THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2023 | |
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We hope you will join us for worship this Sunday at 10:10 a.m. in the Sanctuary or livestream. All are welcome!
Reading from the Old Testament: Micah 6:6-8
Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 5:1-12
Sermon: "Blessed to be a Blessing"
Preaching: Dr. Matt Brown
Affirmation: The Apostles' Creed
This Sunday we will celebrate the baptism of Lucas, Bennett and Brooks Flora, children of Laura and Matt Flora.
Listening devices are available during worship. Please stop by the Connection Center or contact Kay Dano for more information.
We encourage you to wear your name tag to worship. If you do not have a name tag or have misplaced yours, please contact Nancy Metzler, director of hospitality and connection.
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The Conversations Around Race Equity (C.A.R.E.) group invites you to join an All Church Reads where we will read The Colorful Image of God: A White Christian's Guide to Doing Better, written by SMPC member Katherine Martin. Sign up for a weekly discussion group on Realm or email Rebecca Guzman. We will draw our All Church Reads to a conclusion with An Evening with Katherine on April 23 at 5:00 p.m. in Mecklenburg Hall.
Books are now available in the church office for $15 each. We will also have copies for sale in the narthex this Sunday. Please note: This opportunity is not just for adults, high school youth are encouraged to participate in reading the book and/or joining a small group!
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Lunch Bunch Valentine's Day Gathering - Tuesday, February 14, 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., Sanctuary and Narthex - Come take part in a morning of hymns and a delicious catered lunch! Zach Bowyer, director of music and organist, and Rebecca Guzman, director of spiritual formation, will lead us in “Love Abounds,” a celebration of hymns, scripture, poetry and art. We will focus on love as we listen to and sing hymns of our faith together. After, stay for lunch that will be catered by Phil’s Deli! Cost is $7/person. | Register by Sunday, February 12 | Contact: Ruth Ann Engle | | |
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Register Now! Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Tuesday, February 21, 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Mecklenburg Hall - Bring your family and friends for a pancake feast! We will enjoy fellowship time as we prepare to journey through the Lenten season together. Food donations will be collected to support our Loaves & Fishes pantry ministry: syrup, pancake mix, and grits. | Cost: $5/person; $20/max family | Register | Contact: Nancy Metzler | | |
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Save the Date! 2023 Montreat Women’s Connection, August 11-13, 2023, Montreat Conference Center, Montreat, NC – Join fellow SMPC women, including Associate Pastor Dr. Whitney Bayer, for a weekend of worship, connection and relaxation at Montreat! Registration opens February 1. | More Details (Note: We recommend staying in the Assembly Inn for easy access to meals and events.) | Contact: Whitney Bayer or Rebecca Guzman | |
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SMPC’s BSA Troops 119 and 219 and Pack 119 will distribute door hangers to approximately 12,000 homes on January 28 for the Scouting for Food drive that benefits Loaves & Fishes | Friendship Trays. Scouts will collect food on February 4, and, as in years past, SMPC will serve as a collection site for our troops and troops from St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. The Scouts will also be on campus Sunday, February 5 before and after worship to collect food from church members.
The need is greater than ever this year! Canned meat, canned fruit, canned pastas and other non-perishables are especially needed. You can also make a monetary donation online at www.loavesandfishes.org or text SCOUT4FOOD to 4431.
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SEEN AROUND CHURCH THIS WEEK | |
Baptism represents our first step on the journey of faith, and we have been blessed to witness several over the last couple of months. It is such a joy to see families come together for this precious moment! Pictured left: Memphis Brooks Garvey's baptism on January 15. Pictured right: Hannah Elizabeth Conway's baptism on January 22. | |
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In-Person or Zoom - ALL are welcome at our bible studies!
