Blacknall’s 2021 Advent Devotional is here! As in years’ past, we’ve gathered devotionals for each day of Advent from current and former Blacknall members, staff and missionaries. Allow these daily reflections, prayers, and hymns to bless and accompany you through the Advent season.
Pick up a copy from church or download a pdf to print from home or read on your device.
Sunday, Nov. 28, 4-6 p.m. | Community Room & Rose Garden
Shape a beautiful advent wreath using fresh greenery. Plan about an hour for wreath-making in the Rose Garden at Blacknall (weather-permitting). You may also pick up a kit (oasis ring and candles) to make your wreath at home. $10/wreath kit, please reserve one here and pay by credit card or bringing a check.
Open through Tuesday, Nov. 30
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 fall 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 (listed by class on our web site) serve three year terms, with a third of their number rotating off each year as the next class joins. Officers may run for two consecutive terms for a total of six years at a time. (After a break, they may run again in the future.)
Thank you for your recommendations.
The 2021-2022 Officer Nominating Committee
Brandon Fain, Traci Hoover, Jillian Marcantonio, Tanya Moore, Susie Meghdadpour, Bo Harrison and co-chairs Evan Cate and Michael Whisenhunt
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)
On Nov. 10, Blacknall’s Interim Pastor Transition Team shared with the congregation that we have called Rev. Mark Hutton to be our Interim Senior Pastor. Please watch the recording below, where you will hear about the search process that led us to him. About 40 minutes into the meeting, Mark joined us on Zoom and shared some of his background and sense of call to interim ministry. Let’s warmly welcome Pastor Mark! He will join our staff in early December.
Sunday, Nov. 14
Prayer for Mission Partners | 4 p.m.
Prayer for Congo | 6:30 p.m.
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.
November 20 and 21, Various times and locations
All men are warmly invited to one of our backyard gatherings held in various neighborhoods around town on November 20 and 21. This will be a great opportunity for fellowship, reconnection, and a chance to share your perspective with the men's ministry leadership team as they seek to respond to the needs in our congregation. Please view the list of gatherings and RSVP at your earliest convenience. Contact: Cullen Rodgers-Gates.
We’ve posted the schedule of all Advent and Christmas services and festivities. View the calendar and save all of the important dates!
You're invited to a congregational meeting on Wednesday, November 10, from 7- 8 p.m. via Zoom (link on CCB) to hear an important update from the Pastoral Transition Team about their search for an interim pastor. The call will be recorded, but you are encouraged to join us live if you're able.
Nov. 12-13, 2021 | Durham and Stem, NC
Please register by Nov. 8.
The women’s retreat weekend is almost here! Our theme is Encounters with Jesus, based on passages found in the Gospel of John. We’ve invited Kat Burgett and Sylvia Belcher, women from our congregation and community, to reflect on an encounter of Jesus that has been particularly meaningful in their lives. Through their words and our corporate worship, we expect these gospel stories to fall afresh on us and help us recognize the ways in which Jesus has met us in our own journey.
The Communications Coordinator search committee (chair, Leslie Cenezy) along with input and approval from the Session and Staff have expanded the Communications position to a fulltime salary position, adding needed program and administrative support to the communications work.
The new title is now Communications & Program Coordinator and we are accepting applications through November 30. Our hope is to find a person who will communicate the work of our church effectively, build relationships with members and engage with new audiences. Please visit the Employment page for the full job description and application details.
Blacknall is also still seeking a part time Choir Director. Please view the job posting for details and share these two openings widely.
Saturday, November 6, 2021, 9:30-11 a.m.
Stagville Plantation, 5828 Old Oxford, Highway, Durham, NC 27712
The Durham Ministry Engagement Team (DMET) is hosting a free, guided tour of Historic Stagville, a state historic site in northern Durham dedicated to teaching about the lives and work of enslaved people on a plantation. We have a reservation to tour the grounds on Saturday, November 6, 2021, from 9:30-11 a.m. Due to the nature of the tour content, this event is best suited for people 12 years of age and older. View full details and reserve your spot here. (At this time, only a few spots remain).
