This Sunday at Binkley
January 20, 2019
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Morning Celebration
9:00 am, Lounge
Sunday School
9:30 am
Welcome to Binkley! Inquirer's Class
9:45 am, Library
Worship
11:00 am, Sanctuary
Marcus McFaul preaching
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'The Pilgrimage' Lunch Meeting
Post-worship, Red Bowl Restaurant
Youth Group
6:00 pm, Sunroom/Lounge
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Since I learned of her death yesterday I've tried to recall the first time I was made aware of the poetry of Mary Oliver. If memory serves I may have learned of the beauty of her words through Stephen Shoemaker's sermons years ago. Her poem, "The Summer Day," ends with these memorable verses:
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I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
This morning in devotion I re-read several of her works and share one with you entitled "Sunrise."
Sunrise
You can
die for it --
an idea,
or the world. People
have done so,
brilliantly,
letting
their small bodies be bound
to the stake,
creating
an unforgettable
fury of light. But
this morning,
climbing the familiar hills
in the familiar
fabric of dawn, I thought
of China,
and India
and Europe, and I thought
how the sun
blazes
for everyone just
so joyfully
as it rises
under the lashes
of my own eyes, and I thought
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I am so many!
What is my name?
What is the name
of the deep breath I would take
over and over
for all of us? Call it
whatever you want, it is
happiness, it is another one
of the ways to enter
fire.
~ Mary Oliver ~
(New and Selected Poems, Volume I)
As we prepare to remember and recall the "unforgettable fury of light," which was Dr. King's life may we never fail to ask that piercing question of ourselves,
What is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
We know what he did...he died for an idea, a dream.
Please take a look at
this week's bulletin
. Our worship service will include poetry from Langston Hughes (read by our own Howard Lee), meaningful music, and a children's sermon from Stephanie Ford (parents please bring your children to the 11am worship this week!). My sermon is "The Scandal of Particularity: The Messages of Jesus and Dr. King," drawn from Luke 4:16-30. This service is the perfect opportunity to invite friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family to join you for worship at Binkley. I sure hope you will.
With much affection
Your Pastor,
Marcus
P.S.: A group is gathering this Thursday afternoon to share their favorite Mary Oliver poems and remember her life. Details are found later in this email.
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From Our Campus Ministry Coordinator
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As you may remember from last week's announcement, there is a meeting on Sunday afternoon for all who are interested in establishing a vision for "The Pilgrimage." All interested students, parents, and church members at large are invited to contribute their voice! Let's gather in the narthex after worship on Sunday morning before we walk (weather permitting) over to Red Bowl for lunch.
I hope you will make plans to join us!
Austin
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Adult Sunday School Classes
9:30 am
A new year, a new start! Join us on Sunday morning, January 13, 9:30-10:30 for an adult Sunday School class. There are a variety of opportunities to choose from, and each class is open to newcomers!
Mindful
Parenting,
Lounge:
This week, Becca Edwards-Powell will be facilitating the conversation.
Finding Myself on a Journey
, Chapel:
Meredith Bratcher guides this Bible-based experiential learning and life reflection class. This Sunday, the passage to be considered is J
ohn 2:1-11 (The Wedding at Cana).
It’s Not Just One Way
, Room 17:
Each week in this class, an individual or couple shares their spiritual journey with the group.
English as a Second Language and Christianity
, Room 18:
Bo Lloyd leads the class in an engaging study of Christian faith, while also helping participants improve English vocabulary and fluency.
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New Binkley Church Sign Proposal
The committee appointed to make recommendations for a new church sign will present a display of our recommendations in January and eagerly await your comments.
Join us in the narthex at 10:15 before worship and following the services on January 20th and 27th
to look at the plans for the sign and see a model of the planned sculpture that is recommended to be part of the sign. Committee members will be available to answer questions at that time. There will be a place to receive your written comments after you review the recommendations.
~The Sign Committee (Rob Lewis, chair, Fred Schroeder, Janet O’Neal, Chon Shoaf)
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The church office will be closed on Monday, January 21, in observance of the MLK holiday.
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Wednesday Night Series
Jan. 23, 5:30 pm, Fellowship Hall
Program: God’s Mysterious Moves: Process Theology & Global Warming.
Herman Greene,
founding director of the Center for Ecozoic Studies, considers how God may be ushering in new possibilities in the midst of this global crisis. A friend to Binkely, an activist for the flourishing of Earth, Herman will bring fresh theological perspectives and hope to making a difference.
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Remembering Mary Oliver
Thursday, Jan 24, 3 pm, Library
Poet and essayist Mary Oliver died Thursday, January 17. Would you appreciate having some time to read and listen to some of her poems, with others who mourn this loss? We'll gather in the Library at 3PM on Thursday, Jan. 24; bring some of your favorites, and we'll be together, and we'll hear her voice awakening us to bountiful real life, still. Questions? Contact Meredith Bratcher,
[email protected]
.
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Habitat Build
Saturday, January 26
1-4:30 pm
Click
here
to sign up and join Binkley friends in building "A Beloved Community" of affordable housing for Seniors in Orange County.
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Invitation to Men and Women of Binkley
:
A Time to Share Perspectives on Women’s Roles at Binkley
Sunday, Jan. 27, 2:30-5 pm, Fellowship Hall
If you have something to say and want to hear new perspectives, please come. Through the use of personal stories, a look at Binkley’s history and a Samoan Circle time to share, we hope to continue this important conversation that has been and is taking place among various groups within the church, both formal and informal. We want to bring the conversation forward by including the voices of all who wish to participate as we grapple with some deep concerns. Please join us. Child care will be provided, but you will need to let the church office know by noon on Wednesday, January 23. We look forward to seeing you there.