The new 2023 Adult Bible Study, led by Lindsey Odom, met for the first time on Monday, January 23. Here, Kathy Galati and Judy Jones join in-person while study leader Lindsey Odom and other participants join via Zoom. The study is based on Teaching The Way of Jesus: Educating Christians for Faithful Living by Jack Seymour. They meet Mondays until February 13 in the McQueen Room or Zoom. All are welcome and you do not have to attend every session! Contact: Lindsey Odom
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You are "biutiful!" During Children’s Worship on Sunday, January 15, we talked about how John the Baptist used his voice. We read Peter Reynolds’ book Say Something and talked about our call as disciples to use our voices. The children worked in groups to decide what they wanted to use their voices to say to the world. Their answers are displayed in the hall of the church office. We hope you’ll stop by and read their sweet comments! What would YOU say?! | |
Making Space Mom's Group, Today, January 26, 7:30 p.m., Chapel 206 - Moms of all ages are invited to join us for study, service and fellowship. | Contact: Allison Reeves | |
JOY Class, Sunday, January 29, 8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m., Room 301 - This group is studying The God of the How and When by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel. Come to one session or all. Everyone is welcome. | Contact: Rebecca Guzman | |
Sunday Morning Study, Sunday, January 29, 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m., McQueen Room - This group meets weekly until April 2 to study Invitation to the New Testament, which examines how the New Testament writers and the early Christian community wrestled with the implications of the story of Jesus for their lives and their communities of faith. Come to one session or all. Everyone is welcome. | Contact: Melissa White | |
C.A.R.E. (Conversations Around Race Equity), Sunday, January 29, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Chapel 206, or Monday, January 30, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., Zoom - Everyone is welcoming to join the conversation. | Contact: Whitney Bayer | |
2023 Adult Bible Study, Monday, January 30, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., McQueen Room or Zoom - This study is based on Teaching The Way of Jesus: Educating Christians for Faithful Living by Jack Seymour. All are welcome. | Contact: Lindsey Odom | |
Handiworkers Group, Tuesday, January 31, 10:00 a.m., Palmer Building Room 104 - All knitters, needlepointers, quilters, cross-stitchers and crocheters (beginners, experts, and anything in between) are invited. We meet weekly to work on projects (to keep and to donate). | Contact: Nancy Metzler | |
Conversations with Dr. Matt Brown, Wednesday, February 1, 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Zoom - Everyone is invited to join us as we discuss the scripture for the coming week’s sermon. | Contact Matt Brown for the Zoom ID# | |
Friday Morning Men's Group, Friday, February 3, 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m., Chapel 204 - This group meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month and would love to have new folks join. We are reading The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe. | Contact: Curt Ireland | |
Beginner Chrismon Ornament Class, Saturday, February 4, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Chapel 206, ages 4th grade and older - If you enjoyed our Chrismon tree and are interested in learning how to make ornaments, please join us for this beginner’s class. It just takes a little patience and nimble fingers! All supplies will be provided to make a dragonfly, which typically can be completed by the end of the class. | Contact: Donna Brown | |
"Crowns: A Gospel Musical" - Saturday, February 11, 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 12, 3:00 p.m., Providence Presbyterian's Christian Life Center - Our friends at C.N. Jenkins Presbyterian Church and Providence Presbyterian Church will present a production of “Crowns: A Gospel Musical," directed by Ruth Sloane. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online (there is a small service charge). Additionally, SMPC has purchased a block of tickets for the Sunday afternoon show. If you would like to purchase tickets in our block (no service charge; seats are first come, first serve), please click here. | Contact: Nancy Metzler | |
Bread Donation and Delivery - Volunteers are needed every Friday morning to deliver bread donated by Panera to the Dilworth Soup Kitchen. | Sign up | |
Bag Lunches for Roof Above - Roof Above provides 300 lunch bags each day to help feed those in need. SMPC is committed to providing 100 bag lunches a month. Volunteers are needed. | Sign up | |
Desserts for Center of Hope - February 12th and March 12th slots are open to bring desserts for the women and children who temporarily call Center of Hope home. | Sign up | Contact: Terry Gaines | |
Loaves and Fishes, Fridays, 1:00-4:00 p.m., 2027 Emerywood Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 - Loaves and Fishes is looking for some strong bodies to help them do the lifting and delivering of boxes of food from their Food Pantry to cars every Friday from 1-4 p.m. The minimum age to volunteer is 14, and closed toed shoes are required. | Contact: Lindsey Odom or Jane Royther | |
Room in the Inn, February 22, March 12 and March 22, Sardis Presbyterian Church - We are partnering with Sardis Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church for this missions and outreach opportunity. Volunteers will help with dinner, overnight stays or breakfast and cleanup. | Sign Up | Contact: Amy Matthews | |
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BAM! (Bible and Music), Sunday, February 5, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. - BAM! is our Sunday evening program for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. During BAM!, children will sing, creatively engage with Bible stories, and explore various instruments in peer age groups. They will occasionally sing, play instruments, or display their creations during Sunday worship. Because we have dinner together every Sunday, children need to have a child participation form on file AND register for each Sunday they will attend.
