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I thought I knew what Amy had gotten me for Christmas last year. The year before, I had given her a new bike. Because she’d borrowed my truck and stored my gift in the neighbor’s garage, I just knew there would be a new bike waiting for me under the tree. Christmas came, and when it was time, she said we needed to go outside for my gift (the bike!). There, on the back porch was my gift, large enough to be a bike, but the wrong size - unless it was a unicycle? When I pulled off the wrapping blanket, there was, my new…

Bourbon barrel.

“Is this what you thought I was giving you?” she said, with a smirky little gotcha smile. “No. A bourbon barrel? Why would I ever have thought you were giving me a bourbon barrel!? What am I supposed to do with this?”

She explained that I am always looking for “interesting wood,” and that people make interesting things out of bourbon barrels. This one came from a distillery in Mount Pleasant, NC, an old defunct NC Prison that’s been converted. They call their product “Conviction”! And they sell all their nice, used barrels. I got one for Christmas last year. She was right. It was the perfect gift for me.

I decided to use mine to make some new bar stools. (Yes, it is a bourbon barrel, and we do have a bar in our house – but it’s a kitchen bar, and the barrel was empty!) I made the countertop for our kitchen island/bar out of the old 20’ accordion doors in the sanctuary, that used to open/close the side transepts. (Our sanctuary was originally cross-shaped. When the side transepts were opened, those doors folding into a large side pocket, the room seated 1,000 worshipers. Along the way, the transepts were made into classrooms on one side, the church office on the other, but the doors remained until our 2019 sanctuary/Helt Hall renovation. I snagged about five large panels – should have brought all of them home!)

With the bar made of that beautiful old pine and rimmed with the African Mahogany I salvaged from one of our discarded pews, I figured four bar stools made of oak, seasoned with a little Conviction, would be perfect. I started early this year and, as with many of my projects, got well under way, and then life happened. My shop has been storing two completed stools and a third on-the-way for the better part of the year.

After Amy lost her mind and decided we ought to reprise our Christmas Drop-In, we got busy finishing our nearly finished kitchen renovation and painting the den that has always needed it. And then she said, “– think you could finish those stools before the Drop-In?”

It’s a fascinating project. The barrels are bound together only by pressure, five metal bands squeezing the staves with water-tight precision. Cut the bands off and about 20 pieces of oak, tapered top and bottom, beveled on the inside edge, and charred to a Kentucky-bourbon-standard fall onto the floor like a stack of pick-up sticks. These staves are interesting to work because even after you scrape off all the char and sand enough to really get to the oak, there are no straight runs, no right angles on a single piece of that wood. Working with those staves, tapered, bent, and beveled, makes cutting and fashioning them together into something other than a barrel, a real challenge.

I found a picture online and went to work. I’m never happier than when I’m covered in sawdust (and a little bourbon char?). With the office closed on Mondays, that’s my yard and shop day, so I worked yesterday, as Bob Clare has taught me to say - “from can to can’t.” After bracing up the first three stools and putting a fourth one together, they’re ready for a coat of finish. If you come Drop-In on December 22, you can evaluate my handiwork. (Just don’t inspect too closely.)

Because I’m a woodworker wannabe, but a Preacher for Hire, there’s always a theological point – and the preacher, working with bourbon barrels, has been rich with imagery. A little of the sweet smell of Conviction may remain when I finally slide the finished stools underneath the edge of a “sanctuary door.” bar top. It’s all from salvaged wood, the old made new… and those bar stools, sidling up to a hint of worship, are fashioned from pieces that had to be finagled carefully, fashioned with some vision, cut and shaped and glued and screwed together, and then sanded and finished to a semi-gloss – which sounds a lot like the rest of us who show up at 3900 Park Road on Sundays.

It’s not a bad image of the Church, I think. The sacred and the secular, the old and the new, coming together, creating a place for the best kind of communion – a house, filled with friends, sharing together. There won’t be any bourbon when you Drop-In, but I hope the Spirit will be even better. – Russ 

This Sunday, join Amy at 5p in Helt Hall as we kick off our Kate Bowler Advent Devotion Group. There will be refreshments and we will work through Day One of Advent together along with previewing the rest of the month. Sunday’s gathering will be the only time we meet together in person. However, Amy will send weekly emails to spark online conversation. If you need us to print a hard copy for you, please contact Becka in the Church Office, otherwise please follow this https://courses.katebowler.com/courses/advent-devotional/ to access the guide. If you would like to participate but are unable to make Sunday’s gathering you can sign up by contacting Amy or the Church Office (info@ParkRoadBaptist.org).

