St. John's Family News
Week of April 24-30, 2023 | Vol. 82 Issue 17
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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):
- With Deep Gratitude: A Message from and Update on Dennis
- Welcoming Caleb Foust to the St. John's Pulpit
- Upcoming Special Sundays
- Building a Better World on May 3
- Paint and Sip for Moms on May 11
- St. John's Academy of the Arts Music Camps: Register Now
- Bounce Into Summer for Children and Families
- Prayer List
- Minister On Call Schedule & Staff Contact Info
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WITH DEEP GRATITUDE!
by Dennis W. Foust
(written on Tuesday, April 25)
Hello my beloved St. John’s. I am deeply grateful for your prayers and expressions of love and concern for me, Paula, and our family.
Although I have never written a weekly article from a hospital bed in the Cardiac Care Unit at Atrium, this is my situation today. As most of you know, I had what my cardiac surgeon is calling “a major heart attack due to my right cardiac artery being 100% blocked.” I am still processing my surprise, in part because my annual physical did not offer any warning signs and in part because I walked 6.2 miles last Friday without any shortness of breath or chest pain. On Saturday morning, at 3:30AM, I awakened due to pain in my back between my shoulder blades and some shortness of breath. I began feeling better in the afternoon. I reviewed the Sunday sermon several times on Saturday evening and felt fine. Then, I was awakened at 4:00AM with the same pain and shortness of breath. Later in the morning, the pain caused extreme nausea and moved to my chest. Between 7 and 7:30, I called our dear Lee Gray and explained I could not be present. I also asked him to present the sermon and emailed it to him. Paula called Dr. Raleigh Godsey who narrowed down what could be going on including a heart attack. So, she drove me to Atrium Main Medical Center.
When I walked into the Atrium Emergency Department, their responsiveness was immediate. Their initial tests caused them to jump into quick action and had me in the surgical room within twenty minutes. I cannot say enough about the ER staff. Each of them were such caring personal professionals. They even allowed me to tease them and a couple were interested in hearing the sermon on ‘What is On the Other Side of Shame?’ One nurse laughed and said, “After my Saturday night, I don’t want to hear anything about shame.” I teased her that her hesitancy revealed the sermon could be just for her. 😇 We laughed and she rolled my bed from ER up to surgery.
Upon arrival in the surgical room, the surgeon explained that I was having a major heart attack and why and what they were about to do. I was shocked since I had never lost consciousness and never had a sharp pain in my chest or down my arm. They put me under and I awakened in my CCU room. Paula was here and Caleb was with her after driving down from High Point. Rachael flew in from Tampa. Kim Allen met her and drove her to Atrium. Nathan has called and FaceTimed multiple times and we FaceTime with my mother and siblings daily.
As I was writing these words, my doctor visited with the good news that I am being released today. The other good news is that long-term damage to my heart is minimal and the expectation is that with a very strict diet, exercise, and stress reduction, the heart muscle will become stronger to reach a healthy heart functional range. They are recommending a period of rest and a gradual return to normal activities with new boundaries. They have given permission for us to go to Rachael & Dave’s home in Tampa for several days. We will return next Wednesday and I will begin a Cardiac Care Program with Sanger Heart Clinic that will involve three appointments per week for exercise and heart-health education.
After conversations this morning with Paula, MC Sorrell (chair of deacons), Steven Follis (personnel chair), and the church staff, the current plan is for me to prepare for Sundays and be present on Sundays beginning May 7 through June. Later in the summer, I will gradually add other responsibilities. I am grateful to our fine staff and church leadership for their initiative and collaboration. Please support them. This Sunday, our youngest son, Caleb, Associate Pastor at Emerywood Baptist Church in High Point, will offer the sermon. He has spoken with our staff about worship theme, scriptures, etc.
Again, thank you for your compassionate support and prayers. Please continue to pray for us as we pray for you. Shalom!
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Welcoming Rev. Caleb Foust to the St. John's Pulpit
This Sunday, we welcome Rev. Caleb Foust to the St. John's pulpit as our proclaimer preaching a message called, "Remember Whose You Are"
In addition to being the son of our own Dennis and Paula Foust, Caleb is the Associate Minister at Emerywood Baptist Church in High Point, NC.
Born in Louisville, KY, and raised across most of the southeastern US, Caleb graduated from Samford University, with a B.A. Religion and minors in Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, and History. At Samford, he met his amazingly talented Wife Mary Beth and after college, they married and moved to Richmond, VA to pursue a Master of Divinity. For the past 14 years, Caleb has worked in Churches across Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, and North Carolina. Caleb is a fan of most sports and loves to cheer on the Crimson Tide and Chicago Cubs. He and Mary Beth have 2 wonderfully confident daughters, Ava and Eleanor, and 2 dogs, Moses and Wrigley.
We are so glad that Caleb will join us on Sunday as we continue to keep our Senior Minister, Dennis Foust, in our prayers as he heals and recuperates.
