THIS WEEK JA N UA RY 1 9 | 2020
WORDS IN THE SKY by Lindsay Hawfield Jones
www.myersparkumc.org 1501 Queens Road Charlotte, NC 28207
704.376.8584 info@mpumc.org
8:30 a.m. Sanctuary Worship 8:45 a.m. Church In The Round 9:45 a.m. Sanctuary Worship 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship
WE LCO M E To O u r C h u rc h !
We are the body of Christ, growing in faith and serving others.
TODAY The Flowers on the Altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of John and Alice Gasbarro, Margaret Page and Frances Anderson by John and Carol Gasbarro. Blood Drive Signup, today, 9:00 a.m., Lobby: Reserve your time to donate blood on Sunday, February 2. Details: Parish Nurse Lauren Smith at lsmith@mpumc.org.
Our Deepest Sympathy
No Youth Sunday School, Youth Group, or Confirmation Today in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. See you January 26!
John "Jack" Thomas Herring, Jr., brother of Richard Herring, and uncle of Henry and Phillip Herring, who died January 3.
Church Closed Tomorrow for Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday: Those needing to speak with a pastor can call 704-376-8584 and follow the prompts to the pastor on call.
Kenneth Wood, father of Lindsay Gildea, and grandfather of John, Addison, and Caroline Gildea, who died January 7.
UPCOM ING
Frances Robinson Hice, aunt of Eddie McIntosh, who died January 10. Irilla Moyne Couch Varnadore, mother of Jamey Varnadore, who died January 10. Jeanne Parsons Lupo, mother of Susan Lupo, who died January 11. John Robert Crawford, father of Eve White, who died January 12.
Beauty at The Table, groups begin this week: God made us to be in community, to break bread, and to share our stories together. Connect with one another and grow closer to our God in these four-week sessions. Learn more and register at www.myersparkumc.org/small-groups. Centering Prayer, Mondays, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., room 024 or Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Francis Chapel: A beautiful chance to come as you are to learn and practice a form of wordless prayer alongside others. Details: Rev. Uiyeon Kim at ukim@myersparkumc.org. Middle School Small Group, Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Hubee D’s: Join us for fellowship, food, and faith! Can’t come every week? Come when you can. Bring your money, bring a friend, and let’s hang out and talk about life and Jesus! Details: Sarah Simmons at ssimmons@mpumc.org. H.O.T. Wednesday, Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Jubilee Hall: Join us for dinner at H.O.T. Wednesday. This week’s menu will be: spaghetti noodles, meat sauce, marinara sauce, salad bar, breadsticks, desserts, and ice cream. Register by calling 704-376-8584 no later than Tuesday at noon or on realm by Monday at 11:59 p.m. Monthly Brew with the Young Adults, January 23, 5:30 p.m., Legion Brewing SouthPark: Join us for happy hour and enjoy meeting other young adults from the church. Sign up at www.myersparkumc.org/young-adults.
DR. HOWELL'S BOOK HOW LOVELY IS THEY DWELLING PLACE, Is available for $10 in the main lobby. Stop by and pick up your copy after any of the services today.
Baptism Class, January 26, 9:45 a.m.., Francis Chapel: This class will deepen your understanding of this Holy Sacrament. It’s an essential first step for those preparing for Baptism for themselves or their children (including those expecting or planning for a child). For child care, email Lisa Ross-Smit at lrsmit@mpumc.org. Parenting Through the Phases, January 26, 10:00 a.m., Jubilee Hall: Join us for a monthly series of coffee and conversation that will focus on different developmental phases in a child’s life. This month’s session: Preschool (ages 3 and 4). A panel of experts, including Susan Wade, Diane Sadow, Dr. Andy Shulstad, and Katherine and Cliff Coley, will be on hand to answer questions and offer tips. Details: Amy Harriman at aharriman@mpumc.org. Discover Myers Park, January 26, 11:00 a.m., Francis Chapel: Come learn about our church and the beliefs and practices of our denomination. There is no obligation to join and child care is available for children ages 8-weeks- old through those not yet in kindergarten. Registration: Jeanne Poole at jpoole@mpumc.org.
BEAUTY AND THE ARTS, January 26, 7:00 p.m., Francis Chapel: Join Dr. Howell and Dr. Jeremy Begbie, a musician and theologian at Cambridge University and Duke University, for this conversation. We are grateful for the generosity of the Snyder-Fisher-Fellowship Sunday School class for sponsoring this event. To reserve child care, email Lisa Ross-Smit at lrsmit@ mpumc.org by January 23.
