THIS WEEK F E B R UA RY 2 3 | 2020
SECEDA, ITALY - ITALIAN DOLOMITES by Eberhard Grossgasteiger | Unsplash
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.
Our Deepest Sympathy Marie Cheek, mother of Sharon Garfield and mother-in-law of Ken Garfield, who died February 14.
TODAY The Flowers on the Altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Joanne Howard by Cleve Howard. Wonderfully Made, today, 9:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Fifty 5th graders and their parents are gathering today for this day-long workshop about “growing up.” Led by a team of experienced adults, sessions will include biological information, communication, and affirmation of God’s good creation. Parents and fifth graders will work together and separately as they explore this thing called adolescence! Youth Sunday Night and Confirmation, tonight, 5:45 p.m.-7:45 p.m., Jubilee Hall: Join us Sunday night for fellowship and fun. Dinner is Moe’s Taco bar for $8. Chas Fagan in Conversation of Beauty, tonight, 7:00 p.m., Francis Chapel: Charlotte’s most famous artist, the world-renowned scupltor and painter Chas Fagan will reflect with us on beautiful lives, what a portrait tries to capture, and public art and why it matters. This event is free and open to the public, so come, and bring a friend! Register Now for Lenten Small Groups: Our God has a desire to bring people together in love because each person is precious to God. Come and discover God’s love for you and for our community. Groups will begin meeting March 2 for five weeks at various days and times. View the schedule and register at www.myersparkumc.org/small-groups.
UPCOM ING CHAS FAGAN IN CONVERSATION ON BEAUTY, tonight, 7:00 p.m., Francis Chapel: Charlotte’s most famous artist, the world-renowned scupltor and painter Chas Fagan will reflect with us on beautiful lives, what a portrait tries to capture, and public art and why it matters. This event is free and open to the public, so come, and bring a friend!
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: Come as you are to learn and practice a form of wordless prayer alongside others. Details: Rev. Uiyeon Kim at ukim@myersparkumc.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 is parmesan-crusted tilapia, scalloped potatoes, steamed broccoli, rolls, salad, desserts, and ice cream. Register by calling 704-3765520 no later than Tuesday at noon or in Realm by Monday at 11:59 p.m. CPR Training: February 24, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., room 110: Cost is $40 per person due at the time of class, and advanced registration is required for this training. Register with Carmen Rivera at crivera@mpumc.org or via “Events” in Realm. Details: Parish Nurse Lauren Smith at lsmith@mpumc.org. Caregivers Support Group, February 25, 11:30 a.m., room 107: Share the challenges and rewards of the experience. Details: Parish Nurse Lauren Smith at lsmith@mpumc.org. Monthly Brew with the Young Adults, February 27, 5:30 p.m., Dilworth Tasting Room: Join us this month for a glass of wine while meeting other young adults from the church. RSVP at myersparkumc.org/young-adults. Forward, March 1, 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. Lenten Music Series: Bach’s Lunches, Tuesdays, March 3-31, 11:30 a.m., Francis Chapel: Our Music Ministry will present a series of 30-minute concerts during Lent. Come for the concert and stay to meet and eat with the artists of the week. Concerts are free. No tickets required. Visit www.myersparkumc.org/events/bachs-lunches or call 7040-295-4831 to order an optional lunch.
YOGA + PRAYER, Sundays, 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m., and Mondays, 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m., Francis Chapel: All ages and abilities welcome. We ask for a $5 donation, and we have mats available for your use. Details: Rev. Taylor Pryde Barefoot at tbarefoot@mpumc.org.
Women’s Ministries Gathering, Wednesday, March 4, 10:30 a.m., room 152: All women of the church are invited to a gathering for fellowship, an invitation to mission, and to hear guest speaker Kelly McKinnon. Kelly is a Program Specialist for CMS, UMW member at South Tryon UMC and wife to Rev. Ray McKinnon. She will speak on “RepresentED”, why representation matters in children’s literature. More information on a book drive will be available at the gathering. Light refreshments and coffee will be served.
UPCOM ING CONTINUE D Support Good Soles at the Charlotte Hornets Game, March 5, 7:00 p.m., meet at the arena: Come out and support Good Soles for their 3rd Annual Charlotte Hornets outing as the Non-Profit of the Night! For every ticket purchased, a percentage will be donated to Good Soles, who will be at our Community Corner during the game. Details and tickets: https://groupmatics.events/event/Goodsoles7. Walk the Labyrinth, March 9-15, Francis Chapel: Spend time with God on the labyrinth. Hours are posted online at www.myersparkumc.org/contemplative and are subject to change as needed. Call 704-376-8584 to verify times. Mindful Mondays, March 9 and April 20, 10:30 a.m., room 106: Join Bill Roth and Lauren Smith for an opportunity to establish and deepen your mindfulness practice. Details: Carmen Rivera at crivera@mpumc.org.
