THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2025

We hope you'll join us for worship for Pentecost Sunday at 10:10 a.m. in the sanctuary or via livestream. We encourage you to wear red to church! Red is the color of Pentecost, and it signifies the tongues of flames seen over the heads of those praying together and the gift and work of the Holy Spirit. Read more about what we celebrate on Pentecost here.

All are welcome!



First Reading: Psalm 104:1-4

Second Reading: Acts 2:1-21

Sermon: “you ride on the wings of the wind" 

Pastor: Dr. Matt Brown


Listening devices are available during worship. Please stop by the Connection Center for more information. We encourage you to wear your name tag to worship. If you do not have a name tag or have misplaced yours, please contact Adrienne Jaquith, office and database manager.

QUICK LINKS

PASTOR DR. MATT BROWN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

We have been truly blessed to have Dr. Matt Brown serve as pastor of SMPC for 21 years! With both gratitude and sadness, we share that Matt has announced his retirement, effective December 1, 2025. His final Sunday preaching at SMPC will be November 23, 2025.


You can read Matt's message to the congregation here, along with a letter from Personnel Committee Chair Janet Morgan, which expresses heartfelt thanks to Matt and his wife, Donna, and outlines our transition plan.


What's next?

We have compiled some frequently asked questions about the church's next steps here, which we'll continue to update as the process unfolds. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Matt, Janet or Clerk of Session Gayle Ireland.


We are blessed with a vibrant faith community and strong lay and clergy leadership at SMPC! We trust God's guidance and look forward with hope to what lies ahead!

SEEN AROUND CHURCH & SPECIAL EVENTS

Seen Around Church


What a beautiful weekend of joyful celebration! Read about the loveliness in this week's Seen Around Church!

Desserts Needed for Center of Hope this Sunday!


Sunday, June 8, Before 10:10 a.m. Worship - On the second Sunday of every month we provide sweet treats for the women and children that temporarily call Center of Hope home. Still needed (as of Wednesday): cupcakes, brownies, cookies and sheet cake. Remember, store-bought is totally great! | Sign up | Contact: Terry Gaines

Believing and Belonging to be Rescheduled


Originally scheduled for this Sunday, June 8, Believing and Belonging is cancelled and will be rescheduled. Stay tuned! | Contact: Melissa White

Also this Sunday! The SMPC Music Ministry invites you to 'An Unsurpassed Alleluia," a Hymn Festival for All


Sunday, June 8, 4:00 p.m., Sanctuary and Livestream - Presented as part of the Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists’ Summer Recital Series! Through robust congregational singing, thoughtful meditations, and stirring music, we will explore the deep truths of our faith: God’s promise to bring all things to a good end in spite of evil, the way hope and faith work hand in hand, and the surprising, transformative nature of hope. Come sing, reflect, and be renewed. Free to attend and all are welcome. | Contact: Zach Bowyer

Join the City of Charlotte for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Bryant Farms Road Extension Phase 1 Project


Wednesday, June 11, 10:00 a.m., Park at the Church - The City of Charlotte is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Phase 1 of the Bryant Farms Road Extension project, which includes our beloved traffic circle! Comments will be provided by District 7 Council Member Ed Driggs and Charlotte Department of Transportation Director Debbie Smith. Guests are asked to park at SMPC, so heads up the church parking lot might be busy that morning! If you have SMPC-related questions, please contact Steve Stevenson.

Summer Organ Sidekick (SOS) is BACK this Summer


Various Sundays, Beginning June 15, Ages Rising 2nd Grade to Rising 6th Grade - Children are invited to sit next to Director of Music and Organist Zach Bowyer at the organ to experience what it's like to lead music during worship! We’ll have one “sidekick” per Sunday. Please sign up for only one Sunday to allow everyone a chance to participate! More information and register below. | Contact: Zach Bowyer

Batter up: SMPC Men's Softball Team Welcomes New Players


Join the SMPC Men’s Softball team! Games are held on Mondays and Fridays throughout the summer, and most are played on the SMPC field. The team won the championship last year and has moved up to the league’s top division this summer (the 2024 trophy is in Chapel 206!). Contact: Michael Choren

SMPC Ushers Needed!


