The Weekly Word at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Gratitude for God's Past Presence

One year ago tomorrow, Debbie and I closed on our new house here in Raleigh. The next day, we started moving out of our two-bedroom apartment off Brentwood Road and spent our first night in our home in the Hedingham Neighborhood. It was as hot then as it has been this summer, but I remember feeling so grateful that we had found a home so quickly that fit our family’s needs.

The same day that we closed on our home, I had my first conversation with the Pastor Nominating Committee of Western Boulevard (it was a big day!). It was a Zoom meeting, and I remember feeling nervous and excited, but also asking for God’s peace to come over me amid all the activity that was going on in our lives. When the call began, Mac Winslow asked me the first question: “What kind of barbeque to you prefer – eastern or western?” That began a wonderful time of sharing and getting to know one another, which obviously has led us to where we are today.

Do you ever stop and think about all that has happened in one year’s time? When we’re on the treadmill of life, it’s easy to get enveloped by all that we’re busy with in the moment, or what we’re planning for in the future. But sometimes it’s helpful to reflect a bit and consider where we have been, and in so doing, consider where God has been with us along the journey.

When we look back, what do we see? Children who have grown in ways that is inspiring. Loved ones who are no longer with us but reside in God’s heavenly kingdom. Friends who have taken new paths, or new friendships which have been formed. Recovery from illness and surgery. Jobs that have ended, and new jobs that have begun. Throughout all of these and more, where has God been present? How has God given us hope, strength, and guidance? How has our faith changed because of the journey we have traveled?

I am grateful every day for God’s providence and care, especially over the last twelve months. I am grateful for the Spirit leading us to one another as partners in ministry. And it is because of these experiences in the past that I have hope and excitement for what God has in store in the future. I pray you are able to see God’s love and grace through your life’s journey, and may that be a testament for what you can count on in the days, months, and years to come.

With a full and grateful heart,

Frank

THIS SUNDAY AT WBPC

Worship Service – 10:30am – Click HERE for the bulletin. We will celebrate the sacrament of communion as part of worship.

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

CALLED CONGREGATIONAL MEETING THIS SUNDAY

The Session has called a congregational meeting for this 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.

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

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS – AUGUST 28

The summer is flying by! Soon it will be time to start a new school year. Students following a traditional calendar will return to school on August 29. How can the church family help the children and youth know that they venture into a new school year with our prayers and blessings? All school-aged kids are invited to bring their backpacks to the worship service on August 28 where Pastor Frank will lead the congregation in bestowing a blessing of these backpacks. Come help us fulfill our baptismal promise of nurturing these young ones as they grow and learn!

SCHOOL SUPPLY DONATIONS

At the same time we are blessing our children as they begin their school year, we have an opportunity to help the children of our community have a great start to their year, too! We’ve been contacted by the social worker at Dillard Drive Middle School asking if we could assist with specific supplies that their teachers have requested, including: composition books, backpacks (sturdy ones), quality band-aids, feminine hygiene products, quality tissues, 5-subject notebooks, post-it notes, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes. We will set up a collection bin both in the narthex of the sanctuary and in the hallway outside Frank’s office. Please bring your donations throughout August, and we will dedicate them on August 28 when we have the Blessing of the Backpacks in worship. Thank you for your generous support!

MISSION OUTREACH: WELCOMING OUR NEIGHBORS

The Shams family moved into our neighborhood last 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.

RESPONDING TO FLOODING DISASTERS

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is actively responding to the flooding disasters that have happened this summer in Kentucky, Virginia, St. Louis, and Illinois. To learn more about their efforts, click HERE. If you wish to make a monetary donation to PDA, you can donate to Western Boulevard and mark it “Disaster Assistance,” and we will forward it on to PDA. Thank you for your generous response to our neighbors in need.

MISSION OUTREACH

Presbyterians Engage in God's Mission: "And Yet It Moves" - Click HERE to learn more.

BIBLICAL JUSTICE FORUM – AUGUST 8

On August 8, 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 8 we will study Session 6 entitled Restoration as a Rejoicing (Isaiah 43:1-21) and Beth Ware will lead us.

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

JAZZ VESPER SERVICE – AUGUST 28

We are excited to share that we will have a Jazz Vesper Service on Sunday, August 28, at 5:00pm, in the sanctuary. This will be our @ The Table Service for that day, and Van-Anthoney Hall and Lacy Haith (trumpet) will provide the music for this special service. The service will be recorded and posted to the church’s YouTube page, and a freewill offering will be collected to support the Yahvre Jire Children’s Orphanage in Haiti. Plan to come and invite your friends and family for this wonderful opportunity to worship God!

UPDATE ON FELLOWSHIP HALL

We are making progress in repairing the Fellowship Hall after it flooded in July. The tile removal is scheduled to take place August 16-19. In 2006, WBPC answered the call to perform mission work in hurricane and flood affected areas of the US and its territories. From Louisiana to Mississippi to New Jersey to 3 areas in North Carolina to South Carolina and to Puerto Rico, we have sent teams to work where we were called to go. Initially, it was mostly adults with some college-age young adults. Gradually, it became mostly senior high youth. Finally, it has changed to youth led trips where the older high school youth teach and pass along the skills they have learned to the younger youth. Working side by side, the adults have taught the older youth and the older youth have taught the younger youth. This model has worked very well for the past 8 years.

One of the best skills our youth group has developed is installing vinyl plank flooring. A group of current and former youth are coming together for the first time to install the new floor in the Fellowship Hall. They are providing a $5000-$5500 service to this congregation. It is their way of thanking the congregation for the love, prayers and support they have received during their mission trips. On Saturday, August 27, they will install our new floor in the Fellowship Hall. If you have never had the opportunity to witness the work that they can perform on missions, you are welcome to stop by on the 27th and see for yourself what these young people have learned!

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!

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.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: August 7-13

Sunday, August 7 - Communion

10:30am Worship Service

11:30am Called Congregational Meeting

5:00pm @ The Table Service (Zoom)

Monday, August 8

12:00pm Biblical Justice Forum (Zoom)

7:00pm Christian Education Committee (Zoom)

Tuesday, August 9

10:00am Magdalene Women’s Circle (Parlor)

Wednesday, August 10

9:30am Wednesday AM Prayer Group (Parlor)

Thursday, August 11

6:30pm Bible Study (Zoom)

6:30pm Stephen Ministers (Parlor)

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.

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!

Click HERE for August birthdays!

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