WEB | The Weekly | Sep 19-25, 2022

Sep 19-25, 2022

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BREAKING NEWS

We Have a New Website!

For over a year, our communications staff have been working with a web developer to build an entirely new website for our church with a more contemporary and professional look that boldly communicates our inclusivity as a community and is easier to navigate for our members. We are excited to share this new website with you! | Read more | Start exploring

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward Coming Back to MPBC

SUN, Sept 25

Sermon | What Would Jesus Do?

Scripture | Psalm 121 & Luke 4:17-19

Schedule

9a | Adult Forum with Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward + Breakfast

10a | Worship

10:15a | Children's Worship

11:15a | Book Signing

In late 1978, the Women of the Church extended an invitation to the Rev. Carter Heyward, a Charlotte native who became the first woman ordained as an Episcopal priest in the nation.

In the time between accepting the invitation and coming to MPBC, Dr. Heyward, published an article in the June 11, 1979 edition of Christianity and Crisis magazine explaining her decision to come out as a lesbian. The revelation kicked off a storm of protest. . . | Read more

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

SUN, Sept 18 Worship

If you weren't able to join us, you can watch it now. Just click on the image above. Listen on YouTube, our website or Facebook.

"The Wisdom of Forgiveness"

Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell's sermon is available on Facebook, Twitter, & on YouTube. You can also listen on iTunes.

Chancel Choir Anthem

“What Does the Lord Require?”

by Eric Nelson

STAFF UPDATES

Introducing Dr. Caleb Hopkins, Artist-in-Residence 2022

Each year, the Clara & Guy Carswell Endowment Fund affords MPBC the ability to invite Artists-in-Residence to our church. We are excited to announce that we have invited Dr. Caleb Anthony Hopkins, Baritone & Conductor, to be our Artist-in-Residence this fall. His first visit will be Oct 7-10. He will be a vocalist in worship & a guest choir conductor for rehearsals & performances. He will also offer vocal coaching & work with Fran Morrison in planning music for worship. Read more

An Update on Charlotte Judge

Our Associate Director of Music, Charlotte Judge, who has been on medical leave for most of the year, has made the difficult decision to take a permanent medical leave of absence from our staff in order to focus on her treatment, recovery, & healing.

Welcome Candace Williamson, Children & Youth Music Coordinator

We are excited that the success Charlotte Judge built in the Children & Youth Music programs will continue with Candace Williamson. Candace & her family (Chris, Evie, & Piper) joined MPBC in the fall of 2019, & soon after Candace was engaged in our Children’s Wednesday night programming & adult choir.

We Welcome Seth Pilz, Children & Youth Ministries Intern

In the fall of 2019, Seth Pilz was on a journey of deconstructing & reconstructing his faith. He found MPBC to be a place where he could learn & experience faith in a new, robust & authentic way. He jumped right in, participating in worship, small groups, socials, & more.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sometimes It's Best to Start with the Basics

There are no subjects, activities or topics that can be mastered. All of us are constantly learning, our minds being expanded. Even a movie you have seen a dozen times might reveal something new to you on the 13th viewing.

Identity is the same.

We are partnering with identiversity, a Charlotte based non-profit, who makes this learning accessible for all of us. And what better place to start then with the acronym LGBTQ+. You are encouraged to dive in this week, even if you think you have mastered it!

Beyond Belonging - “It's About Feeling Wanted & Needed”

by Rev. Carrie Veal

. . . I realized that I had found myself in a community unlike any other I had ever experienced. It wasn’t that I just felt that I belonged there, but I felt like I was wanted AND needed. To me this is what beyond belonging means. It means that when I’m not there, I know I am truly missed. It means that what I bring to the community makes a difference. And that is what we are aiming for this fall at MPBC. | Read more

New Dates, New Price! Pilgrimage to Montgomery

Nov 11-13, 2022

We’re excited to be able to pivot & make this experience more affordable & convenient for those hoping to attend! Join MPBC, Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church, Reeder Memorial Baptist Church, & the Alliance of Baptists for an interracial pilgrimage to the National Memorial for Peace & Justice & the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama on Nov 11-13.

