Vol. 79 Issue 34 | Week of August 23-29, 2021 |
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Worship on Sunday, August 29 |
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We will worship this Sunday, August 29, at 10:30am in the Sanctuary. Rev. Dennis W. Foust, PhD will offer a message called, "A Cartography on Jesus' Prayer Life," from the St. John's pulpit this Sunday!
The worship theme is "The God Who Hears All Our Prayers" and the scripture passage is Luke 11:32-44. We hope you will join us in person or online, as we continue to live-stream the service starting at 10:30am on Facebook and YouTube. The live-stream and worship guide links will be sent out via email on Sunday morning for those of you joining us online. Remember, face coverings are required on the St. John's campus at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
Note: We will NOT gather for any in person activities or
worship on Sunday, September 5!
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Leadership Report 2021
The Leadership Task Force presents this year's Leadership Report (updated from last week) for your review. Keep in mind that during the pandemic, we are still determining which activities are feasible and will continue to enlist leaders as needs arise and situations stabilize.
We will have a church conference during worship on Sunday, August 29 with online voting available for those worshipping in person and virtually to affirm this year's Leadership Report.
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A Pastoral (and Personal) Word at the End of the Summer
by Dennis W. Foust
A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS: These words are being penned on Tuesday evening. Our Charlotte Mecklenburg schools begin tomorrow morning. Other schools have already begun their new year or will do so in the next few days. Please be prayerful on behalf of our teachers, students, parents, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, etc. The increase in COVID-19 cases and the reality that children younger than age 12 cannot yet be vaccinated generate concerns as schools reopen. We love each of you and want to be helpful along the way.
ALL TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER - A Summer of Regathering: Back in June, as we began regathering in the sanctuary, we emphasized prayerfulness. We walked through each phrase of The Lord’s Prayer and reviewed Jesus’ teachings about prayer. We also considered the prayers of Jesus, offered prayer lists of shared emphases for each day of the summer and introduced quotations on prayer. Thank you for your investments in this emphasis. I am grateful to our staff, members and guests who have joined me in offering messages from The St. John’s Pulpit. Our summer emphasis on prayerfulness will conclude in the next couple of weeks. This Sunday, our worship will focus on The God Who Hears All Our Prayers and my message is entitled, ‘A Cartography of Jesus’ Prayer Life.’ Please read John 11:32-44 in preparation for our worship.
VIDEO WORSHIP ONLY ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND: Because we know many of you will use Labor Day weekend to be with your family and friends at the end of summer, WE WILL NOT GATHER ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5. We will offer a video worship experience as we did through the worst of the pandemic. Our worship for Labor Day weekend will emphasize The God of the Harvest and my message is entitled, ‘A Prayer for Labor Day.’ Please read Matthew 9:35-38 in preparation for our worship of God for this video service.
Read the rest of Dennis's article on our church website by clicking the button below!
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Sandwich Ministry: We Need Your Help!
Throughout most of the pandemic, individuals at St. John's made sandwiches and bagged lunches from home for Roof Above. At this time, this ministry is transitioning to making sandwiches together, with face coverings, at the church to deliver to Roof Above.
We need your help with supplies for the 200 sandwiches we have agreed to make every month!
On the third Sunday of the month, starting this September, we need one person to bring 200 slices of THICK CUT BOLOGNA and one person to bring 200 slices of cheese (NOT INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED) to the 2nd floor parlor kitchen refrigerator. Reimbursement IS available! It has been noted by this group that Walmart is the most cost effective store to purchase these items.
Sign up below! Contact Jane Starnes at 704-535-0839 with any questions.
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NEW Mobile Contactless Check-In
You can bypass the kiosks for check-in by using the mobile check-in feature available in your Realm Connect App. Simply open the app, tap on “Mobile Check-In” under "More" in the menu at the bottom of your screen and mark the events each family member will attend. This is available to you one hour before your class, meeting, or worship begins. Nursery and Pre-K children must check-in at the kiosk in their area in order to print a badge.
You can also use your Connect App to check-in virtually if you are attending worship or gatherings with us online! If you haven’t downloaded the free Realm Connect App, you can find it in the app store on your mobile device.
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Starting on Monday, September 13 at 11:30AM, the Faith Journey Book Study will begin their study and discussion of Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by the late Rachel Held Evans. Anyone is welcome to join! The group will meet via Zoom each Monday throughout the fall. Please contact Mallory Brown if you would like to be added to this group OR use your Realm app and ask to join this group.
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Tuesday Bible Study (TBS)
Mark: Finding Ourselves in the Story
Begins September 14th on Zoom
TBS begins to Zoom again with a new study guide starting Tuesday, September 14. Our facilitators invite you to participate in this exciting study of Mark: Finding Ourselves in the Story by Brett & Carol Younger.
We Zoom each Tuesday for ONE HOUR (11am-12pm). Facilitators rotate on an assigned schedule and use various methods to reflect on the study guide and Bible text. We seek active participation via facilitator prompts for group discussions and personal learnings.
This invitation is for new and returning participants. A Zoom link can be sent to you upon request.
Contact Steve Hoffman (704-604-9634) at hstevehoffman@gmail.com with your questions pertaining to registration and securing the study guide. Other facilitators include Janet Wade (704-519-8149) Dan Biber (704-953-2766) and Tricia Miller (704-364-3601).
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Latest News from Refugee Support Services (RSS)
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Want to find out more about refugees in the Charlotte area and about services offered to them by local organizations? Sign up for Refugee 101, a one hour virtual information session by clicking here.
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RSS partners with the local chapter of the Society of St. Andrews, whose gleaners help harvest fresh vegetables and fruits from farms where produce might otherwise go to waste. If you would like to have your name added to a list of potential gleaners to be notified when gleaning opportunities arise you can fill out an interest form here and see the current RSS newsletter for information, which you may access here
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RSS continues to provide basic food items for refugees to help them stretch their limited resources. Learn more at their website here or sign up for email updates from RSS here.
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Uniforms for Highland Renaissance Academy
This is the LAST week we are collecting uniforms for students at Highland Renaissance Academy in Charlotte. We are in need of boys' and girls' clothing sizes 5-14.
- White or Navy Collared Shirts
- Navy or Khaki Shorts, Pants, Skirts, & Jumpers
- Socks & Underwear
Donations may be dropped off at the Main Entrance no later than August 29!
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Prayer Concerns, Celebrations, Thanks & Sympathy |
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Andrew Adair, Carol Drye, Betty Fuller, Polly Hull, John Owens, Tish Philemon,
Gene & Carol Poole, Elma Thomas
Prayers for our world, especially those living in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti, the troops in and citizens of Afghanistan, and everyone affected by COVID-19.
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of August 16-22: $53,269
Income through August 23: $720,355
Annual 2021 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 Connect App. |
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Ministers On-Call Schedule
August 23-29: Dennis Foust
August 30-September 5: Nate Dove
September 6-12: Allison Benfield
September 13-19: Lee Gray
Staff Contact Information
Lee Gray - 704-451-1309 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 15
Nate Dove - 704-662-2154 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 13
Kevin Gray - 803-524-0287 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 14
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