This event has passed but you can view the recorded service here.
Join us for a live stream evening of caroling!
Prayer for Missions Partners
Saturday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m.
Pray for our missionaries and for Congo together. Please spread the word and we hope to see you on Zoom on Saturday.
(Please note: because of Carols and Cocoa, we will not be meeting this Sunday like we normally do at 4 and 6:30 p.m. )
Advent at Blacknall
Lessons & Carols
Sunday, Dec. 6
Worship from home with familiar carols and recordings by Blacknall choir and scripture readings.
Carols & Bring your Own Cocoa
Sunday, Dec. 13, 6:30 p.m.
A livestream Christmas songfest.
Worship on the Longest Night
Sunday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m.
A contemplative service over Zoom that provides space to remember that Jesus comes for those of us who are suffering, lonely, or grieving.
Christmas Eve
Thursday, Dec. 24
Worship from home or in small outdoor gatherings. Stay tuned for more details!
Advent Wreath Kits | Sign up
Blacknall is providing Advent wreath kits this year as our gift to the congregation so we can walk through the season of Advent together, even while we're apart. Kits include 4 candles, a floral foam wreath ring, and instructions.
Advent Devotional | Sign up
Jesus is coming – so let’s sing! This year, our daily Advent devotionals will be centered around carols.
Advent Wreath Kits
Sign up here
Blacknall is providing Advent wreath kits this year as our gift to the congregation so we can walk through the season of Advent together, even while we're apart. Kits include 4 candles, a floral foam wreath ring, and instructions.
S’mores Bake Off Winners!
The deacons selected three winners from the S’more Bake Off entries (they all made us hungry though!). Thanks to everyone who participated and to the deacons for organizing.
Lord of the S'more
Michael Kight with "Night of the Living S'mores"
Most Beanlicious
Erin Miller with "Gimme S’more of that 3 Bean Chili"
Most Edifying
Sylvia with "Sylvia's S'more Tabernacle"
Thanks to all the creative participants!
A Lot to Give Thanks for
The Blacknall Library is open
Self-service whenever the church is open, with check-out instructions on the front desk. Returns may go in the slot under the window or in the basket inside the door. Please help us care for our library by keeping track of your borrowed materials and returning them. If you have materials checked out, you will receive a gentle reminder soon to check in on outstanding books, CDs & DVDs.
Questions? Email us at library@blacknall.org.
S'mores Bake Off Photo Submission!
Bake-Off Photo Submission Form
The deacons provided 50 free S’mores kits in honor of the long time Festival of the Bean (which will not take place this year).
About the Bake Off:
Create a dish using the 3 items plus anything else you want to add.
Give it a name and send in a picture telling us how it was made (submission form coming soon).
Scored by name, appearance and picture.
Young adults, families, youth, small groups, pastors - everyone can compete.
There will be prizes!
Contest ends Sunday, Nov. 8.
For those not competing, you’re invited to send in a picture making s’mores.
Questions? Contact Barb Eyster.
Fall Inquirers’ Class
Sundays, Oct 18-Nov. 15, 7-8pm | Zoom
Do you want to know more about life and membership at Blacknall? Come get to know more about Blacknall, and let us get to know you! We will kick off with a socially-distanced outdoor meeting on Sunday, October 18. The rest of the class will take place on Zoom. To attend, contact Goodie Bell.
Officer Recommendations
Recommendation Form
Open through Sunday, Oct. 18.
A note from the Nominating Committee:
Blacknall has been gifted with great officers through the years, elders and deacons who love Christ and his church and are responsive to His call to leadership. Each winter a Nominating Committee enters into a discernment process asking “Who among us is the Lord raising up for leadership?” Now is the time to be prayerfully considering who God might be calling to be leaders in our church. The Officer Nominating Committee welcomes your recommendations for Deacons and Elders.
This above form allows you to recommend a person to the Blacknall Officer Nominating Committee for consideration as a possible candidate for the office of deacon and/or elder. Please note this form is a recommendation and not a nomination.
In our polity, or church governance, elders and deacons are elected from the congregation to lead in various capacities. Elders are responsible for the oversight of the spiritual life of the congregation, and are nominated based on "their wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit…. They are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life." (Book of Order G-2.0301). Deacons are particularly possessed of a servant’s heart, and serve in ministries of hospitality, care, and attention to our facilities, in addition to caring for those in particular need. Together elders and deacons seek to lead the church as servants of Christ. Elders and deacons (often listed by class on the back of the bulletin) serve three year terms, with a third of their number rotating off each year as the next class joins.
Thank you for your recommendations.
The 2020-2021 Officer Nominating Committee
Who are elders & deacons?
Read below for descriptions from the PCUSA Book of Order
Deacons: The Ministry of Compassion & Service
The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry. (PCUSA Book of Order G-2.0201)
Ruling Elders: The Ministry of Discernment & Governance
As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session. When elected as commissioners to higher councils, ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office. (PCUSA Book of Order G-2.0301)