This Sunday at Binkley
December 16, 2018
The Third Sunday in Advent
|
|
Christmas Breakfast
9:45 am, Fellowship Hall
Worship
11:00 am, Sanctuary
Nativity Reenactment
Marcus McFaul preaching
|
|
Moravian Lovefeast
7:00 pm, Sanctuary
|
|
How ‘bout a holiday potpourri column today…
* Last Sunday’s "Snowpocalypse 2018" meant we were unable to gather for worship, study, and fellowship. I noticed that some churches in Greensboro ingeniously scrambled and held a quickly-pulled-together Saturday service (Sunday Worship on Saturday). When I asked a preacher-friend of mine about this the response was classic pastor-speak: “They needed to collect the offering!” Well, yes…We, too, need to collect the offering, as well as to receive Pledge Cards for the 2019 budget from folks we’ve yet to hear from.
** We express our appreciation to Josh Dumbleton, who served as our Interim Organist/Minister of Music, for the various ways he offered his good gifts in ministry with us. Our contract with Josh was to have gone through the end of 2018 but he is planning now to return to his home in Oklahoma to be with family. When he arrived in August he brought such skill, pastoral presence, and support to our music program and we sincerely thank him for his service. Bo Lloyd will return to the organ bench for the remainder of the year. Please continue to express appreciation for all of our music groups (when you see a choir member, bell ringer, children’s chorister and leaders give ‘em a hug!) Additionally, pray for our Music Minister Search Committee as they go about their discernment that will lead to an eventual candidate who will join us in ministry.
|
|
*** Our Wednesday Night dinners and programs have been phenomenal! Delicious food, stimulating and enriching programs/speakers, and warm fellowship in our Fellowship Hall have been nothing short of incredible. They will return in early 2019. I cannot adequately thank Linda Bourne, Karin Mills, and Stephanie Ford for their tireless work in making Wednesday Night at Binkley a “Must-Go-To” experience. And while adults experienced thoughtful presentations, Emily Brewer gave her love and attention to our children and their music, week in and week out. Bravo! We are so blessed at Binkley with gifted and generous leaders who possess a life-wish for our church’s future.
**** For those who have suffered various losses, particularly the death of a loved one, holidays present significant challenges in our grief journeys. Next Wednesday evening, Dec. 19th at 6:30pm in the church chapel, a Blue Christmas service is offered. If you or someone you know would find this service helpful please come and invite others. The “hopes and fears of all the years,” includes life, death, and life eternal. The incarnation of the Christ-Child invites our own incarnating of shared grace to one another.
***** Come early on Sunday for a Christmas-bread breakfast at 9:45am in the Fellowship Hall! In worship at 11am our children will present their annual Nativity Re-Enactment. We will light candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy this third Sunday in Advent. My sermon (continuing our Las Posadas theme) is “Where Does Joy Find Lodging?” I so hope to see you this Sunday!
With much affection for you,
Your Pastor
|
|
 |
Christmas Breakfast, 12/16, 9:30 am
Nativity Reenactment, 12/16, 11 am
Moravian Lovefeast, 12/16, 7 pm
Advent Taize Service: 12/19, 12 pm
Blue Christmas Service: 12/19, 6 pm
Christmas Eve Services: 12/24, 4 pm and 7 pm
Click the image or
this link
for details on all 2018 Advent activities.
|
This Sunday, 9:30 am, Fellowship Hall
You are invited to join Binkley friends for a festive gathering over a light breakfast, juice, and coffee. We’ll light the Advent wreath, sing carols, enjoy a Las Posadas skit, and share around the theme of JOY. All ages welcome; no Sunday School classes.
Please bring a breakfast bread, fruit, or other breakfast snack to share!
With thanks to Mike Davis for accompanying us, and to Maribel Bruno for helping us with the Spanish! ~Stephanie Ford
|
Advent Mission Opportunities
As we look forward to and joyfully anticipate the birth of the Christ-child, let us also seek to serve Christ's brothers and sisters who walk among us in need of warm winter clothing and nourishing food. Your
clothing donations
can be placed on or around the Christmas tree in the narthex beginning this Sunday, and your
food donations
(which will be taken to the IFC) can be placed in the decorated boxes in the narthex.
|
Rescheduled for Dec. 19, 12:30 pm, Lounge
Anyone available for a hearty lunch and a wholesome program at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, December 19 is invited to Primetimers. This month, we will be treated to a holiday sing-along with Mike Davis and Caryl Price. Lunch from K&W is $9. Please RSVP to the office or sign up outside Dale’s door by Monday, December 17.
|
Christmas Eve Offering 2018
The Outreach Committee has recommended to the Church Council that the Christmas Eve offering be divided among three projects (to be voted on at the Council meeting on December 17): Fifty percent (50%) will go to
Binkley families in need
. Thirty percent (30%) will go to the
Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC)
to assist migrant laborers recovering from Hurricanes Florence and Michael. Migrant workers often do not have access to other hurricane relief funds. And twenty percent (20%) will go to
Wi’am Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center
, a grassroots civil society organization located at the Separation Wall. In Arabic, “
wi’am
” means “cordial relationships.” The Center reaches out to children and families in Bethlehem to provide a safe space for learning and playing, and varied educational and recreational activities including drama, music therapy. We believe it is fitting to support a peace-making organization for children in Bethlehem at Christmas.
Many thanks to all who nominated recipients. And please give as generously as your budget allows. These are all worthy projects.
|
Used Car Needed
A member of our church is looking to purchase a used car. Finances are tight. Contact
Dale Osborne
if you have any questions or a car to sell.
|
December Challenge
Have a Sustainable Christmas
Here are just a few ideas for a Sustainable Christmas:
- Give the gift of a story previously unknown to your family;
- Prepare some baked goods as a gift to friends and loved ones;
- Give to a charity and encourage other family members to do the same;
- Enjoy Christmas Day dinner minus the throwaways by taking your compostable leftovers to the outdoor compost bins at Binkley;
- Create your own unique wrapping paper from potentially discarded paper or other materials.
The next meeting of the Earth Ministries Team is Thursday, December 6 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the Church Library. Anyone feeling called to this ministry is invited to attend!
|
Click the links below for more information on each event.
IFC EVENTS
Donate a holiday meal to a family.
Interfaith Council (IFC) is conducting a capital campaign to build a new food services building in Carrboro where meals will be served and folks can pick up groceries. Click the link above to contribute.
|
Link your grocery store loyalty cards to BPS.
Here's how.
|
|
|
|
Church Office Hours
Mon.-Thurs.
8:30 am - 4 pm
Friday
8:30 am - 3 pm
|
Publication Deadlines
Submissions for the January Newsletter are due by:
December 17
Submissions for the weekly bulletin and Friday Update are due by:
Wednesday Noon
|
|
|
|
The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