FEBRUARY COLLECTION, now-February 29, collection bins in Lobby: We are now collecting donations of baby items for the Salvation Army Center of Hope, such as diapers, wipes, onesies, and formula. Details: Britt Yett at byett@mpumc.org.
In God’s Image, March 10, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., room 105: Join us for a discussion and discovery meeting as we continue to explore ways to welcome and support our LGBT plus community within and beyond our church. Details: Bill Roth at broth@mpumc.org. Evening Group for Young Adults, Sundays until March 8, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., room 149: Let’s spend Sundays together in conversation and community. We will dive into conversation and ask questions about our faith as we journey deeper into God’s grace together. Details: Jessica Dayson at jdayson@mpumc.org. Book-a-palooza, today-March 13: Women’s Ministries is collecting gently used and new books for children at Marie G. Davis K-8 school. Donations may be dropped at the collection bin in the front lobby. You may also purchase books and send directly to the church, using the Amazon Wish list entitled “MPUMC Bookapalooza.”
ASH WEDNESDAY, February 26: Ash Wednesday services will be 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary with music, prayer, and the imposition of ashes. We will also offer ashes on the labyrinth 7:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Rev. Nancy Watson will be at Caribou Coffee at Park Road Shopping Center 7:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. to offer the imposition of ashes and a moment of prayer. Join us.
E NGAG E M E NT OPPORTUN ITI E S Border Pilgrimage, March 17-21: Join our mission team traveling to the US/Mexico border led by Rev. Nathan Arledge. Our border pilgrimages serve to draw awareness to the proximity of our sisters and brothers seeking asylum, migrant workers, and the journey of the immigrant. Details and registration: www.myersparkumc.org/border. Missions Travel Opportunities, April, May, July, and September: View our world through a lens of fellowship, love, and service. Join us for our upcoming mission trips to Costa Rica, Mexico, Kenya, Armenia, and Malawi. For information about each trip, visit www.myersparkumc.org/beyond-the-walls. Details: Britt Yett at byett@mpumc.org. Youth Chicago Mission Trip, July 12-17, 2020: We have one spot open for our summer Middle School Mission Trip to Chicago. We are still in need of one male chaperone for this trip. Cost is $800. Details: www.mpumcyouth.org. Vehicle Needed: South Tryon Community United Methodist Church, our partner church in Charlotte, needs reliable transportation for church-related business. If you have a vehicle you would consider donating, please contact Nathan at narledge@mpumc.org. Serving Our Neighbors, ongoing: Ready to join established MPUMC teams already engaging with local organizations? We have member teams regularly serving Loaves & Fishes, Men’s Shelter, Marie G. Davis, and Salvation Army Center of Hope. You can plug in wherever you feel called! Details and sign-ups at www.myersparkumc.org/beyond-the-walls.
PASTORS’ BIBLE STUDY CANCELLED, Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., room 108: This coming Wednesday, February 26, our Bible study will be cancelled as we will be observing Ash Wednesday. Join us in one of three locations for prayer and receiving the imposition of ashes.
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
BEAUTY OF YOU AND ME: LENTEN SMALL GROUPS FORMING NOW by Christine Mull
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
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.
In 2008, Jean Vanier, philosopher, theologian, humanitarian, and founder of L’Arche, led a simple retreat in Kenya. He spoke at a place recently shattered by violence and bloodshed between people who were left shaken. His book, We Need Each Other: Responding to God’s Call to Live Together, comprises the talks he gave there. Vanier writes, “Like all human beings, I am broken. Yet in my brokenness therein lies the incredible gentleness of our God. This incredible, gentle, and tender God is in love with each one of us. And our God has a desire to bring people together in love. Each person is precious to God and together we are to build a community where we love each other.” During the season of Lent, we will form small groups to consider Vanier’s conversations as messages for our own lives and times, using his book as our guide. Another study, Beauty of You and Me, will help you learn how you were uniquely created to serve in this community of God. Clergy and lay leaders will lead groups at various days and times for five weeks beginning March 2. View schedules of groups and sign up at www.myersparkumc.org/small-groups.
SUGGESTED LENTEN READINGS Stephen Ministr y Devotional Booklets Our Stephen Ministers provide an annual lenten devotional booklet for us, which is free of charge. They will be distributing them, beginning today, and include essays from church members, clergy, and staff. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers - called Stephen Ministers - to provide confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. Want to talk with a Stephen Minister or learn more about this powerful ministry? Reach Rev. Bill Roth at broth@mpumc.org today. Jean Vanier’s We Need Each Other We encourage the entire congregation to read our suggested Lenten books. Pick up or order a copy of We Need Each Other: Responding to God’s Call to Live Together by Jean Vanier and read along with us while we journey through this season of Lent together.