In the spirit of the theme of this month’s newsletter, I’ve been reflecting – and giving great thanks – for all the ‘firsts’ we’ve celebrated at Caldwell this year.
The list is impressive, a wonderful reminder of the continued growth and expansion of our ministries and the dedication of the people (too numerous to name) who, with God’s help, make them happen. Surely God gives thanks for Caldwell’s heart for serving others inclusively and unselfishly.
- To date, 26 new adult members (including one confirmed youth) have joined its part of the Body of Christ along with 9 children.
- We welcomed two interns into our offices to prepare for their callings. Veronica Rogers has fit quickly into our community this fall and will be with us through her graduation from Union-PSCE at Charlotte next April. Last winter, Hollins University senior Patricia Cope spent a month with us, learning about Caldwell and life in ministry. The interest and availability of interns is a wonderful way for us to extend our reach and to help prepare those considering life in ministry.
- A new garden rose up in place of a rusty old swing set in our playground area. Through the sweat and effort of our gardeners, and God’s help, we delivered several basketfuls of summer vegetables to Friendship Trays and a Fall/Winter crop is coming along nicely
- A second kids Sunday School classroom made its debut, a beautiful, bright space where our children learn about God every Sunday.
- Leaders launched an effort to plan for the future of our children’s and youth ministry.
- A team of 8 will travel to Guatemala in a few short weeks, officially extending our ministry beyond U.S. borders.
- A dedicated team of members and friends chartered an active and joyful partnership with Merry Oaks Elementary, one of our city’s poorest and most diverse schools.
- In partnership with Children Come 1st, Caldwell hosted a low-cost summer camp for 15-20 kids a day that offered academic, cultural and enrichment opportunities along with two meals a day.
- We held an important year-long conversation about justice and its role in our faith and lives, including two highly successful public forums with top civic and church leaders.
- The Elizabeth Communities of Faith partnership of neighborhood churches took shape with broader planning for how the congregations of St. Martin’s Episcopal, St. John’s Baptist, Hawthorne Lane Methodist and Caldwell can worship and serve together. A good example was the six-week Lenten series of mid-week worship services we held, which included lunch.
- This fall, Caldwell will conduct its first confirmation class in recent memory as four of our youth begin consideration of what church membership means. It will conclude next Easter.
- We expanded the “church secretary” role into that of an office manager and welcomed Leslie Gipple, who has hit the ground running in her first few months with us.
- An enormous amount of work went into the transition to a more powerful office software program that will help the church run more efficiently and effectively.
- Two very important efforts were launched. The Discipleship Project is a team that is looking at our emerging needs as a church, including space, financial and other types of planning to ensure we ‘skate to where the puck is going.’ A Member Engagement Committee was launched to organize how we help those interested in Caldwell get involved, from first-time visitors to long-time church veterans.
- Dr. John Nance, a counselor with the Presbyterian Samaritan Counseling Center, greatly expanded the agency’s office hours at Caldwell. John’s presence in our halls during the week has added a welcomed dimension to our church family.
In a year when we see so many signs of economic uncertainty and shrinkage among Charlotte’s service agencies, let us all stop to give thanks to God for all of these things.