Vol. 79 Issue 44 | Week of November 1-7, 2021 |
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faith to faith
by Dennis Foust
FAITH: A GIFT THAT INTEGRATES OUR LIVES
- What is the origin of faith in human life?
- Does every human have the capacity for faith?
- How does faith emerge within our lives?
- How does faith integrate our disjointed lives?
We are often too busy to consider these questions, although they are at the root of our life experience.
Faith is God’s gift planted within the soil of every human life. Faith is that gift that enables each person in every culture the capacity to relate with The Living God. However, just as one of Jesus’ parables explains why God’s message cannot take root in some lives, in like manner some lives are not fertile enough to allow the fruits of faith to grow. Some lives are like the hardened soil of a path, some lives are like rocky soil, and some lives are similar to soil that is encumbered by thorns. In Ephesians 2:8, we find Paul explaining, “For by grace you have been saved through FAITH, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
Faith begins to break through the soil in our lives when we express awe. As we open our lives to experience Transcendence, we are astonished and faith emerges as reverence and wonderment.
One of my favorite stories explaining this aspect of awe is the record of President Theodore Roosevelt often taking his staff outdoors after they would discuss global issues into the late night. He would look into the sky until he could point out to them the galaxy of Andromeda. Then he would say, "That is the spiral galaxy of Andromeda. It's as large as our Milky Way and is only one of a hundred million galaxies. It is 750,000 light-years away from this place where we are standing. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each one larger than our sun." After that explanation, Roosevelt would smile and say, "Now I think we are small enough, let’s go to bed."
Our lives are multi-dimensional. You may be familiar with the Wheel of Life. Like a pizza cut into several pieces, you must tend to your health and wellness; your personal growth; your family members, friendships, and broader social life; your vocation; your finances; your safety and security; your hobbies and entertainment; and your investments into building a better world. Despite our best efforts, we can become disjointed, perplexed, and muddled. If we do not tend to this disorganization, life unravels to the point of disintegration. Faith is God’s gift that integrates our living. Using the pizza analogy above, faith is the pizza crust which is the integrating factor underlying every piece of pizza. Our faith integrates each dimension of our lives.
Next week, I will offer some thoughts about How Faith Grows. Between now and then, I invite you to reflect on this thought: A tiny seed grows to eventually bear nourishing fruit and beauty when it is nurtured by good soil, water and necessary nutrients as it reaches toward the light.
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Staff Resignation
Nate Dove has informed the Personnel Resource Team that he has accepted a new position at UNC-Chapel Hill. He will be a Communications Specialist at the Ackland Art Museum and will pursue a Master's in Communications. Although Nate's tenure with us was brief, we appreciate his efforts in improving our media productions during the pandemic and his beginning steps in working with our youth and young adults. Nate's last Sunday with us will be November 14th. We wish Nate and Emma well in their next chapter.
Our Chair of Deacons, Sally Young, will be working with our Personnel Resource Team, chaired by Nancy Wilson, and Dr. Foust to create an interim plan.
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Jubilee Store 2021
Drive-Through Event, November 20 & 21
As we continue to navigate the pandemic, many families, including those in the Charlotte Family Housing program, are struggling and looking for hope. You can help provide these needy families, and especially their children, with hope by supporting the annual Jubilee Store. Last year, we helped over 100 families and more than 200 children have a happier holiday season!
We are currently in need of donations to go toward this effort and would love your financial support to make the Jubilee Store a success this year.
You can donate via Realm here or by check made out to SJBC with "Jubilee Store" in the memo field. Text "SJGIVE" to 73256 to give using your mobile device.
Here is a breakdown of how your donations can help:
- $25 – gift wrap supplies for one family
- $50 – holiday meal for one family
- $100 – gifts for two children
This year, Jubilee store will continue as a drive-through event. Instead of “shopping” inside our church, families will drive through our parking lot and purchase gift cards at a reduced rate to buy gifts for their children.
They will also receive food from Bojangles, a Food Lion gift card for a holiday meal, a basket with holiday goodies, and supplies for wrapping gifts. As an added bonus, they can also stop to have a Christmas photo taken by a professional photographer.
Our parking lot will be decorated with Christmas inflatables and volunteers will be dressed up to spread Christmas love and cheer to the families as they drive around the building to collect their goodies.
If you would like to be a part of this event, volunteers will be needed to run gift baskets to cars, direct traffic, and help with check-in - all very easy things! Please note, volunteers must be 18 years old and undergo a background check (quick and easy). Volunteers will be on their feet for most of their shift. The links to sign up are below:
We are partnering with Myers Park Presbyterian, Christ Episcopal Church, and Charlotte Family Housing to make Jubilee Store happen.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to Jacquelyn McAbee or Allison Benfield. Thank you!
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A Stewardship Message
by Judy Sanford
As I ponder about our church entering our Centennial Year, and facing our Financial Stewardship time, I am amazed. I am amazed how we all, staff and members, came through twenty months like none other we have experienced. I am amazed how we clung together through Zooms, livestreams, phone calls, written notes, visits on porches, sidewalks, and parking lots, and other amazing ways of loving and supporting each other. I am amazed how we were all faithful givers to continue to support the staff, the programs, and the missions of our church through our budget. I am amazed at the endless number of hours our staff put into holding us together and spreading our wonderful worship services far beyond just our congregation, reaching many people who live far away from Charlotte.
So, this Stewardship time of our church year is a no-brainer. We will continue our gifts so we can watch the amazement of another church year and ring in our 100 year Anniversary.
This week, stewardship packets, including your 2022 pledge card and a letter from our Stewardship Resource Team, will come in the mail. If you do not receive a packet, please let the office know.
