E-News

Sending of Puerto Rico Mission Volunteers | This Sunday, May 3, we will hold a special sending for our short-term volunteers who will be traveling to Puerto Rico from May 9–16: Sharon Brooks, Dan Heuser, Beverly Hudgins and Anna Voelker. During worship, we will pray for the team and commend them as they go out to help local LCMS missionaries with repairs and maintenance, support local ministries and mission activities, and build relationships both with our missionaries and with the people they serve. 

We invite you to keep these volunteers in your prayers in the days ahead—both as they prepare and throughout their time in Puerto Rico. May God guide their work, strengthen their faith, and use their service to share Christ’s love.

May Intentional Invite Postponed to May 16

Due to projected rain (and to avoid soggy sandwiches), Grace's Picnic in the Park monthly intentional invite initiative has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 16. Consider who it is God is calling you to invite and let them know of the new time as we look forward to enjoying time together outdoors.

May Farmers Market

Parking Lot Landscape Update | Dan Heuser, Mark Williams, and crew have been hard at work preparing the soil in the parking lot island for new planting. We’re also working to reconnect water access so the team won’t need to rely on long hoses to keep everything watered.

If you’re available to help spread mulch later this week, please reach out to Dan at danielheuser8@gmail.com.

What’s coming next:

• Mulching the bed to keep it tidy and reduce weeds.
• Planting three fringe trees and installing watering bags.
• Sowing grass and perennial seeds, with planting planned for early June once water access is restored.

Thank you for your patience as this project moves forward. The goal is to create low-maintenance landscaping around our campus, and this work is an important step toward that.

Second Session of ESL Classes Begin May 19 | A new seven-week Beginner English Class will take place Tuesday evenings at 7pm from May 19 - June 30, 2026. This ministry is an amazing opportunity to welcome and get to know our neighbors. Please help us by praying for this ministry and spreading the word! Click here for the link on how to register.

Thank You | My heart-felt thanks to the Young Adults and H-C PALS for my Easter basket. And to Scott Gesell for delivery. May you be blessed with the joy of Christ’s peace!

~Mary Farrell

Congratulations Duke Lutheran Graduates! | On Sunday, April 19, the Duke Lutherans celebrated our joyful year-end tradition of worshipping in Duke Gardens and blessing our graduates and wishing them Godspeed. Please join me in praying for our graduates in this time of transition, that God will guide their steps and give them wisdom.

I’m grateful as ever for the myriad ways you support and love our students. Thank you for serving as our beloved partner congregations together with St. Paul’s and for making it possible for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Duke to reflect Christ’s light, grace, and hope on campus, in Durham, and beyond. We are so blessed to share in life together with you!

Click here to read the full letter.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Amanda Highben

-Small Groups-

Choir: Contact: Erin Hodge

Contact Erin for rehearsal dates and times.

Family Pals

Contact: Donna Walston

Meets Sunday, May 17 at 9am

Farmers Market

Contact: Dan Heuser

May Market: May 9 from 1pm-4pm

Home-Centered Ministry

Contact: Barb Tippin

Next Meeting: Wed, May 20 at 12:45pm

Learn more about the H-C PALS Group here.

LWML Quilting

Contact: Kathy Pittman

Meets Wednesdays at 10am

Stephen Ministry

Contact: Barb Tippin or Joe Wethman

Learn more about Stephen Ministry here.

Young Adults

Contact Emma Pollard or Hunter Garrison

Sundays at 3pm

Zoom Book Club

Contact Donna Gesell for more information and for the Zoom link.

Upcoming Books:

May: Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

June/Summer: The Correspondent by Virginia Evan’s

-Upcoming Events-

5/3 - See Sunday listing above

5/4 - 11:30am - Pastor's Brown Bag Lunch

5/5 - 4pm - Growing Through Grief - St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1200 W. Cornwallis

5/6 - 10am - LWML Quilting

12pm - Noon Prayer Service

6:30pm - Choir Rehearsal

5/9 - 1pm-4pm - Farmers' Market

5/9 - 5/16 - Puerto Rico Mission Trip

5/16 - 11am - NEW DATE! Picnic in the Park: May Intentional Invite

5/31 - Following Worship - Voters' Meeting

Click here for the church calendar.

Click on the image above for more information.

-From the Church Office-

All articles for the weekly e-news should be sent to the church office no later than the Wednesday prior to the Thursday mailing. This form may also be used to submit articles.

May Baptisms, Birthdays, and Anniversaries

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