On Saturday, the donations will be sorted into 17 departments and the church transformed into a massive flea market.

This year's yard sale is being organized by Binkley, a predominantly white church, and Barbee's Chapel Harvest Word Missionary Baptist Church, a predominantly black church off Farrington Road, as a part of the two congregations' "sister church" relationship.

About 15 years ago, Binkley and Barbee's Chapel came together to develop a racial reconciliation program. Members of each congregation began coming together on the first Thursday of every month. Soon, conversation topics evolved from the political to the personal as acquaintances grew into friendships.

"Now, we'll sit together and talk about our children: someone's son on the football team, what college someone's daughter is going to," said Nancie McDermott, a Binkley member who has been involved since her family moved here in 2000.

"Our personal relationships let us look at the hard, scary, painful issues of race and justice, and our ability to look at these issues sweetens our relationships," she said. "So it's a really precious circle."

Together, the two churches have cooked a Christmas Eve meal for inmates at the N.C. Correctional Facility for Women in Raleigh, built four Habitat for Humanity houses with the yard sale proceeds, and organized a community entitled "The Elephant in the Courtroom," which brought local officials to Binkley to discuss racism in the criminal justice system.

In February, church members marched side by side in the Historic Thousands on Jones Street march, an event organized by the N.C. NAACP to promote awareness of social issues such as education and health care.

"What we have is really more of a fellowship than anything else," said Tom Fewel, a co-chairman for the yard sale and another participant in the program. "I've certainly learned a lot from it."

Twice a year, the two churches pray together. Binkley brings its hand bell choir, and Barbee's Chapel's Praise Dance Team performs to spiritual songs. Many members say they have gained their deepeset insights into each other's culture from the joint worship services.

While Binkley services are more reserved and contemplative, at Barbee's Chapel, "people call out their prayers with joy," said McDermott. "I hadn't realized what an incredible, lively experience comes out of the African-American experience of worship."

Members of both churches agree there is still much to do to challenge racial inequalities but, just by being together, they feel like they are making a difference.

"There is a saying in the Bible; where two or three are gathered in my name there am I in the midst of it," said McDermott, "and the first Thursday of every month, we are gathered together in the name of god to walk to path of racial reconciliation.

"To me, that's a blessing right there."