Church Calendar | Realm Log-In | Deacon Schedule | Usher Schedule | Greeter Schedule | Men's Shelter Sign Up | Room in the Inn Sign Up | Basketball Schedule

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

1. Dennis's Article
2. Youth Sunday THIS Sunday
3. Youth Bake Sale on Saturday
4. Upcoming Opportunities for Children & Families
5. Love Offering for Kevin Gray
6. Brewery Night on February 17
7. Fat Tuesday on Friday February 24
8. Youth Trip to Atlanta in March
9. Youth Mission Auction Coming Soon
10. Snapshot Sundays
11. Lent for Littles
12. On the Way to King's Kitchen on February 15
13. Basketball Schedule
14. Elizabeth Communities of Faith Lenten Services
15. Heritage Article - the 1980s
16. Prayer List & Memorial Services
17. Minister On Call Schedule & Staff Contact Info

Are You 55 Years of Age or Older?

by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister

If you are 55 years of age or older, you should know that one of our Residential Ministry Partners is just for you. Shepherd’s Center Charlotte (SCC) was started by members of St. John’s and others in the community in 1979. SCC is part of a nationwide network of more than 50 Shepherd’s Centers to help people age well.

St. John’s, even as we strengthen our congregational outreach and ministry programming for young adults and families with children & youth in coming years, we must also strengthen our opportunities to serve persons of every age. The percentage of our 55+ population is expanding locally and nationally. By 2035, an additional 140,000 residents aged 55 and older will be living in Mecklenburg County. This age group will be the fastest growing age group in Mecklenburg County and nearly half of the total county population growth by the year 2035 will come from those aged 55+.

This is one reason why I am so glad Shepherd’s Center Charlotte is one of our Residential Ministry Partners. The mission of SCC is to provide a network of support and services for the senior community of Charlotte by increasing social connections, expanding access to critical resources, and combating negative effects of isolation. Currently, they are offering ‘Adventures in Learning’ classes on Mondays in Broach Hall, free tax return preparation services through AARP, SHIIP Medicare Counseling, AARP Digital Skills classes for 50+, and several other opportunities for persons 55+.

The offices of Shepherd’s Center Charlotte are located along the Chapel hallway near our Heritage Room. You may reach their Executive Director, Alissa Celek; Program Coordinator, Liza Tindall, or Office Manager, Bethany Ridgeway in their offices by calling 704-365-1995 or by email at acelek@shepherdscharlotte.org.

I will be offering two lectures during the winter and spring sessions of Adventures in Learning and as a member of St. John’s, I want to personally invite you to be my guests at one or both of the following Mondays to be introduced to the Adventures in Learning experience.

• Monday, February 13, at 10:00 - ‘FAITH: WHAT, WHY, AND HOW CAN IT INTEGRATE OUR LIVES?’
• Monday, May 15, at 10:00 - ‘A FAITH FOR THE FUTURE: IMAGINING A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD.’

According to research conducted by the Age Friendly Mecklenburg committee, senior residents want to be active, informed, supported, and connected. The county Action Plan includes strategies for eight focus areas, or Domains of Livability, established by AARP and the World Health Organization: Social Participation; Civic Participation and Employment; Health Services and Community Support; Respect and Social Inclusion; Housing; Transportation; Outdoor Spaces and Buildings; and Communication and Information.

Beloved, our partnership with Shepherd’s Center Charlotte strengthens our ministries to this growing segment of our city’s population. I encourage you to learn more about SSC and become involved. Your life will be enriched, and you will be a blessing to others.

Shalom!

Youth Sunday

February 12

Youth will be in charge of every aspect of worship this Sunday, February 12 for Youth Sunday!

Our preachers are hard at work on their sermons and they have completed most of our creative projects for the service! The youth had a wonderful time practicing each element of worship last Sunday with Haley and Kevin. The theme for the service is Micah 6:8 which is our theme for this year: Do Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly.

