Let’s Get Busy

By / August 31, 2016
Celebrating her 95th birthday with us on Sunday, the regal Jackie Abernethy took time to explain a few things about being a member to young Evan Ashley, son of Sheena and David.
Celebrating her 95th birthday with us on Sunday, the regal Jackie Abernethy took time to explain a few things about being a member to young Evan Ashley, son of Sheena and David.

Dear Caldwell,

From kindergarten to college, Facebook is full of pictures of children going to school. Football is back. Labor Day is upon us. We can all feel the energy of the autumn coming, and hopefull its cooler weather.

At Caldwell, we get busy soon in various ways of worshipping, serving and celebrating our faith with our partners. Here’s a taste (mark your calendars):

On Sunday, we announced a three-part plan to raise the voice of the inidividual voter in this year's election cycle. You can come to The Third Place Tuesdays from 5:30 to 9 p.m. to help with a phone bank to register voters. Toward October, we will take to the streets to knock on doors to register voters and, on election day in Nov., we will help get people to the polls.
On Sunday, we announced a three-part plan to raise the voice of the inidividual voter in this year’s election cycle. You can come to The Third Place Tuesdays from 5:30 to 9 p.m. to help with a phone bank to register voters. Toward October, we will take to the streets to knock on doors to register voters and, on election day in Nov., we will help get people to the polls.

Sunday, Sept. 11: We celebrate the Ten-Year Anniversary of God’s doing “a new thing” here. We welcome back former pastor, Rev. Charlie MacDonald, who so skillfully, by God’s hand, sutured two communities of believers who, together, threw open the doors of the church to all the rest of us who have come since. We will listen to the stories of those who were here for the rebirth and celebrate the rebirth of this 104-year old church, which some have called “the Miracle on 5th Street.”

Monday, Sept. 12: We launch a new educational series titled “Troubling the Waters: Taking A Deep Dive into Racism and Whiteness.” Caldwell friend Dr. Lori Thomas, a UNC Charlotte professor who holds degrees in divinity and social work and has done race-related research and teaching, will guide us as we seek to open our eyes even more widely to ourselves and all those around us. This class will meet Mondays at 6:30 p.m. for the following six successive Mondays.

Thursday, Sept. 15: We host our new friends from St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church for a joint congregational dinner to kick off a partnershpi of  relationship-building, mutual understanding and service to God. St. Luke is an largely African-American congregation with many LGBT members and the same passion for justice and faith as defines Caldwell.

Tuesday, Sept. 20: Our misison partner, QC Family Tree, and Caldwell welcome nationally known author Rev. Leroy Barber, director of The Voices Project and an important leader within the Christian Community Development Association, to discuss a new book called Embrace: God’s Radical Shalom for a Divided World. He will discuss ways to eradicate poverty, to dismantle racism, and to build neighborhoods where everyone can flourish, including the role of “kingdom enterprises” such as The Third Place.

Sunday, Sept. 25: We kick off the fall Discovery and Engagement Campaign as we turn to God anew and ask how we can all use our time, talent and treasure to advance the kingdom of God on earth. A covered dish luncheon follows worship.

Blessedly, God gives us plenty of ways to serve and grow in relationship to each other, our city, our and in our faith. Hope to see many of you at these events.

Come Sunday, we return to the prophet Jeremiah (18:1-11). Last Sunday, Jeremiah’s accusation “Has a nation changed its gods?” filled our ears, hearts and minds. This week we welcome Gwen Pearson as Worship Leader, who will rotate weekly with Abong. We celebrate communion and more.

Look for more news and details in Caldwell This Week later.

In Christ,

John