The Weekly Word at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Giving Thanks

As we prepare to gather with family and friends this week for Thanksgiving, I share with you the following prayer that was written by Rev. Amanda Horan. I hope in these words you find the same deep gratitude to God that I found when I read it. May you and your loved ones have a safe and blessed holiday this week!

With a full and grateful heart,

Frank

God, our Creator and Provider,

Our souls marvel at your greatness.

You formed the world and dressed it,

from head to toe,

with the waters that bring life.

You filled the earth with all creatures,

great and small.

You shaped the rocks of the mountains,

the trees of the forest,

the birds who sing from their nests,

the moon and the sun,

the lion and the blue whale.

You bring forth food and drink from the earth,

to strengthen our bodies and gladden our hearts.

As we gather around this festive table,

we give you thanks for the gift of this meal

and for the labor of people near and far

who till the land,

who tend the fields,

who harvest and gather and package and deliver,

who cook and prepare the food we will soon enjoy together.

May our sharing of this food,

our telling of good stories,

our laughter around the table,

and our memories made

be for us a continuation of our prayer,

by which join our hearts and souls

in saying thank you

thank you

thank you.

Amen.

By Amanda Horan, Associate Pastor at North Wilkeboro Presbyterian Church, Wilkesboro, NC.

THIS SUNDAY AT WBPC

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

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

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

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP NEWS - NOVEMBER 27

No Youth meeting this week. On December 4th, we will join in the No Frills Christmas Pageant and Christmas Caroling starting at 5:00pm. Plan to join us for a fun evening with all the church!

BIBLICAL JUSTICE FORUM - NOVEMBER 28

On November 28th, Biblical Justice Forum (BJF) will begin our Advent study on Peace. The group will be discussing Climate Change on November 28th at noon, Joette Steger will lead. All are welcome to join.

Click HERE for the Zoom link.

ADVENT BIBLE STUDY - NOVEMBER 29

Frank Mansell will be leading an Advent Bible Study on Tuesdays during Advent. It will be from 12:30-1:30pm on Zoom – Click HERE for the link. The scripture we study will be the lesson that will be preached on the following Sunday in Advent. We look forward to seeing you throughout Advent as we study God’s Word!

MISSION OUTREACH

Presbyterians Engage in God's Mission: “Giving Thanks in Plenty and in Want” Click HERE to learn more.

DO YOU DRIVE?

Can you imagine living in Raleigh without a car? Many do and if you are down and trying to climb up it is very difficult without a car. Spread the word to friends and neighbors that Wheels 4 Hope needs cars to refurbish for the lease of these in our community. You never know who may have a car that they no longer need.

DECORATING FOR ADVENT/CHRISTMAS – NOVEMBER 26 – 9:00AM

The Worship Committee needs volunteers to help decorate the Sanctuary for the Christmas season on Saturday, November 27th at 9:00am. All are welcome to help us prepare our worship space for the Advent and Christmas Season!

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!

ADVENT MEDITATION PRELUDES

Starting Sunday, November 27, we welcome you to enjoy a time of Advent Meditation each Sunday in Advent starting at 10:20am. Come enjoy beautiful carols of the season, a few moments of peace during this busy time of the year, and prepare your hearts for worship. We hope you will join us as we prepare to welcome Emmanuel, God with us!

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! Sign up here to bring food!

LOAVES & FISHES: WBPC DAY

You are invited to join Loaves and Fishes and AventWest Children's Mentoring as a volunteer in the annual Pride for Parents Christmas Store! The store provides opportunities for the parents of LAF and AWCM children, and other limited-means families in Wake County, to shop for their kids at greatly reduced prices for new toys. We provide a fun atmosphere, free gift-wrapping, and community fellowship! Our "store" is located at 301 S. Swain St., in the Southeast Raleigh Table church near downtown Raleigh, and is open 10 days between December 6 and 23. If you can join us as a volunteer, we have designated Saturday, December 10, as "Western Boulevard Day" at our store. To volunteer that day, or for a couple of hours (or more!) other dates and times, click here to sign up! To understand more about the Pride for Parents program, click here for additional information.

Click HERE to view the current Pledge Campaign Status.

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

Through November 20, we have received 67 pledges for ministry next year totaling $372,245.00. That is 76% 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!

POINSETTIAS

November 27, 2022 will be the first Sunday of Advent and we will be decorating the sanctuary. If you would like to purchase a poinsettia in honor or in memory of a loved one, they are $10 per plant. Please fill out an order form provided on the Purple Update (included in this Sunday's bulletin) or use the form HERE, along with your payment. If you write a check, please make it out to WBPC and write “Poinsettia” in the memo line. Remember to include your name(s), number of poinsettias, in honor of, and/or in memory of". We will print an initial list of donors for Hanging of the Greens on November 27, but you may continue to make donations for Poinsettias through December 11; we will share a complete list on December 18. Thank you!

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 27- December 4

Sunday, November 27 - Hanging of the Greens

9:30am Sunday School

10:30am Worship Service (Sanctuary)

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

5:00pm @ The Table Service (Zoom)

Monday, November 28

12:00pm Biblical Justice Forum (Zoom)

7:00pm Scouts (Fellowship Hall and Downstairs)

Tuesday, November 29

12:30pm Advent Bible Study (Zoom)

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

Wednesday, November 30

9:30am Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer Group (Fellowship Hall)

6:30pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

7:30pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

Thursday, December 1

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

6:45pm BSA Girls (Youth room)

Sunday, December 4 - Second Sunday of Advent/Communion

9:30am Sunday School

10:30am Worship Service (Sanctuary)

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

5:00pm No Frills Pageant/@The Table Service (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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