April 17-23, 2023

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SEASON OF EASTER

Journey to Generosity

Our impact at MPBC is grounded in our Covenant, “. . . to nurture this church by the dedication of our personal and material resources.” As Senior Minister Ben Boswell reminds us, we are invited to give out of the depths of our love.

Our Journey to Generosity depends on your journey as well. Make a pledge here.

A Don't Miss Event!

Callie Day in Concert at MPBC

Sunday, May 21 | 4p | Sanctuary

We are excited to announce that soprano, Youtube sensation as seen on America's Got Talent, Calesta "Callie" Day will be in concert at MPBC. It will be a benefit concert for the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) and will feature some collaborative music with Ms. Day and an ecumenical choir made up of churches from around the city of Charlotte. | Watch a performance here

Dr. Tony McNeill will serve as collaborative pianist and coordinator of the ecumenical choir. The program will consist of a 30-45 minute program of music for solo voice and piano, showcasing Ms. Day singing a variety of sacred and secular styles from classical, blues, spirituals, jazz traditions. The second half of the program will feature Callie performing 3 selections with the ecumenical choir. This will be a ticketed event. Get your tickets here. | Learn more about Ms. Day

In Collaboration with MOJO

Creation Justice Sunday

April 23 | 10a | Sanctuary

Rev. Amy Brooks of Green Faith, Preaching

The Schedule

9:45a | Preschool Childcare

10:00a | Worship

11:15a | Navigating MPBC | Room 261

11:15a | Faith & Community Class

4:00p | Youth Block

This special worship service will be focused around Environmental and Creation Justice. Leading up to and beyond this service we will be educating ourselves about our responsibilities of caring for creation and seeking justice for the oppressed. Follow us through this time of discovery here in the Weekly and on our website.

A Call to Action:

Responding to Gun Violence

Local Opportunities

In response to continuing gun violence, and to the Call to Action that Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell posed in is sermon on Palm Sunday (available here). The Interfaith Coalition on Gun Safety (of which MPBC is a member) has put together a list of opportunities for you to take action. | See the list here

National Opportunities

This ongoing issue has many of us wondering what we can do in response to mass shootings in America. Our Ministry of Justice Outreach team has compiled a list of national options and resources. | View the list here

RAIN AIDS Walk

Saturday, May 6 | 9a | Uptown - Wells Fargo Atrium | 301 S. Tryon Street

This year, RAIN is celebrating its 31st anniversary of service to our community. MPBC is one of its founding congregations. AIDS Walk Charlotte is the largest HIV awareness and fundraising event in the Carolinas and is a visual representation of our community’s commitment to HIV and AIDS awareness.

Over 2,000 people will walk 2 miles through the heart of uptown Charlotte in celebration of the past, present, and an HIV-free future. Our MPBC AIDS Walk team, led by Scott Crowder, is hoping to raise $10,000 for RAIN’s programs and direct services for people living with HIV. Help us keep our #1 spot for religious organizations again this year! Click here to donate &/or join our team. | Learn more here.

MUSIC & WORSHIP

SUN, April 30

Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell, Preaching

"Moving from Hypocrisy to Integrity"

Scripture | Matthew 6:1-18

Thank you for another successful semester of classes!

We are grateful to all who participated this spring. A special thank you to our class leaders this term: Jenny Martella, Jennifer Troyer, Bruce Elliott, and Rev. Dr. JJ Flag.

We hope you will join the Faith & Community class that will continue to run until Sunday, May 21.

Make sure to join us for our summer post-service experience - Sermon Talk Back - for an opportunity to ask questions directly to the Sunday morning proclaimers about their sermon. If you have ideas for fall Spiritual Growth classes, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Rev. Tara Gibbs.

Faith & Community Class

WHEN | SUN, April 23 | 11:15a

WHERE | Shalom Hall

SPEAKER | Don Gordon, CEO of Christians Caring for Creation (C3)

TOPIC | Earth Day Sunday | Learn more

Men's Breakfast

TUE, April 18 | 7:30a | Heaton Hall

Our next Men's Breakfast will feature Ryan McGee, Senior Writer and Producer for ESPN Sports. He is best known for his work with NASCAR and college football. He has written a new book called "Welcome to the Circus of Baseball." It's sure to be interesting and entertaining. All those who identify as male are invited. Please bring a friend!

RSVP here

Navigating Series - Discovering MPBC

SUNs | April 23 & 30 | following worship | Room 261

Joining Sunday | May 7 | during worship | Sanctuary

If you are interested in joining or discovering what it means to be a member of MPBC, you are invited to join us for this series on Sundays following worship. Staff members and lay leaders who will share their MPBC stories as well as help you learn how to become involved and engaged. Questions? Contact Rev. Carrie Veal.

RSVP Here

Sunday Morning Opportunity to Be Involved

Each Sunday, there is a small, simple way you can be involved that makes a big impact and we hope you will say yes!

Greeting is an opportunity for anyone! Whether you've been at MPBC for 50 years or 50 days, you can make someone feel welcomed in our space.