Dr. Ben Boswell, Meta Commerse, Dr. Peter Wherry, Rev. Thomas Farrow, & Rev. Tara Gibbs will be our guides on this journey, & Alexis Tardy & Rev. Elijah R. Zehyoue will be the keynote speakers in Montgomery. To read more about the program for Saturday & Sunday click here. | Continue reading

WE'RE HIRING

Director of Music & Worship

We're in the process of hiring a full-time Director of Music & Worship who will be responsible for developing worship services & overseeing a comprehensive program of music, music education, & music appreciation for all ages that aligns with the theology & mission of MPBC.

Click here for details & job description

Associate Minister of Pastoral Care & Justice

We're in the process of hiring a full-time Associate Minister of Pastoral Care & Justice who will be responsible for assisting the Senior Minister in the pastoral care & justice ministries of the church as the staff liaison to our Ministry of Congregational Care (MCC) & our Ministry of Justice & Outreach (MOJO)

Click here for details & job description

[RE]BUILDING COMMUNITY

Virtual Community: Who Are You & What Do You Want to Feel?

By Rev. Carrie Veal

Join Our Email List

Recently, I was chatting with a friend who said, “at the root of online communities is the question ‘what do you want to feel?’" I was so struck by this question & keep asking myself what I want to feel. As we grow our online, virtual community we want to know who you are & what you want to feel. | Learn more

Monthly Men's Breakfast

3rd TUEs, Sept 20, Oct 18 | 7:30a | Heaton Hall

Featured Speaker for Sept 20 | Rabbi Judy Schindler

RSVP for Breakfast

Our Men’s Breakfasts are a popular opportunity to build relationships with others who identify as men in our church community. Let's break bread together while enjoying hearing from Rabbi Judy Schindler! We are going to have a really good breakfast from the Flying Biscuit with eggs, sausage, bacon, breakfast potatoes & fluffy Flying Biscuits with apple butter! Please register by Friday Sept 16 so we will know you are coming. Contact Robert Dulin at [email protected] for more information.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Want to be sure you are not missing out on anything related to Spiritual Growth? We'll email you periodically about any new opportunities.

Spiritual Growth Sunday Classes

Oct 2, 16, 23, 30 & Nov 6, 13, 20 | 11:15a - 12p

Join us this fall for Sunday Spiritual Growth opportunities!

Faith & Community

Led by | Bruce Elliott

Location | Shalom Hall

Focus | Guest speakers address a wide range of topics

Learn more

Exploring Spiritual Togetherness

Led by | Jenny Martella & Jen Troyer

Location | Parlor

Focus | 7-week book study on Waking up Grateful

Learn more

Intergenerational Yoga

Led by | Rev Tara Gibbs

Instructor | TBD

Location | TBD

Focus | Spiritually focused opportunity for families

Learn more

Fall Bible Study | Digging Into the Book of James

Virtual | THUs, Sept 22, 29, Oct 6, 13 | 12-1p (No meeting September 15)

Rev. Carrie Veal will lead us as we dive into the book of James. Each week we will engage with one chapter. No prep work needed, no homework, no deep (or any) biblical knowledge necessary. Just join us!

Questions? Contact Carrie Veal | Learn more

Have you been wanting to take the Whiteness course? Or are you a new member looking for a way to go deeper in your anti-racist journey? Sign up for one of our virtual fall groups today! Buy the book Confronting Whiteness Participant's Guide

Learn more

Just Breathe Bi-Weekly Meditations

MONs & WEDs | 11:30a - Noon | Zoom | Password: breathe (case sensitive)

Join us for a time for reflection & contemplation – twice-weekly or as often as you’re able. Inhale, Exhale. Our lives rest in the balance of these simple actions. Come catch your breath with us. All are invited to join us online.| Learn more

