief

Bonjour! Sorry – still finding myself speaking French after our trip! Debbie and I had a wonderful time with our daughters in Paris the last two weeks. It was very special to be together as a family, and to see Heather thriving in a new place for this semester. It also was fun and renewing to travel abroad – something we had not done for several years. I am deeply grateful to all who led things while I was gone – it was truly freeing to be able to leave things behind for a couple of weeks, knowing that everything was in great hands!

This Sunday, we have a very special event that we are privileged to host as a congregation. Dr. Cheryl Kirk-Duggan is a retired professor at Shaw University, and she will be leading a program entitled “Baptized Rage, Transformed Grief: A Musical Conversation.” It will take place at 3:00pm in the sanctuary, and we have promoted this throughout the presbytery and our community. In music, dance, and visual arts, Dr. Kirk-Duggan will be leading us through the reality of grief we all experience, and how God brings hope, comfort, and healing through the pains we experience. When you come to worship on Sunday morning, please note that we will have the screen set-up in the front in preparation for this event in the afternoon.

This past Sunday, we remembered and gave thanks to God for the saints who have died in the faith in the past year, and I am grateful to the Stephen Ministers for leading us in that remembrance in worship. This Sunday’s event is another opportunity for us to acknowledge the losses we have experience in life, and how we are not alone as we seek healing and wholeness. Those losses can include the death of loved ones, the loss of jobs, broken relationships, disconnectedness after the pandemic, and so many other things. My hope is that this Sunday might be an opportunity for us to bring to God those griefs we have experienced, and in a multitude of ways know the depth of God’s love for us to heal and walk with others as they live through their losses.

I would invite you to join us this Sunday, as we welcome our neighbors and community for this special event. The offering we will collect will be donated to Urban Ministries of Raleigh to support those who are hungry in our community. And consider inviting a friend or family member to come with you – you never know how this opportunity might be just what someone else needs to know they are loved and not alone in their journey of grief.

With a full and grateful heart,

Frank

THIS SUNDAY AT WBPC

Worship Service – 10:30am – Click HERE for the bulletin.

@The Table Worship – No @TheTable service this week; everyone is Invited to attend the "Baptized Rage, Transformed Grief: A Musical Conversation" event at 3:00pm in the sanctuary, or to watch on Facebook Live on the church's Facebook page.

BREAKFAST IS BACK - NOVEMBER 13

Sizzling bacon, fluffy eggs, creamy grits, hot coffee...hungry yet? Please join us Sunday, November 13 at 8:45am in the Fellowship Hall for a hot breakfast to kick off your day of worship. No need to RSVP, just show up with your smiling face and hungry tummy.

Click HERE for all the education offerings for 2022-23.

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP NEWS - NOVEMBER 13

Join us this Sunday for our next youth group gathering at 6:30pm! Dinner will be provided!

BIBLICAL JUSTICE FORUM - NOVEMBER 14

Biblical Justice Forum (BJF) is continuing our study of the book White Too Long by Robert Jones. Ruby Freeman will be leading chapter 6 (Telling: Stories of Change) on Nov 14 at noon. All are welcome to join. Click HERE for the Zoom link.

HELP NEEDED

WBPC’s Safe Child Policy requires that we have at least 2 adults at each youth fellowship activity, including youth fellowship meetings on Sunday evenings. In the past, we have had a team of Volunteer Youth Chaperones who have supported our Youth Advisor – typically we have 4 people who rotate serving one Sunday per month. Right now, we only have 1 adult volunteer, so parents have been filling that gap. We’d love to have church members who DO NOT have a child in youth group participate more fully. This is a wonderful opportunity to develop relationships with our youth. The adult volunteer doesn’t have to do anything other than be there (no program planning). We also would welcome those who just want to help provide a meal on a Sunday night this fall. Please sign up to help as you are able via the sign up genius or by emailing our new Director of Christian Education & Community Engagement, Terrence Rogers (youth@wbpresbyterian.org).

