WITH CHRIST AT THE CENTER
FEBRUARY 2024
CONNECTIONS PROVIDENCE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY LED US IN A RETELLING OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY DURING OUR FAMILY NATIVITY SERVICE ON CHRISTMAS EVE!
From the Senior Pastor Blessing Charlotte is a priority for us at Providence. We want to obey God’s command to “seek the welfare of the city” where we live (Jeremiah 29:7). We want to be people who help make Charlotte a place where all God’s children can thrive. And – most importantly – we want to do this in the name of Jesus, who teaches us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. For the last few Februarys, we’ve highlighted this desire to Bless Charlotte through our month-long PBC CLT initiative. We’re doing it again this year. Elsewhere in this edition of Connections, you can learn more about praying for our city, volunteering with Room in the Inn, donating blood, and using your ministry gifts to do good work with one of our mission partners.
I want to suggest to you, though, one very powerful way that every single one of us can bless Charlotte this month: Be kind. I can’t take credit for this idea. One of our newest deacons mentioned it to me recently in a conversation over coffee: “Wouldn’t it be something if we made ‘being kind’ to others our goal in 2024?” I immediately agreed. With this being an election year, the world is going to be serving up heaping helpings of animosity on a pretty regular basis. What will the body of Christ offer as an alternative, to demonstrate that there is indeed a different – and we believe, better – way to live? Kindness. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil,” writes the apostle Paul in Romans 12:17, “but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.” In other words, respond
to animosity with small, seemingly insignificant, acts of kindness. This is the way that Jesus teaches us to live. Let’s try it for a month. Be intentional about being kind. Follow through on those good intentions. Go the extra mile. Do something unexpectedly awesome for someone else. Again and again, over and over. One rule of thumb says that if we do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit. Well, February has 29 days in it this year. Can we make a habit out of blessing Charlotte with kindness in Jesus’ name? May the peace of Christ be with you!
PBC CLT is a month-long invitation to share your time and gifts alongside your Providence family. By working together, we will Bless Charlotte in impactful ways as we come together to share the love of Jesus and serve our city. How will you let it be known this month that Providence loves Charlotte? For more information, visit providencebc.org/connect/pbc-loves-clt/. February 4, 11:30 a.m. 2024 Local Missions Fair
February 11 Souper Bowl of Caring
MONTH-LONG OPPORTUNITIES
Join us after Worship in the Rotunda for one of the kick-off events of PBC CLT! Come interact with Providence’s Mission Partners and learn about what they do to serve Charlotte, how Providence supports them, and how you can get involved. Contact: Blake Kendrick, bkendrick@providencebc.org
On Super Bowl weekend, we will join together to meet the needs of our neighbors by collecting the following items for Second Harvest: Canned meats, Pastas, Canned Fruits (low sugar), Cereal (low sugar), Canned Vegetables (low sodium). *No Glass. Please bring your donations by February 11. Contact: Elizabeth Maye, emaye@providencebc.org
Providence will host Room In The Inn on February 3, 10, 17, and 24 in the Missions Center. Faith Formation classes and Deacons are committed to offering overnight housing, meals, laundry, and showers for up to 8 men every Saturday.
February 5-9, 10 – 11 a.m. CDC Valentine’s Cards We will make Valentine’s Day cards and banners to give to the residents of Waltonwood. Materials will be available in the Child Development Center’s conference room February 5-9 from 10 – 11 a.m. This is open to all who wish to participate! Contact: Ursula Taylor, utaylor@providencebc.org
February 18, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Bloodmobile Let us save lives together through a blood drive with OneBlood. Contact: Lee Canipe, lcanipe@providencebc.org
ADULT DISCIPLESHIP
STUDENTS
Blake Kendrick, bkendrick@providencebc.org
Kristen Hendrix, khendrix@ providencebc.org
Sacred Grounds Join us for our new Adult Midweek Rotation option: Sacred Grounds – a theological coffeehouse! Our first meeting will be on February 7 at 6 p.m. in the Activity Center Lounge hosted by Betty Robinson.
Sundaes on Sundays Grades 8-12 are invited to meet February 4 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. for a meal followed by learning from Ephesians what it means to be Unified in Christ. Please bring $5 to offset the meal cost. Register on Realm.
CHILDREN
SENIOR ADULTS
Elizabeth Maye Hudson, emaye@providencebc.org
Wilna Eury, wilna.eury@att.net
Divine. Join us in the Sanctuary as our children lead worship! There will be a breakfast for children and their families in the Fellowship Hall at 9 a.m.
Prayer Guides A guide to praying for our city, with a unique focus for each week in February will be available online and in the Rotunda. Mission Collection During the month of February, Women on Mission is collecting Peanut Butter and Mac and Cheese for Loaves and Fishes. Donations can be placed in the hallway leading to the Fellowship Hall. Featured Coffee
Ministry @ Providence
Children’s Sunday Liturgy means “the work of the people.” Our 2nd-5th grade children’s work and words will be our liturgy and their art will connect us with the
Room in the Inn
PrimeTimer’s Luncheon Mark your calendar for 12 p.m. on February 15 for our PrimeTimer’s Luncheon with guest entertainers Tom Hanchett and the Carport Bandits! RSVP by February 9.