This annual tradition is a wonderful way to celebrate the season with friends at church. Join us for a wonderful meal prepared by Tam Gordon, and some good entertainment (this will be in place of our December First Wednesday Meal). Dinner will begin at 5:30p, and the program will conclude in time for choir members to join Bob Pritchard for a 7p rehearsal. Please make sure to RSVP for dinner no later than Tuesday, December 12 at noon. You can RSVP by signing up in Helt Hall on Sunday morning, calling the church office, or email info@ParkRoadBaptist.org.

Join us this Saturday, December 2, beginning at 9a for a fun day of fellowship and decorating together. We’ll get you home by lunchtime so you can decorate

your own home!

Do You Hear What I Hear? It’s Silver Bells, Silver Bells ringing to say, “Come All Ye Faithful VSPers on December 21.” Don’t appear On A Midnight Clear but arrive a little before noon, my dears. We’ll eat, enjoy being together, laugh at some silly jokes, maybe win a door prize, and listen to a little cool Yuletide jazz to make us all proclaim Joy To The World. ‘Tis the season!

Please make your reservation no later than December 17 by calling the church office at or sign up in Helt Hall or by emailing info@ParkRoadBaptist.org

Our Christmastime lunch will be provided by the good folks at Leo’s Italian Social (4720 Piedmont Row, click here for a link to the menu.). We always have a wonderful time sharing a meal together. We hope you can join us at Leo’s. Please let us know if you plan to meet in the church parking lot and ride together at 11:15a, or will meet us there for lunch at 11:30a. You can RSVP by signing up in Helt Hall on Sunday, emailing Info@ParkRoadBaptist.org, or calling the church office (704) 523-5717.

Coming off the heels of Thanksgiving and just entering the Christmas season, Sunday is a perfect time for us to make our commitments to Park Road for 2024. If you have any questions about the 2024 Annual Ministry Plan, please contact one of the Ministers or Mike Hamrick (AMP Chair) or Greg Blum (Ministry Council Chair). Our AMP for next year represents a 7.5% above 2023. Please prayerfully consider matching that increase with your giving. You can make your pledge by using the QR code above or by contacting Allison Wieland in our Finance Office (704-523-5717, ext. 106 or info@parkroadbaptist.org).

Breakfast and Landscaping – December 2

OK, men, it’s time to put some work into “Men’s Work”! Join us this Saturday for breakfast at the Tryon House Restaurant, 215 E. Exmore St, Tryonhousewoodlawn.com. We’ll have breakfast at 8a and then head to church. It’s Decoration Day. While others are inside “decking the halls,” we’ll be in the yard, trimming some vines, pruning some trees, pulling some weeds, shaping and cleaning the landscaping beds around the campus. Bring an appetite and some appropriate tools, and join us!

Winter Retreat, February 2-4

Also, for the guys, we’re heading to the mountains for a couple days of retreat and renewal. Dan Davis, who led our intergenerational retreat, is the founder and director of “Animate Mentoring – guiding individuals and families so they can navigate life's transitions intentionally with wisdom and courage.” Most of Dan’s work is with men and boys, so we are fortunate to have him join us at beautiful High Pastures Christian Retreat Center Highpastures.org in Burnsville. We’re asking participants to take at least part of the day off on Friday to travel. Make it a day if you’d like, head to the mountains, and do a little exploring before the retreat officially begins with dinner. Sessions will continue through Sunday morning. The cost for the retreat, the lodging, and all meals is $250. Limited scholarships are available. You can express interest in attending by signing up in Helt Hall on Sundays or contacting the church office.

"Hi, I'm Sharon Miles. I have a 13 year old daughter, Andra, who plays softball and is in our youth group. I work as a Quality and Regulatory Director for a medical device and food industry disposables company in Pineville, NC. I have an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!). In my free time, I enjoy singing in our choir as a soprano. If you enjoy music and singing, come join us! There is no audition process - the requirements are if you enjoy singing and show up - you're in! It's really fun and we'd love to have you. I also enjoy making handmade jewelry, watching college football, running, and climbing/hiking with my boyfriend Richard."  - Sharon

PRBC is hosting a Rise Against Hunger meal packing event on Sunday, December 17, in the Community Center, with the goal of packing 50,000 meals! This event is a wonderful opportunity for us to work together for a very worthwhile cause! It is designed so that people of all ages can participate and there’s a lot of fun and excitement! So, please plan to join us on the 17th! Click the link below to register for the event and sign up to help. Please note the meal packing start time has changed to 6p.

