Outreach Ministries
Yahve-Jire Children’s Foundation
This past year, our Mission Committee has become very active in helping a small orphanage in Crois des 
Bouquet, Haiti. The Yahve-Jire Children’s Foundation is currently housing nearly 20 children who are either forsaken by their families, orphaned, or whose families are not able to care for them. The Foundation is run by five individuals who are providing a home, food, academic education and Christian training for the children. Their dream is to build a larger orphanage to house 100 children, a library, a pastor’s residence, and dorms for visiting mission teams. See more about orphanage.
Hands Helping to Heal Hearts
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and confirm for us the work of our hands, yes, confirm the work of our hands. Psalms 90:17
Ten years ago, two women at the Hartford Seminary started a prayer shawl ministry. Here’s a quote from them: “Shawls have been made for centuries and are universal and embracing, they are symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, comfort, cover, give solace, hug, shelter and beautify us. Those who have received our shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles.
Several members of WBPC became interested in this Ministry — a ministry that combines our love of crocheting/knitting with reaching out to those in need of comfort and solace through the gift of a prayer shawl. We started our ministry in March, 2008. As the shawls are created by our volunteers, many blessings are woven into the shawl. When the shawl is completed, it is offered a final blessing before being given to a recipient by a Deacon, Pastor, or Stephen minister.
Whether the shawls are called Prayer Shawls, Comfort Shawls, Peace Shawls, or Mantels, the critical point is that the crocheter/knitter begins and ends each shawl with prayers and blessings for the
recipient. Members of our church family/community are the primary recipients. Copies of the letter we send recipients and the shawl blessing are on the back of this flyer.
The Hands to Hearts Shawl Ministry Group meets at least twice a year. We have about 20 volunteers and our program is overseen by the Deacons. We do accept donations of yarn, money to purchase supplies, and gift bags. The volunteers find this ministry very rewarding and enjoy the fellowship time together.
INFORMATION: If you want to learn more about this ministry, please contact:
Yevonne Sue Brannon, (919-851-2805)
Mission Trips
The Louisiana and Mississippi Mission trips have occured the last four years due to the vision of Larry Shelton and the Mission Outreach team. Each year we have put togther a group of youth and experienced servant leaders to help the folks in the southwest put their lives back together. Coming soon will be a video clip of their efforts.
Youth and Adult Mission Trip to New Orleans 2010
Larry Shelton and Grace Odom led a group of youth and adults to New Orleans to continue the needed work of rebuilding homes in New Orleans that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The group worked through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Twelve youth and 5 adults made the trip the week of June 19-26. The group returned on Saturday June 26 being thankful for a safe and worthwhile week of work. The group stayed in an abandoned Presbyterian Church in New Orleans East named Camp Olive. The camp accomodations were air conditioned making this a perfect place for the group.
The group teamed up with about 25 members of Presbyterian Church of the Master in Omaha. They worked on all phases of home rebuilding. Everyone is encouraged to consider joining a Mission Trip in the future. This is a wonderful opportunity to help those who are still in need in New Orleans, visit a great city, work alongside other people for the common good. WBPC has sent teams to the Gulf coast for the last four years. People are welcome regardless of skill level.
Contact Larry Shelton (larry@psdnc.com) for more information.
The youth with leader Kevin Fischer worked hard raising money for the trip. The picture at the left shows a flurry of activity as they prepare for the potato bar lunch. They also sponsored a movies on the lawn evening. The group has t-shirts saying "Presbyterian Disaster Relief – Out of Chaos Hope"
Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network (WIHN)
Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network (WIHN) is a joint effort of a number of churches to address the needs of homeless families. For one week in each quarter of the year, WBPC is host to as many as five families who call our facilities home. Volunteers are needed to prepare meals, serve as evening and overnight hosts, set up beds and furniture on Sunday afternoon and take it all down the following Sunday morning, drive guests to and from the WIHN Day Center on Method Road, and more. The Day Center can also use volunteer help. Coming soon you will be able to sign-up online for next quarter WIHN program.
