November Newsletter

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View the newsletter here

In this month’s edition:

  • Pastor’s letter from Allan Poole on cultivating gratitude in a culture of critics.

  • Holiday Hospitality opportunities with International Students, Inc.

  • “A Mother-in-law’s Prayer” - Ali Shoenfelt’s journey from a teenager who had angrily walked away from God after losing her father, to a woman who seeks our Father’s voice and tries to follow him.

  • “Passing the Peas with Jesus” - A glimpse into Noreen Naiman’s thoughts on a Tuesday as she prepares dinner for Pass the Peas with Reality Ministries.

  • Upcoming special mission offering for homelessness.

  • Update from session on the new parental leave policy and Future Vision Fund allocations.

Marriage Course Party

Thursday, Nov. 15, 6-8:30 p.m., Blacknall Fellowship Hall (1902 Perry St., Durham)

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Interested?

Click here to learn more about the course.

Enjoy a delicious dinner, learn how to build a strong marriage, and hear from couples who have taken the Marriage Course. Blacknall’s next course will be offered Thursdays, Jan. 17- March 7, 2019, those interested may sign up at the party.

Have friends who could benefit? Invite them for a course preview- they do not need to attend Blacknall. Engaged, co-habiting, co-parenting, and separated couples are all welcome to take the course.

RSVP here by Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Questions? Contact Ali Shoenfelt (ali@blacknall.org).

Urbana Conference Scholarship

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December 27-31, 2018 | St. Louis, MO

Conference Registration

Scholarship Application

Blacknall offers tuition scholarships to all members/attenders who apply to attend Urbana Mission Conference. Special consideration is given to seniors in High School or students attending colleges away from Durham.

Blacknall is also offering scholarships to students interested in a short term 1-2 month mission next summer. For more information, contact David Dunderdale.

Hurricane Relief

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Providing Needed Items

Our friends at Walltown Neighborhood Ministries have invited us to join them in reaching out to victims of Hurricane Florence and needy families locally here in Durham. Please pick up a form from the Lower Atrium for one of our “neighbors” and their specific need. We are asked to contribute the following items to be collected by Saturday, Oct. 27. Bring your boxed and labeled items to Blacknall by Thursday, Oct. 25, and we will deliver them to St. John’s.

Items:

  • Case of Bottled Water

  • Cleaning Supplies: 5-gallon bucket from Home Depot and Clorox, gloves, Pine-Sol, Windex, sponges, Mr. Clean sponges, paper towels, gloves, duct tape, face masks, trash bags, insect repellent, disinfectant wipes, and rubber gloves.

  • Christmas Gift Cards for Children and Disabled Seniors: Visa, Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Target and Sears

  • Personal Items: lotion, soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, isopropyl alcohol, Vaseline, shampoo, conditioner, washcloths, towels

  • Food & Supplies Gift Cards: Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Dollar Tree, Food Lion, Costco, or Sam’s Club

Please label all boxes (example: Female Teen Care Package and Christmas Gift card) and include a note of encouragement.

Repairing Homes

Blacknall is joining with Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity on Saturday November 3 to "muck out" houses damaged by the hurricane(s). We will carpool, leaving Blacknall around 5:30 a.m., work 8-2 p.m., and then drive home. Sign up here. Can't go Nov. 3? Grab your small group, Sunday school, or just a couple friends and pick another day to go. Sign up here.  Contact: Rick Copland or Bob Leslie.

Festival of the Bean

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Sunday, Oct. 14, 3:30-7pm | Camp Chestnut Ridge, Efland, NC

Please join us for our 12th Annual Festival of the Bean fall picnic and chili cook-off. Come and enjoy good food, good fellowship, hayrides, games, and s'mores 'round the campfire. If you plan to enter your chili for competition (& we hope you do!), please bring by it 4 p.m. in a crockpot along with a ladle for serving and any condiments specific to your chili. Be sure to give your chili a fantastic name (names should not indicate who made it).The competition categories are Traditional, Vegetarian & Spicy, and the overall winner will be declared Lord or Lady of the Bean.If you are not bringing chili, please bring cornbread or some other side dish to share. 

SCHEDULE
  3:30 - Festival begins, check in chili for competition
  4:00 - Cut-off time for entering chili for the judging
  4:15 - 4:45 - Chili tasting and judging
  4:00 - 6:00 - Hayrides & games
  5:00 - Baptism of Sam Yin
  5:15-6:00 - Dinner & 'smores at the fire pit 
  6:15 - Announcement of the winning chili (Lord or Lady of the Bean)
  6:30 - Clean up 

Questions? Contact Stefanie Tokiyama