The Coffee featured in Rotunda on Sundays will be a special Providence Blend by our Mission Partners, Community Matters Cafe and Charlotte Rescue Mission. CHURCHWIDE Women on Mission Women on Mission will meet February 13 to make sandwiches for Roof Above. This Mission Action Day begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Missions Center. All are welcome! Drive-By Ashes Join us in the Rotunda parking lot as our ministers offer the imposition of ashes on February 14 from 7 – 9 a.m. Ash Wednesday Service Join us at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary on February 14 for our student-led Ash Wednesday service. Prayer Vigil You are invited to come sit and pray quietly from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Chapel on February 24. Suggested Prayer guides are available.
Our schedule offers Music, Missions, and Faith Formation for all ages. See the opportunities to join us during the month of February below:
ADULT ROTATIONS | 6 – 7 P.M.
CHILDREN’S ROTATIONS | 5:45 – 7 P.M.
February 7 – Sacred Grounds
Preschool-1st Grade – Missions
February 21 – Do Justice: Amy Brooks Paradise from GreenFaith
2nd-5th Grade – PBCKids CLTKids - Children will learn about how our neighbors are caring for our Charlotte community. Each week they will meet, interact, and learn from a local organization.
February 28 – Vespers: Candlelight & Communion MUSIC Rehearsal Times: Young Musicians, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.; Cherub Choir and Trinity Singers, 5:45 – 6:30 p.m.; Student Music, 6:30 – 7:30pm; Sanctuary Choir, 7:30 – 9 p.m. STUDENT FUSION | 5:45 – 6:30 P.M.
MIDWEEK MENU February 7 Salisbury Steak February 14 Chicken Pasta February 21 Taco/Burrito Bar February 28 Burgers & Hotdogs Fellowship Meals will cost: $25 per Family, $8 per Individual, $5 per Child 10 and under, Free for Children 5 and under.
Our midweek gathering will meet at 5:45 p.m. in the Youth Room.
February Calendar
C H U RC H OF F IC E H OU RS Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
WEEKLY CALENDAR
11:30 a.m.
Mondays 4:30 p.m.
2024 Local Missions Fair
5:30 p.m.
Sundaes on Sundays
Youth Basketball Practice
Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:30 p.m. Youth Open Gym (ages 12-17) 5 p.m.
Youth Basketball Practice
Wednesdays 5 p.m. Midweek at Providence Thursdays 11 a.m. 12 p.m. Sundays 9:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m.
Adult Bible Study, Missions Center Senior Pickleball (ages 55+)
6 p.m.
Sacred Grounds, Activity Center Lounge
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Children’s Sunday, Sanctuary
PrimeTimer’s Luncheon, Fellowship Hall
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Room in the Inn, Missions Center SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18
11 a.m.
9 a.m.
Adult Bible Study, Missions Center
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Room in the Inn, Missions Center SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Children’s Souper Bowl Sunday
5 p.m.
Worship
Room in the Inn, Missions Center
12 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Faith Formation classes (all ages)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3
10:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, Fellowship Hall
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 7 a.m.
Drive-By Ashes, Rotunda Parking Lot
6 p.m.
Ash Wednesday Service, Sanctuary
The Bloodmobile, Rotunda Parking Lot
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 CDC Closed THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22 11 a.m.
Adult Bible Study, Missions Center
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24 8 a.m.
Prayer Vigil, Chapel
Room in the Inn, Missions Center WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 6 p.m.
MOMs Group, Room 2231
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29 11 a.m.
Adult Bible Study, Missions Center
492 1 RAN D OLPH R OA D, C H A R LOT T E , N C 28211 | 704 . 366 . 2784 | PROVIDENCEBC .O RG
The Record We Wrote
Save The Date
AT T HE TIME O F PRI N T IN G T H IS IS SU E OF CON N ECTI O N S , TH E F I N A N C E COMM IT TEE WAS STILL WOR K IN G TO F IN A LIZE TH E 20 23 F I N A N C I A L INFORMATIO N. O NCE WE’ VE CLOSED T H E B OO KS O N 20 23 A N D TH E FINANC IAL INFO RMAT ION H A S B EEN R EVIEWE D A N D F I N A L I Z E D BY TH E
MARC H 1-3 Student Choir Festival MARC H 10 Sundaes on Sundays
B E MADE AVAIL ABLE IN T H E WEEK LY EM A ILS . WE A PO LO GI Z E FO R TH E
MARC H 13 GWU Concert Choir
INCONVENIENC E AN D T H A N K YOU FOR YOU R PATI E N C E .
MOMs Group
FINANC E CO M M IT TE E , T H E M OST R ECEN T F IN A N C I A L S N A PS H OT WI L L
New Members BOB AND JUDY HEFFNER December 17 (Friends of Providence) NICK AND MADISON LINTZ December 17
O N L IN E GIVIN G
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Do you give online to Providence? On Sundays, pick up an online giving card as you enter the Narthex and place it in the offering plate during worship!
In Christian Sympathy We remember with gratitude these members of Providence who have
MARC H 24 Palm Sunday MARC H 27 Easter Rock Hunt MARC H 29 Good Friday MARC H 3 1 Easter Sunday JU N E 17-21 Vacation Bible School
FO L LOW U S @providencebccharlotte @ providence_baptist_clt
recently died. • Nancy Coppage, January 2, 2024
Periodicals Postage PAID Charlotte, NC USPS 979-940 49 2 1 RAN D O L PH R OA D CH ARLOT T E , N C 2 8 2 1 1