Seen Around Church: Week of May 18, 2025

Making Space for JOY

Last week, the Making Space Mom’s Group enjoyed a wonderful night out at Foxcroft Wine Bar in Waverly.

This group of moms meets regularly to support one another through the joys and challenges of motherhood, and this evening was no exception. The photos from the night captured the joy perfectly!

If you’re a mom looking for connection and encouragement, there’s a space for you here. The group meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month for study, fellowship and service. Come as you are—we’d love to have you.

Photo credit: Lindsey Odom

Lunch on the Grounds: Good Food, Good Weather, Great Community

Following worship on Sunday, our church family gathered for Lunch on the Grounds—and it couldn’t have been a more perfect day. With blue skies overhead and just the right mix of sun and shade, we enjoyed a delicious catered meal from Brown Bag and spent time connecting with one another. Our families with young children connected on the playground and hopefully formed new friendships and reconnected with familiar faces! It was a perfect way to slow down during this very busy month of May!

A special thank you to our Hospitality Committee and all the volunteers who helped make this event such a success—we’re grateful for your time, energy, and warm welcome!

We’re grateful for everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special.

Thank you to Jessica Metzler and Kaitlin Gaul for sending some of these cute photos to us!

SMPC Youth and Children Splash into Summer

What a fun night!! Who knew the church parking lot could be turned into a water park!!? We celebrated an AWESOME year of children’s and youth programming with a Summer Kickoff Night! SMPC Youth had a blast on the inflatable water slide and played outdoor games like corn hole, Spikeball and more. Our children wrapped up their last BAM! (Bible and Music) of the school year with some super fun outdoor water games, crafts. Both groups enjoyed pizza (of course!!) 🍕🎶 ☀️🎉

We were blessed with perfect weather, wonderful leaders and incredible volunteers. Now, the next question is, how can we get that inflatable waterslide back for summer Sunday after worship!!?

Photo credit: Lindsey Odom and Rebecca Guzman

SMPC’s Melissa White Approved for Ordination by Charlotte Presbytery

Congratulations to Melissa White, director of hospitality and connection, who was approved  for ordination of Minister of Word and Sacrament, by the Charlotte Presbytery Tuesday morning! We look forward to celebrating her ordination on Sunday, June 1, 4:00 p.m. in the sanctuary and via livestream! Everyone is welcome. We are so blessed to have Melissa and her family at SMPC!!

Photo credit: Melissa White

Lunch for a Good Cause

A group of SMPC members attended the Nourish Up Luncheon of Hope on Wednesday at the Fillmore Charlotte! This year marks Nourish Up’s 50th anniversary! In 2024, the organization fed over 164,000 people in our community, which equates to filling Bank of America Stadium twice. Incredible!

SMPC was proud to be a table sponsor of the event in its support of Nourish Up’s mission of “nourishing our neighbors with care compassion, and envisioning a community that accepts no excuses for anyone going hungry.”

Author and podcaster Jen Hatmaker was the keynote speaker and delivered an inspiring message of community, hope and compassion. Neighbors are not just those who look like us, think like us and live like us, she noted. Hatmaker emphasized that we must love and care for everyone in our community, especially the adults, elderly and children experiencing hunger. She went on to applaud Nourish Up’s extensive work in our community, calling it “stunning,” and asked attendees and members of the community to keep working until everyone is fed.

If you would like more information on how you can get involved with Nourish Up through SMPC, please contact Missions/Outreach Chairs Carla Jaynes or Katherine Martin. Find more information on Nourish Up and donate directly to them here.