Durham Churches Unite to Build the Nicholson Family a Home with Habitat

14 local churches, including Duke Memorial, have united to raise $25,000 to build a home for the Nicholson family through Habitat.  Everyone can get involved!  We need donors (checks payable to Duke Memorial, with “Habitat” on the memo line); construction volunteers for Saturday mornings 8:30-11:30 on 3/3, 3/31, 5/19, and 6/30 and Saturday afternoons from 12:30-3:30 for 3/10, 5/19, and 6/30; volunteers to provide child care for construction volunteers or lunch for 24 on 5/19, and those willing to pray and support this project in any other way they can as well!  Contact Dustin.Rawlings@Duke.edu or Laura.Barnard@Duke.edu to get involved!  Help provide Belvalon and her three children (ages 3-13) a home.

Annual Vigil against Violence

The Annual Vigil against Violence, sponsored by the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham, is Thursday, March 1.  Come out to this city-wide vigil to remember, and comfort the families of, the 29 homicide victims in Durham in 2011. Brenda James, the mother of homicide victim Randolph James, says, “Each death impacts the community as a whole. We need one another across the board.” Thursday, March 1, at 7:00pm at Shepherd’s House UMC, 107 N. Driver St., Durham, NC. For more information contact Reynolds Chapman.

Volunteers Needed for Henderson Towers Community Service Fair

On March 13, from 1-4pm, there will be a community service fair at the Henderson Towers. They asked Duke Memorial if we would be willing to provide snacks for the event. In order to make this happen we need two things: 1) Volunteers to provide fruit, cheese and crackers, chips or drinks; and 2) Four volunteers to manage a table at the event. If you would like to continue to build upon our relationship with the Henderson Towers by volunteering, email Reynolds Chapman at reynoldschapman@dukememorial.org.

Stephen Ministry

God Called!!! Who? Me?

It all started when Phyllis and I were invited to be part of a small group to read the entire Bible as part of Disciple Bible Study I.  After seeing how much God loves each of us and how much God had done for me, I felt a tug at my heart to finally do something in service to God.  I received an invitation to be part of Stephen Ministry here at Duke Memorial.

You need to know that I have never been a “touchy-feely” kind of guy.  I have my problems and you have yours; I am pretty much a “Lone Wolf.  I had never cared for someone during a crisis or after a loss and never had someone care for me.  That was all foreign to me.

After wrestling with myself in prayer for almost three weeks (kind of similar to Jacob’s experience) I had to answer the question I believe God posed:  “if you aren‘t going to respond now, when will you or will you ever respond?”  I was 50 years old in 1995 — it was a fair question.  I said “yes” to God to become a Stephen Ministry Leader.

I remember talking with Rev. Wethington (Senior Pastor at that time).  He wanted to know why I was volunteering to be a Leader of Stephen Ministers.  I said “Let me be clear.  Going off to train for 10 days to become a Stephen Leader is definitely NOT my idea.  I don’t know what to expect or what I will be doing, but I’ve agreed to respond to God’s call and do whatever He leads me to do”.  My response actually surprised me quite a bit as it did Rev. Wethington.  Off I went to the most intense and rewarding training I have ever had.

Quickly, but gently, God led me to share with others burdens I didn’t recognize that I had carried from the loss of my uncle when I was 15.  I was also drawn into helping others in our training class (a Lutheran pastor and two Stephen Ministers who wanted to become Leaders of Stephen Ministers).  All of this was new and frankly, scary.  But God was in our midst and was ministering to each one of us through the 10 day training class at Loyola in Maryland.

As the training progressed, I really believe God developed a desire in me to be a Stephen Minister to care for others, not just to be a Leader and Trainer of Stephen Ministers.  I have filled both roles.

I have been blessed to care for several male Care Receivers over the past 16 years — each one different, each one taking me far out of my “Lone Wolf” comfort zone.

God is there all the time working in me, through me, before me and behind me.  God is the Cure Giver; I’m just the Care Giver.

When I prepare and pray before a first visit with someone I don’t know and before all visits, God provides the starting point for our visits.  God knows much better than I ever will know what a Care Receiver needs at a point in time.

I see God at work in Care Receivers as He speaks to them through scriptures, devotions and prayer.  I know with certainty that the healing and peace Care Receivers get come only because God is working in them.  My role is to be the delegated, tangible presence of Jesus Christ as His hands, His heart and His mind.  Jesus’ power is visible by the changes that occur in a Care Receiver over time.  These changes are not predictable and they are not goals that a Stephen Minister sets.  But, they are real, tangible results that our caring and loving Savior achieves.

