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Worship with us online Sunday, 3/29

Church building in snow

Join us online at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, March 29 as we worship together! We recorded this service on Thursday, March 26, 2020. God’s timing, heart, and prayer are perfect. May God bless you and keep you!

Find us watching together at 9:00 a.m. at https://www.facebook.com/CollegeParkWS or check back later on this website for a posted video.

Recordings of past Re:Creation and traditional worship services

Treasure chest

A Word from our Deacons and Finance Committee

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The past few days have certainly been challenging for all of us.  Who would have thought that we would be practicing  social distancing,  watching the stock market go on wild daily swings, finding empty shelves at the grocery store, and experiencing fear over an unseen contagion?  As Christians, let us use this time of uncertainty to unite us as one body who glorifies God through our words and actions.  Let us see this as a time for faith not fear, for giving not receiving, and for caring not crisis.

Philippians 4:6-7 states “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

As you know, our building was closed Sunday and will be closed for at least the next few weeks – but as children of God – our worship is active wherever we are! Our faithful staff is leading us via Facebook and over the weekly stream on the website: https://collegepark.ws.  Even though our building is closed, we are still faced with ongoing expenses and your offerings are essential to keep our ministry healthy.  If you are looking for ways to give other than through the Sunday offering plate or giving kiosk, please see the information below.

Ways to Give:

1-Mail contributions directly to the church at CPBC 1701 Polo Rd Winston-Salem, NC 27106.

2-Use your online bill pay. All contributions received through this avenue will be credited to budget gifts unless otherwise noted in the memo.

3- Go to https://collegepark.ws. Click on giving and giving options. Click on electronically. (Alternatively, go directly to https://onrealm.org/collegepark/Give). You can give as a guest or give with your Realm email address and password. You can contribute from your checking account or a credit card and store it for future transactions. Please contact Grace in the church office if you have any questions.

4-Text CollegePark (with no spaces) to 73256. Select “Where Needed Most” or the budget fund you wish to give to. You can give by card or checking account.

5-Keep in mind any Qualified Charitable Contributions from your IRA or stock transfers.

Thank you for your faithfulness during this time.

Blessings,

Jim Pernell                                                                                                                          Steve Loftis

Finance Chairman                                                                                                            Deacon Chairman

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Open bible

March 16 church update

We hope this finds you healthy and well.  I don’t know about you, but it feels like life has both sped up and slowed down at the same time.  We are in a strange time.  The questions seemingly have no answers.  Even if we do get answers one day, the next day comes with new questions.

We all feel something is different.  We have this in common. 

For that I am so very thankful.   We do not have to weather this alone.  It is a gift knowing that people are praying for one another and standing by to do whatever is needed.  Even more so is knowing we serve a God who has not abandoned us.  Thank God for His Holy Spirit and His church.

As we face these new days, our leadership and staff are working diligently to provide ongoing support and resources.  In keeping with current recommendations by both Federal and State governments, all activities at College Park are cancelled until Monday, March 30.  We will continue to monitor the situation and prepare for the time when it is safe for us all to return. 

Our staff and leadership will be putting things together for a Sunday service which will be available by live stream and our church website.  We will also be sending out resources for families, kids, students, and adults of every age. 

Our first idea is to do the same Bible devotion together.  We will start with a devotional called, “A Journey From Worry to Confident Hope: Praying Through the Lord’s Prayer.”  Everyone is invited to read it together.  Click this link and follow the instructions.  It uses the “Bible” app available on smart phones, tablets, and computers.  We hope you will join us in studying God’s word together.  If you choose to read together with others, the first reading is scheduled for March 17.  Let us know if you have any questions.

Keep being the church where you are.  Love, sing, serve, encourage, and pray.  Reach out by phone or device to your family, neighbors, fellow church members.  This is a great opportunity to be the church where you are.  Just because we are not able gather in the same building doesn’t mean we aren’t the church.  Wherever God’s people are, He is with them.  So continue being the church.

We will be in communication with you in the coming days.  Please let us know if we can do anything for you.  May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Peace,
The Church Staff

Featured image by Ryk Neethling from Melbourne, Australia. CC Attribution 2.0 Generic, via wikimedia.org.

