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I woke up this morning thinking about Halloween. Amy and I have more than a little Scrooge in us regarding this happy, fall festival! It has never attracted our imaginations as it does for many. The ghouls on the lawn, the spider webs, those ghastly lighted projections on houses, all the eerie music (playing for a month now)… Halloween? Bah, humbug!

I never liked it, even as a kid. Yes, I’ve always been a bit of a “frady cat.” I’ve never been to a horror movie. I steer clear of haunted houses. I’m not even real big on walking through my own yard after dark! For Amy, it’s all the kids in all the gore. If they showed up as princesses and astronauts, she might be able to celebrate that, but the fangs and the drippy blood. Isn’t there enough horror in the world for our children without them having to personalize and honor it?

We usually take Halloween as a date night. It’s a great time to find an open spot at a nice restaurant uptown! (Ok, we do make goody bags for the kids in our closest neighboring houses. We’re not complete grinches!) But tonight, we may give it a go. The last few years, neighbors have set up in the yard, the driveway, the side lawn. I may move our portable firepit to the driveway, and we may give it a go. Wish me well and pray for a parade of princesses!

This thing about death and dying, the ghosts, the ghouls returned from beyond, the skeletons scratching their way out of the grave… we’re fascinated, aren’t we? And, by “we” I mean all of us – humans all over the planet.

Thinking of all this death and dying, just for fun (!) I googled “religious celebrations of death,” and read an interesting 2019 article on the National Geographic website (https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2019/10/5-festivals-celebrate-dead-around-world) summarizing some of the festivals of the world’s people and religious traditions. In our obsession, all the major religions seem to have created festivals, celebrations, rituals to honor the dead.

• The Buddhist festival of Obon “is defined by dancing, family reunions… especially light… lit flotillas and bonfires that are said to guide the dead back home.”

• The people of China celebrate the festival of Zhongyuan (Festival of the Hungry Ghost) in the seventh lunar month, in which “restless spirits are said to emerge from the lower realm [causing] mischief unless appeased with offerings…”

• In North and South Korea people celebrate Chuseok, “a multi-faith festival… honoring ancestors. Rites include… grave tending and cleaning [and]… offerings to the deceased.”

• Roman Catholics worldwide observe All Souls’ Day honoring “the faithful… including those who are in Purgatory [believing] prayer will allow these souls to find eternal rest. (All Souls follows All Saints’, which follows All Hallow’s Eve. It’s a trifecta of death!)

•  “Thursday of the Dead” is shared by Christians and Muslims in the Middle East, with “visits to graves at dawn, and offerings of food… made to the poor and to children.”

• Pitru Paksha, “fortnight of the ancestors,” is a Hindu festival celebrated in September.



• The Mexican “Day of the Dead” celebration mixes Indigenous Mexican, ancient Aztec, and more modern Catholic influences, but the celebrations sound a lot like the other listed above: the deceased are honored with home altars, “offrendas,” receiving favorite food and drink of the departed.

It’s not the honoring of the dead that is curious to me – but why such fascination with the return of the departed, especially when, in all the traditions, there seems a vivid allure of skeletons and the ghastly, half-decomposed dead? They all seem to want to get back here. From the grisly beyond. What does all of this say of our conscious (or subconscious) thoughts of the next life? Where are our loved ones? What are they? Is this really how we think of the departed – and is the best way to honor them to make offerings, plying tormented souls with favorite meals and the best drinks?

We need to honor the dead. The book of Revelation says: “Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord…. they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them” (Revelation 14.13). On Sunday we will honor those who have gone before us, but we will not present any delectable offrendas. Our columbarium will not be a house of horrors, but a sacred and honored garden, a place of beauty – maybe a hint of paradise, no glint of gore. We will read the names of our dead, every one of them.

