Church Calendar | Sermons | Sign-up to Help | Blog | Contact

{View as Webpage}

Every pastor needs a pastor. For most of our years here, ours has been Buck Blankenship. I think most of the pastors who have served Park Road in her 73 years of existence would claim Buck as their pastor. The dictionary definition of pastor is “a clergyperson serving a local church or parish.” Technically, I guess this is correct, though it seems too formal and too narrow of a definition for me.



Here's what I want in a pastor: support, guidance, prayer, encouragement, challenge, love, grace, and a perspective of hope. I want a prophetic visionary and a caring soul. I want someone to encourage me and offer gentle correction when needed. I want someone excited about all things church and honest enough about how difficult living in community can be. I want someone invested in a greater good with a passion for the Way of Jesus as a model for how to live our lives.

We got all of that from Buck, and I’m guessing all the other pastors did as well. As the aging process tends to do, Buck has not been able to be active for some years now which means that all of our many newer folks have missed the biggest treat – knowing and learning from Buck. About 20 years ago when we were still relatively new here, Buck and Betty, Buck’s lovely wife, had their 50th wedding anniversary. They threw a big ole party and invited all of their friends. I remember being so struck by the vast age difference of those at the party. Of course their peers, in their then 70s, were there in full force, but so were their friends who were in their 80s and 90s. However, more than senior adults present at the shin-dig were the youngsters – people in their 30s and 40s and 50s – young enough to be their children or their grandchildren and mostly it was Park Road folks – were there to celebrate Buck and Betty because they were honestly their friends. I remember commenting on the way home – I want to have a party like that for our 50th! – and wondering would we have friends, honest friends, from every decade of age in attendance.

Last weekend, Buck moved to Pennsylvania to live closer to one of his daughters. Since Betty died a few years ago, the time had come for Buck to make this move. Last Friday, former pastor Allen Laymon, Russ, and I had lunch with Buck before he left. He pulled his best Buck move: making sure HE got the check and asked the first question out of the chute: How are things at the church? That’s the question he always asks. How are things at the church. He is never satisfied with “fine” or “good” or “doing great.” He really wants to know . . . are we thriving and what are we doing to change the world?

I hate the thought of Buck not being in town, but how lucky is Pennsylvania? This makes me ask myself this question: What kind of pastor am I? Am I being for others what I need for a pastor to be for me? This makes me ask you this question: What kind of pastor are you? If we are constantly asking ourselves this question, it will likely change the way we live and interact with one another. May it be so. Amen.

- Amy

PS – The job of being my pastor is now open. Applications being accepted. Because everyone, even pastors, need pastors.

Our Hosts are meeting at JD's place next week to get a sense of Neighbor Nights, and to run through details, and to test out JD's cooking before he hosts his own Neighborhood 🙂 He's putting the neighborhoods together in the meantime. We'll launch in October. He's encouraged by everyone's excitement and grateful for everyone's patience. 

He could potentially still use one more host home if you'd like to hop on board, but things are shaping up to work out well. If you are interested in hosting please reach out to JD@ParkRoadBaptist.org

Hank Smyth, the son of Crystal and Brian, the grandson of Mack and Dot Duncan, recently completed his Eagle Scout project. Please make note of the location of our new Community Pantry, along the sidewalk at Ashcraft Lane, outside the main sanctuary entrance. We hope you will support Hank’s good project by occasionally bringing non-perishable food items that can be stocked in the pantry. As needy neighbors come looking for food assistance, we will be able to direct them to the pantry. This is just one more way that Mack’s family continues to pay his legacy forward through his church. Congrats to Hank Smyth on completing the Eagle Scout milestone! Also thanks to the Smyths and Duncans for, now, three generations of participation in the life of our church!

Welcome to the World!

Rollins Lee Hodges, born August 6th at 4:30am. 7lb, 5oz 19 inches long. Her proud parents are Amanda and George Hodges. Congratulations to all!

Save the Date: October 19, Lunch at noon in Helt Hall.

Whether you are a regular or have never been to VSP, please sign up and experience the fun and frivolity. You can sign up by calling the church office or in Helt Hall on Sunday mornings.

QC Family Tree

Hugh and Sarah Ashcraft and Russ Dean were able to support the good work of QC Family Tree by attending their annual awards breakfast last week. For almost 20 years, this wonderful non-profit has provided assistance and a Christlike example to the Enderly Park Neighborhood. We are glad to have had many opportunities to support QC Family Tree and look for more opportunities to participate in the near future. Learn more about the QC Family Tree by clicking here.

Big Change for Men’s Shelter Lunch!