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Food Truck Fellowship
November 14 after Worship
Join us Sunday, November 14 after worship for another Food Truck Fellowship featuring "Vita Da Pizza" and "Another Food Truck" in the parking lot by the gym and Lasater Hall.
Register at the button below or contact Mallory in the office to register!
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Opportunities for Service at ourBridge for Kids
ourBridge for Kids is an after-school and summer program for children of immigrant and refugee families. The program not only supports these children in their education but also actively helps their entire families connect with resources that will assist them in their orientation to this culture. There are many opportunities coming up for you to serve with this amazing organization.
The opportunities for service include:
- Tutoring an individual child at the ourBridge site, 3925 Willard Farrow Dr, just off Shamrock Dr. near the Aldersgate entrance.
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Assisting with set up or breakdown for flu and Covid vaccine clinic at the ourBridge location this Saturday, November 6.
- Assisting with set up or breakdown at a community event, BOOM Echoes East Charlotte, on Albemarle Rd., Sunday, November 14.
- Donating any size coats (new or gently used) or new blankets. If you would like to donate coats or blankets your items can be left at their location on Willard Farrow or you can bring them to St. John’s on Sunday, December 5, and we will deliver them to ourBridge.
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Notes from the Heritage Room
- Dr. Foust mentioned at the beginning of his sermon this past week that the Heritage Room has moved from the first floor under the sanctuary to a room next to the Church Parlor on the second floor. We are still in the process of organizing the new space and hope to have it ready for you to visit soon.
- The worship bulletin for this past Sunday included an early picture of the interior of the sanctuary. This is one of only two pictures of the original interior of the sanctuary.
- The cover of the bulletin was the roundel of the window at the top of the stairs in the Chapel Building.
During the planning of the building, Dr. Broach sent a letter dated April 23, 1952, to Russell Church Supply Company as follows:
“I would like to inquire whether or not the artists at the stained-glass company could design for us an emblem consisting of two hands joined together. My idea is that it would be a close-up of the hands of two persons who were shaking hands. This new building is to be a building in which we will have a great deal of fellowship in the fellowship hall downstairs, in services in the chapel, etc. It occurs to me that this emblem which would be a symbol of fellowship would be most appropriate to be on the front of the building.”
- Last week in his sermon, Dr. Foust mentioned the charter members of the church. As of March 9, 1922, there were 269 who had signed up for membership in the new church. This included 215 from First Baptist, twenty from Ninth Avenue, twelve from Pritchard Memorial, one from Allen Street Baptist, and twenty-one from churches outside the city. The actual charter membership on the date of organization was 293. The names are recorded in the early minutes of the church.
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Women's Retreat: RESCHEDULED
Save the NEW date for the Women's Retreat on March 4-5, 2022 on the St. John's campus. Rev. Dr. Martha Kearse will be our facilitator.
Stay tuned for details on how to register!
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On the Way
On Friday, November 19, St. John’s retirees and guests will meet at the St. John’s Main Entrance at 11:00 am before they are “On The Way” to The King’s Kitchen. The CityLynx streetcar has a stop just on the other side of Tryon Street that is less than a block from the King’s Kitchen.
Please email Lee Gray at LGray@sjcharlotte.org if you plan to attend as they have a private room that holds up to 14 people reserved for us. (If we should exceed this number we can get another table in the larger dining room). We expect to return to the church around 1:30pm.
“On the Way” is the name for St. John’s retirees and guests that will be taking day trips and on occasion overnight in the coming months. In our brainstorming meeting, we decided to wait until the spring to start day trips, but wanted to come up with one outing this fall, and the streetcar to the King’s Kitchen is that outing.
You have probably heard that the early Christians were called followers of “The Way.” Much of the ministry of Jesus also occurred when he was “On The Way” to another destination. As we go places together in the coming months, that will be our challenge too – to find ways to bless others while are “On The Way.”
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Worshiping Together In-Person and Online! |
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On Sunday, Dr. Foust will offer a message called, "Assets of $40.43 vs. Debt of $78,090," based on Luke 13:1-9 and John 9:1-7.
We hope you will join us as we gather in-person and online as we stream the service on Facebook and YouTube starting at 10:30am. The stream and worship guide links will be sent out via email on Sunday morning.
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This coming Sunday, we will remember the ten members of St. John's who have passed on ahead of us in the past twelve months. Please begin now reflecting on the ways these individuals enriched our church.
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Prayer Concerns, Celebrations, Thanks & Sympathy |
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Andrew Adair, Shirley Ballard, Katherine Barr, Carol Drye, Betty Fuller, Polly Hull, Jean Hutson, Barbara Ledford, Tish Philemon, Gene & Carol Poole, Viorica Secere, Don Swofford, Elma Thomas, Dee Turner
Prayers for our world, especially those living in the wake of hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, COVID-19, and global conflicts
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Financial Ministry Plan Report |
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Week of Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: $21,765
Income through November 1: $894,315
Annual 2021 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,175,000
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You can make contributions, view your giving history and pledge status, as well as update your pledge and giving information anytime by accessing your personal Realm profile online or via the Connect App. |
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Ministers On-Call Schedule
November 1-7: Dennis Foust
November 8-14: Nate Dove
November 15-21: Allison Benfield
Staff Contact Information
Dennis Foust, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 12
Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-451-1309 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 15
Nate Dove, Minister for Youth and Young Adults - 704-662-2154 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 13
Allison Benfield, Minister for Spiritual Growth - 828-448-8412 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 18
Kevin Gray, Minister for Music and Worship - 803-524-0287 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 14
Jacquelyn McAbee, Church Administrator - 434-579-1177 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 20
Derek Henson, Administrative Assistant - 704-333-5428, ext. 10
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