~Priscilla Bratcher, Linda Bourne, April Kemper, Caryl Price, Susan Rogers.
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Binkley's Bail Bond Justice and Support Project Kick-Off
Tuesday, Janaury 29, 7:00-8:30pm,
Fellowship Hall
Childcare provided. This is an opportunity for the Binkley congregation to learn more about the problems of the current bail bond system, details about the Bail Bond Project including the goals, the four parts of the project (Court Observation, Data Collection/Assessment, Participatory Defense, and a Bail Bond Fund), volunteers/resources needed, and project timeline. Speakers will include people impacted by the bail bond system;
Dawn Blagrove, Executive Director Carolina Justice Policy Center
;
James Williams, Chair NAACP Criminal Justice Committee
; and members of the Binkley Peace and Justice Action Group. You will have the opportunity to volunteer for specific aspects of the project depending on your "time and talent."
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Listening as Ministry/Listening for Conflict Resolution
Thursdays beginning January 31, 6:30 pm, Lounge
“The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear.” - Maya Angelou
“Remember this, my dear brothers! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
- James. 1:19
What is it like to have someone really listen to you? How do you know when someone is truly understanding what you are trying to communicate? What happens inside a speaker who feels understood? What happens inside a listener who cares enough to listen for understanding? How does a relationship benefit when both people demonstrate their intention to want to truly understand the other even when they disagree?
You are invited to explore these questions and to learn skills that will help you to be a more loving, effective listener for those close to you and for anyone whose relationship you value. You will also have the opportunity to learn how to use these skills and others to create respectful, productive conversations when there is a problem or conflict you want to discuss with another. The class, facilitated by Diana Coble, will meet for five to six sessions on Thursdays from 6:30 until 8:00 beginning January 31 in the Lounge. Classes build on each other so that attendance from the beginning is most beneficial to the individual and the group. Please contact Diana Coble at [email protected] or 919 942-9184 if you wish to participate.
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2019 Program of Ministry Budget Meetings
All members are encouraged to attend two upcoming meetings regarding the 2019 Program of Ministry Budget. Based on pledges received from our
Planting, Cultivating, Harvesting
Stewardship Campaign, the finance committee will present a proposed 2019 budget for discussion at a meeting after worship on
February 3,
in the Fellowship Hall. On the following Sunday,
February 10,
a Church-in-Conference will be held to approve the budget. You may still submit your 2019 pledge to the church office to help us reach our ministry goals for the coming year. Pledge cards are available in the narthex or you can email your pledge to [email protected].
Login to the
Members
section of the website to view the proposed budget.
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Registration Now Open!
2019 Seymour Symposium
March 2-3
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WANTED…….
Adventurous, creative people to serve as co-chairs of this summer’s Famous Binkley—Barbee's Yard Sale!
If you're looking for a way to make a BIG impact on our community, this is your gig!
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Safety Committee Information Meeting
On January 13, 2019 the Safety Working Group held an informational meeting to report on the activities of the group during the past year. If you were not able to attend the meeting, you can click
HERE
to view the presentation and notes from the meeting. Please take time to inform yourself about new safety procedures being implemented for our church.
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January Challenge
Choose and Commit to ONE Sustainable New Year's Resolution
Ready to take on a more sustainable lifestyle in the New Year? Looking for ways to minimize your impact on the planet? This year make changes that will help both you and the Earth! To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of some potential resolutions for you to choose from. Think about what is reasonable for you when choosing a resolution. Some of these may seem easy, but others may be quite challenging! You can obviously adapt any one to fit your own personal needs. Pick one to share with us this Sunday, and your resolution might make it in next Friday's Update!
Resolving Resolutely for our Earth Home
The resolutions are coming in! Here are what some of you resolved to do on our first Sunday, 1/6/19:
- Saying “no” to plastic straws at every meal (3)
- Bringing shopping bags every time and not just at the grocery store (2)
- Committing to Meatless Mondays
- Composting at home (2)
- Cooking mostly from scratch
- Taking reusable containers, straws, and shopping bags with me (3)
- Taking a basket (not a shopping bag) to the grocery store
- Detoxing home
- Riding bike to Sunday Worship
- Committing to use a reusable coffee mug or go without: AARRGGHH!!
- Carrying my own cutlery and cloth napkins in lieu of single-use items (2)
- Buying eggs in cardboard cartons (recycle or give to IFC)
Isn’t it inspiring?!
Look forward to seeing more resolutions this Sunday!
All are welcome to attend the next Earth Ministries meeting on January 31 from 1:30-3 pm in the library.
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Click the links below for more information on each event.
Monday, January 21, 9 am, Peace and Justice Plaza
The 34
th
Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Banquet will be on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at the Friday Center. Reception 5-6 p.m. The Banquet will begin promptly at 6. Caryl Price and Mark Davis will be among banquet participants. Tickets are $30.00. Lillian Lee has tickets.
April 5, 2019, St. Thomas More Catholic Church
Registration now open.
A
day-long interfaith conference in Chapel Hill on April 5, exploring how faith influences our reactions to suicide and what we can do better in our responses. Speakers will address how faith communities can engage, support, and build resiliency around those affected by suicide and suicidality.
Click
here for more information.
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Link your grocery store loyalty cards to BPS.
Here's how.
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Church Office Hours
Mon.-Thurs.
8:30 am - 4 pm
Friday
8:30 am - 3 pm
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Publication Deadlines
Submissions for the February Newsletter are due by:
January 21
Submissions for the weekly bulletin and Friday Update are due by:
Wednesday Noon
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The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church
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