Seen Around Church: Week of Sunday, October 20, 2024

SMPC Serve Breakfast to Center of Hope Guests

SMPC members served breakfast to Center of Hope guests on Saturday morning, October 19. Center of Hope is a shelter for women and children located near Uptown Charlotte. Thanks to our many volunteers and donors, we serve a hot breakfast on the third Saturday of every month to guests. If you haven’t had a chance to serve in this ministry, we promise it is worth the early wakeup call! Volunteers meet in the church parking lot around 5:15 a.m. to load supplies and caravan to Center of Hope. They’re back to the church by around 9:00 a.m.! It’s a very life-giving, heart-filled Saturday morning. Check out this video for more and sign up for our next breakfast on Saturday, November 16 here (you can also sign up for food donations, too!)!

Photo credit: Donna Podgorney

SMPC Members Celebrate Big in the Bahamas

Several SMPC members and staff, along with longtime friends of SMPC, celebrated the marriage of Austin Lackey and Nina McIntosh in Lyford Cay, Bahamas on Friday, October 18. Austin, the son of Leisa and Clint Lackey, was baptized and confirmed at SMPC and still calls SMPC his church home!  Dr. Matt Brown officiated the ceremony. Thank you to Matt Brown and Leisa Lackey for these joyous photos!

From left to right: Katie Ingersoll, John Ingersoll, Jenni Ingersoll, Terry Gaines, Dave Gaines, Leisa and Clint Lackey, Matt and Donna Brown, Erik Murphy, Ruth Hansen, Leigh Yeoman, Pat McDonnell

BBQ on the Grounds Brings Church Members and Friends Together for Fellowship and Yummy Food

Our annual BBQ on the Grounds on Sunday, October 20 after worship, was SUCH fun! Thank you to all who came out and dined together under the beautiful Carolina blue skies! It was so wonderful to see so many church members and friends connecting in such a happy way. We were also blessed to have special visitors, Pastor Actionnel and Yolande Fleurisma, their daughter, Gabrielle, and Melissa Hoffman from Ewo. They were able to give attendees more insights into the current state of affairs in Haiti and how we as a faith community and individuals can help. We also enjoyed getting to know them on a personal level as they enjoyed DELISH BBQ and sides with us. If you would like more information on how you can get involved with our mission work in Haiti, please see our Serve Our World page.

Thank you to our Hospitality Committee and event volunteers, including event leader Kathy Graham, for their tireless work on this and ALL of our fellowship events. We are incredibly blessed to have such a vibrant faith community!

SMPC Youth Make 1,275 Sandwiches for Roof Above

Our middle and high schoolers made 1,275 sandwiches for Roof Above during Operation Sandwich on Sunday evening, October 20! Thank you to everyone who volunteered and brought sandwich supplies. We are so very thankful for this mission opportunity and the various ways we serve and support our neighbors!!

Photo credit: Rev. Lindsey Odom and Steve Stevenson

Shaping Up: Traffic Circle Construction Rolls Closer to the Finish Line!

Construction of the Bryant Farms Rd/Blakeney Heath Rd. traffic circle is moving right along. The City of Charlotte estimates a completion date of Friday, November 8. We’re spinning in circles here in excitement!

Photo credit: Rev. Lindsey Odom (and Cassie the Church Dog as they were taken on her walk!)