Pullen Update                 July 29, 2007

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.   —Micah 6:8

Adult Summer Sunday School

This summer the topic for adults is The Pullen Tapestry of Faiths: Understanding the Diverse Traditions in our Congregation. On the schedule for the last two weeks are:

  August 5        Unitarians: Gary Landis and Janet McCormick

  August 12      African American Baptist and AME Zion: Toni Whitaker and Kay Hampton

Even if you don’t usually attend Sunday school, plan to join us in Finlator Hall at 9:45 AM for these important conversations.

—Cathy Tamsberg

Summer Chancel Choir

All youth and adults are invited to sing with the Summer Chancel Choir on any Sunday, meeting at 10:30 AM in Poteat Chapel. Following a break for the month of July, rehearsals begin again this Wednesday, August 1 at 6:30 PM in the sanctuary. Join us!

—Larry Schultz

Summer Sunday School For Kids Who Can’t Sit Still

All summer during the Sunday school hour the children of Pullen have been studying prayer. We have explored what it means to pray while you are NOT sitting still. Topics for the final two weeks are:

              August 5          Story as Prayer

              August 12        Walking a Labyrinth

Childcare is available during Sunday school for infants in Room 128 and toddlers and two-year-olds in Room 118.

—Libby Stephens

Chronologically Advantaged

(55+) Luncheon Today

The Chronologically Advantaged potluck luncheon will be held today at 12:30 PM in Finlator Hall. Bring a dish and join us for good food and fellowship.           

Missions and Outreach
Grants Applications

Deadline: August 6

Pullen Pastors’ Report on the Republic of Georgia—August 1

This Wednesday evening Nancy and Jack will report on their recent trip to the Republic of Georgia. Dinner will begin at 5:30 PM in Finlator Hall and the program will start at 6:15 PM (not 6:30). Reservations for dinner should be made by calling the church office by noon tomorrow.

              Please join us to hear about our pastors’ experience in Georgia and opportunities for deepening our relationship with Baptists in that country.

              —Wednesday Night Committee

Fifth Sunday Missions Offering—Today

All of the cash placed in the offering plate this morning will go to a special fund to enhance our ability to respond to requests for financial assistance. Although the Missions and Outreach Council budget includes some funds for assisting persons in need with rent, utilities, medicines, etc., we have to turn down the vast majority of those requests.

If you would like to contribute to this ministry by check, please note that your gift is to be used for the “Fifth Sunday Missions Offering.” Thanks for all the ways you help us offer justice and kindness to our community.

—Missions and Outreach Council

Vigil Against Violence—Today

Vigils Against Violence will circle together for a very important time together at 4:00 PM today. We will gather at the Exxon station/Subway on Lake Wheeler Road across from the entrance to the Farmers' Market for a vigil for the six people who died violently in Raleigh within the 28 days between June 3 and July 1, with special awareness of the random killing of Jenna Nielsen and her unborn 8-month fetus at the Exxon station itself. Her friends and family plan to attend this Vigil.

We give special thanks to the station's operator, Rashid Salahat, for permission to hold our vigil on his property.

Additional homicide victims include Pascual Xolo, 33; Damarkos Eugene Alan Thorpe, 30; Tyrone Robert Covington, 28; Veronica Malone, 38; and Fidencio San Agustin San Juan, 37. 

Call for Subcontractors

With the congregation’s July vote providing clarity on both the scope and financing of Pullen’s Master Plan implementation project, Design and Construction is considering further matters leading up to the beginning of construction (at long last!) this fall.

Dixon Weinstein Architects are now completing final plans, which will be submitted to Clancy & Theys, our chosen contractor. One matter discussed at the committee’s July 10 meeting was the possibility that some Pullen members or friends may be involved in aspects of commercial construction—e.g., plumbing, electrical work, masonry, drywall installation—and may wish to bid on the subcontract work of the project.

We invite any of you involved in such matters to contact Clancy & Theys, obtain specifications, and prepare proposals. These will be submitted directly to Clancy & Theys, who as general contractor will choose from submitted bids and award contracts. The bidding and selection will take place in late August to mid-September.

Contact John Salter, Senior Estimator with Clancy & Theys Construction Company, at 919-834-3601 extension 217 or johnsalter@clancytheys.com. Once construction begins, Project Manager Chuck Wolfe (extension 268, chuckwolfe@clancytheys.com) will handle all scheduling of subcontractors.

In upcoming newsletters, we will provide details on final pre-construction matters including the official groundbreaking, which we anticipate occurring in October.

—Design & Construction Committee