What should I do? Where do I start? And for whom?
We’re faced with these questions often in situations when we really aren’t sure what the next steps should be. I remember in the fall of 1989, I bought a new house in Concord, NC and moved in right after Hurricane Hugo hit the Charlotte area. Mercifully, the house was spared, yet the woods behind it were thrashed. I often stood on the deck and stared at the damage, wondering what to do first. I bought my first chainsaw and started cleaning up the mess a little at a time. This huge task had to be broken down into small, digestible bites to keep me from getting overwhelmed.
I believe advice on breaking challenging situations into individual elements can be found in Micah 6:8, “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
It’s all there, summed up beautifully in one verse! As Christians we should seek justice for those who cannot obtain it and be sure that the key driver is justice according to God’s definition. Yet justice should be tempered with mercy, and we should be willing and able to distribute that freely. This mercy can come in our thoughts, words, and deeds. It is not our place to deny mercy because we find another undeserving of the same. It should flow down, in double measure, just like our Lord provides for us. I believe to walk humbly with Him means we seek His favor and advice through prayer, scripture, and learning.
Don’t know what to do? Then Act, Love, Walk.
Please pray with me, Heavenly Father, thank you for these simple instructions. Help us to utilize them in our daily lives as well-oiled and calibrated tools for Your work on this earth. Amen.
Andy Dunlap
Discipleship Elder (Adults)
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Worship at WFPC
Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (in-person and online)
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March 12
Marguerite will be back in the pulpit sharing her sermon, "The Minstry of Presence" which is inspired by our Scripture, John 4:5-42.
10:00 in the Sanctuary
You can print a bulletin to worship at home here: March 12 Bulletin
Our 10:00 a.m. worship service is livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
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Annual Meeting
Sunday, March 19
| After worship on March 19, please plan to stay for our Wake Forest Presbyterian Church Annual Meeting. We'll listen together to how many of you served God in ministry to the community and the world as we came out of the pandemic phase. You may be surprised at how much WFPC accomplished given the challenges of a transition time and a pandemic. Officers will take us through a PowerPoint presentation highlighting work of the congregation, and where we're headed for 2023. Come celebrate the work of the Spirit through WFPC. | |
Upcoming Special Music
April 2
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On Palm Sunday, the Chancel and Alleluia Choirs will present a cantata, “The Passion of Our Lord,” during the worship service. It will start with His entrance into Jerusalem, when the crowds were waving palms, and conclude with the fulfillment of His mission here on earth. The Praise Team will also share special music.
That evening at 7 p.m. in Meymandi Hall (Raleigh), our choir, along with over 225 other voices and orchestra, will be a part of Pepper Choplin’s “God So Loved” — a choral musical for Holy Week. Tickets are available from Joni Amerson and Sandie Buda before and after church for $15 — students (k-12) are free.
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In Case of Emergency -- Change in Plans! | Last week, we'd announced that Marguerite and John would both be out in the coming week. Marguerite's plans have changed, and she will be here. Any emergencies can be dealt with by calling the church at 919-556-7777 or emailing Marguerite at margueritesirrine@wakeforestpres.org. | |
Our Palm Sunday Eggstravaganza is always a time to gather as a community for the sheer joy of fun and fellowship! In order to help make that happen, we could use your help. Visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/3BB3IJq?ref_=wl_share for an Amazon wish list of fun items and eggs. If you are able, grab one or two items off the list and hit send... they will come straight to the church; no need for you to shop! Thank you for helping make this event fun, and mark your calendar for Sunday, April 2, at 3 p.m. for fun for all ages! | |
St Patrick's Day Dinner
Wednesday, March 15 at 5:30
| Come and celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your friends at WFPC on Wednesday, March 15, beginning at 5:30. Delicious food and cookie decorating for the children. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090945aeaf2da5fa7-stpatricks or contact Bonnie Habicht at bnbhabicht@gmail.com. Reservation deadline is Sunday, March 12. | |
One Great Hour of Sharing
March 12
| During Lent, we celebrate that God connects with us through Jesus’ resurrection, and connects us with “those who have least.” One Great Hour of Sharing is the single, largest way that Presbyterians come together to work for a better world by advancing the causes of justice, resilience, and sustainability. Please give generously to this Special Offering here: https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/make-a-gift/gift-info/oghs/ | |
JOY Group
Friday, March 17
| Our JOY Group's next gathering is planned for Friday, March 17, in the CLC. Lunch will be from Chick-fil-A; the cost will be $10. After lunch, Frank Drake will be discussing wills, living wills, and power of attorney. Frank has recently retired after working in this field for most of his career. Contact Dean at joy@wakeforestpres.org if you’d like to join us! | |
Our March 15 class topic is Improving Communication with Others Involved in Care. It includes tips on how to improve your chances for better outcomes from those difficult conversations with family members, medical professionals, and other key people on the dementia journey.
The April 19 class topic is Improving Communication with the Person Living with Dementia. This class addresses practical things you can do to create better communication with your loved one who lives with dementia which, in return, reduces stress for both of you.
