Vol. 79 Issue 1 | Week of January 4-10, 2021 |
|
BEING CHURCH
by Dennis W. Foust
These words are being written on Thursday morning, January 7, 2021. Some of you will wonder why I feel the need to offer any words this morning. I admit these words may be more about my need to express myself than your need to hear from me. But, here goes.
Like you, my reflections and emotions are still scattered after watching live coverage of a media manipulated mob including domestic terrorists, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, neo-Nazis, and other ignoramuses invade the United States capitol yesterday. As an American citizen whose ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War here in North Carolina, I am stunned, outraged, perplexed, sorrowed, disgusted, etc. (Attached here is a list of ‘feeling words’ that may be helpful to you as you work your way through situations such as these https://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Practices-FeelingsSensations.pdf.)
Yesterday’s chaos in the capitol unfolded while we were in the sanctuary videotaping my message for this Sunday’s expression of worship. Therefore, there is no reference in my sermon to this ignoble invasion by those who choose to be prisoners of ignorance. Thus, one reason why I offer these words.
Each of us shares the challenging responsibility of reflecting and emoting with honesty and maturity. As a pastor, I try to find ways to express my reflections and emotions in ways that offer exemplary Christian discipleship. I have failed at this challenging responsibility many times over the years. These words may be another failure. It is my sincere desire, though, to condemn yesterday’s actions while proposing a pathway for us to live in a world like this during times like these by acknowledging evil while lifting our visions and actions to be motivated by theological foundations rather than only political loyalties or national allegiances. Our citizenship in the kingdom of God supersedes our citizenship in any earthly kingdom.
In Herman Melville’s classic story, Moby Dick, Captain Ahab, and the great white whale are on a collision course. Melville’s writings reflect his own journey of how to pursue a relationship with God. In Moby Dick, Captain Ahab pursues a relationship with God by trying to overcome evil; he had the misguided belief that the whale was evil. However, as you interpret the narrator, Ishmael, it becomes clear that Ahab is controlled by evil. Ahab didn’t have a bad theology; he had no theology at all because he lived according to me-ology. His fictional character reminds us of that narrow line between authenticity and egocentricity; between sincerity and duplicity. Ahab’s own self-absorption and internal turmoil tortured him until he created a self-made war resulting in self-destruction and the destruction of almost everyone in his crew.
Last night, a few hours after the cultic anarchists were out of the capitol, congress reassembled to move forward the work of our democratic republic. The window glass in the Capitol will be replaced today. In a few days, this nation will transition presidential leadership again. However, this transition in the White House will not end political polarization, self-absorption, me-ology, bad theology, conflict, ignorance, corruption, media manipulation, etc. There will continue to be some people living in the darkness of mean-spiritedness and evil because they are fighting their own internal wars and turning them outward on self-identified enemies, like neighborhood bullies on a playground. And, there will always be people who follow bullies, live in fear, or have no core spiritual identity that informs, reforms or transforms their reflections, emotions, and actions.
But, beloved, this is not our identity. We are part of the people of God. We follow Jesus as Lord of our active faith. We have committed our lives to a vision higher and a dream more far-reaching than overcoming evil. We acknowledge that evil exists. However, we invest our lives in God’s mission which is not merely confronting evil – although this is what fundamentalists and other manipulators teach. We continue the ministry of God by proclaiming and implementing actions rooted in and motivated by the compassionate love of God, the sustaining hope of God, the transforming peace of God, and the contagious joy of God. We live into the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We will continue BEING CHURCH by being courageous in a world like this during times like these. In the posture of prayerfulness, we open our hearts, eyes, hearts, and hands to a hurting world.
|
|
Worship on January 10th: Epiphany
This Sunday morning we will worship together online for the season of Epiphany. During this service, we will focus on the themes of baptism, discipleship, and self-awareness. The scripture passages are Genesis 1:1-5 and the Gospel of Mark 1:4-11. Dr. Foust will offer a message called, "When God Speaks."
