Current Justice Opportunities::
Current Series:: Present Tense
1.2.11
Have you ever felt like Church is just “not for you”, or have you known someone that has? From hypocritical to fanatical, the Church - as well as Christianity, for that matter - struggles every day in areas ranging from reputation to image. Has the Church traded tradition for meaning, “judgmentalism” for tenderness, packed houses for the personal touch? Is it possible that the Christianity of today is something vastly different from what Jesus envisioned (and birthed) nearly two centuries ago? Could the Church really be a community where faith is alive and consequential? Does Christianity still have the potential become a movement of goodness positioned to change the world?
News::
Family Promise :: supporting a family in transition
Family Promise is helps families in need by providing temporary housing while they are getting back on their feet. We have offered to help get a family set up in their temporary space on Sunday, December 19th. You can help by unloading the truck that will be carrying the family’s beds and belongings, or by helping provide dinner for the family and the volunteers that night. This can be a great way to “get your feet wet” in the area of justice here at Watershed, or a good way to make some new friends and get connected! Contact Scott Miller or circle the icon on your connection card for more information.
Street Soccer 945
Street Soccer 945 is the first year-round soccer program for those struggling with homelessness and poverty in the United States. It uses healthy living, support from a community of teammates, and mentoring relationships as key ingredients to achieving life goals and overall well-being. Soccer has proven to be a remarkable tool for delivering these elements to people caught in the trap of homelessness. For more information on how to get involved. visit www.streetsoccer945.org or email Jonathan George at jgeorge@urbanministrycenter.org
Hope Teams
Hope Teams, a partnership with the W.I.S.H Program, are groups of 4-6 people within Watershed who provide mentoring friendships to a family in transition. A Hope Team provides relationships, encouragement and emotional support to families transitioning out of homelessness and moving into a more selfsufficient life. Hope Teams require a short training and a 1-year commitment from each team member. For information on initial Hope Team training dates or to learn more about the program, circle the icon on your connection card or email Scott Miller at scottm@watershedcharlotte.com.
The Catapult Project:: supporting a neighborhood school so that it can soar
Stogies and Stilletos :: returning next Sunday
Imagine crawling into the mind of the opposite sex...understanding how they think, why in the world they act the way they do, and what really motivates them. Possible? Well, maybe at least a little. Watershed’s Stogies & Stilettos series is our way of unearthing the possibilities of understanding yourself, understanding the opposite sex, and embracing both our similarities and our differences. Young, old, single, dating, or married; come on your own or drag your significant other along. Start 2011 off on the right foot by investing in the future of your relationships.
Lunch Buddy
Connection Card :: your key to community
Reading Tutor
The Lunch Buddy program provides an easy but powerful way to have a lasting impact on a kid’s life through a mentoring friendship. Lunch buddies come to school once a week to talk, play games, read or have lunch with their buddy. Time slots are from 10:30-10:55am, 11:15-11:40am and 11:30-11:55am. Contact: Rachael Shaughnessy - krehfish79@aol.com / 434.851.9640
Whether this is your first Transit or your fiftieth, we’re glad you joined us this morning. Transit is only a small part of what makes up Watershed - we have Blocs that meet during the week, justice opportunities, and lots of other fun and exciting ways to get involved. If you would like to connect more deeply with our community, fill out the Connection Card and circle any Blocs or volunteer opportunities you might be interested in. We’d love the chance to get to know you and help you find the best place to get plugged in.
