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Children & Christmas

by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister

God’s gift of Jesus proclaims how God values children and childhood.

When our children were young, we did what many of you do or have done. We set out nativity creches and used Advent calendars to emphasize God’s story of Jesus’ birth. Like you, we found it to be important to guard our children against getting so caught up in the materialism of the season that they missed it’s true meaning and message. I enjoyed hearing our children retell the story of Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, inn keeper, stable, journey to Egypt, Herod, magi and a guiding star. We had one Advent calendar offering small windows revealing a different nativity character behind each panel for each day. When one of our children folded back a panel, they would tell how that character fit into the nativity story. Somehow, I think Nathan, Rachael and Caleb valued the ways Paula and I enjoyed celebrating the meaning of the season with them.

Every parent enjoys making meaningful memories with their children. The only thing better is remembering the meaningful memories; in part because the children do not always remember them in the same way. And some of the most important memories we celebrate each Christmas is how children remind us of the foundational meanings of Jesus birth.

Since our children have been out of our home for several years now, I find myself looking for the excitement of this season on the faces of children in the church and in the community. Thus far, this year, I have seen wonder on the faces of toddlers and preschoolers as they notice the lights and Chrismons on the trees. I have seen hope on the faces of children receiving coats through Charlotte Family Housing. I have seen peace on the faces of children making Gingerbread houses. I have seen joy on the faces of children building Baby Bundles. I have seen love on the faces of youth delivering poinsettias. Our children show us how God’s story of Jesus is still forming lives today as they celebrate the Christ child.

Every December, I take some time to remember the children I have met in Zambia, Morocco, Israel, Palestine, England, Mexico, and Kenya. I also reflect upon the faces of children who have blessed me over the years during mission trips and continuing education projects in St. Louis, New York City, Chicago, Memphis, Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Louisville, Boston, Atlanta, and Charleston. This Christmas, I am thinking especially of children living with AIDS in Zambia, children living in orphanages in Morocco, children begging along the alleys of Nazareth, and children with whom I played stickball in Mexico.

We should also remember the children who are refugees from Ukraine this year and all those children who are refugees and immigrants trying to cross borders into safety and freedom. These children remind us that two thousand years ago a baby entered this world and became a refugee child fleeing violence and a murderous oppressor fleeing into Egypt.

Beloved, Jesus came for all the children of the world. And you are one of God’s children too!

Merry Christmas child of God!

Upcoming Worship Services and Opportunities

• Love Sunday Worship on December 18 at 10:30am in the Sanctuary and online via Facebook and YouTube (@sjbccharlotte) - We will celebrate the dedication of Grace Harmon during worship.
• Christmas Eve Worship on Saturday, December 24 at 5pm in the Sanctuary - Join us as we celebrate the Christmas Story through singing carols, hearing special readings, sharing communion, and lighting candles.
• Christmas Day and New Year's Day Worship will be ONLINE ONLY via Facebook and YouTube. There will be no other activities in the building on these days. We will email you with links to these pre-recorded services the morning of each Sunday.
• WDAV Charlotte Lessons & Carols will re-air on the radio at 5pm on December 18 and at 1pm on Christmas Day; but you can listen anytime here.
• We will celebrate a baptism on January 8 during worship.

Make Merry Memories at Truist Field!

All children, youth and families are invited to meet Haley and Kheresa for the 2022 Light the Knights Festival at Truist Field on Saturday December 17 at noon.

The outfield is now an ice skating rink and snow tubing hill. There will also be light shows, live entertainment, holiday treats, Christmas trees, shopping, Santa, snow, and more!

We will MEET AT TRUIST FIELD (324 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202-1465) at 12pm on Saturday, December 17. All attending can buy tickets at Truist Field upon arrival.

Register on Realm here today.

Join us for Advent Yoga on Tuesday, December 20 at 5PM in the McLeod Brown Sunday School Room. Sara Vavra will lead us in a yoga sequence that is gentle, calming, and accessible to all. Most of the class can be done seated in a chair. Come and unwind and enjoy some peace during this busy season. See you next Tuesday!



