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 !

     One of the most direct and powerful statements about being a peacemaker comes from the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9. 

     This beatitude elevates peacemaking to a divine calling. Jesus doesn’t just bless those who avoid conflict – he blesses those who actively work to resolve it, reconcile others, and build harmony. To be a peacemaker is to reflect the very nature of God.

     Jesus also preached about showing love towards your enemies. He said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44. Here is a prayer that our church family at WPC can pray together for peace in the world:

“Gracious God,

     You are the source of true peace, and you have called us, your church, to be peacemakers in this world. As we gather in your name, unite our hearts in love and humility.

     Teach us to listen with compassion, speak with grace, and act with courage. Where there is division, may we be agents of reconcilation. Where there is hurt, may we bring healing. Where there is injustice, may we stand firm in truth without violence.

     Let our fellowship reflect your kingdom, where mercy triumphs, and love casts out fear. Empower us and our world leaders, Lord, to be your hands and feet, sowing peace in our homes, our community, our church, and in the world.

     In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.”

     Are you ready and willing to answer Jesus’ call for us to be peacemakers? We can answer his calling by reciting this prayer for peace not only in our church, but in our own homes as well.

With Mercy and Grace, these are actually two sides of God’s love for us. They’re closely related, but they’re not the same.

Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. It withholds punishment, relieves misery, and it responds to our brokenness with compassion. In Scripture, mercy is often tied to forgiveness, compassion, and God’s tenderhearted response to human suffering.

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. It gives blessing, it empowers, it restores and elevates. In Scripture, grace is tied to salvation, spiritual gifts, transformation, and God’s empowering presence.

Mercy and grace are not opposites – they’re partners:

– Mercy removes the penalty.

-Grace provides the blessing.

-Mercy says, “You’re forgiven”.

-Grace says, “You’re welcomed, empowered, and renewed.”

In Christ, God does both: He withholds the judgement we deserve (mercy) and gives us the life and favor we could never earn. (grace).

     It has been estimated that the wood cross was estimated to be 13 feet tall, 6 feet wide, and weighed approximately 165 pounds. The cross symbolizes Jesus’ sacrifice and the weight of the world’s sins, inspiring us to live lives of faith, love, and grace.

     It is a powerful reminder of Christ’s love for God the Father (the vertical dimension) and his love for all humanity (the horizontal dimension). The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross remains a central theme in Christian theology, emphasizing salvation and redemption.

     We all have had to bear the weight of our own crosses as we journey through life until we reach our fianl destination with Jesus and God the Father.

     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!