The Link

*Some email carriers clip long messages. If you are not able to see the Constant Contact logo at the bottom of this email, look for the button that will allow you to view the entire message.*

THE LINK

Vol. 67 No. 44 ✥ November 4, 2026

November 8, 2026 ❖ Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Lessons: Psalm 78:1-7; Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon: "Faithful Action"

God has entrusted us with doing what we can do. There is joy and purpose to be found in living to the very fullest of our abilities as we share in community, and there is something profoundly debilitating about having everything done for us. Each of us has a part to play, a responsibility to uphold, as we go about changing lives through our ministries at Lakeside. How are we responding to our call to be prepared, to share in the communal work?

Our Second Fall Sermon Series is “Changing Lives through Generosity.” We are called as a church not to simply exist in the world but to change it for the better. As we read along in the Gospel of Matthew, we see that we have been entrusted with a call to love one another, to serve one another, to give generously, to invest our gifts wisely, and to treat others with dignity. We will hear from our scriptures and each other about the ways we are called to change lives through our ministries.

Children's Anthem: "Rejoice in the Lord Always" - Tarner

Anthem: "Teach Me, O Lord, the Way of Thy Statutes" - Atwood

Worship is live on our homepage and YouTube channel at 11:00 a.m.,

but we love having you with us in the sanctuary!

Lakeside Involved Registration Form

Join Lakeside singers who are a part of the Tar River Chorus for this special concert celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary!

NOTICE OF ANNUAL CHURCH CONFERENCE

On Sunday, November 15, we will call ourselves into conference following worship to vote on our 2027 Ministry Plan and Deacon and Committee Nominees. More information about the ministry plan and nominees will come via email and printed copies will be available to pick up in the church office.

SECURITY POLICY TRAINING

If you were unable to make it to one of the previous training sessions, join us on Wednesday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m. in the Conference Room. The session will last about 45 minutes.

POINSETTIA ORDER FORM

It is time to place your order for poinsettias in the sanctuary during Advent. Each poinsettia is $17. You may place your order by clicking the button below or by completing a form and returning it to the church office no later than Sunday, November 15. Please include payment with your order. Forms will be available during worship on Sunday.

Order Poinsettias

Please remember the following persons who need our prayers and support:

The Lodge at Rocky Mount, 3322 Village Road (04)

Martha Bulluck, Room 207

Connie Griffin, Room 202

At Home:

Janice Bobbitt (Chuck Taylor's sister), 4204 Whitehurst Drive, Wilmington, NC 28409

Marie Butner (Angie Hunter's mother), Priddy Manor, 1294 Priddy Road, King, NC 27021

Robyn Edwards Chapman (Jeannette Pittman's cousin), 1481 Richardson Road, Apt. C406, Apex, NC 27523

Andrea Cuthrell, 3517 Mansfield Drive (03)

Doug Edwards, 4699 Moreland Drive, Battleboro, NC 27809

Mike Evans, 1151 Falls Road, Apt. 218 (04)

Michele Costa Foster, 105 Gloucester Court (03)

Wayne Cotton, 112 Sherwood Drive (04)

Charlotte Gilliam, 3794 Loblolly Drive (04)

Leland Goslen (Linda and Cameron Graham's great-nephew), 1021 Oakgate Court, Apex, NC 27502

Kathy Graves-Price (Jim Graves' sister), Durham, NC

Bill Haley (Will Haley's father), Gainesville, GA

Katie Hand, 4752 Honeysuckle Lane (04)

Bill Jones (Dorrie Wright’s brother)

Brian Lassiter, 104 Killian Court (04)

Caroline Martin (Ginny and Ricky Cobb's granddaughter), PO Box 253, Jackson, NC 27845

C. B. Morris, 1930 Northern Boulevard (04)

Grady Pittman, 313 Englewood Drive (04)

Jeannette Pittman, 313 Englewood Drive (04)

Billie Stallings, 404 Wildwood Avenue (03)

Kate Thomas (Jaye and James Biggs' granddaughter), 904 Shepard Street, Morehead City, NC 28557

