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Outer Banks
Presbyterian Church
News & Notes
July 29, 2020
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In This Issue:
- August 2nd Worship Service
- Devotional from Rev. Moore
- New Members
- Updates About Church Family
- Food Pantry Volunteers Needed
- Elder Class of 2023 Nominations
- Upper Room Publication
- Assistance from Church
- OBPC on Facebook
- Online Giving
- Anniversaries & Birthdays
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- Click the button above to watch worship services live streamed on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. or watch later on demand.
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August 2nd Worship Service
And Communion
Matthew 14:13-21
.
After the death of John the Baptist, Jesus is distraught. He goes out to pray by himself. When misfortune meets us, God calls us to find comfort in prayer. Then a crowd goes out to meet Jesus and he ends up feeding the five thousand who have gathered. Jesus finds an opportunity to spread joy, giving the crowd that has gathered a foretaste of the kingdom of God. Even amidst disappointments and setbacks, God provides opportunities for us to participate in ministry and to serve our neighbors.
During the worship service we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The Session has authorized this opportunity for us to participate in virtual Communion as a visible reminder that Christ’s presence and love are with us even as we are not able to gather together as we normally do. Pastor Jody will bless the elements in the sanctuary and you are able to participate in communion from your homes. Plan to prepare in advance a piece of bread and either some grape juice or wine. You are invited to participate in virtual Communion whether you participate in the live stream or end up watching the service at a later time.
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Devotional From Rev. Dr. Jody Moore
The outdoor worship service that was held on Sunday evening, July 26th, was a great joy for me, and others have also expressed their appreciation. We had about 30 people who were seated socially distant from each other on the church lawn and we also were able to live stream the service for those who were not able to join us in person. I really appreciated the chance to be in the same space with some of our church family. In the coming days, the COVID-19 Task Force and the Session will be reviewing that July 26th service. We are potentially looking at having another in-person worship gathering as soon as August 16th. Please be on the lookout for more information and details about our upcoming worship services in the Wednesday Email News and Notes and on the OBPC website.
During these difficult and uncertain times, the following story told by a taxi driver reminds us about what is really important in life. “
I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes, I honked again. Since this was going to be the last ride of my shift, I thought about just driving away, but instead, I walked to the door and knocked... 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.' 'Oh, you're such a good boy,’ she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice’. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice… 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. 'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing,' I answered. 'You have to make a living,' she said. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life... For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware – beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
Prayer:
Dear God, we thank you for all of the opportunities that you give us each day to make a big difference in the simple interactions we have. Help us to pay attention and be open to the leading of your Holy Spirit. We pray for healing, peace, and wholeness for our church family, the Outer Banks community, our nation, and the world. We pray for safety and encouragement for all those on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Amen.
Peace in Christ,
Jody Moore
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New Members
Please welcome new members Jim & Cora Huitt, who joined OBPC at a Session meeting on July 22
nd
. The Huitts transferred their membership from First Presbyterian Church in Richmond. They have had a summer home in the Outer Banks for quite a while, but recently decided to make it their permanent home. The Huitts will be splitting their time between the Outer Banks and New Zealand, where their two daughters live. (They also have a son who lives in the U.S.) Here is the Huitt’s contact information:
Mailing Address
: 6092 Currituck Rd., Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
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Updates About Our Church Family
Jim Jackson passed away on July 14th and a private funeral service for the family was held at OBPC on July 23rd. You may read Jim's obituary
here
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New addresses for Oscar Northen and Glynn Powell:
- Oscar has moved to an assisted living facility called Gloucester House near his daughter Becky in Gloucester, VA. Oscar's new address is: P O Box 1331, Gloucester, VA 23061.
- Glynn is staying in the Outer Banks. Her mailing address is: 510 Quail Lane, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948. You may call Glynn on her cell phone, which is 252-202-5280.
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Volunteers Needed for Beach Food Pantry
OBPC is responsible for working at the Food Pantry the week of August 3rd. We need volunteers for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week (Aug. 5, 6, & 7). If you can help, please contact our coordinator, Dot Landis, at 919-645-8064 or landisdorothy2@gmail.com. Thank you!
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Nominations for Elder Class of 2023
The Nominating Committee is beginning to work on selecting 3 persons to serve as Elders for the class of 2023. An elder should be a person who is committed to their faith in Jesus Christ, is a dedicated member of Outer Banks Presbyterian Church, and works well with a team as we seek to serve the Lord. The Nominating Committee would like the help of the congregation. Ordinarily, we have placed a ballot box in the gathering space for you to indicate your suggestions. This is not possible while the building is closed, so we encourage anyone with nominations to contact directly the two elder representatives on the Nominating Committee, Bobby Gentry and Bob Messinger. You may contact Bobby G. at 757-718-8353 or
bobbygentryobx@gmail.com
and Bob M. at 252-305-9388 or
bobnance55@gmail.com
. You may also contact any of the other members of the Nominating Committee, who are: Melanie Cahoon, Bev Jones, Winkey Roberts, and John Webb. Thank you for your thoughtful considerations!
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Upper Room
In order to support churches during this time when distribution of the devotional guide, Upper Room, can be more difficult, the publishers have made the July/August issue available online to subscribers. Please
click here
if you would like to read the July/August issue.
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Assistance from Your Church Family
Two important resources to remember during this time are our Prayer Team and our Assistance Coordinator.
- If you have any request that you would like the prayer team to lift up, please share it with the prayer coordinators. Our prayer coordinators are: Jean Basnight and Rosalyn Pugh and you may share a request with them by phone at 252-480-1028 (Home) or 252-619- 7661 (Cell).
- Elder Barbara Nock is coordinating services and requests by members and friends who need any type of assistance. Twenty-four people have volunteered to help. If you or someone you know needs assistance with groceries, pharmacy pick-up, or anything else, please contact Barbara at 252-255-5979 or nocktwice@embarqmail.com.
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Do you have a Facebook account? If so, we invite you to join OBPC on Facebook. Just Click on the button at the left, log on to your Facebook account, and select "join" on the OBPC group page. Some things you will find there include:
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- Announcements about the Adult Sunday School Class.
- Children's Church with Hollie.
- Posts from Pastor Jody and comments from members of the congregation.
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Online Giving
There are two ways to give to the church during this temporary closure. You may mail pledges and donations to the office at PO Box 2199, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948. Or, you may give online. Just click on the Give Now button to go to our website, then click the button on the home page and follow the directions for online donations.
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Birthdays this Week
- Don Frye, July 30
- Louise Roberts, July 30
- Nina Raveling, July 31
- Rosanne Arndt, Aug. 1
- Anne-Marie Munson, Aug. 2
- Clara Ann Baker, Aug. 4
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Outer Banks Presbyterian Church
907 S. Croatan Highway, Milepost 8.5
PO Box 2199
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
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During this time of irregular office hours,
you may reach Pastor Jody or administrative staff
by calling the office at 252-441-5897 and leaving a message or by sending an email to
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