Blacknall has been chosen to be the host site of the 2020 version of The Gathering, sponsored by The Fellowship Community. Over 200 pastors and elders and leaders will be spending April 28-30 at our church, seeking to be encouraged, instructed and led in worship for these three days set aside for renewal.
Reflections on the Alpha 2020 Conference
Pastor's Letter | Allan Poole
Dementia, Families & Congregations
Sunday, March 15, 4:45-6:15 p.m
A presentation by Bobbi Matchar, MSW, from the Duke Dementia Family Support Program, and Blacknall members Maria Bradshaw and Buck Buchanan. Many in our church are caring for relatives with dementia. Let’s learn together how to offer helpful support. Sponsored by Congregational Care Committee. Contact: Margaret Frothingham
Lenten Reading Group
Tuesdays, March 3-April 7, 11:30-12:45 p.m.
Parlor
“All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.” The 14th-century English mystical writer, Julian of Norwich, wrote these mysterious words about God’s grace. Julian has much to teach us today about spiritual formation, suffering, who God is, and who we are as God’s beloved children. Join Goodie Bell and Grace Hamman for a reading group on A Revelation of Divine Love. All levels of familiarity are welcome. Contact: Goodie Bell
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday Potluck Dinner
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m. | Fellowship Hall
Please bring a dish or side to share.
Ash Wednesday Service
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. | Sanctuary
A service marking the beginning of Lent, followed by the imposition of ashes.
Childcare through age 3.
Additional Lenten Offerings
Lenten Reading Group
Tuesdays, March 3-April 7, 11:30-12:45 p.m. | Parlor
“All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.” The 14th-century English mystical writer, Julian of Norwich, wrote these mysterious words about God’s grace. Julian has much to teach us today about spiritual formation, suffering, who God is, and who we are as God’s beloved children. Join Goodie Bell and Grace Hamman for a reading group on A Revelation of Divine Love. All levels of familiarity are welcome. Contact: Goodie Bell
Lenten Contemplative Prayer Morning for Men & Women
Saturday, March 14, 9:45-12 p.m. | Upper Room
Led by Anne Storelli with Janise Matyas Smith. Components include a brief teaching on the practices of spiritual Examen and silence, Scripture reading (Lectio divina), solitude, and group reflection. $10 suggested for materials. Register Here. For childcare, register by March 9.
Lenten Services
Wednesdays, March 4-April 1, 7 p.m. | Sanctuary
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Community Room
Hosted by the 30s, 40s, and Friends Sunday school class. Enjoy fellowship and a wonderful meal (gluten free available). $5 cash per family/whatever you can contribute.
Inquirers' Class (New Members)
Are you interested in inquiring about life and membership at Blacknall? Come get to know more about Blacknall, and let us get to know you! Please register if you would like to join the spring session. Contact Margaret Frothingham with questions.
Schedule
Sundays, 5-6:30 p.m.
March 1 - What does it mean to follow Christ?
March 8 - What is the Church?
March 15 - What does it mean to be part of the Presbyterian tradition?
March 22 - Meet the Staff
March 29 - Elder Interviews and Dinner
April 5 - Join the Church (11 am service)
Pastor's Letter | Goodie Bell
By Goodie Bell
Friday is Valentine's Day. If you have been to the grocery store and seen the displays of candy or pulled up Amazon.com and gotten advertisements for Valentine's Day deals, you are probably aware of this already. However, you may not recall that Valentine's Day has its origin in the Christian feast day for St. Valentine.
Who was St. Valentine? Well, that's a good question. There are records of at least two Christian martyrs named Valentine during the 3rd century. There are legends about a priest in Rome who comforted persecuted Christians, witnessed to an emperor, performed clandestine marriages and restored sight to the blind. But perhaps the best answer we can give is, "Valentine was a follower of Jesus who died for the faith."
By the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer associated the celebration of Saint Valentine with the courtly love tradition. The association of St. Valentine with romance persisted, as Shakespeare, and John Donne, and our own Hallmark attest. But the Valentine's Day celebration of romance derives from the celebration of a very different kind passion and a different kind of love: the Love of God.
This month, we have preached three sermons on 1 Corinthians chapter 7. You may have noticed that Paul says a lot about sex, singleness, and marriage, but he does not mention romance. You can look elsewhere in the Bible to get a more complete picture of marriage and romance (like the book Song of Songs!). But it is clear that romance does not dominate Paul's thinking about sex, marriage, or even love. Paul's ode to love in 1 Corinthians 13 (Love is patient, love is kind...) calls on the members of the body of Christ−not just husbands and wives− to love one another.
So let me suggest two alternative ways to celebrate St. Valentine this year:
First, consider how you might show your appreciation not only to a spouse or significant other (if you have one), but consider how you might demonstrate your appreciation and love for fellow members of the body of Christ.
Second, attend to the voices of those followers of Jesus who have forsaken romance but known love. To that end, I leave you with some words from Julian of Norwich.
Julian of Norwich (1342-1416?) spent the last forty years of her life as an anchorite (hermit), writing down her Revelations of Divine Love:
"God, of your goodness, give me yourself, for you are enough for me,
and I can ask for nothing which is less which can pay you full worship.
And if I ask for anything which is less, always I am in want;
but only in you do I have everything....For he is everlastingness, and he made us only for himself,
and restored us by his precious Passion and always preserves us in his
blessed love..."
(Chapter Five, Long Text).
How's that for passion?
Happy Valentine's Day,
Goodie
P.S. Interested in hearing more from Julian of Norwich? Email me about a Lenten Reading Group on Revelations of Divine Love.
Read more from the February Newsletter . . .
Blacknall to Host the Fellowship Community Annual Gathering by Allan Poole
God at Work by Ashley Weinard
Chefs for Change by Anne Paulson
Iglesia Emanuel Ministry Celebration by Margot Hausmann
Winter Weather Policy
Sundays
Blacknall will always have Sunday morning worship at 11 a.m. Many attenders live within walking distance of Blacknall, but please use your discretion walking or driving if weather is poor.
If the weather is bad enough for other services and activities in the area to be cancelled, please check blacknall.org or the recorded message in the Church Office (919.286.5586) after 6:30 a.m. If the 8:30 a.m. service and Sunday School are cancelled, all other scheduled activities for that day are also cancelled.
Weekdays
For weekday cancellations, please check blacknall.org or call the Church Office (919.286.5586).
Stay warm!