Vol. 79 Issue 22 | Week of May 31-June 6, 2021 |
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Worship on June 6, 2021: All Together Through Prayer
We will worship together this Sunday online and we anticipate gathering in person on June 20! Dr. Foust will deliver a message called, "And Whenever You Prayer" based on Matthew 6:1-8. This Sunday continues our summer sermon series, "All Together Through Prayer."
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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Attention! Important Security System Updates!
Your door codes will no longer work starting next week!
As you have heard, over the last few months, we are upgrading our security system. The installation of our new system is in progress, which means that early next week, your codes will no longer work to enter the building. Please be patient with us as we learn more about working with our new system and work to distribute key fobs for building access. We’ll share more detailed information with you in the coming weeks.
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A Note from Dennis
Will you join me in prayer?
Welcome to a summer of regathering! We will regather in the Sanctuary to worship the Living God on Sunday, June 20 at 10:30am.
As you probably know by now, I am calling us to prayer during this summer of regathering. Regathering physically is not our primary purpose as a body, living in Jesus Christ. Instead, regathering spiritually is our aim. Therefore, I have given a name to this summer: "All Together through Prayer."
Our Staff and Deacons are setting the example for all members this summer. Therefore, I am asking each of you to invest a minimum of 10 minutes per day in prayer (you can even set aside 5 minutes twice per day or 2 minutes 5 times per day).
Through this summer, I will be sending a variety of scriptures, quotations, and emphases for you to use in your prayerful moments.
St. John's, as we prepare to regather "All Together through Prayer," please consider Zechariah 13:9, "They will call on my name and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people' and they will say, "The Lord is our God.'"
Through this summer, as part of our “Altogether through Prayer” emphasis, please include the following prayer focus points in your prayers each day.
- Sunday, June 6 – Deacons of St. John’s
- Monday, June 7 – Friendship Sunday School Class
- Tuesday, June 8 – St. John’s Weekday Preschool
- Wednesday, June 9 – Chancel Choir
- Thursday, June 10 – Kevin Gray, Minister for Worship and Music
- Friday, June 11 – Families with Children
- Saturday, June 12 – Allison Benfield, Minister for Spiritual Formation
- Sunday, June 13 – Church Council
- Monday, June 14 – Genesis Sunday School Class
- Tuesday, June 15 – Charlotte Family Housing
- Wednesday, June 16 – Jacquelyn McAbee, Church Administrator
- Thursday, June 17 – Families with Youth
- Friday, June 18 – North Carolina Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
- Saturday, June 19 – People preparing to regather in our St. John’s sanctuary
- Sunday, June 20 – World Refugee Day
- Monday, June 21 – Alliance of Baptists
- Tuesday, June 22 – Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
- Wednesday, June 23 – Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care
- Thursday, June 24 – Palestine/Israeli Conflicts
- Friday, June 25 – Chris Mullis, Head Custodian
- Saturday, June 26 – Alliance Center for Education Head Start
- Sunday, June 27 – Persons Living through Homelessness
- Monday, June 28 – Members Living in Continuing Care Retirement Communities
- Tuesday, June 29 – North Carolina Council of Churches
- Wednesday, June 30 – Deborah Thon, Custodian
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Our Regathering Plan: Updated May 2021
Have you heard we are beginning to meet for worship in person this summer?
With the information released earlier this month by the Center for Disease Control and by Governor Cooper’s office, our COVID-19 Task Force has updated our St. John’s Regathering Plan to begin our regathering journey in the slow lane. Over time, we will increase our speed (change lanes) as we journey together.
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When does in-person worship begin? Sunday, June 20 at 10:30am in the Sanctuary
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Are we required to physically distance? No. We have removed all physical distancing protocols come June 20.
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Are there attendance limits for worship and other indoor gatherings? No. We have removed all attendance limits come June 20.
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Do I need to register to attend worship ahead of time? Yes. Please register yourself, your family members, and/or any guests on Realm OR by calling Mallory at 704-477-3349 or Derek at 704-333-5428, ext. 10 at the church prior to Sunday worship. We will have check-in kiosks upon arrival at the Sanctuary doors.
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Are face-coverings required during worship? Yes. Face coverings are required for ALL Sunday worshippers, vaccinated or not, in order to protect the most vulnerable among us.
