Vol. 79 Issue 9 | Week of March 1-7, 2021 |
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Worship on March 7: Lent III
This coming Sunday morning we will worship together online to continue this season of Lent. We will focus on the theme of "Virtuous Living" as a dimension of spiritual growth. The scripture passages are Psalm 19:7-14 and John 2:13-22. Dr. Foust will offer a message called, "I Was Wrong."
The worship video will be available at 8am via our YouTube channel and at our website under the Worship tab for you to view. You can also link to worship from the Realm Connect App Events list.
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Easter Lilies: Order by March 7!
Easter Lilies are a long-standing tradition and are loved by many. Because we are worshiping outside this year, Easter lilies will be a part of the Easter service. They can be planted in your yard and come back again next year. The cost is $18 each, and orders must be received by Sunday, March 7. That is THIS SUNDAY!
Payment should be made through Realm on the Giving page. Select "Easter Lilies" under the "Fund" line. (click button below to give) On the Memo line, indicate the following:
- Number of lilies
- The name of the person in memory of or in honor of
- How the giver's name should be listed in our online list
- Indicate if you plan to pick up your Easter lily or not after the April 4 service. Simply type "will pick up" or "will not pick up" to indicate this.
Proceeds from the Easter flowers are used to decorate the church for Advent and Christmas. We usually purchase fewer lilies than ordered to have extra funds for Christmas decorations, so please be sure to indicate if you do not plan to take your Easter lily.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR THOSE WHO ORDERED LILIES LAST YEAR:
If you ordered lilies for last year's Easter service, we still have your information and funds and those lilies will automatically be a part of our April 4 service. Teri Franklin will be sending you an email with your information to verify you have no changes to make in what you specified in 2020.
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Holy Week Kits
Holy Week is March 28-April 3, 2021. This year, we are providing an opportunity for you to sign up for and pick up a customizable "Holy Week Kit" as a companion as you move through this week that begins with Palm Sunday and moves to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Each kit will contain palms, communion elements for Maundy Thursday, an order of worship for Maundy Thursday, and a Stations of the Cross devotional booklet. You can choose what items and how many of each item you want in your kit.
Please sign up by March 24. Pick-up for the kits will be Saturday, March 27 from 11am-1pm via a drive-through at the church.
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Learn About & Volunteer with ourBridge for Kids!
Conversation on Monday, March 15 &
Orientation Sessions Available March 11 or April 15
On Monday, March 15, you will have a chance to meet Sil Ganzo, Executive Director of ourBridge for Kids on our monthly Community Connections Zoom call. Sil immigrated to the United States in 2003 from Argentina. The staff speaks eight languages, and all materials, including books and games, feature people of color and other cultures. Many parents were nervous about Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools going remote this year because of COVID-19, so ourBridge for Kids pivoted their program. They are now a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools remote learning site and meal bundle pick-up site. “It's crucial for them to feel that they can actually do this. They can actually belong here, they can start over, and start a new life here," Ganzo says. Watch this video to learn more about ourBridge for Kids and join us on March 15 at 6pm on Zoom for a conversation with Sil Ganzo.
Additionally, ourBridge for Kids is offering virtual volunteer orientation sessions on March 11 or April 15, from 6:00pm-7:30pm This organization, located on the campus of Aldersgate, provides afterschool and summer educational and enrichment programs for children from immigrant and refugee families, Kindergarten-7th grades.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about ourBridge for Kids, the services offered, and the roles volunteers might play is invited to sign up for either the March 11 or the April 15 virtual session. Volunteer opportunities range from regular small group reading help to classroom assistance to occasional help with special projects or events.
To sign up for one of the orientation sessions go to the link below:
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HERITAGE SUNDAY, MARCH 21st
Even during a pandemic, we will celebrate our 99th anniversary and begin our centennial year. Watch your St. John’s Family News for the next couple of weeks for more information.
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Update on the Water for Tent City
On Valentine's Day weekend, St. John's conducted a two-day "gift of love" water collection event that resulted in about 175 cases of bottled water and another 35 jugs of water being collected for residents of the homeless encampment ("Tent City") near Roof Above's Day Services Center. We distributed the first 25 cases of water to tent city residents on Saturday, February 13th. However, Tent City was hastily disbanded and residents were relocated to area motels the following week at the request of Mecklenburg County's Health Department.
So, what happened to the remainder of the water?
St. John's reached out to Roof Above to see if they could use the remaining water for homeless clients with whom they routinely work. Roof Above gladly accepted St. John's offer and directed us to work out delivery with Moore Place. Moore Place is a facility opened by Roof Above in 2012 to provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. To summarize, the remainder of the water was delivered last week to Moore Place.
Thank you, St. John's!
