WMPCWEEK LY
Volume LI
February 8, 2017
No. 6
Right and Right
Long ago I aspired to be an ethicist. God, fate and opportunity instead led me into the
church. I still find myself reading ethics and studying human decision-making, moral coding
and applied and situational ethics. Yes, I am a nerd.
Nerd tendencies aside, the most fascinating of all ethical explorations are those in the
realm of “right and right” dilemmas, which occur when two equally valid moral norms and
ethical choices are countervailing and pull people in different directions simultaneously.
“Right and right” dilemmas happen in our lives all the time—in medicine, science, academics
and history.
In past weeks we have all witnessed the turmoil surrounding the security of our country
and our national welcome of refugees. Is it right to secure the people of our country against
those who would do us harm? Yes, it is. Is it morally right (and even biblically commanded)
to welcome those fleeing from danger and seeking refuge among us? Yes, it is. What happens
when these two collide in one historical moment? Well, we get a “right and right” dilemma.
To date, the Pope, leading US theologians, legal scholars, multiple political leaders from
all parties and human rights scholars have all called our attention to the ethical requirement as
well as the national moral obligation to welcome refugees. White Memorial for its part has a
history of welcoming and employing refugees. We have helped people throughout our history
to find safety and provision here in Raleigh. We have stood by them as they became US
citizens. At the end of last summer, in light of the growing refugee crisis in the world, a group
of our members came together to form another refugee welcome committee. And while we
have no idea from where a refugee might come or when any refugees should arrive, we
remain committed to this effort and prayerful that it will be a success. We believe that Jesus,
and his gospel, would ask at least this much of us.
At the same time, as one of our most faithful members pointed out in response to my
suggestion from the pulpit that we each search out biblical verses pertaining to welcoming
strangers and refugees, there are also verses in scripture that talk about borders and that speak
to leaders using their authorities to keep their people safe. It is also true that one of the
primary functions of our government is to maintain national security.
Thus, we have a deep dilemma.
In “right and right” dilemmas, the worst recourse is to demonize those with whom we
disagree. Often our first reactions are to label the “other side” as wrong. What if they are not
wrong (again, whomever they are) but instead see their primary issue as being of greater
importance than our primary issue (whatever our individual positions)?
I can only write for myself, but I believe we have a moral obligation to welcome and
support the suffering. As a pastor and an American, I believe there must be a way to achieve
both ends: keep our people safe through proper understanding of who is coming here; and, let
our land be a place of refuge for those fleeing from those who would do them harm.
I pray we will find a way to continue extending the welcome that has always been part of
our nation’s heritage (think Statue of Liberty) and being worthy of the high calling to shelter
the suffering as our Lord Jesus Christ commands. I also pray we will not demonize those with
whom we disagree. I pray the meanness in our national dialog will soon subside.
West coast pastor and theologian Eugene Cho said last week, “Be careful not to
dehumanize those you disagree with. In our self-righteousness, we can become the very thing
we criticize in others.” World-renowned Christian and biblical scholar Eugene Peterson also
said last week, “Listening is in short supply in the world today. People are no longer used to
being listened to.” Whenever we are confronted by a “right and right” choice, one of the first
steps to appropriate resolution is listening in order to understand. In understanding we have
(continued page 2)
Ride the Shuttle!
Avoid the traffic around the church
and ride the shuttle from Carolina
Place, 2626 Glenwood Avenue, on
Sundays. Shuttle service begins at
8:45 a.m. and continues until the
11:00 a.m. worship service concludes
and everyone is back to their cars.
Hayes Barton United Methodist
operates a shuttle from the same
location, so look for the WMPC sign
in the shuttle bus window.
Joys and Concerns
Prayers and Christian Concerns to:
Ted Churn, Executive Pr esbyter for the Pr esbyter y of New
Hope, on the death of his mother, Evelyn Virginia Leight
Churn, February 1; David, Melanie, Drew, Caitlin and Grace
Biddell on the death of David’s father , Alexander Biddell,
February 3; Nancy, Gregg, Grey, Reid and Molly Thompson
on the death of Nancy’s uncle, Lawrence Bradley, February 6.
