For our indoor worship services, we ask people to register in advance. This is so we can keep a record of attendance in case the need arises for contact tracing. Currently, you may sign up for Sunday services through December 6th. Please click here to register.

If you prefer, you may watch services live at 10:00 on Sunday mornings or later on-demand. We have had some technical difficulties live-streaming our services in the past, but we have worked hard to correct the issues and the system has performed well the past two Sundays. Therefore, we are hopeful that this will be a good option going forward. To view services online, go to our website, www.outerbankspresbyterian.org, look for the "Media" tab across the top of the page, and click on "Watch Services."

           Joel Gregory notes that the Masai tribe in West Africa has an unusual way of saying thank-you. Translators tell us that when the Masai express thanks, they bow, put their foreheads on the ground, and say, “My head is in the dirt.”

           When members of another African tribe want to express gratitude, they sit for a long time in front of the hut of the person who did the favor and literally say, “I sit on the ground before you.” These people understand well what thanksgiving is and why it can be difficult for us. At its core, thanksgiving is an act of humility. It is an acknowledgement that we have benefited from others’ kindness and sacrifices.

           Many years around Thanksgiving, here at Outer Banks Presbyterian Church, we have used a litany of Thanksgiving in worship as a way for us to express together the many reasons that we have to give thanks to God. I invite you to read this litany and ask yourself, for what am I grateful this year? Thanksgiving is a little different this year: some of our celebrations will need to change, but there are still reasons to thank God. I have found that remembering the reasons I have to be grateful keeps me spiritually healthy.

Litany of Thanksgiving:

One: Give thanks to the Lord who is good.

One: Come, let us praise God joyfully!

One: For the good world; for things great and small, beautiful and awesome; for seen and unseen splendors.

One: For human life; for talking and moving and thinking together; for common hopes and hardships shared from birth until our dying.

One: For work to do and strength to work; for the comradeship of labor; for exchanges of good humor and encouragement.

One: For marriage; for the mystery and joy of flesh made one; for mutual forgiveness and burdens shared; for secrets kept in love.

One: For family; for living together and eating together; for family amusements and family pleasures.

One: For children; for their energy and curiosity; for their brave play and startling frankness.

One: For the young; for their high hopes; for their irreverence toward worn-out values; for their search for freedom; for their solemn vows.

One: For growing up and growing old; for wisdom deepened by experience; for rest in leisure; and for time made precious by its passing.

One: For your help in times of doubt and sorrow; for healing our ills; for preserving us in temptation and danger.

One: For the community into which we have been called and for our life together.

One: For your Spirit who guides our steps and brings us gifts of faith and love; who prays in us and prompts our grateful worship.

One: We praise and thank you, Eternal God, for all your goodness to us.

           We indeed give thanks to the Lord, who is good. Amidst the hardships all around us, may we remember to give thanks to God this Thanksgiving.

For those traveling back to their home state or out of state to gather with family and friends, knowing whether you are carrying the COVID-19 virus is vitally important. That’s why the Outer Banks Medical Group now offers COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic individuals (those who do not have COVID-19 symptoms) at the Outer Banks Testing Center in Nags Head. 

The booklet will be available in the Gathering Space beginning Sunday, November 22^nd. If you would prefer to have a copy mailed to you please contact Cathie in the church office.

As we approach the season of advent, we have prepared a Scripture-based advent journal to help you center yourself spiritually. It also has some suggested prayer and spiritual practices that we hope will help you experience God's mysterious presence in this season of preparation for the coming of the Light. To download the journal, click here.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has prepared a new interactive Advent study series using award winning documentary resources!

For access to the videos and study guide, please click here.

COVID-19 Question:  Where is COVID19 spreading and how do we plan safely for Thanksgiving?