College Park’s Response to Coronavirus UPDATE

Dear College Park Family,

Yesterday morning, as I prepared the email that was sent out last evening, my hope was that we would be able to meet together tomorrow and gain some sense of peace and comfort by being together in the midst of the anxiety of this past week. We wrestled with should we meet…should we share communion in the usual fashion…? Based on the local information we had, we decided to not serve communion, but still meet together for those who wanted to come.  In light of information that we have received since yesterday evening, we have decided to err on the side of caution and cancel all services tomorrow. We will stay tuned to all local information and make additional calls if necessary.

In the meantime, we will be live streaming a blended service on the church’s Facebook page about 9:00 in the morning, and the same service will be available later in the day through our usual Vimeo page, and the church website: www.collegepark.ws

Remember that there are people all around us that are fearful and need to experience the love and peace of Jesus! This can be a great time to show the love of Christ!

As always, please call if we can help in any way!

Shalom,

Ramon

Appalachian Outreach June 21-21

Sign-up deadline is March 15th.

JUNE 21-26, 2020

Join us for Appalachian Outreach, June 21 – 26. Appalachian Outreach is a poverty relief ministry equipped to serve impoverished families through word and deed.  Our mission is Matthew 25:40 – Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Appalachian Outreach is a multifaceted Ministry that provides services to a four county area of East Tennessee; Jefferson, Grainger, Hamblen and Cocke Counties.

Mission teams from across the nation gather to serve for a short time throughout the year. Appalachian Outreach greatly appreciates these teams and all the work they do. Every year, churches gather teams and funds to travel to Jefferson City, Tennessee in order to be the hands and feet of Christ. Members of these teams pay a fee per person. (Check with church office for cost.) This fee covers housing, food, and materials for the time spent with Appalachian Outreach. Each team works with Appalachian Outreach staff members and receives t-shirts to represent their time served each year.

Summer mission teams can serve in Home Repair, Kid’s Club, the Ministry Center, or with the Samaritan House Family Ministries. Home Repair teams work with a homeowner for four days to complete necessary repairs. At the end of each job, the teams present their homeowner with a Bible signed by the team. Teams working at the Ministry Center work to separate and organize donations, aid families and individuals come in for help, and restock and organize the Food Pantry. Additional services at the Ministry Center include the furniture ministry, chopping firewood, and recycling books, cardboard, and other recyclable materials. The Kid’s Club is also an option short term mission teams.

Children's activities

The Furniture Ministry at Appalachian Outreach offers furniture pieces to families in need for a very low cost.  Everything will be priced reasonably, from $5 to $25.  The Appalachian Outreach Furniture Ministry is open to all local counties. The sale will not be limited to just furniture; we will have baby items, toys, bicycles, etc.  Since Appalachian Outreach operates on donations, furniture options may vary and selections are limited to a first-come, first-serve basis. Also, Samaritan House residents, along with burn-out victims (authorized with fire report) are prioritized.  Furniture and appliance items are donated year round by individuals, congregations, and local businesses. Volunteers are always needed to aid in the organization and distribution of furniture. Also, volunteers are needed who can repair donated appliances.

The Appalachian Outreach Ministry Center, at 511 Municipal Drive, provides the following necessities: • Food Pantry • Clothing Ministry • Household Items • Toys for the children. The Ministry Center functions solely through donations that are accepted year round. Donations can come from individuals as well as companies, businesses, congregations, and schools. Local farmers often donate produce. Local stores and businesses donate near date and overflow items. The majority of the Ministry Center is driven by volunteers. Families who receive goods and services from Appalachian Outreach often volunteer to serve, to show their appreciation. This offers individuals a chance to give back to the ministry and develop a relationship with Appalachian Outreach and its staff. The Ministry Center serves 400 to 600 families per month. This means that approximately 1,800 individuals receive aid every month. Visiting the Ministry Center, families can receive five articles of clothing per visit up to six times per year. Food is offered to Jefferson County families once a month based on need. Various household items are also available. Grainger, Dandridge, and Cocke County residents may receive clothing and extra food items six times per year.

Ajppalachian Outreach

The Samaritan House opened in 1987 as a shelter for single women and families. Will and Ester Rubenstein donated the home as an emergency shelter for struggling families. The Samaritan House accepts single women and women with children. Men are referred to other shelters in the area.  After two years of construction, thousands of volunteer hours, and many heartfelt prayers, the dream of a new Samaritan House Family Ministries facility became a reality in 2013.

