Week of June 20-26, 2022 | Vol. 81 Issue 25

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR CHURCH

by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister

Now that I have your attention, please do not be alarmed. Yes, there is much going on in your church while you are scattered this summer. Let me update you on a few details.

First, our youth ministry is moving through the summer with good energy. Last Sunday, Lee Gray boarded a plane with 19 youth and adult chaperones to serve in the mission of God in Chicago. They will return this Saturday and two of our youth will make a report during the worship hour on Sunday.

In addition, Meg Bond is providing guidance for our youth during their Sunday morning learning sessions and planning some fun activities this summer. We are grateful to Meg, Lee, and our parents of youth for their service during these transitional months.

In early August, we will welcome our new Minister for Youth and Young Adults to Charlotte. She will be with our youth during their Mission Immersion Week here in the Queen City.

On Sunday, August 14, she will preach her first sermon in the St. John’s Pulpit. Continue to pray for this young couple as they complete their ministry in another state and relocate here.

Second, our new Ministry Coordinator, Amanda Morrison is now in her third week of service alongside us. She is already bringing increased organization to the office. Amanda is a joyful person with excellent problem-solving skills and capacities for multi-tasking. Let her tell you a few of her wonderfully entertaining stories about living in Korea, Japan, and London.

Third, our Global Mission Offering will make the world better. Our gifts support teachers at the community school in Nyarweng, South Sudan, and provide essential foods for Ukrainian refugees. Our goal is $25,000.

Fourth, Kevin Gray is in New York City this week where his composition, Jazz Mass, will be performed in Carnegie Hall. Congratulations to Kevin for this tremendous honor.

Fifth, our Search Team for a new Minister for Children and Their Families has gathered information and expects to begin receiving applications in July. Please continue to pray for this effort. Tremendous thanks to Mindy Vergakis and Becky Benton for coordinating our preschool and children’s ministries during this interim season.

Sixth, Jacquelyn McAbee, our Church Administrator, is on a mission trip to Kenya until the end of June. Please pray for her to have a meaningful and spiritually renewing journey.

Seventh, our Messaging and Media Resource Team is moving toward implementing some exciting emphases to bolster our recognizable presence in the city. Expect to see new images and expanded messaging in the months ahead.

Eighth, our House and Grounds Resource Team and Administrative Deacon Panel have been busy making improvements to our facilities. Some water pipes (maybe 96 years old) have been replaced and air conditioning equipment for two areas of the facilities are ordered. A room in Lasater Hall was modified for expanded ministry purposes. In July, a company will begin pressure washing and making mortar repairs to our facilities along Fifth Street and all along Hawthorne Lane. This work will be followed by painting and sealing these structures.

This is some of what is happening. I just want to keep you updated before we regather at the end of this summer. Gather with us when you are in town or when away, participate on our YouTube channel. Till I see you again, remember, the light of Jesus Christ within you penetrates darkness wherever you are. Keep on building a better world by promoting peace and sharing compassion.

Loving Our Neighbors Around the Globe

2022 Global Missions Offering

Our goal for this year's annual Global Missions Offering is $25,000.

As of now, we have received just $1,460 towards this goal.

Where will this offering go?

$20,000 will go to support our friends at the Nyarweng School, South Sudan.

$5,000 will go to Project Ruth to support those affected by the war in Ukraine.

You can give towards this goal today by donating online and specifying Global Missions (button below), or by writing "Global Missions" in the memo line on your check.

Give to Global Missions

The Youth have had an incredible week so far on a mission trip in Chicago. During worship this Sunday, several of them will give a report on their time.

Assist M.E. Collection

June is our month to collect medical equipment (wheelchairs, shower seats, toilet chairs, walkers...) for Assist M.E.

Assist M.E. is a non-profit organization in the Charlotte. They take in gently used medical equipment and gift it to low income, uninsured patients in our community. Assist M.E. gets wheelchairs, bedside commodes, walkers, shower chairs and other medical equipment from individual donors and organizations.

NO BRACES OF ANY KIND, PLEASE.

Please bring medical equipment to the closet at the Main Entrance as you are able throughout the month of June. Contact Jane Starnes for more information at 704-618-8353.

We are sorry to inform you but the Frozen Community Cue, scheduled for Sunday, June 26, is cancelled. We will keep you updated on future plans.

Free Concert | July 3 | 7PM | Sanctuary

The concert is FREE and open to the public. Join us for an evening of music!

This concert is sponsored by the American Guild of Organists and St. John’s and will feature two incredible organists, David Wilcox and Annette Martin, playing mostly patriotic music.

Can you help?

The Heritage Room files are missing Youth Directories for the following years:

1991-1992

1992-1993

1993-1994

1993-1995

If you have a copy of any of these, please consider donating.

You can give to Fredda Kimball, Linda Crowder, or Amanda in the office.

Thanks in advance.

Men's Shelter Update!

A report from last Friday's evening of service:

Thank you to Lynn Bishop for buying food, Dick and Barbara Schafer, Dale Johnson, and Kevin Lynch for serving, and Barbara, Elizabeth Whipple, Fredda Kimball, Eva Lee, Christa Lynch, Carol Johnson, Carol Snyder, Gearlene Hoffman and Joy for the banana pudding.

Now check your calendars! Just one click will get you on the list for this opportunity on July 15. Will you consider signing up for this great cause?

Click on the button below to sign up for service to our neighbors.

From the Heritage Room:

A couple of additional comments about the buildings—

The elevator was installed in the early 1950’s. When the Educational Building (Chapel Building) was built, the third floors of the original sanctuary building and the Educational Building were not connected. The upper floors were not connected until the Broach Hall building was built in the early 1990’s. Air conditioning was installed in 1958. We have pictures of the Sanctuary Building with the windows open. The highest temperature in the 1950’s was 104.

Church Staff in the 1950’s-

As the congregation grew, there were also changes to the staff during the decade. Cecil Rathel who held degrees from Stetson University and Southwestern Baptist Seminary came in 1952 as the Minister of Education. He was followed in 1956 by Frank Perry who had attended UNC-Chapel Hill and Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville. He only stayed a year and was followed by John Totten in 1957 who finished out the decade. Kenneth Dooley came to St. John’s as Minister of Music in 1949. One interesting note about Mr. Dooley—he studied with Fred Waring in New York during the summer in 1951. He brought back ideas for lighting effects for the Christmas cantata that year and asked for assistance from the lighting director with the Charlotte Opera. He announced in early 1953 that he was leaving.

Paul Langston was chosen as his successor. He came directly from his graduation from the School of Music at Southern Baptist Seminary and earned his doctorate from Union Theological Seminary after coming to St. John’s. He was widely recognized as a composer, an organ recitalist, and a choral director. He taught at Davidson and Queens College and served as the Assistant Director of the Oratorio Singers. While at St. John’s, he was responsible for seven choirs, three of which performed each Sunday. His most popular work, an anthem setting of three stanzas of the hymn-text, “God of Grace and God of Glory”, was composed at the suggestion of Dr. Claude Broach. He resigned in July 1960 and moved to DeLand, Florida where he served on the music faculty as both teacher end department chair of Stetson University.