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!

     The Bible does not provide a specific moment when Jesus realized He was the Savior of humanity. However,  it suggests that He was aware of His divine mission and identity throughout his life. For example, in Luke 2:41-50, when Jesus was 12 years old, He told His parents, “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?” after they found Him at the temple, indicating an early awareness of His special relationship with God.

     As Jesus grew, His understanding of His mission likely became clearer. By the time of His public ministry, He openly spoke of His role as the Messiah and Savior. In passages like Mark 10:45, He said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many,” showing His conscious knowledge of His sacrificial purpose.

     If you were chosen by God to die for all of Humanity in order to be the Savior for all of humanity, would you be able to do it? What would you do to prepare for this terminal existence of your life to save humanity for eternity? The Bible tells us how Jesus prepared his life so that others may have eternal life. Giving up His life for others was the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus gave up for Lent!

     The answer to this question touches on theology, philosophy, and personal beliefs. in many religious traditions, God is often beyond human catergories like gender. For example, in Christianity, while God is sometimes referred to with masculine terms like “Father,” it’s also understood that God transcends human characteristics and limitations, including gender.

     The phrase “In His own image” from the Bible is often interpreted symbolically to mean that humans reflect certain divine attributes, such as creativity, reason, and the capacity for love, rather than a physical likeness.

     Different faiths and philosophies offer various perspectives on this. Some describe God as embodying both masculine and feminine qualities, while others view God as entirely beyond such definitions. Ultimately, how one understands this concept often comes down to individual beliefs and interpretations. What do you think God really is…..man, woman, both, or just a superior spiritual entity? Actually, it really doesn’t matter because God is everything to everybody!

     Jesus emphasized the importance of love, forgiveness, and reconcilation when dealing with conflicts and strained relationships. Some of his key teachings about this subject were as follows:

1. Love Your Enemies:  Jesus urged people to love and pray for those who opposed them. In Matthew 5:44, he said, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

2. Forgiveness:  Jesus placed a strong emphasis on forgiveness. In Matthew 18:21-22, when Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, Jesus replied, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” This highlights the idea that forgiveness should be limitless.

3. Reconciliation: Jesus encouraged resolving conflicts and seeking reconciliation. In Matthew 5:23-24, he said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

4. Golden Rule: Jesus taught the principle of treating others as one would like to be treated. in Matthew 7:12, he stated, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

5. Peacemakers:  Jesus praised peacemakers, indicating that those who promote peace are blessed. In Matthew 5:9, he said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

     These teachings highlight the importance of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and promoting peace in relationships. By following these principles, Jesus encouraged people to overcome conflicts and build harmonious relationships. Let us all strive to be everyday peacemakers in our lives and one of God’s children.

     Jesus, in his teachings, offered guidance on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – practices often central to Lent. For example:

Fasting: In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus teaches that fasting should be done humbly, without seeking attention or praise from others: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do…But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father.”

Prayer: In the same chapter (Matthew 6:5-6), Jesus encourages private, heartfelt prayer: “When you pray, go into your room, and close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then, your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Almsgiving: Jesus emphasizes the importance of giving to those in need without seeking acknowledgment or boasting about it (Matthew 6:1-4): “When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets…Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

     These teachings highlight the importance of sincerity, humility, and a focus on one’s relationship with God – values that align with the reflective spirit of Lent. How are you preparing for Lent this year? Through fasting, prayer, almsgiving, or all three of these?

1. “It’s not about being the best; it’s about being better than you were yesterday.”

2. “Millions of trees in the world are accidently planted by squirrels who bury nuts, then forget where they hid them. Do good and forget. It’ll grow some day,”

3. “Impossible just means you haven’t found a solution yet.”

4. “5 by 5 rule” – “If it’s not gonna matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes being upset by it.”

5. “Don’t shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.”

6. “Drama does not just walk into your life. Either you create it, invite it, or associate with it.”

7. “Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”

8. “Be kind to unkind people. They need it the most.”

9. “When you tell the truth, it becomes part of your past. When you lie, it becomes part of your future.”

10. “Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.”

11. “A person’s mind is so powerful. We can invent, create, experience, and destroy things with thoughts alone.”

12. “10 Things That Require ZERO TALENT”

                   Being Honest

                   Being Patient

                   Speaking Kindly

                   Keeping Promises

                  Being Considerate

                  Always Trying Your Best

                  Showing Gratitude

                  Respecting Others

                  Practicing Generosity

                   Celebrating Successes