The new 12,600 square foot shelter rests on 10.22 acres donated by Jay Moser. The main floor has multiple functions. It stands as an office space for staff, a common kitchen/dining area for residents, and an outreach area for the community. The upstairs houses four family suites, a dorm area, a single staff room, two staff apartments, a play area for resident children, a common area for resident families, and an oversized laundry room. Two additional rooms will be developed at a later date. This new facility can serve an average of 55 families each year, which totals about 115 individuals.

6

Residents are required to save 80% of their income during their stay in an effort to pay all deposits when they find permanent housing. Each family is allotted a 45 day stay based on need and availability. Every family is allowed to stay as long as they follow the rules and show a persistent work ethic towards goals such as better jobs or more stable circumstances. Extensions of stay can be provided depending on availability and the situation. Each family is also commissioned to work on individual development goals during their stay such as job plans and permanent housing. While at the Samaritan House, all adults must be looking for employment unless they are disabled or child care is cost prohibitive. Children must also be enrolled in school. Families are required to participate in chores in order to help maintain the home area and rotate with meal preparation.

Tuesday Night Bible Study happens every week. Local churches provide the evening’s meal as well as a devotional time for both children and adults. There are walking trails around the grounds that add up to about half a mile. Along with a children’s play area, two pavilions line the grounds with raised garden areas.

Appalachian Outreach

The Samaritan House Family Ministries center also has the only documented case of a geothermal utility in an abandoned mineshaft. This is a hidden blessing for the Samaritan House; the abandoned mineshaft has been transformed into a geothermal heating and cooling system for the entire building. The shaft itself is over 800 feet deep, but it is filled with over 600 feet of water. The natural temperature underground keeps a consistent temperature of 54° Fahrenheit within the shaft in order to balance temperatures within the area. This system has already paid for itself in savings. A national research company is in the process of studying the results of this geothermal system for five years following its development. An article has already been submitted for publication about findings in the first year.

HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED:

         College Park has a limited number of spaces available this Summer to participate in Appalachian Outreach. We are limited to 70 participants, including youth (but not including children of parents who may want to attend). If both parents with younger children would like to attend, the parents can alternate the days of participation, and only one participant fee will be charged. Only children aged 12+ are allowed on any of the jobs sites. If participants would like to stay in motel accommodations, we have rooms reserved in the Jefferson Inn, in Dandridge, Tennessee, which is close to the campus, and comes highly recommended to us by the AO staff.

Please contact the church office or view the information in the entrance hall for costs of participation.  All meals (Monday-Thursday) will be provided as part of your fee, by First Baptist Church, Jefferson City.

Friday morning, the adventure is officially over, and we are free to leave for home, or Dollywood, or wherever!

APPALACHIAN OUTREACH

JUNE 21-26, 2020

Sign-up deadline is March 15th.



Upcoming events, 3/8/2020 edition

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • The menu for Wednesday night supper is pot roast with veggies, corn bread and banana pudding.
  • Deacons will meet on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30.
  • College Parkers will gather on Thursday, March 19 at 11:30 a.m. in Smith Hall for a covered-dish lunch and program.  Ages 55 and over are invited!
  • The Youth Mission Team will meet on Sunday, March 22, 12:00 – 2:30.
  • Book Club meets on Monday evening, March 30 at 7:00.
  • To raise money for the Appalachian Ministry Project, we are selling delicious, fully-cooked Boston Butts on Saturday, March 28.  All will be sold in advance.  The cost is $40.00 for around 10 pounds of meat.  Tickets are available from Michael Gruver, Josh Hauser, Charlie Jones and the youth. They will be sold on Sundays and Wednesdays through March 22. Support the mission by purchasing your own and asking your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to buy a ticket!
  • If you would like to place a lily in the sanctuary for Easter Sunday, April 12, please use the order form found at the Welcome Desk and return it to the church office no later than Friday, March 27.  The cost will be $12.00/per plant and this should be paid at the time you order.
  • Our Family Ministry Team is excited to announce a new Easter Outreach Mission Project for the entire church.  We are partnering with some of our local apartment complexes.  They are asking for donations to help create 18,000 Easter Eggs.  College Park will be joining in that effort.  So we are inviting all who are able to donate plastic eggs and individually wrapped candy (no chocolate or nuts please).  There are collection boxes in the main hallway.  We will collect these items until March 25.  During that Wednesday night, all children, youth, and adults will gather to stuff the eggs that we collect and they will then be delivered to City Lights by April 1.  Thanks for prayerfully considering how to be part of this local mission effort.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK

Today

9:00 a.m.                                                        Re:Creation Worship Service

9:45                                                                                        Sunday School