Those holy moments will be an appropriate balance to all the frightful faces that are bound to show up in our drive tonight looking for treats. So, if I have to say it to all the cute little goblins, “Happy Halloween,” and because I want to say it to all the Saints, “Blessed Peace, now and forevermore.” - Russ

Caption and credit for first Photo: Lanterns are lit in preparation for the Japanese festival of Obon. The lights – which illuminate rivers, streets and are hung outside doors – are meant to guide spirits home. Photo resource Hawaii, Alamy

Caption and credit for second photo: "Our family ofrenda honors our close family members who died over the years. Everyone in our family took part in helping build and arrange the items." | Melissa Arellano / https://www.pbssocal.org/education/local-family-shares-how-to-build-a-dia-de-los-muertos-ofrenda-with-your-kids

All Saints’ Day comes to us originally from the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar that features celebrations for All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day. Our practice has been to observe All Saints’ on the first Sunday of November. In the worship service we will light a candle and read the names of all church members who have died this year, and then we will conclude worship by moving together to the columbarium. Standing on that sacred ground, we will read the names of all church members who have died since they church’s founding in 1950. This reading now takes about 20 minutes, but these are holy minutes. We are always amazing at the power of the simple sound of hearing a mother’s name, at the honor of remembering a father after many years, at the memories that quickly flood our minds in these powerful moments. Join us this Sunday as we honor our loved ones, practicing our own “Day of the Dead” (See Heart & Soul above.) in calling their names, in keeping their memories alive with us.

The “Annual Ministry Plan” is our church budget – they are one and the same – though we have chosen to designate a name that emphasizes ministry over money. Mike Hamrick, this year’s AMP Task Force Chair is winding down the process. All requests have been made, and the Task Force will meet this week to finalize a recommendation for the Ministry Council. The numbers they approve will come to you in the form of a recommended AMP for 2024. Your “vote” will be through your pledge. All details will be available to you, but the recommended AMP is going to represent a slight increase over 2023, in keeping with cost of living increases and inflationary pressures. We hope you are already prayerfully considering your financial support for your church in 2024. Commitment Sunday is scheduled for November 26.

Thanks to Rev. Dr. Tim Moore for his excellent leadership in last week’s retreat. On Tuesday our full church staff met with Tim, enjoying conversation and then lunch together. In the evening a group of lay leaders representing our Ministry Council convened for dinner and dialogue. On Wednesday morning, we rounded out the retreat with conversation and lunch with the four ministers. You’ll be hearing more from this retreat, but the short synopsis of those three conversations is that after navigating the difficult COVID years fairly well, we are ready to pick up some pieces and try to step back into some pre-pandemic routines. We’re not trying to go back, but we want to move forward, re-energizing some of our existing “systems” and programs. The outline of a plan is in place to evaluate our Ministry Council, and the Action Teams that fall within that structure, and to have new Teams in place, along with new Ministry Council, Leadership Committees, and Deacon leadership, ready to begin again, with our annual State of the Church Meeting, January 28, 2024.

Thanks to Sally Silden, we concluded our last Fun Food Friday with cupcakes to celebrate Louise. What

a great day!

Several years ago we featured a Deacon in each week’s newsletter. That Deacon often led in worship the following Sunday. Our Deacons met last Sunday and agreed to revive that practice. Each week we will highlight one of our deacons with a photo and a brief bio. We read in the book of Acts about the office of deacons, first formed in the early church:

…when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists (Greek-influenced, Gentile disciples) complained against the Hebrews (Jewish/Christian disciples) because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve (the apostles) called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word (Acts 6.1-6).

In some Baptist churches, the Board of Deacons represents the church’s decision-making, power structure. At Park Road, our deacons form a Body, not a Board. While they do not “wait at tables,” like the first deacons, they are called upon to serve the church, representing us as spiritual leaders. The ministers rely on deacons for feedback on important issues, and our deacons serve by providing pastoral care, each to an assigned group of church members. COVID has changed pastoral care, for ministers and deacons alike. Hospital visitation used to be more common, a more expected routine, and our deacons shared this ministry with the ministers. Deacons still seek to provide support and minister to their families in various ways, and to represent the church with individual integrity and collective wisdom. As we revive the practice of naming a Deacon of the Week, we want to give you a chance to get to know and to appreciate these leaders.

Our first Deacon of the Week features Laura Leach.

My name is Laura Leach. I recently retired after nearly 25 years as a Medical Librarian with Atrium Healthcare. I am married to Matt Leach. We have an amazing 15-month-old grandson who lives in Chicago with our daughter and son-in-law. I love to travel. One of the highlights of my life was to walk with fellow Park Roadian’s on the El Camino from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in 2022. In 2024, I am going back with Park Roadian’s to walk from Santiago to Finisterre and Muxia. I also enjoy gardening. Contact me if you also love gardening and are interested in a plot at the PRBC Community Garden.

