November 16, 2018
This Sunday at Binkley
November 18, 2018
Children's Sabbath
Morning Celebration
9:00 am, Lounge

Sunday School
9:30 am


 Worship
11:00 am, Sanctuary
Stephanie Ford preaching
Alternative Gifts Fair
Post-worship, Fellowship Hall

Youth Choir
5:00 pm, Choir Room

Youth Group/Family Game Night
6:00 pm, Sunroom/Lounge
From Our Campus Ministry Coordinator
I am so glad to announce that we will be holding our first campus ministry event very soon! All undergraduate and graduate students are invited to come out to Movie Night on Friday, November 30 th at 5:30PM. We will begin by gathering at the church to introduce ourselves before heading to a nearby restaurant for dinner. From the restaurant we will walk to Silverspot Theatre for their 7:20PM showing of Boy Erased.
Boy Erased is based around Garrard Conley’s 2016 memoir by the same name that details his
experience as a conservative Southern Baptist youth amid the horrors of gay conversion therapy. It ultimately looks toward his liberation from homophobia and into affirmation of his sexual identity. While I have not yet read the book, I heard an interview with Conley a couple of years ago. From what I heard, his story is deeply moving. A generous amount of money has been donated to cover the cost of tickets. That money may run out, though, so all interested students are encouraged to RSVP quickly. Students are also encouraged to invite any friends who may be interested. As usual, I can be reached by email at austin@binkleychurch.org. I wish you all a lovely Thanksgiving.
Grace, Austin
Stewardship Update
As of November 16, we have received 93 pledges totaling $455,591. This represents 61.7% of our 2019 Pledge Goal of $738,327. If you have already pledged, THANK YOU! If you have yet to make your pledge for 2019, you may complete one and return to the church office or place it in the offering plate during worship. You can also email your pledge to Duane Gilbert . For all of us there will be many opportunities throughout the year to continue cultivating our time, talent and treasure. Thank you for giving and prayerfully supporting Christ’s ministry at Binkley.  
The Binkley 411
Priority: What's Yours?
Be sure to be at the congregation-wide gathering on Saturday morning, November 17 to finalize priorities among the strategies/actions proposed for Binkley’s focus into 2020. We’ll meet in the Fellowship hall from 10:00 to noon to discuss and select top priorities from among the many strategies suggested for how Binkley can fulfill its mission for the next year and a half. Please join us and make your choices known. Child care will be provided.


Correction:
In the earlier message from the Leadership Team regarding the Saturday congregational gathering, I incorrectly listed starting time as 10:30. The correct time is 10:00 until noon.
Hope to see you there,
Sonnie VanSant, Moderator
Adult Sunday School
This Sunday morning, November 18, 9:30-10:30 am, join 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, Steve Jernigan facilitates the conversation.

The Bible and The New York Times , Sunroom: Marcus is leading a discussion of an article by Diana Butler Bass on the topic of gratitude.

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 Mark 13:1-8.

It’s Not Just One Way , Room 15: Each week in this class, an individual or couple shares their spiritual journey with the group. These stories are shared with loving respect for each one’s understanding of God, the Universe, Higher Power, or however that connection to the More is seen. Cate Alexander, Tracy Berger, and Joel & Lucy VanderKamp share facilitation.

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.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Post-worship, Fellowship Hall
The AGF is an opportunity for you to learn, share, and support a compassionate and joyful community through your Christmas gift-giving. Non-profit groups from Chapel Hill and the surrounding area are invited to fill the fellowship hall with information and opportunities for your alternative Christmas shopping.   Some of the participants this year are Josh’s Hope, the IFC, Orange County DSS, Church World Service, Habitat, Jamhked, Heifer, Sanctuary Movement, Coalition for Peace and Justice and Hope Flowers School, Orange/Alamance Prison Ministry, CEF, Binkley Preschool, Eyes Ears Nose and Paws.
Come with your checkbooks and come with good cheer.   There will be free food!

 
Pupusas!!  The Sanctuary table at the Alternative Gifts Fair will be taking orders for pupusas made by Rosa who is in sanctuary at Church of Reconciliation. A pupusas is a gluten free Honduran delicacy of a corn meal pancake filled with meat or cheese and served with a special sauce and slaw.Available flavors: pork & cheese, bean & cheese, spinach & cheese, cheese. There is a suggested $2.50 donation for each pupusa. Ashley Nissler will deliver pupusas on a Sunday after the AGF. Donations will go to help Rosa support her family. 
Men of Binkley
On  Saturday morning December 1 , we have reserved the community room of the  Egg & I  ( 1101 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 ) from 8:00 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. for breakfast, fellowship and a short, but interesting program related to relief services for families along the Mexican border with the United States. Dutch treat.