11:00                                                                                Morning Worship

4:30                                                                                           Youth Choir

5:30                                                                              Youth Snack Supper

6:00                                                                         Youth Online; Channels

7:00                                                                                                Handbells              

Monday

10:00 a.m.                                                                                   Bible Study

Tuesday

9:15 a.m.                                                                              Senior Aerobics

10:00                                                                                    NO Grace Notes

7:15 p.m.                                                                                       Pickle Ball

Wednesday                                                                                                    

1:00 p.m.                                                                   Ethel Ledbetter WMU

5:45                                                                                                     Supper

6:15-7:30                                                                                            SPARK

6:30                                                                                        Prayer Meeting

6:45                                                                 Bible Study; Youth Missions

7:30                                                      Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal; Deacons                             

Thursday                                                                                                       

9:15-10:00 a.m.                                                                    Senior Aerobics

6:30 p.m.                                                                              Tone & Stretch

8:00                                                                                         APB Rehearsal

Saturday

7:00 a.m.                                                                      A Men’s Bible Study

Upcoming events, 3/1/2020 edition

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • The menu for Wednesday night supper is fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits and dessert.
  • The Winston Salem Department of Transportation has commissioned the design of pedestrian safety improvements along Polo Road between University Parkway and Wake Drive.  Come to a drop-in session to learn more and ask questions on Thursday, March 5, 6-7:30 p.m. in Smith Hall.
  • Sign up at the Welcome Desk for “Painting with a Twist,” Saturday, March 7.  We will leave the church at 3:30.  The cost is $35/person.  The Youth Mission Team is providing childcare from 3:30 – 8:30 (a generous donation is expected).
  • Refugees who have been placed in the United States because they had to flee their homes (more than half are under the age of 18), have left behind their entire way of life and face the daily realities of uncertainty and distress. As Christians, and as members of College Park, we are uniquely positioned to minister to them. Our compassionate response to the physical and emotional needs of refugees must be coupled with a desire to satisfy their spiritual needs through the hope found in Jesus. During the evening of Wednesday, March 11, we will have the opportunity to participate in a simulation to develop a greater understanding about the issues refugees face and to learn what the Bible teaches about our Christian response to refugees. Please sign up to join the experience on March 11.
  • During the Week of Prayer for North American Missions, we are all encouraged to pray specifically for church planters who answered God’s call to go and to plant churches. We are encouraged to read their stories and listen to their hearts for their people. As we read their stories, we will hopefully understand our role in helping them to fulfill the Great Commission.  Walkdown for North American Missions, March 8, 2020 
  • To raise money for the Appalachian Ministry Project, we are selling delicious, fully-cooked Boston Butts on Saturday, March 28.  All will be sold in advance.  The cost is $40.00 for around 10 pounds of meat.  Tickets are available from Michael Gruver, Josh Hauser, Charlie Jones and the youth. They will be sold on Sundays and Wednesdays. Support the mission by purchasing your own and asking your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to buy a ticket!
  • If you would like to place a lily in the sanctuary for Easter Sunday, April 12, please use the order form found at the Welcome Desk and return it to the church office no later than Friday, March 27.  The cost will be $12.00/per plant and this should be paid at the time you order.   

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK

Today

9:00 a.m.                                                             Re:Creation Worship Service

9:45                                                                                              Sunday School

10:00                                                                                                  PRELUDE

11:00                                                                                      Morning Worship

4:30                                                                                                  Youth Choir

5:30                                                                                    Youth Snack Supper

6:00                                                                               Youth Online; Channels

7:00                                                                                                       Handbells               

Monday

10:00 a.m.                                                                                         Bible Study

Tuesday

9:15 a.m.                                                                                    Senior Aerobics

10:00                                                             Grace Notes to Creekside Terrace

7:15 p.m.                                                                                             Pickle Ball

Wednesday                                                                                                          

5:45 p.m.                                                                                                   Supper

6:15-7:30                                                                                                  SPARK

6:30                                                                                               Prayer Meeting

6:45                                                                        Bible Study; Youth Missions

7:45                                                                           Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal                               

Thursday                                                                                                              

9:15-10:00 a.m.                                                                         Senior Aerobics

6:00-7:30 p.m.              Polo Road Pedestrian Safety Meeting – Smith Hall

6:30                                                                                            Tone & Stretch

8:00                                                                                               APB Rehearsal

Saturday

7:00 a.m.                                                                            A Men’s Bible Study