Announcements
Tonight! Carols & Bring Your Own Cocoa, 6:30 p.m. | Live Stream. Join us for a live stream evening of caroling!
Cancer Support Group | Sunday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m. | Gathering for prayer, education and sharing our lives. This is for all cancer survivors, caregivers, and loved ones. Zoom link on CCB.
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.
Backyard Worship | View Here. Some groups are continuing to meet through the winter. Check out the backyard worship page if you are looking for a way to gather.
Angel Tree | If you signed up, please bring all wrapped gifts and gift cards to the Perry Street entrance of Blacknall on Sunday, Dec 13, between 1-7 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Paulson: 919-812-6208.
Prayer
Ministry Partners:
Durham—We pray for the WAY (Walltown Area Youth) and Dan Keegan and Jennifer Jones who lead it. The WAY mentors elementary and secondary school students in the Walltown neighborhood through an after school program, sports ministry and walking alongside these young people. Please pray:
That parents of all students would be encouraged and filled with patience and grace for their children.
That all students would honor their parents by doing their very best in school.
Health and safety of WAY participants and families as we move into this winter season.
Opportunities to love, encourage, and share with one another during this Christmas season as we practice joyful anticipation of Jesus' birth.
International—Please pray for our missionary Stephen Crupi. Normally, Stephen “is teaching [biblical studies] at Bishop Allison Theological College … a college designed to support the South Sudanese churches by providing theological education for local pastors and church leaders. The majority of pastors in South Sudan have not received any formal biblical education. …. Due to the present conflict in South Sudan, Bishop Allison has temporarily moved to Arua district in northwestern Uganda and is serving the South Sudanese refugees who are currently living in Uganda.” He wrote several months ago, “We're still waiting to hear from the Ugandan government when we will be allowed to start [due to Covid]. I do miss seeing my students.” But good news! The government has now granted permission for continuing students in their final year to resume their studies. Prayer requests: (1) progress in his Luganda language studies; (2) motivation and skill for his married students to provide spiritual leadership in their homes; (3) spiritual and academic growth for students and faculty; (4) protection and provision for students and their families; (5) good government for South Sudan which will promote the wellbeing of its citizens and enable millions of displaced people to return to their homes; (6) wisdom in ministering in refugee house churches.
Campus—We pray for Madison Perry and the North Carolina Study Center on the campus of UNC in Chapel Hill. Please pray for:
Gratitude for a fall semester of unexpected joy, community, and growth
A mild winter weather-wise so that we can keep using our lawn
Preparation for Spring '21 in speaker invitations and course development
The successful completion of our capital campaign in the coming two months and the start of our renovation process
Grief:
We pray for the family and friends of Don Halderman who died last week.
We pray for Carmen Garrigan whose grandmother died last week.
We pray for Chris and Donna Rice on the death of Chris’ Dad, Randy Rice, last week.
We pray for Becky Takiguchi whose Dad, Daniel (96), died recently.
We pray for those who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus.
We pray for those who are struggling with infertility, especially in this season.
Joys
We thank God with Paula and Stacy Rinehart at the birth of Emma Faith Rinehart, the 4th adopted child of Stacy and Paula’s son Brady’s family
We rejoice with Jenna and Jac Brown on the birth of their son, Caeden Samuel on Nov. 11.
Concerns
We pray for Taylor Brennan as she recovers from her cancer surgery this past week.
We pray for Hossein Meghdadpour who was in the hospital this past week.
We pray for Stephanie Tokiyama as she recovers from surgery this past week.
We pray for those in our community who have contracted the coronavirus.
We pray for medical and frontline workers who are caring for those with the virus.
World
We pray for deliverance from the virus as it surges in our nation and around the world.
We thank God for the development of vaccines that promise to help fight this virus. We pray for a speedy and just distribution of these vaccines around the world.
We pray for peaceful resolution to the conflicts in Ethiopia and between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We pray for protection for the most vulnerable populations.