One of the biggest needs at Byers Elementary this year is for reading tutors. Reading tutors come to Byers once a week for roughly 45 minutes, and spend time helping to tutor either one or a group of students in reading. Time slots are available between 8:00am and 1:30pm Contact: Scott Miller - scottm@watershedcharlotte.com / 704.302.4592
The Catapult Project :: training for reading tutors :: January 14th
A large part of The Catapult Project has been investing in the teachers at Byers, so that they can in turn pour into the students. We periodically have opportunitites to help show appreciation to the staff (bringing snacks for the teacher work room, providing food/drinks for staff meetings, and much more) Contact: Pam Watson - granypam@carolina.rr.com / 704.599.9087
There will be a short training for anyone interested in being a reading tutor on January 14th at Byers Elementary. The training will be at 12:00pm and will be around 45 minutes (so you can swing by on your lunch break) The reading tutor program is a great way to help be a positive influence in a kid’s life and is one of the big needs for the upcoming semester at Byers. To learn more about being a reading tutor or the Catapult Project, contact Scott Miller (scottm@watershedcharlotte.com / 704.302.4592)
Room In The Inn :: next opportunity January 9th/10th
Winter is here in full force, and even in Charlotte the nights can get bitterly cold at times. This year, Watershed is again helping to run Room In The Inn to give some of our homeless neighbors a warm place to sleep for an evening. Our next opportunity to help will be January 9th and 10th - spaces are available for setup, helping provide meals, helping with transportation, staying the night and cleaning up in the AM. To learn more or sign up, circle the icon on your connection card or contact Scott Miller (scottm@watershedcharlotte.com / 704.302.4592)
Staff Appreciation
Girls On The Run
Girls On The Run is a character development program for girls in grade 3-8 that uses running to teach values and a sense of self. The program combines training for a non-competitive 5k with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts and community service. Contact: Rachael Shaughnessy - krehfish79@aol.com / 434.851.9640
Right Moves For Youth
Right Moves is a program that helps kids build a sense of belonging and self-esteem, while providing them the encouragement, support and resources they need to build a successful foundation for life. The program meets on Tuesdays from 12:45-1:30pm. Contact: Ryan Grammatico - grammatico1@gmail.com / 803.524.1816
Girls On The Run :: volunteer oppportunities available
Girls On The Run is a character development program for girls in grade 3-8 that uses running to teach values and a sense of self - the program combines training for a non-competitive 5k with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts and community service. Volunteer spots are open to help meet with and run with the girls after school on Mondays and Wednesdays at Byers from 1:45-3:15 beginning in February - for more info, contact Rachael Shaughnessy (krehfish79@aol.com / 434.851.9640) or circle the icon on your connection card.
Land of a Thousand Hills :: brewing hope and restoration
The coffee we brew on Sunday mornings comes from Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, a sustainably-grown coffee that comes from Rwanda. Through microfinance loans and partnerships with farmers in Rwanda, the coffee brewed on Sunday mornings is helping to bring peace to a land that just a few years ago was known for one of history’s most atrocious genocides. To learn more about Land of a Thousand Hills, or to find out how you can support their work by brewing at home, visit www.drinkcoffeedogood.com
Blocs::
(see back for meeting times/contact info)
Upcoming Justice Opportunities:: Room In The Inn :: helping neighbors in need (Jan-March)
During the most bitter months this winter, Watershed helps to run Room at the Inn, an interfaith network of winter shelters for our homeless neighbors in Charlotte. Room In The Inn provides some of our neighbors with a warm place to rest for the night, a meal, and some friendly faces. Volunteer opportunities are available for everything from preparing meals and cleaning up to driving neighbors to/from the site and staying overnight.
Freestore Cookout/Clothing Drive (April)
The Freestore on 15th Street is a place where people with limited resources are able to get some of the household items they need at no cost. Twice a year (in Oct and April), we host a cookout and clothing drive to help support the freestore. Members of the community are invited to join us as we grill hotdogs and burgers, and people are invited to bring their gently used items to drop off as a donation to the store (mens’ clothing is always a big need)
Blocs :: micro-communities that meet during the week
Girls On The Run 5k (May)
Our community is made up of smaller groups (called “Blocs”) that meet at various times/locations during the week. All the Blocs are listed on the back of the Weekly - if you see a one that sparks your interest, contact one of the Bloc Leaders (see back for contact info), or circle the icon on your connection card and one of the leaders will contact you to fill you in on the details. Most of the Blocs are taking some time off over the holidays, but will launch back up again in Januar; if there’s one you are interested in, contact the Bloc leaders to get more information.
West Virginia (July)
GreenHouse ::
We believe that our children are our biggest investment, and our best hope for the future, and so we dedicate much of our time and energy to providing an environment where kids can grow, play, make new friends and develop a spritual foundation for their lives. Our Greenhouse space is just on the other side of the wall, and provides kids with a safe, fun place to spend their morning. To learn more about Greenhouse or to learn how you can get involved, contact Kayla George (kayla@watershedcharlotte.com)
Through Girls On The Run, young women from Byers train for a non-competitive 5k at the end of the semester. Watershed helps with the race at the end of the Spring semester by providing volunteers to help staff the event, and “running buddies” who run with the girls and encourage them throughout the race. Circle the icon on your connection card if you’d like more info as the event draws near.
In July, a group from Watershed travels to Parkersburg to help work on a home through Habitat for Humanity. The group works on the house during the day, and camps out at night to relax, play games, and enjoy dinner by the campfire. No construction experience necessary - just a desire to work hard in order to benefit a family in need.
