THIS WEEK M AY 17 | 2020
THE DAWN OF HOPE AFTER INIKI by Nancy Jo Sauser 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.
Our Deepest Sympathy Dick Gurunian, father Gurunian, died on May 8.
of
Rick
Fredda Jo "Jodi" Moore Reed, wife of Louis Reed, died on May 7.
In Celebration Hudson Ray Jones, son of Briana & Colin Jones, and brother of Wyatt Jones, was born on May 9. Finley Joseph Antonio, son of Lindsey & Jonathan Antonio, and brother of Olivia Antonio, was born on May 7. Harper Hutson, daughter of Jenny and Michael Hutson, sister of Jackson & Davis Hutson, was born on April 27.
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! Watch live at: myersparkumc.org/watchlive 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 YOGA We may be finding ourselves more sedentary as a natural side effect in this season and not one that should be matched with guilt or fear of physical decline. One of the ways you can join others in finding healthy movement opportunities is through our weekly Zoom Yoga classes taught by Meredith Starling. Classes are offered Mondays and Thursdays at noon and Thursday evenings at 8:00 p.m. These classes are for all skill levels. If you are interested in joining please email Meredith. If you have any questions about the ministry, please email Rev. Taylor Pryde Barefoot. MIDDAY MUSIC: Starting May 20, MPUMC's very own Jimmy Jones, Director of Music and Evan Currie, Music Associate and Organist will perform musical pieces for you! These live, mini-concerts will begin at noon and will air on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. We'd love for you to join us for Midday Music and we hope that these performances will bless you! To tune in, click here.
COVID & Racism
R
acism, killings, racial disparities are back in the headlines. For many, they never went away. Voices from the church:
Rebecca Grant, MPUMC member, Race Forward leadership team: It’s easy to be distracted by the barrage of information and that distraction can cause us to lose sight of issues that were important to us before the pandemic. Initially, they seemed to fade in the background, almost as if these issues had been resolved. But unfortunately, as much as the pandemic has shown a spotlight on the altruism of the human spirit, it has also shined a light into the dark corners of our society." The numbers paint a dim picture for our African American friends.“While disproportionately black counties constitute only 22% percent of U.S. counties, they account for 52% and 58% of COVID-19 cases and deaths, respectively” based on a report for amfAR. AmfAR Director of Public Policy, Greg Millett says of the results, “These study results arise from more than health system shortcomings. Greater efforts are needed to eliminate structural racism and address broader social, environmental, economic, and other inequities."
Not only do our friends of color bear the brunt of this health pandemic, but they also are disproportionately affected economically. According to JP Morgan, Black and Hispanic families earn between 71 cents and 74 cents for each dollar earned by the median white family. This translates into a very thin cushion to weather the current economic climate. The need to support and advocate with our friends of color has never rarely been greater. Take this time to educate yourself about the systemic inequities that plague our brown skinned friends. Give to MPUMC’s JubilieePlus! fund, our mission and outreach fund, which supports people of color all around the world. Join the Race Forward group to learn how you can make our world more equitable for all of God’s children. Jemessia Maynor, MPUMC staff, leadership team of Race Forward at MPUMC: This morning, as I was driving into work, emotions came over me. Listening silently to the radio, hearing about the injustices people of color are experiencing through this pandemic. How systemic racism still blinds hearts and minds but breaks my own. Eyes well with tears as I dare not to let one drop; anger, sadness, and hopelessness envelopes me. I can't jog in my own neighborhood? How many times have I been curious about a new build and gone into it just to see the layout? If I have symptoms of COVID, am I going to get turned around and sent home without testing? If I am hospitalized will I get the same treatment or will they just say, "Not everyone is going to survive.", and give me less care than others who are not of color around me? I begin to remember years back in Texas, when I was on a business trip. We were all sharing stories, as we always did - people getting to know each other and bonding; laughing and smiling. One tells a story of being younger and getting into a fight. We all laugh because, with age, we all realize the premise was inconsequential and trivial. I state that I have never been in a physical fight with anyone in my life. My boss says to everyone," I find that hard to believe", and I could tell by the look in her eyes and the tone in her diction she believed it. If I dared to say how I felt at that moment, I would have been labelled as aggressive and angry, instead of hurt and disappointed. Being the only person of color and not able to share a glance of understanding with anyone who knew how I felt... I just sucked it up and moved on. I begin to realize, people of color are seen as violent criminals first, then human with emotions second. Is this implicit racism the reason why those who fear us, hate us, shoot first and ask questions second? Blame us for the way they feel and what they have done, or how their life has turned out, when we have nothing to do with what is in their heart? Why does skin color have so much premise on people's perspective and opinions before they know who we are, before there is a chance to succeed? We all bleed the same. I ask... Can there be change or is it lost amongst those who have experienced too much in life? Should we concentrate on molding the younger generations while their minds are still developing? Do those who carry so much disgust and hate want to change? Or does it somehow, make them feel like they have a purpose in life? God's love is the only purpose for my life; spreading the love and joy he gives through me to others. I wish everyone felt the same."
