Vol. 79 Issue 11 | Week of March 15-21, 2021 |
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Worship on March 21: Heritage Sunday
This coming Sunday morning we will worship together online to continue this season of Lent. The scripture passage is Acts 1:1-8. Dr. Foust will offer a message called, "Power for a Purpose."
The worship video will be available at 8am via our YouTube channel and at our website under the Worship tab for you to view. You can also link to worship from the Realm Connect App Events list.
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From the Heritage Room
Celebrating 99 Years: The Beginning
In 1891, the Highland Park Land Company purchased the 65-acre Shannonhouse farm for $7,500 which became the nucleus of the Elizabeth neighborhood. A dirt road was built extending East Trade Street. In 1897, a tract of land at the end of the road was donated for the establishment of a Lutheran women’s college named Elizabeth College in honor of the wife of a substantial donor. Soon the area surrounding the college and the neighborhood became “Elizabeth”. The dirt road was rebuilt as a main boulevard. In 1903, the trolley line was extended from East Trade Street along Elizabeth avenue to the college and out what is now Hawthorne Lane. Some of the city’s most prominent citizens built houses along Elizabeth Avenue. In 1904, the development known as Highland Park was established which encompassed Hawthorne Lane, much of East Seventh and East Fifth streets, and Lamar, Clement, and Laurel Avenues. In addition, in 1904, land was donated which, along with land from the city’s water reservoir, became Independence Park, designed by the well-known landscape architect, John Nolen. In 1912, Elizabeth Elementary school, originally a two-story frame building, was erected on the southern edge of the park.
Another consequence of the growing neighborhood population was the organization of churches. In January 1912, St. Martin’s Episcopal moved from a downtown location to a location on East Seventh Street. In March 1912, residents petitioned for the organization of a Presbyterian church, and Knox Presbyterian (renamed in 1922 to Caldwell Memorial) was built on the corner of East Fifth Street and Park Drive. A Methodist congregation was organized in 1914 and Hawthorne Lane Methodist was built in 1916 at the corner of East Eighth Street and Hawthorne Lane.
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Photo from David Erdman; along Elizabeth Avenue |
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Photo from David Erdman; along Elizabeth Avenue |
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In September 1911, at a meeting of the Board of Deacons of First Baptist Church, the idea of a location for a Baptist Church in the eastern section of the city was brought to the attention and discussion of the Board. At the conclusion, a committee was appointed to study but nothing further was done at that time, only a discussion from time to time of the need of a Baptist “mission” in the eastern section of the city. At the September 1914 meeting of the Board, the matter was again discussed, and a motion passed naming a group consisting of the ministers of First Baptist Church, Ninth Avenue Baptist Church, and Prichard Memorial, along with First Baptist member, J.P. Hackney to make a survey and recommend a location. The committee made a survey of the whole situation, but the pastors were lukewarm to the matter, saying it would weaken the other churches.
During several of the years after the last survey, the focus of the people of Charlotte changed because of the entry of the United States into World War I in 1917 and the arrival of the Spanish flu in 1918. Camp Green was built on the outskirts of Charlotte to train troops for the war. At its peak, 40,000 soldiers lived on the base. The Camp Greene population was 29,000 in the fall of 1918. The first death in the city of Charlotte from the Spanish flu was reported on October 5 when the city was put under quarantine. The quarantine was lifted on November 6 just in time for a city-wide celebration when the Armistice was announced on November 11
By the end of the decade, life in the city turned to growth once again. In 1900, the population of Charlotte was 18,000. By 1920, that number had increased to 46,000 making Charlotte the largest city in North Carolina. The growth in the Elizabeth area continued and by 1920, Hawthorne Lane became lined with the fine homes of many of Charlotte’s most affluent citizens including merchants James Staten and William Henry Belk.
To be continued...
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Make Bagged Lunches for Roof Above
March 31st
Roof Above needs assistance from St. John's members in providing bagged lunches for a temporary Roof Above shelter location on March 31st. St. John's and our partners at Caldwell Presbyterian have agreed to provide bagged lunches to the Roof Above clients residing at the Days Inn located at 2625 Little Rock Road on that date.
Six volunteers are needed to each provide 15 bagged lunches on March 31st. Bagged lunches may either be brought to Broach Hall parking lot area between 9 and 10 AM on March 31st **OR** contact Dale Johnson at 704-454-8391 to arrange to have your bagged lunches picked up Tuesday, March 30th after 3PM.
Note that each bagged lunch is to contain ONE sandwich, not two. Also, note that water bottles will be provided separately and should NOT be included in lunch bags.
To signup, please visit the signup genius list found at the following link:
Guidelines for the bagged lunches are downloadable at this Signup Genius link.
