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

1. Dennis's Article
2. A Letter from Kevin Gray
3. Winter Coat Drive
4. Valentine's Party for Children and Families
5. Happy Birthday to Hannah Harmon
6. Fat Tuesday on Friday
7. Youth Trip to Atlanta
8. Basketball Schedule and Bake Sale
9. Elizabeth Communities of Faith Lenten Services
10. Heritage Article
11. Prayer List, Memorial Services, Minister On Call Schedule, Staff Contact Info

Ministry in Daily Life

by Dennis W. Foust

Last Sunday, as part of my sermon, I referred to an insert in the worship folder. You can find this same insert by clicking here.

WHAT WOULD I LIKE YOU TO DO WITH THIS LIST?

Since Sunday, a few people have asked what I want you to do with this list. Here is my request:

After you complete this resource, please sign, and return a copy of it to Amanda in the church office. Please keep a copy or a list of the terms you have selected. Or you can send an email to Amanda listing the terms you have selected (amorrison@sjcharlotte.org).

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?

In the next couple of years, I will be offering some Zoom sessions to discuss Ministry in Daily Life. Some of these conversations will be instructional and some will be conversational. Once I receive twenty forms in the office, I will begin announcing the times for these one-hour sessions.

This will be an emphasis in both our spiritual growth and community impact areas of congregational mission.

A friend called me on Wednesday to ask, “What does ‘Death of Spouse’ have to do with spiritual renewal?” Her question was excellent. Sometimes, we are renewed in our spirit by understanding how God is using us in God’s mission. So, I asked her: “After your husband died, did other widows offer empathy toward you?” “In the past few years, have you been able to minister to others who have experienced the death of a spouse?” She replied, “Yes” and “Yes.” And I responded, “That is one way to experience spiritual renewal. You realize how you are a Minister in Daily Life.” She then said, “Oh, now I get it.”

Beloved, one of my roles is to equip you for Ministry in Daily Life. Like a potter shaping clay, God is at work in our lives and in our life together, shaping us to be used in service of God’s mission. Please help me help you by working through this list and sending to Amanda the terms that best describe your Ministry in Daily Life. We will continue to Build a Better World as a servant church.

A Letter from Kevin Gray

St. John’s,

It is with feelings of sadness and excitement that I announce to you that I will be leaving St. John’s to pursue a call to Myers Park Baptist Church, starting in March. My last Sunday at St. John’s will be February 26.

When you love a group of people as I love you there is never an easy way to say goodbye, and I love you. St. John's and all its people have been one of the joys of my life for the past eight years. We have laughed, cried, and shared moments that will be part of the rich tapestry of my memory.

Thank you so much for always permitting me to be me. You have supported my ministry as I have led standards like "Messiah" and encouraged me as I sang more modern songs many of you had never heard before.

Dennis too always encouraged me to bring diversity to the worship experience and helped me understand what it means to plan a well-balanced worship service.

St. John's is blessed with many gifts, but the greatest of all is your authentic kindness which I will feel as I take my next steps in the journey of life. I know that same kindness will blanket the remaining staff and church leaders as God brings a new person to fill the position I have been honored to hold.

I want to say a special thank you to the choir, you have been my rock, my friends, my inspiration, and my willing students. No matter how tired or distracted I felt at 6:30 on a Wednesday night, the moment I stepped in front of you to rehearse, I felt the spirit of community and laughter fill me like wind hitting a sail.

Also, I have enjoyed every staff member I have worked with over the years, and will cherish the days of work, good stories, and the occasional coffee break.

One of the reasons I can take this next step on my journey is because I know I am leaving St. John’s during a time of strength.

I am forever changed and will take with me all I have learned from you as I continue to minister in the name of the same God, we all love and worship.

