Woodburn Presbyterian Church in Leland, NC, offers a welcoming and traditional worship experience. Here are a few reasons you might consider becoming a member or attending:

1. Community:  Our church fosters a strong sense of community and fellowship. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with others who share your faith and values.

2.Worship Services: We offer traditional worship services that celebrate the love of Jesus Christ. Services are held on Sundays at 11:00AM, plus there are opportunities for those interested in Bible Study sessions, participating in our church choir, and helping our Pastor with bringing people together to worship as a whole, unified church congregation.

3. Mission and Ministry: Our church is actively involved in various ministries and missions, such as serving as a base for Manna Food Ministries to distribute food to needy families on a monthly basis, supporting our local schools with providing school supplies for them, and also serving as a home base for our local Boy Scout Troop. With their help, we have recently collected warm clothing, jackets, gloves, blankets, and other supplies for the Hurricane Helene victims in Western North Carolina.

We also have a dedicated group of parishioners who plan and prepare monthly fellowship gatherings in our Fellowship Hall. We celebrate with food, refreshments, and special activities commerating seasonal holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

We also provide opportunities to serve and make a positive impact in the community. We are always looking for volunteers to help out with our Building & Grounds staff in maintaining  our grounds, church, and our own church cemetary on site.

4. History and Tradition: Our church was originally established in 1922 and we have a rich history of bringing families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors together over the past 100 years! We recently celebrated our 100 year centennial in October of 2024. We have been a cornerstone of the area for over a century!

5. Church membership: Are you looking for a small parish with not too many members who are eager to meet and welcome you to our church family? Well, look no further, you have found what you are looking for in a small, but growing parish such as ours! Come in and check us out. Our parishioners and Pastor “T” are eager to answer any questions that you may have! 

We are looking forward to meeting you next Sunday! Welcome home!

     Mana, often described as “bread from heaven”, was a miraculous food that the Israelites depended on during their 40 years in the wilderness, according to the Bible. It is said to have appeared like small white flakes or wafers on the ground each morning, and it tasted like honey or fine pastry. The Israelites would gather it daily (except on the Sabbath) and use it to sustain themselves.

     Its exact nature has sparked curiosity and discussion for centuries. Some scholars have suggested natural explanations, such as a type of resin from desert plants or secretions from certain insects, while others view it as as a purely divine provision. Regardless, mana represents a powerful symbol of sustenance and faith in the biblical narrative.

     Likewise, we should be grateful for the food that God provides for us everyday on earth and thankful for the hands that it prepared it for us as well. This is why many Christians say a short prayer of grace before they eat their daily meals.

     The concept of being reunited with our bodies in heaven is a topic that varies across religious beliefs and interpretations. In Christianity, many believe in the resurrection of the body, as described in the Bible. This belief holds that after death, the soul goes to be with God, and at the end of time, the body will be resurrected and transformed into a glorified, eternal form. This idea is often tied to the second coming of Jeus Christ, when believers are said to receive their new heavenly bodies.

     The specifics of what these resurrected bodies will be like are often debated, but they are generally described as free from pain, sickness, and mortality. Some interpretations suggest that these bodies will be similar to Jesus’ glorified body after His resurrection.

     This is really good news for us Christians because now we when die and are reunited with our bodies, we will never have to worry about losing our excess weight, flabby skin, or the bags beneath our eyes!

     Jesus gave power to his twelve apostles to perform miracles, including healing the sick and casting out demons. In Matthew 10:1, Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and granted them authority over unclean spirits and the ability to heal every kind of disases and sickness. Similarly, Luke 9:1-2 describes how Jesus empowered the twelve to proclaim the kingdom of God and perform healing.

     However, Luke 10:17 also mentions that seventy disciples returned with joy, saying that even demons were subject to them in Jesus name. This suggests that beyond the twelve apostles, others were also given miraculous abilities at different times. So, it looks like back then if you weren’t fortunate enough to meet Jesus personally to ask for his healing, you would have another 82 other disciples to seek out for their blessing too!

     The story behind the current American flag is a fascinating blend of history, symbolism, and a surprising twist of teenage ingenuity.

     The 50-star version of the U.S. flag, which we use today, was officially adopted on July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state. But what’s truly remarkable is that the design came from a 17-year old high school student named Robert Heft in l958. 

     Heft created the flag as a school project, anticipating the admission of Alaska and Hawaii.  His design kept the traditional 13 stripes (representing the original colonies) and arranged 50 stars in a pattern of alternating rows of five and six stars. His teacher originally gave him a B-, but jokingly said the grade would be reconsidered if Congress accepted the design. Well, Congress did – and the grade was bumped up to an A+.

     Before the Heft version, the flag had gone through 26 official changes since 1777, each time adding stars for new states. The current design is the longest used version in U.S. history.

     It’s a great examplecof how a single idea – no matter how young or unexpected the source-can become a lasting national symbol.

1. Take the first step in Faith. You don’t  have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

2. Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.”

3. “God never said that the journey will be easy, but he did say that the arrival will be worthwhile.”

4. “You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

5. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”