Better Together B Y R E V. N AT H A N A R L E D G E Pastor of Missions and Community Engagement
I
f you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever." John 14:15–16
Friends, loving Jesus is who we are is it not? And the more we fall in love with Jesus, the more we fall in love with our neighbors. And as we fall in love with our neighbors, loving them as we love Jesus, we want to make sure that our neighbors will experience the equitable lives they deserve
And yet here we are living in a very polarized and segregated world. Look through the resources below and take a moment to reflect, pray and seek where God is calling you to dismantle racism within your own hearts, work, community and beyond. Pray for clarity on how you will work towards being antiracist more and more each day. Not only pray but seek ways to engage in our work at the church and within our community to eradicate systemic racist and structural violence that perpetuates segregation and inequitable treatment of black and brown neighbors of ours. RESOURCES: Sign up for the Race Forward group at MPUMC, to learn how you can make our world more equitable for all of God’s children.
GIVING AT MYERS PARK Thank you for your ongoing offerings to our church Operating Fund during this season of shifting connections. Your commitment has enabled MPUMC to produce virtual opportunities for fellowship and prayer including the Pastor’s Bible Study and small groups for all ages and stages of life. Make Your Offering today at www.myersparkumc.org/give or by mail to 1501 Queens Rd. | Charlotte, NC 28207 Questions About Giving Opportunities? Contact Jamie Yearwood, Director of Development, at jyearwood@mpumc.org or 704-295-4808.
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: KIDS ARE AS ENGAGED AS EVER! Our Children's Ministry team has been creative in ways to help keep our children engaged during quarantine and we couldn't be more touched! Below is a Sunday School Teacher Appreciation video featuring images and recordings of children thanking their Sunday School teachers. Betsy Scott put it together with contributions from a number of families.
Do you understand the role of implicit bias, the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner? Consider reading this book or taking a PROJECT IMPLICIT test. If you are ready to go even further, take this online course, Implicit Bias: What We Don't Think We Think offered by UMC's GCORR (General Commission of Religion and Race). Contact us in the missions office if you plan to take it and we will organize a small group discussion. Ready to reflect on what your journey of anti-racism might look like? READ the statement from GBCS and GCORR on the Ahmaud Arbery killing. Focus on the reflection questions provided by GCORR. READ an African American professor, Priest, and jogger's opinion on the roots of Black faith in America and racism. WATCH the Town Halls presented by the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and Community Building Initiative: • Racial and Social Disparities in the time of COVID–19 & • COVID-19: Impacts on the Immigrant and Refugee Community SUBSCRIBE to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee Newsletter. PRAY.
Also, last Sunday, children were able to watch a virtual Elementary Worship, which K-5th graders typically participate in during the Sunday School hour once a month during the school year in Jubilee Hall. It was quite a team effort to put this together and multimedia director Jim Deal was instrumental. See the video below!
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
Staff Feature
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!
During this time of distancing and remote worship and fellowship, our staff is still here! We’re all working remotely, for the most part, and finding joy in gathering via zoom when we’re able. We miss seeing you all and being together physically so we thought it might be fun to help you get to know our staff a little better. This week, we’re highlighting Saribeth Dozier and Peg Broughton. Enjoy learning more about them—and maybe drop them a line of thanks for all they do!
With Gratitude For 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 Rev. Jessica Dayson Pastor for Young Adults & Lay Involvement Rev. Uiyeon Kim Pastor of Discipleship
Peg Broughton
Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor / Worship Coordinator Time at MPUMC? 6 years. Who inspires you? Lots of people – my family, friends, coworkers – all are hard workers and full of love and make me want to be a better person. If you could be any animal, which would you be? A bird To be able to sing all day! Flying would be great too! What's Your Favorite Part Of Working at MPUMC? My favorite part of working at MPUMC is coordinating with staff and congregation members to put all of the pieces together to make a meaningful worship experience. I love working with people and finding their strengths and finding ways that they can use them in meaningful ways to give glory to God.
Rev. Bill Roth Pastor of Congregational Care Rev. Nancy Watson Executive Pastor
Saribeth Dozier Executive Director
Time at MPUMC? 6 years, Church member since 1986. Who inspires you? Strong women, particularly my daughters.
TALK WITH A PASTOR
If you could be any animal, which would you be? A bird, so that I could see the world from above.
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.
What's Your Favorite Part Of Working at MPUMC? The people, both staff and congregation. MPUMC is my home and family; we are all together to be the church and do God’s work.