Roof Above has decided to discontinue the hot lunch program on Saturdays. They have offered us the opportunity to prepare and serve supper on Saturday evenings every other month instead. It will be the same schedule and the same meal that we are used to preparing. That will mean arriving at the men’s shelter at 3:30 in the afternoon to prepare the meal. Supper will be served at 5p, and we should be able to leave before 6. If you can help on October 14th, please see the sign-up genius.



https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0945aca92da2fd0-roof#/)

Cuba Mission Trip

I know we are just recovering from daily temperatures in the 90’s, and January may seem as though a long way off. However, now is the time to begin thinking about our next visit to our partner church in Carlos Rojas. Apart from the pandemic years, a team from Park Road has visited our Cuban friends every year for the past 20+ years! The plan is to go during the MLK holiday weekend in January, leaving on Thursday the 11th and returning on Monday, the 15th. This trip is unlike most mission trips in that it is primarily about establishing and maintaining friendships with the Cuban people, and particularly with the members of our partner church. The cost of the trip varies primarily due to the cost of air travel, usually, the five days and four nights do not exceed $2000. If you have never gone on this trip, please think about joining us! Check your calendars and let us know as soon as possible; the deadline for visa applications is fast approaching! (Spanish language skill is not a requirement.) Please contact Dan for more information.

There are two options for you to walk in Spain next year. Join us for one or both of these pilgrimages:

• Sarria – Cathedral in Santiago, 5 days of walking 72 miles June 23-29
• Santiago – Finesterre and Muxia on the coast 5 days of walking 71 miles June 30-July 4

The director of Andaspain Walking Adventures, who guided our trip in 2009 and again in 2022, says her costs have all increased significantly since ’22. The cost for the walk to Santiago (all expenses paid except for airfare) is 2800 euros (currently approximates $3006 dollars). The guided walk to the coast will be a similar cost, based on numbers of pilgrims. A complete itinerary of the Santiago trip is attached here. Let Russ or Amy know if you have any questions. We would love to have you join us. – Russ and Amy

That's a lot of "Fs," but you can be sure that Fin & Fino's will not receive an "F" for their food! This is an upscale restaurant in uptown -- but their lunch menu is not so upscale. We will enjoy the ambiance and the great food. Please call the church to make a reservation, whether you are meeting us there at 11:30a, or meeting in the parking lot at 11a to ride together. 

Join our Campus Partner, the Charlotte Pride Band, for their September concert, entitled “Landscapes.” The concert will be performed in Freedom Park on Saturday, September 23 at noon and again in our sanctuary on Sunday afternoon at 4p. Support the Pride Band and enjoy the beautiful music of this wonderful wind ensemble.

• Fall Retreat,  October 20-22 is our retreat weekend. AK, Myers Park, South Meck, and Providence ALL have away games. I take this as a sign it will be a great weekend. Please sign up with JD ASAP, a few already have. The cost is $65 per student, not to exceed $100 per family. 

• Tonight for Midweek 6:30p at the church Ben Granger, a church member, who is a part of a cool ministry in town, will talk about the spiritual practice of community/ spiritual friendship. 

• JD was at Unidiversity planning retreat last week. It was great fun! They worked from 9a – 9p or so but also played murder in the dark and four on a couch. The team talked about ministry and even made it out to a winery. It was a wonderful, exhausting time, and the key takeaway was that camp this year is going to be AMAZING. Please mark your calendars for July 8-12, 2024. 



• On October 15^th, the youth will go to a corn maze. JD is inviting youth and youth families to be a part of helping out and connecting with our kids. For JD it'll be a joy to be with the PRBC kiddos and students at the same time! More details on that TBA. 

A quick note for all youth attending SNT, we are asking for a $5 donation for pizza. Feel free to make a gift online, drop it by the church office, or hand it off to JD. No problem if this is an issue or if you just give towards pizza intermittently. 

• For Midweek (tonight at 5:30p) we'll sit with the Good Shepherd story or Godly play. 



• On October 15^th, we will go to a corn maze in Indian Trail. JD will send more details, but it is more likely this event will be afternoon. 

Please join us for a good meal together followed by a time of mid-week vespers. The meal begins at 5:30p, and the cost is $8, which is paid before you eat. We have enjoyed this opportunity to enjoy a little music, a little table-talk, a time of reflection and prayer. It's a great way to help you get through the week. Please contact the church office (704-523-5717 or info@ParkRoadBaptist.org) or sign up in Helt Hall, no later than noon Tuesday, October 3 to make a reservation for dinner. No reservation is needed for Vespers, which begins at 6p.

The group will meet tomorrow, 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.

An Evening of Cornhole

Join us for an evening of Cornhole tomorrow night, Thursday, September 21 from 6:30– 8p. The location will be at the church courtyard with a back up location of the gym in case of inclement weather.

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.

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