The Binkley Weekly Update

September 4, 2026

From Our Executive Minister

Hello Binkley Family!

I was so blessed and pleased to participate in the big celebratory send off of our Pastor Marcus on Sunday and I hope you were too. It is clear that he has deeply loved this community and that the feeling was mutual! As we continue to process this end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one, please know that I'm here to sit with you, pray with you, and hold space for whatever you may be feeling. I am finding hope and joy in the ways the leadership and staff have come together to plan and lead in the interim and I hope you will feel that joy too.

This Sunday is a special day on our liturgical calendar called Creation Sunday, or as our high-churchy Anglican siblings call it, the Feast of Creation in Christ. Together we'll read through Genesis 1 and highlight God's blessing over creation, including us humans: "God saw that it was good." My sermon will be inspired by Matthew Fox's Original Blessing and explore the idea that before Eden's apple-eating incident we often call "Original Sin," God spoke beauty and blessing over us. The deepest truth of our humanity isn't our sinfulness, but our belovedness.

How can we live into this belovedness as we seek to be good stewards of the Earth as God's blessed creation? How can we learn to honor one another as image bearers of a Creator God? Come Sunday and we'll discuss.

Blessings,

Rev Kelsey

Transition Team Is Being Finalized

Thanks to the congregation’s strong nominations, the Transition Team will be finalized in the coming days and the church will be informed of its members as soon as possible. As shared last week, Jessica Stokes and Katie Cartmell are serving as Co‑Chairs of Binkley’s Transition Team, and they welcome conversations with our congregation. You may reach them at transition@binkleychurch.org.

Even if you are not serving on the Transition Team, your involvement in this process is valued and appreciated. There will be meaningful opportunities for engagement as the team collaborates to support our church staff and the wider congregation before the interim minister arrives.

The Transition Team’s primary focus is guiding the process of identifying and recommending an interim senior minister to serve Binkley during this period. The team will also be deeply involved in supporting staff, by addressing the overall needs of the church through delegation and collaboration.

Staying Connected

As we move through this transition together, we want every member of our community to feel included and heard. Jessica and Katie are now part of the transition@binkleychurch.org inbox, along with members of the Leadership Team, and they genuinely welcome your messages.

If you have questions, ideas, hopes, or concerns about this season in our church’s life, we encourage you to reach out. Your perspective strengthens our shared journey.

Please continue reading Together in Transition each week for updates as we move forward - faithfully and together.

The Binkley Leadership Team

Kelsey Vincent, Executive Minister

Alice Glover, Moderator

Alan Brown, Moderator‑Elect

Sue Wallace, Diaconate Chair

Roal Carlson, Diaconate Chair‑Elect

Transition Team

Jessica Stokes, Co‑Chair

Katie Cartmell, Co‑Chair

This Sunday at Binkley!

Join us for Coffee & Conversation @ 9:30 - 10:30 am across the hall from the kitchen at Binkley's coffee cafe, Gathering Grounds!

Children & Youth Activities

September 6:

Children:

Chapel @ 9

Worship @ 11

Youth:

Chapel @ 9

Worship @ 11

September 13:

Children:

Chapel @ 9

Worship with Children@ 11

Youth:

Chapel @ 9

Worship @ 11

Contact Claire Dillashaw for more information.

Name Tag Reminder

Please remember to wear your name tag on Sundays! If you need a new one, there is a sign up on the welcome desk, and Beth Ann with get it made by the following week.

Worship @ 11:00 am, In-Person & Livestream

VIEW THE 11 AM SERVICE ORDER

VIEW THE 11 AM SERVICE FROM HOME

SIGN THE FRIENDSHIP REGISTER

FIND US ON FACEBOOK LIVE

We will livestream the service at 11 am on our website, Facebook, and YouTube. You choose which platform works best for you. After the livestream has ended, you can view the service at your leisure on Facebook or YouTube.

The Binkley 411

FCMI connectors will meet in the Lounge on September 10, 4 pm to 5:30. Faith Connections on Mental Illness is the brainchild of our own Barbara Elder, who still nourishes and plans for this meaningful group.

The meeting will be an open but confidential discussion of workplace mental health. How much should one disclose to an employer about mental health issues? Is it ok to ask for a mental health day off from work? What resources are available to help an employee with a mental health succeed in today's working environment? How can our local faith communities help?

Anyone interested is welcome. There will be light refreshments, and a Zoom option will be available. Email vswallace@yahoo.com for the link that day.

A Summer of Contemplative Practices

You are invited to pause and participate in one or several of the events that compose Binkley’s Summer of Contemplative Practices. Included are worship services, workshops, art installations and individual opportunities to deepen the spiritual side of ourselves. All are meant to offer spaces where we can be intentional about our spiritual self-care, our beloved community’s self-care and to help build up our reserves for the lives of love, joy, justice, gratitude that God intends for each of us! Here are the current offerings (with more to come!). Additionalinformation about some of the practices can be found below this list.

Photography by Brooks de Wetter Smith: An exhibit in the Sanctuary

Saturday Morning Yoga: August 22nd -September 12th 10am

Sound Bath : September 26 12-2 Sanctuary

More to Come …

The Binkley Women’s Retreats are at a crossroads. Reflection, conversation and planning are needed around the question: Where do we go from here re: these beloved retreats? There are logistical questions: location, time of year, costs, the retreats’ place in the annual Binkley budget, retreat leadership. There are thematic questions: what brings Binkley women together for (or prevents them from) a weekend of community?

What retreat themes would Binkley women find helpful, educational, inspirational, spiritually nourishing?

Please consider becoming part of a Binkley Women’s Retreats Vision Team to explore the above questions. Whether a seasoned retreater, a one or two timer, or retreat curious, you are welcome to join in. If interested, contact Susan Rogers at susan@binkleychurch.org

919-597-8685, or Julianah Hicks, at julianah476@gmail.com 919-423-3500.

We have October dates available!

The Apartheid-Free Working Group presents:

Fragmentation, Separation and Erasure in Palestine

An Exhibit of Graphics and Photos produced by Visualizing Palestine

On loan from Voices for Justice in Palestine

Exhibit Opening and Reception for Binkley and the Triangle Community

Fellowship Hall

Saturday September 26, 2026 11:00 am. - 12:00 noon

Justice for All Vigil 12 noon -1:00 pm

Exhibit will be available ongoing during the fall.

Watch for further information about open hours.

5 Calls

Make your voice heard.

5 Calls is the easiest and most effective way for U.S. constituents to make a political impact.

For more information, and to start calling,

here is the website:

https://5calls.org/

Our Wider Community

Click the links for more information

Support Binkley Preschool

Click HERE to learn the various ways you can support Binkley preschool through linking loyalty cards, purchasing from specific merchants, and purchasing holiday greenery.