Wondering if the Blacknall Library has the book you're looking for? Access our online catalog right from your smartphone or computer. You can search by authors, titles or keywords. You can't check out and reserve books on the site yet, but we're working on it! If you have questions, visit the Library page or feel free to reach out to us at library@blacknall.org.
Sunday, October 24 at the end of each service | Sanctuary
The session has called a congregational meeting to vote on the Officer Nominating Committee. The committee identifies members to stand for election to the offices of elder and deacon. Members will be asked to vote to approve a slate of individuals (Brandon Fain, Traci Hoover, Jillian Marcantonio, Tanya Moore, Susie Meghdadpour) alongside two elders (co-chairs Evan Cate and Michael Whisenhunt), one deacon (Bo Harrison), and pastors (ex officio).
Sundays, Oct 24, Nov. 7, 14, 21, and Dec. 5, 5-6 p.m. at Blacknall
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! Please register using the button above.
Childcare is available. Contact Goodie Bell with any questions.
Please join us on Sunday evenings for outdoor worship at our Iredell St. lot (714 Iredell St.). This is an opportunity for all ages to see familiar (or new!) faces, witness to our neighbors and celebrate the Lord’s table.
Please note: There will not be a service on Oct. 17, please come to Festival of the Bean!
Sunday, Oct. 17, 3:30-7 p.m. | Camp Chestnut Ridge, Efland, NC
Would you help the deacons plan this event by taking this quick survey?
Please join us for our Annual Festival of the Bean fall picnic and chili cook-off. Come and enjoy food, fellowship, games, s’mores, and a campfire along with the beauty of fall.
If you plan to enter your chili for competition (and 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 individually wrapped slices of corn bread 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 - Games and Fellowship
5:15-6:00 - Dinner & Fire pit
6:15 - Announcement of the winning chili (Lord or Lady of the Bean)
6:30 - Clean up
We plan for the following Covid mitigation strategies at this time:
Deacons will serve Chili and toppings
Please wear masks and try to maintain distance when in line for Chili
Everyone is encouraged to spread out while eating
Questions? Contact Maggie Holland.
November 12-14, 2021 | Location/Format TBA
We are excited to announce the theme and speakers for this year’s retreat! Blacknall’s Kat Burgett and St. John Missionary Baptist’s Sylvia Belcher will be speaking on “Encounters with Jesus”.
Please stay tuned for more details. The retreat committee is evaluating the safest format, based on the latest CDC recommendations and women’s comfort levels for gathering.
Contact: Becky Gould
The Young Adults & Friends Weekday Morning Scripture Reading Group invites you to read scripture with them at 7:30 on weekday mornings. “Join us for 15 minutes while we read Scripture together, say a prayer, and head into our days. Newcomers (of all ages) are welcome any day of the week!”
We’re eager for each woman at Blacknall to participate in our study of Romans 8, using the study guide If God Is For Us: The Everlasting Truth of Our Great Salvation. The large group gathering and teaching begins on Thursday, September 23 (9:30-11:15 a.m.). Join us on Thursday mornings to hear teaching, enjoy fellowship, and meet in small groups.
You may also listen to the talks online and join a Zoom small group or follow the study on your own. It is no small thing for the women of the church to be engaged together around a portion of God’s Word! There is no fee aside from the cost of the book, which can be purchased from your favorite book seller. Please register using the link below.
Due to forecasted rain, The Betty will be held in the sanctuary. Please come, wear your mask, and hear what the Lord has to say to us through our storytellers.
The Betty is Blacknall’s effort to create a space for women to bear witness to the amazing/head-scratching/wonderful/ impossible/painful/glorious/joyful work of God in our lives. We invite 3-4 women to step up to the mike and share a reading, recite a poem, do a comedy sketch, or tell a short story about a time they encountered Jesus. Humorous content is encouraged! Serious reflections are too! Maybe you’ve encountered Jesus on a literal mountaintop, or maybe it was in a cramped office, or maybe it was in a grocery store. If Jesus was there, no story is too wild or too mundane. The Betty is a forum for all of us to hear, resonate with, and reflect on these sacred stories in the company of other listeners. It is the promotion of a culture of God-story tellers. We hope you’ll join us.