WITH CHRIST AT THE CENTER
MARCH 2023
CONNECTIONS ON SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY, CHILDREN MET DURING THE FAITH FORMATION HOUR FOR THE “GETTING READY CLASS” – CELEBRATING THEIR CURIOSITY AND AFFIRMING THEIR FAITH JOURNEYS.
Up Front SHARING OUR STORIES: A WORKSHOP FOR RELUCTANT EVANGELISTS
Join Lee Canipe on Wednesday nights for an interactive workshop designed to help us grow in our ability to talk with others about Jesus and what he means to us. We will meet at 6:15 p.m. in the Upstairs Parlor on March 1, 8, 15, and April 5.
SACRED SPACES
WOMEN’S RETREAT
We are looking forward to visiting St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church for our Sacred Spaces Tour. We will attend the 5pm Vespers service and attend an informal Q & A following the service with Father Andreas Houpas. RSVP on Realm.
All women are invited to join us for a weekend retreat at Fort Caswell March 31-April 2. Come seek rest and enjoy fellowship as we explore the theme “Proximity to Love” led by Sarah Blackwell! The cost is $185 per person. Register on Realm today!
From the Senior Pastor “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put in you, and I will remove from your body the heart of stone.” (Ezekiel 36:26) The season of Lent teaches us that our hearts must first be broken before they can be healed. It’s a painful truth that we prefer to avoid, in the same way that we don’t like hearing Jesus say that “if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Jesus asks a lot from us so that there can be room in our lives for all that he wants to give us. New hearts, for example, to replace hearts of stone that cannot feel, care, change, or easily be broken. The life of Jesus, who felt pain and often cried, shows us that our hearts
are not meant to be hard. Maybe it’s a sign of my own hard heart, or maybe it’s a survival strategy, but I usually try to keep a safe distance between me and the world’s pain.
while he was imprisoned by the Nazis. It was written at Christmas, but it feels like a good Lenten meditation for me this year. I hope you will find it meaningful as well. Here’s a fragment of the prayer:
That said, I’ll confess that my heart has been hurting a lot lately as I hear about war-torn Ukraine, earthquake-ravaged Syria and Turkey, and—closer to home— the deadly gun violence that has become a grim, frightening, reality of everyday life in our country.
I cannot do this alone.
I’d rather ignore that pain, but I have to believe that when my heart hurts, it means that Jesus is trying to change it.
In me there is bitterness, but
I recently discovered a prayer written in 1943 by German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
In me there is darkness, but with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with you there is peace. with you there is patience. I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me.
May the peace of Christ be with you!
Ministry @ Providence ADULT DISCIPLESHIP Blake Kendrick, bkendrick@providencebc.org Adult Bible Study Adult Bible Study continues our study of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Each session begins at 11 a.m. in the Eddins Room of the Missions Center. Save the following dates: March 2, 9, 23, and 30, April 20, May 4 and 11. ACTIVITY CENTER Joshua Jones, jjones@providencebc.org Spring Soccer Welcome to Futsal season! Spring Soccer is upon us and registration is open for ages 5-10 on March 1-31 for $65. Practices will start in April and soccer will be played indoors. Register your child on Realm today! Summer Camp Our Summer Camps for ages 5-11 will run for 6 weeks from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. on June 26-August 4 with a different theme each week. The cost is $130 a week. Early Drop off at 7:30 a.m. is available for an additional $5 a day. Register your child on Realm today! CHILDREN Elizabeth Maye, emaye@providencebc.org Wonderfully Made Registered 5th graders and their families will meet at Myers Park Methodist Church on Sunday, March 5 from 1–5 p.m. Bible Buddies Recognition & Bible Drill It’s time to celebrate our Bible Drillers and Bible Buddies. The ceremony will allow our children to show their families what they’ve learned on March 19 at 4 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
F OLLOW US @providencebccharlotte @ providence_baptist_clt
Providence Racers We hope you join the crowds and come out to cheer our elementary children on at our annual Providence Racers on March 22 and 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Activity Center. Girls and boys grades 1-5 are excited to compete in their individually and uniquely designed cars. VBS - ChangeMakers Lab We hope you join us at Changemakers Lab, our interactive Vacation Bible School where children learn that everyone can make a difference in the world on June 19-23! VBS Registration opens for Providence members on March 25th and for the Community on April 1. VBS cannot happen without you. We need volunteers to make this possible. Volunteer registration opens very soon! CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Ursula Taylor, utaylor@providencebc.org St. Patrick’s Day Parade Children dressed in different shades of green will parade around the school/church in search of many pots of gold which hold all kinds of surprises on March 17 at 10:30 a.m. Donuts with Dad In honor of Dad’s (paternal figures) we will provide donuts to show our appreciation for all they do in the lives of their children on March 24, 7:30–9:30 a.m. Preschool Fall Registration Fall Registration opens March 6-17 for current families and church members, and March 20-31 for the community.
