The Pastoral Transition Team invites you to participate in a two-part conversation happening during the months of July and August. Participants will have an opportunity choose from four dates for each part. All sessions will be held in the Fellowship Hall, except for those noted as Zoom calls. Registration coming soon.
Summer Clothes Needed for Gieser Family
***Thank you to everyone who donated. The need has been met.***
Blacknall-supported global workers Jim & Julianna Gieser (Cape Town, South Africa) are looking for summer clothes for their four children while they are in the area on furlough, June 17 - July 22.
Why Juneteenth Should Matter to the Church (Free Webinar)
On June 15 at 2 p.m. (EDT), join Our Daily Bread’s Rasool Berry, CT’s Russell Moore, and other Christian thought leaders for a free webinar on the enduring significance of Juneteenth and how this pivotal event in American history points to the biblical visions of freedom, restoration, and hope.
Abundant Joy Women's Center Summer Groups
Abundant Joy is offering several small groups that will meet throughout the summer beginning in mid-June. Women can register for a group at abundantjoycwm@gmail.com or call 919-943-0789 for more information.
New Playlist for Pentecost
Here’s a new Spotify playlist for songs we’re singing during Pentecost, as well as songs for meditation and contemplation during the season.
Kids 4 Kids Summer Reading Program Gives Reading New Purpose
Blacknall's summer reading program is back starting June 12! When you start making summer plans for your kids, put reading at the top of your list. Every book kids read from our library can help other kids enjoy reading too!
All summer, we see how many books our kids can read. Kids of any age are eligible to read — or be read to! Based on our grand total in August, we'll give books to our Deep Common Journey partner, Families Moving Forward. The more we read, the more we can give!
Moving Help for Jesse & Sophia
Jesse Sun and Sophia Chen are moving to Nashville and would like some help loading up a moving truck on Tuesday, June 7 from 4 - 8 p.m. Come by anytime. Their address is 844 Horton Rd., Apt 40. If you have any questions, please contact Jesse.
Farewell from Jesse Sun & Sophia Chen
Jesse Sun and Sophia Chen are moving to Nashville. This will be their last Sunday at Blacknall. Jesse recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor of History of Christianity at Belmont University. Jesse and Sophia wanted to take an opportunity to express their gratitude to the congregation. We’re sorry to see them go and pray for the best in this next stage of their journey!
Summer Playgroup | Beginning June 2 | Thursdays 9:30 - 11:30 am
Calling all children ages six and under—and their moms! Beginning June 2 and running into August, a playgroup will meet on Thursday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. We'll rotate "hosting" duties each week, which really just means picking the location—and that could be a local park, Blacknall, the Museum of Life and Science, the new downtown library, or a local pool, just to name a few possibilities.
Please Choose Your Family’s Portrait
If you got your picture taken at the Block Party, you should have received an email from Imago Dei Media (Paul and Andrea Tshihamba) with a link to a gallery of proofs. Please select your favorite portrait. Once you make your choice, your photo will be touched up if needed, and the final photo will be downloadable at full resolution, with full printing rights at no cost to you. if you did not receive this email or have questions, please contact Paul Tshihamba at paul@imagodeimedia.com.
Congregational Survey FAQs
The Congregational Survey is now open! The Pastoral Transition Team is asking for 100% participation from all members and regular attenders by May 29! Please visit the new Congregational Survey FAQS section on the Pastoral Transition web page for more information about the survey and how to access it.
The Congregational Survey Opens Today, May 8!
Please look out for email today from the Pastoral Transition Team that contains instructions and a link to the Congregational Survey. Information about how to access the survey will also be made available during the worship services. We are aiming for 100% participation from all members and regular attenders. The survey closes on May 29.
Please visit the Pastoral Transition page for more information about this process. Please contact the Pastoral Transition Team at interimpastorsearch@blacknall.org with any questions.
New Playlist for Eastertide & Ascension
Wen Reagan has curated a new Spotify playlist for songs we’re singing during Eastertide and through Ascension Sunday, as well as songs for meditation and contemplation during the season.
Watch the Panel Discussion with David Kasali
If you’re disappointed that you missed the fantastic panel discussion with Dr. David Kasali of the Congo Initiative, you can watch the recording of the livestream. The panel, “Can a Divided Society Be Renewed.”, also included Kyle Beardsley, Professor of Political Science at Duke University, and Julio Ramirez-Eve, pastor at Iglesia Emanuel.
Thanks for a Great Block Party!
Pastoral Transition Update
What to Bring to the Block Party
The Block Party is finally here! These are some items you won’t want to forget for this Sunday, Apr. 24:
👕👕📸 Your most color-coordinated outfits for your free professional family portrait taken by Imago Dei Media. (Just kidding, you can wear whatever you want!)
🥘🥗 A potluck side dish to share. You can drop it off in the Community Room (near the Rose Garden). Refrigerators are available. But, if you forget or can’t bring a dish, just come!
☀️🧴💦 Sunscreen and a water bottle. Projected temperatures are in the mid to high 80s for Sunday. We will also have water and drinks available at the party.
🪑 A folding chair. Seating will be limited, please bring a lawn chair to sit in and relax under some shade.
🍔🌭🍦 Your appetite. We will serve FREE hamburgers and hot dogs and Pincho Loco ice cream!
🚘 Also, please leave yourself enough time to find parking this Sunday. Most of the street parking near the church on Iredell Street will be blocked off as well as the gravel lot. Limited parking is available in the Duke lot.
This Sunday, Free Professional Family Portrait!
Don't miss out on a FREE professional family portrait! We are excited to offer every family at Blacknall one free family portrait (digital download) taken by professional photographer and Blacknall elder, Paul Tshihamba! With your permission, we will include your picture in Blacknall’s updated directory. Portraits will be taken inside the church during the Block Party. Exact locations TBA.
Church Office Is Closed Monday, April 18
April 22-24, 2022 | Blacknall Welcomes David & Kassie Kasali
Blackall is excited to host David and Kaswera “Kassie” Kasali of the Congo Initiative for a series of gatherings and church-wide events on the weekend of April 22-24. Please mark your calendar for a panel discussion with Dr. David Kasali, “Can a Divided Society Be Renewed?”, on Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This event is free and open to the public and will be livestreamed from Blacknall’s YouTube channel.
The Kasalis’ visit intentionally coincides with the church’s Block Party on Sunday, April 24. David Kasali will preach that Sunday morning and we expect that his message of hope and resilience will help us, as a congregation, to enter into this next season of our life together with joy and faithful endurance as we manage the ongoing uncertainty around COVID and the other significant challenges that confront our community and our world.