New Presbyterians:
Emery Catherine Matthews, bor n J anuar y 13, child of
Rachel and Todd Matthews, grandchild of Ann and Ron
Wooten; Eva Collins Salvatore, born February 1, child of
Heather and Nick Salvatore.
Hospitals (* = discharged):
Rex: *Kathy Rankin.
Home Communion Visits
Church elders and pastoral staff are available to provide home
communion if you or someone you know cannot attend worship.
If you would like to schedule a visit to share the sacrament of
communion in your home, please contact Judy Pidcock at
919-834-3425, ext. 238, and let us know of your interest.
Is a White Memorial Friend or Relative in the Hospital?
Please call the church office to let us know of relatives and
friends who are in the hospital so that our pastoral staff may
visit them. Due to HIPAA regulations, hospitals do not inform
us when a member is hospitalized (even though a request for
your church affiliation may appear on the admissions form.)
We print members’ names in this newsletter and on our hospital board at church so we may pray for them. Please tell us if
you or a relative do not want your name included; otherwise,
we will follow our usual practice. Contact Sarah Clapp at ext.
210 during business hours.
Pastor’s Letter - continued from page 1
our best chance for finding just solutions. And in
understanding, we can resist the error of self-righteousness.
May grace abound,
Christopher Edmonston
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The WMPC Weekly, February 8, 2017 Page 2
Your Attention Please
Want to Join Cover-to-Cover?
It’s not too late to become a part of WMPC’s year-long read
through the Bible. Pick up with today’s reading to join with
others. Then catch up on missed reading as you can: each day’s
portion will take 10-20 minutes; you can probably get a week’s
worth of catch up done in an hour!
 Follow the plan and read the Bible, cover-to-cover. This year
we are following the guide “The Year of the Bible” by James
E. Davison. You can pick up your copy for the whole year
outside W312. Cost is $5.
 Gather with other Cover-to-Cover readers on first Sundays at
9:30 a.m. in C302 to take a look ahead and share the experience.
This is a drop-in class, so come when you can.
Cancer Companions will begin a
new series of classes on Sundays
through April 2 from 4:30-6:00
p.m. in C203. We invite anyone
touched by this disease to join us.
This gathering is for those
currently being treated, those post-diagnosis, their caregivers
and loved ones. This includes members of WMPC and their
friends. For details, contact Jenny Finch at
[email protected].
Chair Yoga
Two chair yoga sessions of eight weeks each will be offered
Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. The first session will run
February 1-March 29 (no class on March 22); the second session
will run April 5-May 24. Cost is $40 for each eight-week session
or $8 per drop-in class.
WMPC Softball
The WMPC softball team is actively recruiting new team
members as we seek to recapture our City of Raleigh Church
League Championship. The season starts the week of April 3,
and our games are Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you are
interested in playing competitive softball and building strong
relationships with fellow WMPC members, contact Nick
Salvatore at [email protected].
Divorce Support 2017
Divorce Support is a WMPC gathering where participants
share with, learn from and care for one another in hope of
healing after the experience of divorce. An interest list is
forming now. If you are interested in joining the next session,
please contact Sarah Clapp at [email protected].
Christian Education
Registration for Children’s Summer Programs
Register now for Vacation Church School and Midsummer
Celebrations at whitememorial.org/summer-programs! Contact
Cheryl Briley at [email protected] or 919-834-3425,
ext. 212, with questions about registration. If you have questions
regarding the programs, contact Lynn Springfield at
[email protected] or 919-834-3425, ext. 232.
Children’s Church School Teacher Lenten Workshop and
Teacher/Caregiver Appreciation Dinner
Teachers of two-year-olds through fifth grade, please attend our
Lenten Workshop on Sunday, February 26, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Bring your calendars and RSVP to your coordinators. At 6:00,
you and your family will be treated to an Appreciation Dinner.
