This Sunday's Worship

Join us this Sunday, March 16 at 10:00 AM

"Enemies of the Cross"

Psalm 27 

Philippians 3:17-4:1

In person: Sanctuary

Digitally: YouTube, Facebook, or John Knox App

Click here to access the Worship Bulletin.

Liturgist: April Pierce

Audio Visual: Caroline Robertson

Ushers: Chris/Bill Mathews, Austin Eckles, Steve Meggs, Charles Robertson

and Tommy Dowling (Head Usher)

Look this Saturday for our weekly installment of our

2025 Lenten devotional,

The Road to Joy.

This Saturday, John Knox Youth is sending out a mission team to partner alongside Mission Emanuel to serve the communities of Nazaret and Cielo in the Dominican Republic. The team will be running a VBS program for elementary school kids, as well as working on construction projects in the community. To stay updated on all that God is doing in our midst next week, click on the link below! And please keep our team in your prayers as we travel and work and worship together in the DR!

Mission Team:

Campbell Ballard

Lacie deMaine

Jacob deMaine

JC Nelson

Walker Greene

Lillian Pelletier

Owen Long

Jamie Luccia

Barry White

JT Greene

Grace Rief

Carter Rief

Menu: Sandwiches

In the past few years, John Knox has steadily increased our presence at Lake Forest Elementary with mentoring and providing monthly lunch duty for the teachers to name a few.  JK has generously and faithfully gifted time, talents and material goods to Lake Forest in the form of winter wear and school supplies.

As you have heard, Lake Forest is a wonderful school with a cheerful and positive attitude towards students, faculty and education in general. It is a very diverse school and, therefore, the students have many needs. You, at John Knox, have met each and every challenge.  

As in years past, we have been asked to help supply reward items for the school's testing weeks in April. You have never failed to come through with all they need and more! The following is a list of needs:

1. Small gift cards (5 Below, Walmart, fast food restaurants)
2. Stuffed animals
3. Fidgets or other sensory toys
4. Small sports items (balls, jump ropes, etc.)
5. Arts and crafts materials

As usual, these items can be deposited in the large, white box outside the narthex. Thank you all, in advance, for the overwhelming response you always give to these requests. Lake Forest loves John Knox and deeply appreciates all you do for them!

Program Title: The Sounds of Psalms

The psalms are one of the earliest anthologies of hymns. Compiled between 1000 BC and 500 BC, the psalms have shaped millennia of Jewish and Christian worship. Psalm texts have been adapted for congregational singing, serving as the basis for many of our favorite and well-loved hymns. The psalms have also inspired countless pieces of meaningful music. This program will explore organ repertoire inspired by the psalms. In addition to thoughtful arrangements of favorite psalm-based hymns, the program will include the works of Herbert Howells, William Mathias, and J. S. Bach, among others.

Performer Bio:

Matthew McCall serves as Director of Music and Media at Shandon Presbyterian Church (USA) in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2010 he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Music and Organ Performance at Presbyterian College, where he studied with Ron Davis. In 2018, he completed a master’s degree in Choral Conducting at the University of South Carolina, studying with Alicia Walker and Larry Wyatt. Matthew has a passion for congregational song—seeking to enable all who gather to join their voices together and find community in song. He has also given great amounts of energy to present organ repertoire in a way that is genuinely accessible to the listener. He has participated in collegiate and professional choirs since 2006 and has traveled with the University of South Carolina Concert Choir on several international tours, singing with and accompanying the choir in many notable venues including Cologne Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral, and Luxembourg Cathedral. In addition to his role at Shandon, Matthew maintains a full schedule accompanying students and ensembles at the University of South Carolina School of Music, as well as several public schools in Columbia.  

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the John Knox Meal Train Team!  We need more cooks/ food preparers / food providers for when the occasions arise and folks in our congregation need some prepared dinners. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jan Blohm or the church office.

Clerk’s Report

The Session of John Knox Presbyterian Church met on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Administration Building conference room for their monthly Stated Meeting. In the absence of the moderator, Dr. Gordon Turnbull, the Rev. Justin Cazel served as moderator for this meeting.

Following are a few of the items discussed

Administrative

·   Financial expenses are under budget thru January. Capital reserve accounts reflect insurance payments related to storm damage; some additional repair expenses are still expected.

