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 !

     During the autumn of 1621, at least 90 Wampanoag indians joined 52 English people at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, to mark a successful harvest. It is remembered today as the “First Thanksgiving”, although no one back then used that term.

     They ate mostly wild fowl, like ducks, geese, and venison, but there’s no solid evidence that turkey was served. Turkeys were native to North America, so they were familiar to settlers and available for later celebrations.

     So why did the turkey eventually became the centerpiece meal on the Thanksgiving table? There were several reasons:

(1) A single turkey can feed a large group, unlike chickens or ducks.

(2) There was an abundance of turkeys everywhere and easier to raise compared to other livestock.

(3) By the 19th century, turkey was associated with American harvest traditions and identity.

(4) When President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, turkey was already popular, cementing its place at the table.

(5) And last, but not least, turkey became the national food of the NFL football teams of the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, who seem to always play football on Thanksgiving. *(Not really, but you can blame becoming sleepy from eating turkey and not from watching these teams on TV).

     If you believe that God has been reaching out to you to do something special for him, well, we have a special opportunity for you to serve as our pianst at Woodburn Presbyterian Church, 509 Village Rd., Leland, NC. 

     We hope that you’re well and filled with joy of the Lord. Your heart for worship and excellence in music has inspired many, and we believe God is opening a door for you at our church.

     We’d be honored if you’d consider serving as our Sunday pianst alongside our adult choir. You would play for our weekly Sunday morning service at 11:00AM, with a rehearsal with the choir starting at 10AM before the service. You would be helping lead our congregation into deeper worship.

     This role is volunteer, but we’ll gladly reimburse music expenses and mileage. If God is speaking to you about this opportunity and you’re willing to accept his special invitation for you, please contact our church at (910)-408-1707 or our email address at  www.woodburnpcusa.org.

     Thank you for considering this ministry opportunity. We’d be blessed to worship through your gift of music.

In Christ’s love,

Woodburn Presbyterian Church

     Jesus acknowledged that conflict is part of human relationships, but he offered profound guidance on how to respond when harmony feels out of reach. In Luke 6:27-28, He said “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

     Jesus didn’t promise that we would always get along – but He did command us to respond with grace, even when others are hostile. He valued those who actively seek reconcillation, even when it’s difficult. 

     Jesus often responded to difficult people with questions that revealed their motives. This approach invites reflection rather than confrontation.

     So, when we struggle to get along with someone, Jesus calls us to love, seek peace, and sometimes-wisely -step back. It’s not pretending everything’s fine, but about chosing a response that reflects God’s heart.

     The Old Testament promises divine protection through angelic beings. Psalm 91:11 declares, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways,” indicating that God dsipatches angels to watch over his people.

     Hebrews 1:14 in the New Testament reinforces this role: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” This verse portrays angels as a group of heavenly servants assigned to aid believers in their journey of faith.

     Both Psalm 91:11 and Hebrews 1:14 use the plural term “angels”, suggesting that each believer is surrounded by a host rather than a single guardian spirit. The Bible doesn’t specify an exact number of angels assigned to an individual; it simply assures us that God’s command extends to multiple angelic agents sent for our good and protection.

     And all of this spiritual service is provided to us for free by God, with no expectations of tips, other than a sincere appreciation and gratitude for God’s love and generosity for us!

     The short answer is: God hears all prayers, but he doesn’t always answer them in the way we expect or desire. God’s will takes priority. John 5:14 says, “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

     Prayer isn’t just about asking – it’s about aligning our hearts with God’s purposes. Sometimes what we ask for isn’t part of His greater plan, even if it feels right to us.

     God may say “Not yet.” Think of Abraham and Sarah waiting decades for a child. Delay doesn’t mean denial- it may be preparation, protection, or growth.

     James 4:3 warns, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.” If your prayers are self-centered or disconnected from love and justice, God may withhold the answer for our own good.

     So, in summary, “Answered Prayer” really means that God says to us one of three answers:

…..Yes, immediate and clear.

…..No, because something better or safer is in store.

…..Wait, because the timing isn’t right.

     God’s silence isn’t absence. It’s often an invitation to trust, to listen more deeply, and to grow. God is always listening to us, but are you always listening to him?

1. What do you get when you drop a pumpkin?  “Squash”

2. What’s the ratio of a pumpkin’s circumference to its diameter? “Pumpkin  pi”

3. What do you call a running turkey ?   “Fast food”

4. Why did the cranberry turn red? “Because he saw the turkey dressing!”

5. What sound does a turkey’s phone make?   “Wing, wing, wing”

6. Why don’t turkeys eat on Thanksgiving? “Becasue they’re stuffed!”

7. No wonder turkeys hate  November’s biggest shopping day – it’s always on “fry-day!”

8. What does a grape say when it gets stepped on? “Nothing, it just lets out a little wine.”

9. What did the pumpkin say to the pie baker? “Use apples, instead.”

10. “My family told me to stop telling Thanksgiving jokes, but I said I couldn’t quit cold turkey.”