Childcare and dinner reservations can be made at
whitememorial.org/register or by calling Tonya Higgins at
919-834-3425, ext. 216, by February 21.
Play and Pray
Play and Pray is our child-friendly wing of spiritual formation
centers, located on the ground floor of the Luther Building.
Come to Play and Pray to enjoy:
 The Way Station (S104), where you’ll be transported to
Bible story and prayer experiences
 Meadowlands (S101), for faith-filled games, arts, and crafts
 Living Waters Children’s Theater (S102), puppets and
lively play-acting reign supreme here
Lenten Study: 24 Hours That Changed the World
This is a four-week study by pastor and author Adam
Hamilton. The aim of the study is to help us better understand
the events that occurred during the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life.
We will see more clearly the theological significance of
Christ’s suffering and death and reflect upon the meaning of
these events for our lives. Geographical and historical settings
will be presented. Study books, devotional guides and a video
will used in each class. The classes will be identical on
Mondays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00
a.m. and will run from March 20 & 21-April 10 & 11. You
may choose the time that fits your schedule each week. You
may register at whitememorial.org/register or contact Gloria
Johnson at [email protected] with questions.
Find us on Instagram,
like us on Facebook,
follow us on Twitter…
or do all three!
whitememorialnc
The WMPC Weekly, February 8, 2017 Page 3
Girls’ Night Out
Monday, February 13, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Pickard Hall
Entertainment by The Jazz Ensemble
from the Community Music School and
Capital Sound from Broughton High School
Reservations can be made online or by
contacting Tonya Higgins at the church office.
Cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children 8 and under.
Payment must be received by Friday, February 10.
Mail checks, payable to WMPC, to Angie Dowd.
Go beyond everyday sayings and
experience the full message of Jesus
Tuesdays through February 28
10:30-11:30 a.m. । C103
Led by Tracey Daniel
Books available for $14 from Cheryl Briley in W312
R E T R E AT AT AV I L A
9:00 a.m. Friday, March 3noon Saturday, March 4
Begin your Lenten journey with prayerful intention and time
set aside for ready, Centering Prayer, small group conversation
and exploring the grounds of the beautiful Avila Retreat Center
in Durham, NC. Cost is a $110 and includes a single overnight
room, meeting space, lunch and dinner on Friday and breakfast
on Saturday. Register now at whitememorial.org/register.
Confidential scholarship assistance is available. Contact Grier
Richards at [email protected].
The WMPC Weekly, February 8, 2017 Page 4
Help Wanted, Service and Mission
Oberlin Cemetery Cleanup
Join others in helping clean up the Oberlin Cemetery on
February 18 from 9:00 a.m.-noon. Wear comfortable clothes
(long sleeves and long pants are recommended), and bring a
rake if you have one.
A Lunch to Remember
The Middle East Peace with Justice Committee invites you to a
lunch at noon on Tuesday, February 21, in Geneva Hall to hear
representatives of Parents Circle Families Forum who will visit
the Triangle. In their words, “The Parents Circle is a joint IsraeliPalestinian organization made up of more than 600 bereaved
families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family
member to the conflict. But instead of choosing revenge, they
have chosen a path of reconciliation.” Travelers on the WMPC
trip to Israel and Palestine in 2009 met with representatives of
Parents Circle in Jerusalem. Please bring your sandwich. Drinks,
chips and cookies will be provided. Seating is limited.
Registration is required at whitememorial.org/register.
Questions: Sandy and Anna Hattaway at
[email protected]. To learn more about this
organization, go to www.parentscirclefamilies.org.
March 1 newsletter deadline: Tuesday noon, February 14.
Travel to Haiti this Summer
First Presbyterian and WMPC members will go to Haiti June 14-21.