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OUTDOOR WORSHIP CELEBRATION ON EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 4
Yes, we must still be careful – wear our face coverings and maintain physical distance. And, we are making plans to gather outside on Easter Sunday for two services of worship. We realize many of our folks should not gather on Easter – even outside – due to safety. Those of us who gather will wear face coverings and set our lawn chairs 6 to 8 feet apart. (Of course, inclement weather may change our plans. But, this is our good weather plan.) Register with the green buttons below for either time.
First Hour:
- Fellowship Time: 10:00 – 10:25
- Worship Celebration 1: 10:30 – 11:00
- Transition Time: 11:05 – 11:30
Second Hour:
- Worship Celebration 2: 11:30 – 12:00
- Fellowship Time: 12:00 – 12:30
As we prepare to proclaim God’s resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, mark your calendars – grab your face coverings – pack your lawn chairs – bring your flowers to place on the resurrection cross and RESERVE YOUR PLACE FOR EASTER MORNING. Each worship celebration will last for 30 minutes. Kevin has enlisted brass musicians to join with Noel on the keyboard. Allison is preparing special activities for children (think chalk art). Nate is preparing to livestream the morning celebrations. Lee and Dennis are coordinating logistics. Don and Scott Hinson have located a ‘whisper’ generator to provide power for our portable sound system. Lindsay Wilson is baking cookies and Kim Allen is preparing lemonade. Our Sierra Leonese and South Sudanese congregations will worship with us. We will gather in the Broach Hall parking lot in amphitheater style seating (again, bring your own lawn chairs). Parking will be in the Chapel and Main Entrance lots and in surrounding parking lots. Easter is a day of New Beginnings!
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SUMMER CHURCHWIDE FELLOWSHIP EVENT TEAMS
We need teams to help plan and coordinate summer events. Our idea is to begin having two outdoor fellowship events each month in May, June, July, and August. Therefore, we need 8 teams consisting of 4 to 6 persons each. Your team would be responsible for one event. You could enlist Food Trucks, enlist a barbeque or pancake master or become even more creative.
If you are willing to be on a team – or if your Sunday School Group is willing to be a team – please email Mallory at mbrown@sjcharlotte.org before March 21 to let her know. Thank you.
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OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THOSE SUFFERING IN TEXAS
As you know, many people in Texas are suffering from the recent frigid temperatures. Bursting pipes, a lack of clean water, and frozen furnaces have made life especially difficult for those with few resources. We have established a way for you to give to help those suffering due to this tragedy in partnership with Broadway Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas. Broadway is our sister church through The Alliance of Baptists.
Any monies you give to St. John’s marked, ‘Texas Disaster Fund,’ will be sent on to Broadway for them to use for direct help of those impacted by these events. Our Church Administrator, Jacquelyn McAbee, has established an online giving option on Realm (under drop-down menu as "Disaster Relief") to give to this cause as well.
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VBS 2021!
VBS this year will be an at-home version. In conversation with our partners at St. Martin's, we have decided to err on the side of caution given that we are still in the middle of a pandemic and do not know exactly what the situation will be in June.
We are creating a VBS kit that is filled with stories and crafts for 4 days of learning about Moses helping to lead the Hebrew people out of enslavement and into freedom. No screens are required, however, you will get links to videos of our stories and crafts for the week should you choose to use them. (We know everyone is super burnt out on screens right now!)
Each kit is designed for 1 child (PreK-Grade 5) and is $5. Please feel free to share with your friends who might be interested!
Kits will be distributed on Sunday, June 6 (time TBD). The deadline for registration is April 30.
Register at the button below.
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Prayer Concerns, Thanks & Sympathy |
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Polly Hull, Gene & Carol Poole, Elma Thomas,
Alison Zieglmeier (daughter of Ken and Donna Scott),
Andrew Adair, Barbara Ledford, Tom Bryson,
Carol Hager (sister of Betty Harkey), Carole Ann Simpson,
Brad Sifford, Deacon Jones, Jerry McNeill
Dearest St. John's Family,
Scott, Rick, and I have been uplifted by your prayers and expressions of love and sympathy over the past months. Erskine would have been so honored that you have cared for us so well. He was truly a servant of St. John's.
In love and gratitude,
Betty Harkey
Sympathy to Carol and Gene Poole in the death of Gene's first cousin who was more like a sister, Sister Mary Jerome Spradley, of Belmont, NC.
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of Feb. 24-March 2: $32,063
Income through March 2: $119,115
Annual 2021 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,175,000
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You can make contributions, view your giving history and pledge status, as well as update your pledge and giving information anytime by accessing your personal
Realm profile online or via the Connect App.
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Contact the Staff
To email a staff member, click on their name below
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