An Evening with Kathy Izard, Tuesday, January 28, 6:30 p.m., Francis Chapel: Kathy Izard, award-winning speaker and author of The Hundred Story Home, who helped transform Charlotte homelessness, housing, and mental health, will share her story and read her children’s book, A Good Night for Mr. Coleman. Children will make sandwiches for the Urban Ministry Center. Details: Amy Harriman at aharriman@mpumc.org. Forward, February 2, 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m., rooms 239-240: 4th and 5th graders are invited to Forward, a ministry designed to help them grow spiritually as they journey toward middle school. Forward meets the first Sunday of each month through April. Details: Email Amy Harriman at aharriman@mpumc.org. Young Adults Super Bowl Party, February 2, 6:00 p.m., 4122 Windmill Place: Plan now to join us to watch the Super Bowl. Go to www.myersparkumc.org/young-adults to RSVP and sign up to bring your favorite game food.
UPCOM ING CONTINUE D Vacation Bible School Registration, opens February 3: Register online for Knights of North Castle, set for June 22-25, 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Children born on or before May 31, 2016– current fifth graders are eligible to attend. Details: Amy Harriman at aharriman@mpumc.org. Family Movie Night, Friday, February 7, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Jubilee Hall: Join us for a screening of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. Bring a picnic supper and a blanket to sit on. We’ll provide popcorn and drinks (tea, lemonade, and water). The movie will start promptly at 5:45 p.m. Details: Leslie Lowery at llowery@mpumc.org. Middle School Wonderfully Made Part 2, February 9, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: Remember Wonderfully Made in 5th Grade? 7th and 8 th graders are invited to join us for Wonderfully Made Part 2: the middle school edition. The purpose of this workshop is to teach youth that they can live faithful lives of sexual integrity by valuing others and valuing themselves. Parents are not required to attend the event; however, the curriculum is available to view upon request. Signup is required at www.mpumcyouth.org. Details: Sarah Simmons at ssimmons@mpumc.org. Summer Fun Days Registration, opens February 10-11: Summer Fun Days is July 13-17 and July 20-24. Preschool is 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and costs $180 per week/per child. Elementary is 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and is $250 per week/per child. Children born on or before August 31, 2018-current fifth graders are eligible to attend. New this year: registration is online and open first to church members on February 10. Registration opens to the public on February 11. Details: Amy Harriman at aharriman@mpumc.org. Mindful Mondays, February 10 and April 20, 10:30 a.m., room 108: Join Bill Roth and Lauren Smith for an opportunity to establish and deepen your mindfulness practice. Registration: Carmen Rivera at crivera@mpumc.org. Marriage Matters Workshop, February 22, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., room 108: Bill Roth will use Dr. John Gottman’s Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work and ideas from noted therapists Sue Johnson and Terry Real. Learn the latest research on what makes marriage work and meet the premarital counseling requirements for persons getting married at MPUMC. Register on Realm or email crivera@mpumc.org.
JUBILEE PLUS! GIVING FUND: 100% of funds given to this second-mile giving fund go out the door to support ministry partners such as Loaves & Fishes. Give generously to Jubilee Plus! year-round online or write a check to the church with Jubilee Plus! in the memo line.
LOVE OFFERING: We celebrate nine years of faithfulness and love for our former Director of Youth Ministries, Lauren Stines, who completed her time with us on December 31. A love offering is being collected to show our gratitude for her and her family. Please make your check out to the church with Love Offering in the memo line.
Room In The Inn, Every Thursday and Friday night, now through March 31: We open our doors and hearts to provide warm meals, warm beds, and warm fellowship for homeless neighbors. There are various opportunities for all to participate such as driving the van, preparing and serving a meal, and staying overnight with our guests. Details: Greg Wells at greg@willisengineers.com. ENOUGH: Transformative Giving 2020: Pledge cards for your 2020 estimate of giving can be returned via mail to 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte NC 28207, in the Sunday offering plate or online at www.mypersparkumc.org/give. Your commitment to the operating budget and Jubilee Plus! matters. Through our generous giving, we continue to transform lives of those inside and outside the walls of our church.
E NGAG E M E NT OPPORTUN ITI E S
AN EVENING WITH KATHY IZARD, January 28, 6:30 p.m., Francis Chapel: Kathy Izard, award-winning speaker and author of The Hundred Story Home, who helped transform Charlotte homelessness, housing, and mental health, will share her story and read her children’s book, A Good Night for Mr. Coleman. Children will make sandwiches for the Urban Ministry Center. Details: Amy Harriman at aharriman@mpumc.org.
