Vol. 78 Issue 35 Week of August 31 - September 6, 2020 |
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Midweek Moment
Songs of Worship
Click the image below to hear "Change" by James Kevin Gray and sung by Tarsha Williams.
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In every life, there will be change
Things come and go while some still remain
Like a leaf flowing gently down a stream
We’re moving along toward something
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Worship on
September 6th
This Sunday morning we welcome Lia Benton as our preacher. Lia is a member of St. John's and a current seminarian at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte. Her sermon is titled, "A Lamp, the Law and Love" from Psalm 119.
The worship video will be available at 10:15 via our YouTube channel and at our website under the Worship tab. You can also link to worship from the Realm Connect App Events list.
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Peeking Into A New Church Year
Rev. Dennis Foust, Senior Minister
Each year, as we flip the calendar to September, we begin a new church year. Of course this year’s transition is different in many ways. Yet, we are learning how to view this COVID-19 pandemic as both a challenge and an opportunity. At some point, we will be able to gather again. What directional pathways can we follow in this next church year? I am so proud of you for how you are expressing commitment, patient collaboration and faithfulness during these months.
Once again this year, I have invested two weeks of August in prayer, preparation and planning for the next church year. In conversations with several church leaders and our ministry staff, I can report that we will be pursuing numerous goals in the next church year. From September 2020 through August 2021, we will (1) strengthen our missional partnerships; (2) fortify how we obey Jesus’ commandment to ‘love one another’ through congregational care; (3) expand our involvement in God’s mission in today’s world by understanding the theological motivations compelling us to address poverty, systemic racism, economic injustice, immigration, earth-care, etc.; (4) introduce new approaches for group and individual learning as we deepen our pursuit of spiritual growth; (5) clarify and extend our message into the city through media; (6) expand our efforts of reaching out and welcoming new households; (7) broaden our relationships with youth and their families and with young adults; (8) explore ways we can be a training center for carefrontation as we facilitate difficult conversations in this polarized society; (9). improve our facilities providing better safety, security, digital media, communications and outreach ministries; (10) plan for our centennial celebration in 2022; and (11) initiate creative approaches of training for church leadership.
During the next church year, as part of our worship of The Living God, I will offer messages which connect with these congregational pathways. From September through November, I will focus on ways we are involved in God’s vision for the world highlighting how we obey Jesus’ commandment to ‘love one another.’ Through Advent, I will remind you that you can expect God’s hands of hope, peace, joy and love to be actively faithful toward you and show how you extend God’s hands to others. In the weeks of Epiphany, between Christmas and Lent, I will present messages on why our ethical responses to today’s social challenges are Gospel oriented and Christ-centered. In the season of Lent, I will teach you about six streams of spiritual growth. During Eastertide, I will offer messages to help you live in the world as God’s missional Church answering Jesus’ prayer – ‘Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done on Earth as in Heaven.’
Next summer we will study through phrases of The Lord’s Prayer. Throughout the year, I will interview some of our missional partners to be included during worship and we will welcome guest worship leaders and musicians.
Please keep this list of congregational emphases on your refrigerator or in your Bible and devotional book. Pray regularly for these efforts, for your church staff and for your church leadership as we guide the church in these efforts. Thank you for your trust and cooperation.
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Share Your Photos!
It has been nearly 6 months since we have physically gathered together and we miss seeing everyone! In mid September following a worship service, we would like to have a virtual photo parade of our St. John's family. You could share a photo of you or your family worshiping from home, a photo of your Growth Group having Zoom Sunday School, or any other activity. It's also a great time to make a sign to hold and send a message to your St. John friends! Be creative and have fun! Limited info will be shown on the photos to protect your privacy.
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We'll share these photos later in September!
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This year the Women’s Retreat for the Women of the Church will be quite different than what we are used to and we need your input! We are proposing a virtual event via Zoom with the theme:
Gathering in God’s Love (wherever we are)
The ancient Hebrew story of “Returning from Exile” will serve as our guide for living as community in this modern day version of Exile and Return during the 2020 Pandemic. We envision the virtual gathering to last about 90 minutes on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Elements of this event will include the telling of this sacred story offered by Rev. Allison Benfield, break out groups for facilitated small group discussion as well as large group summary of the experience. Participants would receive some suggestions ahead of the retreat to prepare.
