Jan 30 - Feb 5, 2023

HIGHLIGHTS FROM JANUARY

Confronting Whiteness Conference Highlights

The Confronting Whiteness Conference 2023 was a wild success with over 150 people in attendance. Our goal was to offer our church members & the surrounding community resources to strengthen their anti-racism journeys & opportunities to build relationships with other people who are doing the work. The speakers and break-out sessions were spectacular & transformative. We are confident our church will see the fruit of this for years to come. We are grateful to everyone who participated & supported this event. The work of confronting whiteness continues, & we feel renewed & rejuvenated in our call to this extremely important way our church is living out the gospel.

Myers Park pastor wants to address racism by 'confronting whiteness'

At a time when some politicians are supporting "anti-wokeness" & pushing back on the idea of Critical Race Theory, one Charlotte pastor is embracing it. Rev. Ben Boswell, pastor of the predominantly white Myers Park Baptist Church, wants his congregation & the white community to address racism by "confronting their whiteness" through self-examination.

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Straight White Male: Interview with Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell on Apple Podcasts

Chris talks with author and pastor of Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell. Chris and Ben talk about the hold whiteness has on our lives and on our churches and what it takes for leaders to confront it. Find out more about Ben and get his new curriculum, Confronting Whiteness, at revbenboswell.com

Myers Park Baptist Church hosts 'Confronting Whiteness' conference

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) - Myers Park Baptist Church is hosting a 'Confronting Whiteness' two-day conference this weekend in Charlotte.

“Tell Me Our Story” - 80th Anniversary Initiative

Here are our first interviews from Founder’s SUN, Jan 22 with Ann Owens, Ed Williams, & Ted Lucas

Remembering our stories together is the life blood of any community. As we celebrate our 80th anniversary as a church, Dr. Boswell invites you to join him in time of remembering & sharing our stories with each other.

Throughout 2023, he will be personally interviewing members of our church & asking them to answer a series of questions about their time in our community. | Read more

Good Times at the MLK March & Wreath Laying Ceremony

Thousands attend Charlotte march honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy

Protest songs, hymns & the rhythmic beat of a drumline pulsed through uptown Charlotte in honor of the life & legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the city's first such march since the COVID-19 pandemic. Lyrics echoed along the street from "We Shall Overcome," "This Little Light of Mine" & "Lift Every Voice & Sing."

Be in the Know!

We encourage you to join us for a Congregational Meeting on TUE, Feb 21 at 7p on Zoom. The latest updates on programs, events, initiatives, and finances will be shared. Please add this to your calendar & stay tuned for more details.

MUSIC & WORSHIP

FEB is Black History Month

Our Theme will be "Sharing Our Stories"

The Bible is a collection of stories about God & for generations has served as a source & framework for the stories we share within the Black community. This month, we want to share stories from the Word, written & embodied, that have shaped & sustained us throughout history.

We hope you will join us every Sunday in FEB as we share stories of our celebrations, sufferings, healings, & hopes. | Read more

Proclaimers during FEB

Rev. Dr. JJ Flag | Rev. Daniel Cobbins (Mayfield Memorial Baptist, Charlotte) | Rev. Chalice Overy (Pullen Memorial Baptist, Raleigh) | Rev. Tara Gibbs

Kicking Off in February 2023

From book studies, guest speakers, and Lenten studies, we are excited to offer enriching, engaging, and timely classes for your spiritual growth needs!

Lenten Devotional Group

SUNs | 11:15a | Room 250

Topic | Full to the Brim | Materials will be provided

Leads | Rev. JJ Flag & Rev. Tara Gibbs

Exploring Spiritual Togetherness Group

SUNs | 11:15a | Parlor

Topic | All About Love by bell hooks

Leads | Jen Troyer & Jenny Martella

Faith & Community Class

SUN, Feb 5 | 11:15a | Shalom Hall

Topic | The New Antisemitism

Guest Speaker | Rabbi Judy Schindler

The presentation will address unsettling facts, their causes, & possible ways to confront the hatred of Jews, racial minorities, LGBTQ folks, & others in our midst impacted by pernicious hatred. | Get the details

Community Roundtable

MON, Feb 13 | 10a | Parlor

Guest Speaker | Rev. Dr. JJ Flag

JJ will share his story & his vision for his role as our new Associate Minister of Pastoral Care & Justice. You will not want to miss this up-close opportunity to meet this unique person who has joined the staff at MPBC. Come a little early to grab a cup of coffee & your seat. Questions? Email Gretchen Allen at [email protected] or call 704.281.1695. Y’all COME!

