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St. John's Family News

Week of February 3-9, 2025 | Vol. 84, Issue 6

www.stjohnsbaptistchurch.org | @sjbccharlotte

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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):


  1. Dreams & Visions by Dennis
  2. Upcoming: Youth Sunday & CROSSWALK
  3. Worship and the Season of Lent
  4. From the Heritage Room
  5. Welcome, Julien!
  6. Women of the Church Bake Sale on February 8
  7. Basketball Schedule
  8. All Deacons Meeting on Feb. 24
  9. Dove's Nest Collection
  10. Room in the Inn Collection
  11. Save the Date: Children's Mission Day & Thursdays on the Town
  12. Syrup Sunday on March 2
  13. Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations
  14. Financial Update
  15. Minister On Call Schedule
  16. Staff Contact Info

Dreams and Visions

by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister


What is your dream for the future? What are you doing each day to invest in your dream?


Soon after the Montgomery Bus Boycott began in December of 1955, The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. found himself sitting in jail. As he pondered what might become of a movement for equality, justice, and human rights, he wrote a sermon entitled, ‘Shattered Dreams.’ He introduced his sermon with these words: “One of the most agonizing problems within our human experience is that few, if any of us, live to see our fondest hopes fulfilled. The hopes of our childhood and the promises of our mature years are unfinished symphonies.”


Is this the way life seems for you today? Do you have dreams and visions that you have concluded will never be realized? Do you feel isolated like you are behind bars with limited freedom to push toward your vision for a better tomorrow? Does it seem as if ‘shattered dreams’ is your sermon? 


Less than eight years after the Montgomery Bus Boycott, in August of 1963, The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial saying, “I have a dream today.” He encouraged those who listened that day and all those who hear his encouragement through the corridors of time, “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.”


In biblical literature, dreams and visions are plentiful. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, etc. Dreams and visions are mentioned more than 200 times in The Bible. Many are analyzed. 


Beloved, I offer to you that Christ’s Church is God’s dream – not the way humans can distort Christ’s Church, but the way God imagines it. Despite imperfections, sinfulness, corruption, violence, prejudice, shame, racism, pride, injustice, greed, and apathy, no better dream or vision has been entrusted to humanity than God’s vision for Christ’s Church. When we invest our lives in God’s vision for Christ’s Church, we deepen our commitments to follow the teachings and lifestyle practices of Jesus Christ, Lord of our faith. Although the Way of Jesus may be difficult to pursue at times, God’s vision must shape our dreams and visions.


On one occasion, Martin Luther King, Jr. flew on a propeller aircraft from New York to London. That flight took 91/2 hours. On the return flight to New York from London, the pilot explained why it would take 121/2 hours. The distance is the same but the winds are different. The pilot’s explanation prompted MLK, Jr. to write: “At times in our lives, the tail winds of joy, triumph, and fulfillment favor us and at times, the headwinds of disappointment, sorrow, and tragedy beat unrelentingly against us…Our refusal to be stopped, our ‘courage to be,’ our determination to go on ‘in spite of’ reveal the divine image within us.”


As members of Christ’s Body, The Church, you are carrying God’s dream within you. Invest yourselves in God’s vision for this world. And while you may not be able to shape the entire world, do all you can to make St. John’s reflect the image of God’s vision. And don’t give up!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, Feb. 16 and two special opportunities for prayer and worship:


YOUTH SUNDAY: On Sunday, February 16, we will celebrate the youth by holding our annual Youth Sunday. Kenna Benton, Brooks Sorrell, and Laura Sorrell will lead us in worship that day. Using a passage from Philippians, they will reflet upon their spiritual journeys throughout their lives at St. John's.


CROSSWALK – A CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER EMPHASIS: We will gather at 9:00 AM for prayer in the sanctuary on Sundays, February 16, March 16, and on Easter, April 20. In addition, we will call church members and participants to a 40-day prayer journey during Lent. Watch the Family News for more about this CROSSWALK emphasis in mid-February.

WORSHIP FEBRUARY 9, 16, 23 AND MARCH 2 AND THE SEASON OF LENT

 

This coming Sunday, February 9th, our worship will be expressed to The Living God with gratitude for the process of salvation at work within us and in the world. Our scriptures will be John 3:16-17 and 1 Peter 1:21-2:3. My sermon is entitled, ‘From Infancy to Maturity.’


On Sunday, February 16th, we will be guided in worship by the youth of our church. These teens have been preparing to receive our tithes and offerings, lead us in prayers, read scriptures, and offer messages. This annual tradition is always anticipated with gladness and celebrated with joy. Also, on February 16th, some film footage will be compiled by North Carolina Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as they prepare a story on our partnership with Together in Christ International Ministries to inspire other churches to do the same. At 9:00 AM, we will gather in the sanctuary for communal prayer on our CROSSWALK journey.


Sunday, February 23rd will provide us with an opportunity to consider Jesus’ call to discipleship. The 6th chapter of John’s Gospel tells a story of Jesus ‘rightsizing’ his followers. Hundreds stopped following Jesus because he focused on calling people to commitment rather than just following Jesus because their appetites were satisfied. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s concept of ‘Costly Discipleship’ will be referenced in my sermon entitled, ‘Great Expectations.’


Sunday, March 2nd will allow us to reconsider God’s Calling to Us as God’s People. We will read and reflect on the principles and practices taught in Ephesians 4 and Matthew 28. 