If you're looking for an easy and FUN way to serve the church, the search is over! We are looking for new members to join our Usher Team! Usher responsibilities include arriving 30 minutes prior to worship, handing out bulletins before worship, collecting the offering, guiding church members up to communion and cleaning up after worship. Ushers typically work one time a month or every other month. This is a great way for all generations to serve. | Contact: Nancy Parrish

Summer Service Opportunity for Graduated High School Seniors and College Students: Serve Breakfast at Center of Hope!


Summer Opportunities: Saturdays, June 21 (Server Slots Full, Donations Accepted!), July 19, and August 16, Meet at SMPC at 5:15 a.m. - This ministry is encouraging graduated high school seniors and college students to serve with us this summer (Center of Hope requires all volunteers to be out of high school)! Start your Saturday morning off right by serving our neighbors in need! Friends are welcome! | Watch the 3-minute video | Sign Up | Contact: Bob Williamson

EVENTS AND CLASSES

Friday Morning Men's Group, Friday, June 6, 7:30-8:30 a.m., Chapel 206 - This group meets on the first and third Fridays of every month. They are reading the book Life is Hard. Good is Good. Let's Dance: Experiencing Real Joy in a World Gone Mad by Bruce Hindmarsh. All are welcome. Contact: Curt Ireland

A Caregiver's Journey, Tuesday, June 10, 1:00-2:30 p.m. McQueen Room - Finding meaning and purpose as you care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Contact: Kathy Garner

Conversations with Dr. Matt Brown, Wednesday, June 11, 9:30 a.m., McQueen Room or Zoom - We will discuss the scripture for the coming week’s sermon. All are welcome! | Contact Matt Brown for the Zoom ID#

Food for Thought Book Group, Thursday, June 26, 12:30 p.m., McQueen Room - This group will discuss Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe. All are welcome! | Contact: Kathy Paquette

The Third Thirty - "Retirement Home, Your Home, or Your Children's Home," Sunday, July 13, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.,The Commons, Ages 60-90 years old - The fourth session in a 12-session study called, “The Third Thirty: A Candid Spiritual Exploration of Realities and Challenges We Face in the Years 60-90.” This study meets one Sunday a month over a light lunch after worship. Come to as many sessions as your schedule allows! These gatherings will create space for open discussion of some of the issues facing us as we navigate these decades of our lives. | More details and register | Contact: Melissa White

WAYS TO SERVE

American Red Cross Blood Drive, Saturday, August 9, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Commons - Please bring your American Red Cross Donor Card or photo I.D. | Sign up | Volunteer at the Drive | Contact: Bill Ramsey

Bread Donation and Delivery - Volunteers are needed every Friday morning to deliver bread donated by Panera to the Dilworth Soup Kitchen. | Sign up

Bag Lunches for Roof Above - Roof Above provides 300 bag lunches each day to help feed those in need. SMPC is committed to providing 100 bag lunches on the fourth Saturday of each month. Our next collection is Saturday, June 28 at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Palmer Building. | Sign up | Contact: Julie Durham

Center of Hope Breakfast - On the third Saturday of each month, SMPC preps, cooks and serves breakfast for guests at the Center of Hope. Our next volunteer opportunity is Saturday, June 21. Food donations are due Thursday, June 19. Graduated high school seniors and college students are encouraged to serve this summer! Monetary donations are always welcome. | Watch the 3-minute video | Sign Up | Contact: Bob Williamson

Center of Hope Desserts - On the second Sunday of every month we provide sweet treats for the women and children that temporarily call Center of Hope home. Our next dessert collection is this Sunday, June 8. | Sign up | Contact: Terry Gaines

Friends Empowering Haiti (formerly Friends of OFCB) is raising money to purchase food for the school in Bayonnais, Haiti. The school provides lunch each day for the 2,500 students who are enrolled in the four campuses, and it is often the only food the students receive that day. | Read more about the impact of sponsoring a student | More Info | Donate | Contact: Judy Nichols

Harambee Reader at the Freedom SchoolJune 24-July 30, 8:15-9:00 a.m., - A great summer service opportunity with minimal time commitment but maximum impact! Learn more about being a Harambee Reader here. There will be more volunteer opportunities with Freedom School this summer so stay tuned! | Contact: Lindsey Odom