We are looking forward to this day of supporting and celebrating our youth!

Bake Sale Supporting SJ Youth!

THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

On Saturday, February 11, The Women of the Church will have a homemade baked goods sale in our gym foyer in conjunction with our children and youth basketball games that day. The bake sale will feature a variety of $1.00 items in zip lock bags (and any items with nuts will be clearly marked). Our 18 and under girls team - The Green Dragons - will play their final home game at 10:00 am that morning. Our 15 and Under Girls - The Electric Green Machine - will play at 11:00 am, and our 10 & Under Girls - The Evergreens - will play at 12:00.

The bake sale will last from 9:45 am until 1:00 pm or until supplies run out. All proceeds will benefit the children and youth programs at St. John’s.

Upcoming Opportunities for Children and Families

• Artful Lent: Sundays in March (5, 12, and 26) for K-5th graders, 11:30am, Lasater Hall. (Details shared soon.)
• Easter Egg Hunt and Lunch: On Sunday, April 2, immediately following worship, our church will gather in Broach for a fellowship-wide lunch. An Easter egg hunt and other festive activities will follow!
• 



Love Offering for Kevin Gray

J. Kevin Gray has accepted a position for Minister of Worship and Music at Myers Park Baptist Church beginning on March 1, 2023. His last Sunday to be with us at St. John's will be on February 26, 2023. We have been blessed with Kevin's skills, talents and kind spirit for eight years and we wish him nothing but the best in his new position.  

To show our love and appreciation for his service to the members of St. John's, we will be a collecting a Love Offering for Kevin. This will be given to him as he is commissioned on February 26, 2023.

Contributions can be made by check to the church (Kevin Gray Love Offering in the memo line, online through Realm (click below and choose "Love Offering") or by text (text SJGIVE and the amount to 73256). All contributions are due by Wednesday, February 22.

Brewery Night

February 17 from 6:30-8:30pm

All young adults are invited to Brewery Night on February 17 at 6:30 at Brewers at 4001 Yancey. Come and enjoy great conversation and fun!

Contact Haley Blackwell for questions.

Fat Tuesday on Friday

Register today!

Come join us for Fat Tuesday on Friday on February 24 @ 6:00 pm in Broach Hall. A George Brooks pancake dinner will be served and there will be games for the whole family to enjoy! Our very own Minister for Music and Worship, Kevin Gray, will provide musical entertainment. You don’t want to miss this fantastic opportunity for fun and fellowship!

Register on Realm or with the button below to attend.

Atlanta Trip for Youth

March 3-5

During February, the youth are working through a Yale Institute of Youth Ministry curriculum that will help our students dialogue with issues surrounding race.

To follow up this series they will take a trip to Atlanta, GA on March 3-5. Youth will visit the National Civil and Human Rights Museum, The King Center, and Ebenezer Baptist Church. Please let Haley know if you would like to chaperone this trip with the youth.

Youth can register by tapping or clicking the red button below.

Cost is $130 and includes all travel, meals, museum tickets, and lodging for the weekend. There is some scholarship available, contact Haley for more information on that.

Youth Mission Auction

Coming April 30!

We are now accepting donations for our 2023 Youth Mission Auction which will take place on April 30! 

You may fill out an online form or you will find paper forms in the church office (or click green button below to print at home). You may drop your paper form off in the box outside Haley's office labeled Youth/Haley Blackwell.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks! For now, consider what you can donate to this wonderful cause.

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

Our children and their families are invited to "journey" through the season of Lent through immersive and sensory experiences on Sunday, March 5 after worship.

Sand, water, stickers, ashes, and even jelly beans will help us understand this serious season of preparing for Easter.

Register on Realm or by clicking below.

On the Way

Lunch at King's Kitchen on February 15

St. John’s retired adults (and friends) will be On the Way to King’s Kitchen for lunch on Wednesday, February 15. 

