Seen Around Church: Week of January 12, 2025

Get a Birds’ Eye View with these Before and After’ Photos of Traffic Circle

The City of Charlotte sent over these VERY cool “before and after” aerial photos of the traffic circle! Beautiful! The project manager told us it took around 90 people to complete the project (including contractors, management and inspection staff). We are grateful for each and every person who worked so hard to make our community safer!

: Before

: After 1

: After 2

Photo credit: City of Charlotte

SMPC Middle and High Schoolers Gather for First BYG (Big Youth Group) of 2025

Our middle and high schoolers came together for the first Big Youth Group (BYG) of 2025 on Sunday, January 5! Thank you to Director of Spiritual Formation Rebecca Guzman for leading it and to everyone who attended and brought winter coats, gloves and scarf donations for Smithfield Elementary!! During BYG, the youth were asked to remember to always strive to do everything for God’s glory and let their decisions, actions and words reflect this! All middle and high schoolers are invited to join in every month at BYG – find more details and register on Realm and remember – friends are always welcome! Just please be sure to register them so we know how many to expect! ❤️

Photo credit: SMPC Youth

New Adult Study Hits the Ground Running in the New Year

Our new Adult Study class, “Trust the Whisper,” started off with a SHOUT on Sunday! Twenty-nine people attended the first session in person and five attended via Zoom. This class meets on Sunday mornings from 9:00-10:00 a.m. and is discussing Kathy Izard’s book, Trust the Whisper. Everyone is invited to attend the All Church Reads, a discussion with the author and a “Trust the Whisper” exercise on Sunday, February 2, 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary . It is NOT too late to come to this study – all are welcome. And, you don’t have to attend the study to come to the All Church Reads event. We’ll see you Sunday in the McQueen Room or via Zoom – register here if you haven’t already.

Photo credit: Terry Gaines

SMPC Welcomes New Class of Elders and Deacons

We welcomed a new class of Elders and Deacons on Sunday, January 12. We are so grateful for the new class’s leadership and service! We even have a mother/daughter duo in the class of elders – Kara Guy and her daughter, Caroline. Caroline represents the youth on Session.

: New Elders, Kara (left) and Caroline (right) with sister Natalie (center)

Photo credit: Terry Gaines

Well, at Least Lemonade Makes It FEEL Like Summer!

Freezing temps might have moved us inside for Lemonade on the Grounds last Sunday, but we warmed up with friendship and smiles! Let’s all agree to remember these cold temps when we’re sweating in July, deal!?

Photo credit: Terry Gaines

Troop 119 Member Cleans Up SMPC Campus for Eagle Scout Project

Thank you so much to Aarav R. for helping make our church campus beautiful with his Eagle project at SMPC! Aarav managed his team with an extensive clean up and replanting effort to the church’s roundabout and parking lot islands on campus. It’s especially nice to see such beautiful grounds during the winter!! 🙂

Photo credit: Dean Elledge

Scouts Visit Northern Minnesota in December (This is NOT Fake News!)

A group of 22 Scouts and adults from Troop 119 visited High Adventure Base in Northern Minnesota between Christmas and New Year’s (we couldn’t believe it either, BRRRR!). They slept on a frozen lake for two of the nights and even moved fire from one campsite to another (like, literally picked up fire!). Way to go, Scouts, and thank you for these pictures – they’re gorgeous!