Dear Caldwell,
A fact that has come up a couple of times in our ongoing Newcomer’s Sunday school class is that Presbyterians have always placed emphasis on the importance of education. At Caldwell, that takes a slightly different form in our rich partnership with the Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, which prepares preschoolers from Spanish-speaking, first-generation immigrant homes for success in kindergarten and beyond. Over time, the relationships between Caldwell and the preschool have extended beyond the kids to include their entire families.
This Sunday, we’ve invited our preschool families to join us for bilingual worship and fellowship afterward. In particular, we will take time to celebrate our relationship with these families as well as the school’s founding director, Barbara Cantisano, who is now pursuing additional post-graduate educatoin. (As I mentioned Sunday, our own Ann Alford, a passionate supporter of the school, has stepped in as Interim Executive Director.) A lot of work by many people goes into these services and we continue to experiment with what works best for all. This Sunday, I will preach the sermon and we will have festive song, celebration and, afterward, fellowship.
The scripture is Romans 12:1-13, which includes Paul’s guidance that, as God’s people, we are not to be conformed to the ways of the world but, rather, are to be transformed to follow the will of God. In our own way, as I will note Sunday, our efforts at bilingual worship and other acts of radical inclusion are our way of avoiding conformity to the world, which seems to insist so strongly on all forms of ‘tribalism.’
Other highlights for Sunday:
* If you’ve always wanted to see the ENTIRE campus, including the preschool, Caldwell House, Belk Hall and more, join the Newcomers Class as we take a tour that will include how the campus evolved over the last century. We start in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 a.m. sharp.
* Our Adult Sunday school will continue its rich study of the Beatitudes in the Shelby Room.
* Breakfast with Caldwell House – cooking at 7 a.m., serving at 8:30, devotional with the women of Caldwell House at 9.
* As I mentioned, stick around after church for some fellowship with our Latino neighbors.
* As you’ve already seen in prior emails, we kick off a short-series on Immigration and Faith this Sunday at 6 p.m. Bring something to share to eat.
On Saturday at 2 p.m., we will celebrate the life of Margaret “Peggy” Hyland, a devoted Presbyterian, whose legacy includes the ministry of her daughter and our friend, Rev. Elizabeth Hyland. You can read Elizabeth’s beautiful obituary of her mother here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/charlotte/obituary.aspx?n=margaret-bradford-hyland&pid=157876593
Elaine Hultman continues to recover from surgery nicely, as does Kelly Cleghorn. We say a prayer for all our school kids as they wrap up their school year with exams and the such.
See you soon.
Yours In Christ,
John