SOUTH MECKLENBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH VISITOR INFORMATION

Welcome to South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church! We are glad you are visiting with us. Here are some of the things you can expect when you worship with us on Sunday mornings.

Parking
Park in one of our visitor parking spots reserved just for you. These parking spots are located directly across from the main doors to our sanctuary. Enter our property through the main driveway off of Blakeney Heath Road; turn left before you get to the circle.

Visitor Tables
You will find a Visitor/Information Table located just inside the main and preschool entrances of our buildings. Check these tables for information about our worship services, Christian education programs, outreach opportunities, and fellowship events. Be sure to pick up a copy of our newsletter and a brochure that outlines our history and mission. A member of the Membership Committee will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Fellowship
We invite you to join us outside in the shade on Sunday mornings between 10:30 and 11:00 for "Lemonade on the Lawn" - plus cookies and other snacks. Just inside, you can enjoy a cup of coffee and grab a muffin at SMPC's own "Coffee Grounds". These are great places to meet people and learn more about what's going on at SMPC!

Nursery
Welcome to our nursery. We provide quality care for children from infancy to kindergarten each Sunday morning during all worship services and Sunday school classes. Our nursery staff is Red Cross CPR certified and has been trained in our Child Protection Policy. In addition to our paid staff, we also have SMPC adults and/or youth assisting in each room during worship services.

If you are attending the 8:30 am service, drop off your child in Room 101 for infants and in Room 110 for all other ages If you are attending the 9:30 or 11:00 service, drop off your child at the appropriate location (signs are posted outside of each door). Our security check-in and out procedure is adopted from the YMCA. Sign in sheets and security tags are located in each classroom. Parents are asked to fill out the sign-in sheet completely and include any special instructions that may better enable us to care for your child. Please put a security tag on the back of your child's shirt or dress and take one with the same number that has been assigned to your child with you. When you return for pick up, show your tag and give both tags back. The tags are color coordinated according to age.

Worship
We have three worship services on Sunday mornings, at 8:30, 9:30 and 11:00 am. The 8:30 service is held in our chapel; it is a shorter service, lasting approximately 45 minutes. The 9:30 and 11:00 services are very similar, both approximately an hour long. The 9:30 service includes special music, such as solos, and the 11:00 service includes the full choir. See notes below for information about our Children's Ministry during the 11:00 service.

At each service you'll find greeters at the doors to welcome you and direct you to the sanctuary and/or nursery rooms. Bulletins outlining the order of worship and weekly announcements are available from ushers posted outside the main sanctuary doors.
(over please)
During the service, you'll be asked to sign the registry pad as it is passed from one end of each row to the other. If you leave your address, the pastors and the Membership Committee are able to welcome you with a small gift and a letter. Our members also sign the Friendship Pad each Sunday, so we can keep our rolls updated.

Children's Ministry Notes for the 11:00 Worship Service
Children up to third grade are invited to participate in a Children's Worship Service that is held in the chapel during the 11:00 worship service. The children leave the sanctuary after the anthem and return at the Doxology to conclude the worship service with their families. Childcare is provided for all younger children during the 11:00 worship service.

Sunday School
From September to May we offer Sunday school classes for ages 3 to adult, from 9:30 to 10:30 am.

3 year olds, 4 year olds and kindergartners are using the Live B.I.G. curriculum by Abington Press. These lessons are taught using Bible story, arts, crafts, and song. A map showing room assignments for each age group is available at the Visitor's Table. Room assignments are also posted on each classroom door.

Grades 1 - 5 use the Potter's Publishing Rotation curriculum by Potter's Publishing. The children gather in the Upper Room (just inside the doors leading to Mecklenburg Hall) to pray, sing, and get an overview or review of the month's lessons. They then rotate with their age group each week to learn the Bible stories through art, drama, cooking, games, movies, and storytelling. Schedules showing topics and room assignments are posted at the entrance to the Upper Room. Parents are asked to pick up their children in the appropriate classroom at 10:30 am.

Grades 6 & 7 focus on more traditional Bible study with discussion and activities such as art, singing and writing to reinforce learning. The 6th graders study the New Testament and the 7th graders the Old Testament. Both classes meet in the Administration/Christian Education building. 8th grade is a year-long Confirmation class; this group meets in our Classroom Cottage, which is located behind our main building.

Grades 9 - 12, our high school class, is using the curriculum Way to Live, focusing on all of the choices we make, and how to make them in a faithful way. The group also plays games and has lots of fun learning! This group meets in the Classroom Cottage.

From September until May we offer a variety of adult Sunday school classes. Current classes include:

• All Things Considered - fellowship and discussion group, focusing on contemporary topics; this group meets every Sunday in Room 201 of the Chapel Building
• JOY Class - for our "older youth" (ages 55++), The Present Word; this class meets every Sunday in Room 208 of the Chapel Building
• SMPC 101 - a class about our church, our facility, and the many ways to get involved; this class will meets periodically in the Session Room in the Chapel Building

If you have any questions about visiting our church, please contact Nancy Metzler, Director of Hospitality and Connection, in the church office, 704.544.0404, ext. 103, or nancy@smpchome.org.