Nourish Up’s St. Giles Food PantryFridays, 1:00-2:00 p.m. or 2:00-4:00 p.m., 2027 Emerywood Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 – Lift and deliver boxes of food from Nourish Up’s St. Giles Food Pantry to cars every Friday from 1-2 p.m. They are also looking for help with client services every Friday from 2-4 p.m. The minimum age to volunteer is 14, and closed toed shoes are required. | Contact: Jane Royther

Tutoring at Smithfield Elementary – Smithfield Elementary School is in need of a few more math tutors! If you are interested in learning more about this awesome service opportunity, please complete this form so that we can connect with you! Tutoring at Smithfield Elementary is a rewarding way to share your time and talents. | Contact: Lindsey Odom

Western North Carolina Relief: We have raised over $33,500 for Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, a congregation that is heavily engaged in Hurricane Helene disaster relief efforts. Thank you to ALL who have donated and shared the link with family and friends! By making a monetary donation to SMPC through this link (or button below), all funds go directly to BMPC.

CHILDREN

Vacation Bible School and Mission Possible Monday, July 21-Thursday, July 24, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., VBS: Ages 3-4th grade; Mission Possible: Rising 5th and 6th Grade - Registration is now open for Vacation Bible School: Road Trip - On the Go with God and Mission Possible, our service-focused week for 5th and 6th graders! | Register for VBS | Register for Mission Possible | Contact: Rebecca Guzman

Adults Needed in Children's Worship, During 10:10 a.m. Worship, Sundays - Help as we welcome visitors and assist our youngest members! Just sign up and plan to meet us at the back of the sanctuary as we exit. You do not need to prepare anything. We love adults of all ages. Younger youth are always welcome to attend and help, but we need an extra adult to sign up and be present. | Sign Up | Contact: Kathy Graham

YOUTH

Summer Celebration at Starbucks, Tuesday, June 10, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Starbucks at Stonecrest - Let's celebrate the start of summer!! Drop in when you can! Please let Lindsey Odom know you're coming!

SMPC Youth River Tubing on the Catawba River, Thursday, June 12, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Catawba River Outdoors, Marion, NC, Middle and High Schoolers (Rising 6th Grade through Completed 12th Grade) - Come rock the river with us through some river tubing at Catawba River Outdoors. Transportation, snacks, and ice cream are provided. We will meet at the church at 8:00 a.m. to drive together. Donuts will be provided. Cost is $20 to tube. Please bring extra money for lunch at a local barbeque restaurant. | Register and Pay | Contact: Lindsey Odom

MUSIC

Join the Music Ministry!


SMPC offers dynamic music programming for all ages that focuses on praising God through joyous song, the playing of instruments and engaging fellowship. While the Music Ministry will take a break for the summer after Sunday, June 8, we would love to have you join us in the fall. We are always striving for musical excellence, but we have a ton of fun along the way! | Contact: Zach Bowyer

SMPC PRESCHOOL

A Few Spots Remain for the 2025-26 School Year


The preschool has some availability for the 2025-26 school year in the 4-day 4s and the 5-day 4s/TK. If you would like more information about SMPC Preschool and class availability. | Contact: Tammy Winchip

Support SMPC Preschool by Linking Harris Teeter VIC Card - Relink for this school year! Simply visit the Harris Teeter Together in Education website and follow the instructions. The preschool's number is 4902. If you've linked your card in the past, please re-link for this school year! Contact: Tammy Winchip

SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Worshiping together in person is a joy - and requires many helping hands! A number of volunteer opportunities are available on Sunday mornings and we need you. | Contact: Adrienne Jaquith


Acolyte (1st-5th graders)

Usher Team

Welcome Team (all ages)

Coffee Grounds Host

Lemonade Host (all ages)

Muffin Ministry

Flower Ministry

GIVING

Gifts to the Operating Fund support the day to day ministries, programs, and operations of the church. Gifts to the Strength to Strength Fund support our sanctuary mortgage. Gifts to the School Lunches for Haiti Fund support students at the OFCB school in Bayonnais, Haiti. For other gift designations, select the Other Fund, and note the gift's intent in the box provided. | Contact: Mary Katheryne Zagora

STAY CONNECTED

Set up a Realm account here | Realm Connect in the App Store | Realm Connect on Google Play | Contact Adrienne Jaquith

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