Seen Around Church: Week of October 27, 2024

Here Comes the Sun (City)! 

Those who attend SMPC and call Sun City Carolina Lakes home have met at the Sun City Lodge Pavilion for several weeks for fellowship. This photo was snapped last Friday, October 25, while they enjoyed ice cream. Coordinated by Carol Roan and Ann Sligar, the group is open to anyone who attends SMPC and lives in the Sun City Carolina Lakes development. For more information, please contact Carol Roan.

Photo credit: Debbie Stenvall

No Matter How You Slice It, SMPC Lives into Hope!

We celebrated Commitment Sunday on Sunday, October 27 with delicious cake (sliced by the best!) and our final Moment for Stewardship. Michael Choren spoke to the congregation about how he finds “endless energy” and “boundless strength” while at SMPC. Read or watch his reflection here.

If you did not receive your stewardship packet at church for our 2025 Operating Fund Campaign, you should have received it by mail. Make a pledge by returning a pledge card or via this link.

Photo credit: Nancy Metzler

SMPC Dedicates New Columbarium

On Sunday, October 27, we came together as a faith community to dedicate and ask God’s blessing for SMPC’s new columbarium, a lasting sacred space where the gathering of our beloved find their rest, where we encounter God’s peace, and where we affirm our trust in the eternal promise of God through whom we have received this communion with the saints and our mutual fellowship in the body of Christ. A columbarium is a wall of niches to hold the ashes of those who have died. Christians have a long history of interring their loved and lost close to their places of worship. It is a way to remember that we are part of a communion of the saints.  Death does not end love or community for by his death Jesus overcame death, not just for himself but for all people.

During the service we prayed this Prayer of Dedication:

Eternal God, we dedicate this columbarium to your glory in joyful celebration of the beauty of your Creation, in affirmation of the privilege of life and love within your Creation, and in thanksgiving for the lives of your people, who at the end of service in the earthly life find their rest in you. And as we dedicate this place for God, we rededicate our lives to the service of Jesus Christ, your Son, Our Lord. Amen.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special service.

If you are interested in learning more about the columbarium, please visit our website.

Photo credits: Zach Bowyer, Terry Gaines, Steve Stevenson and Bob Williamson

SMPC Youth Have Boo-tastic Fun at Annual Halloween Party and S’Mores Night

Our SMPC Youth got into the Halloween spirit on Sunday evening, October 27, during its annual Halloween party and S’mores/campfire night! We had some GREAT costumes and a spook-tacular night!

Photo credit: Rebecca Guzman and Lindsey Odom

Part I of the SMPC Preschool Halloween Parade!

We enjoyed Part I of the SMPC Preschool Halloween Parade the day before Halloween! We will make sure to include photos of Thursday’s parade in next week’s “Seen Around Church.” As always, our preschoolers earned 5 stars (pumpkins?!) for cuteness! It’s such a fun time of year at church! (Thank you to Tom Schellin for sending his GORG photos (photos credits watermarked)!)

SMPC Staff Member Recognized at Presbytery of Charlotte Meeting

Congratulations to Associate Pastor of Youth and Missions/Outreach Lindsey Odom on being recognized as a Certified Christian Educator at the Stated Meeting of Charlotte Presbytery on Tuesday, October 29!! We are so proud of her and are forever grateful God led her to SMPC!

Photo credit: Rebecca Guzman

SMPC Donates Over 1600 Pounds of Non-Perishables to Nourish Up

Thanks to YOUR generosity, SMPC donated 1,667 pounds of non-perishables to Nourish Up’s Food Bank! Nourish Up came to campus on Wednesday, October 30, where a great group of SMPC volunteers met them to load the truck. There is a major food shortage in our community, and your donations will go a long way in helping so many in need. Thank you!