All Men of Binkley and friends are welcome. It is not at all required, but if you plan to attend, drop one of us an email note.

Co-Chairs, Men of Binkley
Poinsettias
It is time to order poinsettias to fill the Sanctuary for the Advent season. Poinsettias are $10 each; this cost also goes toward other wreaths and greenery purchased for Advent. A Memorial/Gratitude booklet will be published in worship on December 9. There will be order forms in your bulletins on 11/18, 11/25, and 12/2, or you may submit your order electronically using this form .
and Christmas Crafts
Sunday, December 2, 3 pm
Don’t forget to put Binkley’s annual Hanging of the Greens with Christmas Crafts on your calendar. In a festive atmosphere, children of all ages enjoy the opportunity to make five crafts, decorate cookies (and eat a few) and sip hot cider. There is also the opportunity to wrap Moravian candles for the Lovefeast and to decorate the Crismon tree. There will be a brief time of Vespers at 5 pm with a chili supper to follow at 5:30. Teen and adults are invited to volunteer; crafts are easy to lead, and cookie decorating is delightful. Please contact  Caryl Fulcher  or  Stephanie Ford . If you would like to contribute chili or cornbread, please contact Jim Wise .
Christmas Eve Offering Nominations
The Outreach Committee requests nominations from the congregation for possible recipient(s) of the offering taken at the Christmas Eve service.    Please send your nominations to Karen Long (Outreach Chair) , by Friday, December 7, 2018 . Please include the name of your nominated recipient as well information about its mission or needs.  The Outreach Committee will meet and choose the recipient(s), which will be announced to the congregation by mid-December.
Message from the Minister of Music Search Committee
The Minister of Music Search Committee was unanimously approved by the Church Council in September and held its first meeting on October 1. Members are: Emily Brewer, Roal Carlson, Martha Green, Anne Huffman (Chair), Ellen Stutts, and Jim Wise. While it is our hope that we will be able to conclude the search process shortly after the first of the year, we will take the time to identify the right person for the position.

We are committed to utilizing a process that is transparent and invites congregational input and participation. We are underway and are following the process outline below:

  • Finalize posting and advertise job. (View posting here).
  • Invite congregational input (see below).
  • Review resumes.
  • Develop interview questions.
  • Conduct phone screens.
  • Identify finalists.
  • Schedule and conduct in-person interviews (with Search Committee and Ministerial Staff). Interview process includes an audition and choir rehearsal with involvement of choirs (chancel, youth and children), OTGB, etc. Candidates also will be invited to attend a worship service during the weekend of their interview/audition.
  • Review feedback from interviews/auditions to identify top candidate.
  • Contact references.
  • Seek approval by Senior Minister and Church Council.
  • Work with HR Committee to determine starting salary.
  • Make offer contingent upon successful background check.

In addition to the job posting, the Committee members also suggested that ideal candidates be: enthusiastic, friendly, and outgoing; willing to be “the face” of the music ministry; organized and dependable; embracing of feeling in addition to technique in choral work; open to new ideas and forms of worship; committed to gender inclusive language in choral music; and able to effectively integrate music with lectionary. If you have additional qualities you want to see in the Minister of Music, please email them to: musicsearch@binkleychurch.org .

The Committee appreciates your prayerful support of our efforts.

Anne Huffman, Chair – Minister of Music Search Committee
November Challenge
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Earth
The Earth Ministries Committee is very thankful to be in a congregation practices stewardship of the Earth as an expression of love and gratitude to the Creator, Spirit, and God of our universe. As an expression of gratitude, the November Challenge is for people of all ages at Binkley to write 'A Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Earth' and to share it with us. It can be long or short, a poem or narrative or even written as a song. With your permission we will post in to a link on the Binkley website and/or on poster board in the Fellowship Hall. We encourage you to read your prayer to those gathered around you on Thanksgiving Day.
Charles, Buck, Linda, Karin, and Stephanie
We welcome others who feel called to become active with the Earth Ministries Team.
Firewood available
Grounds committee recently had to remove a dying white oak tree. The wood has been split and stacked near the dumpster. Some of the wood was sold at the pumpkin patch sales but much remains. If anyone would like to take some wood, please do so before thanksgiving. After that the wood will be given away to those needing firewood in the community. The wood is free but a donation to Binkley’s Landscape Discretionary Fund is always a welcomed option! Any questions-contact Janet O'Neal .
Our Wider Community
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.
Revised November 2016
Church Office Hours

Mon.-Thurs.
8:30 am - 4 pm

Friday
8:30 am - 3 pm
Publication Deadlines

Submissions for the December Newsletter are due by:

November 19

Submissions for the weekly bulletin and Friday Update are due by:

Wednesday Noon
The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church
 | 919.942.4964 | office@binkleychurch.org | binkleychurch.org