This year marks 100 years that Watts Street Baptist Church has been in existence! Our anniversary theme of “THANKS and YES” is based on the quote by Dag Hammarskjöld, “For all that has been, THANKS. To all that shall be, YES.”
During the month of May, our focus is THANKS and YES…Watts Street Missions and Community Connections!
Watts Street Community Connections Day!
Saturday, May 20
An intergenerational, church-wide day of service projects and community connections with our Watts Street Mission Groups and Community Partners. We’ll gather for breakfast and prayers at 8:00 a.m. and then head out in teams to different project sites across Durham to serve, learn, and make meaningful connections in the community. We’ll return to the fellowship hall at noon to eat lunch and share our experiences. We have 9 different project sites (see list below) and sign up posters are on the bottom floor hallway outside of Preschool Room 3. Watch your congregational emails for more details or contact kelly@wattsstreet.org. We invite all Watts Streeters to participate as we use our gifts to serve God and neighbor!
Choose a Site!
- Join friends from Reality Ministries for painting and freezer meal prep
- Sort/pack food donations and work in the community garden at Parktown Food Hub
- Bag food for distribution and help with Street Reach prep at Walltown Neighborhood Ministries
- Work in the garden and learn about racial equity and creation care at Catawba Trail Farm
- Paint and assist with exterior maintenance at the W.E. Stanley Mission House (Duke Host Home)
- Sort/pack donations at The Diaper Bank
- Visit and sing with homebound friends
- Support Public Education Partners with a project at Glenn Elementary School
- Reach out in love from the WSBC fellowship hall (letter writing/advocacy projects, tie baby blankets, make cards, make bags for homeless, etc.)
Sign up between Sunday, April 16 and Wednesday, May 17. Sign-up posters in the first floor hallway near Pre-school Room 3.
Schedule for May 20
8:00 a.m. -Gather on the front steps of the sanctuary for breakfast, prayers, and a big “send-off”!
8:30 a.m. -Depart for project sites around Durham
12:00 p.m. – Return to church to eat lunch and share experiences
Centennial Celebration and Recommitment to Watts Street’s Mission “Beyond Our Walls”
Sunday, May 21
Our guest preacher will be Rev. Mel Williams (pastor of WSBC from 1988-2012) and we will invite representatives from our community partners to join us on this red-letter day. Through litany and a special visual display, we will honor the missions and community connections that have grown out of Watts Street over the years and also recommit ourselves to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). After the service, refreshments will be offered outside near the front steps.