Gus Tulloss, 209 Cobblestone Court (04)

Ziggy Zalzneck, 324 Piedmont Avenue (03)

Our Members at Home:

John Cappiello, Brookridge Retirement Community, 1199 Hayes Forest Dr., Room 534, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

Daisy Howell, The Landings of Rocky Mount Mills, 1365 River Drive, Room 512 (04)

Betsy Waters, 401 E. Rhode Island Avenue, Room 275, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Give Now

YOUTH NEWS

An important email about several upcoming events went out to all youth families this week. Please respond as soon as possible with your preferences for dates for the Christmas party, ski trip, and next summer's mission trip.

Last Sunday during Youth Fellowship, we began a Bible study series, based on the characters in the 2005 movie, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." As we focus on what it means to be good neighbors, it is important that we identify actions and attitudes that may prevent us from loving our neighbors as Jesus has called us to do. We invite you to watch the movie along with us. If you are interested in reading the scriptures that will guide our studies each week, let me know. I would be happy to share them by email.

I hope to see everyone on Saturday morning for Lakeside Involved and again on Sunday. Come and bring a friend!

Elizabeth

MUSIC NOTES

We are looking forward to welcoming both our Primary and Junior Children’s Choirs to worship this Sunday, November 8. Parents, please plan to have your children in the Music Suite by 10:15 a.m. to vest and then escort them to the Sanctuary for rehearsal.

Our Primary Children’s Choir comprises children in grades pre-K through first grade and is focused on instilling the fundamentals of quality musicianship through simple songs and musical activities. They will be aided this Sunday by our Junior Children’s Choir for second through fifth graders. Junior choristers focus on developing the fundamentals instilled in the Primary choir through the exploration of more advanced repertoire.

You will notice that our Primary Children’s Choir will begin the season vested in their cassocks only. Our new choir curriculum consists of levels through which the choristers move as they demonstrate an accurate knowledge of certain basics of musicianship and complete specific activities such as memorizing certain common prayers from our services of worship, such as the Lord’s Prayer. Rest assured that all of our Primary choristers are well on their way to earning their surplices at the end of this season!

Zack

CHILDREN'S CORNER

Be Thankful

Sometimes we take things for granted and we do not know how good we have it. Yes, we struggle and things are not always easily in life. We fail, we make mistakes and things do not always go our way. However, there is always someone who is struggling more and needs more love and care than us.

There are many people around the world, including the people in our community, who need our support. We will never fully understand what it is like to walk in their shoes, but what we can do is be thankful for what we have. We can give thanks to God for blessing us and use our blessings to give to others around us, whether that is financially, emotionally, or any other way we can.

We must be thankful in our happy times, but also during the times when we struggle. Let us learn to be thankful for things we do have and what is going well in our lives even when things are not going well. Change your attitude towards a mindset of gratitude and watch your outlook on life change for the better.

Jacob

TOPNOTCHERS NEWS

As we approach the season of Thanksgiving and remember the gifts God bestows on us, I am especially thankful for the gift of friendship. Every month I am amazed at the bonds that have

formed through Continuing the Communion lunches. It is a gift for us to be able to Continue the Communion over food, but the real gifts are the friendships formed through Jesus Christ.

Thanks to all who joined us for lunch last Sunday.

Our next Continue the Communion lunch will be held after worship at Mario’s Pizza on December 6. Everyone is invited to join us.

Dove Notes will resume meeting at 10:00 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Anyone

interested in being part of this ministry to send notes and cards to homebound members and friends on our prayer list is invited. If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to help with writing notes and cards, let me know. We'll even mail them for you!

Sue

HELP US KEEP OUR BUILDINGS SECURE!

As we update our security policies and training, we would like to get an accurate accounting of who has keys to our buildings. If you have a key that you need to keep for regular use, please let Liz in the church office know. If you have a key that you no longer need, please return it to the church office at your earliest convenience. Thank you for helping us to keep our church campus safe and our buildings secure.