Week of May 2-8, 2022 | Vol. 81 Issue 18
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Commencement
By Dennis Foust
This coming Sunday, during worship, we will recognize our high school graduates. They are commencing their young adulthood in a world that needs their creativity, commitment, and character. We pray for them and their families as this new season of life begins. For some of these families, a new season of ‘empty nesting’ commences. For some siblings, a new season of being the only child at home commences. Indeed, this is a season of commencement.
It is also a good time to remind you of another commencement. As St. John’s commences our second century, we enter a new season of connecting with our constantly growing city. Here are some photos of new construction going on around us. At the end of this article, I offer three ways in which we must commence or recommence some ministry initiatives as we move forward.
Independence Park is the oldest park in Charlotte. Opened in 1906, this 116-year-old park is across the street from us. And provides a beautiful space for a walk at lunch. The county is making $6 million of upgrades to these beautiful acres. There will be a continuous walking path from the top end of the park all the way to and around Memorial Stadium to Little Sugar Creek Greenway. The tree canopy is being cleaned up and thinned a bit to open the view of the city skyline.
The Corner of Seventh and Pecan once offered The Philosopher’s Stone, but is now Elizabeth on Seventh. Offering retail on the ground floor and three stories of offices completely changes the appearance of this historic corner. Located nearby in both directions are new apartment complexes along Seventh Street. Soon, a new medical office building with condos and a parking deck will be constructed across Lamar from our facilities between Novant Presbyterian Medical Center and Independence Park. Other developments around our facilities will be announced in the coming year to impact our church ministries.
All this development means we are beginning our second century with new opportunities for outreach, vision, collaboration, and ministry expansion. We must begin by (1) assuring our hospitality ministry is fully staffed with trained volunteers; (2) preparing our facilities and messaging to connect with our community; and (3) re-establishing patterns of participation to reflect our commitments to congregational health and ministry vitality. Get ready folks. We will complete this school year and explore possibilities through our annual summer-scatter. Then, after Labor Day, we will be ready to cross the threshold into some new pathways.
This Sunday, as we celebrate the bright outlooks of our high school graduates, we will also embrace the unique prospects before all of us. Now, let the future commence!
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Celebrating Our Graduates!
During worship this Sunday, each graduate will receive a St. John's honor cord to wear with their graduation gear. These green & white ropes represent their involvement as youth at St. John’s and honor their place in our church community.
Our 5 St. John’s Seniors are:
- Abby Adams
- Scarlett Goodson
- Wilson Gray
- Aluel Nyuon
- Nick Vavra
Please plan to attend worship on this special Sunday as we celebrate our graduates.
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Youth Mission Trip to Chicago
Have you signed up? Deadline is Monday, May 9!
St. John’s middle and high school students are invited to serve and learn on our Mission Trip to Chicago June 19-25.
On this trip, we will participate in Experience Mission’s ministry in Chicago and partner with Sunshine Gospel Ministries (through the BridgeBuilders program) for an experiential service-learning opportunity.
The total cost will be $525 per youth. This will include airfare, meals, and lodging.
Please pay $125 online when you register. You may pay your balance at any time via your Realm account. Plane tickets will be finalized on Tuesday May 10, so we need you to register by Monday May 9.
Register through Realm today and be sure to follow all the directions on the registration page on Realm! Click below to register.
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Jazz Mass on May 21
On May 21 at 7PM the St. John's Sanctuary will be filled with singers and musicians from across the country, raising their voices to sing the traditional mass set to the Jazz music, composed by our own James Kevin Gray and Rick Bean.
The choir will be led by Maestro Sonja Sepulveda, a nationally known and loved choral conductor, and will feature soloists Dawn Anthony and Herbert Johnson.
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This same group will be joined by several other choirs on June 25 at Carnegie Hall to give this work its New York City debut; but you will have heard it first!
We hope to see you there! There is no cost to attend.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Most of these singers will be coming from other cites and few of them could use housing. If you would be willing to house a singer on Friday May 20, please contact Kevin Gray at kgray@sjcharlotte.org or 803-524-0287
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Just a few more tickets remain for the Charlotte Knights game on May 22 that are guaranteed to be with the group. More can be purchased if needed. After worship that Sunday, some of us will take the trolley to Truist Field together. Buy your tickets by clicking below! | |
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Refugee 101 at St. John's on May 18
On May 18, at 11:30AM, the volunteer coordinator at Refugee Support Services will come to the lounge at St. John’s to provide their one-hour Refugee 101 orientation session.
