This Week at Myers Park United Methodist Church | Easter Edition | April 12–April 18

THIS WEEK

EASTER SUNDAY ISSUE | A PR I L 1 2 | 2020

Easter at MYERS PARK

Christ The Lord Is Risen!

www.myersparkumc.org 1501 Queens Road Charlotte, NC 28207

704.376.8584 info@mpumc.org

LIVESTREAM WORSHIP TIMES 8:45 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. | 11:00 a.m.

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.

CHILDREN STAYING CONNECTED

BY AMY HARRI MAN Director of Children's Ministries

OUR DIGITAL CONNECTIONS SUNDAY WORSHIP There are multiple ways to remain together even if we’re not in the same room with one another! With multiple avenues of accessing our worship services, we can join together each Sunday online at 8:45, 9:45, and 11:00 a.m. Access our livestream at the link below or on Facebook. We look forward to continuing to worship with you on Sunday! www.myersparkumc.org/watch-live

Several Children’s Sunday school classes are grateful for the technology that allows them to stay connected while having to follow mandatory “stay-athome” orders due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The 5th grade class has been meeting early on Sunday mornings for a couple of weeks now. About 15 children tune in for a time of sharing, praying, devotions, and even an occasional indoor scavenger hunt.

The 4th grade class met for the first time this past week with one of the students leading a prayer and another sharing a devotion titled “I Will Take Care of You.” This was a timely message about trusting in Jesus when everything going on around us feels uncertain.

When asked what positive things will come out of this when it is over, the children said: • It is slowing down the virus and making the world safer

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY Wednesday’s live Bible study will be at 11:00 a.m. and led by one of our pastors.

They will share with us insights that they've learned from the Bible. The Study will gather virtually at livestream.com/mpumc Also, if you'd like to receive Dr. Howell's weekly emails, you can sign up here.

VIRTUAL SMALL GROUPS VIA ZOOM We invite you to get involved and grow in your spiritual life as we stay connected via technology in this season. We absolutely welcome newcomers to the study! Contact Rev. Uiyeon Kim at ukim@mpumc.org with any questions. Click here to join the small group and access instructions for using Zoom.

• Having the opportunity to FaceTime with friends • Sleeping late and relaxing • Getting to be with family more than usual • Learning to be grateful for what you have • Hugging people and being around friends • The environment will be better. Already

MY HEART IS FULL

BY TRI N IT Y MARTI N Director of Handbells, Youth, and Children's Music

On Wednesday, April 8, the Cherub Choir met for our first virtual rehearsal via Zoom.

We had 16 participants from our kindergarten choir full of smiles with lots to share.

We practiced our songs we had been working on before the shelter in place order and talked about upcoming birthdays. It went so well I have decided to make this a weekly occurrence, ever y Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.

the smog is lifting and pollen is going down • Getting to see parents more now that they are working at home No matter the age, social connections are incredibly important right now and any opportunity to keep up social contact between children is good for overall mental health. It is more vital than people realize to avoid loneliness. We hope connecting with church family is at the top of everyone’s list.

We hope these Zoom Sunday school socials are providing much needed connection, comfort, laughter, and a fun way to fight cabin fever.

While it can be a sad time because we don’t know when we will see each other in person again, it warms my heart that these children want to participate, talk to their friends and share what is going on in their lives. Hopefully when the stay-at-home order is lifted and things are back to normal, these children will not feel like long lost friends being reunited, but will just be excited to see each other in person.

BETTER TOGETHER AS RESURRECTED PEOPLE

B Y R E V. N AT H A N A R L E D G E

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-14 Happy Easter sisters and brothers! Jesus has risen, the tomb is empty, and what joy we have to shout it from the roof tops!

COVID-19 has shifted the way in which we planned to celebrate Easter.

The holiness and gift of Easter mustn’t be lost in this season where we are distanced from each other. If we marked this season as another byproduct of COVID’s impact, we would shortchange the new life we are invited to participate in through, Christ's resurrection. In the book Spaces for the Sacred, Philip Sheldrake reminds us, that Jesus’ impact upon this world is not bound. “The divine presence and action cannot be imprisoned in any contracted place or series of places.”

The divine presence and action cannot be imprisoned in any contracted place or series of places."

Philip Sheldrake

I love this. We as the body are the divine. We have the divine within our hearts, our minds, and our spirits, and it is our opportunity to allow the divine to guide, lead, and direct us on where and how to let God’s love be felt in the world. More so, as resurrection people, Easter people, we are no longer our own. We no longer belong to ourselves, we belong to one another, and we are better together.

At any given moment, I know all around the world, and here locally, people are searching their thoughts and their hearts to make sure people are cared for and loved well. And friends, that’s what it’s all about.

In this season, one of the ways we are able to give is by empowering agencies and businesses. One of the beautiful offerings we have been able to do is to hire a local bakery that knows how to cook en made for our the parents and guardians of Marie G. Davis scholars.

I love how a baker/cook who works with his hands, with yeast, flour, and meats, provides through hands and hearts for our Brookhill community. The connection is personal, relational, and divinely with one another. And it’s provided through your hearts seeking the common good and well-being of the vulnerable neighbors of ours.

