Vol. 79 Issue 45 | Week of November 8-14, 2021
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faith to faith
by Dennis Foust
HOW FAITH GROWS
Whether or not you grew up on a farm or have an interest in gardening, you know basic facts about plants. You know a tiny seed grows to offer beauty and/or nourishment when it is nurtured by good soil, water, and the necessary nutrients as it reaches from darkness toward the light.
To the untrained eye, transitions in the living plant growth process may go undetected. Recognizing qualitative change occurring in the growth of a plant is more nuanced than obvious. In like manner, changes in faith are more subtle than conspicuous.
The disciples invoked Jesus to, “Increase our faith.” Jesus replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Jesus’ response is difficult to understand if we interpret Jesus’ words literally, He was speaking in the eastern tradition of using picturesque words in a flamboyant fashion. Jesus was basically telling his first followers, ‘the smallest amount of faith makes a huge impact.’
That said, faith doesn’t just appear like magic. Like a mustard seed, faith must be planted in soil. Returning to the metaphors of Jesus, we should remember that a seed planted in soil hardened along a path or in rocky soil or in thorny ground will not grow. Faith planted in good soil grows in healthy ways. In addition, we are not just one type of soil. Within each of us, every one of these four soil types exists. Therefore, the question becomes, ‘how can we increase the good soil in our lives and how can we receive God’s seed of faith in this good soil?’ Faith grows in good soil, through certain practices, during the human life cycle.
Several people have proposed explanations of how faith grows. One of the most widely read efforts in recent decades is Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning, by James Fowler. Numerous other research studies and written volumes have been spurred by his work. In this book, Fowler writes: “Faith is interactive and social; it requires community, language, ritual and nurture.” These are ingredients in the soil of faith. Whether or not you agree with Fowler’s model of how faith grows, his concept proposes six stages: Primal; Intuitive-Projective; Mythic-Literal; Synthetic-Conventional; Individuative-Reflective; Conjunctive; and Universalizing. I will explain his presentation in more detail in future blog articles.
Most models, like Fowler’s, suggest how faith grows throughout the life cycle. A model introduced by John Westerhoff in his book, A Faithful Church has been helpful for some. He proposed three stages: Affiliative; Searching; and Mature. In his book, Growing Faith, Bruce Powers presents five phases of faith development: Nurture; Indoctrination; Reality Testing; Making Choices; and Active Devotion.
In future blog articles, I will introduce a few more particulars comparing and contrasting these models of growing in faith along with practices and perspectives that promote growth which have emerged in recent decades. Of course, one conversation which must be explored is this question: ‘What is the relationship between faith and spirituality?’ To this question, we will turn next.
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Rooted in Love
by James Laney
St. John’s has been an amazing people for 100 years!
We all know historic stories as well as recent examples of sacrifice, service, and charity which inspired and brought us to where we are today on this corner in our city. Yet, whatever measure of success may have resulted for our community and our world comes not from our own efforts, but from the love of our neighbor, rooted in Christ.
As we embark on our next 100 years, we continue to use the lens of love as we seek to serve our neighbor through service and charity. Christ’s love also helps us learn who our neighbor is (hint: it’s everyone!)
You might find your neighbor
- in the grocery store aisle deciphering unfamiliar packages
- in the food line at the shelter
- at the Refugee Support Services center
I challenge us all to prepare for St. John’s Second Century by renewing our pledge of time and resources, supporting service through love to our neighbors.
If you need a stewardship packet with a pledge card, please let the office know.
Pledge Online Below:
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Jubilee Store 2021
Drive-Through Event, November 20 & 21
Have you donated to help with this year's Jubilee Store for families in need?
You can donate via Realm here or by check made out to SJBC with "Jubilee Store" in the memo field. Text "SJGIVE" to 73256 to give using your mobile device.
Here is a breakdown of how your donations can help:
- $25 – gift wrap supplies for one family
- $50 – holiday meal for one family
- $100 – gifts for two children
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We are partnering with Myers Park Presbyterian, Christ Episcopal Church, and Charlotte Family Housing to make Jubilee Store happen.
Please feel free to reach out to Jacquelyn McAbee or Allison Benfield if you have any additional questions. Thank you!
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On the Way
to King's Kitchen on Friday, November 19
with St. John's retirees and guests
“On the Way” is the name for St. John’s retirees and guests that will be taking day trips and on occasion overnight in the coming months. In our brainstorming meeting, we decided to wait until the spring to start day trips but wanted to come up with one outing this fall, and the streetcar to the King’s Kitchen is that outing.
You have probably heard that the early Christians were called followers of “The Way.” Much of the ministry of Jesus also occurred when he was “On The Way” to another destination. As we go places together in the coming months, that will be our challenge too – to find ways to bless others while are “On The Way.”
On Friday, November 19, St. John’s retirees and guests will meet at the St. John’s Main Entrance at 11:00am before they are “On The Way” to The King’s Kitchen. The CityLynx streetcar has a stop just on the other side of Tryon Street that is less than a block from the King’s Kitchen.
Please email Lee Gray at LGray@sjcharlotte.org if you plan to attend as they have a private room that holds up to 14 people reserved for us. (If we should exceed this number we can get another table in the larger dining room). We expect to return to the church around 1:30pm.
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Basketball Clinics for Kids at St. John's
November 15 and 29 @ 5pm
If your child is between the ages of 4-8, please consider attending our basketball clinics at the St. John's gym on Monday, November 15, and Monday, November 29 from 5-6:00pm. The gym is on the backside of the church (300 Hawthorne Lane) and someone will be there to let you in the doors beneath the overhang with the words “Main Entrance.”