We pray for the transitions in our government, that the Lord would place in positions of authority throughout our government people who would pursue justice and righteousness.
Life Together
We pray for the search committee for the Director of Congregational Care (chair, Melissa Hartemink).
We pray for Patrick and Catherine Timmis as they prepare to move to Michigan in December.
We pray for Durham Public Schools and for the Learning Center that we are hosting at Blacknall. We pray for the staff from the YMCA who are with the children and that our building will be a place of safety and learning.
We give thanks for Mary Grimm, Ali Shoenfelt, Carol Smith, and Leslie Cenezy who do so much for our church in keeping us connected and organized.
Finance
Blacknall remains financially strong in these uncertain times. Our budget for this fiscal year (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021) expands our ongoing support for local, campus, and international ministries. Our session recently approved additional gifts to specific local ministries whose needs have increased during the pandemic. We are grateful for the generosity of our congregation.
Our offerings have fallen behind our expenses, and we would like to bring these into balance by the end of the calendar year. We have received $472,000 in offerings from July 1 through November 30 (five months), and are projecting expenses of $775,000 through December 31 (six months). We will need to receive $303,000 in December to end the calendar year in balance. December has historically been a strong month for us.
There are multiple ways to give to Blacknall:
Cash/check brought to the church office. Gifts received by NOON on Thursday, Dec. 31 will be included in calendar year 2020.
Checks mailed to the church office. Gifts postmarked by Dec. 31 will be included in calendar year 2020.
Automatic bank drafts as a part of bill pay directed to Blacknall using your local bank.
Gifts of stock are welcome. Contact Rick Every (919-489-9733) or Carol Smith (919-286-5586). Please initiate your gift by Dec. 22 for inclusion in calendar year 2020.
Online giving is available from our website (including ACH, debit card, and credit card donations). Members can also schedule recurring online gifts when signed on to CCB.
Details on all giving options at www.blacknall.org/give.
Questions? Contact Rich Frothingham.
About the Music
News flash: The advent of Jesus does not signal a call to sadness! When the angels spoke (sang?) to the shepherds, they did not announce, “So sorry, more of the same awaits you!” Nope – “good news of great joy” was the message. It is a call to something other than what we are offered by the world. “The joy of the Lord is our strength” affirms a reality that is not based on circumstances, in the same way that Jesus’ offer of abundant life is “other.” “Wake up! Gaudete! Gloria in excelsis Deo! Rejoice!”
However…
How does the jubilant call to rejoice sound this year, if you are suffering, fearful, or grieving – and who among us isn’t experiencing at least one of those? In the words of Psalm 137, “How can I sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” The majority of carols reflect this; they combine references to angels, gospel, and joy, with words such as suffering, sin, pain, lowly, or a favorite of mine, longing. Here is the gospel: Our longing and suffering find their hoped-for healing and resolution in the person of Jesus, the Lord of Joy. Simeon refers to His birth as the “consolation” of God’s people. Because we live on this side of the Resurrection, we know that this Infant will Himself die but rise again, the “first fruits” of what He promises. Don’t allow “What Child Is This” to be a “Oh, that’s a nice one” moment – be shocked and horrified as you sing “Nails, spear shall pierce Him through.” Christ’s advent is not an invitation to sidestep suffering: rather, it is to follow Him, to allow Him to walk with us, right through grief and pain and the grave. Our songs allow us to cry out to the Lord, “Come…!” – then listen and look, my longing friends, to hear, and see, and know, His embodied response of love, His proclamation of joy.
What child is this, who, laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary.
Community Events
Community Rising Together | Saturday, Dec. 19, 11 a.m.
Join the Mt. Level Partnership for Racial Justice for a virtual community Advent celebration. Invite a friend! Register here.
Care for the Grieving Self through the Holiday Season | Dec 15, 4 p.m.
Run by Growing Through Grief (at St. Paul's Lutheran). Register here.