Seen Around Church: Week of January 18, 2026

Timber! SMPC Cottage’s Chapter Closes

Last Thursday, January 15, the cottage behind the Palmer Building was torn down. This was an exceptional day for our preschoolers who LOVED watching! The cottage, built in 2002, had various uses over the last couple of decades, including a space for youth and adult Sunday school, community groups and more.

Photo credits: Steve Stevenson, Donna Podgorny and the SMPC Communications

Center of Hope Breakfast Crew Celebrates Longtime Leader

After serving the women and children of Center of Hope (COH) on Saturday, January 17, the COH breakfast crew gathered to celebrate longtime ministry leader Bob Williamson for his 10 years of service! SMPC member and longtime COH volunteer Bill Ramsey shared a beautiful tribute to Bob, which in part shared stories of the thousands (millions?!) eggs he has scrambled and people he has served over the years. Bob was presented with a golden whisk to honor his years of service! Thank you, Bob (and Donna!) for leading and serving so humbly for so many years. (If you are interested in prepping food on Fridays or serving/cooking on Saturdays to help women and children experiencing homelessness, please sign up here or contact the ministry’s new leader, Lee Martin. This is a FUN crew to laugh and serve with… :)) You can read more about Bob’s legacy in this edition of Seen Around Church.

Photo and Article Credit: Katherine Martin

SMPC Youth Gather for Small Group Dinners

Our middle and high schoolers enjoyed small group dinners this past Sunday, January 18. Thank you to our host families, the Greesons and the Hicks, for their hospitality! The group enjoyed an evening of fun, fellowship and food with a devotion to ground and nurture them in faith. Thank you to Rev. Lindsey Odom and all of our parent volunteers for their love and dedication to our youth!

Photo credit: Rev. Lindsey Odom

Triple the Donnas, Triple the Welcome!

This past Sunday, SMPC greeters included a “pack” of friendly Donnas! Donna Podgorny, Donna Wenner and Donna Ramsey. This got us thinking: who else could find someone with a similar or the same name to greet church goers?! The challenge is on, SMPC! If you would like to sign up to be a greeter (single or with a name twin!), add yourself here. Contact Kathy Galati if you have questions!

Photo credit: Donna Podgorny