Giving :: weekly need: $8167 last week: $13,274
Blocs are smaller communities that meet during the week, each centered around various interests. From social gatherings to spiritual discussions, service groups to outdoor adventures, there’s a Bloc for everyone! For more info (including maps and directions), visit www.watershedcharlotte.com Immerse an 8-week exploration of life, faith and Christian spirituality. Engaging conversation, thought-provoking discussions and relational connectivity. meets at a variety of dates/times - contact the Bloc leaders for more info
Matt O’Neil - matt@watershedcharlotte.com / 704.299.0557 Andrew Lombardo - ajbardo25@hotmail.com / 704.773.8881
One.1 explores the kind of intimacy, connection and “oneness” God really wants us to have with Him and each other. For couples who have previously experienced divorce or who have been married 5 years or more. contact Bloc leaders to sign up for the next session
Tim Abare - timabare@mac.com / 704.491.7405 Ann Abare - aabare@gmail.com / 704.681.0316
One:2 explores the kind of intimacy, connection and “oneness” God really wants us to have with Him and each other. For of engaged couples and couples married for 4 years or less. contact one of the Bloc leaders to sign up for the next session
Tony and Becky Santoro - becky_santoro@yahoo.com / 704.770.5020 Zach and Jami Fay - jami.fay@wachovia.com / 704.408.0227
Her: Grow meets weekly to read, discuss, and do life together. Join together in community with other women to grow spiritually and relationally. contact one of the Bloc leaders to sign up for the next session
Rachael Cook - rcook@itekcorp.com / 704.258.8910 Kayla Jones - kaylamjones@gmail.com / 828.260.0419 Lauren Grabill - lauren.grabill@gmail.com / 704.615.4723
Soccer The Soccer Bloc (better known as FC Watershed) is a great opportunity to brush up on your skills, build relationships and help in our continued partnership with Street Soccer 945.
Heidi Snyderburn - FCWatershed@yahoo.com / 704.226.5443 Matt Sharp - FCWatershed@yahoo.com / 603.540.0902 Rachelle Chreiten - FCWatershed@yahoo.com
Intersect:North an 8 to 10-week experience of connecting with others over good drink, thoughtful conversation, and new friendships. Families with children - please contact the bloc leader to discuss child care alternatives. Next meeting: TBD
Greg and Kelly Geers - kellygeers1@gmail.com / 704.237.4217
PG: Parental Guidance an 8 week conversation with parents from all walks of life. Parents are invited to join us as we dialogue, laugh, cry and dream about how to unleash our kids’ greatest potential. contact Bloc leaders to sign up for the next session
Matt Weisner - weisner79@yahoo.com / 919.280.6920 Jennifer Weisner - jennifer_weisner@yahoo.com / 704.619.4305
Her: Gather meets once a month, open to all women of Watershed. Gatherings include everything from fun social events “out on the town” to friendly casual get-togethers. Next meeting: TBD
Ashley Grammatico - ashleygrammatico@yahoo.com / 704.582.2355 Rachael Shaughnessy - krehfish79@aol.com / 434.851.9640
PrimeTime Prime Time is the bloc for those who may be young at heart, but mature in age and stature. Meets once a month at various locations around Charlotte to share a meal and have a good time getting to know each other. Next meeting: TBD
Pam and Gene Watson - granypam@carolina.rr.com / 704.599.9087
Coffee Break takes a time-out from the hustle and stress of everday life, sit down for a while and relax with other moms who know what you’re dealing with. When: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 9:30am-12:00pm Where: 14205 Northridge Dr
Naomi Hofert - nchofert@cccountertops.com / 704.968.3754
OnRamp 2-week Bloc open to anyone new to Watershed that would like to meet new friends and learn more about our community. Topics include our mission and values, and how to connect beyond just Transit. Next Meeting:January 30th Where: Amelie’s (2424 N. Davidson St)
Scott Hofert - scott@watershedcharlotte.com / 704.258.8672 Matt O’Neil - matt@watershedcharlotte.com / 704.299.0557
Rove a monthly gig of leaving the plush environment of the city and embracing friends, nature, and the freshness of the outdoors. returning this Spring
Adam Desautels - WatershedRove@gmail.com / 336.392.9695 Rachel Desautels - WatershedRove@gmail.com / 704.689.7671
PO Box 12749 Charlotte NC 28209 704.644.0919 info@WatershedCharlotte.com
Scott Hofert (co-pastor) - scott@watershedcharlotte.com Matt O’Neil (co-pastor) - matt@watershedcharlotte.com Matt Shaughnessy (music/tech/creativity) - mattS@watershedcharlotte.com Scott Miller (justice/leadership) - scottM@watershedcharlotte.com Taryn Hofert (music/creativity) - taryn@watershedcharlotte.com Kayla George (Greenhouse) - kayla@watershedcharlotte.com Donna O’Neil (administration) - donna@watershedcharlotte.com