Projects will include running the Cite Soleil medical clinic, running a
dental clinic at Cite Soleil, distributing reading glasses, re-roofing
houses and more. We welcome adults, college students and high
school youth (with a parent) who are flexible, willing to work hard
and interested in serving the Haitian community. There will also be
spiritual and cultural opportunities. Trip info meetings will be held
Sunday, January 22, and Sunday, February 12, at 12:15 p.m. in the
Ed Greer classroom located on the third floor at 112 South Salisbury
Street, Raleigh. For details, contact Carol Anne Moehring at
[email protected], or Chris Northup at
[email protected].
Medical Equipment Exchange
One of the services of WMPC's Health Ministry is to provide
medical equipment when needed such as: walkers, bedside
commodes, wheelchairs, bed rails. If you have unused medical
equipment or need any, contact Carolyn Elliott.
Food Needed
Food is needed in our local pantries. When shopping, pick up a
couple of extra cans to place in the crate in The Connector.
Canned pasta, canned meat and canned fruit are always needed.
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The WMPC Weekly, February 8, 2017 Page 5
WINTER
RETREAT
March 11 & 12
Join us as renowned preacher and President of Union Presbyterian Seminary
Brian Blount encourages us to dive deeper into the New Testament to learn
what it means to be generous.
Saturday, March 11
8:30-9:45 a.m. hot breakfast; 10:00-noon presentation & activities for children (k-5)
$10 per adult, registered children are free. Childcare available (birth-age 4).
Make reservations by February 24 at whitememorial.org/register.
Sunday, March 12
Teaching at 9:30 a.m.; Preaching at 8:15 and 11:00 a.m.
For a complete bio and to learn more about Brian Blount visit
http://www.upsem.edu/about/faculty/brian-k-blount/.
Any additional questions click here to contact Tracey Daniel or call 919-834-3425, ext. 247.
The WMPC Weekly, February 8, 2017 Page 6
Calendar for the Week
High School Prayer Breakfast
We meet Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. at Brueggers
Bagels at Stonehenge and Wednesdays at
6:45 a.m. at the Cameron Village Chick-fil-A.
Support Youth Missions
Mission Shares and Community Table tickets
can be purchased on Sunday mornings at The
Connector and The Point.
Impact Groups on February 12
Celebrate Youth Sunday with your groups
from 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Community Table: Good Food & Good
Company
February 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. See future
newsletters for details.
Church Basketball
Middle School practices:
Thursdays 6:00-7:00 p.m.
High School practices:
Thursdays 7:00-8:00 p.m.
All games are on Saturdays at First
Presbyterian Raleigh.
Looking Ahead
Online registration is open for the
following events:
 Middle and High School Spring Retreat
at Camp Don Lee - March 24-26
 Confirmation Retreat - March 24-26
Weekly Youth Email Newsletter
Do you want to receive the weekly youth
email newsletter that’s full of great
information? Contact Deb Smith at
[email protected] to be added
to the contact list.
Sunday, February 12 (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; John 13:31-35; Romans 12:1-8)
Youth Sunday
Worship (8:15, 9:30, 11:00 - Sanctuary; 11:00 - OnPoint@1704, Pickard)
7:30 a.m. - Youth Band Rehearsal (K100)
9:00 a.m. - OnPoint House Band Rehearsal (Pickard)
9:30 a.m. - Church School Council Meeting (L111)
10:15 a.m. - Mission Share Sale Table (Courtyard)
1:00 p.m. - Wedding Workshop (Chapel)
3:00 p.m. - WTR for I. B. Hudson (Sanctuary)
4:30 p.m. - Cancer Companions Support Group (C203)
4:45 p.m. - 5th Connection: Potting Pansies (C200)
5:00 p.m. - Youth Impact Groups (Off Site)
6:00 p.m. - Wholeness & Healing Service (Chapel)
Monday, February 13 (Ps. 135; Isa. 63:1-6; 1 Tim. 1:1-17; Mark 11:1-11)
Presbyterian Women Circles: See feature in Feb. 1 newsletter.
