Seen Around Church: Week of April 21, 2024

Youth Enjoy Fun in the Sun

Our youth enjoyed April BYG (Big Youth Group) on Sunday, April 14. It was filled with fun, fellowship, food and outdoor games. The youth learned about how Psalm 96:1-2 connects with how we worship, praise, and glorify God. Thank you to our parent volunteers (always!).

Photo credits: SMPC Youth

A Visual Reminder that Change is on its Way

The City of Charlotte is taking down trees around the upper entrance to the church in preparation for the Bryant Farms Road Extension project. Just a reminder that beginning Monday, April 29, you will only be able to access the church coming from Blakeney Shopping Center on Blakeney Heath Road. Find more information on our website. 

Photo credits: Steve Stevenson

Center of Hope Service: It’s About More than Just Breakfast

On the third Saturday of every month, volunteers from SMPC serve breakfast to guests of Center of Hope. One steadfast volunteer, Donna Podgorny, reflected on SMPC’s visit this past Saturday:

“Serving breakfast at the Center of Hope provides us a ‘window’ into the lives of our sisters and their families who find lodging at the center. As we attempt to give ‘daily bread’ one Saturday a month of eggs, bacon, pancakes, grits, juice and fruit, we receive the unexpected hug around the knees from a toddler and the heartfelt hug from a septuagenarian. 

Thank you to the donors of time, treasures and prayer who support this outreach.” 

Our next service date is Saturday, May 18. Sign up to serve or donate food here.

Photo credits: Donna Podgorny 

SMPC Youth Learn about Haitian Missions/Outreach and Write Letters to Haitian Students

Our middle and high schoolers recently learned more about how SMPC supports Haiti through our work with Friends Empowering Haiti and Ewo during a special lunch where the 22 youth heard from Ewo representatives and SMPC church members and wrote letters to Haitian students that we support. 

SMPC’s support for Haiti includes financial donations for the school, medical clinic and special projects. SMPC members also have the opportunity to sponsor Haitian students. The students we sponsor will receive one of these handwritten letters from an SMPC Youth.

SMPC church members Donna Podgorny, Judy and David Nichols and Judy Jones, and representatives from Ewo, Olguens Saint Louis, Melissa Hoffmann, and Gabby Fleurisma (Actionnel Fleurisma’s daughter) joined the youth for lunch. Gabby made delicious rice and beans from a Haitian recipe (recipe to be shared soon!) that the youth enjoyed after pizza. The youth learned more about how food is grown in Haiti and what life is like there. They also heard about the impact SMPC’s school sponsorships have on Haitian students. While there is tremendous unrest in Haiti right now, we are thankful that Olguens, Gabby and Melissa were able to share more about this important mission work with our youth. We continue to hold the Haitian people in our prayers.

“We hope to have planted the seeds of interest in these youth in caring on endeavors that support brothers and sisters around the world, especially those that we love and care about so much in Bayonnais, Haiti,” said Donna. 

View more photos here. Thank you to our parent volunteers, Sheila McAnally and Alicia Bickett, and our faithful church members and Ewo representatives. 

If you would like to learn more about how to get involved with this missions/outreach opportunity, see go to Serve our World on our website.

SMPC Members Attend Augustine Literacy Project Luncheon, One Member Recognized for Service

Church members Kathy Graham, Linda Thompson, Shelby Ullman and SMPC Associate Pastor of Youth and Missions/Outreach Lindsey Odom attended a luncheon for Augustine Literacy Project (ALP) at Forest Hill Church on Park Road on Wednesday, April 24. Augustine Literacy Project works to improve the reading, spelling and writing skills of low-income children who struggle with literacy. SMPC has a partnership with ALP and has several ALP tutors at our church who tutor students at Smithfield Elementary. At the luncheon, the impact and difference that ALP is making on students in the Greater Charlotte area was very apparent!  Kathy Graham was also recognized for her five years of service with ALP at the luncheon. Congratulations, Kathy! If you are interested in becoming an ALP tutor or want more information, please contact Kathy Graham or Lindsey Odom.