Sincerely,

J. Kevin Gray



A NOTE OF RESPONSE:

Our love for Kevin is broad and deep. While we are saddened to see him move on from our congregation, we pray for him in this transition to Myers Park Baptist Church. In time, we will make plans for our interim months and search process. For now, we will celebrate all we appreciate about Kevin's contributions to our life together in Christ. Through Sunday, February 26, while Kevin is still serving among us, we will embrace memories of shared gifts and explore God's grace.

Dennis Foust, Senior Minister

M.C. Sorrell, Chair of Diaconate

Steven Follis, Chair of Personnel Resource Team

Winter Coat Drive through January 29

Crisis Assistance Ministries

Our children are partnering with the Mission Resource Team to collect winter coats for all ages served by Crisis Assistance Ministries starting this week and concluding THIS SUNDAY, Janury 29.

Donations may be dropped off in our little collection bins at the Main Entrance.

Following worship on January 29, our children and their families will be invited to join us for lunch in the church lounge and to help sort winter coats. A brief lesson about Crisis Assistance Ministry and Matthew 25:31-46 will be provided during this teachable moment of mission.

Contact Kheresa Harmon for questions at kharmon@sjcharlotte.org.

Register Today!

Valentine's Party for Children & Their Families

Sunday, February 5

On February 5, Children, birth - 5th grade, and their families are invited to join us in Broach Hall immediately following worship for a Valentine's Party! Rumor has it that the playdoh will be chocolate, games will be played, relays will be raced, cookies will be decorated, and a piñata will explode! Lunch will be provided.

Please register below so that we can make sure we have enough food and supplies.

REGISTER HERE OR ON REALM.

Happy Birthday to You!

In each issue of the Family News, we will be sharing the birthdays of our children birth-5th grade, with permission from parents.

We hope you will take some time to send them a card or wish them a happy birthday when you see them.

January 31-Hannah Harmon



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 will work through a Yale Institute of Youth Ministry curriculum that will help our students dialogue with issues surrounding race. Copies of the curriculum can be made available if you'd like them.

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.

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.

On February 11 during basketball games at St. John's, the Women of the Church will host a bake sale.

January 28:

• 6u Co-Ed 1aa - 10:00am @ St. John’s
• 8u Boys 14a - 11:00am @ St. John’s
• 8u Girls 26ga - 12:00pm @ St. John’s
• 10u Girls 43gb - BYE
• 12u Boys 48c - BYE
• 15u Girls 74gd - BYE
• 18u Girls 97ge - BYE

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

The Heritage display in the 2nd floor hallway now reflects St. John’s in the 1980’s.



There was a lot of mission activity in the decade of the 1980’s as members of St. John’s continued its many mission activities along with some new ones.

Members walked in the CROP walk, donated to both Home and Foreign Missions, volunteered at Highland School, Crisis Assistance, and Friendship Trays, and donated canned goods to the “Charlotte Has Heart” food drive in February. The Youth hosted the yearly Miss Anita Christmas parties, assisted with Bible School and other activities at Dixie Mission, and went on mission trips each summer—Gatlinburg, TN, New Orleans- twice, Washington DC-twice, Brooklyn NY, and Chicago. The puppet team performed on most of these trips. One of the puppets, Michelle who was Debbie Jarrett’s puppet, now resides in the Heritage Room, courtesy of Joy Jarrett. In 1989, the Youth raised money for and stayed in Charlotte to build a House for Habitat for Humanity.

Read the rest here.

Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations

• Martha Brown, Barbara McElwey, Betty Herr, Charles Gordon

• James “Lewis” Lowder: A memorial service honoring his life will be held at Hartsell Funeral Home in Midland - 13575 Broadway Ave - on January 28 at @2:00 pm with visitation beforehand at 1:00pm. Please remember wife JoAnne and children JoLynn & Jerry in your prayers.



• James Warren (Jimeny) Burgess, the brother-in-law of Nancy Burgess, passed on three weeks ago in Bluffton, SC. Jimmy grew up at St. John’s.

Minister On-Call Schedule

• Jan. 23-29: Kheresa
• Jan. 30-Feb. 5: Lee
• 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