COLLEGE Caitie Jackson, cjackson@providencebc.org College Cards Would you like to send an encouraging note to one of our college students? Let’s show them our love and care! Contact Caitie Jackson for more information. MUSIC Timothy Hill, thill@providencebc.org Collaborative Recital Join Dr. Nathan Hudson and Jordan Locke on March 19 at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary as they present an afternoon of music for trumpet and piano! The program will include old staples and new favorites spanning over 100 years. The performance will last approximately an hour, with Nathan and Jordan sharing information about all of the music throughout the concert. STUDENTS Dane Jackson, djackson@providencebc.org Valentine’s Banquet Thank You Providence Baptist Family! Your generous support of the Valentine’s Banquet raised over $3,000 for Student Missions. We are so grateful for each of you! Spring Retreat Registration will open in March for High School Spring Retreat at Ocean Isle Beach, NC on April 21-23. Go to www.providencebc.org/students for more information. Sundaes on Sundays Current 8th-12th graders are invited to a time of fellowship, food, and formation based on the book “3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future” by Kara Powell, Kristel Acevedo, and Brad Griffin... followed by ice cream sundaes! We will meet on March 19, April 30, and May 21.
SENIOR ADULTS Wilna Eury, wilna.eury@att.net PrimeTimer Luncheon Mark your calendar for our Thursday, March 16 PrimeTimers Luncheon. Our speaker this month will be John Carter, WBTV News Anchor. Our luncheons are open to all, not just seniors! Register on Realm by March 10 for $7. Black Mountain Day Trip Our Senior Adult Team is planning a day trip on Tuesday, May 16th to
Black Mountain. We still have seats available and the deadline for signup and payment is Friday, March 31st. See Realm for details. Save the Date Save the date for our trip to the Amish Country on September 26-29. Details are available on Realm.
9:15 a.m.
Faith Formation classes (all ages)
10 a.m.
Sanctuary Choir “Warm Up,” Music Suite
10:30 a.m.
Worship, Sanctuary
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE 5 p.m.
Dinner, Fellowship Hall
5:45 p.m.
Children’s Music Student Fusion
3 p.m.
Collaborative Recita, Sanctuary
4 p.m.
Bible Buddies & Bible Drill Recognition
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 Wednesday Night Activities THURSDAY, MARCH 9 11 a.m.
Adult Bible Study, Missions Center
SATURDAY, MARCH 11 5 p.m.
Sacred Spaces Tour Bridal Shower for Elizabeth, Fellowship Hall
6:30 p.m.
Mission Classes Student Music
4 p.m.
Bible Buddies & Bible Drill
Moms, Activity Center Parlor
THURSDAY, MARCH 2 11 a.m.
Adult Bible Study, Missions Center
MARCH 3-5 Student Choir Festival by the Sea SUNDAY, MARCH 5 4 p.m.
Bible Drill and Bible Buddies, Wonderfully Made
We welcome Kendall Rivers, our new Kitchen Associate!
SUNDAY, MARCH 19
12 p.m.
6 p.m.
