Dear fellow CUCC'ers:
This email is a continuation of deacon outreach efforts in this time of COVID-19. Contained within this email is yet another devotional for our collective reflection, penned by Rev. Robert Parrish, along with a wonderful poem entitled Prayer During This Pandemic by David Isaacs.
Please remember if you are in need of support or assistance, then please don’t hesitate to call or reach out to one of us. We are happy to receive your prayer requests. We are also able to contact pastors or church staff on your behalf, should you require their support. We will strive to help any way we can. You can find contact information by looking in the Breeze tag 2. Deacons.
Thank you for being in community with us. May we remain unified, loving, passionate and compassionate during this difficult time. Peace be with you!
This email is a continuation of deacon outreach efforts in this time of COVID-19. Contained within this email is yet another devotional for our collective reflection, penned by Rev. Robert Parrish, along with a wonderful poem entitled Prayer During This Pandemic by David Isaacs.
Please remember if you are in need of support or assistance, then please don’t hesitate to call or reach out to one of us. We are happy to receive your prayer requests. We are also able to contact pastors or church staff on your behalf, should you require their support. We will strive to help any way we can. You can find contact information by looking in the Breeze tag 2. Deacons.
Thank you for being in community with us. May we remain unified, loving, passionate and compassionate during this difficult time. Peace be with you!
Paul Atkinson, chair Deacons Ministry
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THE GIVING TABLE
By Rev. Robert Parrish
I am a resident of Murphey School Apartments, a housing facility for seniors of low income. You can surmise from its name that this complex was once a school. In fact, Murphey School is a historic landmark that was the first integrated elementary school in North Carolina. Amongst its attendees was Ralph A. Campbell Jr, the first African American to hold statewide office in our state.
People who live at Murphey School come from various backgrounds ranging from teaching school to being a cook. Other residents are here due to some of the misfortunes that life can bring. The thing that all of us have in common is what I call “the giving table.”
The giving table is located in the laundry room of this senior facility. Various items from food to clothing can often be found on this table. These needed gifts are taken and appreciated as needed, and the table keeps being replenished. As I have given such items as to the above I have graciously received others, including beautiful mugs and even a DVR. This kind of interplay reflects both giving and receiving out of the needs of the residents. Although we are low income, we help and support each other.
In Philippians 4:12-19 we find a giving and receiving relationship with the Apostle Paul and the Philippian Christians. They gave to Paul even out of their own need. In return Paul prayed for their well being as he knew that God would supply all of their needs (Philippians 4:19).
The needs that we experience in life are often interrelated; thus, a person of low wealth who is going through a struggle can help a person of means who is going through a similar situation. In fact, at some level we all experience the same kind of needs: needs like receiving love or getting support in an hour of loneliness. Through Christ may we be aware of the needs that we have so that we might meet the needs of another.
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THE GIVING TABLE
By Rev. Robert Parrish
I am a resident of Murphey School Apartments, a housing facility for seniors of low income. You can surmise from its name that this complex was once a school. In fact, Murphey School is a historic landmark that was the first integrated elementary school in North Carolina. Amongst its attendees was Ralph A. Campbell Jr, the first African American to hold statewide office in our state.
People who live at Murphey School come from various backgrounds ranging from teaching school to being a cook. Other residents are here due to some of the misfortunes that life can bring. The thing that all of us have in common is what I call “the giving table.”
The giving table is located in the laundry room of this senior facility. Various items from food to clothing can often be found on this table. These needed gifts are taken and appreciated as needed, and the table keeps being replenished. As I have given such items as to the above I have graciously received others, including beautiful mugs and even a DVR. This kind of interplay reflects both giving and receiving out of the needs of the residents. Although we are low income, we help and support each other.
In Philippians 4:12-19 we find a giving and receiving relationship with the Apostle Paul and the Philippian Christians. They gave to Paul even out of their own need. In return Paul prayed for their well being as he knew that God would supply all of their needs (Philippians 4:19).
The needs that we experience in life are often interrelated; thus, a person of low wealth who is going through a struggle can help a person of means who is going through a similar situation. In fact, at some level we all experience the same kind of needs: needs like receiving love or getting support in an hour of loneliness. Through Christ may we be aware of the needs that we have so that we might meet the needs of another.
Poem by Cameron Bellm
(We erroneously credited this poem to another person in an email earlier this week.
Our apologies to Ms. Bellm.)