Faith in the 21st Century presents: A Weekend with John Pavlovitz

OCT 8-9, 2022 at Myers Park Baptist Church

We are excited to welcome John Pavlovitz this fall for our annual Faith in the 21st Century (F21) weekend! Pavlovitz, a native of Winston-Salem, is a much sought-after speaker, writer, & activist who has been committed to equality, diversity, & justice—both inside & outside faith communities. Weekend schedule & registration are available now. | Read more

Read with us! If God is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk by John Pavlovitz

In preparation for F21 Weekend 2022, we invite you to buy the book, read it at your leisure, & sign up for one of the book discussion gatherings.

Midday Book Club

WED, Sept 28 | 12:30-2:30p | Parlor

Led by Lorin Bent, Co-Chair of the Ministry of Spiritual Growth | Register here

Virtual Book Club

WED, Sept 28 | 6:30-8:00p | Zoom

Led by Rev. Carrie Veal, Executive Minister

Participants will receive zoom link after registering | Register here

Youngish Adult Book Club

THU, Sept 29, 2022 | 5:30-7:30p | Common Market South End

Led by Lorin Bent, Co-Chair of the Ministry of Spiritual Growth

This gathering is geared toward our youngish adult collective, but any & all are welcomed to attend. Refreshments will be provided. | Register here

Southminster Book Club

WEDs, Sept 14 - Oct 5 | 10:15a | Meditation Room - Health Wing 3rd Floor

Led by Arliss Whiteside, Ministry of Spiritual Growth Member. This 4-week series is for Southminster residents. You may sign up on Cubi or contact C.A. Lawler at #6857.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Health & Wellness Team will continue to give necessary COVID-19 updates, & they are going to begin including other topics for us. Some of the ideas are Food Justice, Schools & Traffic, Nutrition, Body Image, Grief, & more! If you have a topic you would like them to explore, please email Rev. Carrie Veal.

Masks are encouraged

Hoping for a Robust Return

by Susan Beaumont

There is good reason to be optimistic about the start of this program year. People are back from a summer of traveling & reconnecting with loved ones. Staff are rested & brimming with new ideas. Many children have been vaccinated, & a more predictable school year seems likely. We are coming out of pandemic mayhem. However, a more robust start up to the new program year is not a signal that we have arrived at “the” new normal. We are still in a liminal season—& need to lead accordingly. | Read more

One shot per year? We really need to step up our game then

On Tuesday, September 6, the White House announced a new plan: one COVID-19 shot per year. The idea is this will decrease public confusion & increase booster uptake by aligning with the flu vaccine campaign. Reading between the lines, I think this is also a political signal to shift out of the SARS-CoV-2 emergency phase.

Will an annual shot plan work? Maybe. But there’s a lot that needs to align beforehand. And I certainly hope this doesn’t mean we are accepting our current state of affairs with vaccines. | Read more

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE & OUTREACH

The Sunshine Fund's Impact

Many years ago, the leaders of our church wisely established the Sunshine Fund to create a way for the members of our community to support one another during times of financial hardship. . . . As a result of the pandemic, the housing crisis & increasing inflation, the Sunshine Fund has had a very busy year so far in 2022 & is nearly depleted. In August, we had to make the painful decision to stop providing support until we can increase the fund. | Read more

Union County First Annual Pride Festival Update

As we were preparing to participate in Charlotte Pride, we were invited to be part of Union County’s FIRST EVER Pride Festival. We were asked because they did not have a faith community to be with them to show the community that there was a church who would welcome, affirm, & embrace the LGBTQ+ Community. A group of our members volunteered to attend the Festival, represent MPBC, & remind the world that God’s love is unlimited & unconditional. This photo represents only a small number of our members who participated in this event.

Join the MPBC Rapid Response Team

Add your name to the list

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Here's What's Coming This Fall for Children

We want to make sure you have all the details for the fall & don't miss out on any of it! Here is a snapshot:

Sundays

Children’s Worship experience for first – fifth graders. Children will come to the Sanctuary for worship at 10a & sit with their families. They will leave with leaders before the sermon & return at the final hymn for pick up. During this time, they will engage their minds, hearts, & bodies in an experience that is designed just for them.