WIHN Weeks for 2011: April 10-16 ; July 10 – 16; October 9 – 15
Avent West Children’s Mentoring/Kid’s Cafe
News: We are proud to have Dr Bruce Grady elected as President of Avent West Community Development Association. Bruce is our Associate Pastor and has many years of experience in teaching and developing like programs.
A joint program with the Food Bank and the Wake County Public Schools, Kid’s Cafe provides fun, a nutritious meal, and tutoring to at risk children. The program meets here every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at 4:30 when school is in session. Each week, volunteers from our church tutor approximately 30 children. Any volunteers would be welcome to participate in this ministry. The program also runs at Avent Ferry Methodist on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Volunteers are appreciated there as well.
Stephen Ministry is available at WBPC. Click here To go to the Stephen Ministry page.
Urban Ministries’ Foodbags
Our church collects prepackaged food bags to be given out by Urban Ministries. People are encouraged to bring individual items for the bags as well as completed bags. A bag consists of the following items: 14.5 oz. can beans, 14.5 oz. can carrots, 14.5 oz. can tomatoes, 16 oz. can applesauce, 1 lb. grits, 1 lb. rice, 1 lb. dried beans, 2 boxes macaroni & cheese, 2 envelopes powdered milk, tuna or other canned meat, peanut butter, and cereal. There is a special need for food bag items in summer when the end of our Wednesday evening meals makes it easy to forget the food bag program.
All donated food item are placed in the fellowship hall on a designated table. You can’t miss the food bins.
WBPC has participated in the Meals on Wheels for many years. Our church is assigned to deliver meals and cheerfulness one or two days each quarter to needy people in our community and area.
Our church is scheduled to deliver Meals on Wheels on the fifth Monday of the month of the calendar year with four delivery teams of two people each. The routes are well-mapped and the door-to-door meal deliveries take about an hour and a half of rewarding time.
2012 Dates for Meals on Wheels for WBPC:
January 30, 2012
April 30, 2012
July 30, 2012
October 29, 2012
Brown Bag Ministry
Brown Bag Ministry acts locally and thinks globally. Started by a women named MaryJo and Patricia some years ago helps to feed the hungry and homeless here in Raleigh, NC. Each Saturday this group of people package lunches at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex and delivers them to the needy in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. A few other organizations with the same purpose in mind pick up some of the meal bags for distribution in other local areas.
On the first Saturday of every month Western Blvd Presbyterian Church helps bag the lunches and distribute them in Moore Square. It is a laid back, no pressure, limited time commitment way to help another human being. WBPC meets at 8:30 in the church parking lot, goes to St. Andrew, packs the meals in lunch bags, goes to Moore Square to help hand out the meals. No special skill, age requirements or long term commitment needed. Just about four hours the first Saturday of whatever months you can come and join in.
Please contact Juliann (Julie) Butcher at juliannb@embarqmail.com for more information or to let me know you will be joining us and when.
Stop Hunger Now event — a Great Success
On February 21, 2010 WBPC held its second Stop Hunger Now packaging event. The church raised $2,500 to pay for the 10,000 meals that were packaged. With the earthquake in Haiti and other events around the world, the need for food is greater than ever. Food that can be quickly sent to places where people are hungry is desperately needed. The meals that are packed can be stored for several years and are packed in boxes ready to be shipped quickly to places where there is need. Around 80 people participated in this special event. See pictures in photo gallery.
Each package contained rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and vitamins. Approximatel 10,000 meals were packaged to be sent around the world to people suffering from severe hunger. All participants enjoyed the fun atmosphere and worthwhile endeavor. Particpants were encouraged to taste the cooked rice mixture to see the tasty and nutritious meals that will be prepared from each package. On Sunday July 19, 2009 around 60 members and friends of WBPC participated in the first Stop Hunger Now packaging event and packed approximately 6,000 meals.
Scouts
Western Boulevard Presbyterian has a number of scout troops meeting each week. The following Scouts meet Tuesdays at 6:30pm: Girl Scouts Troop 1113; Junior Troop 1113; and Brownie Troop 1464. Cub Scouts Pack 398 has Den meetings on Thursdays at 7:00pm and the Pack meeting on the first Friday of each month. Boy Scouts Troop 398 meets Wednesdays at 7:30pm.