THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2026

We hope you'll join us for worship at 10:10 a.m. in the sanctuary or via livestream. All are welcome!

First Reading: Psalm 40:1-5

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Sermon: “Here’s the Church” 

Pastor: Dr. Sandy Hull

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.



Listening devices are available during worship. Please stop by the Connection Center for more information.

• At the conclusion of worship this Sunday, January 18, we will hold our Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation. This brief meeting will include a report on SMPC’s finances. 



• Thank you for your gifts to SMPC! Year-end contributions statements were emailed yesterday. If you would prefer a paper copy mailed to you, email Mary Katheryne Zagora.

• The church office will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

• Last Sunday, January 11, Transitional Pastor Dr. Sandy Hull offered an outline for the pastoral transition process. Click here to watch the video clip and click here to download the handout he references.

SERVICE SHOUTOUTS

Serve or Donate Breakfast Items for Center of Hope this Saturday, January 17

Saturday, January 17, Meet at the Church at 5:15 a.m. - This is an awesome way to serve in the new year! Donations are due today, January 15. Monetary donations are always welcome. | Watch the 3-minute video | Sign Up | Contact: Lee Martin

Support Local Students with Reading and Math Tutoring Through These Programs!

Augustine Literacy Project (ALP) Charlotte

SMPC is committed to equitable education! ALP is an approved tutoring partner of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and serves CMS Title I schools, equipping volunteer tutors to provide free, research-based literacy instruction so every child has the opportunity to become a confident reader. ALP Tutors meet their students in-person or remotely - two days a week for 45 minutes. Sterling Elementary needs ALP tutors on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. or 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Remote tutoring is available Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. | Contact: SMPC member Kathy Graham

Heart Math Tutoring

Join SMPC in supporting students as a volunteer math tutor with Heart Math Tutoring. Heart is a Charlotte-based nonprofit with over 1,000 community members currently helping students build math skills and confidence each week. Here are the basics of volunteering: 

• 1 hour per week with the same students
• Fun, hands-on, game-based curriculum provided
• On-site coordinator present during all sessions to support
• Basic math (counting, comparing numbers, addition and subtraction)
• Volunteers make an impact: in 2024/25, 96% of Heart students showed measurable math growth and over 90% of teachers reported an increase in their students’ confidence! 

While only one additional volunteer is needed at our partner school Smithfield Elementary, where tutoring takes place 8:40-9:40 a.m. (M-Th), over 100 tutors are still needed at other schools and tutoring times throughout the city. See all schools/times and sign up here. | Contact: Heart’s Outreach Manager Rachel Allman

YOU ARE INVITED! ALL-CHURCH RETREAT: "CREATED FOR COMMUNITY"

Friday, March 6-Sunday, March 8, William Black Lodge, Montreat, NC - All ages are invited to join us for a weekend at Montreat to deepen our faith through rest, renewal and community. More information, including agenda, registration details and pricing on our website or on Realm. Note: Please register by Thursday, February 5. We hope you can come! | Contact: Rebecca Guzman

Food for Thought Book Group, Today, January 15, 12:30 p.m., McQueen Room - The group is reading Lily’s Promise by Lily Ebert. All book lovers are welcome! | Contact: Kathy Paquette

International Dining Group,Today, January 15, 6:00 p.m., Mi Pueblo Mexican Grill, 1820 Sardis Road North, Charlotte, NC - This group explores local restaurants on the third Thursday of every month. We will have a private room and plenty of space! All are welcome! RSVP on Realm. | Contact: Carol Roan

Making Space Mom's Group, Tonight, January 15, 7:30 p.m., Chapel 206 - Moms of all ages are invited to join us on the first and third Thursdays of every month for study, service and fellowship. Contact: Allison Reeves

Friday Morning Men's Group, Friday, January 16, 7:30-8:30 a.m., Chapel 206 - This group meets on the first and third Fridays of every month for study and fellowship. All are welcome. | Contact: Curt Ireland

Adult Study: 'Second Thoughts about the Second Coming' Sunday, January 18, 9:00-10:00 a.m., McQueen Room or Zoom - Join Rebecca Guzman and Melissa White for a six-week explorative study using Second Thoughts about the Second Coming: Understanding the End Times, Our Future, and Christian Hope by Ronald Allen and Robert Cornwall. | Register on Realm | Contact: Rebecca Guzman

Handiworkers' Group, Tuesday, January 20, 10:00 a.m., Palmer Building, Room 104 - All levels of knitters, needlepointers, quilters, cross-stitchers and crocheters are invited. This group meets weekly to work on projects. | Contact: Judy Jameson

