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Outer Banks
Presbyterian Church
News & Notes
June 3, 2020
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In This Issue:
- June 7th Worship Service
- Message from Rev. Moore
- Strategies for Re-opening the Church
- Request for Ushers
- Pentecost Special Offering
- Honoring Our Graduates
- 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 any past services on demand.
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June 7th Worship Service
The Rev. Thomas Priest will be our guest pastor on June 7th. The Reverend Doctor Thomas H. Priest, Jr. answered the call to begin serving as Pastor at Roanoke Island Presbyterian Church on February 1, 2020. He is an Ordained Teaching Elder, Minister of Word and Sacrament, Presbyterian Church (USA), and a member of New Hope Presbytery. After many years working as an engineer in the automobile industry, he heard the call to a second professional career in the church. Tom earned his Master of Divinity from Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, where he also received his Doctor of Ministry. Tom is the husband of Margaret and the father of Missale C. Priest and Mrs. Kehrie P. Willis, father-in-law of Jeremiah, and grandfather of Jamir.
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. Rev. Priest 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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Message From Rev. Dr. Jody Moore
When the Session made the decision to cancel in-person worship services in mid-March, we thought that we were facing a difficult decision at the time, but in retrospect it was fairly clear what needed to happen: that we needed to stay at home for a while as a way to limit the spread of the virus. In mid-March, I wasn’t sure what was ahead, but if you had pressed me, I might have imagined that we would be able to gather again for in-person worship in six to eight weeks. Of course, more than eight weeks have already passed. I heard one person describe this period as similar to driving in heavy fog: all that we can do is see a little bit ahead of us. As we keep moving forward, the conditions are changing and we have to adjust and adapt. I watched a recent sermon that was entitled “The Certainty of Uncertainty.” That title resonated well with my experience of these recent weeks.
At the time that I am writing this article, there have been at least 107,000 deaths in the United States alone due to the pandemic. As I mentioned in worship on Pentecost Sunday (May 31
st
), it is important for us to think about those who have died as more than just a number: each one represents a person, a child of God, who has left behind family members and friends who are grieving. While the building has been closed to in-person worship, I am grateful for the ways that our staff, members, and friends have continued ministering in Christ’s name because the work of God’s kingdom is not bound to any building. We have had an overwhelming response to the number of people who have been worshiping with us on-line during the pandemic and have continued our outreach efforts to care for the needy in our community, especially during these trying times.
As we began to consider the possibility of beginning in-person worship, our church leaders recognized that we are dealing with a variety of complex issues. I am grateful for the good leadership provided by the COVID-19 Task Force and our Session in navigating these questions. At its meeting on May 26
th
, the Session approved the Strategies for Re-Opening Church document that includes a twenty-point plan that enables us to open the building sometime after June 26
th
.
This is the Session's first attempt as we continue driving forward in the dense fog. As it says in item 20, "The Session may make changes as circumstances warrant or that the Session deems necessary and appropriate, based on observed behaviors and experiences at previous church services and more data and information that will become available." I want to prepare you for the reality that things will be different when we gather again in person. Not everything will go smoothly as we are figuring things out. We will have to work out some of the kinks. So let us be sure to show each other some grace.
Some people have been itching to get out and will be here the first Sunday that the church doors are open to the public, while others will continue to need to stay home and prevent potential exposure to the virus. I am aware that we have a number of people in our congregation who are at a higher risk from the virus and we have the Christian responsibility first to protect and care for each other. Whatever choice that anyone makes, we need to be understanding and respectful of one another. Some people who have assisted with various tasks around the church in the past may not be able to come back and participate right away and that is okay. We need to not put any pressure on anyone for taking steps to keep themselves and others safe and well. If you are comfortable returning to church, please contact Nonie Booth or Cathie Feild if you are able to serve as an usher because we will need additional people to assist. We are making every effort to include and involve those who will be at home and will offer on-line worship services, Sunday School classes, and more.
I also want to note that there will be a number of changes in our worship service when we gather back together in-person. The Task Force and the Session have sought to follow the best guidance from the CDC, state health officials, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and other church groups that are examining similar issues. We plan to have two worship services on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am and 11:00 am. The 11:00 am service will be live streamed for those who will be staying safe at home. We are limiting each worship service to fifty attendees, about twenty percent of the capacity of our sanctuary, so that we can spread out and keep social distance from one another.
I hope that everyone will honor the policies that the Session has developed to help keep all of our worshipers as safe as we can as we congregate together. Some of the safety measures we can take are to keep physical distance from one another and wear a mask as a sign of love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. I will plan to wear a mask as I enter the sanctuary that I will remove while speaking. I don't wear a mask for myself alone: I wear it for all of you and to keep each other safe.
In my sermon on March 22
nd
, I said, "
One of the most persistent messages of the Bible is that we are called to love: we are supposed to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. The call to love one another is constant, but the way we show that love changes over time and the course of our lives. We have often shown love through hugs, handshakes, and warm embraces, but the loving thing for us to do now is to create a little physical distance so that we can protect those who are vulnerable to this disease. It is a sacrifice, it is a loss, but often loving involves sacrifice. Parents sacrifice their time for their children and families. Friends sacrifice for the good of the relationship. Soldiers sacrifice for their nation. Today workers in grocery stores, pharmacies, medical providers, police officers, emergency responders, and trash collectors are sacrificing to provide for our common need. We thank those who are sacrificing for our sake and remember that Christ calls each of us to sacrifice so that we can love God and our neighbors. Christ is the ultimate example of sacrificial love through his death on the cross for our forgiveness and salvation.