BAPTIZED RAGE, TRANSFORMED GRIEF: A MUSICAL CONVERSATION – NOVEMBER 13 - 3:00PM

We have all experienced loss in our lives, whether it be the death of a loved one, living through the pandemic, economic stresses from lost jobs, or the recent trauma of gun violence in our city. You are invited to this special event led by Dr. Cheryl Kirk-Duggan, where in music, art, and spoken word we will seek healing and wholeness through the grief we have experienced. An offering will be collected which will support Urban Ministries of Raleigh. The event will take place in the Sanctuary at 3:00pm, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. We will also stream the event on the church's Facebook page.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE- NOVEMBER 16TH

In July WBPC was introduced to the Shams family that moved into our neighborhood. They immigrated from Afghanistan as refugees as the US withdrew in September. We have been able to support them with school supplies, donations and rent support over the last few months. We have also been able to develop a relationship with this family.

We have also met Zabi Nazari who has been interpreting and assisting the Shams with adapting to life in Raleigh. Zabi himself immigrated from Afghanistan in the 80's and was supported by WBPC. He is now assisting dozens of recent immigrant families.

We will hear both of their stories of immigration and adapting to life in the US. The Shams have persevered to get where they are and need our assistance as they rebuild their lives. We will hear how we can help the Shams financially and how we can be great friends and neighbors to this wonderful family.

Dinner will be served at 5:45pm and the program will start at 6:30pm. Please sign up for dinner here. We also will host this event on Facebook live so our friends that can't make dinner can join. Please spread the word to all those that wish to support this family and follow Jesus' calling to aid those with the least.

HANGING OF THE GREENS – NOVEMBER 27 – 10:30AM

Join us on November 27 as we celebrate the beginning of the Advent Season with the Hanging of the Greens. The youth will lead us in this special service on Sunday morning, as we are reminded of the meaning behind the decorations we use during the season and prepare for Christ’s birth on Christmas. We look forward to seeing you then!

NO-FRILLS CHRISTMAS PAGEANT – CHRISTMAS CAROLING – DECEMBER 4

Join us on Sunday, December 4, at 5:00pm, for our No-Frills Christmas Pageant! No practice or preparation is needed – just come and receive a simple part to share as part of us remembering the Christmas Story. Families, children, and adults of all ages are welcome! After the pageant, we will have some refreshments. Then at 6:30pm, we will go out into the neighborhood and sing Christmas carols to members and friends of our church who are homebound. Come for both or one or the other – whatever works best for you!

CALLING ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS

Montreat is offering a conference just for you the week of January 2 – 5, 2023. If you are interested in attending, please email youth@wbpresbyterian.org by November 15, 2022. Click here for more information

Click HERE to view the Financial Update from October 2022.

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

Through November 6, we have received 55 pledges for ministry next year totaling $347,497. That is 71% of our goal of $488,928 for next year. THANK YOU to all who have made these commitments so far! If you have not yet turned in your pledge for next year, you are invited to do so by November 30. Our budget for next year is 20% more than this year, which reflects our hope and optimism of increased outreach and growth through programming, staffing, and use of our facility. If you wish to make a commitment to help meet this goal, you may find pledge cards in the pews in the sanctuary, on the literature table in the narthex, or by contacting the church office. Thank you for your continued faithful support of our ministry at Western Boulevard!

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. Please let us know if you are nor receiving prayer updates and you had signed-up, and we will work to reconfirm you are on the mailing list.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: November 13- November 20

Sunday, November 13

8:45am Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)

9:30am Sunday School

10:30am Worship Service (Sanctuary)

11:45am Session Meeting

3:00pm Baptized Rage, Transformed Grief: A Musical Conversation

(Sanctuary)

6:30pm Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)

Monday, November 14

12:00pm Biblical Justice Forum (Zoom)

7:00pm Scouts (Fellowship Hall and Downstairs)

Tuesday, November 15

4:00pm AventWest Children’s Mentoring (Fellowship Hall)

Wednesday, November 16

9:30am Wednesday AM Prayer Group (Fellowship Hall)

5:45pm Wednesday Night Live (Fellowship Hall)

6:30pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

7:30pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

Thursday, November 17

2:30pm Evangelism Committee (Parlor)

4:00pm AventWest Children’s Mentoring (Fellowship Hall)

6:30pm Bible Study (Zoom)

6:45pm BSA Girls (Youth room)

Sunday, November 20

9:30am Sunday School

10:30am Worship Service (Sanctuary)

4:00pm Cub Scouts (Fellowship Hall and Downstairs)

5:00pm @ The Table Service (Zoom)

6:30pm Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)

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.

Click HERE for November birthdays!

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