For the second straight year our Holy Week experience will be virtual; online and available for viewing o n both Facebook and YouTube platforms. It pleases me that the technology allows us to be present in familiar sacred space (on our screens) but, of course it isn't quite the same. Sanctuary worship with sisters and brothers, together, means we grieve and rejoice side by side. For 56 consecutive Sundays we have been apart; underscoring our various griefs.
On this Good Friday mournful grief is real and raw for many; adult children managing many tasks after the deaths of parents or siblings, brown skinned children at various locations along the Texas-Mexico borders separated from parents, spouses moving through a series of "first without" holidays, and losses left and right we all experience, such as isolation and absence of human touch.
The Spanish philosopher, Miguel Unamuno wrote in his classic The Tragic Sense of Life about what he called “the Common Weeping.” Here are his words: "I am convinced that we should solve many things if we went into the streets and uncovered our griefs, which perhaps would prove to be but one sole common grief, and joined together in beweeping them and crying aloud to the heavens and calling upon God.
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And this, even though God should hear us not; but would hear us. The chieftest sanctity of a temple is that it is a place to which people go to weep in common."
Common weeping on Good Friday recognizes the unjust brutality done to Jesus and the pain of the cross wakes us up to the pain of the world. Senseless acts of hateful violence, random as well as targeted, in too many American streets, leave us needing temples for common weeping.
Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it again, Jesus says. John adds
that Jesus was speaking of the temple of his body (John. 2:19ff). We await the next three days in hope that while weeping may linger for the night, joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:15).
I remember reading in the 7th or 8th grade Thornton Wilder's novel, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, a book that describes the search to understand the tragic sense of life after five people perish when a rope bridge collapses. The last line of the novel is an observation from the Abbess: "There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning, is love."
Love bridges all the spaces between us, from Good Friday to Easter...and beyond.
With much affection for you,
Marcus
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Children's Sunday School
9 am
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Watch this week's video (here) before joining us for a Zoom call at 9 am on Sunday. Contact Stephanie for more info.
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Faith After Doubt Book Study
9:30 am
More info:
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Our Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. Marcus McFaul, invites you to a Sunday school offering via Zoom each Sunday, Feb. 21-April 4. The class will focus on Brian McLaren's latest book, Faith After Doubt.
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Dial in: 669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 814 0966 2522
Passcode: 153964
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Mindful Parenting
9:45 am
More info:
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At each meeting, the group discusses ideas about parenting from current resources. The simple format includes prayer, brief check-in, summary of the book or article being shared, and a discussion of prepared questions. Novice and experienced parents and caregivers - all are welcome to share laughter, support, and hope in the journey of parenting. Megan and Miles Highsmith are co-facilitators. |
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Live Stream Worship
We will continue our interactive live stream worship experience on Facebook in the 11 o'clock hour. Tune in live to interact with friends in the comments, or watch later at your leisure. If you prefer not to watch on Facebook, you can view the service on YouTube beginning at noon.
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You will receive a link to the live stream around 8 am on Sunday morning. If you haven't already, please follow us on Facebook to get our notifications.
You do not need a Facebook account to view our live stream on Facebook on PCs or laptops. Here's a quick video for some tips. |
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Tending the Spirit on Good Friday |
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Here are a few more poems from Binkley friends for meditation this day.
In case you missed them:
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EASTER HOPE:
A Cross of Flowers & Supporting El Refugio
Saturday, April 3, 10-11:45 am
Binkley members and friends are invited to drop off monetary donations at Binkley’s main entrance in support of the El Refugio ministry, which helps men as they are released from Stewart Detention Center, outside of Lumpkin, Georgia.
We will also be celebrating the hope and promise of Easter by observing the Binkley tradition of decorating a cross with flowers.
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Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 4, 1 pm, Binkley Playground
Children, ages 2 to 11, are invited to meet at Binkley's Playground for an Easter Egg Hunt. Please wear masks and bring your own basket! Note: Previous publications have listed 1:30 pm as the start time. It has been changed to 1 pm.