We still need at least 6 servers for tomorrow's meal at the shelter!

We will be serving a meal on December 16 and each third Friday after that. If you can help serve or provide a banana pudding, please click below!

Servers – please plan to arrive at the shelter by 5:30pm. We usually finish serving by 7pm. After serving, the volunteers sometimes go to a nearby restaurant for fellowship and a meal.

Banana pudding – please bring your pudding to the St. John’s kitchen by 4pm on Friday when we are serving. Jim Keesee or Lynn Bishop will pick the puddings up at 5pm for delivery to the shelter.  

To sign up to help serve a very welcome meal to 250 hungry men, please click on the button below.

Jim Keesee & Lynn Bishop

Jim’s cell – 704-576-3670

Lynn’s cell – 704-302-4920

Please place your cards in the community mailbox by worship on Sunday, December 18. The collection of cards for each senior will then be delivered by a pastoral deacon, a staff member, or other volunteer during the next week. Out of town recipients will have their cards mailed in one bulk envelope.

Have you and your family turned in your Christmas ornament for the Centennial Christmas tree?

Please bring a Christmas ornament related to the Christmas story with your family name and individual names written on it, the year 2022, and place it on the tree.

The ornaments will be kept and used for future Second Century Christmas celebrations with any additional ornaments added by new (or current) members.

Contributions are welcomed and needed from everyone. Some members have given us vintage family ornaments and some have donated ornaments made by children in Sunday School.



Come join the Charlotte Chamber Choir in its inaugural season for our concert, Christmas Counterpoint, featuring works by Victoria, Mendelssohn, Josquin and more. This free concert will be held on Friday, 12/16 at 7:30 PM in the St. John's Sanctuary. Three of our choir members are a part of this choir.

Christmas Past at St. John’s in the 1970’s and Continuing:

During the decade of the 1970’s, the people of St. John’s were involved during the Christmas season with special music programs with choirs of all ages and handbells on both Sunday and Wednesday nights. Various groups went caroling in the neighborhood at Presbyterian Hospital (Novant) and the Hawthorn Nursing Center which was located across Hawthorne Lane. In 1970, the St. John’s Choir was joined by the choir from Myers Park Baptist in a Christmas Oratorio; in 1974, they joined again in the singing of “Hodie” (This Day) along with the North Carolina Symphony; in 1980, the choir performed “Le Fiesta de la Posada” with Dave Brubeck at Spirit Square. Vesper services were held on Sunday afternoons with choir programs and Christmas pageants. In 1979, the Christmas story was told with a puppet show presented by the David and Nancy Nixon family. In 1978, the tradition began of a Christmas Eve Communion Service.

Continue reading here.

Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations

• Tarsha Williams, Martha Brown, Barbara McElwey, Betty Herr, Margaret Falls
• Sympathy to Morgan Newman in the passing of his mother, Alethia Ross
• Sympathy to Kenn Compton on the passing of his mother, Harriette Compton

Minister On-Call Schedule

• Dec. 12-18: Kevin 
• Dec. 19-25: Dennis 
• Dec. 26-Jan 1: Haley 

Financial Ministry Plan Update



• Commitments as of Wednesday, December 7 – 119 for a total of $741,312

Staff Contact Information

• Haley Blackwell, Minister for Youth & Young Adults - 620-515-3558 (cell)
• Rev. Dennis Foust, PhD, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 12
• Rev. Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-451-1309 (cell)
• Kevin Gray, Minister for Music and Worship - 803-524-0287 (cell)
• Rev. Kheresa Harmon, Minister for Children & their Families - 910-890-3392 (cell)

• Mallory Brown, Media Coordinator - 704-477-3349 (cell)
• Chloe Hall, Children's Choir Director
• Noel Lance, Organist
• Dr. Matthew Manwarren, Associate Organist
• Amanda Morrison, Ministry Coordinator - 704-333-5428, ext. 11
• Lydia Olmstead, Weekday School Director - 704-333-5428, ext. 39
• Jill Rackley, Church Administrator - 704-333-5428, ext. 20