Christian Education

·   Session voted to increase hourly pay by $0.50 per hour for 4 nursery attendants.

·   Committee discussing plans for quarterly women’s events (schedule, speakers)

Christian Mission and Outreach (CMO)

·   Isaiah 117 meets monthly every 2nd Tuesday at Morningside Baptist Church at 7 PM. They have broken land on house. 

·   Habitat for Humanity: CMO hopes to bring new leader to speak at an upcoming congregational luncheon.

·   Lutheran Refugee Services/Circle of Welcome: because of immediate concern for funding for refugee resettlement services, CMO has voted to send Lutheran Services Carolinas our total budgeted support ($3,000) in one installment now.

·  Committee is exploring PDA Hurricane Relief options in Western North Carolina.

·  Triune Mercy Center: thanks to Gathering Class for packing bag lunches on Jan 26. Youth scheduled to pack lunches on March 2.

Evangelism

·  Committee discussed ongoing efforts at following up with worship visitors, including notes and bread delivery. Would welcome an extra volunteer to deliver bread to worship visitors.

·   Debriefed the recent new member event, “Finding Your Way at JK,” which served 12 invitees.

Plans underway to hold another event in the fall.

· Considering ways to engage via social media and podcast.

· Working to update Session photo directory.

Fellowship

· Presented calendar of Sunday luncheons, Wednesday evening suppers, and special events for the congregation through May.

· Greenville Drive game April 6; Field Day May 18.

Music & Worship

· Approved the baptism of Margot Alice Jackson requested baptism on Sunday, Feb 23. 

· Presented the plan for two concerts in the Music for Mission series: 1) Matthew McCall, organist, March 16 at 4:00 PM, and 2) Dr. Luke Browder and his wife Chelsea Rudisill, vocalists, in May.

·  Audio-Visual system is working nicely in sanctuary, but some issues continue related to livestream. 

· Session approved proposed worship schedule for Lent, Holy Week and Easter. One important change from recent years: there will be only one service on Easter Sunday, at our customary hour of 10:00 AM. Instead of Sunday School, we will offer refreshments in the Fellowship Hall.

Nurture

·  Reported on strong ministries of Care Companions, Flower Delivery, In-Home Communion, and Meal Train.

·  Quilting Group is making quilts to sell for WNC Hurricane Relief. LaRue Wait is coordinating.

·  Side-By-Side Respite Ministry continues to have a wait list. Next volunteer training is Wednesday, February 26.  Laura Reichen, Director, was interviewed by WYFF for a segment which aired February 9. 

·  Serving Saturday is scheduled for April 5; Gary Campbell is coordinating.

Property & Operations

·  January 2025 expenses 6.8% below budget

·  Update on repairs from May 2023 hail damage: gym roof 50% complete. Fellowship Hall roof completed. Yet to be scheduled: window cladding, gutters, downspouts; Sanctuary exterior..

·  Youth Center installed new, larger sink and upgraded A/V capability.

·  Reviewing proposal for concrete work: Sidewalk repairs at chapel entrance, choir door, gym; Administration Building back entrance

·  Church Work Day scheduled for April 12 (back-up date April 19).

Staff Reports:

Susan Felton reported on recent Parents’ Night Out. She highlighted the following upcoming events: Family Fun Day is Feb 23; Vacation Bible School is June 8-11; theme is “Road Trip.” Seeds of Service (Fall 2025). 

Rev. Justin Cazel reported the Generosity Team met February 23. 

Session also received notes on ministries of Carter Rief, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Tami Wall, Director of John Knox Kindergarten & Parents’ Day Out, which had been presented at Christian Education meeting February 6.                                       

Ann Brumley

Clerk of Session

Thank you for prioritizing the ministry of Jesus Christ in your financial life.

Sunday, March 9

In Person: 175

Livestream: 23

Weekly Offering Received: $22,026

Weekly Budgeted Offering: $17,857

YTD Offering Received: $270,856

YTD Budgeted Offering: $196,422

Edited by Mandy Scott

John Knox Presbyterian Church

35 Shannon Dr.

Greenville, SC 29615

864.244.0453

www.johnknoxpres.org