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“What can we do for you?”

If I have heard that question once in the last nine months, I’ve heard it a thousand times. Since Amy’s diagnosis with ALS, our community has come out of the woodwork. True friends, from all over. Our large, generous family. The most amazing church. Every day there are cards in the mail. The texts pour in. Packages litter the doorstep. And food… oh, my… especially in the last week, “my cup[board] runneth over!”

And at every turn, the question that love always asks, “What can we do for you?”

From the beginning of this life-altering ordeal, we have wanted to communicate openly with you, to be honest about what we are feeling, what we need, what you can do for us – as long as you continue to let us also care for you. We are still your pastors. For this to work, it must be a two-way street, although last Friday did put a caution sign in the middle of that street.

I was working from home; Amy came to the office. At 5:05pm I had a call from Leslie Gipple, who had found Amy on the floor, at the back of the sanctuary. “You need to come.”

Amy creates the “ProPresenter” slides for our worship livestream, working from the AV desk at the back of the sanctuary. When she finished on Friday, she went to turn out the lights, lost her balance, and fell backwards. She insists that she did not hit her head (and there is no bruise to be found), but some impact caused a subdural hematoma. This brain bleed did not require surgery, but we spent two nights of observation at Atrium. The “fix” is just rest and recovery.

“What can we do for you?” You are already doing it! Be you. Your generosity abounds. Your thoughtfulness is inspiring – but please let that generosity and thoughtfulness also extend to so many others, also in need. We are overwhelmed with your love, and with as much food as our fridge and freezer can hold!

Amy is not up to entertaining visitors right now. She is resting most of the day, and that quiet is what the doctors ordered. Give her a little space, and we will let you know when you can drop in.

I do not know what this means for her, for us. The doctors say that a Traumatic Brain Injury takes 4-6 weeks of recovery, and that is without an ALS diagnosis. Our Staff have stepped up to help. Dan McClintock and Caleb Foust are positioning themselves to take some of the pastoral load. You may see them in our various roles in the immediate future – though we are not giving them our jobs just yet! I’m at the office today. In the coming days I will be working from here and from home but continuing my work as much as possible. Amy hopes — and expects to return after recovery. We just do not know how long that will take.

“What can we do for you?” As sincerely as I can say this, the best thing you can do for us is to keep being the Park Road we have loved, finding your places to be involved, leading, teaching, touching, planning, participating, and showing up on Sunday. Please show up on Sundays – which may be the best thing any of you can do for our church (and for the Church), especially in this age.

Show up… in all the ways. That’s what you can do for us. That’s what you are doing.

With our love and gratitude, - Russ

The first Sunday of November is a favorite. After worship we retire to the Columbarium where we read the names of every church member who has died in the 75-year history of Park Road. It's a meaningful experience, and this year's 11:00 worship service will be even more meaningful as we dedicate a large portion of the service to a memorial for our beloved Lydia. If you don't know her story, you'll hear it on Sunday. It's one of the best "how to be the Church" stories you will ever encounter. Please be with us as we celebrate Lydia, and all who have gone ahead of us into the great communion of the saints.

This summer, our capital campaign steering committee met with some church members to assess the viability of our campaign goals. You previously heard from Joanne Beam about the results of these meetings in a presentation after Sunday morning service in late September. One specific topic the committee heard from those interviews was that many of you desired a little more information about the church financials beyond what is shared each year in the AMP process. This Sunday, November 1, during the Sunday School hour in Milford Chapel and next Wednesday, November 4, for our First Wednesday meeting, Will Neeriemer will lead a discussion on the church’s finances, the AMP process and the upcoming capital campaign. Please plan to attend if you’d like to learn more about how we fund all the great work of our church!

Our Annual Ministry Plan Task Force is finalizing our 2027 AMP this week and will soon send out pledge cards for next year's budget. Please consider prayerfully what you will be able to give to support your church. We will begin collecting pledge cards on Sunday, November 22. It would be great to finalize this process on that day. Please be preparing to make your pledge.  

There are few stories as integral to the life of faith as the nativity story. This story plays out during Advent, which, believe it or not, is only a few weeks away! For the past few years, we have gathered on a Sunday afternoon around Thanksgiving to resource ways to walk through the Advent story intentionally with our children. This year we will take that time on our first Wednesday in November. Caleb has rewritten the nativity story through the eyes of each character, which will be added to a craft each week. If you have children or want some resources for your own Advent practice, please plan to join us for our First Wednesday Family Advent Fair, Wednesday, November 4th, after dinner. RSVP for dinner by Tuesday, November 3rd. The Wednesday night program will still meet in the Community Center, while families will head to the youth building after dinner (around 6:15pm).

Please join us for our First Wednesday meal and time together around the tables. In our increasingly isolated world, it’s great to have time together, sharing a meal and fellowship face to face. That’s what families do! Please email to make your dinner reservation by Tuesday, November 3, at noon at info@parkroadbaptist.org, or sign up in Helt Hall on Sunday.

