Bulletin 1.2.22

Calendar

Sunday, Jan. 2

Worship only at 11 a.m., which will be livestreamed and recorded. No childcare, children’s church or Sunday School. We will not be holding a reception in the rose garden.

Monday, Jan. 3

The Church Office will be closed. We ask meetings scheduled that day to be held via Zoom or rescheduled. The office will be open regular hours starting January 4. Please contact the church office with questions.

Sunday, Jan. 9

  • Sunday School classes resume! Read the descriptions of adult classes and topics here.

  • Prayer for Mission Partners (4 p.m.) and Congo (6:30 p.m.) | Zoom (link on CCB)

    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.

Community Announcements

  • Abundant Joy Center for Women's Ministries

    Abundant Joy CWM serves women who are experiencing a difficult time. Our services are free and confidential and include one-on-one counseling to women 18 and over, support groups, and Bible study groups. We are offering the following groups in the Winter of 2022. Women can register for a group at abundantjoycwm@gmail.com or call 919-943-0789 for more information.

    • Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin on Tuesday morning 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., January 18 - March 15.

    • Prayer Group for Mothers of Adult Children on the first and third Wednesday afternoon of the month 1-2:30 p.m., February 2 - April 13.

    • Basic Peer Counseling Training will be offered for anyone interested in volunteering as a peer counselor or group facilitator. An application will need to be completed as well as an interview with Priscilla, the Center Director, before taking this class. The class will be offered on Thursday morning 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., February 3 - April 21.

Love and Serve

  • Iglesia Emanuel Food Pantry

    Volunteer at the Iglesia Emanuel Food Pantry. Not comfortable gathering? Sign up to bag rice and beans from home.

  • Walltown Neighborhood Ministries Food Bank

    Volunteer at the Walltown Neighborhood Ministries Food Bank.

Prayer

Durham—We pray for Blacknall’s Evangelism Team whose task is to work to increase our congregation’s heart for sharing the message of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and friends.  We pray that we would be faithful as a congregation in praying for our neighbors and those who don’t know Jesus.  We pray that we would be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in conversation with our neighbors so that there might spring up a curiosity about Jesus.  We pray that we might hear more stories of how we share our faith with our neighbors and that we might be able to hear the testimonies of those who have come to know and trust Jesus in our community.

Todd Melby

Campus & National—We pray for John Hawkins and the ministry of Leadership Edge, Inc.  We pray for Todd Melby, who has stepped in as the President of LEI, replacing John.  We give thanks for a successful West Coast Men’s Gathering this Fall.  We pray for the new mentoring cohort to help train mentors that is starting up on Jan. 20.  We pray for John’s podcast, Proven Perspectives, that equips listeners for a lifestyle of leadership in their marriages, families, careers, communities, and churches.

International—We pray for Blacknall global workers, Dick & Nancy Baggé, who continue to counsel Wycliffe missionaries from here in the U.S.  Specific prayer requests:  (1) a group of 12 Asian leaders who are taking a course on Trauma Healing which Dick is facilitating; (2) the small groups which they will lead in their communities after completing their training; (3) the impartation of hope and healing to each participant; (4) physical and spiritual renewal for the Baggés during Advent; (5) healing for Nancy’s injured foot and relief from pain.

Griefs

  • We pray for the family of Jo Oldham who died Dec. 2.  The memorial service will be January 29 at 2 p.m.

  • We pray for those who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus.

Joys

  • We rejoice in the joy of birth of our Savior, Jesus, the Son of the Living God.

  • We rejoice in our inclusion in the Family of God and the gift of brothers and sisters in Christ and particularly our fellowship together in Blacknall.

Concerns

  • We pray for all of those who do not know Jesus Christ.  We pray for those unaware of the love and mercy of God that they might hear and receive the truth of God’s love for them in Jesus Christ.

  • We pray that we might be faithful messengers of God’s love and hope.

  • We pray for those trapped in sin that they might be set free by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. 

  • We pray for Bethany & Noe Kasali in Beni, DRC, who are expecting their new baby due in mid-January.  Pray for a safe delivery for Bethany and the baby.

World

  • We continue to pray for Mikail, our Afghan neighbor who was able to get out of Afghanistan last week but was unable to bring his wife and 6 children with him.  Pray for good favor with the U.S. government that his wife and children would be able to receive visas so that they can join him here in Durham.  Pray for safety for his family while they remain in Afghanistan.

Life Together

  • We pray for our custodial staff: Calvin, Ronnie, and Enrique.  We give thanks for their service to us and how they help to maintain our building.  We pray for good physical health for each of them and for God’s blessing on them and their families in this new year

  • We pray for Mark Hutton as he leads us into this New Year.

  • We pray for our continued search for a Choir Director.