Calendar
Sunday, Dec. 12
Prayer for Mission Partners (3 p.m.) and Congo (6:30 p.m.) | Zoom (link on CCB)
From Cape Town to Amsterdam. From Tonga to Kyrgyzstan. From Blacknall to Beni and lots of places in between! We are invited to gather to pray for our Blacknall-supported missionaries. Come participate in what God is doing in our world! Contact: Dave Dunderdale. Please note earlier time for mission partners prayer due to the Community Carol Sing.
Community Carol Sing | 4:45- 6 p.m. | Outdoors under the Oaks (714 Iredell)
Join us for a festive evening of outdoor fellowship while we sing our way through a collection of beloved Christmas carols. Enjoy prelude music from our friends at High Strung Violins & Guitars starting at 4:45. Bring a chair, dress for the weather and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa as we raise our voices to the birth of our Savior!
Sunday, Dec. 19
Folk Service of Lessons & Carols | 8:30 and 11 a.m. | Sanctuary and Livestream
A special Sunday worship service where we travel together through the epic story of the incarnation via scripture and song.
Worship on the Longest Night | 6:45 p.m. | Sanctuary and Livestream
A contemplative service pointing to hope in the midst of sorrow and suffering. Prelude music by Silver Strings Harps. Limited childcare for ages four and under is available.
Friday, Dec. 24
Outdoor Christmas Eve Service | 11 a.m. | Under the Oaks (714 Iredell St.)
In an effort for all ages to explore the incarnation, we’re continuing the new tradition we started in 2019 and again offering a 45-minute service at 11 a.m. It’s open to all and we hope it will be particularly inviting to families with younger children. No childcare provided so that we have lots of youthful and joyful singing as we worship together!
Sanctuary Christmas Eve Services | 5 & 7 p.m. (5 p.m. service will be livestreamed)
Join us for caroling, communion and candlelight to welcome the newborn King. Limited childcare for ages four and under is available at the 5 p.m. service.
Sunday, Dec. 26
Worship at 8:30 and 11 a.m. No childcare, children’s church or Sunday School.
Sunday, Jan. 2
Worship at 8:30 and 11 a.m. No childcare, children’s church or Sunday School.
Announcements
Welcome Pastor Mark!
Get to know our Interim Pastor, Mark Hutton, by watching this video interview. Mark can be reached by email at mhutton@blacknall.org.
Welcome New Members!
Please welcome our new members Matt & Stephanie Brennan, Jim & Sandra Hagood, Allie Hargrove, David & Judy Mitchell, Mary Elise Nolen, Kaitlyn Schiess, and Rob & Jennifer Witman.
Advent at Blacknall
View the full calendar of ways we will gather together this Advent season to wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior. Pick up this year’s Advent Devotional at church or download a copy for printing at home or viewing on your device. Listen to our Advent Spotify Playlist, full of songs to accompany you during your Adventian journey to Bethlehem.
Registration is open for Lessons & Carols, Worship on the Longest Night and Christmas Eve
Links are published on our Registration page. Please register your family and any anticipated guests. Limited childcare is available for Worship on the Longest Night and Christmas Eve (5 p.m. service only).
Angel Tree
We’ve extended the Angel Tree through this Thursday, Dec. 16 as there are more “Angels” available (Walmart Gift Cards for Walltown Neighborhood Ministry). Gifts may be brought to the church today through 5 p.m., to the church office during business hours (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) Monday-Thursday, or contact Anne Paulson (919.812.6208) to make arrangements.
Community Announcements
Abundant Joy Center for Women's Ministries
Abundant Joy CWM serves women who are experiencing a difficult time. Our services are free and confidential and include one-on-one counseling to women 18 and over, support groups, and Bible study groups. We are offering the following groups in the Winter of 2022. Women can register for a group at abundantjoycwm@gmail.com. or call 919-943-0789 for more information.
Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin on Tuesday morning 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., January 18 - March 15.
Prayer Group for Mothers of Adult Children on the first and third Wednesday afternoon of the month 1-2:30 p.m., February 2 - April 13.
Basic Peer Counseling Training will be offered for anyone interested in volunteering as a peer counselor or group facilitator. An application will need to be completed as well as an interview with Priscilla, the Center Director, before taking this class. The class will be offered on Thursday morning 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., February 3 - April 21.