A great time was had by all! Thanks for a great evening of BBQ, Charlie Brown, games, and pumpkin carving. A lot of children and parents showed off their artsy side with their pumpkin carvings, and it was wonderful to be together for fellowship and food! 

On November 13, we will venture into Ballantyne for our next meal together. Please sign up whether you plan to meet in the parking lot at 11:15am or join us at 8440 Rea Road at 11:30am. All are welcome for good food and great fellowship. You can sign up in Helt Hall Sundays before worship or by emailing info@parkroadbaptist.org.

The first Sunday of each month, the mission offering will be used to restock our church food pantry. Our food donations have not been able to keep up with the demand, so the decision was made to continue encouraging food donations and, at the same time, designate the first Sunday’s offering as money to restock the pantry. For November, the following three Sundays will be dedicated to helping the Perez family with car expenses including maintenance and insurance. Marvin and Yolani are both working regular jobs now and have been able to pay their own living expenses for quite some time. However, the church has continued to pay their car insurance and maintenance because, in today’s economy, this was an additional expense that was prohibitive for them. Whatever money is received will go directly to their car insurance and the balance will be used to reimburse them for necessary maintenance on their vehicle. Thank you for so generously supporting the Perez family as they await their asylum hearing next March.

It's time once again for our monthly food collection! On the first Sunday of each month, which is this Sunday, November 1, we collect nonperishable food items to support the Duncan Community Pantry, a vital ministry serving neighbors in our community.



Beginning this month, the mission offering on the first Sunday of each month will also be designated to purchase supplies for the pantry. So while we will continue collecting food items, you are also invited to give financially to help stock the pantry.

Every other month on the second Saturday, Park Road volunteers prepare and serve lunch for more than 100 men at the Men's Shelter (1210 N. Tryon St.). Our next opportunity to participate will be on November 14. The work is not difficult, and it's a fun way to get to know some other Park Road members. If you can help on the 14th, please sign up by clicking here or by contacting Dan McClintock: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0945aca92da2fd0-roof#/

Volunteers are needed (and welcome!) at a Snack Packing event on Tuesday morning, November 17th, from 9:00 until 10:30am in the Youth Building. This initiative supports 60 of our young friends at Starmount Academy of Excellence who are in need of a little nutritional boost each month. If you would like to help with this project, please reach out to Karen Mayer at kmayer57@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for your support!

We are finalizing the December calendar. If you have a Connection Group activity or other event that needs to be added, please notify Becka Eppley in the office, this week: info@parkroadbaptist.org. The full calendar will be printed in an upcoming newsletter. 

Remember when it was essential to know which Saturday night to reset every clock in your house, your car, and on your wrist? Thanks to our phones, we no longer need the reminder, but just for fun: it’s this weekend! Clocks fall back an hour at 2:00am on Sunday, November 1. If you still take advantage of the analogue world, don’t forget that big old alarm clock on your bedside table. Either way, we’ll see you for Connection Groups at 9:45am or worship at 11:00am, Eastern Standard Time.

*Youth - are students who are currently in grades 6th – 12th during the 2026-2027 school year.

Regular Scheduled Programing is as follows:

• Sunday Mornings, 10a - Preview

*Children - are students who are currently in grades K– 5th during the

2026-2027 school year.

Regular Scheduled Programing is as follows:

• Sunday Mornings 9:45-10:45am Children's Sunday School (K-5th)
• Sunday Mornings 10am-12pm Nursery
• First Wednesdays 5:30pm Dinner/6pm Children's Midweek - The first Wednesday of each month.

Coming Up at Park Road

• Sunday Worship

Facebook Live and In-Person - 11am

(Sancutary)

• Sundays

Pickleball - 7:15pm

(Community Center - Gym)

• First Wednesdays

Dinner and Vespers

5:30pm Dinner / 6pm Vespers

(Community Center - Gym)

• First and Third Tuesdays

Bible Study and Fellowship - 10am

(Community Center - Room 503)

• Tuesday and Thursdays

Flexercise - 9am

(Community Center - Gym)

PRU Fall 2026 Offerings

November 8 – “How to Read the Bible in Today’s World,” Dr. Sandy Rogers

November 15 - “Stitching Strength,” ALS documentary film with Dr. Richard Bedlack

Dr. Bedlack, M.D., Ph.D., Duke University, is one of the world’s leading researchers and a practicing physician for patients suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Dr. Bedlack will be with us to entertain our questions after we view his documentary film. Sanctuary. 1:30-3:00pm.

December 6 – “How to Read the Bible in Today’s World,” Dr. Sandy Rogers

December 20 – Dealing with Grief in the Holidays

While the holidays are a joyful time, they can also be very difficult. If the loss of a loved one or some other grief weighs heavy during the holiday season, join us to share together. Place and time, TBD.