On the evening of Ash Wednesday, March 5th, we will gather at 6:30 to worship as we enter the Lenten season. On each Sunday, during Lent, we will offer prayers of confession to God and reflect on the meanings of Jesus’ words spoken from the cross. We will also extend our CROSSWALK prayer pilgrimage to be a 40-day journey. I will provide more information in next week’s Family News. Our Lenten journey will conclude with a 7:00 PM expression of worship on Maundy Thursday as we prepare for Easter Sunday on April 20th.

From the Heritage Room: We need your help!


An online order for an Anniversary book was received from Kelsie Gibson with no contact information (address, phone number, etc). Unfortunately, this means we cannot contact her and do not know who she is.


If you know Kelsie, please contact Fredda Kimball or ask Kelsie to contact the church. 

Welcome, Julien!


We celebrate with Mallory and Ben Brown, who welcomed Julien into their lives on February 4th. Annie Kate is the proud, big sister.

Women of the Church Bake Sale THIS Saturday!

Saturday, February 8 during basketball games


The Women of the Church are sponsoring a Bake Sale for the spectators and players at the youth Basketball Games this Saturday, February 8. 


The proceeds of this sale will go toward purchasing new choir robes for our St. John’s children’s choirs. Sweets for our sweeties!


We hope you will come out and support our basketball teams on Saturday and purchase some yummy treats to support our children's music ministries.

Basketball Game Schedule

 

February 8 (bake sale day!)

  • 6u Co-Ed – 12:00 pm @ St. John’s
  • 8u Boys Cardella – 11:30 am @ St. Stephen UM
  • 8u Boys Allen - BYE
  • 8u Girls – 10:00 am @ St. John’s
  • 10u Boys Short – 2:15 pm @ St. John’s
  • 10u Boys Barnhardt – 1:15 pm @ St. John’s
  • 10u Girls – 3:15 pm @ St. John’s
  • 12u Girls - BYE
  • 18u Girls – 12:45 pm @ Mt. Harmony

All Deacon Meeting: February 24


The next All Deacon Meeting is Monday, February 24, 7:30 pm, in Broach Hall. Panels will meet at 6:30 p.m.

Dove's Nest Collection: Urgent Needs


Dove's Nest is a faith-based, free, residential recovery program for women and their children ages 3-11 as a part of Charlotte Rescue Mission.


They are currently in urgent need of the following items:


  • Body lotion
  • Body wash
  • Tampons


Please place all items in the Giving Nook at the Main Entrance.

Room in the Inn Collection


Room in the Inn is an overnight homeless shelter program sponsored by the Roof Above organization. Through the Room in the Inn program, St. John's provides overnight hosting for homeless men on several Friday nights during the winter.


To support the RITI program at St. John's, please consider donating men's T-shirts, boxer briefs, athletic socks and toiletry items using the two Roof Above bins located in the Giving Nook area. Thanks for your support!

Save the Date!


Mission Day for Children: March 8


Children in grades 3 and up are invited to join us on Saturday, March 8 from 10am-2pm at FBC Mount Holly for CBFNC's Children’s Mission Day. The theme is "Serving Together!" You can register now by clicking here. Registration is free. Deadline is February 28th.


Thursdays on the Town: March 20


Our next Thursdays on the Town for parents will be on March 20, beginning at 6:00 pm, at Puerta (1961 E. 7th Street). Free childcare is provided.

Save the Date for Syrup Sunday

March 2 immediately following worship


All are invited to join us in Broach Hall after worship on March 2 to celebrate Fat Tuesday with BrooksCakes and the fixings provided!


Stay tuned for more details!

Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations 


Current Prayer Concerns: Shirley Ballard, Joseph Freeman, Ken Sanford


Continuing Prayer: Nancy Burgess, Mary Rickenbaker, Anne Sutton, Jeck Warren


Sympathies: Jerry Jerman (2/6 at 1:00 PM), Ric Bridges (2/22 at 2:00 PM)


We express sympathy to the family of friends of Jerry Jerman who passed on ahead of us at the age of 104. Please remember her children Robert Jerman and Betty Hill and other family members in your prayers.


A memorial service for Ric Bridges, son of Al and Treva Bridges, will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 22 at Harrison United Methodist Church, Pineville.

Financial Update


2024 Full Year Budget: $1,211,000


Through December


Budgeted Income: $1,211,000 (100%)


Actual Income Received: $1,167,311 (96%)

Income Over (Under) Budget: ($43,689)


Actual Expenses Paid: $1,192,524 (98%)


Income/Expense Surplus (Deficit): ($25,213)



2025 Pledge Commitments


2025 Pledge Goal: 150 Commitments, $900,000

2025 Pledges Received: 137 Commitments, $890,000


2024 Pledge Total: 140 Commitments, $884,000

Pledge Here

Staff On-Call Rotation


Feb. 3-9: Dennis

Feb. 10-16: Lee

Feb. 17-23: Kheresa 

Staff Contact Information


  • Rev. Dennis Foust, PhD, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 2012
  • Rev. Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-333-5428, ext. 2015; 704-451-1309 (cell)
  • Rev. Kheresa Harmon, Minister for Children & their Families - 704-333-5428, ext. 2018; 910-890-3392 (cell)
  • Russell Nelson, Minister for Worship & Music - (980) 228-6244 (cell)
  • Mallory Brown, Media Coordinator - 704-477-3349 (cell)
  • Chloe Hall, Children's Choir Director
  • Noel Lance, Organist
  • Amanda Morrison, Church Administrator - 704-333-5428, ext. 0
  • Lydia Olmsted, Weekday School Director - 704-333-5428, ext. 2039

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St. John's Baptist Church | 704-333-5428 | 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 | stjohnsbaptistchurch.org