Prayer
Durham—We pray for the ministry of Kairos Prison Ministry and for our own Ken Woods-Henderson who helps to lead this ministry in our area. They are still waiting for the prison to reopen to outside groups and pray that this door will open again soon. Ken shares, “Since ‘Kairos’ means ‘God’s special time’ we’ll just need to trust His timing on this, and in the meantime pray for Covid relief and for the men inside hungry for a word of hope.”
Campus & National—We pray for Steve & Christi Hinkle, on staff with InterVarsity as Regional Director for Graduate Student and Faculty Ministries across the region of Virginia and the Carolinas. These ministries have emerged from the strict virus restrictions over the last 6 months. Steve shares: “Praise God that we have internationals back on campus at UNC, NCSU, and Old Dominion. There has been a wonderful influx of African grad students, many of whom are mature believers who can offer leadership in the ministries to internationals. Pray particularly for Emmanuel Ambane, our staff serving internationals at ODU. Emmanuel is from Cameroon and is giving national leadership in reaching African students. Locally, our outreach to faculty at Duke (and at the other Triangle schools) has included some wonderful opportunities to engage with non-Christian faculty. Pray for wisdom as we extend the love of Christ among faculty and as we call believing faculty to live out their faith more publicly. Personally, I'd appreciate prayer as I continue to pursue healing from an autoimmune disease that hit right before Covid.”
International—We pray for Blacknall global workers Jonathan & Rocio Mikes (children Sarah and Daniel) with United World Mission in Charlotte, NC. Jonathan serves as Director of Global Ministry, overseeing regional leaders in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. Jonathan is originally from Iowa and is a graduate of Duke University (B.A.), Gordon-Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), and Fuller Seminary (Th.M.). Previously he served a total of 16 years in Mexico City in a variety of roles–Lead Pastor for La Fuente Church, Regional Leader for UWM, Board Chair for BridgeWay North American School, as well as on the leadership team for the Spearhead (now Avance) program. Rocio is originally from Mexico City, where she earned a degree in optometry and started a series of small optical stores before starting a family. She served actively in the launch and growth of both La Fuente Church and BridgeWay North American School and has a passion for children’s ministry. Requested prayers: (1) Jonathan’s role as Director of Global Ministries and his oversight of work in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America; (2) La Fuente Church and BridgeWay School to shine brightly for Christ and to gain momentum, as Mexico emerges slowly from the pandemic; (3) the establishment of good relationships with people in their church and community.
Griefs
We grieve the death and give thanks for the life of Jo Oldham. We pray for her children, Philip and Valerie and their families. A memorial service will be scheduled for late January.
We pray for Martha Gore on the death of her sister on Dec. 1.
We pray for Heidi & Ray Hackney on the death of Heidi’s mother.
We pray for the family of Margaret Scearce, a longtime member of Blacknall, who died Nov. 21.
We pray for David & Cindy Chapman and Hise & Scarlett Chapman on the death of David and Hise’s mother on Nov. 12.
We pray for those who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus.
Joys
We rejoice with our friends at Reality Ministries at the joyful celebration of Christ’s birth at their Live Manger Scene last Friday.
Concerns
We pray for Bethany & Noe Kasali in Beni, DRC, who are expecting their new baby to arrive any day now. Pray for a safe delivery for Bethany and the baby.
World
We continue to pray for the release of the 12 missionaries and their driver in Haiti. We thank God for the release of 3 more of these hostages. We pray for a cessation of the violence and chaos in Haiti.
We continue to pray for Mikail, our Afghan neighbor who was able to get out of Afghanistan last week but was unable to bring his wife and 6 children with him. Pray for good favor with the U.S. government that his wife and children would be able to receive visas so that they can join him here in Durham. Pray for safety for his family while they remain in Afghanistan.
Life Together
We pray for our Community Carol Sing this evening, that we would invite neighbors and friends and it would be a joyful preparation for Christmas.
We pray for Brad Turnage and Tanya Kronstad as they work with our High School and Middle School students. Pray for wisdom for Brad as he prepares for Confirmation beginning in January and for both of them as they prepare for next semester. Pray for mutual encouragement between them and our wonderful volunteer youth leaders.
We pray for our continued searches for a Communications & Program Coordinator and a Choir Director.