·        Volunteer's needed for Setup: 4:30p - 6p

·        Meal Packing Time: 6p - 9p

·        Volunteer's needed for Cleanup - 9p - 9:45p

The Ministry Council (composed of Deacon leadership, Ministry Area Coordinators, representatives from each of our three Committees (Personnel, Administration, Child Development), and the ministerial staff) met this week to discuss teams that are in place that help us Make Community Happen in and around Park Road. You will be hearing much more about this in the weeks to come. Consider this a “teaser.” In the meantime, ask yourself: What are my passions? Where and how can I serve? Over the course of December and January, you will be hearing more about this effort. Put January 28 on your calendar now for our Annual State of the Church meeting. (Yes! There will be a potluck.) At that time, you will have the chance to plug your name into place(s) where you can get more involved in ways that fit your season of life. Together, we will not just Make Community Happen internally, but also in ways that may just change the world.

For our next Bible Study and Fellowship, we have a special treat. Claudia Saleh Borchart, a Palestinian Christian who has worked for many years guiding tour groups through the Holy Land, will be with us. Claudia has developed a virtual tour. After she makes an initial presentation, participants will be outfitted with virtual reality visors and will get to visit Bethlehem. All are welcome to join us. If you have not been to the Holy Land, this presentation will take you there, with the magic of virtual reality. Ten participants will “tour” together, but multiple sessions are allowed, so all are welcome. We invite participants to make a $10 donation for the tour, though the cost of the presentation is covered. Join us

Marvin and Yolani will be selling their home-made pinatas this Sunday at the International Bazaar at Refugee Support Services on 3925 Willard Farrow Dr. The market will feature local craftspeople and vendors and will be a great place to find unique gifts for the holidays. Stop by to purchase a pinata or just to provide moral support for Yolani and Marvin!

• December 2 – Decoration Day - The youth will begin work at 9a to decorate the church. JD could especially use some youth help to move bigger items and also help him with a children's activity.
• December 13 – Church Wide Christmas Banquet - Instead of Worship Wednesday, we will share in a Christmas banquet with the entire church. 
• Traditional Youth Progressive Dinner - If you're willing to host part of our traditional progressive dinner, please let JD know so we get that on the calendar ASAP. 
• December 17 - Rise Against Hunger Event (previously known as Stop Hunger Now). The youth have been asking about resuming this event and the church staff (especially Dan McClintock) have taken that feedback seriously and made it happen. This event will start at 6:30p and replace SNT for this night.
• December 20 - Soup and Caroling. Most youth should be out of school close to this time, so it should be a stress-free blast. Details TBA.
• July 8-12 Unidiversity Camp - It is never too early to sign up. 🙂 

• December 2 – Decoration Day – We will have our churchwide "Decoration Day", which begins at 9a. JD, will have a special activity for the kiddos with the help of some of our youth, called a "Jessee Tree." They will make an ornament for each day of advent, and the ornaments will give an overview of the scriptures. JD will pull from this activity throughout advent for our children's programming. Special thanks to Lisa Mason for helping us get this together. 
• December 17 - "Rise Against Hunger" Event (previously known as Stop Hunger Now) begins at 6:30p. This project is for all ages and is a really special program the church has done in the past. 
• December 20- Soup and Caroling – This is another sweet tradition. Details TBA. 
• July 16-19, 2024 – Camp Prism – Any student who will complete third grade this year is invited to sign up for Camp Prism. This week is a wonderful time with our students, and JD would love all our current 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to be there. Think summer camp but with Russ leading worship. Some members of our kid’s ministry team serving as counselors, and no bad theology to cause you worry. 🙂 

I love the little things people do at church, the niches they find, the ways people plug in, in the simple ways that make church work. I could name a couple dozen, but because I woke up Sunday morning and it was freezing (literally), I’ll just share this one. I had a text from Dave Robinette, “Want a fire at church this morning?” Last year Dave started building the fires in Helt Hall. If he’s in town, it’s his thing. If you come in on a cold morning and get warm by the fireplace, you can thank Mr. Robinette! And then Austin Seagrave called to say she had some firewood, longer pieces that’ll fit well in our large fireplace. Dave heard about the offer and volunteered to go to her house to pick up the wood. Two little things that make a big difference on cold Sundays. Thanks, Dave! Thanks, Austin! Have you found your niche? – Russ

To aid in preparation for our special Christmas music, Bob Pritchard is inviting all choir members to remain after worship this coming Sunday, for a rehearsal of approximately one hour. Following the rehearsal, all who are interested can go and enjoy lunch at Jason’s Deli.

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