All classes will be held in person from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in Room B106 of the CLC. The same class will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 pm via Zoom. Classes are open to anyone who is interested in learning more about care for individuals with any type of dementia. Those who wish to attend the Zoom class and are not already on our mailing list may contact Pat Snyder via email (patsnyder137@gmail.com) to receive a link for the class.
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Honorariums and Memorials | If you would like to honor a loved one, living or deceased, we invite you to help sponsor our Easter floral enhancements for the sanctuary. We will be decorating with Easter lilies and hydrangeas. We are asking for $10 donations to cover the cost of these flowers, and any excess funds collected will be kept in the Worship-Flowers account for future use. Honorariums/Memorials will be printed in the Palm Sunday bulletin. Please note, you are not purchasing a lily that can be taken home with you. Use this link: https://wfpc.breezechms.com/form/122f2271661265 | |
Once again, Randall's Ralliers will be walking to help raise money to help find treatments and a cure for ALS. WFPC member Randall Keen was diagnosed with ALS on November 13, 2018, after searching for answers about slowed/slurred speech, swallowing difficulties, and breathing issues for almost a year. The Triangle Walk will take place on Saturday, April 15. If you'd like to walk with the team or sponsor a walker, visit https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/TR/Walks/NorthCarolina?team_id=408781&pg=team&fr_id=15328
To order a t-shirt, use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP_nG94qltyNIDrKiBRvPOon_e6vQaSWcEXtUY_ifTbSiAfg/viewform
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Our Youth Sunday service last week was led and conducted by many Youth who started their WFPC journey by attending preschool here!
Preschool at WFPC is still going strong. To learn about the many activities happening, click https://conta.cc/3YRhIYS to read the March monthly newsletter.
The preschool has a few three-year-old openings and hopes to open another two-year-old class for the upcoming school year, 2023/2024.
Also, please follow the preschool Facebook and Instagram pages.
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The Facilities Ministry is making preparations for some much needed sprucing-up of our beautiful church campus. We are in need of a total of 250 bales of pine straw for the landscaping around the building and parking areas. Donations are needed at this time to cover the cost. If you would like to contribute, you can do so with a check with “Premise Keepers” in the memo, or donate through Breeze with “Premise Keepers” in the comments. Be sure to save the date for Grounds Cleanup Day on March 25! All are welcome to come out and help. | |
Habitat for Humanity
Volunteers Needed for Upcoming Habitat Workdays in Wake Forest.
Our next opportunities for work volunteers are on Sat., April 15th and Sat., April 22nd. We will meet at 8:15am at Olive Branch Baptist Church (326 E Juniper Ave, Wake Forest), and then divide up and head to the building sites. Everyone needs to bring their own lunch. If you are interested, please sign up early on their Volunteer Hub: http://vhub.at/northernwake Thank you so much for your interest in helping others in need. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Habicht at bnbhabicht@gmail.com or 410-991-2458.
Community Garden
There is much to do in the garden to get ready for spring! We continue to plant cool weather vegetables in the main garden, raised beds, and table planters.
Are you thinking of planting a garden this spring and/or want to improve your gardening skills? Join us in the garden on March 11, 9–11 a.m. for The Giving Garden’s first workshop! Four Master Gardeners from the NC Extension Service will be here to help with hands-on training and to answer your gardening questions.
If you have old jeans and/or golf balls you’re willing to donate to the garden, please put them in a bag and leave them by the main garden gate at any time. We’re also looking for help with a building project to store our tomato stakes. Please email, text, or call Pam Schulze for more information (wfpcgivinggarden@gmail.com, 919-522-3146). Please see the February Giving Garden newsletter on our website, wfpcgivinggarden.org.
SignUpGenius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4EABA62FAB9-2022
Wake Up and Read
Thanks to your generous donations, we collected 767 books this year. This far surpasses last year’s total of 511. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Adult Mission Trip
We will be heading East again: April 23-28, 2023, is the date, and New Bern, NC, is the destination. We will be repairing homes that were damaged by flooding from hurricanes in that area a few years back. We have reserved space for up to 12-15 adults that week, and we need a few more volunteers! Some of you helped on the set for WTB, so I know we have some talented folks, but, really, there are no skills needed or required — just your time and energy! Can’t make it the whole week? No problem — just come on the days that you can, as New Bern is a short two-hour drive from Wake Forest. If you have questions or want more information to help in making your decision, please contact Judy Finch Ide at 919-971-6237 or jfinchide@hotmail.com. The deadline to reserve your spot will be April 1.
Journey Food Pantry
The Journey Ministry Pantry is a faith-based non-profit organization, located in Youngsville, with a mission to flourish by reaching as many food-insecure individuals and families as God allows. The mission of this Pantry is to provide and serve healthy and nutritious food to those with food insecurities, so no one goes hungry, and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Journey served over 80 families last week, and the numbers of families requesting help continue to grow. The fourth Tuesday of every month, a large shipment (8-10 pallets) of food is delivered from the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. Extra clients are served on delivery day.
