Dear Caldwell,
Today, the Charlotte Bilingual Preschool graduated another class of boys and girls ready for kindergarten. Interim Executive Director Ann Alford (a Caldwell member) and her team prepared a wonderful ceremony, complete with pomp and circumstance. It was a big day for the boys and girls and for their parents, who want the best life possible for their children. Ann recognized all those from Caldwell who volunteer at the school in a range of roles, from teaching English to parents to reading to kids to teaching vegetable gardening to teaching music to planning field trips to keeping a food pantry stocked to ensuring the kids are comfortable and safe in our old buildling. Let’s all toss our caps in honor of Ann, Erin Denison, Alex and Ann Smythers, Joyce Deaton, Judy Atwell, Kitty Bohr, Carole Outwater, Marilyn Rowland, Sally and Zach Thomas, Jeff Mitchiner, Merritt Tracy, Tom Bohr and Fred Powers. Each and every one is responding to the Gospel by practicing hospitality and extending Christ’s love across language and cultures. Our city and nation are be better for their work.
At church on Sunday we will have a second kind of younger perspective. Tianna Butler, our summer intern from Davidson College, will preach on the familiar story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-49). She has a great message to share. She will be joined in leading the service by the Davidson-Stapleton interns. These college students spend their summers interning at non-profits in Charlotte that serve those most in need. Every summer, the students make their way to various Presbyterian churches in town and we are glad to welcome them.
At the close of the service, the congregation will hold a very brief meeting to elect two people to fill unexpired terms on the Session. Nominees are Gina Shell (pssst, today is her birthday . . ., btw, and Terry Nilles’) and Johnny Johnson.
As important, after worship we will hold a congregational town hall meeting in the Fellowship Hall, offering a bite to eat and a chance to offer input that will frame our search for a Music Director to join the team at Caldwell. Previous conversations have provided a perfect chance to affirm what we love about music and to “dream big” about what else our Lord might have us do. And, as always, Caldwell House breakfast and devotion starting at 8:30 a.m. and adult Sunday school at 9:45.
I hope you saw Molly Griffin’s note earlier this week about our need to stay current on pledges, or catch up if needed. Doing so will help the church do the ministry it is called to do.
Try to stay cool as summer heat sets in. See you Sunday.
In Christ,
John