A Community of Churches

Oriental's churches have a lovely relationship. We are all friends, we love to sing together, and we love to worship together. We're not just churches who happen to sit on the same streets; we're happy colleagues in Jesus's kingdom work. 

One shared ministry is the Ladies' Prayer Shawl group each Thursday. Ladies from various denominations (or perhaps no church at all) meet at the Methodist fellowship hall. We knit, crochet, pray, chat, laugh, and support each other. Today's group was particularly large!

 I believe we ended up with fourteen around the table today. We have sent 1614 items in ten years to those grieving, ill, or caring for a loved one.

 We make prayer shawls, lap robes, and little soft bunnies to give to newborn babies.

 The Prayer Shawl ministry receives some donations that buy the yarn we use.

 Each week the finished items are placed on a table. We all stand around it with our hands touching the precious pieces they have made, and we pray for those who will receive them. Sometimes we cry a little.

What amazes me is that the two Methodist ladies who started this ministry could have kept it to their own church, but they didn't. They included us all, and shared the joy!

Another community church event is our rotating Fifth Sunday Sing. This past Sunday night our church hosted it for the fourth time, and it was just as wonderful as the first one, back in 2014. Our choir sang "The Old Rugged Cross," and "Freely, Freely," both requested by church members. Rev. Weaver from the Methodist church gave us a rousing rendition of "Wade in the Water" on his saxophone. The Episcopalians sang sweet familiar songs from our favorite red songbook, and the Free Will Baptist choir had everyone singing along with "In My Heart There Rings a Melody!" 

The crowd moved to the fellowship hall, visiting over cookies and snacks, and many stayed and talked at the tables for nearly an hour. Thank you, dear friends, for the friendliness of our neighborhood, and the unity and love we feel among our churches!

Ladies' Get-Together!

We Pamlico Presbyterian ladies love to spend time together. We've studied books together, combined our salads and soups for dinners with each other, and had a lovely bridal shower too. But this past Monday we got together just ... well, to get together!

We met at Sally's house.

 Sally's in the middle, along with her friends Marilyn and Jackie.
Sally and her husband live on some beautiful water.

 Rose, a very dear lady among us, celebrated a very special birthday, but we won't say which one. However, she looks so young, you could not possibly guess!

 Her great-granddaughter was visiting to help us celebrate too. We had cake, pie, and lots of talking and laughter.

Some of these ladies do not like to have their pictures taken, so I had to be sneaky. We had a lovely time simply enjoying each others' company for a couple of hours, which is sometimes hard to do at church on Sundays when there are responsibilities, or there are husbands who are eager to go home. Ladies like to visit. I'm sure we'll be doing this again!

The Passing of a Saint into Glory

This photo was taken only two and a half weeks ago. The lady sitting in the center is Cricket, our church's oldest member.

On Wednesday Cricket passed from this world into a glorious eternity, a transition she has been preparing for and anticipating for many years. She was ready to meet her Savior and Friend, Jesus.

Cricket Draughon was 101 years old. She lived in North Carolina all her life, and in Pamlico County for most of it. She was a much-respected and loved member of the community, and a faithful supporter of our church.

The church was full of family and flowers.

A graveside service was not possible after the funeral service in the sanctuary because of the dampness of the ground after all our recent rains.
After the service, our church ladies served the family by offering a meal in the fellowship hall. 

Some had long drives ahead of them, after an emotional family time, and the meal was greatly appreciated. 

Miss Cricket will be missed very much, but she lived a full life of hard work and dedication. Each Sunday morning during our prayer time, she would often admit her sins, ask for God's forgiveness, and then express her gratitude for all God had done for her and given her.  She prayed for a thankful heart. We celebrate her long life and are joyful in her arrival at her eternal home!

A Wonderful Seder Supper

Tonight our church enjoyed a Seder Supper -- a Jewish and Christian meal, and a celebration of freedom and redemption in Jesus. Adam led the meal, and everyone responded in the liturgical readings. Twenty participants filled the large square table.

 Pastor Adam made the unleavened matzo, the sweet charoset, and the bitter herbs (horseradish). Nadine contributed her beautiful hand-thrown pottery for our use for the evening.

 Everyone had programs to follow the readings during the Seder meal.

 

The readings focused on the faithfulness of God to save His people, our freedom from bondage, and our thankfulness for God's redemption and goodness. The Seder reminds God's people of all He has done, and encourages us not to forget, and to be thankful.
Many thanks go Pastor Adam for all his hard work in preparing this evening for us.

Happy New Year

A rare snowfall has come to Pamlico County, and our church looks lovely and peaceful this late Christmas season.

Our church enjoyed the usual round of events during Christmastime -- serving cookies and hot cider to the very-cold folks at Oriental's town dock during Spirit of Christmas's star-lighting; sending out about 35 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes around the world; our annual Lessons and Carols service, a beautiful candlelight service with Scripture readings, carol singing, and special music; a reception following that service for everyone with hot cider, punch, and savory and sweet snacks; and participation in the many lovely events in Oriental at other churches.

We hope all our friends near and far have experienced the blessing of again recognizing the wonder of Jesus's birth, of God's rescue plan for lost sinners, of the joy that is ours because of the baby in Mary's arms. May God bless you in this new year!

Giving Thanks Together!

Our church's 5th annual Thanksgiving Day dinner was a wonderful gathering of thankful people!

Fifteen friends, family, and visitors laughed, ate, shared, thanked God, cleaned up, and took to-go boxes away.

Harvest decorations and banners abounded, and many pies and cakes were enjoyed.

Here are some who came:

Philip deep-fried an 18-pound turkey, and Woody kept him company.

So much wonderful food! It truly was a feast in all the best ways.

The fried turkey was the most moist turkey ever eaten.

A lovely butternut salad:

And Darryl's lighter-than-air spice cake - delicious!

We thank God for our church family, a group of people who love and help each other each day of the week and are more like family than merely acquaintances we see on a Sunday. The fellowship of this table and the joy shared today remind us of the beauty of God's kingdom. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Our Second Ladies' Salad Supper

 What a lovely time we had at Sally's home, enjoying our friends and our culinary skills!

Sally and Gary have a lovely dock and view off of Smith Creek. Thanks, Sally, for hosting us.