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For Friday, July 31
, 2020
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I offer a morning prayer today. As you pray this prayer, know that we are praying it together.
From the book, Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community, by
Pádraig Ó Tuama
Morning Prayer
We begin our day alone,
honouring this life, with all its possibilities.
We begin our day with trust,
knowing we are created for loving encounter.
We begin our day with hope,
knowing the day can hold
love, kindness, forgiveness and justice.
A time of silence
We recall our day yesterday,
May we learn, may we love,
may we live on.
We make room for the unexpected,
May we find wisdom and life
in the unexpected.
Help us to embrace possibility,
respond graciously to disappointment
and hold tenderly those we encounter.
Help us be fully present to the day.
A short silence
We pray for all whose day will be difficult,
May we support, may we listen,
may we change.
We resolve to live life in its fullness:
We will welcome the people who'll be part of this day.
We will greet God in ordinary and hidden moments.
We will live the life we are living.
A short silence
May we find the wisdom we need,
God be with us.
May we hear the needs of those we meet,
God be with us.
May we love the life that we are given,
God be with us.
Kathy Dudley
Elder -- Clerk of Session
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A Note from Rebekah Maul, Senior Pastor
Hello dear fine people,
I am home from vacation... which is where I was all along. For two weeks, Derek made sure I didn't respond to emails, nor attend Zoom meetings, nor record coffee time devotions, nor spend time on the phone talking with people. If I did, I had to be sneaky. And then I'd send a message on the sly to Renee Engel, who would simply return a snarky message saying, "Why are you emailing me? You're supposed to be on vacation." Sigh! Strange times, when it's hard to have a "stay-cation" when all we have been doing the past few months is staying at home. I'm really glad to be back into a more work focused reality, and I really "missed" the virtual times we have spent together.
And so... we continue on. During these isolating times, we are being pushed on the "creativity" side of things as a church staff, officers, Stephen Ministers... working hard to keep us connected, supporting the various ministries and mission we are called to do; providing (hopefully) helpful guidance on addressing the tumult that hovers around us, and how we might respond as Christians. The VBS parade was unique and wonderful... see photos on Facebook. The Habitat Partnership we are part of, with nine other Wake Forest faith communities, has dedicated another home for a family who never imagined they would have their own. The garden is flourishing, already providing hundreds of pounds of food for those experiencing food scarcity. The Reopening Task Force continues to meet to plan as best we can for when we are able to meet again in person.
As usual, we are at the mercy of the pandemic, so plans shift all the time. We long to be together because we draw strength through being a faith community; We were created for relationships with one another because of the relationship we have with God.
So, we are having communion together this coming Sunday, August 2. We will be nourished through the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine as we remember the life-giving water that only Christ can provide. Come, taste, remember... we are never alone.
I love you,
Rebekah
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Graduate Connections Needs Your Help!
Our recent high school graduates are getting close to the start of their new chapter! Things have been so strange for this class! We want them to continue to feel the love and support from their WFPC family. We need YOU! We will partner up an adult volunteer with
each
one of the participating youth. Throughout the year, the adult will send
cards, emails,
letters, texts, an occasional care package, etc.
to encourage the youth and help with this transition!
We will provide the adults with information that includes
their grad's
personal interests, contact information, favorites, etc. If you are interested or have questions, contact Jan McCloud (919 488-4825,
mccloudj22@gmail.com
) or Helen Halva (919 266-0441,
hhalva@mindspring.com
). Once we have our volunteers in place, we will have a meeting for all volunteers to go over guidelines and answer any questions. Thank you for considering being a part of this important journey for our youth! This ministry is sponsored by the Morning Glory women's Bible study group.
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Sympathy
Please join us in offering love and sympathy to Debi Wakefield and family on the passing of her father, Billy P. Phillips, on July 20. The obituary may be
found here.
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Mission and Outreach
WFPC representatives participated in a virtual dedication on Monday, July 20, hosted by the Northern Wake Faith Coalition for three Habitat for Humanity homes completed this year as part of the spring build. It was a joyous time to dedicate the homes in prayer and celebrate three families who are now thankful and feeling blessed to call Wake Forest home -- Heidi Romero-Quesada, Nancy and Brian Wade, and Shaneika Burgess. Thank you to everyone who has supported Habitat!
Glory Tabernacle Food Pantry Project
Due to unexpected delays in getting zoning and building permits, the project to pour a concrete driveway and build a covered area to help Glory Tabernacle Food Pantry is temporarily delayed. We will reschedule the workdays once we have all the necessary permits. Contact Randy Parrish at
rparrish2146@gmail.com
if you have any questions.
Christmas Angel Special Offering
Let's think Christmas in July. That's right! Our Christmas Angel ministry wants to be geared up and ready to assist local families and senior citizens in our area with gifts and necessity items during the 2020 Christmas season. Your generous financial support will help to share love and cheer. Please submit your online or mailed in donations specified for the Christmas Angel Program to help end the year on a bright note for our neighbors in need.
Backpack Buddies
The Backpack Buddies team is requesting plastic grocery bags in addition to the following food items for support of their weekly meal deliveries to Northern Regional Center. Food items include canned soups, ramen noodles, canned chicken and tuna, canned pasta, mac n cheese, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned chili, Pop Tarts, oatmeal and juice boxes. (No glass please, and easy open tab tops are always preferred.)