Seeing God’s influence in the lives of Care Receivers and future Stephen Ministers as they train is amazing and humbling.   Future Stephen Ministers often don’t recognize God’s calling until several weeks in the training when they need God the most to lead them into the midst of someone’s problems.  Seeing God’s influence as our congregation endorses and accepts God’s care through Stephen Ministrers is equally humbling.

If you are struggling with “bumps in your road of life” that seem too much to handle, please speak to our pastors about having a Stephen Minister.  God wants to help you.

If God is calling you to serve Him in some way, explore and answer that call.  It may be a call to care for others in ways similar to the ways Jesus cared or it may be another form of service and worship.  I only wish I had listened and recognized God’s call when I was in my twenties or thirties and not until I was 50.

God called me through words in the Bible.  He speaks directly to each of us, not from the corner of our living room, but through His Word and prayers.  May God bless you and keep you always.

Sincerely in Christ,
Blaine Butterworth

Is God calling you?            Probably!            To Do What?

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UM Pastors Affected by Hurricane Irene

Since Hurricane Irene swept across the NC coast, many United Methodist pastors have labored countless days with long hours to help restore their communities, churches, and parsonages.  Duke Memorial and other churches in the Durham District are devoting November to praying for these pastors and offering help for their families.  Please pray for these weary pastors and their struggling families, and consider how you or your group or class can offer creative help.  Suggestions include a donated weekend at a beach or mountain house for a pastor and family to go for rest and relaxation, the donation of funds for movie tickets for a family to enjoy an evening of fun, or other gifts that can offer renewal.  For questions or to make donations, contact Ginger Thomas (gingerthomas@dukememorial.org).

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Volunteer with Interfaith Hospitality Network!

IHN families have no roofs at Thanksgiving except those provided by our congregation, which hosts them from November 20-27. Please join with Roger Loyd (our coordinator) and other volunteers to be sure they have shelter, food, and even more important, a warm Christian community’s support at this holiday season. Volunteer by contacting Roger Loyd (roger.loyd@duke.edu; 660-3452). Thanks!

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A Visit from Our Missionaries

On Sunday, November 27,  Drs. Lynn and Sharon Fogleman will give a presentation during the Sunday school hour. The Foglemans are a missionary couple who we have supported for over 20 years, most recently at the Red Bird medical clinic in Kentucky. They are now transitioning to South Sudan, where they will work for a community-based health care and disciple-making mission. Come hear more about their transition and new ministry. The program will be from 9:45-10:45 in the Bradshaw Room.

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Habitat for Humanity District Build

Be a co-coordinator: The Durham District of the UMC is building a Habitat Home in March! If you would like to coordinate the planning and fundraising, please contact Reynolds Chapman, Minister of Adult Discipleship and Witness, at reynoldschapman@dukememorial.org.

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Duke Memorial, Stephen Ministry,
and the Military

What’s the connection?

Stephen Ministries has partnered with H.E.R.O.E.S. Care and Operation Homefront, a nonprofit 501c3 organization that provides emergency assistance for military troops, the families they leave behind, and the wounded warriors when they return home.

Stephen Ministers provide the one-to-one, Christ-centered, confidential care to a care receiver (just as they always do). In addition, (after an eight hour training session) they can coordinate access to Financial resources, Employment opportunities through the Military Spouse Corp. Career Network (MSCCN), and Counseling services through Give-an-Hour (GAH), have a network of Psychologists and Psychiatrists who donate an hour of their time each week. Give-an-Hour reports that by August 2011 approximately 6000 Providers have donated 42000 hours of service. If you are a counselor check out GAH and see if you can donate time.

On October 1, a group of Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers from the Triangle Area including 4 from Duke Memorial were trained and are now qualified to serve as volunteers with H.E.R.O.E.S Care when military service members are mobilized. With eight military bases in North Carolina and many reserve units, these services are desperately needed and well deserved. We are honored to be able to serve in this unique way.

We ask all church members to prayerfully consider becoming part of this ministry. Is God calling you to serve? Our military families have many needs and there are so many ways we can help in our community. Many companies and local businesses are donating goods and services. Check out any of the web sites for H.E.R.O.E.S. Care, Operation Homefront, Give an hour and MSCCN or talk to Blaine Butterworth, Annette Martin or Howard Pleasant.

