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

1. Dennis's Article: Welcome to a New Season
2. Reception for Kevin Gray on Sunday
3. Our New Logo
4. Happy Birthday to Mae!
5. Elizabeth Communities of Faith Lenten Services
6. Lent for Littles
7. Artful Lent
8. Snapshot Sundays
9. Heritage Sunday and Luncheon
10. Prayer List
11. Minister On Call Schedule & Staff Contact Info

Welcome to a New Season

by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister

Lent – The Way of Jesus: Attitudes and Actions

This Sunday is the first Sunday during Lent. Although Lent imitates the forty days of Jesus being in the desert preparing the depth of his commitment to serve the mission of God, Sundays are not counted in those forty days. Sundays are always celebrations of God’s resurrection of Jesus Christ. We call these weeks the season of Lent because of the Latin word, Lencten (lengthen), for it is during these months that daytime hours lengthen, and darkness gradually gives way to light. These weeks of spiritual renewal call us to allow the light of Christ to shine in the dark corners of our lives.

On the Sundays during Lent, we will explore The Way of Jesus by focusing on his attitudes and actions. Our worship themes will guide us to consider forgiveness, humility, compassion, servanthood, and sacrifice. By investing our lives in Jesus’ attitudes and actions, we change the world and succeed in fulfilling God’s vision.

Please allow me to share two of my favorite passages in books about Jesus.

In The Mind of Jesus, William Barclay writes, “It may be said that there are two great beginnings in the life of every person who has left their mark upon history. There is the day when the person is born into the world and there is the day when the person discovers why they were born into the world. There was a time in the life of Jesus when he made that great discovery.” In our observance of Lent, we renew ourselves to God’s purpose for our lives. And we explore God’s purpose by considering The Way of Jesus’ Attitudes and Actions.

In Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, Marcus Borg writes, “The emphasis both in Jesus’ teaching and in the gospels themselves upon a ‘way’ or ‘path’ also points to an understanding of the religious life as a journey. Jesus teaches a ‘way’ and the gospels are about showing us ‘the way of Jesus.” As we journey through Lent, we will explore ‘the way of Jesus’ as the sacred path guiding us into an increased experience of God’s light.

Welcome to a new season.

Celebrating Kevin Gray

Sunday, February 26 in Lasater after Worship

Thank You Kevin! For the past 8 years, we have been able to enjoy Kevin Gray’s musical talents.

It has been my blessing to collaborate with him in worship planning for more than four-hundred Sundays. Numerous times, we have set upon an idea and Kevin has written text for a song within ten minutes. He is a gifted and accomplished composer and collaborator. As Kevin concludes his ministry among us this next Sunday, I am giving thanks for his kindness, positive spirit, breadth of musical appreciation, connections in the community, desire to help us experience joy through his musical abilities, compassionate service to the choir, solos, and performances. And, of course, we have appreciated his wonderful stories. As we gather for worship this week, let us be in prayer for him as he provides worship leadership for the last time in the St. John’s Sanctuary as Minister for Worship and Music.

Following worship, we will express our gratitude to him and then gather for a reception in Lasater Hall.

Introducing Our New Logo!

Over the past two years, our Messaging and Media Resource Team has worked with Christen Kinard of Digital Congregations to update our messaging, communications strategy, and logo (in the middle of a pandemic!).

We introduced our new logo on Sunday and are excited to continue projects like updating our website, fine tuning our social media presence, and refreshing our message in order to show those in Charlotte that we offer a distinct church experience, one that draws on tradition but also embraces change and is open to new visions for our path as followers of Jesus.

Since 1922, our historic church has grown and evolved as the city of Charlotte has grown and evolved around it. Today, St. John’s is again responding to change as thousands move to the Charlotte area each month. We are committed to showing up for the residents of our city:

• if you are in a period of transition and need the stability and familiarity of an established church,
• if you have been hurt by a church in the past and need a safe place to recover and heal,
• if you are looking for a community that will celebrate and share in life’s joys with you, even if you never step foot in our building.

Why? Because we love, value, and celebrate everyone. And we work hard to meet the social and spiritual needs we encounter inside our walls, in our neighborhood, and across our city. Our mission is to embrace and express God’s inclusive compassion and continue the ministry of Jesus. As St. John’s, we are committed to God, to each other and we are committed to you.

Please watch out for these updates to our communications and messaging over the next few months.

Elizabeth Communities of Faith Lenten Services

The Elizabeth Communities of Faith will continue the 2023 Lenten Services each Wednesday in March in the Sanctuary at St. John's with lunch afterwards in Lasater Hall. Donations will be accepted for lunch.

The theme for the services this year is "Journey to the Cross." We will partner with Hawthorne Lane UMC, St. Martin's Episcopal, Caldwell Presbyterian, and the area hospital chaplains for each service and lunch. See below for the schedule.

• Wednesday, March 1 at 12pm
• Wednesday, March 8 at 12pm
• Wednesday, March 15 at 12pm
• Wednesday, March 22 at 12pm
• Wednesday, March 29 at 12pm

Snapshot Sundays

Don't have a picture in Realm?

No problem! Each Sunday in March before Sunday School OR after Worship, stop by the Main Entrance and we will take your picture and upload it for you.

Asking yourself, "Why do I even need a profile picture?" These pictures are used to help ministers and members put a face to the name. This way we can get to know one another better.

So, come and have your picture taken each Sunday in March before Sunday School OR after worship at the Main Entrance.

Lent for Littles

Sunday, March 5

11:30-1:30 in Broach Hall

Join us on Sunday, March 5 for Lent for Littles. Come to Broach Hall immediately following worship for lunch and an immersive and sensory "journey" through the season of Lent. Sand art, water, dried palm fronds, ashes, and jellybeans will help us understand this serious season of preparing for Easter.

We will end our afternoon together by making simple Allelulia stoles, which we will “bury” until Easter. On Easter we will raise our stoles from their “tomb” and our children will be invited to wear them during worship. 

Register on Realm, contact Kheresa, or click below.

Artful Lent

Kindergarten-5th Grade

Sunday, March 26 at 11:30am

Our Kindergarten – 5th grade children are invited to Artful Lent on Sunday, March 26 at 11:30am in Broach Hall. 

Through art, our children will illustrate their understanding of “The Last Seven Words of Jesus from the Cross.” During Holy Week, our church family will be invited to visit our Stations of the Last Seven Words.

Register on Realm or click below.

Heritage Sunday & Luncheon

Sunday, March 19

Reservations Required

Please join us on Sunday, March 19 at 11:30am as we celebrate our second century. Following worship, there will be a catered lunch in Broach Hall followed by a Mission Fair in the gym. Cost of lunch is $15 for adults and $10 for children 5th grade and under.

Reservations for lunch with payment are required.

Lunch will include baked chicken, mac & cheese, green beans, coleslaw, and rolls. Cost is $15 per person. Children (5th grade and younger) $10 per child. There is a Household Maximum of $50 for all those within one household. You must pay in advance for this event. You can pay online or by check. Checks should be made to St. John’s Baptist Church and be given to Amanda Morrison in the Church Office by March 13. You may access the Realm registration link below.

Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations

• Martha Brown, Barbara McElwey, Nyandheng Mijak, Joseph Mabil Majak, Melanie Foust, Pat Engle, Parker Fields, Fan Watson 

Minister On-Call Schedule

• Feb. 20 – 26: Kheresa 
• Feb. 27- March 5: Dennis 
• March 6 – 12: Haley 
• March 13 – 19: Kheresa 
• March 20 – 26: Lee 

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)
• 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