5:30 p.m. - T’ai Chi for Exercise (C200)
6:00 p.m. - Girls’ Night Out (Pickard); Men’s Bible Study (Chapel)
7:00 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous (C100); Handbell Choir (S300, Sanctuary);
Stephen Ministry Training (K302); Jim Gale Bible Study (K100)
7:15 p.m. - 1 Corinthians Study (C203)
Tuesday, February 14 (Ps. 123; Isa. 63:7-14; 1 Tim. 1:18-2:15; Mark 11:12-26)
6:30 a.m. - High School Prayer Breakfast (Bruegger’s Bagels, Stonehenge)
7:00 a.m. - Men’s/Women’s Breakfast Bible Study (L111/K100)
8:30 a.m. - Yoga for Exercise (C100)
9:30 a.m. - Fit After Fifty (Pickard); God Talk (W400)
5:30 p.m. - Property Care Committee (C204)
6:00 p.m. - StepUp Life Skills Program/Dinner (L111)
7:00 p.m. - Chancel/Seasonal Choir (L304/S300)
7:30 p.m. - Boy Scout Troop 395 (Pickard)
Wednesday, February 15 (Ps. 15; Isa. 63:15-64:9; 1 Tim. 3:1-16; Mark 11:27-12:12)
6:45 a.m. - High School Prayer Breakfast (Chick-fil-A, Cameron Village)
8:00 a.m. - Clothing Closet (W100)
9:30 a.m. - Bible Belles (Off Site)
10:00 a.m. - Chair Yoga (C200)
4:30 p.m. - Carol Choir (L304); Cherub Choir (L311); Joyful Noise Choir (S300)
5:00 p.m. - Wednesdays Together Dinner (Pickard)
5:30 p.m. - Service Committee (W400); Widows of White Memorial (L111)
6:30 p.m. - OnPoint House Band Rehearsal (K100)
7:00 p.m. - Churchwide Nominating Committee (C200); Adult Education Committee (C302)
8:00 p.m. - Al-Anon (C100)
Thursday, February 16 (Ps. 36; Isa. 65:1-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-16; Mark 12:13-27)
9:30 a.m. - Lilies of the Field Bible Study (C301); Thursday Morning Bible Study (W400)
T’ai Chi for Exercise (C200); Keenagers Trip to NC Museum of History (Off Site)
5:30 p.m. - Pastoral Resident Search Committee (C200)
6:00 p.m. - Church League Basketball Practice (Pickard)
7:00 p.m. - Thursday Evening Bible Study (C301)
7:30 p.m. - Webelo Scouts (K303-308); Sanctuary/Seasonal Choir (S300)
Friday, February 17 (Ps. 130; Isa. 65:17-25; 1 Tim. 5:1-25; Mark 12:28-34)
9:30 a.m. - Fit After Fifty (Pickard)
8:00 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous (C100)
Saturday, February 18 (Ps. 56; Isa. 66:1-6; 1 Tim. 6:1-21; Mark 12:35-44)
8:30 a.m. - Church School Setup (L307/309A/310-312)
10:00 a.m. - Eagle Scout Ceremony Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
Servant Saturday: Project Linus (L111)
The WMPC Weekly, February 8, 2017 Page 7
LENT
March 1 - Ash Wednesday Oberlin Road Worship*, 6:30 p.m., Sanctuary
March 3-4 - Avila Lenten Retreat, offsite (register by 2/28)
March 9, 16, 23, 30 & April 6 - Lenten Mid-Week Worship*, 12:10 p.m., Chapel
Lunch to follow at 12:35 p.m., Geneva Hall (no reservations required)
April 9 - Palm Sunday
April 10-12 - Holy Week Worship*, 6:30 p.m., Chapel
April 12 - Wednesday Together Dinner*, Geneva Hall
April 13 - Maundy Thursday Worship*, 6:30 p.m., Sanctuary
April 14 - Good Friday*, 7:30 p.m.; Sanctuary
April 15 - Easter Vigil*, 7:30-9:00 p.m.; begin in Carol Copeland Courtyard then Sanctuary
April 16 - Easter (Please note 8:15 a.m. worship will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday)
*Childcare available with reservations at whitememorial.org/register.