” As Jesus tells us in John 15:12, let us love one another as Christ has loved us. If we are guided by Christ’s love and a willingness to sacrifice for our neighbors, then I am confident that we will be heading in the right direction as we go with God into this uncertain future together.
Prayer:
God of grace, we thank you for our church family at Outer Banks Presbyterian Church. While circumstances in our lives and our world change over time, your love and care for us never changes. When we are confused or anxious, help us to trust in you as our deliverer and comforter. Give us faith, persistence, stamina, and courage to trust in you Lord. Help us to follow Christ’s example in the ways that we choose to love and sacrifice for others.
Amen.
Grace and peace,
Jody Moore
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Session Approves Strategies for Re-opening Church
On May 26, the Session approved a 20-point plan to re-open the church for in-person worship after June 26, 2020. In order to follow practices of safe distancing, there will be two worship services on Sundays with a maximum of 50 people at each service. The first service will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the second service will start at 11:00 a.m. We will have a system for people to register in advance for the service they want to attend so that we can regulate the number of people at each service. The process for registering for a service will be explained in detail before it is implemented. The 11:00 a.m. service will be live-streamed so people who do not feel comfortable attending in person can still worship from their homes. There are also plans for how to hold Sunday School and Children's Church. Please take the time to read the the complete set of strategies by
clicking here
.
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Announcement: Ushers Needed
We are hopeful of the possibility of returning to in-house worship at OBPC on Sunday, June 28. The Task Force and the Session are continually monitoring all aspects of the Covid-19 situation. When we return on June 28th or later, there
will
be 2 services – one at 9 am and one at 11 am. Two ushers will be needed to serve at each service. The responsibilities of an usher will be a little bit different when in person worship begins. Instead of handing out bulletins, the ushers will direct worshipers to a table where they can pick up their own bulletin. Instead of passing offering plates, the ushers will point worshipers to stationary offering plates where individuals may place their gifts. One usher will now serve at the front door and one at the south door (the only doors open to enter the church). They will greet those entering and encourage them to remain six feet apart and direct them to one of the Elders at the entrance to the Sanctuary
who will
direct them to their seat.
If you would be willing to serve as an usher during this reopening process please contact Cathie in the church office. Serving as an usher during these uncertain times is a vital aspect to OBPC safely reopening. Some of our regular ushers will be unable to serve at this time, so it is important for some new people to volunteer.
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Pentecost Special Offering
May 31 was Pentecost Sunday. This day commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his ascension from earth to heaven. In honor of Pentecost Sunday, there is a special offering.
A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children.
40% of the Pentecost offering is retained locally to make an impact in the lives of young people within our own community. Our church donates this money to Dare County Friends of Youth. This is a county mentoring program that places at-risk youth between 6-17 with caring adult volunteers who serve as role models and friends. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
Please consider making a donation for Pentecost. This has been a particularly difficult time for our youth. You can send your donation to the church office -- PO Box 2199, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 -- and mark on the check or envelope "Pentecost." Thank you!
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Honoring Our Graduates
Grace Folds is a First Flight High School Senior who was a recipient of the Outer Banks Presbyterian Scholarship. She will be attending the University of North Carolina at Pembroke this fall majoring in Fine Arts/Graphic Design. Congratulations, Grace!
This is the first submission we have had about one of our graduates. We know we have more and would like to hear about them. Do you have a high school or college student who has or will graduate this year? If you would like us to highlight a graduate in your life, please send an email with a brief description of his or her accomplishments and plans for the future to
office@outerbankspresbyterian.org
so we can recognize them in a future edition of our E-news, News & Notes. We know that this year has been particularly difficult for students who have had to forego traditional end-of-year celebrations and we would like to recognize their achievements. Thanks!
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Online Bible Study
Pastor Jody's alma mater, Columbia Theological Seminary, is having a second online Bible study.
Dr. Brennan Breed, professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, is excited to announce a five week study on the Book of Job that began on Sunday morning May 31st and continues until June 28th.
All are welcome to the free, hour-long conversation live-streamed to Facebook every Sunday morning from 9:30AM to 10:30AM EST, at
https://bit.ly/CTSofficehours
.
You can also watch the lessons later on demand. Participants who want a deeper experience may also register to receive free access to course material, complete with syllabus, downloadable readings, and audio-video links for further study. Register
here
for additional resources. For the complete schedule and more information, please
click here
.
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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.
We are grateful that members and friends have continued to be very faithful with their financial gifts during this time. During the month of May the church received $14,100 by mail and $3,935 through online donations.
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Anniversaries this Week
- Mr. & Mrs. Reid Hinson, June 4
- Mr. & Mrs. Ted Moore, June 4
- Mr. & Mrs. John Shultz, June 6
- Mr. & Mrs. Dan Broadhead, June 10
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Birthdays this Week
- Whitney Rogers, June 4
- Madeline Schalk, June 4
- June Harris, June 5
- Ron Herron, June 5
- Ryan Braswell, June 7
- Stephen Mogowski, June 7
- Linda Younkin, June 7
- Barbara Nock, June 8
- Dorothy Henderson, June 9
- Bob Messinger, June 9
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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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