Staff Transition
CDC Fall Registration Open to Members
Adult Discipleship, Upstairs Parlor
Wednesday Night Activities
• Helen L. Hart, February 10
MONDAY, MARCH 6
6:10 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
recently died.
C HU RC H OFFIC E HOU RS Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Moms, AC Parlor (1st and 3rd Wednesdays)
Sanctuary Choir, Music Suite
members of Providence who have
Mission Collection During the month of March, Women on Mission is collecting Detergent Pods for A Dove’s Nest.
6 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
We remember with gratitude these
CHURCHWIDE
March Calendar SUNDAYS
In Christian Sympathy
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
TUESDAY, MARCH 14 10:30 a.m.
Women on Mission, Missions Center
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15 Wednesday Night Activities 6 p.m.
Moms, Activity Center Parlor
THURSDAY, MARCH 16 12 p.m.
PrimeTimer’s Luncheon, Fellowship Hall
FRIDAY, MARCH 17 10:30 a.m.
CDC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 Wednesday Night Activities Providence Racers THURSDAY, MARCH 23 11 a.m.
Adult Bible Study, Missions Center
FRIDAY, MARCH 24 7:30 a.m.
CDC Donuts with Dad
SATURDAY, MARCH 25 VBS Registration Opens 8 a.m.
Prayer Vigil, Missions Center
SUNDAY, MARCH 26 Bible Drill Association Drill WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29 Wednesday Night Activities Providence Racers THURSDAY, MARCH 30 11 a.m.
Adult Bible Study, Missions Center
MARCH 31-APRIL 2 Women’s Retreat, Fort Caswell
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
N OT E FROM T HE FIN AN C E COM M IT TE E
FI NAN CIAL SN AP SH OT: JA N 1 – D E C 3 1 , 2 0 2 2 OPERATIN G IN COME Financial Contributions
YTD Actual $
PBCDC Tuition Other
2,052,615
$
$
2,271,000
YTD Variance $
(218,385)
1,905,236
2,127,417
(222,180)
140,732
299,435
(158,703)
$ 4,697,852
$ (599,269)
$
$
Total Operating Income $ 4,098,583
MI NI STRY COSTS Missions and Ministries
YTD Plan
555,792
Operations, Maintenance, and Grounds
956,596
PBCDC Staff Ministerial and Operational Staff
678,103
122,310
915,100
(41,496)
1,470,586
1,747,367
276,781
1,245,114
1,357,282
112,168
Total Ministry Costs $ 4,228,088 Net $ (129,505)
$ 4,697,852 $ ––
469,763
$ $
(129,505)
FI NAN CIAL SN AP SH OT: JA N 1 – JA N 3 1 , 2 0 2 3 OPERATIN G IN COME Financial Contributions
YTD Actual $
PBCDC Tuition Other
284,038
YTD Plan $
247,457
YTD Variance $
36,581
156,567
199,404
(42,837)
8,439
6,940
1,499
Total Operating Income $
449,044
$
453,802
$
(4,758)
$
5,271
$
8,920
$
3,649
MI NI STRY COSTS Missions and Ministries
Operations, Maintenance, and Grounds
33,006
20,532
PBCDC Staff
104,636
94,669
(9,967)
Ministerial and Operational Staff
95,260
81,068
(14,192)
Total Ministry Costs $ Net $
238,173 210,870
$ $
205,190 248,612
(12,473)
$ $
(32,984) (37,742)
Thanks to good stewardship of church resources during our recent surplus years, we have sufficient cash reserves to cover our 2022 deficit. Faithful, generous giving in 2023 will be very important to keep Providence in a strong financial position going forward.
Save The Date SU N DAY, AP RIL 2 Palm Sunday T HU RSDAY, AP RIL 6 Maundy Thursday FRIDAY , AP RIL 7 Good Friday SAT U RDAY , AP RIL 8 Rock Hunt SU N DAY, AP RIL 9 Easter SU N DAY, AP RIL 1 6 Quarterly Church Conference
Periodicals Postage PAID Charlotte, NC USPS 979-940 492 1 RAN D O L PH R OA D CH ARLOT T E , N C 2 8 2 1 1