Seen Around Church: Week of June 22, 2025

Popsicles and Pickleball? Yes, Please!

Our middle and high schoolers had a super fun week last week! Last Tuesday, they enjoyed “Popsicles and Pickleball with the Pastor” (say that three times fast!) at Thornhill’s tennis courts. Then, on Wednesday, Associate Pastor of Youth and Missions/Outreach Lindsey Odom and Director of Music and Organist Zach Bowyer led worship with the youth and the active older adults of Legacy Heights Senior Living Community! What a fun and fulfilling week of summer!

What a fun and fulfilling week of summer! Thank you to our youth for showing up with great energy—and to our chaperones for helping make it all happen!

Photo credit: Lindsey Odom

Serving Up Hope: SMPC Volunteers at Center of Hope

SMPC members and friends served breakfast to guests at the Center of Hope on Saturday, June 21. We were especially grateful to have a few college-age volunteers join us—it’s always a joy to see young adults giving back!

We were so excited to welcome new volunteers, Joey and his college-age sons, Mickey and Patrick, as well! Joey, who had volunteered at Center of Hope years before, heard about the opportunity to serve through his neighbor, SMPC member Megan Stenvall. We love hearing how good news can spread in our community!!

Serving at the Center of Hope is a meaningful and tangible way for high school graduates and college students home for the summer to care for our community.

Our next opportunity to serve is Saturday, July 19. Sign up to volunteer or donate food or funds toward eggs and bacon here.

Photo credit: Donna Podgorny

Massanetta or BUST!

We’re praying for our middle schoolers, chaperones and staff as they spend the week at the Massanetta Middle School Conference in Massanetta Springs, VA. We hope they feel a deep connection to God and to one another, and that they’re growing in faith and love along the way. We can’t wait to hear their stories from the week!

A BIG thank you to our amazing chaperones and staff on this trip: Denise Davis, Rebecca Guzman, Sharon Mitchell, Courtney Ritchie, and Rev. Lindsey Odom.

Stay tuned—more photos coming next week!

Photo credit: Lindsey Odom and Geena Woodard

Transition Committee Meets with Session, Representatives of Charlotte Presbytery

On Sunday, June 22, the Transition Committee met with the Session and representatives of the Presbytery of Charlotte: Jan Edmiston, General Presbyter, and John Magee, SMPC’s liaison for the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. The Transition Committee updated the group on their next steps in filling the two interim roles (a part-time Parish Associate and a full-time Transitional Pastor), and Edmiston and Magee offered insight and support through the process. The Committee is finalizing the interim part-time Parish Associate job description and will begin to consider candidates in the next couple of weeks. The Committee’s goal is to fill this position as quickly as possible so that all of our congregational care needs will continue to be met as we move through the transition process.

Additionally, the Committee has begun to work on the Transitional Pastor job description as well as the PC(USA)’s version of a job listing called a Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP). When these documents are completed, and after approval of the session and Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, they will be posted on the PC(USA)’s Church Leadership Connection (their “job board”) site, our own website, and the Presbytery of Charlotte’s website.

Find more updates on the pastoral transition here.

Photo credit: Terry Gaines

Checkmate! Children Have Summer Fun at Chess Camp Hosted at SMPC

The Knight School hosted their super fun chess camp at SMPC last week, and two of our very own—Miles and Ellie—attended, learned a ton, and had an absolute blast! This camp is taking place at various locations across the city throughout the summer—find out more here.

We are so fortunate to have space on our campus where our community can gather, learn and grow!

Photo credit: Nadia Jackson, The Knight School

Scout Leaders Spruce Up Scouts’ Trailer Prior to Summer Camp

Scout Troops 119 and 219 are headed to camp this week with a newly upfitted trailer courtesy of Scout leaders, Tim Morgan, Dave Gaines and others. Tim and Dave are pictured below working hard on a VERY hot summer day!