Levels of Risk in order from Lowest to Low include: Going to a State Park, Getting Gas, Browsing at a Grocery Store, Taking a Walk, Hiking (Avoid Bathrooms or Gatherings), Staying at a Hotel, Taking Kids to the Playground, Attending a Farmer’s Market, Walking through Downtown, Going to an Art Museum, Waiting in a Doctor’s Office, or Visiting a Library;

Levels in order at Medium to High Risk include: Attending an In-Door Baby Shower, Shopping at a Retail Store, Hosting a Cookout, Working in an Office, Going Swimming, Going to School, Going on a Trip with Friends, Having Dinner at a Friend’s House, Going to a Wedding, Going on an Airplane, Hugging a Friend, Waiting in line for To-Go Food, Eating Dinner at a Restaurant, Getting a Haircut, or Playing Team Sports;

Levels in order at Higher to Highest Risk include: Getting Nails Done, Going to a Gym, Going to a Theme Park, Eating at a Buffet, Visiting a Local Bar, Going to Church, Attending a Sporting Event, or Hanging with a Sick Person. It doesn’t seem fair that “going to church” ranks at 33 of 35 highest risk, but these are the data. So, Thanks for worshiping safely!

As we anticipate this Thanksgiving, here are some tips from Charlie Brown! Stay out of the kitchen, clean your hands often, sit 6 feet apart, and be outdoors! 

A fundraiser is being held for Dare County's faith-based homeless shelter on Sunday, December 6th. "Lunch to Go" is being provided by Kelly's Catering. You may choose meatloaf or seafood jambalaya with Kelly's famous sweet potato biscuits. Tickets are $20.00 and may be purchased in advance by calling Mike at 252-255-1133 or Gail at 252-207-8820 or online at obxroomintheinn.org. If you are at church, you may also purchase tickets from Linda Campbell or Tanta Luckhardt-Hendricks.

Pick-up is on December 6th between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at 1004 9th Avenue in Kill Devil Hills. (Take Landing Street, near the corner of the OBX Shipping Center, and turn right on 9th Avenue.)

The Adult Sunday School Class continues its study of Comparative Religion. We are using the book 12 Major World Religions by Jason Boyett. For the next several weeks we will be concentrating on the history of the Church:

We will continue to meet via ZOOM on Sunday morning at 8:30. Zoom invitations will be sent out to the class mailing list on Friday mornings and will be posted on the Church Facebook page. A link to a video of each class is available to our e-mail list and by request. Please join us when you can! All are welcome! Tom Carrico

If you cannot imagine what it was like to be here 100 years ago, ask Warren Davis. He was born December 16, 1920 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Percy and Cora Davis.

He has accomplished much during his 100 years. He retired from Gulf Oil Corporation in 1983 as Chief Economist in the Department of Corporate Planning. He and his wife Jane moved to the Outer Banks shortly after that. They built their dream home and soon became stalwart members of the community.

Over the years, Warren has served on the Southern Shores Civic Association in a number of capacities; volunteering for the US Fish and Wildlife Service from 1983-2020, and serving as treasurer of Outer Banks Hotline from 1992-2016. In addition, he is active in his church, Outer Banks Presbyterian, and has served as an elder on the Board of Trustees and as Sunday School Superintendent, tutored students in math and English, and served on the Outer Banks Forum as Director and Treasurer. He has forayed into such activities as hang gliding, scuba diving, tennis, golf, sailing, square dancing, and loves to do crossword puzzles, watch NFL football, and watch his favorite reruns on TV.

Warren married Susan Lawrence in 1998, nine years after Jane died. After Susan died, he became close friends with Peggy Foster. He is the father of 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren, not to mention the many dogs he has had over the years. The present love of his life is his rescue dog Ness.

Warren’s strengths are his calm self-confidence, his wit and sense of humor, and his moral convictions. He values honesty and integrity and is open to others’ opinions. His faith is an important part of his life. His needs have always been simple. He does not need a fancy house, or big boats, or expensive cars to make him happy. He would rather focus on doing something to making the world a better place and caring for those he loves best. He is well respected among family and friends alike.

Email: office@outerbankspresbyterian.org

Website: www.outerbankspresbyterian.org

You may reach office staff at 252-441-5897 or by sending an email to office@outerbanksbrebyterian.org