Pastor’s Wednesday Morning Bible Study, Wednesday, January 21, 9:30 a.m., McQueen Room or Zoom - Transitional Pastor Dr. Sandy Hull leads this study that meets weekly. They are discussing the book of Ephesians. All are welcome! If you would like to join by Zoom, please contact Adrienne Jaquith

Men's Breakfast Group, Thursday, January 22, 9:30 a.m., Big View Diner, 6637 Lancaster Hwy - This group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays each month to enjoy breakfast and conversation. Contact: Bob Tyler

Men’s Evening Study Group, Tuesday, January 27, 7:30 p.m. Chapel 206 - The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month. | Contact: Jon Myers

Third Thirty, Sunday, February 1, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Mecklenburg Hall, Ages 60-90 - This session is titled How Different is a Third Thirty for Those Who Don't Fit the Mold? All are welcome - even if you haven't come to previous sessions. A light lunch will be served. | Register | Contact: Melissa White

American Red Cross Blood Drive, Saturday, March 7, 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 each month. Our next collection is Saturday, January 24 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, January 17. Food donations are due Thursday, January 15. Monetary donations are always welcome. | Watch the 3-minute video | Sign Up | Contact: Lee Martin

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, January 11. | 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

Nourish Up’s St. Giles Food Pantry, Fridays, 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

Room in the Inn – Sunday, February 15, Sunday, March 1, Sardis Presbyterian Church - We partner with two other churches to help with dinner, overnight stays, breakfast, and cleanup. Room in the Inn is an initiative led by Roof Above. | Sign Up | Contact: Amy Matthews

Tutoring at Smithfield Elementary – 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

SMPC Ushers - 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

BAM! Bible and Music, Sunday, January 18, 5:00-6:30 p.m., Meet in Narthex, Children in Kindergarten-5th Grade - During BAM!, children sing, creatively engage with Bible stories, and explore various instruments in peer age groups. Pizza is served. | Register | Contact: Rebecca Guzman

SAVE THE DATE! Vacation Bible School and Mission Possible

Monday, July 20-Thursday, July 23, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Vacation Bible School: Ages 3 (Potty-Trained)-Rising 4th Graders

Mission Possible: Rising 5th & 6th Graders

Registration details coming soon! | 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 help, but we need additional adults to sign up each week. | Sign Up | Contact: Rebecca Guzman

Youth Volunteers in Children's Worship - To ensure everyone has a chance to serve, please sign up in advance. Limit: 4 youth volunteers per week (unless there’s a special project). | Sign Up | Contact: Rebecca Guzman

Middle School Small Group Dinner, Sunday, January 18, 5:00-6:30 p.m., Home of the Greeson Family, Middle Schoolers - Middle schoolers are invited to a small group dinner with fellowship, food and a short devotional. | Register | Contact: Lindsey Odom

High School Small Group Dinner, Sunday, January 18, 5:00-6:30 p.m., Home of the Hicks Family, High Schoolers - High schoolers are invited to a small group dinner with fellowship, food and a short devotional. | Register | Contact: Lindsey Odom

Skyzone Night, Sunday, January 25, 5:00-6:30 p.m.,10200 Centrum Pkwy, Pineville, NC 28134, Middle and High Schoolers - Join us for a fun night at SkyZone! Cost: $25/youth | Register | Contact: Lindsey Odom

BYG (Big Youth Group), Sunday, February 1, 5:00-6:30 p.m., Mecklenburg Hall, Middle and High Schoolers - BYG provides an opportunity for youth to grow in faith and love through Bible study, small group time, good food, fun games, and amazing company. Please bring 12 stuffed Easter eggs for our easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 15. We'll serve pizza! | Register | Contact: Lindsey Odom

Be a Trinity Bell Toller!

Sundays before 10:10 a.m. Worship - NEW from our Music Ministry! Each Sunday, a Trinity Bell Toller rings the bell three times before the prelude—a simple yet powerful reminder of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, calling us to center ourselves as worship begins. No experience necessary. More information and sign up below. Contact: Zach Bowyer

Come Make a Joyful Noise! Join SMPC's Music Ministry

SMPC offers dynamic music programming for all ages focused on praising God through joyous song, musical instruments and engaging fellowship. We are always striving for musical excellence, but we have a ton of fun along the way! | Contact: Zach Bowyer

Registration opens January 20 for church members. New preschool families must schedule a tour before registering. Tours will take place January 5-16. Contact SMPC Preschool Director Tammy Winchip or visit the preschool’s website for more information.

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

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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 (all ages)

Coffee Grounds Host

Lemonade Host (all ages)

Muffin Ministry

Flower Ministry

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