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Drive Thru Food Drive
Monday, April 5, 10-11 am
As usual, your food contributions will be taken to the IFC Food pantry. Click here for the current list of needs (the IFC has pared down their needs list in light of their recent move).
Your monetary donations will go to The Jackson Center. The Center’s mission is to honor, renew, and build community in the historically Black neighborhoods of Northside, Pine Knolls, and Tin Top neighborhoods of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC. Click here to learn more.
We need volunteers to staff the drive thru and to take the donations to the IFC. This is a fast, easy, and fun volunteer opportunity and anyone can do it! Sign up here.
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Eco Drive-Thru Drop-Off
Monday, April 5, 10-11 am
Bring dead batteries, out of date medicine, packing peanuts and bubble packs, egg cartons and anything else you are having trouble finding a place to recycle to the church on Monday, April 5, between 10-11am (same time as the Food Drive) and Karin and Linda will take care of it.
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The Story of Holocaust Survivor,
Abe Piasek
Wednesday, April 7, 6:30 pm
We welcome Steve Goldberg, who will share the story of his good friend, Abe Piasek, a Holocaust survivor who lived in Raleigh. Steve met Abe when Steve was 50 and Abe, 90 -- and they took an unforgettable trip to the Holocaust Museum. Abe didn't tell his story for years, but began sharing it as a way to teach peace. Through Steve, we will experience the passion of this dear, gentle man who lived with love and good will. Steve strongly encourages participants to review this video and this document ahead of Wednesday Night. A link to the program will be sent on Wednesday.
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2021 Deacon Elections
It is time for Deacon Elections at Binkley! Nominations will be accepted for a two-week period, starting Friday, March 26th and ending at noon on Friday, April 9th.
Members are asked to follow this link and nominate up to 5 people, including self-nominations.
Click here to learn what it means to be a Deacon. We ask that all members prayerfully consider being called to be a Deacon. It is a two-year commitment with an option to serve a successive term. The only prerequisites are a minimum one year church membership and an open heart and a willingness to serve.
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Welcome to Binkley!
Inquirer’s Class
Sundays, April 11-25, 9:30 am
You are invited to join our next Inquirer’s Class if you are a recent new member, a prospective new member, or simply someone who wants to learn more about Binkley Church. Led by Marcus McFaul, the class will meet during the Sunday School hour over three weeks in April. Click here to register.
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Binkley Talks about Race
Monday, April 12, 2021, 7-8:30 pm
Speakers: Danita Mason-Hogans and Mike Ogle on “Racism and Chapel Hill" from the mid-20th Century to present. Topics will include the town's Civil Rights struggles, inequality experienced by Black residents, the myth of the "Southern Part of Heaven," and why we, as a town, need to re-examine what we have taken to be historical truths. Register here.
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CROP Walk 2021
April 18-25
- Week-long virtual event from Sunday April 18-April 25.
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Sign up or donate here.
- Contact your supporters and direct them to donate online via the link above, and promote the Walk on social media to increase support.
- Socially distant fund raising is encouraged.
- You can still walk! Just in a socially distanced, masked, very small group.
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Questions? Contact Karen Long or Sheryl Scrimsher.
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Weekly Black Lives Matter Vigil
Saturdays, 12 noon-1 pm
You are welcome to join members of the Binkley Community for our weekly vigil to remember and honor those who have lost their lives due to police brutality.
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Mondays with Marcus
Every Monday, 12-2 pm, Binkley Grounds
You're invited to meet one-on-one with Marcus on the Binkley grounds for fellowship, coffee, prayer, lunch—whatever you wish! 30-minute time slots are available from 12-2 each Monday afternoon. Sign up and get more details here.
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COVID-19 Update
Click here to get the latest on how Binkley is responding to the pandemic.
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Our Wider Community
Please consider donating to the IFC and supporting local businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Thursday, April 8, 1 pm
Join us via Zoom for a conversation on Clean Energy Opportunities in 2021 for North Carolina with Will Scott, Energy Policy Manager for the NC Conservation Network. Click here for more info.
Presented by Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle and Orange-Chatham Interfaith Care for Creation.
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Publication Deadlines
Submissions for the May
Newsletter are due by:
April 19
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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