October 2026 Beacon

Main Theme: Staying Grounded During Transition

Rev. Kelsey encourages the congregation to slow down and maintain personal spiritual practices amid a busy fall season. She emphasizes Sunday worship as a communal source of connection, love, and grounding—especially as Binkley prepares for an interim minister and eventually a new senior minister.

Transition Team

The Transition Team is inviting members to participate in several listening and discussion sessions during October. The team is also working with the HR Committee to develop and post a job description for an interim minister, while coordinating with church leadership and staff on transitional needs. Members can send questions and ideas to the Transition Team.

Pumpkin Patch — 10th Anniversary

Binkley’s Pumpkin Patch returns for its tenth year. Pumpkins arrive October 10 and will be sold through Halloween. Last year’s sales exceeded $15,000, with nearly $5,000 benefiting the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC). Volunteers are especially needed for unloading, staffing, publicity, and marketing.

‍‍‍ Children & Youth

Church School is underway, with programs for children and youth. Major October activities include:

  • Children’s Sabbath — October 18
  • Trunk or Treat — October 28 at 5:30 p.m.
  • Worship with Children on October 11 and 25
  • Youth “Doodles and Discussions” beginning October 4

The newsletter also previews the December Nativity reenactment and Christmas crafts.

Outreach & Community Service

Binkley’s Outreach Committee is providing $1,500 to the MLK University/Community Planning Corporation, which supports scholarships for Chapel Hill and Orange County students committed to community service. More than 370 scholarships have been awarded since the program began in 1993.

Binkley will also host the Chapel Hill-Carrboro unit of Church Women United for its Human Rights Day celebration on November 7.

Missionaries

The newsletter features missionaries Scott and Tan Coats, who serve in northern Thailand and support Thai and Myanmar communities through local churches and organizations focused on social, spiritual, and economic transformation.

Cookbook

The Binkley cookbook is moving toward publication, with nearly 180 recipes from about 80 contributors. A tentative November 22 Thanksgiving potluck is planned as a cookbook release celebration.

Grounds

The Grounds Committee reports that despite difficult summer weather, the church grounds remained in good shape, with only two trees and three shrubs lost. Volunteers are needed for parking-lot marking, weeding, and monthly limb/debris pickup.

Music

The newsletter celebrates the success of the Music Extravaganza and Mozart concert and previews several upcoming performances:

  • Oct. 31, 3 p.m. — Baroque and Beyond
  • Nov. 15, 7 p.m. — Cello and piano concert
  • Dec. 6, 7 p.m. — Christmas Vespers

Key October Dates

Some of the major events listed are:

  • Oct. 4: World Communion Sunday
  • Oct. 10: Pumpkin Patch opens
  • Oct. 18: Children’s Sabbath
  • Oct. 28: Trunk or Treat
  • Oct. 31: Baroque and Beyond concert