We will meet at the church at 10:45am and then be waiting at the trolley stop (at 5th & Hawthorne) at 11:00 am. The trolley comes every 15 minutes during the week, and our uptown stop is one block away from our lunch site. We have reservations for an 11:30 am lunch in a private meeting room that seats up to 16 people, plus we can also have the table nearest that room for overflow. We should return back to the church about 1:30 pm. 

Please let Lee Gray LGray@sjcharlotte.org know if you plan to participate so he can verify our numbers and provide the best seating arrangement with our contact.

Children & Youth Basketball Schedule

This week's basketball game schedule is posted below. The entire schedule for the regular season can be found in the Family News here.

February 11:

• 6u Co-Ed 1aa - No Game - 12:00pm Fun Day @ St. Stephen UM
• 8u Boys 14a - Tournament Starts - probably 1:15, 2:15, or 3:15 @ St. John’s
• 8u Girls 26ga - TWO GAMES 8:30am @ Park Road Baptist 2:45pm @ Providence Baptist
• 10u Girls 43gb - 12:00pm @ St. John’s
• 12u Boys 48c - 9:30am @ Sardis Presbyterian
• 15u Girls 74gd - 11:00am @ St. John’s
• 18u Girls 97ge - 10:00am @ St. John’s

Come by and cheer on the St. John's teams one Saturday! 

Elizabeth Communities of Faith Lenten Services

The Elizabeth Communities of Faith will begin the 2023 Lenten Services on Ash Wednesday, February 22 and continue each Wednesday in March in the Sanctuary at St. John's with lunch afterwards in Lasater Hall.

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.

Note: for Ash Wednesday only, we will meet at St. Martin's for worship instead of St. John's.

• Wednesday, February 22 at 12pm: Ash Wednesday Service at St. Martin's Episcopal Church
• Wednesday, March 1 at 12pm: Service at St. John's Baptist in the Sanctuary with a soup lunch afterwards in Lasater Hall (donation of $5-$10 suggested for lunch)
• Wednesday, March 8 at 12pm: Service at St. John's Baptist in the Sanctuary with a soup lunch afterwards in Lasater Hall
• Wednesday, March 15 at 12pm: Service at St. John's Baptist in the Sanctuary with a soup lunch afterwards in Lasater Hall
• Wednesday, March 22 at 12pm: Service at St. John's Baptist in the Sanctuary with a soup lunch afterwards in Lasater Hall
• Wednesday, March 29 at 12pm: Service at St. John's Baptist in the Sanctuary with a soup lunch afterwards in Lasater Hall

From the Heritage Room

A few more notes about St. John’s in the decade of the 1980’s—

In addition to mission activities, the members of St. John’s participated in tennis and golf tournaments, went on camping trips, played softball and basketball, and enjoyed roller skating in gym. There were Family Fun Nights during the summer which included attending baseball games and the Summer Pops. Neighborhood Fellowships were held with members hosting other members from nearby neighborhoods. The XYZ’s (Extra Years of Zest) went on several day and longer trips, including Shatley Springs and Nashville. The Country Carnival was held every fall. There was a church trip to the Charlotte Hornets versus Atlanta Hawks game in 1989- the Hornets first season. There were Men’s Fellowship dinners with speakers, including David Thompson. Roman Gabriel, and George Shinn.

Read the rest here.

Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations

• Martha Brown, Barbara McElwey, Nyandheng Mijak
• Happy 96th Birthday to Jeck Warren on February 14!
• Sympathy to Tom Bryson and family in the passing of his wife, Martha Bryson, on Saturday January 28. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Martha will be held on Sunday, February 19 at 1:30pm in the Sanctuary with a reception following.

Minister On-Call Schedule

• Feb. 6-12: Dennis
• Feb. 13-19: Haley
• Feb. 20-26: Kevin
• Feb. 27-Mar. 5: Kheresa

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)
• Kevin Gray, Minister for Music and Worship - 803-524-0287 (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