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For 20 years, I have spent one week in the summer with five other pastors. By now most of you have heard me speak of my “Preacher Camp” colleagues: Jim Somerville, from Richmond’s First Baptist Church, Don Flowers, now serving a Moravian church in Kernersville, John Ballenger, at Woodbrook Baptist in Baltimore, Dorisanne Cooper-at Watts Street Baptist in Durham, and Amy Butler, now in a UCC congregation in her home state of Hawaii.

Each morning we review the lectionary texts for the coming year and discuss preaching themes. I come away every year with a notebook that I share with our staff, which includes a suggested worship schedule for the coming 12 months. We sometimes diverge from that schedule, addressing current events that arise, but generally I prepare a schedule that guides us with worship themes for the year.

Preacher Camp afternoons are free. Because the Deans are watersports fanatics, in the early years we suggested holding Preacher Camp at some lake. Twenty years ago, I could coerce most of the pastors to get on skis at least once during the week, though I’ve not had much success with that recently!

In the evenings we come back together and share, sometimes listening to one another preach, sometimes “checking-in,” sharing the events of our lives from the last year, sometimes just watching a movie together. You can imagine that over the years, this group has grown very close. Hardly a week goes by that there is not some communication, through email or texting, that connects us and the work we share.

After a few years we decided we could include our families with no loss to our work, and including our children and spouses would give us a chance to know each other better. Most of our children are now grown and gone, but this summer the final two high schoolers still joined in for the week. Each afternoon I got to enjoy time on the water with Adam and Audra. It was great fun, though it may be the last time we are together.

I cannot tell you how important this group has become to each of us, and because we’ve been able to share our experience, “Preacher Camp” has become something of a model. Several other pastors’ groups are now meeting around the country, based on Preacher Camp. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this. (While Amy has had her own “Girl Preacher Camp,” for the last few years she has also met with my friends. We’re always glad when she’s able to join us!)

I wanted to tell you again about this good group because whether you know it or not, by virtue of their influence on Amy and me, you hear from them virtually every week. “PC ‘24” is already on the calendar!

I don’t know what we would do without it. - Russ

About 65 people will still be “retreating” in the mountains on Sunday morning however, Russ and Amy will return to 3900 Park Road Sunday morning to lead worship in our Sanctuary at 11a. Our retreat theme for the weekend is “Practice Makes Possible” so whether you are in the mountains or in Charlotte, let us worship together as we practice our faith together.

Our church staff and some of our lay leaders are spending Wednesday and Thursday, September 6-7 in retreat. It is the first time we’ve had such a retreat in many years. Tim Moore, formerly the pastor at Sardis Baptist, will lead us in conversation around the idea “Post-COVID… Now What!?” We are excited to have this opportunity, but because these dates were the only ones that worked, we need to cancel our First Wednesday program on September 6. Please say a prayer for your leaders, for this retreat, and mark your calendars to return to First Wednesday programing on October 4, 2023.

Greg and Karen began visiting Park Road about a year ago and have already started plugging in. Karen is a retired Teacher and Greg is an attorney, working in the field of real estate. They have joined the Sanctuary Choir and are looking for more ways to get to know us and to be involved. We’re delighted to have the Mayers with us! Please take an opportunity to introduce yourself.

PR University is an offering of classes, taught by some of Park Road’s seasoned teachers. Classes will be offered for 3-6 weeks, covering a variety of topics, all related to Christian education, or faith formation. If you are not in a Connection Group that meets to study on Sunday mornings, this opportunity is especially for you – though our existing Connection Groups may also choose to participate. We are still working out some details, so the Course Offerings for Fall 2023 will be printed in next week’s newsletter, but we know we will have two different classes beginning on Sunday, September 10, and at least one more course offered before Christmas.

What are you doing to deepen your faith? 

We had lots of fun at the lake! Big thanks to Beth and Mark Mintich for hosting us.

We had a great time at our first Worship Wednesday. I’m so proud of and grateful for our students. If you can’t make any other Wednesday night, come to Worship Wednesday. 

• Sunday, September 3 - We will have Preview at 10a and SNT at 5:30p (Sunday Night Thing). We have some who will be with JD at the Intergenerational Retreat this weekend but many who will not be. JD will be back in time to lead SNT. There will have pizza for folks at every SNT including this Sunday.

• Wednesday, September 6, 6:30-7:30p - We will launch our regular "Midweek" programming, which is what we'll do every Wednesday that we don't have Worship Wednesday. No meal provided at Midweek (at least for now, maybe in the future). Margaret (Knight) Robinson will be kicking us off this Wednesday, talking about mindfulness. 

We had a great time at the Aquarium! We explored oceans and lakes, saw sharks, turtles and eels oh my! We’re doing a song about creation within Sunday School so this was a great way to kick off our fall. 

• Sunday, September 3 - we continue with our Sunday School return at 9:45a. This will largely function as it has in the past with our very competent and dedicated Sunday School leaders but with two changes. JD will begin each Sunday morning with our kiddos doing some songs and games. For example he will be teaching our kids the song "Sing," by Ellie Holcomb for the next few weeks.

Our last Fun Food Friday was good, as were all the rest – you really need to join us! We traveled down to Lake Wylie and enjoyed a nice lunch at Papa Doc’s on the lake. Our next outing will be Friday, September 29. The location has not been determined (but Russ is always open to suggestions!) Please mark your calendars now and plan to join. Fun Food Friday Lunches are a wonderful way to get to know other Park Roadians!

We have loved having you in our yard. Last week was our third and final Meet and Greet of the summer. In each of these gatherings, we’ve had about 30 people, and a nice mixture of new faces and more veteran church members. It’s been so wonderful to have you, we just want to thank you for coming! We are already looking forward to Summer 2024. – Russ & Amy

We 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 at Rhino Market! Please check out their website to view the menu and parking options. If weather permits, we will have the option to sit inside or outside.

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