Seen Around Church: Week of July 14, 2024

Ring the Bell for the Birthday Girl!

The Beginning to Ring gang celebrated Gayle Ireland last week on her birthday! We are blessed to have Gayle and Director of Music and Organist Zach Bowyer lead our Beginning to Ring class every Thursday this summer at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. All are welcome! (Please note: next week’s Beginning to Ring is canceled due to VBS, but they’ll be back making music Thursday, August 1!)

SMPC Families Gather for Playdate on the Playground

Our little ones enjoyed some time together on the SMPC playground on Saturday, July 13 during the Family Playdate on the Playground!

Photo credit: Kaitlin Gaul

Voices Unite in Summer Pickup Choir 

What a joy it was to have members of our Music Ministry and other music lovers in the choir loft for the SMPC Summer Pickup Choir during worship on Sunday!! They did such a beautiful job! If you missed the Summer Pickup Choir, there’s good news! We’ll do another one on Sunday, August 11. Simply meet in the sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. to get your music and practice a bit. All are welcome – you don’t have to be a member of the Music Ministry to join us in joyful song to the Lord! Ages 6th grade and up.

Sweet Treats Delivered to Center of Hope Guests

Sunday was Center of Hope desserts day!  Thank you to all who donated lovely (and lovingly prepared) sweet treats for our Center of Hope neighbors. ❤️ Our next dessert collection for Center of Hope will be Sunday, August 11. Sign up to bring a dessert here. 

Photo credit: Terry Gaines

Scouts Spend Week at Summer Camp

About 65 scouts and adults from BSA Troops 119 and 219 spent the week at the Summit summer camp at Glen Jean, WV from June 30-July 6. They enjoyed activities like whitewater rafting, zip lining, rock climbing, archery, fishing and more. Many also earned merit badges that are required for their Eagle Scout honor. The Summit is one of the four BSA high adventures bases.

Photo credit: Dean Elledge

High School Youth Find Peace, Friendship at Montreat Youth Conference

Montreat 2024, you were incredible! Our high schoolers played, prayed, laughed, hiked, relaxed, sang and, most importantly, came to know and believe that they are beloved children of God! Montreat is a place where our youth can be authentic and really thrive in God’s truth. We pray our youth felt the unconditional love of God through this incredible community. Thank you to their leader, Associate Pastor of Youth and Missions/Outreach Lindsey Odom, our amazing parent chaperones and all who contributed meals, snacks, drinks and prayers!

The high schoolers wrote beautiful reflections on this year’s Montreat conference. You can read them here and see more photos here.

Photo credit: SMPC Youth

Weekly Bible Study Participants Gather Informally During Summer Break

While Conversations with Matt Brown (Dr. Matt Brown’s weekly Bible study) is on summer break, participants are still gathering informally at the Starbucks at Stonecrest on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m (the standalone Starbucks – not the Harris Teeter Starbucks!). They wrap up by 10:30 a.m. – even if you only have 15 minutes, please come by! All are welcome! For more information, contact Terry Gaines.

Sermon Comes to Life at Smithsonian Museum

Dr. Matt Brown, pastor, and his wife, Donna, stopped at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC during their travels this week and came across memorabilia from The New York City Breakers, the breakdancing group Matt referenced in his sermon on Sunday, July 14! You can listen to the sermon, “Choreography,” here.

Faces of Faith: Xander Case

Every week this summer we are highlighting an SMPC member. Enjoy getting to know Xander Case!

Name: Xander Case
Family: My parents, Kari and Cullen Case, and my brother, Harrison Case
Age and School: I’m 18 years old and am attending Central Piedmont Community College

You’re a youth representative for the Missions/Outreach Committee. Why is service important to you and what are some of your favorite ways for youth to get involved in service at SMPC?

Service is important to me because service opportunities act as a way to connect with and help all types of people around me. Service allows me to connect with new faces in the church, people in the community in need, and with the people that help make our church services come to life. My favorite ways for youth to get involved in service at SMPC are three of my favorite events that help the community. These three events are Operation Sandwich, in which youth can spend time with each other while making sandwiches for the homeless; the Crop Walk, which helps raise money to help hungry people; and finally caroling at Legacy Heights, which allows people in retirement homes to enjoy the sounds of music, and even gives them a chance to connect with the youth.

What’s been the most impactful experience for you during your time with the SMPC Youth program?

The most impactful experience for me during my time with the youth program was the fall beach trip with the high school youth this past year. The trip spans a couple days, and the youth get to play at the beach, play games inside, and visit a massive candy store. The most impactful part, however, was the Sunday morning service we had on the beach. We sang hymns, had communion, and read about the word of God, all while watching the sun rise on the beach. This experience was unlike any other, and it was beautiful.

What’s your advice for other youth who want to get involved with SMPC Youth?

My advice to youth who would like to get involved with the program is to attend youth groups every Sunday evening. This may sound like a very simple thing, but the youth that attend these youth groups are very caring and open, so in no time you will find yourself being accepted and included by many different people from the youth family. Another thing that may help is to bring a friend if you are nervous or shy. Anyone and everyone is welcome to youth group, and we encourage youth to bring friends!

If you would like more information about the SMPC Youth Ministry, please go to our Youth Ministry page or contact Lindsey Odom, lindsey@smpchome.org.