Greeters serve from 9:45–10:15a in the Sanctuary by giving out Worship Guides, helping folks know where the restrooms are, showing families where childcare is, and just being a friendly face for all who come to join us for worship. Want to join our team? Click here for the sign up. Need to know a little more? Email Rev. Carrie Veal.

Reserving a Space at Church Just Got Easier

Need a room for a church meeting? Want to reserve space for a church event? Ministry leaders looking to find space on campus for meetings, programs, or events can now start the process of room reservations by completing an online request form.

Click here for the MPBC Event Request Form

The form is located on our website: on the Homepage, click Hub in the upper right corner. Scroll down the page…just under Community Events, you will find a blue button “MPBC Event Request Form.” Clicking this and completing the form will give us the information we need to help you reserve the right space.

Lunchtime Meditation with Rev. Dr. JJ Flag

WEDs | 11:30a - 12p (EST) | Zoom | Password: breathe (case sensitive)

We’ve all heard that meditation is good for us. Aside from reducing stress, meditation touts a whole host of health benefits including the potential to reduce blood pressure, reduce anxiety and depression, help with insomnia, and even reverse age-related changes in the brain. All by taking a little time to just breathe. Who wouldn't want that?! Join us!

GENEROSITY UPDATE

In Lieu of Flowers, Give a Lasting Gift to MPBC

Giving to our Endowment Fund is a meaningful way to honor those we love who have passed. In lieu of flowers, giving a financial gift to the Endowment Fund in the deceased name will ensure our church has resources to build the Kindom now and in the future.

To give a gift in this manner, simply write “Endowment to honor” and the person’s name, on the memo line of your check that is made payable to Myers Park Baptist. For more information or questions, please contact Rev. Leigh Anne Duncan in the church office.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Family Park Play Date Rescheduled

FRI, April 28 | 5-7p | Park Road Park

Our previous play date was rained out, so we have set a new date. Join us FRI, April 28, for pizza and a park hangout! Connect with friends old and new and enjoy the spring weather. We will be in touch in the event of rain again.

Children's Music & Creative Arts at MPBC

WEDs | 5:30-6:30p | Room 209

Kids use their artistic talents to explore our outer world through acts of service in our community. Questions? Contact Candace Williamson

Family Dinners at 5:00p

Families participating in children's activities on WED nights will come together for a family-friendly meal in Heaton Hall. Family Dinners are $20.

RSVP for children's dinner

Sundays

We want to provide the best for children on Sundays. During the worship hour, our youngest children (newborn – kindergarten) are invited to childcare where they will play, have a snack and participate in activities with paid childcare staff.

At the same time, our first – fifth graders are invited to Children’s Worship for a time of learning, moving, and creating. Led by children’s ministry staff, children will engage with Bible stories in creative ways. | NOTE: We won't have Children's Worship this Sunday, April 23. We will resume on next Sunday, April 30.

Children's Ministry Newsletter

Want to see the latest Children's Ministry news? It will now be delivered to your email each Sunday morning. | Read the latest issue here | Sign up to receive the Children's Ministry newsletter.

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Block

SUNs | 4-6p | Youth Hall

Final Youth Block will be May 14

If you have a youth in grades 6th-12th, they are invited to our weekly Youth Block every Sunday from 4p-6p. What is Youth Block? It’s a time for youth to build community through games/activities, music, service projects, and special guests! April’s theme is Environmental Justice.

Senior Recognition Sunday, May 14

Annual College Scholarship Available!

Deadline May 7

It’s time to apply for the 2023 Annual Scholarship for graduating students pursuing study beyond High School. The application form is intended to assist the Scholarship Review Group in determining those with the most need, and identifying those with outstanding academic success. Please click on the button below to receive a copy of the application and submit by email to Rev. Tara Gibbs.

College Scholarship Form

Youth Newsletter

Check out our latest Youth News.

Make sure you are on our mailing list to never miss a youth event (6th - 12th graders)! For more information, contact Rev. Tara Gibbs at [email protected].

Parent and Caregiver Resources

Check out these local and online resources to help you with your teen/preteen!

ALLIANCE OF BAPTISTS

The Alliance of Baptists, which began in 1987 as a prophetic voice in Baptist life, is our primary religious affiliation. Today, they have grown to be a justice movement and community of faith of about 4,500 individual members and 140 congregations knit together by love for one another and God, combining progressive inquiry, contemplative prayer and prophetic action to bring about justice and healing in a changing world.

THIS WEEK! Annual Gathering 2023 Schedule

Check out the full list of workshops that will be presented at the Annual Gathering in Atlanta this year! All of the workshops will be made available both Friday and Saturday.

Get the details

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Being in community, journeying through life together means making sure we know the joys and concerns of one another to the best of our ability. In the event of a death of a member, the congregation will be notified as soon as possible in email form. All other Congregational Joys and Concerns will be included here in the Weekly.

In Need of Help?

We are here for you. The Ministry of Congregational Care provides care, support & encouragement to all members in times of joy, bereavement, illness, and crisis. Information about Health and Safety, Grief, Stephen Ministry, as well as helpful resources are available on our website. Just search "In need of help?"

Prayer Requests

You can submit a request by clicking here.