Vol. 79 Issue 42 | Week of October 18-24, 2021 |
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NOTE: With this issue of Family News, Dr. Foust begins a new weekly column entitled, faith to faith, a pastoral word to the people of St. John’s and beyond.
faith to faith
WHEN WATER CEASES TO FLOW
This past Monday afternoon, the water service for Charlotte was temporarily disrupted. Sixteen zip codes, including the airport and the facilities of St. John’s were put under a boil advisory. People complained of low or no water pressure. A major break in a water main was blamed.
One image we use to describe Jesus is living water. As disciples of Jesus, we are tributaries for God’s living water to flow without interruption through our lives into the life of the world. We all know of episodes when Christ’s Church has caused breaks and disruptions to this flow. When Christ’s Church fails to allow Jesus’ ministry to flow freely, God’s Good News is diluted.
As the pure living water of God, Jesus brings God’s economy of compassionate justice as each person is valued. Wherever the living water of Jesus’ ministry flows, poverty is addressed, sicknesses are healed, hopelessness diminishes, ignorance is erased, selfishness is confronted, hatred and racism are invalidated, suffering is comforted, and life is resurrected from death.
Beloved, every day, you are continuing to allow God’s living water to flow in this world. Each life you touch receives God’s living water through you. Yet, you can never know all the ways you will be used to nourish and refresh the lives of others.
By giving attention to your own spiritual life, you invest in the clear and undiluted flow of living water into our city. As you begin each day opening your life to the One who supplies living water, you guard against leaks and dilution.
This past week reminded us of how reliant we are on the constant flow of water. May we also allow this experience to remind us how people need us to be clear tributaries of God’s living water each and every day!
Shalom,
Dennis
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Building a Better World
Once again, St. John’s, you have exceeded the goal.
Our Global Mission Offering for this year was $25,000 entitled, "Building a Better World."
- $20,000 to go toward paying salaries of teachers in Nyarweng, South Sudan;
- $2,500 to help Cooperative Baptist Fellowship take the vaccine to remote areas;
- $2,500 or more to support the work of Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency (CRRA), as they help Afghan refugees settle into living in Charlotte.
As of today, you have given $29,453. This means each effort is fully funded.
Our Mission Resource Team instituted this goal with the idea that any gifts beyond $22,500 would go to CRRA to assist Afghan families resettling. Therefore, we are contributing at least $6,953 to CRRA to assist Afghan refugee families.
Yes, we are Building a Better World! #Together
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Charlotte Pride Interfaith Celebration: THIS Sunday!
Sunday, October 24, 2021, 6pm
BROADCAST LIVE FROM:
St. John’s Baptist Church's Sanctuary
Featuring keynote speaker the Rev. Clifford Matthews, Jr., Senior Pastor, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church
This service is virtual only. You are invited to watch and participate in the service from home and with family and friends.
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SAVE THE DATE: Food Truck Sunday on November 14 after worship in the parking lot! |
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Our First 100 Years: Finishing Well
St. John’s was founded as a local church in March of 1922. Therefore, between now and December 31, we have the opportunity and challenge to finish our first century well.
In November, we will be announcing exciting, detailed plans for January through May of 2022. We will begin our second century with several outstanding celebrations and observances.
However, prior to beginning 2022, we must answer, “How will we finish our first century?”
Here are three proposals for finishing our 100th calendar year well.
Read the rest of this article by clicking the button below...
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From the Heritage Room
Remembering the Vision
In his sermon on Sunday, Dr. Foust told the story of the vision that formed the beginning of St. John’s Baptist Church. In the fall of 1921, a committee from the Board of Deacons of First Baptist Church met on the top of the Realty Building (the tallest building in Charlotte at that time and later renamed the Independence Building) located at the corner of Trade and Tryon.
They looked east toward the new neighborhoods being built and saw a vacant lot at the corner of what is now Fifth Street and Hawthorne Lane. In October 1921, the deacons of First Baptist agreed to buy the lot. The cost of the lot was $15,500. Meetings were held to consider the building of a Community House on the property. A survey was taken and found 536 Baptists living in the area, 387 adults with 166 children.
On December 16, 1921, a meeting was held to discuss moving forward without the support of First Baptist. One of those present, Mrs. L. C. Withers, declared she felt the new church ought to have faith and vision enough to launch out on the establishment of a new church independently.
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RENT Community Cue
November 16 in Broach Hall
You are invited to attend a Community Cue conversation on various issues raised in the musical, RENT, in partnership with the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center with St. John’s on Tuesday, November 16 at 7pm in Broach Hall.
Please let Kevin Gray know you want to attend and participate in the Community Cue by emailing him at kgray@sjcharlotte.org.
If you are interested in going to see RENT with a group from St. John’s and getting a group rate discount on tickets, please contact Kevin Gray TODAY to express your interest. We can pick out the best date for those interested.
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Worshiping Together In-Person and Online! |
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On Sunday, Dr. Foust will offer a message called, "We Do Not Proclaim Ourselves," based on 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:5. 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, Carol Drye, Betty Fuller, Polly Hull, Jean Hutson, Barbara Ledford, Ashley Marin (granddaughter of the late Doris and Walt Tedder), Tish Philemon, Gene & Carol Poole, Viorica Secere, Don Swofford, Elma Thomas
Sympathy to Mary Rickenbaker in the death of her grandson, Eric Teitloff, at the age of 32 over the weekend
Please be in prayer for the Weekday School at this time as the father of two Weekday School students passed away on Tuesday
Prayers for our world, especially those living in the wake of hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, COVID-19, and global conflicts
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Happy 101st Birthday!
On October 23, Mrs. Jerry Jerman will turn 101! If you would like to send her a card to wish her a happy birthday, her address is:
729 Aintree Road
Charlotte, NC 28215-2017
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Financial Ministry Plan Report |
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Week of October 12-18: $25,645
Income through October 18: $846,904
Annual 2021 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,175,000
Global Missions: $29,453
(We have surpassed our goal!)
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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
October 18-24: Kevin Gray
October 25-31: Lee Gray
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
Nate Dove, Minister for Youth and Young Adults - 704-662-2154 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 13
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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