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Donate Clothes to Welcome Baby

Welcome Baby provides parenting education and support to families with young children. They currently need clothes for their Giving Closet, which serves many families in need of clothing and other supplies for their 5 and under children.  Recently much of their winter clothes supply was damaged by moisture in the storage area, and they are in need of children’s clothing donations – especially all girls’ clothing and boys’ clothing 2T and up. So if you haven’t cleaned out the attic or your closets in a while, this is the time.  Welcome Baby is located at 721 Foster St, right across from Central Park School. For more information, visit welcomebaby.org.

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Volunteer at Morehead Hills Senior Apartments

Morehead Hills Senior Apartments is a low-income residential facility. They are currently seeking volunteers for two needs: 1) Dividing and distributing food items for the residents, and 2) Offering light housekeeping assistance for an 87 year old resident. The resident has trouble standing for long periods of time and is greatly in need of some assistance so that he can maintain his independent lifestyle.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Reynolds.

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Urgent Need for Flood Buckets!

The Conference disaster response team urgently needs completed flood buckets, volunteers, and financial contributions to assist in relief and recovery ministry. If you are interested in helping put together flood buckets, contact Reynolds Chapman, Minister of Adult Discipleship and Witness, at reynoldschapman@dukememorial.org. Details will come soon about dates and times.

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Susanna Lambert on Small Groups

Susanna reflects on how Small Groups at Duke Memorial weave her life together with God.

Small group ministry is the back door
by which God brought me into the Duke Memorial community.

In 2007 we were still fairly new to Durham. A friendly face at a local park (our own Lindy Mathis) invited me to convene with a small group of moms here at Duke Memorial. I had a needy two-year-old and a needier six-month-old and knew very few people locally, so the prospect of an hour or two of kid-free adult conversation was too tempting to resist. As my older son had already won a lottery spot at the Weekday School for the 07-08 school year, it seemed a natural step for me to join a group based here.

I had expected this step would lead to play dates, coffee chats, recipe swaps, and carpools (which it did).

What I did not anticipate was that the incredibly generous, loving, honest fellowship I found would deepen, strengthen, and grow my wilting faith. God had brought me home, through the back door.  After three years in the peripheral Duke Memorial community, I became a member of the church in February 2010.

Engaging in a regular, structured conversation with other Christians is an excellent way to give your spiritual life the attention and priority it deserves. While it is important to learn more about the Bible or how to better incorporate Biblical practices into daily life, as much as my nerd-self loves critical reading and intelligent discourse, I believe the more powerful piece of small group “study” is the fellowship. Sharing prayers and praises with a small group is an amazing way to witness—and be a part of—God’s work happening in the lives around us. What can fortify our faith more than seeing His action with our own eyes? This is what happens in small groups.

John 13:33-35 (NIV) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

We are commanded–not politely invited but commanded–to love one another. Becoming woven together in small groups is one excellent way to obey this commandment while also nourishing our spirit, honoring our God and Lord, and, well, maybe learning something new too.

—Susanna Lambert

Visit the Small Groups Page to see all the groups offered this fall!

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A Report From the Tornado Relief Team

On May 28, eight members from Duke Memorial braved the heat to help the ongoing tornado relief effort from the April 16 tornados. The team went to the Stony Brook Mobile Home Park in Raleigh, where sadly four young children lost their lives when a tree fell on their home.

The “clean up” is mostly finished and the repair and rehab stage is in full-swing. A very large area in the is park now devoid of trees and homes because many destroyed homes were recently bulldozed. Part of the team was asked to go over the entire park and inventory the 183 lots, noting which lots still had homes on them and of those, which homes still had tarps on the roofs. This survey took some time but allowed the team to talk to a few of the residents and hear some of what they experienced on the day of the storm.

The other part of the team started in immediately on the hot, messy tasks needed to prepare one of the homes for rehabilitation: pulling moldy insulation from under the house, removing nails so new drywall could be installed, and hauling a whole lot of stuff to the two dumpsters across the street (the fun part of this, as the team quickly learned, was driving the little 4-wheeler “gator”). It seemed as if the work was to continue the destruction the tornado failed to do, so new construction could begin. (There may be a sermon in that somewhere!)

Tornado Relief Team 05/28/11 from Duke Memorial on Vimeo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of the work at Stony Brook is being coordinated by the very well-organized NC Baptist Men’s Disaster Response Group. The Duke Memorial team was visited at the job site by a couple of the Baptist Men who had noted our church van parked outside and wanted a picture of our team working. We were glad to be representing Duke Memorial!

Hopefully another workday will be organized very soon and another hardworking team will go spend some time helping in this very needed mission. So be on the lookout for announcements about another workday!