Armenia Information Meeting, January 27, 6:30 p.m.: All interested travelers are invited to join us to learn more about our July 18-30 Armenia Mission Trip. Details: Chris Lepore at c.note.lepore@gmail.com. High School Winter Retreat Bible Boot Camp: January 31-February 2, registration now open: High School Winter Retreat moves to Asbury Hills Camp. Cameron Moore is back as our worship leader, and we will have another amazing senior send-off. Whether you have done many retreats or this is your first, we want you there! Details: visit www.mpumcyouth.org or contact Jason Rhymer at jrhymer@mpumc.org. Sort Donations at Loaves & Fishes, Second Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Loaves & Fishes warehouse: We meet monthly at the warehouse at 648 Griffith Road to sort donated food. Details: Laura Weller at lauraoweller@yahoo.com with questions. January Collection, now-January 31, collection bins in lobby: We are now collecting food items for the school food bags, specifically boxes of mac and cheese and oatmeal. Details: Julie Wentz at jwentz@mpumc.org.
DEADLINE CLOSING FOR WOMEN'S RETREAT, register by January 31: The retreat is February 21-23 at the Caraway Conference Center. Our theme is Wholehearted: Real Life/Real Faith. Double room $250/single room $280. Register and pay online at myersparkumc.org/women. Details: Rev. Jessica Dayson at jdayson@mpumc.org.
CO N N E C T WITH US ! F o l l ow u s o n s o c ia l m e d ia @ my e r sp a r k u m c
V i s i t o u r we b s i te w w w. mye r s p a rk u m c .o r g to find small groups, ways to serve and engage, how to give, and plug in with other members of our church!
OUR CLE RGY Dr. James C. Howell Senior Pastor Rev. Nathan Arledge Pastor of Missions & Community Engagement Rev. Taylor Barefoot Pastor for Emerging Ministries Rev. Jessica Dayson Pastor for Young Adults & Lay Involvement Rev. Uiyeon Kim Pastor of Discipleship Rev. Bill Roth Pastor of Congregational Care Rev. Nancy Watson Executive Pastor
BEATING GUNS: HOPE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WEARY OF VIOLENCE by Sarah Gibson
Last Saturday, we had the distinct honor of welcoming Shane Claiborne from Red Letter Christians and Mike Martin, Executive Director of Raw Tools, to discuss the impact of gun violence on families and communities across our nation. Guest speakers included Rev. Sharon Risher and Councilman Malcolm Graham who were both directly impacted by the June 2015 Emanuel AME church shootings. As the presentation began, Shane held up the pieces of a gun that had been sawed down and told this story: “We needed a gun to use for this event so we put an ask out there on Facebook and someone contacted us about a gun they had won as part of an auction. He told us he was uncomfortable with having the gun and would be happy to donate it to us for this program. And just like that, we drove over and met him and acquired a military grade assault rifle from him with no paperwork, no trail of the gun changing hands. And it was all done completely legally. We’re not talking about the kind of gun one might use to hunt. We’re talking about a military rifle. And it was that easy to obtain.” Shane Claiborne shared a compelling message about bringing peace into a world that’s rattled with chaos and violence. Charlotte alone had over 100 homicides in 2019. “What we are doing today,” Shane stated “is not simply symbolic, it’s sacramental. We are going to turn a gun into a garden tool. And we invite you to reimagine a world where we are the instruments of peace in our communities.”
That the world will understand that hate will never conquer love."
The program moved outside for the forming of the garden tool. Mike Martin, Executive Director of RAWtools, Inc., invited those directly impacted by gun violence to take a turn using a hammer to hit the hot metal. Rev. Risher and members of her - Rev. Sharon Risher family went first followed by Councilman Malcolm Graham, who lost his sister in the same shooting in Charleston, SC. Then one by one attendees who had lost someone they love by a gun took turns using a hammer to create something beautiful out of something that had brought them much pain. One participant recalls releasing feelings that they didn’t realize they still carried years after losing their brother at the hands of a gun. “I found myself wailing on this piece of metal with a force and strength I didn’t know I had. I can still feel the bits of metal bouncing back and hitting my arms. I remembered my brother today. I mourned his loss and grieved for all the families who were represented today that created this tool through their grief” she shared. The event was an exemplary witness to beauty in the brokenness. It stirred attendees to think about how they can become instruments of peace. This call on our city isn’t about being anti-gun. It’s about being anti-violence and against loss of life. It’s about recognizing that both are factors in our world and about having dialogue about how to end the violence. We can come together and work toward an end to senseless loss of life. We must come together and work toward that end. -photos by Lisa Howell
TALK WITH A PASTOR A pastor on staff stands ready to respond to your question or concern. Those needing immediate pastoral help should call 704-376-8584 and follow the prompts to the pastor on call.
Rev. Risher brought a powerful testament to the pain her family suffered following the shooting at Emmanuel AME in Charleston, SC. Sharon’s mother, two cousins, and a childhood friend were all killed in that shooting. Sharon has made it her mission to share her story of loss, forgiveness, racism, and gun law reforms across the country. Her message is simple: “That the world will understand that hate will never conquer love.”