Journey is in need of volunteers! A volunteer is needed for food pick up at the Rolesville Food Lion on Sundays and Mondays each week. Volunteers are also needed to pick up food at the North Hills Wegmans (Wake Forest Road just inside I-440) on Fridays. That pickup is usually large, and requires using a rental cargo van. For more information or to volunteer, contact Paul Swartz at swartzp51@gmail.com or (919)215-6216.
CROP 2023
Planning has started for this year’s CROP walk. M & O is looking for a ministry leader for this project. If food insecurity is your passion, and you can contribute a few hours over the next several months, this may be an opportunity for you. The current ministry leader is stepping down, but will be there to help and guide his replacement. Whether you can serve or not, save the Walk date — September 24, 2023! For more information, contact Carol Winans-Geiser at carol@winans.com.
Refugee Information Meeting
WFPC is exploring a new mission for helping international refugees. Is this your passion? Are you curious about the opportunity to help? WFPC would like to gauge the level of interest in a program of this type. An informational meeting will be held on March 26th in the youth room immediately after the 10:00 service. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Tharrington at kathleenekirschner@gmail.com.
Want to know more about Mission and Outreach at WFPC? Please contact Kathy Tharrington at kathleenekirschner@gmail.com or Carol Winans-Geiser at carol@winans.com
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Our Nursery Is Growing!
We truly have all ages, babies through almost five years, so in the next couple weeks, we will be outfitting a baby nursery (birth-1.5 years) in the Bee Classroom, next door to our current nursery room. We will have items for our littlest ones available for play and sleep as needed so they have their own safe space on Sunday mornings... and our bigger kids can still romp and play safely in their space! Thanks be to God for all our littles!!!
Take a look at our calendar to see what's coming up!
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Youth Group This Week
We are back this Sunday for our normal youth activities, with one exception...no youth band.
Middle School: 4:30 - 6:00 Youth room/CLC
High School: 6:00 - 7:30 Youth room/CLC
Youth Band will take a break this week and next. We will resume practice on March 26.
March at a Glance:
March 12 -- Youth Group gatherings (no band)
March 15 -- St. Patrick's day churchwide dinner (we will not have our youth meetings that night so that we can participate in the dinner and celebration -- reservations required)
March 17-19 -- High School Retreat at Camp Don Lee
March 19 -- Middle school youth CANDLE MAKING EVENT! - High school will not meet this night since we will have just returned from a weekend retreat; no youth band either.
March 22 -- Movies & Missions, Open Gym
March 26 -- Youth Group gatherings, youth band practice
March 29 -- Movies & Missions, Open Gym
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Please join us in offering love and sympathy to Scott Krossow, whose mother, Karen Olivia Krussow, passed away on March 4.
Please keep the following members of our church family in your prayers:
Jody Alston
Amy Cebrick
Helen Halva
Benny Hoots
Deb Keller
Don McCorkle
Grace Maul
Evelyn Patton
Marcia Rhoten
Don and Sally Shupe
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Friday, March 10
6:15 am Son Risers
Saturday, March 11
8:00 am Iron Sharpens Iron Saturdays
Sunday, March 12
9:00 am Sunday School
10:00 am Sunday Worship
3:00 pm Club 4/5 (off campus)
4:30 pm Middle School Youth Group
6:00 pm High School Youth Group
Monday, March 13
7:00 pm Boy Scouts
Tuesday, March 14
5:30 pm Beginner hand bells
6:30 pm Praise Team rehearsal
7:00 pm WOW Bible Study
Wednesday, March 15
1:00 pm Alleluia Choir
5:30 pm St Patrick's Day Dinner
5:45 pm Grace Notes hand bells
6:00 pm Youth Movies and Mission
6:00 pm Kids' Open Gym
7:00 pm Youth Open Gym
7:00 pm Cub Scouts
7:00 pm Chancel Choir
Thursday, March 16
10:00 am Dementia Caregivers
5:00 pm GriefShare
7:00 pm Session
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March 5, 2023 attendance: 256 | |
WFPC Deacons
Class of 2023
Ann Brackett, Branch Ministry
Sarah Chapman, Fellowship
Bonnie Habicht, Fellowship
Class of 2024
Karla Frye, Welcome
Mike Honkomp, Fellowship
Traci Marchand, Compassion
Carol Noble, Fellowship
Class of 2025
Joy Blanton, Compassion
Eric Earle, Welcome
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WFPC Session
Class of 2023
Kathy Drake, Worship & Music
Denny Ide, Facilities
Sarah Kirby, Clerk
Amanda McCabe, Personnel
Chad Robertson, IT/Communications
Class of 2024
John Akerman, Generosity
Joni Amerson, Worship
Norm Brown, MEG
Seamus Duerr, IT/Communications
Dawn Myers, Discipleship (Youth)
Harold Panel, Personnel
Kathy Tharrington, Mission & Outreach
Class of 2025
Andy Dunlap, Discipleship (Adult)
Mindy Hidenfelter, Facilities
Keith Thomas, Finance
Jacky Wilson, Discipleship (Children)
Carol Winans-Geiser, Mission & Outreach
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