Seen Around Church – Week of January 14, 2024

Longtime Missions and Outreach Partner Unveils New Name

Loaves & Fishes and Friendship Trays merged two years ago, and last Wednesday, January 10, SMPC attended the unveiling event of the combined agency’s new name:  Nourish Up.  The rebranded organization is committed to lifting our community through food and ending food insecurity.  Nourish Up is developing a new 90.000 sq ft space, called the Hunger Hub for Hope, located in the heart of  Charlotte’s food insecurity crescent.  The new facility will be four times larger than their old space and will have ten times more space for cold storage, which means it can hold more fresh food. SMPC’s Missions and Outreach Committee donated $20,000 toward the Hunger Hub in 2023 on behalf of the congregation.  Expanded opportunities to serve will be communicated in the coming months.

Pastor Matt Brown, Leisa Lackey, Janet and Tim Morgan, Dean Elledge, and Terry Gaines represented SMPC at the Nourish Up name reveal. Associate Pastor of Youth and Missions/Outreach Lindsey Odom represented SMPC during a name-reveal event the following morning.

Creativity and Conversation Bloom at Making Spaces Mom’s Group

Members of the Making Space Mom’s Group met last Thursday night and enjoyed fellowship while coloring a poster we will use during Lent. We can’t think of a better way to spend an evening with friends! The group did such a beautiful job, and we are so thankful for their time and talents. 

SMPC Donates Winter Coats to Smithfield Elementary School Students

Thank you to SMPC member Chad Reeves and Donna Brown who helped procure 60 winter coats from Crisis Assistance Ministry and delivered the coats to Smithfield Elementary School on Friday! Pictured below is Smithfield Guidance Counselor Wendy Culp who accepted the coats on behalf of their students.

Music Ministry Rings in the New Year with Two New Handbells

Director of Music and Organist Zach Bowyer can’t “bell-ieve” that the handbells he ordered last fall finally arrived! They were worth the wait. We can’t wait to hear our lovely ringers playing them on Sunday, February 4! Stay “tuned” 😊.