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A Few Upcoming Special Sundays to Keep in Mind:
Sundays, May 7 and 14- INSTALLATIONS OF HALEY BLACKWELL & KHERESA HARMON
Before we step into the summer, we will pause to celebrate our ministries with children, youth, and young adults. We are blessed to have Haley Blackwell working with our youth and young adults. Her positive energy is infectious, and her creative insight is inspirational. We are also amazed by the many ministry gifts of Kheresa Harmon. She has brought new life to our ministries with children and their families. Plan to be present on these two Sundays as we celebrate new beginnings in these ministries.
Sunday, May 21- A SPECIAL DAY FOR CHURCH VISION WITH DR. BILL LEONARD
One of the most influential leaders among Baptists in North Carolina and in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship during the past thirty years is Dr. Bill Leonard. Bill is a long-time friend of St. John’s. He is a historian who watches how history is being made. He will be with us to offer perspective as to how a local church like St. John’s can impact our world in this 21st century.
Sunday, May 28- PENTECOST SUNDAY
Once again, we will celebrate all new beginnings that are ours through the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit. Various languages, children carrying symbolic flames, and expressions of unity through diversity will provide opportunities for spiritual renewal.
Sunday, June 4- SENIOR SUNDAY
Every year, we get to be blessed by celebrating our high school seniors. And they get to be blessed by us as we send them out into God’s massive universe. They have blessed us with their smiles, growth, trust, examples of commitment, joyful service, etc. Our prayers for them will carry them forward. We will celebrate new beginnings with their families as we worship God together on that special day.
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Building a Better World:
In Solidarity with Immigrant Children and Families
Register for Dinner Today!
Wednesday, May 3, 5:30-7:00 PM
Please join us in Broach Hall for a buffet meal at 5:30PM on May 3 followed by a conversation that focuses on immigrant children and families who are our neighbors---challenges they face, their resilience and triumphs, and how we can participate in welcoming them. Sharing experiences and insights with us will be Sil Ganzo, Executive Director of ourBridge for Kids; Lindsey Goehring, a Charlotte immigration attorney who works with children and families; and Janice Melo from Church World Service.
Please register below if you plan to have dinner. No reservations are needed if you plan to attend the program only that starts at 6PM.
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Calling All Mothers!
Paint & Sip on May 11
Let’s celebrate the gift that is mothering! All mothers are invited to indulge in an evening of artistic relaxation on Thursday, May 11, 7-9PM, at City Art Room. Please register on Realm by May 8. The cost is $45.00.
We need a few good men! While the women of our church are indulging in an evening of artistic relaxation, men of the church will provide childcare on our church campus. Men, we need you! Please contact Kheresa Harmon by May 1 to volunteer.
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St. John's Academy of the Arts Summer Camps
Registration Now Open!
Registration for St. John’s Academy of the Arts Summer Camps has opened! We are offering four differing weeks of music camps for children and young teens ages 2-14. Two weeks are devoted to learning about music from around the world and two weeks are devoted to learning about the music of Broadway.
Visit www.summercampsatstjohns.org to learn more and to register. Questions? Please contact Jessica Borgnis, Director of the St. John’s Academy of the Arts, at arts@sjcharlotte.org.
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Bounce Into Summer!
Sunday, June 4 after Worship
Children and families, let’s bounce into summer with a bounce house, bubbles, chalk art, ice cream sundaes, and more after worship on Sunday, June 4. Please sign up on Realm or click below.
We can't wait to celebrate the summer with you!
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Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations
- Martha Brown, Barbara McElwey, Melanie Foust, Anna Lynn Kearse, Parker Fields, Archer Weaver, Arnold Philemon, Dennis Foust
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Financial Report
- 2023 Budget: $1,153,000
- Actuals through March:
- Income $223,297 (20%)
- Expenses $286,353 (25%)
- Surplus (Deficit) – ($63,056)
- Community and State Missions Offering: $10,592 raised towards our $7,000 goal!
Minister On-Call Schedule
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Staff Contact Information
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Haley Blackwell, Minister for Youth & Young Adults - 704-333,5428, ext. 2013; 620-515-3558 (cell)
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Rev. Dennis Foust, PhD, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 2012
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Rev. Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-333-5428, ext. 2015; 704-451-1309 (cell)
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Rev. Kheresa Harmon, Minister for Children & their Families - 704-333-5428, ext. 2018; 910-890-3392 (cell)
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Dr. Jared Daugherty, Interim Minister for Worship & Music- 704-333-5428, ext. 2014
- Jessica Borgnis, Academy of the Arts Director
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Mallory Brown, Media Coordinator - 704-477-3349 (cell)
- Chloe Hall, Children's Choir Director
- Noel Lance, Organist
- Dr. Matthew Manwarren, Associate Organist
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Amanda Morrison, Ministry Coordinator - 704-333-5428, ext. 0
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Lydia Olmsted, Weekday School Director - 704-333-5428, ext. 2039
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