We Have a Few Spots Left to Fill for RITI

Sign-ups are going great! We have a few volunteer slots to fill to provide meals & to be an overnight host for our homeless neighbors SAT nights through SUN mornings in our church. We offer them hot meals, provide them with a bed & show them love & warmth through our time spent with them. Please sign up on this website or email [email protected] with any questions.

Hangout with the Pastors

MON, Feb 6 | 5-6p | Common Market South End

Hangouts are back! All are invited to join us at this casual gathering for great conversation, food, & drinks. There is something for everyone. Not crazy about beer? No problem! Not everyone drinks & there are lots of other options. No registration needed. Just join us there!

Biscuits & Bonding with Rev. JJ Flag

SUNs, Feb 12, Feb 26 | 8:45-9:45a | Parlor

We want you to get to know our newest minister, so come for Bojangles biscuits (his favorite) & bonding time with Rev. JJ Flag before worship. There's no cost, but we need to know you're coming so we have enough for everyone, so please RSVP. All are invited to come when you can & leave when you must. | RSVP here

Lunchtime Meditation

WEDs | 11:30a - 12p (EST) | Zoom | Password: breathe (case sensitive)

A new year brings new opportunities. Meditation offers all of us the chance to be present with ourselves. We invite you to join us in the new year for this opportunity of engagement with yourself.

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh

Children's Music & Creative Arts at MPBC

WEDs | 5:30-6:30p | Room 209 & SUNs | 10:15-11a | Room 209

Throughout the fall, we explored our inner strengths & talents through music & creative arts. In Feb, we will explore our outer world through acts of service in our community. Serving others helps children develop strong character & show empathy & compassion. Join us on WED nights at 5:30 & SUNs for children's worship at 10:15a as we explore compassion, empathy, & service.

Upcoming Events

Feb 1 | WED Community Dinners Resume | RSVP for Dinner
Feb 11 | Children's Ministry Families serve at Room In the Inn

FINANCE

Learn How to Become a Friend of the Covenant

The mission of Friends of the Covenant is to support the growth & ministries of MPBC well into the future. This is done by giving a current or legacy gift to the Endowment Fund, which are monies invested to earn revenue which can support programs & ministries throughout the year from the interest earned.

Here are some of the many ways we have used endowment funds at our church:

J21 & F21 speakers
Guest musicians in worship
College scholarships for youth
Mission trips
Facility improvements
and much more.

As a matter of fact, many of the programs & events we enjoy each year could only be possible with endowment funding. Consider making gift to the endowment fund! Contact Leigh Anne at [email protected] to learn how.

CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY

Certification Training & Speaker Series in Social Justice & Community Organizing

Queens University | Stan Greenspon Center

Program runs 8 weeks | Feb 18 - Apr 15

Participants will gain skills to bring their communities together around areas of common concern, build power, influence community decisions & create just outcomes in the various personal & professional contexts in which they work & live.

Program run by Rabbi Judy Schindler

View the event flyer

Learn more on their website

BE IN THE KNOW

UPDATE FROM THE DEACON CHAIR

January 2023

2023 objectives were identified as:

Church Sustainability both short & long term,
Reimagining Stewardship , a new approach to our efforts,
Community Engagement building on last year's theme of rebuilding community

Budget Review process was reviewed with presentation. Fiscal Year End had not been completed as of Jan 9 meeting.

Deacons met in small groups & by specific committees to discuss 2023 meeting dates & overview of their purpose. The Deacon engagement assignment was explained. Deacons will be contacting newer members to introduce themselves & will begin these calls in the next few weeks. Requests were shared for help with Room In The Inn (RITI). The full minutes of the meeting are available by contacting Caroline Manning at [email protected].

We welcome any feedback or questions.

Karen Taylor, Chair, Board of Deacons

Who Do I Contact for . . .

Have you ever wanted to know who to contact to promote a class or event, to reserve a room on campus, how to set up an account in the myMPBC/Member Portal, how to set up a recurring donation, how to schedule a meeting with one of our ministers, etc. . .? You can get the answer to those questions and more on our website. | Click here

Youth | What It Means To Be Young & LGBTQ+

As we partner with identiversity to take responsibility for our own education around identity, we take our next step this week to explore Youth .

When you are young & LGBTQ+, coming out is only half the battle. Learn more about the issues affecting LGBTQ+ youths & what can be done to change their reality.