This Easter season invite your hearts to find ways to be creative and prayerful of how we respond with and for our sisters and brothers in these gap spaces of life right now. Easter people, be not afraid. Be assured and be confident that God is with us, we are with our neighbors, and we are with you in this journey.

Pray for ways that we can free our spirits to be used and engaged for ministry with one another in this new landscape. Easter people raise your hearts and voices, and know that you matter and that in this season we are better together for transformative work.

GIVING AT MYERS PARK Each year our Easter Offering directly supports our mission partners and this year will be no different. We will remain faithful to our commitment to support the Men’s Shelter in Charlotte and Faith Ministry in Reynosa, Mexico. Your gift helps ensure generational transformation for our neighbors near and far. To make a gift, click here.

Make your gift today by clicking here or by mail to 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207, with Easter Offering in memo.

Questions? Contact Jamie Yearwood, Director of Development, at jyearwood@mpumc.org or 704-295-4808.

LET’S CELEBRATE!

Let's celebrate all we have accomplished together as a congregation during this season of shifting connections!

Below are some highlights: • Sunday Worship continues to reach thousands of people each week virtually.

• More than 100 MPUMC children are sending encouraging cards to homebound/ facility members and healthcare workers.

• MPUMC Youth completed a COVID-19 challenge; 19 days of prayer, reflection, and activity to keep Jesus at the center of life amidst the current chaos in the world.

• We continue to provide 400 meals weekly to vulnerable neighbors in Brookhill Community and McCreesh Place.

• More than 30 members participated in a Lenten small group via Zoom.

• We are providing financial support to assist with COVID-19 relief efforts to our local partners at Loaves & Fishes, Men’s Shelter/Urban Ministry, Dove’s Nest, and Rebound, and global partners at Zoe and Faith Ministry in Reynosa, Mexico • We continue to partner with Manolo’s Bakery to provide birthday cakes to children in OurBridge Kids Program We are better together, even when we are apart. Thank you for making all of this and more possible with your continued support of the church’s Operating Fund and Jubilee Plus, the mission and outreach fund. For more information visit www.myersparkumc.org/give.

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!

OU R CLE RGY Dr. James C. Howell Senior Pastor Rev. Nathan Arledge Pastor of Missions & Community Engagement Rev. Taylor Barefoot Pastor for Emerging Ministries

CONFIRMATION JOURNEY CONTINUES

by Sarah Simmons, Middle School Youth Associate

After the extended stay-at-home order, we wanted to continue the Confirmation journey, so this past Sunday we had 81 8 th grade confirmands and mentors meet on a Zoom gathering. This special group of students have faithfully showed up and participated in the church body since September and this meeting was no different. They logged on, and we talked about the joy Paul had from prison in the book of Philippians.

They also asked questions about mission projects and are planning to send letters of encouragement to the employees at the Men’s Shelter, who are working with our community’s most vulnerable. They broke out into their small groups to connect, encourage, and pray together. During our next Zoom gathering on April 19, special guest Dr. Howell will lead a question-and-answer session, which is always popular. Our final Zoom gathering on May 3 will be a special send-off to conclude and celebrate our confirmands and how far they have come. We are so proud of them and look forward to watching them continue to grow in faith and love!

WE ARE STILL THE CHURCH

by Rev. Taylor Pryde Barefoot

When the COVID-19 news came out, one of the greatest disappointments was that our Lenten small groups that had just started would have to stop meeting in person. We then transitioned these small groups to Zoom meetings. We were unsure how virtual meetings would translate.

Would conversations flow? Would people be vulnerable? Would we feel connected?

Within the first two minutes of the first meeting, it wasn’t a disappointment at all. I felt connected, people were vulnerable about how they were feeling, and God was among us. It has continued to be the highlight of my week to see the people of our church pray together, and check in on one another.

Rev. Jessica Dayson Pastor for Young Adults & Lay Involvement

This week in a small group, one member shared her growing concern for older folks in our church, who may be living alone. Another member of the group who fit the description of “older and living alone” shared his joy of having received a letter and picture from a young family and child this week. Our grief turned to joy in that moment. Church is still happening, and it is a joy to see connection in this time of physical isolation.

Rev. Uiyeon Kim Pastor of Discipleship

We will continue to meet, and there are no requirements to join. We miss you, and we want to stay connected. We are better together.

Rev. Bill Roth Pastor of Congregational Care

AND EVEN MORE GOOD NEWS!

Rev. Nancy Watson Executive Pastor

Last week, I received a text from Omar Jones. Omar is the dad of two of the scholars in our CHAMP program, Lovely and Layla. Omar shared that because of our help at Christmastime, he was able to move the family out of the Motel 6 on South Tryon to a home in the University area. This immediately wet my eyes. Lovely and Layla are precious girls and I am so proud of their parents for hustling to provide the best for their family. But Omar also shared that he lost his factory job driving a forklift, and any additional help would be appreciated. After many texts, we settled on helping the family get a washer and dryer. It was delivered on Wednesday morning. Here is Omar’s response.

It is not to me. It is not to the staff. It is to you and our entire church:

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.

by Jason Rhymer, Director of Youth Ministry

Good morning…just wanted to thank you again for thewasher/ dryer again…beautiful!!! The guys just left and everything went well. God bless you all for the help I can’t thank you enough."

You just did Omar. God bless you brother!