St. John's Family News

Week of September 26 - October 2, 2022 | Vol. 81 Issue 38

www.stjohnsbaptistchurch.org | @sjbccharlotte

Church Calendar | Realm Log-In | Deacon Schedule | Usher Schedule | Greeter Schedule | Men's Shelter Sign Up


We apologize for the technical difficulties this weekend for the Organ Extravaganza & Sunday Worship. Click here to view the Organ Extravaganza and here to view Sunday Worship.


CONNECTED CHURCH – GATHERED CHURCH – SCATTERED CHURCH


St. John's Is One

by Dennis W. Foust

 

I NEED YOUR HELP!


These are exciting days in the life of St. John’s. I’m having fun!


We have several initiatives and opportunities to provide spiritual growth, learning, and missional renewal.


We are making new beginnings in ministries with youth and children.


We are entering the last six months of our centennial year and entering our second century.


We are expanding our efforts of outreach and hospitality through messaging and media and welcoming new people.


New leaders are engaging in their responsibilities.


We are welcoming new collaborative and positive staff members. 


Yet, we are still living in an in-between time.


And here is where I need your help!

 

Now in my twelfth year as your senior minister, I have used the phrases ‘Gathered Church’ and ‘Scattered Church’ to emphasize how we live as the church in the world. Yet, let’s be honest, the church is a living and changing organism. I am introducing another component to this rhythm of Gathered and Scattered. Let’s increase our efforts to always be A CONNECTED CHURCH!

 

Here are three ways I am trying to nurture this experience of CONNECTED CHURCH:


  1. 1@1 - One Another at 1. Every day at 1:00pm, we do something to invest in one another. You may celebrate CONNECTED CHURCH by praying for our church. You may send a text or email to express encouragement or care. You may write a note or make a call. (Do this at least once/week.)
  2. Daily Gospel Passage. Beginning this Saturday, I am asking you to read or listen to the same verses from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each day. We have prepared a Matthew guide for you to use during October, November, and December. (CLICK HERE FOR THE GUIDE) Each quarter will provide a new guide. Our ministry staff is recording each day’s passage so you can listen on the go. (CLICK HERE FOR OCTOBER 1-7 RECORDINGS) Please resist the temptation to read or listen ahead so you can live into CONNECTED CHURCH.
  3. Register to Participate in Saltshakers. These small groups will introduce you to new people and help you catch up on folks you already know. (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP)

 

As we emerge from the risks of this pandemic, we are also holding onto the individualized freedoms we enjoyed during those months. We are changing the patterns of how we express our commitments to The Way of Jesus as the church. Despite the negativity, cynicism and chaos around us, we are investing in hope, justice, peace, joy, and love. Some of us are trying to get beyond our fears and some of us are still figuring out what to do with the influence of affluence. Some of us have returned to the commitments we expressed prior to the pandemic. Some of us have experienced family system restructuring due to natural changes of life cycles. We need one another at each life stage.

 

Whether we are gathered church or scattered church, WE MUST BE CONNECTED CHURCH! It’s fun!

Daily Gospel Passages for October 1-14


Click here for the daily guide. Below are the readings for the first half of October.


  • October 1 - Matthew1:1-25
  • October 2 - Matthew 2:1-23 
  • October 3 - Matthew 3:1-17
  • October 4 - Mathew 4:1-16
  • October 5 - Matthew 4:17-25
  • October 6 - Matthew 5:1-12
  • October 7 - Matthew 5:13-20
  • October 8 - Matthew 5:21-26
  • October 9 - Matthew 5:27-32
  • October 10 - Matthew 5:33-37
  • October 11 - Matthew 5:38-42
  • October 12 - Matthew 5:43-48 
  • October 13 - Matthew 6:1-4 
  • October 14 - Matthew 6:5-15

Al Staggs Coming October 15!

This fall, two years after our original plan with Al Staggs, we finally have Al Staggs coming to St. John's to present his dramatic play from the Sanctuary on Saturday, October 15 at 6PM. This play, "A View from the Underside," brings the life of one of the great heroes of the twentieth century, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, to the stage. The audience is brought into the prison cell where Bonhoeffer awaits execution and listens to his struggles with evil, injustice, and God.


Join us as Al Staggs presents his depiction of Bonhoeffer. On Sunday morning, October 16 during worship, Al will present his depiction of Clarence Jordan.


This is brought to you by the McLeod-Brown Fund of St. John's Baptist Church.


Purchase your $10 tickets TODAY through Eventbrite. Click the button below to purchase.


*If you purchased tickets for this event in 2020 or this spring, your tickets are still good for OCtober 15.



Al Staggs Tickets

Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk

St. John's is walking to stop hunger locally and around the world on October 16.


