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GOOD TIDINGS

The Weekly Newsletter for Park Road Baptist Church

September 5, 2023

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“Once you get educated, nothing is ever easy again.”

It’s Chapter 1 in my book, Finding a New Way Home. Getting an education changed my life. I have educated parents, so going to school, doing homework, getting decent grades were important in my childhood home. However, it was only in going to university, in having caring professors who knew I needed to be challenged (but who knew how to challenge me carefully), that I really got an education.

That education changed my world. (Frankly, it blew my little, conservative mind!) Will Campbell was absolutely right, “Once you get educated, nothing is ever easy again.” It never has been. But it’s also been so much better. The world has been bigger. God has been bigger. Grace has been bigger. Christianity has been bigger, more loving, more meaningful, more important.

That’s what education is supposed to do for us. The issues will get harder (because there are no easy answers to difficult questions). Life will get better (because asking the difficult questions, really asking them, is what faith is all about).

What are you doing to “get educated” these days?

I’m not talking about in your profession or in some avocation. What are you doing to get educated in your faith? Sunday morning worship may be the center of the life of a church, bringing the most people together at any given time, for fellowship and worship. There is an element of education to worship, but we need more than what we can learn through the osmosis of singing good hymns, through a simple insight in a Children’s Time, even from the best sermon. (Believe me, I’d love to give you more, but about 20 minutes’ worth is all the time Amy will let me have on any given Sunday!)

Let us introduce to you Park Road University.

In the life of most Baptist churches over the last 75 years, Sunday school has been the heart of Christian Education. In recent years, however, especially in churches like ours, Sunday school has lost some of its appeal. There are some good and some not-so-good reasons. We still believe in it – if you’re not in a Connection Group that meets on Sunday mornings to fellowship and study together, you should be. (Sorry to sound so much like a preacher!) Especially if you are not, here’s an opportunity for you…

Over the next few years, we are going to invite some of Park Road’s teachers to prepare short courses (3-6 weeks) on a variety of topics. Each “semester” fall and spring, we will provide several PR University courses. There’s no cost. No registration required. You don’t even have to submit an SAT score! Just show up.

There is no substitute for a good education. Will you take some initiative to get educated, to deepen your faith, and to challenge yourself to grow a little?

Here’s the lineup of PR University classes for Fall Semester, 2023

“Skills and Tools for Delving into Diversity and Difference”

September 10 – October 1, Sunday mornings, 9:45a, Milford Chapel

LeDayne McLeese Polaski

“When we come together across our differences with curiosity, vulnerability, and humility, we can create transformative community. “

Every day we’re confronted with diversity and difference. People in our families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces – even within our church – may think, look, act, pray, and vote differently than we do. Sometimes, it’s great. Other times, it creates difficulties, divisiveness, even violence. There are no magic answers, but there are some mindsets, skills, tools, and practices that can help us stay centered and connected, acting in ways that can mitigate the dangers and sometimes even transform our relationships. We’ll share stories, practice skills, learn some grounding techniques, and even learn a little neuroscience. Though we’d love to see you all four weeks, each week will serve as a stand-alone introduction to a particular topic.

Fall Break

We want to give everyone time to return to their Connection Groups, so we’ll take October and November off – though there may be an additional PR University class offered on either Sunday or Wednesday nights during this time. Stay tuned for more details.

“Carols in Context”

December 3 – 24, Sunday mornings, 9:45a, Milford Chapel

Daniel and Rebecca Terry

For the season of Advent, the Terrys will choose one Christmas Carol each week and explore its history and theological significance. Each week will stand on its own – so, come to all or even just to one lesson during this season. This class will be a wonderful way to deepen your understanding of Christmas themes and to prepare for the season.

In addition to these specific classes being taught, three regular Sunday-morning Connection Groups are also available. The leaders of the groups would be glad for you to participate with them:

“Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life” by Richard Rohr

September 24 – December 24, Sunday mornings, 9:30a, CC 505

George Miles (Abundant Grace Connection Group)

In this book, Rohr explains why the second half of life can and should be full of spiritual richness and offers a new view of how spiritual growth happens: loss is gain.