All are welcome, and there is no cost. We will work out for about an hour, doing very basic basketball drills and having fun. Please have your child wear comfortable clothing (shorts or sweatpants and a t-shirt) with shoes that fasten securely. Bring a water bottle, too.
If you are not sure whether your child is ready for team sports, this is a great chance to try it out in a low-pressure environment. Information on signing up for our 6-under and 8-under teams will be provided after the clinics.
PLEASE NOTE: In accordance with local government rules and our church policy, all participants and spectators will need to be masked at all times while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, and we will encourage social distancing for parents in attendance. We will take frequent mask breaks to avoid any over-heating.
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Welcoming the Stranger
Volunteer with ourBridge for Kids OR Refugee Support Services
We continue to become aware of opportunities for “welcoming the stranger” as more refugees come into our city. Refugee Support Services is beginning to reopen some of their programming that had been halted at the beginning of the pandemic. Some opportunities for service will involve direct contact but there are other service needs that can be filled at social distancing.
Responding to many of the calls for service requires completion of the RSS Refugee 101 orientation. We encourage anyone in the St. John’s family who is interested in knowing more about incoming refugees to participate in one of these one-hour remote sessions. Whether or not you choose to volunteer in their program you will learn valuable information about refugees and about services being provided to them. To sign up for one of these sessions register here: Click Here
ourBridge for Kids is an after-school and summer program for children of immigrant and refugee families. The program not only supports these children in their education but also actively helps their entire families connect with resources that will assist them in their orientation to this culture. There are many opportunities coming up for you to serve with this amazing organization.
The opportunities for service include:
- Tutoring an individual child at the ourBridge site, 3925 Willard Farrow Dr, just off Shamrock Dr. near the Aldersgate entrance.
- Assisting with set up or breakdown at a community event, BOOM Echoes East Charlotte, on Albemarle Rd., Sunday, November 14.
- Donating any size coats (new or gently used) or new blankets. If you would like to donate coats or blankets your items can be left at their location on Willard Farrow or you can bring them to St. John’s on Sunday, December 5, and we will deliver them to ourBridge.
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From the Heritage Room—
St. John’s, The Depression, and Financial Crisis, Part 1
From Fifty Favored Years, A History of St. John’s Baptist Church by Richard Young and Kenneth Sanford:
“The first financial crisis for the church came in the fall of 1929 when at a conference on September 22, J.P. Hackney, Chair of the Finance Committee, reported that a note of $10,000 against the church was due and unpaid, that its renewal had been denied and that it must be paid by October 31. He further notified the church that other notes with interest amounting to approximately $20,000 would be due and payable on December 1. It was then announced that an anonymous offer had been made to donate $10,000 to the church on the condition that a similar amount be raised among the church membership. The offer was accepted by the church and October 6 was designated as “Ingathering Day” in pledges. Before the October 31 deadline, more than $12,000 had been raised and $20,000 was applied to the debt. Dr. C.N. Peeler was later revealed as the donor of the $10,000 gift.”
Note—Dr. C.N. Peeler and his partner, Dr. J.P. Matheson were the founders of Charlotte Ear, Eye, Nose, and Throat Hospital. They built the ten-story Mayfield Manor deigned by Louis Asbury at the corner of Tryon Street and 6th Street. It opened on November 15, 1929. This building is now the Dunhill Hotel.
Next Week—"Help from the Belmont Giving Plan and Vanilla”
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Church Pictorial Directory
As part of our centennial celebration in the spring of 2022, we will be offering a printed pictorial directory of the people of St. John’s. This commemorative edition will celebrate the people of St. John’s in 2022 as second-century charter members.
The contact information and photos for this directory option will be printed from Realm, our church database and communication tool many of you regularly use. Between now and the end of the year, we invite you to log into your profile and ensure that the information for the persons in your household is up to date.
You will also receive a call from your Pastoral Deacon to review your information and to assist the church staff to make updates for those unable to access their profiles online. We also encourage you to upload photos of each individual in your family or a family photo. We will provide a way to submit family photos, especially for the directory later this fall as well as offer the opportunity to have a photo taken here at the church.
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Women's Retreat: RESCHEDULED
Save the NEW date for the Women's Retreat on March 4-5, 2022 on the St. John's campus. Rev. Dr. Martha Kearse will be our facilitator.
Stay tuned for details on how to register!
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Worshiping Together In-Person and Online!
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On Sunday, Dr. Foust will offer a message called, "Deep Roots Are Not Reached by the Frost," based on Ephesians 3:14-21.
We hope you will join us as we gather in-person and online as we stream the service on Facebook and YouTube starting at 10:30am. The stream and worship guide links will be sent out via email on Sunday morning.
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Prayer Concerns, Celebrations, Thanks & Sympathy
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Andrew Adair, Shirley Ballard, Katherine Barr, Betty Fuller, Polly Hull, Barbara Ledford, Tish Philemon, Gene & Carol Poole, Carole Ann Simpson, Don Swofford, Elma Thomas, Dee Turner
Thank you from the Mission Resource Team!
During the Undie Sunday's of October, we collected 83 pairs of socks, 42 t-shirts, and 43 boxer shorts! These are being delivered to Hope Chapel and Charlotte Rescue Mission by Kevin Lynch and Tricia Miller.
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
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Week of November 2-8: $9431
Income through November 8: $903,746
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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Ministers On-Call Schedule
November 8-14: Nate Dove
November 15-21: Allison Benfield
Staff Contact Information
Dennis Foust, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 12
Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-451-1309 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 15
Allison Benfield, Minister for Spiritual Growth - 828-448-8412 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 18
Kevin Gray, Minister for Music and Worship - 803-524-0287 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 14
Jacquelyn McAbee, Church Administrator - 434-579-1177 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 20
Derek Henson, Administrative Assistant - 704-333-5428, ext. 10
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