In the coming weeks, we will be featuring information about each leadership group in the church an effort to better inform people about how our church runs and how our church works and how our church serves both the church, and the community, and the world.

This Sunday, we will discuss the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” As Adam Hamilton writes “We often think of this commandment as forbidding cursing, but as we take a closer look at the historical context, we’ll find that the commandment likely addressed using God’s name in ways similar to scammers.” Please join us as we look at the commandment in its context, considering the meaning of the commandment to the Hebrews, studying what Jesus said about oaths and swearing in God’s name and how we are to represent God’s name to the world today. All are invited to join, Sundays at 9:45a in Milford Chapel. (Each Sunday is a standalone lesson, so please join us as you are able. This study is based on the Adam Hamilton book Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today (but reading the book is not required.).

-Bill Hemingway

Parents Night Out Offerings

Back before the pandemic hit, Ms. Teresa and Ms. Kiera used to offer several Parents Night Out (PNO) events each year. Parents loved it! We are happy to announce that the Parents Night Out events ARE BACK!

Below you will find the details for all upcoming Parents Night Out events:

• First and foremost, please know that the Parents Night Out Events are NOT affiliated with the CDC. Ms. Teresa and Ms. Kiera are the individuals in charge of each event, who happen to also work for the CDC. They have received clearance from the church and the CDC to use the campus one Saturday evening each month.

• Parents Night Out (PNO – moving forward) hours are 5p to 10p. 

• The cost is $40 for the first child, $30 for each additional child. (All money received goes towards activities, snacks, foods, and compensation.)

• Payment is always CASH ONLY and must be paid by the Wednesday before the event. 

• Ms. Teresa & Ms. Kiera will plan activities, provide pizza and snacks, and sometimes show a child friendly movie.

• PNO is for children who are enrolled at PRBCDC and Church members. 

• The CDC office will assist Ms. Teresa & Ms. Kiera with PNO registration and payment, only. Please be mindful of the cash payment deadlines. They are FIRM.

Please note that a CASH only payment must be made at time of registration. A child cannot be registered to attend without a cash payment. 

When dropping your child/children off please make sure they bring PJ’s and a blanket! 😃

Registration and cash payment deadline for the first PNO is Wednesday, November 8^th at 10a.

Below are the upcoming Dates for PNO Events in 2023-2024:

• November 11
• December 16
• January 27
• February 24
• March 16
• April 27
• May 18
• June 29
• July 27
• August 10
• September 28

CDC Trunk or Treat Fun

The CDC had their annual Trunk or treat on Friday October 27, 2023. The families enjoyed getting together for our first 2023 holiday celebration for the PRBCDC families.

Do you remember when that expression was so important, when it was essential to remember on which Saturday night you needed to reset all the clocks in your house, in your car, on your wrist – so you wouldn’t show up an hour early that first Sunday of time change!? What a crazy thing, setting a clock! Thanks to Apple and Android and all-things-digital, we no longer need to remind you, but just for fun, let us note that it’s this weekend. If you still live in the analogue world, don’t forget to reset that big old alarm clock on your bedside table. If somehow you get all the way to 3900 Park Road without being reminded that it’s actually 10a, well, go grab a cup of coffee and then come sing with the choir this week. You’ll be here just in time for rehearsal! Otherwise, we’ll see you here for Connection Groups at 9:45a or for worship at 11a – Eastern Standard Time.

Coming Up at Park Road

Sunday Worship

Facebook Live and In-Person

11a

First Wednesdays

Dinner and Vespers

(Community Center)

5:30p Dinner / 6p Vespers

First and Third Tuesdays

Bible Study and Fellowship

(Community Center - Room C503)

10a

Tuesday and Thursdays

Flexercise

(Community Center)

9a

Park Road Baptist Church 

 3900 Park Road | Charlotte NC | 28209

Tel (704) 523-5717 

Fax (704) 523-8481

info@parkroadbaptist.org 

 www.parkroadbaptist.org