Register | Contact: Rebecca Guzman
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Mental Health & Anxiety Session, Sunday, January 29, 5:00-6:15 p.m., Sanctuary or Livestream - Led by Trent Morrow (LCSW) from L & B Counseling and his team of therapists. Open to 4th graders through high school students and their parents. | Register | Contact: Lindsey Odom | |
Youth BYG (Big Youth Group), Sunday, February 5, 5:00 p.m.-6:15 p.m., Mecklenburg Hall - BYG provides an opportunity for youth to grow in faith and love through bible study, small group time, good food, fun games, and amazing company. The Theme is Love God, Love Neighbor. Pizza will be served! | Register | Contact: Lindsey Odom | |
Youth Sunday & Souper Bowl of Caring, Sunday, February 12, 10:10 a.m. Worship - There are many opportunities to participate in Youth Sunday! Mandatory rehearsals are on February 11. Youth will be collecting food for Loaves & Fishes. | Sign Up | Contact: Lindsey Odom | |
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Mark Your Calendars for the 2023 Middle School and High School Retreats!
Massanetta Middle School Retreat, Rising 7th grade through rising 9th grade, Tuesday, June 27-Friday, June 30, 2023 | Register | Contact: Lindsey Odom
Montreat High School Retreat, Rising 10th grade through graduated senior, Sunday, July 9-Saturday, July 15, 2023 | Register | Contact: Lindsey Odom
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2023-24 Registration Now Open - Are you looking to find a warm and nurturing environment for your child for preschool? We invite you to learn more about the SMPC Preschool! Each child is unique and our mission is to provide an environment where your child can develop socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically, learning through play. Registration is now open to the general public. Please call us to set up a tour to visit the preschool and find out more about us. | Preschool Office: 704-544-9831 | Contact: Director Carol Watkins or SMPC Preschool Finance Administrator Mary Lynn Rawls | |
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Worshiping together in person is a joy - and requires many helping hands! A number of volunteer opportunities are available on Sunday mornings and we need you. | Contact: Nancy Metzler
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Flowers for Worship - The 2023 sign-up calendar to provide flowers for Sunday Worship is now available. You may provide your own arrangement, have a florist supply your arrangement, or make a donation to the Sanctuary Building Fund, and the Worship Committee will provide the flowers.| Sign Up | Contact: Karen Malmut, 704-591-9496 | |
Click above to financially support the work of SMPC. Gifts to the Operating Fund support the day to day ministries, programs, and operations of the church. Gifts to the Strength to Strength Fund support our sanctuary mortgage. Gifts to the School Lunches for Haiti Fund support students at the OFCB school in Bayonnais, Haiti. For other gift designations, select the Other Fund, and note the gift's intent in the box provided. | Contact: Mary Katheryne Zagora | |
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LIVE STREAMING WORSHIP
SUNDAYS, 10:10 A.M.
ON WWW.SMPCHOME.ORG, THE BOXCAST APP ON YOUR TV, AND FACEBOOK LIVE.
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