Plan to come to the lounge, bring a lunch, and learn the latest about refugees arriving in Charlotte and how we can help extend a welcome to them. Whether you plan to volunteer for direct contact or merely want to find out more about the RSS programs and other ways to support the work of this organization, mark your calendar now and plan to join us for an interesting and informative session!
Please email either Nina Phillips (ninacarl@gmail.com) or Beverly Hester (beverlyrhester@earthlink.net) to let us know that you will be there. Thanks!
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Serving a Monthly Meal at Roof Above Men's Shelter
Are you ready to go back?
For 33 years St. John’s served the meal for the Men’s Shelter on the third Friday of each month.
COVID messed up our record!
In recent weeks, we have talked with several people who are willing to serve again. So, here are your mission service opportunities:
- Food Gathering & Delivery
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Serving Dinner: We need 4 servers at the shelter from 5:30 until 7:00 on the third Friday of each month. (You can sign up to serve each month, once a quarter, or twice per year.)
Check your schedule and look for a signup soon for May 20.
If you have any questions, Joy Jarrett will be glad to answer: worthjarrett@att.net
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The Faith Journey book study will hold their final spring meeting this Monday, May 9.
Bring your own lunch. Dessert and drinks will be provided.
There will be discussion of the final chapter (12) of Radical Hospitality.
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From the Heritage Room-
Just a note-- last week's article about the decade of the 1940's was written by Ken Sanford
Some highlights from the 1940's:
1941-- The church debt was significantly reduced; the operating budget increased by 35%, and $3,000 was allocated for redecorating. The last debt payment was made in 1943.
1943-- Dr. Durden announced on September 12 his retirement to be effective April 1, 1944, after 15 years of service
1944-- At his final sermon on April 2, Dr. Durden announced he would donate his personal library to the church. (Many of these books are now in the Heritage Room).
Dr. Claude U. Broach accepted the congregation's call on May 23, leaving the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board.
In his acceptance, Dr. Broach wrote, "We shall enter upon this new relationship in a time of universal sorrow and turmoil", referring to Word War II. He added, "Yesterday is radiant with achievement, today is full of duty, tomorrow is abundant in promise, and faith is the victory!" His first sermon was July 23, 1944.
1946-- The church accepted an offer from L. L. Hackney of tracts of land in the Paw Creek and Crab Orchard townships for the development of a church camp. The church began a building fund. The Mecklenburg Baptist Interracial Commission was established with Dr. Broach as the Chairman.
1947-- The church celebrated its 25th Anniversary on March 23. A pageant written by Virginia Burkhead, the Youth Director, and Fannie Rupelt, the church secretary (and mother of Nina Phillips) was presented to celebrate the Anniversary. (A copy of this pageant is in the Heritage Room.)
1948-- The church purchased an apartment building on Fifth Street to be used for Sunday School and supported the start up of Westover Baptist Church. St. John's also sponsored twenty one refugee families from Latvia (displaced after World War II).
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Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations
- Shirley Ballard, Martha Brown, Stan Brown, Kathleen Bumgardner, Tish Philemon, Jerry Stephens, Don Swofford
- Sympathy to Ed Turner and family in the passing of his beloved wife, Dee Turner, on Monday, May 2. The service to celebrate the life of Dee Turner will be held in the Sanctuary on May 16 at 1PM with a receiving to follow.
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
- Week of April 26-May 2: $24,305
- Income through May 2: $434,964
- Annual 2022 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,135,000
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Ministers On-Call Schedule
- May 2-8: Kevin Gray
- May 9-15: Lee Gray
Staff Contact Information
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Jenny Godfrey, Administrative Assistant - 704-333-5428, ext. 11
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Dennis Foust, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 12
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Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-451-1309 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 15
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Kevin Gray, Minister for Music and Worship - 803-524-0287 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 14
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Jacquelyn McAbee, Church Administrator - 434-579-1177 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 20
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Mallory Brown- 704-477-3349 (cell)
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