If you are interested in helping the Backpack Buddies Ministry by participating in making deliveries or joining a small team to pack, please email Heather Wheeler at
heathersb73@yahoo.com
for more information.
WFPC Community Garden
Interested volunteers must either sign up online or contact Melanie Floyd to schedule all dates and times to work onsite. COVID-19 Precautions: Healthy volunteers. Sign up in advance. Practice physical distancing.
It's summer in the Giving Garden, and you know what that means...tomatoes! And eggplant, cucumbers, pole beans, bush beans, zucchini, yellow squash, and peppers. Pop in the garden for a visit any time, and check out the SignUpGenius if you want to volunteer.
Do you have shovels, rakes, hoes, hand trowels, loppers, pruners, or other garden and yard tools or equipment in good condition that you no longer need? Please consider donating them to the garden. Place them in the shed or alongside the garden fence out of the path of vehicles, or contact Melanie to arrange pickup.
Do you or your neighbors have excess produce from your home gardens? Our local pantries and food distribution programs need it! You can donate produce directly to local pantries, or we can deliver it with Giving Garden harvests.
Remember: To keep each other safe, we still require signing up in advance, physical distancing, and signing in and out of the garden, and we encourage wearing masks when working in close proximity to volunteers outside of your household.
Tri-Area Ministry (Food Pantry)
Egg cartons needed (1 dozen size). In addition to food and monetary donations, Tri-Area needs egg cartons for use in distributing fresh eggs. Please drop them off on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 1 pm and third Saturdays at 149 E. Holding Avenue, Wake Forest. A list of all requested food items may be found on the TAM website at
https://triareaministry.com/donate/
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Community Spotlight
Back To School Supplies Drive
Hope House is collecting lined paper, book bags, pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, pencil pouches, markers, scissors, and glue sticks for their annual Bookbag Giveaway. Supplies can be dropped off on the porch of the Hope House (334 North Allen Rd) Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday nights from 4:30 - 6:00 pm.
Thank you for the many ways that you or your family have supported the MIssion and Outreach efforts of WFPC!
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Prayer List
Please keep the following members of our church family in your prayers:
Jody Alston
Jennie Banco
Phil Blalock and family
Dianne Brown
Justin Farris and family
Genie Hunt
Cindy & Jake Jacobsmeyer
Ruth Patterson
Don McCorkle
David Michaels
Ed Ray
Linda Roberson
Roy Wilson
And those who are currently deployed:
Dustin Wilmoth
If you have a prayer request, you may let us know
online here.
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Children's Ministries News
THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO... MORE INFO COMING SOON, STAY TUNED!!!
1. Children's racial equity challenge... August 1-7 we will have a children's racial equity challenge! Each day, Sunday-Friday, children's ministry leaders will record and post videos reading children's books that engage children in thinking on race, equality, diversity and their role within it! At the end of each story, there will be three questions to discuss as a family! This will be a gentle, important way to engage children in the essential conversation of loving neighbor well!
2. Chalk obstacle course: In early August, families will have the opportunity to come to the church at their convenience and participate in a CHALK OBSTACLE COURSE that will run down the parking lot! There will be scripture, challenges, and lots of fun along the course, and a "prize" to take with you at the end that involves sharing God's joy out in the community! Specifics on when the course will be available coming soon!
3. Gardening with God teaching garden: We will have opportunities for our children to come to the community garden in small groups (registration will be required) to learn all about the work being done there, and how we can honor God and neighbor by keeping our garden thriving... they will be able to get dirty, learn and love our community garden!
-- Be on the lookout for MORE TO COME in children's ministry as we continue to create new ways to "gather" and engage in this crazy new time!! Please be in prayer for one another as we navigate decisions on school, how to keep each other safe, and how to engage in the joyous work of kingdom building in ALL times of life!
Blessings, love, and hope,
~Katherine Peiper, Director of Children, Family & Youth Ministries | katherinepeiper@wakeforestpres.org
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Our Youth Leadership Team will have their first planning meeting of the year on August 2nd from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Please check your email for details from Janet. Also make sure to check the GroupMe in the event there have to be last minute changes.
~Janet Briley, Director of Youth Ministries
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August 2, 2020 Web Worship
We will go live at 10 AM on our Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/wfpres/
Pastor Rebekah is back in the pulpit this Sunday and will focus on Psalm 23:1-3a. Her sermon is titled "Living Water."
We will be celebrating communion, so please have elements representing the body and blood of Christ with you and ready to go.
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| 2020 Annual Budget |
$929,200.00 |
| 2020 Year-to-Date Actual |
$508,890.00 |
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| Year to Date Budget (June) |
$468,600.00
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Year to Date Actual (June)
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$454,276.00
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July Budget
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$73,600.00 |
| July Tithes and Offerings (thru 7/19/20) |
$48,951.50 |
| July 19, 2020 |
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| Tithes and Offerings (Mail/Online) |
$13,974.50 |
| Designated Gifts |
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| Debt Elimination Gifts |
$250.00
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| Web Worship Attendance (Facebook Views) |
370+ |
| Sunday School Attendance |
24 |
Debt Elimination Monthly Budget
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$5,000.00
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| Debt Elimination Received (thru 7/19/20) |
$4,575.00
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...all shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.
Deuteronomy 16:17
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WFPC Calendar Highlights
Please use these links for current information:
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Wake Forest Presbyterian Church
12605 Capital Blvd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919-556-7777
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