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OUTDOOR WORSHIP CELEBRATION ON EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 4
Yes, we must still be careful – wear our face coverings and maintain physical distance. And, we are making plans to gather outside on Easter Sunday for two services of worship. We realize many of our folks should not gather on Easter – even outside – due to safety. Those of us who gather will wear face coverings and set our lawn chairs 6 to 8 feet apart. (Of course, inclement weather may change our plans. But, this is our good weather plan.) Register with the green buttons below for either time. You will know you are successfully registered IF you receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email, you are not registered. Please contact Derek or Mallory for assistance.
First Hour:
- Fellowship Time: 10:00 – 10:25
- Worship Celebration 1: 10:30 – 11:00
Transition Time: 11:05 – 11:30
Second Hour:
- Worship Celebration 2: 11:30 – 12:00
- Fellowship Time: 12:00 – 12:30
When making your reservation, you may list guests by name who plan to attend with you who are not regular St. John’s attendees and members. Please only make registrations via Realm for your immediate family members allowing each St. John’s member to register via their own personal or family Realm profile account they have established. Should you need assistance with registration or Realm access contact Mallory or Derek.
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A SEASON OF SUSTENANCE:
8-WEEKS FOCUSED ON FEEDING THE HUNGRY
This pandemic year has been especially challenging for persons living with hunger and each of our ministry partners who provide food to them. Therefore, for 8-weeks, from March 21st through May 9th, St. John’s will participate in A Season of Sustenance.
We will focus our energies on feeding those persons who are living with hunger.
Our Mission Resource Team is offering several options for participation during this Season of Sustenance:
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GIVE to our Community & State Mission Offering – this year’s goal of $5,000 will be given to Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays;
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LEARN facts about hunger in metro-Charlotte, the United States and around the world (articles will appear in Family News and Hunger Facts will be posted on our digital pages);
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DONATE Non-Perishable Food Items to Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays – during a drive-thru on Saturday, March 27th, from 11am to 1pm (pick-up Holy Week Kits during same drive-thru);
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DIALOGUE with Tina Postel, from Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, one of our Community Ministry Partners, during our COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Church-Wide Zoom Call on Monday, April 19th;
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MAKE LUNCHES for residents of Roof Above on March 31st (details available in Family News article entitled, “Make Bagged Lunches for Roof Above”);
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ADVOCATE by writing letters to CONGRESS encouraging them to pass legislation that reduces hunger in the United States and around the world through Bread for the World’s Offering of Letters;
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MAKE SANDWICHES for residents of Roof Above on the 3rd Tuesday beginning April 20th; and/or
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VOLUNTEER TO PARTICIPATE in CROP Walk this coming October as either a Walker or a Sponsor.
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Holy Week Kits
This year, we are providing an opportunity for you to sign up for and pick up a customizable "Holy Week Kit" as a companion as you move through this week that begins with Palm Sunday and moves to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Each kit will contain palms, communion elements for Maundy Thursday, an order of worship for Maundy Thursday, and a Stations of the Cross devotional booklet. You can choose what items and how many of each item you want in your kit.
Please sign up by March 24. Pick-up for the kits will be Saturday, March 27 from 11am-1pm via a drive-through at the church.
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Safety & Security Upgrades
The safety and security task force has now completed a major task its members have worked on for two and a half years. On March 8, 2021, the diaconate approved a motion to accept the bid of $48,999.95 from CPI to upgrade the church’s security system. Upgrades will include security cameras, new door locks, and key fobs to replace the current keypad entry system. Installation will begin soon.
The funding for the project has been identified and secured. Last year, the Administrative deacons set aside the 2020 Capital Needs distribution of $27,000 for safety and security. Last week, they agreed to fund the rest of the project from the 2021 Capital Needs distribution of $35,000, leaving $13,000 for other needs.
Our thanks are due to Deacon Jones, who chaired the safety and security task force, and to Randy Mahnesmith, who shepherded the group through the process to solicit and analyze bids and to make a selection among the three bids that were received. We remember Henry Snyder’s contributions with gratitude and wish he were still with us to see the fruits of his labor. And thanks also to all the task force members: Brenda Jones, Pris Tillman, Robert Tutterow, Nancy Wilson, Chuck Jones, Jody Thomas, Chip Wilson, and Allison Benfield, staff liaison.
On the happy day when the congregation comes back to the church, we will notice some changes. The Weekday School/Head Start hall will be closed during the week to anyone not affiliated with these programs. Learning a new circulation pattern is a small price to pay to ensure the safety of the children we care for. As noted above, the keypad entry system will be gone but we will still be able to contact the office during office hours for entry.
We will keep the congregation updated as the security work is completed.
Thank you,
Sally Young, Deacon Chair
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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,
Carol Hager (sister of Betty Harkey), Carole Ann Simpson,
Brad Sifford, Deacon Jones, Jerry McNeill
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of March 9-15: $19,332
Income through March 15: $234,276
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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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Contact the Staff
To email a staff member, click on their name below
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