Advent in the Home: Developing Family Traditions

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Blacknall held an event last year for families to share simple Advent traditions they had incorporated into their family life. A key tip was to hold it loosely – it’s ok if you miss a day! – and to make it a part of your daily rhythm. Reading a devotion after dinner, opening the Advent Calendar door, or lighting a candle are all ways to signal the season of Advent as we head towards the mystery of Christmas.

Below are ideas to get you started. Consider picking one or two that might fold easily into your life.

Advent Calendar

  • DIY – Paper or muslin bags can be filled with small tokens or activities (ex. Go to Carols and Cocoa, Write a thank you note, Sing a hymn after dinner). The bags can be taped to the wall or strung up with string and clothespins.

  • Buy – A re-usable or paper calendar can provide a way for children to interact daily with the season.

Advent Books

  • DIY – Consider giving a daily book about Christmas. These don’t have to be new! Check them out from your local library (or Blacknall’s library – view a list of great suggestions here) and wrap them up in fabric, recycled grocery bags, or inexpensive paper from the Scrap Exchange.

  • Buy – Some families purchase books and re-use the same ones each year. If you do want to purchase books, here are a few recommendations.

Advent Prayer Guide

  • “Teach Us to Pray: Scripture-Centered Family Worship through the Year” put out by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. The Advent section is available for free download.

Advent Prophecy Chain

Advent Wreath 

Jesus Storybook Advent Printables

Jesse Tree – ornaments and templates can be found online.

  • DIY

    • Make a tree out of construction paper and tape it up on the wall. Children can color ornaments and hang them up daily (you can find printable ornaments online).

    • DIY ornaments for the tree.

    •  If you’re crafty, Blacknall often has a group that does a Jesse tree ornament exchange in November.

    • Forage for a small tree branch, place in a vase, and hang your Jesse tree ornaments from it.

  • Buy – There are many great ornament kits, especially on Etsy, although they can get quite expensive. Here are a few:

Advent Wreath Workshop

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Sunday, December 2, 4-6 p.m. | Community Room

Register here

This year we will assemble the wreaths in one-hour shifts. Bring $15.00 for your kit (candles, oasis wreath ring, etc) and a cookie sheet to transport your wreath. Cash or check made out to BMPC is fine. If you have access to greenery or holly berries, bring some in bag to use and share.  Clippers are helpful. This is an event for all ages and stages.

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

Women's Contemplative Prayer Morning

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“In Your Light, We See Light"
Becoming Aware of God's Presence

Saturday, October 20, 9-11:30 a.m. | Upper Room

Register here

Anne Storelli and Frauke Schaefer will facilitate scripture reading, guided solitude time, and group reflection with an opportunity to respond through journaling, drawing or other artistic expressions. Victoria Shields from Mt. Level Missionary Baptist Church will help, and women from Mt. Level Missionary will join in, feel free to invite a friend as well. Bring your Bible and journal, or purchase a journal at the event ($4 each). Art supplies will be provided for those who desire them. If you have a particular art medium that you would like to share, feel free to bring it with you. We pray your soul will be refreshed by your time with the Lord! 

If childcare is needed, contact Traci Hoover by October 15.  If you have questions, please contact Frauke Schaefer.

Hurricane Florence Recovery

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As we thank God that we were spared much of the worst impact of HurricaneFlorence here in Durham, we also remember our neighbors in the eastern part of the state and in surrounding states who were devastated by this storm. If you are feeling led to give financially to help care for these neighbors, let us recommend to you four of the many organizations that will be involved in the response to this disaster. All four have an excellent track record of effectively offering help in these times of great need.

 
On their websites the Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse also have opportunities to volunteer to help our neighbors, if you are interested. If you are interested in being a part of a team from Blacknall who might volunteer in Eastern North Carolina, please contact David Dunderdale.
 
In addition, let us not forget our most important response, to pray for our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, in this time of need.

Women's Retreat Registration

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November 9-11, 2018 | Valle Crucis Conference Center

Register Here

Let's meet in the mountains to worship, play, converse, hike, rest and pray together.  The focus is cultivating calm and stillness in storms, drawing on Jesus' experience with them. 

Cost | $155 (scholarships available) 

Heidi Stern | Speaker

A friend to many at Blacknall and a counselor in Cary, Heidi has been practicing Clinical Social Work since graduating in 1991 from UNC-CH School of Social Work. Her areas of clinical specialty include working with individuals who have a history of past sexual, emotional, physical and/or spiritual trauma. She also works with people who struggle with issues related to depression, anxiety, grief, life transitions, marital and/or family conflict, and spiritual concerns. In her personal life, Heidi enjoys spending time with family and friends (including 3 dogs and a cat), watching ACC basketball, swimming, walking, reading, going to the beach, and drinking coffee.

Amy Lett, Jamie Turnage & Susan Mullins | Worship Leaders

View Brochure for more details. 

Questions? Contact Diane Felton   

Table Talk Registration

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Wednesdays, September 19-November 7 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.

REGISTER HERE

Table Talk is an educational series featuring dinner, fellowship, and learning programs for all ages. Excellent teachers from our community plan exciting classes on how we can walk more faithfully in the way of Jesus. A highlight of Blacknall's life together! A tasty, nutritious meal will be available in the Fellowship Hall, with vegetarian and gluten-free options. 

Read about classes here.