Calendar
SUNDAY, JUNE 13
Poole Tote Bag? We have several beautiful and functional tote bags filled with goodies from our celebration of Allan and Betsy Poole’s retirement. If you didn’t get one or want another one, tote bags are there for the taking in the upper atrium!
Communion in the Rose Garden | 9:45-10 am & 12:30-12:45 pm
For those who worship with us virtually and who would like to receive communion, a pastor will be present in the rose garden.
Summer Small Groups | Details and Sign up
Two small groups will be meeting this summer. Groups are co-ed and open to youth (16+) and adults. The format will include discussing the upcoming Sunday’s sermon text, fellowship and prayer.
Summer fun-day evenings
Sundays, June 20- July 25, 5:30- 7 p.m. Duke Park Picnic Shelter (106 West Knox Street, Durham)
Pack a picnic dinner and join your Blacknall family for fellowship, fun, and devotion. Blacknall will provide drinks and popsicles. Picnic shelter is reserved for the whole afternoon, feel free to arrive early and start the fun. Bring a friend!
Announcements
SHHH! It’s a surprise! On the afternoon of June 26, there will be a car parade in celebration of Sylvia Belcher’s 60th Birthday! Please see the Life Together email for more details.
CROP Walk Update | Thank you to everyone who walked and donated in April. There were four Blacknall sponsored walks and over $10,000 raised for CROP walk in honor of Deanna Koenig!
Summer Nursery Volunteers | Sign up
We are inviting fully vaccinated adults and teens in our congregation to partner with the Nursery Ministry in providing childcare during our Sunday 8:30 am worship service this summer. You can find the June/July sign-up sheet above and you're welcome to sign up as a Volunteer Worker for as many spots as you'd like.
Prayer
Ministry Partners:
Campus—We pray for John Hawkins, founder of Leadership Edge, Inc. [LEI], and for Todd Melby, the president. LEI “provides excellent leadership training through authentic mentoring of next generation leaders to equip them for a lifestyle of God-honoring influence.” Please pray for LEI as they share this vision for mentoring with churches and individuals. We give thanks for the development of a vision for a 5-year plan that allows LEI to increase the number of mentors, mentees, and alumni they serve. Pray as they seek to partner with like-hearted organizations, such as a university in Kampala, Uganda. Pray for the hosting of Men’s and Women’s Gatherings around the country. Pray as they strengthen their online presence.
International—We pray for Blacknall missionaries, Noe and Bethany Kasali (and children, Joy, Anna, Lydia, and Selah) who are with Congo Initiative in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo. Noe is the director of the Bethesda Counseling Center there. Prayer requests: (1) praises for their safe return to Beni after 3 years of displacement abroad; (2) adjustment to life in Beni and protection from spiritual attacks; (3) the children trauma outreach ministry that Bethesda Counseling Center is starting this month; (4) lasting peace and security in eastern Congo with no major Covid outbreak; (5) health and strength in body, mind, and spirit.
Durham—We pray for the ministry of Families Moving Forward (FMF), one of our Deep Common Journey Partners in Durham. We pray for Ryan Fehrman, the Executive Director. We continue to pray:
· that FMF remains healthy and safe from the COVID-19 virus;
· families and staff can make informed decisions regarding the vaccination;
· that FMF is able to safely reopen some components of operations (allowing volunteers onsite, kitchens, etc.),
· and they will receive the necessary support to do so.
Grief:
We pray for those who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus.
Joys
We celebrate with Julie Leyva as she passed her preliminary exams for her PhD.
We celebrate with our graduating high school seniors and their families: Abby Hartemink, Samuel Gould, Grace Stutz, Luke Jackson, Dattu Hoover, Kaitlyn Busch, Zeke Epps, Katie Hervey, Van Fowler, Megan Armistead, Cael Laird, Brendan Rizzuto, Ethan Rodgers-Gates
Concerns
We pray for Joy Manila, daughter of Ron & Betsy Manila, as she continues to recover from orthopedic surgery on both of her legs. Pray for patience and strength as she goes through the recovery and rehab process.
We pray for Joe Crupi recovering from hip surgery.
We pray for Randy Strait recovering from hip surgery this week.
We pray for good success for Anne Paulson who had a cardiac ablation this past week.
We pray for Ann Housel who had cataract surgery this past week.
We pray for Hossein Meghdadpour, Susie’s father, dealing with several health issues.
World
We pray against the growing violence in Haiti. Pray for Romel, a Haitian doctor that works in a clinic that many in Blacknall have worked with in Haiti, who is considering sending his wife and two young daughters to stay in the U.S. out of fear of violence and their being kidnapped for ransom. We pray for April and Shelia traveling to the Dominican Republic to support him.
We pray for the nation of India as they continue to struggle with the coronavirus. Our mission partner in India asks for prayer for several of their discipleship leaders who have come down with the virus.
Life Together
We pray for wisdom for elders and staff as we navigate these times with decisions about how to be together safely and faithfully in a way that honors Christ and our interconnectedness as his Body.
We pray for our newly ordained and installed elders and deacons:
Elders:
Class of 2024: Paul Tshihamba, Cullen Rodgers-Gates, Sherbie Skeen, Michael Whisenhunt, Karl Umble
Class of 2023: Evan Cate, Kathy Mitchell, Susan Kinghorn, Jeff Baker, Alex Hartemink
Deacons:
Class of 2024: Ryan Stultz, Bill Shively, Rhett Gibson-Davis, Kristy Ponce, Heather Hodge,
Class of 2023: Fabian Linares, Sarah Solie, John Warnell, Bo Harrison, Rick Copland, James Junker
We pray for the Pastoral Transition Team as they begin the work of searching for an Interim Pastor. Pray as they begin the process of receiving applications and for the Lord to lead us to the right person. We pray for Stephanie Wheatley (chair), Lauren Holahan, Jack Simonds, Julie Leyva, Ann Talton-Lee, Paul Tshihamba, and David Dunderdale.
Community
Samaritan Health Center is growing and has a position for a part time Medical Director! The Medical Director will have primary responsibility for managing the clinical performance of Samaritan Health Center. He or she will work closely with the Executive Director to ensure that medical and vision services at the Health Center are provided at the Health Center are provided at the standard of care. Please check HERE for the full description and application. We would love to have you join our team!
CCS Volunteer "Senior" Intern Wanted: Do you want to get out of the house once a week, be around a youthful presence, and use your bookkeeping, database, and office management skills for ministry purposes? The Center for Christianity and Scholarship is looking for an enthused retiree with bookkeeping and database skills to volunteer for several hours a week in the office at the CCS house. The need is from June through August, but with the possibility of extending through the calendar or academic year if all parties agree. If interested, please contact Laney Alspaugh at margaret.alspaugh@duke.edu.