Seen Around Church – Week of July 2, 2023

SMPC Member Volunteers with Freedom School

SMPC member Terry Gaines volunteered last week with the Freedom School Partners, which is a unique six-week summer program that ignites children’s passion for reading and learning. Terry read Our Table by Peter H. Reynolds to elementary-school-aged children (thank you to Director of Spiritual Formation Rebecca Guzman for loaning her copy!). Thank you to Freedom School staff member Doris Boyd (also a member of CN Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church) for giving SMPC this opportunity to serve with this important mission!

There are still opportunities to volunteer now through July 26. See below!

Sign Up to Volunteer

SMPC Middle Schoolers Share Massanetta Reflections

Our SMPC middle schoolers spent last week at Massanetta’s Middle School Conference, Welcome Home, and had a blast! They were kind enough to write short reflections on how the time they spent at Massanetta impacted their faith and friendships. This is one you don’t want to miss reading! Also, check out all of the amazing photos from the week.

It’s All About the Welcome at SMPC

From the friendly faces as we walked through the doors on Sunday to the sermon titled “Welcome” to lemonade and cookies after worship, Sunday was all about feeling WELCOME at SMPC. If you missed Sunday’s sermon you can always catch it on our podcast. See below.

Signups Still Open for Summer Organ Sidekick (S.O.S.)

Best news! There are still several weeks left in summer and a few slots open to be a Summer Organ Sidekick (S.O.S.) with Director of Music and Organist Zach Bowyer. Children ages rising 2nd grade to rising 6th grade are invited to sit next to Zach at the organ during Sunday worship to experience the organ and what it’s like to lead congregational song.

Funny Seeing You Here!

Church members Bill Anderson and Mary Katheryne Zagora (who is SMPC’s financial administrator and office manager!) ran into each other’s families at the Blowing Rock fireworks show. We love seeing each other outside of church and the city.

Faces of Faith: Kyle Royster

SMPC Note: This summer we’ve launched a weekly series called “Faces of Faith” where we spotlight SMPC members and learn about how their faith and involvement in the church have impacted their lives. This week’s spotlight is on SMPC member and recent high school graduate Kyle Royster!

Name: Kyle Royster

Family: My dad, Derek, my mom, Leanne and my two brothers, Derek, Jr. and Jake; My paternal grandparents, Ralph and Barbara Royster and maternal grandmother, Joyce Highsmith, are also members of SMPC

School : I graduated from Ardrey Kell High School this year (class of 2023) and will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall.

Years at SMPC: More than 18 years (since I was born).  Dr. Brown baptized me in the summer of 2005 when I was 2 months old.

How has being involved with SMPC Youth shaped your teenage experience? Being involved with the youth program, especially as a youth leader and on the youth committee, really shaped my teenage experience because through all the youth events and get-togethers we had, I was able to connect closer with God and find other people my age that have similar beliefs as me.  This really helped me form new relationships with other members of the youth group.  I especially enjoyed the overnight retreats like Montreat and the high school fall retreats because they helped strengthen my relationship with God and others. I always look forward to the meaningful discussions we have about God and Jesus with people my age.