April Mission Baskets
The mission baskets in the side foyer and the Fellowship Hall collect donations for Church World Service’s Immigration and Refugee Program, to help refugees settle in to life in the Triangle. The program needs bedding, kitchenware, and AA batteries. This includes twin sheets sets (they have plenty of queen and full size currently!), blankets, comforters, mattress pads, dinnerware and silverware. All items should be new. Contact David Heist (david.heist@gmail.com) with questions.
April M4M
Our April 8 Minute for Mission will be presented by Kita Douglas, co-chair of the board for Walltown Children’s Theatre. Kita will share WCT’s mission of inspiring positive social change by empowering and
reconnecting young people from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, creating a new expression of community, and enriching their lives and those of their families and communities, through exemplary performing arts instruction and youth development programming. Checks may be made to WSBC with Walltown Children’s Theatre in the memo line.
Missions Committee Explores Podcast, “Seeing White”
Starting April 8, the Missions Committee will sponsor an elective Sunday School series for those interested in exploring the history of race and power in the United States. The series, led by April Walton and Paula Januzzi-Godfrey in the Chapel starting at 9:45 a.m., will draw conversation from the podcast, Seeing White. Although it is not necessary to listen to the full episode, for the first class, we encourage participants to listen to “Turning the Lens” (part 1). Here is a link to the podcast (tune in from your smart phone or computer): http://podcast.cdsporch.org/seeing-white/. For questions or to join the class email group, contact Allyn Meredith: allyn.meredith@gmail.com or, find us on Facebook: WSBC Compassion in Action.
Movie Night!
Friday April 20, join us for An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. Room 102, 7 p.m. Al Gore’s follow-up comes ten years after An Inconvenient Truth, and explores how close we are to an energy evolution. We’ll have a discussion following the film. Snacks, popcorn, and soda will be provided. Hosted by the Peace and Reconciliation and Environmental Missions Groups.
Mental Health Conference: Faith Connections on Mental Illness
On April 13, FCOMI will hold their annual conference, “Cultivating Mental Health; Hope and Healing,” at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 940 Carmichael St., in Chapel Hill. It is a day-long, interfaith meeting to explore ways faith communities can advocate for and support families and individuals living with mental illness. Learn more about the conference and how to register at www.faithconnectionsonmentalillness.org/ annual-conference.html and/or contact Dan Winn (dannwinn@yahoo.com).
Explore Racial Inequality
Watts Street Baptist Church will cosponsor Racial Equity Institute’s Groundwater workshop 9 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, April 21. The workshop explores racial inequality in the US. It will be at Carolina Friends School. Join the Watts Street community and others to explore how race pervades life in the United States in ways that are often taken for granted but that have devastating impacts on our nation’s most marginalized populations. Carolina Friends School, Duke School, Durham’s Shambhala Center and WSBC have joined with Organizing Against Racism (OAR Durham) to sponsor for the event. In this lively and participatory three-hour introduction to racial equity, the Greensboro-based Racial Equity Institute (REI) presenters use stories and data to illustrate a perspective that racism is fundamentally structural in nature. By examining characteristics of modern-day racial inequity, the presentation introduces participants to an analysis that most find immediately helpful and relevant. Registration is free, but donations are suggested. Register on line at http://www.oaralliance.org/schedule/ groundwater with a suggested sliding scale donation of $15. Coffee and snacks will be provided, as will child care.
Ending Gerrymandering in NC
The League of Women Voters will present information on nonpartisan legislative redistricting 7 p.m., May 3, at Watts Street Baptist Church. The program is cohosted by Beth El Synagogue. LWV leader Brenda Rogers will discuss creating fair maps for electing legislators. All are welcome! Use the door from the Urban Ave. parking lot.