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.
|
|
Zoom Conversations on Monday Nights
For the past several months, our ministry staff has hosted open Zoom conversations on Monday evenings at 5 PM. After reflection, they have decided to change the format and frequency of these conversations. For the month of January, there will not be any more Zoom meetings with ministry staff on Monday nights. Starting in February, they will begin a new schedule with a conversation on the first Monday of the month and then a specific, focused conversation or interview on the third Monday night of the month.
Please stay tuned for more detailed information and remember, there will not be any more Zoom conversations on Mondays with the ministry staff for the rest of January.
|
|
Old Laptops Needed
Refugee Support Services (RSS) is in need of old laptops to help in the virtual services they offer to their clients. The laptops will be cleared of data and refurbished. The RSS staff train their clients in the use of the devices, which are then used to provide services they are still unable to provide in-person to the refugee clients they serve because of the pandemic.
RSS is also looking for volunteers to serve, remotely, as tutors for their clients working on the process of naturalization. Training for this is required and is done remotely by the RSS staff.
For more information about any of the above, contact the following:
|
|
MLK Day Celebration: January 18, 2021
On January 18, Opera Carolina, in partnership with Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and Firebird Alliance, presents a spectacular virtual presentation celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our Minister for Worship and Music, Kevin Gray, is part of the planning team that brings this together each year. Therefore, St. John’s will be represented well as the city raises its voice to bring attention to Dr. King’s message of justice, peace, and love.
More information will be made available next week, including the link for viewing.
|
|
An Invitation
The Faith Journey Book Study group began this past Monday with its study of the book, The God Who Sees, by Karen Gonzalez. This story is about the life and lessons of the author through her growing up years as a child in an immigrant family and subsequently through her work in World Relief, a non-governmental Christian organization devoted to addressing urgent human needs around the world.
The author also uses the stories of immigrants in the Bible, including Naomi, Ruth, Abraham, and others. Through all of these stories, Gonzales helps us see how God is with all on their journey and we get a glimpse of how God expects us to respond to those immigrants we find in our midst.
The Faith Journey group, along with the St. John’s Immigrant Support Study Group, invites you to join in this study. It is not too late to join via Zoom at 11:30 on Mondays. To learn more, contact Loretta Brown, lorettaybrown@gmail.com or Kathy Bragg, tahtee123@gmail.com
|
|
Unidiversity 2021: Summer Youth Camp
Sign-ups for Unidiversity camp will start soon for middle and high school students. The camp dates are July 19 - 24 at Maryville College in Maryville, TN. If you have any questions about camp, please feel free to reach out to our Minister for Youth and Young Adults, Nate Dove, at ndove@sjcharlotte.org.
|
|
Prayer Concerns, Thanks & Sympathy |
|
Polly Hull, Gene & Carol Poole, Elma Thomas,
Alison Zieglmeier (daughter of Ken and Donna Scott),
Andrew Adair, Barbara Ledford, Tom Bryson, Erskine Harkey,
Carol Hager (sister of Betty Harkey), Carole Ann Simpson, R.D. Bond, Brad Sifford
Sympathy to the family and friends of Peg Russ in her
passing on January 4, 2021. Arrangements will be announced at later date.
Sympathy to Barbara and Buster Ledford in the death of
Buster's sister, Annie Lee Williams
|
|
|
|
Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of January 1-5: $11,064
Income through January 5: $11,064
As of this week, we have received 176 commitments totaling $886,202
If you have not turned your pledge in, please mail it to the church office to the attention of Jacquelyn McAbee at 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204. You can also enter your pledge in Realm (go to Giving/Pledge) or by contacting Jacquelyn McAbee, Church Administrator, at jmcabee@sjcharlotte.org or 434-579-1177.
|
|
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.
|
|
Contact the Staff
To email a staff member, click on their name below
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