Bible Study with Lydia Fidelis/Dorcas Class

Every Sunday Morning, 9:45a, CC 501

Beverly Doyle

Beverly leads a traditional Bible study each morning based on a Standard Sunday School Lesson format.

Discussion of Spirituality with the Babylon Connection Group

Every Sunday Morning, 9:45a, CC 503

Missy Solomon

This co-ed group speaks with divergent perspectives and opinions on both religious and topical issues. Missy provides reading material and scriptural references to encourage dialogue.

I hope you will take advantage of some opportunity to broaden your understanding of faith this semester. Once you get educated… everything is better! - Russ

And a Good Time Was Had By All

It had been too long because of all things COVID, but finally we had the opportunity to have our Intergenerational Retreat. Escaping to the mountains is always a good thing. Mix in a campfire and singing, eating s’mores, hiking, napping, having tasty meals, and yummy snacks, doing fun icebreakers with a few sessions that helped us develop some spiritual practices and what you have is a wonderful weekend to get to know each other more deeply. There was so much laughter and sharing topped off with a surprise mini-concert by none other than David Wilcox. It was simply a great weekend to be together. Many thanks to Dan who coordinated the effort in a hand-off year to JD who is already talking about “next time.”

I can’t wait for next time already. Keep your eyes and ears open for that next time and plan to make it a part of your church experience to go on retreat together. I am most certain you will be glad you did

Such fun watching the older teach the younger and the younger inspire

the older!

Lots of cute family moments just like this… too many to document!

Even our pastoral staff got to circle up and connect on retreat.

Cornhole Evening - Rescheduled to September 21

Due to unforeseen circumstances we need to reschedule an evening of Cornhole to Thursday, September 21 from 6:30– 8p. All details will remain the same: The location will be at the church courtyard with a back up location of the gym in case of

inclement weather.

Sunday Worship

September 3, 2 023

September Mission Offering

As a new school year begins, our undesignated offering for September go to our PRBC educators. Each fall we designate one month’s mission offering for our church’s K-12 teachers who are underpaid and underfunded. School teachers many times have to purchase supplies for their classroom. This is a way for their church to say “Thank You” to those who are involved in such important work.

Thirsty Third Thursday Restarts this Fall

The group will meet on Thursday, September 21, at 6p at the Rhino Market and Deli, South Park. The address is 4300 Congress Street, Charlotte, NC 28209. There are other Rhino Markets, so please make sure you have the correct address. The Rhino Market in South Park is directly across from the Village Tavern.

There is food available. Please check their website to view the menu and parking options. If weather permits, we will have the option to sit inside or outside.

Youth, Children, and Families Corner

For tonight's Midweek, at 6:30p, Margaret Robinson will be our special guest. JD has a surprise guest teacher next week while he is at Unidiversity Training for four days. The following week when JD is back, he will also have a guest leader.

Preview (Sunday AM) has been going well and has really brought a different energy. It's each Sunday at 10a.

Sunday Nights at 5:30p has started well with scripture study and the introduction of new games. It's rare that JD offers an original game anymore lol! With the program we will have a meal, every week.

Join us for Midweek tonight at 5:30p. (Chelsy Mitchell and Allyson Neeriemer will be joining JD.) The story and activities will be on creation.

This Sunday we will continue with a curriculum that uses the same texts that Russ and Amy are using for this sermon series. This collaboration will be a great way to have spiritual conversations within the home.

Welcome PRBCDC Meck Pre-K Class of 23-24'

Welcome to PRBCDC our 2023-2024 Meck Pre-K Class! Happy first week of school. We hope that you all make new friends, have many smiles, and create lots of great memories all year long.

We list an individual each week that we call our “Friends at Home” with their contact information.

Drop a card or give a call to check-in. Even if you do not know someone personally, a contact from someone from their church is always an encouragement.