But before we go any further in planning we need to know some input from you, the women of the church. Click the button below to complete our brief questionnaire.
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On Sunday, September 13th, nine members of St. John's Baptist will be ordained as new Deacons to the church. While the laying on of hands will take place in their homes, you can show your affirmation of their calling and ordination following worship with our Drive-Through Celebration. The newly ordained Deacons will be outside the church building from 1 pm to 3 pm to greet you from your car. We will place boxes in front of each Deacon for you to drop cards and notes as you drive by. These notes can express prayers and words of blessing as these individuals begin their service as Deacons among us. The format will be similar to our graduate recognition in May and more specific instructions will be in next week's Family News.
Those to be ordained are:
Renee Hutchison
Sara Vavra
Laura McGuire
Chris Lavender
Becky Skidmore
Eric McCombs
Jim Kesee
Jimmy Kimball
Debbie Stillerman
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The Faith Journey Book Study group invites you to join them in reading and discussing the book, "Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others" by Barbara Brown Taylor. Discussions will be held via Zoom each MONDAY at 11:30 am beginning on September 14th. |
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Beginning on September 14th, we will move to a once per week Zoom call with a different member of the Pastoral staff hosting the conversation each week. Rev. Dennis Foust will begin this series.
Details on all conversation hours and Zoom links will be available from the Realm Connect App under Events and via email on the day of each virtual gathering.
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As we begin our new church year this month it is vitally important that we stay connected to our worship, growth, and service together. Our Realm Connect App provides you with growing church life information on events, meetings, important updates, and connection. In the absence of a printed weekly bulletin, Realm and the Family News are our primary means of communication. Our website also offers up to date general information and news.
When you access Realm, you can see when your groups and teams are meeting, link directly to Zoom meetings, send messages and share information with others and even link to the worship service each Sunday.
You can visit your personal profile from your computer by clicking here or download the Realm Connect App to your smart device and log in.
To see a general online calendar of church meetings, events and activities click here.
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The Charlotte area 2020 CROP Hunger Walk will be held virtually on October 11, 2020 and there are numerous ways you can be part of this event. Participants are encouraged to walk where they can and for the distance they are able during the virtual walk. From around your living room to across the city, this could be the year for you to join the St. John's team as a walker!
To join the team, sponsor a team member, or learn more, click the link below.
To purchase this year's CROP Walk T-Shirt for $3 click here.
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Goal of $15,000
Received to Date: $15,250
The offering has been extended to September 20, 2020
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While we've reached our initial goal, we have until September 20th to go above and beyond to support our friends in South Sudan. If you haven't yet participated, we hope you will be encouraged to be part of this important project. |
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Help Us Reach Out via YouTube
THANK YOU
Thank you to all those who have subscribed to our YouTube channel! We surpassed 100 subscribers this past weekend and now have our own unique YouTube web address!
www.youtube.com/stjohnsbaptistchurchofcharlotte
Please continue to view our online content and engage by commenting, sharing, and letting us know anything that is especially useful or meaningful to you.
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Prayer Concerns, Thanks & Sympathy |
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Polly Hull, Gene & Carol Poole, Elma Thomas,
Alison Zieglmeier (daughter of Ken and Donna Scott),
Andrew Adair, Barbara Ledford, Elizabeth Laney, Tom Bryson
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Please email info@sjcharlotte to share a prayer request, thank you, or celebration. |
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ST. JOHN’S IS ONE
We continue to use the 1:00 hour each day to do something expressing our unity with One Another.
Consider sharing ways that you have found to connect and express our unity with your Growth Group or friends at St. John's. Maybe you have been the recipient of someone's kindness that you would want to share with others. Not only can we encourage and connect with One Another but we can share our ways and inspire others to discover meaningful ways to connect.
A note of appreciation, a prayer, telephone calls, friendly emails or a text, or a handwritten letter of encouragement, are just some of the ways you could encourage someone.
Although we cannot be with one another in the usual ways, let us explore new ways of our covenant unity, through our commitments to Jesus Christ, by celebrating that ST JOHN’S IS ONE!
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of August 26 - September 1: $12,061
Income through September 1: $723,486
Annual 2020 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 app. |
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The church staff will be on holiday on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. |
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Contact the Staff
To email a staff member, click on their name below
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