Children's Spiritual Growth classes for ages 3 – 5th grade will begin October 2 following worship.

Wednesdays

We have a re-imagined Wednesday night programming! We will begin with dinner at 5:00 then children will go with leaders to a time of music & creative arts. Registration is open now!

Children's Ministry latest Newsletter

Want to join the Children's Ministry mailing list? Click here

YOUTH MINISTRY

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].

What's happening this Fall?

Youth Spiritual Growth 11a | Beginning Oct 2, youth are invited to participate in Spiritual Growth offerings: Intergenerational Yoga (once a month) | Exploring Spiritual Togetherness | TV Talks with Rev. Tara

Youth Block 4-6p | All youth in grades 6-2 are invited to join us in the Youth Hall for snacks & a variety of activities.

Discipleship will begin Oct 16, 5-6p in the Youth Hall, & will meet every 3rd Sunday. The full description of the unique curriculum “Getting to the Root” can be found here. Sign up your youth here or contact Rev. Tara with any questions.

Youth want to know you!

Each week, we want to invite church members to stop by Youth Block at 4p to connect & share your passions with our youth. Email Rev. Tara if you’re interested.

TV Talks with Rev. Tara

Beginning SUN, Oct 2| 11a

During our youth spiritual growth class on Sundays, we’ll be watching clips of trending tv shows, popular social media, & more to foster discussion around spirituality & faith in a fun & engaging way. | Learn more

Fall Retreat Day

Food & Community

SAT, Oct 15 | 9:30a -6:30p

We’ll be volunteering at a food pantry in the morning & then we'll take a cooking class, go to lunch & enjoy karaoke together. Learn more & RSVP

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 & community of faith of about 4,500 individual members & 140 congregations knit together by love for one another & God, combining progressive inquiry, contemplative prayer & prophetic action to bring about justice & healing in a changing world.

Environmental Justice is Racial Justice: Faith Communities Respond

THU, Oct 20, 2022 | 1:30-3:00p

Across our country & our world, communities of color are impacted first & worst by pollution & climate-driven disasters, & among the strongest advocates for change. Learn how your faith community can stand with them. Join a panel of leaders on the front lines of environmental justice featuring Dr. Robert Bullard, Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Rev. Dr. Deborah Conrad, and Rev. Betsy Sowers (Moderator).

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Unattended Sorrow: a Book Study on Grief

TUEs, Oct 4 - Nov 8 | 7-8p | Zoom

Grief continues to affect us throughout our lifetimes. It doesn't ever go away, but we can learn creative ways to deal with the pain. Join us & bring your life story as we interact with the book & one another, sharing our grief experiences. For questions &/or to register, please contact Rev. Joe Aldrich at [email protected]

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, & crisis. Information about Health & Safety, Grief, Stephen Ministry, as well as helpful resources are available on our website. Just search "In need of help?"

Stephen Ministry is here for you

Stephen Ministers are available for free & provide safe, confidential space & listening ear. If you want to know more about the ministry, please contact Joe Aldrich at [email protected]

Prayer requests

You can submit a request by emailing [email protected].

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT - JULY

Congregational Giving through July 2022, we have received $739,904 compared to $778,584 through July 2021.
Total Revenue through July 2022 is $1,159,533 compared to $1,121,393 through July 2021.
Total Expenses through July 2022 are $1,259,015 compared to $1,139,972 through July 2021.

We were behind in receiving pledged funds through June, but the good news is we made up a lot of ground in the month of July because of your generosity as a congregation. We still plan on receiving the pledges that have been made which will ensure that we will have a balanced budget report by the end of December. If you are able to fulfill your pledge early or give an additional or increased gift, it will help us with our cash flow this summer. As always, any gift you are able to give is deeply appreciated.