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Please consider sending in short news items as Aaron suggested for a "News from the Flock" column in our paper newsletter.  His email is: aaron@ukulele.church

Note: the second batch of "News from the Flock" are going out in our paper newsletter which is being printed and will be mailed today.  Please take a moment to catch up with your friends!

We will have a Worship Service with the Lord's Supper on Zoom this Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00pm.  You may join the service at this link (more details and phone-in information below):  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84303502953?pwd=Snk0VlFhK0liRTFqTENEU1Z0YVhjQT09 

Readers needed for Wednesday's Service!
  If you would like to read a prayer or a Bible passage, please let Emile know by responding to this email!   The draft bulletin  can be seen here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/13wYGnMjc10jzQyh4ateciDKyXqOXa_4x/view?usp=sharing
Worship on Sunday, September 27th will again be live-streamed from the Sanctuary.  Links for the service and the bulletin will be shared later in the week.
Devotion for Tuesday, September 22nd

by Ed B.
A Daily Thought by Ed B.
 
 
While on my morning walk in the woods recently I found myself reminiscing about childhood visits with my grandparents.  We visited every Christmas and summer and even stayed with them for several extended periods.  I thought of my grandmother's Boiled Raisin Cake and other holiday specialties set to cool on a cupboard in the dining room, of her grape jelly stored neatly on shelves in the storm cellar, and of crisp apple cider from the local orchards sipped from special glasses.  The barn held treasures including old metal fishing rods and auto parts left from my grandfather's repair business.  I remembered the reservoir lake where we fished, and the train tracks where we placed pennies just before the train came past dangerously closely as we anticipated finding flattened pennies.  I remembered being excited when my grandmother brought out items from my father's childhood including a tin full of marbles, baseball cards, and a booklet that, when flipped, showed Babe Ruth swinging the bat.  My thoughts then focused on the small framed needle point picture that hung on the wall beside the curio cabinet.  There was a sewn image of a house and the words:

“Let Me Live In A House By The Side Of The Road And Be A Friend To Man”.
This statement seemed to perfectly describe the house and the sentiment within, but I realized that I didn't know anything more about the verse. 
 
A quick search on the internet revealed that the phrase is part of a poem written by the beloved New England poet, Sam Walter Foss, (1858 to 1911).  While working as a librarian he wrote a poem a day for the local newspaper and published at least five volumes of poems.  His poems were described as “frank and homely and of the common man variety”.  The poem, “The House By The Side Of The Road”, was very popular in it's day, as was the verse on the needle point picture.  While reading the poem I was struck by the poet's desire to befriend everyone who came by his home, fully understanding that there would be good and bad people, and fully acknowledging the good and bad in himself.  He wished to rejoice and weep with others, sharing in their joys and failures, rather than avoiding humanity in pleasant mountains or prairies.  This was remarkable to me considering that the poet had lived through the turmoil and divisiveness of the American Civil War.
 
I then thought of my grandmother who had lived through both World Wars and the depression, had held her breath while her son fought overseas, and had seen the difficulties faced by her family and her neighbors as immigrants to this country.  She prided herself in being friendly with her neighbors, who were from Poland and Italy, and other European countries that had been ravaged by war and sectarian violence.  She would graciously accept samples of the favorite recipes from the neighbor ladies, even though she was sure that her Irish cooking was more healthful and tasty.
 
Both the poet and my grandmother purposefully and willfully reached out in friendship to others while acknowledging that everyone had both good and bad qualities.  I think this is a good reminder and model for living in the current difficult times.
 
There are numerous verses in the Bible that stress living in harmony with others.
 
1 Peter 3:8           Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
 
Romans 12:16-18 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

The House by the Side of the Road
by Sam Walter Foss

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran-
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man. -

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man. -

I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears,
Both parts of an infinite plan-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice.
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone. -

Let me live in my house by the side of the road-
It's here the race of men go by.
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish- so am I;
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Friends, with this morning's reflection from Ed, may I share this musical project form July?  Emile
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
Lyrics: Joseph Scriven, 1855 Music: Charles C. Converse, 1868 Public Domain.   Many thanks to the July Virtual WPPC (Ukulele) Choir: Sarah, Amy, Christine and Fiona, Rachel, Susan, Nancy, Ed (Ukulele Choir Director), Sharon (WPPC Music Director), Jim, Emile, Lydia, Teresa, Shirley, and John.
Worship Service on Zoom:  Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00pm

Please bring bread and a cup of grape juice/wine to a table in your home and join with church family at our monthly worship service on Zoom.

The draft bulletin is here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/13wYGnMjc10jzQyh4ateciDKyXqOXa_4x/view?usp=sharing
Zoom Invitation:

Topic: Communion Worship Service
Time: Sep 23, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84303502953?pwd=Snk0VlFhK0liRTFqTENEU1Z0YVhjQT09

Meeting ID: 843 0350 2953
Passcode: 1913
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Upcoming WPPC Worship Services

Livestreaming on Sunday Mornings at 10am 
Links available by e-mail or on the church website and Facebook Page.  Each week will be a new link (typically posted beginning Thursday).  You may watch the service live during the 10 o'clock hour or as a recording any time later.

Volunteers are needed to help lead our Sunday service!  If you wish to help lead and participate in our Sunday morning worship service, please reply to this e-mail or send a message to Emile (to lead readings or prayers) or Sharon (to volunteer musically).

Wednesday, September 23rd at 7pm -  Online Communion Worship Service on Zoom.

Wednesday, September 30th at 6pm -  Outdoor "Parking Lot" Worship Service.
Please consider bringing diapers for a collection for the North Carolina Diaper Bank to this service.
 
Sunday, October 11th at 5pm -  Outdoor "Parking Lot" Worship Service with Communion.
Please consider bringing non-perishable food items to donate towards our "I Was Hungry And..." food drive.

For all of our in person activities, please wear a mask and practice physical distancing.  When we gather outside bring your own chair - if possible.   Please always exercise caution when deciding whether an in person service makes sense for you and the members of your household, and please help us make every activity as safe as possible for all participants!

Sunday Morning Worship:   We need A/V volunteers!

 Watch the video below for more information.
Operating our A/V System
If you might be interested in being one of our volunteers, please let us know!
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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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