The CROP Hunger Walk is an annual walk averaging 4 miles that takes place nationally each fall and represents the average distance citizens of developing nations have to walk to obtain clean water. This walk raises awareness and funds for malnourished communities both domestically and abroad. The Charlotte Chapter is the largest CROP Hunger Walk in the country in both the number of funds raised and the number of walkers who participate.


The walk has a flexible start at 1:30pm (each group can begin walking as soon as they are ready). We are walking around the field at Memorial Stadium, so you can walk as little or as much as you like, or come sit in the stands and cheer on the walkers.


Micah Belong is our team captain and you can reach them at e-mail micahbenjibelong@gmail.com or by text or phone at 541-210-1357.


Register below to walk with us on October 16!


CROP Walk Registration

Building a Better World: October 26 at 5:30pm

Expanding our Partnership with Church World Service


As you know, St. John’s has for many years provided office space for Church World Service’s CROP Walk. You will see elsewhere in the Family News the notice about our continuing support of their work in the upcoming Crop Walk to feed those throughout the world affected by hunger and poverty.


Church World Service was begun after World War II when 17 Christian denominations came together to address the devastation created by the war and to “do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as well alone”. While the initial efforts were on distributing food and medical supplies, the focus has evolved over the years to include many situations that affect the quality of life for the world’s poor, such as natural disasters, wars, violence, and economic inequality. This organization also provides much needed services for immigrants and refugees.


Our longstanding support of the work of CWS is expanding beyond CROP to include two more of the CWS programs:

  • The Home Study and Post Release Services program, which began in July 2022 and is now housed at St. John’s, serves unaccompanied immigrant children and their sponsoring families.
  • The Greater Charlotte Area Immigrant Solidarity Fund, which operates in collaboration with Comunidad Colectiva, a grassroots organization in Charlotte that advocates for and serves the immigrant community.


On Wednesday, October 26, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. we will learn more about these new programs, as three enthusiastic leaders will be with us for a meal in Broach Hall and a presentation about their work. The speakers are:


  • Gricelda de la Cruz, Director of the Home Study and Post Release Services program and the Charlotte office of CWS-NC
  • German Munoz, Migrant Services Coordinator for CWS-NC and administrator of the Greater Charlotte Area Immigrant Solidarity Fund
  • Daniela Andrade, Community Support Coordinator for Comunidad Colectiva


Reservations for the meal should be made by noon on Friday, October 21. Cost is $10.00 each, or $30.00 per family. You may reserve your meal either:


  1. On Realm by CLICKING HERE.
  2. By filling out one of the paper forms, available outside Amanda’s office, and giving it to Amanda or putting it in the “Sunday/After Hours” box outside her office.
  3. Or by calling Amanda at 704-333-5428 ext. 11. You will need to provide your name and how many people for whom you are reserving a meal.


No reservation is needed for anyone choosing to attend the program only, from 6:00-7:00 p.m.


We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to hear more about these Church World Service programs.

Register Here

Craft & Bake Sale: October 16

The Needle and Craft Ministry will be having a Craft Fair & Bake Sale this fall on October 16 after worship service.  


Our proceeds will be donated to expand our Sunday school ministry to young children and to fight hunger by donating to Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays.


Please put this date on your calendars and plan to come and shop for a cause!


We need your help with any craft items or baked goods you could donate. Please call Tricia Miller (704-562-4818) OR Ruth Jackson (704-517-5198) if you can help.

From the Heritage Room: Milestones in the 70’s

by Ken Sanford


The decade of the 1970s was one of change and progress. As the Youth Ministries Building was completed, the church was able to expand its ministries to the congregation and the community. The Week Day School was an asset to the congregation as more women joined the workforce. At the same time, the church served the community with a Child Development Center in cooperation with the Department of Social Services. The gym served both St. John’s and the community as youth basketball teams took the court and began league play and children scooted around on roller skates. The ministry of facility was added to the church’s outreach through hospital and nursing home visitation, school tutoring, language tutoring for non-English speaking people, and assistance to Miss Anita Stroud’s Bible-teaching and counseling ministry to minority children, a program with key leadership from the Rev. Robert Lasater.


With the church approaching its 50th anniversary, it adopted a record budget of $257,815. That anniversary was celebrated with the dedication of the Youth Ministries Building, the presentation of a play and the publication of a 50-year history.


Read more here

Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations


  • Tarsha Williams, Arnold Philemon, Martha Brown, Joyce Ehrenberger, Sierra Leone, Rob Peacock

Financial Ministry Plan Update


  • Month of August 1-31 $65,306
  • Income through August 31: $735,881
  • Annual 2022 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,135,000

Minister On-Call Schedule

 

  • September 26-October 2: Lee
  • October 3-9: Kevin
  • October 10-16: Haley

Staff Contact Information


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



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