As we continue to learn all the nuances, vocabulary & topics around gender, identity, sexuality & more, we encourage you to read & or watch the resources from Identiversity.

American Religion Is Not Dead Yet

Participation in traditional houses of worship is in decline, but innovation & growth are happening elsewhere. Take a drive down Main Street of just about any major city in the country, &-with the housing market ground to a halt-you might pass more churches for sale than homes.

'Grief brain': The three big deficits of grief

Grief is relentless. The only way to get through grief is to grieve. The only way to get through the pain is to feel & process the pain. One of the best ways to manage the stress & anxiety that often comes with bereavement is to understand grief.

No Increased Stroke Risk Linked to Pfizer's Covid Boosters, Federal Officials Say

Fears that the Covid booster shots made by Pfizer-BioNTech may increase the risk of strokes in people aged 65 & older were not borne out by an intensive scientific investigation, federal officials said on Friday. "It is very unlikely" that the risk is real, the officials said.

Looking for Free At-Home COVID Tests?

Some of you have been asking where to get free COVID test kits. There are several options. Here are a few:

NC Health Department
Libraries
Your pharmacy when picking up prescriptions
US Postal Service
COVID.gov

Masks are encouraged

We encourage you to make the best decision for yourself and your family.

Masks will be available in the Narthex & in Heaton Hall Foyer for those who may want one. If you or someone in your home isn't feeling well, we encourage you to join us virtually.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH (above Community LIfe)

Want to be sure you are not missing out on anything related to Spiritual Growth? We'll email you periodically about any new opportunities.

Visit our website to join the Spiritual Growth Email List

Save the Date

Women's Retreat with Meta Commerse

March 11-12

Meta Commerse is an author, teacher, & Founder & CEO of Story Medicine. We are excited to share that she will be joining us to lead a women's retreat focusing around her latest book Womanizing & the healing power of our stories. Examining women’s stories, told & retold across generations, can be a powerful path to finding answers to some of the most perplexing questions of our times. More details to come. In the meantime, save the date.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Here's What's Happening for Children

We want to make sure you have all the details for the winter & don't miss out on any of it! Here is a snapshot:

Wednesdays

Children's Music & Creative Arts

WEDs | 5:30-6:30p | Room 209

Feb 1 | WED Community Dinners Resume | RSVP for Dinner

Sundays

We want to be mindful of the needs of your family. Childcare and Children’s Worship will continue during the 10:00 hour. We would love to hear from you on your needs and interest in the second hour offering. Please reach out to Rev. Carrie Veal or Rev. Tara Gibbs to share your thoughts.

Children's Ministry latest Newsletter

Want to join see the latest Children's Ministry news? Click here

YOUTH MINISTRY

Take A Peek at the Youth Beach Retreat

From a sandcastle building competition, team taco making, to Emmy worthy skits, our youth truly enjoyed learning more about who they are, & that God loves them no matter what. | Read more

Youth Newsletter

Check out our latest Youth News .

Make sure you are on our mailing list to never miss a youth event (6th - 12th graders)! For more information, contact Rev. Tara Gibbs at [email protected].

Parent and Caregiver Resources

Check out these local and online resources to help you with your teen/preteen!

ALLIANCE OF BAPTISTS

The Alliance of Baptists, which began in 1987 as a prophetic voice in Baptist life, is our primary religious affiliation. Today, they have grown to be a justice movement & community of faith of about 4,500 individual members & 140 congregations knit together by love for one another & God, combining progressive inquiry, contemplative prayer & prophetic action to bring about justice & healing in a changing world.

Annual Gathering 2023

This year's gathering will focus on the relationship between police brutality, mass incarceration, & the new abolitionist movement. Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell will be a speaker. The Gathering will take place in Atlanta, GA April 20-23.

Registration is not yet open, but sign up for this list to show your interest in attending. Then stay tuned. We will share more details as we get them.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Being in community, journeying through life together means making sure we know the joys and concerns of one another to the best of our ability.

We have recently learned that our notification process is a little behind, so we have taken the necessary steps to correct this. In the event of a death of a member, the congregation will be notified as soon as possible in email form.

All other Congregational Joys and Concerns will be included here in the Weekly.

In Need of Help?

We are here for you. The Ministry of Congregational Care provides care, support & encouragement to all members in times of joy, bereavement, illness, & crisis. Information about Health & Safety, Grief, Stephen Ministry, as well as helpful resources are available on our website. Just search "In need of help?"

Prayer Requests

You can submit a request by emailing [email protected].