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Will there be a nursery for children ages 4 and under? Yes. There will be a nursery on the second floor for young children and babies. All volunteers in the nursery will be required to wear masks.
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Can I volunteer in the nursery? YES! We need passionate and caring volunteers in the nursery! Contact Allison today at abenfield@sjcharlotte.org to express your interest.
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Do we have to wear masks at outdoor gatherings? No.
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Do I have to wear a mask around the building? Due to the presence of children on the first floor all summer, masks are required on the first floor at all times during the week. When you enter the second floor, you may take your mask off if you are vaccinated.
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My group wants to meet in the building for a meeting. How do I reserve a room? Call or email Jacquelyn McAbee to reserve your space ahead of time at 704-333-5428, ext. 20 OR jmcabee@sjcharlotte.org. Outside groups (not church-affiliated) can begin meeting in September in the building.
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Can my Sunday Growth Group meet before worship on Sundays? Yes. Adult Sunday Growth Groups can meet in person on June 20 or July 11 BUT not on the first floor below the Sanctuary. Those rooms are being used by Freedom School all summer. Allison will work with each group wanting to meet in scheduling a room.
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Will children have Sunday school this summer? No. Children will not have Sunday school until August 22.
We are looking forward to regathering in a few weeks. Thank you for being a compassionate community. Shalom!
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VBS Kits Are Ready for You THIS Sunday, June 6!
Have you been meaning to register for a VBS at Home Kit and haven't gotten around to it yet? Don't worry!
We have a new option for getting a kit. THIS SUNDAY, June 6 from 11am-1pm at the Main Entrance, you can simply show up with your $5 (exact change only) at our drive-through pick up. We will have kits that have not been reserved by registration available until we run out of kits or until we reach 1:00. If you have already reserved a kit, your kit(s) will be set aside ready for you to pick up. If you want to make sure you have a kit, make sure to register soon!
If you have any questions, please contact Allison for more information.
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Deacon Nominations for 2021-22
Do you know someone who would make a fantastic deacon nominee?
The Leadership Task Force is seeking deacon nominations for the 2021-22 church year. Our diaconate is the primary lay leadership body of St. John's Baptist Church. Members of the congregation are elected to determine, initiate, and support the various ministries of the church with each of three panels overseeing a different part of our greater whole. The administrative panel is responsible for the business and management, including finance, personnel, house & grounds, and technology. The ministry panel is responsible for programming and education, including outreach, missions, spiritual formation, and worship. The pastoral panel is responsible for congregational care and relationship building.
If you would like to nominate a candidate, please alert Mallory Brown at mbrown@sjcharlotte.org. Please secure your candidate’s permission prior to nominating them, and if possible indicate which panel your candidate prefers.
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From the Heritage Room: Celebrating 100 Years!
St. John's is gearing up for our centennial celebration on March 20, 2022! As we transition into meeting in person again, please mark your calendars!
What events or activities would you like included as we celebrate this historical event in the life of St John’s?
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As of now, the plans include the publication of an Anniversary Book, authored by Sally Young with contributions by several other St John’s members. If there is some area in which you have been involved and for which you would like to contribute a section to the book, please contact Fredda Kimball.
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Derek Henson is working on a new pictorial church directory using Realm. Please make sure you have updated your account in the membership section of Realm, including uploading a picture. Please contact Derek with any questions.
- The Mission Resource Team has been discussing initiating a “100 Hours of Service” challenge for all St. John’s members. (More info to follow)
- The Women of the Church is planning to celebrate WMU (Women’s Missionary Union) at their fall annual fall luncheon.
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We have the script of a play written by Tommy Hasty for the 50th Anniversary. There are tentative plans to update this script and present the play.
- Also discussed have been community events for the Elizabeth neighborhood, including tours of our building, coordinated with the Elizabeth Neighborhood Association.
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Prayer Concerns, Thanks & Sympathy |
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Polly Hull, Gene & Carol Poole, Elma Thomas,
Barbara Ledford, Carol Hager (sister of Betty Harkey),
Mary Birdsong Brown (granddaughter of Stan & Martha Brown),
Tish Philemon, Andrew Adair, Nancy Burgess, Angie Wheeler,
Rev. Dan Redding (father of Dan Redding), Carol Drye
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of May 25-31: $42,980
Income through May 31: $481,384
Annual 2021 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,175,000
Community & State Missions: $5,575
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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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