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Exodus Bible Study:  Tuesday, May 19th at 9:15am:  Tuesday Morning Bible Study.  Read and discuss Exodus 3.  Join via Zoom at:  https://zoom.us/j/605651857

Mark Bible Study:  Friday, May 22th at 2:00pm:   This week we will read and discuss Mark 7.  Join via Zoom at:  https://zoom.us/j/360499365

Friends, please consider writing a devotion to share with your church family!
Devotion for Tuesday, May 19th

The Fire, Methodists, and a Hymnal
 
Friends,

You likely know that our original (1916) sanctuary was destroyed by fire in 1939.  I have heard stories from members who were there as children of seeing the ruin.  One member even remembered picking up as a girl the melted and distorted fragments of stained glass after things had cooled.

One of the stories told about the fire is how Marvin Goodrum ran into the sanctuary once the fire had started and saved the Bible from the pulpit of the burning building.  That Bible is on display in the history cabinet in the hallway outside of the the library at the church.

To me it is amazing that the church was rebuilt - to the same plans - within the year.

It is a testament to the faithfulness of the church (people, not building!), that they rebounded from such a major crisis.

One celebration of the return is also in the display case.  It is a hymnal.  Age and use hide the fact that it is a particularly special hymnal.  Instead of the cloth bound, blue cover typical of the 1937 Presbyterian Hymnal, the hymnal is leather-bound.  It is a presentation edition, and inside the front cover is a note:  "Presented by the Ladies of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church."

I can't say for certain that the gift of a Presbyterian hymnal by the Ladies Group of the Methodist church across the street had to do with the fire, but it seems likely that it was in some way a celebration of the church.  Perhaps after being rebuilt, the WPPC took time to replace its hymnals?  Maybe this was a gift of a first, special hymnal.  

At any rate, it also shows that Christ's church is bigger than a particular congregation or a particular denomination.

Christ's church is more durable than a building.

Christ's church cannot be destroyed by fire.

Friends, we are unfortunately in another time of crisis.  I trust fully that Christ's church - because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the grace which Christ grants us - will weather any storm and emerge from any crisis.

I give thanks for the Winter Park Presbyterian Church of 1939, the Wesley United Methodist Church of 1940, and all of Christ's church of today.

God bless you all on this rainy day,

Emile
The original 1916 sanctuary
the present sanctuary being rebuilt in 1939
Presentation Edition of the 1937 Presbyterian Hymanl
Psalm 139: 1-18 (NRSV)
 

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down,
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
   O Lord, you know it completely.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is so high that I cannot attain it.


7 Where can I go from your spirit?
   Or where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
   if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning
   and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
   and your right hand shall hold me fast.
11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
   and the light around me become night’,
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
   the night is as bright as the day,
   for darkness is as light to you.


13 For it was you who formed my inward parts;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
   Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
15   My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
   intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
   all the days that were formed for me,
   when none of them as yet existed.
17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
18 I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
   I come to the end—I am still with you.

"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"
First-Plymouth Church, Lincoln, NE
"This Is My Father's World" - Virtual Choir Project

Friends, we are starting another Virtual Choir project.  This one will be for worship in 2 weeks. 

You don't have to play the ukulele or be a member of our Chancel Choir to participate!  Just record yourself singing!  

How to participate:

1.  Watch this video of Sharon singing:
"This Is My Father's World" - Base Track
2.   Download this copy of the music for the song:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=10RJWi0mLCBrHdkUgLAXQlPGo8TpH7e4Q


3.  Make a recording of you singing this song in sync with Sharon. 

Sing any part!  (Sharon is singing harmony during portions of the recording)

To record in sync with Sharon, you will need two devices:
  1. One phone or tablet to listen to the song video as you play along
  2. and a second camera/phone/tablet to record the video of you singing.
(PLEASE wear headphones while recording.  This makes it much more likely that  you will be in sync and makes the editing process easier.)

4.  Then share the file with Emile by Google Drive, Drop Box or another file-sharing service.  (The video will be too large to text or e-mail.  If you need help, please ask!)  

The deadline to send me a video will be Thursday, May 21st at 5pm.   After that I will begin editing the video together - and it is difficult add a late video after I've begun work.

5.  Call or text Emile to make sure I got the video.  (Sometimes file transfers don't work the first time - especially if you've not sent a file to me before.  I REALLY don't want to accidentally leave out someone who recorded a song!)


Thank you all!  The more voices the better!
 
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Copyright ©  2020, Winter Park Presbyterian Church

Our mailing address is:
4501 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, NC

Contact Us by Email:

Emile: emile@winterparkpres.org
Rachel:  rachel@winterparkpres.org
Aaron: aaron@winterparkpres.org
Sharon:  sharon@winterparkpres.org
Dorothy: dorothy@winterparkpres.org
Ruth: ruth@winterparkpres.org

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