This Sunday morning we will continue our summer emphasis with texts from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount found in the book of Mathew, chapter 5.This week's emphasis will be on Peace with the message, "For Peace Sake."

Worship will begin at 10:30 am via our YouTube channel and at our website under the Worship tab.

If you missed worship last weekend, click here!

Consider sharing ways that you have found to connect and express our unity with your Growth Group or friends at St. John's. Maybe you have been the recipient of someone's kindness that you would want to share with others. Not only can we encourage and connect with One Another but we can share our ways and inspire others to discover meaningful ways to connect.

It has been nearly 5 months since we have physically gathered together and we miss seeing everyone! On Sunday, August 16th, at the end of our worship service, we would like to have a virtual photo parade of our St. John's family. You could share a photo of you or your family worshiping from home, a photo of your Growth Group having Zoom Sunday School, or any other activity. It's also a great time to make a sign to hold and send a message to your St. John friends! Be creative and have fun!

Please email your photos to Derek at dhenson@sjcharlotte.org no later than Thursday, August 13th and please include information about who is in the photo!

The Brotherhood of the Biscuit celebrated their 100th Meeting with a physically distant, outdoor gathering on July 26th. All the women in the photo are smiling behind their face coverings.

The Faith Journey Book Study group invites you to join them in reading and discussing the book, "Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others" by Barbara Brown Taylor. Discussions will be held via Zoom each Tuesday at 11:30 am beginning on September 14th. You may view and purchase the book online here or contact the leaders to order a copy. For more details and the meeting invitation, contact Kathy Bragg, 704-896-7444; or Loretta Brown, 434-579-2669

This Sunday, August 9th, the church will be called into Conference to affirm our 2020 Deacon Nominees and our Leadership Report for the new church year beginning in September. Following worship, church members will receive an email to register their vote.

The Leadership Resource Team is pleased to present its slate of nominees for the 2020 deacon election. Click here or on the image below to read about each of the nominees via our website.

You may review the Leadership Report with those committing to teaching, leading, and serving for the coming year by clicking here.

The COVID-19 Task Force would like to thank all of those who participated in our recent survey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings toward regathering for in person worship and activities in the St. John's buildings. While our weekday school has resumed a limited summer program, the staff and others continue to work remotely to provide ministry and church administration. We are implementing procedures to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Our COVID-19 Task Force is pleased to present their work to the congregation. We have developed a phased plan to provide guidance on when and how we can safely gather in the future. While no specific date has been set to regather, these plans will guide us in implementing safely as we proceed. The COVID-19 Task Force and staff will keep the congregation informed as we move to each new phase in our plan. In the mean time, we will continue to create and enhance our online worship services, continue meeting virtually and at appropriate physical distance. We will also explore ways to connect more deeply as we live into our St. John's is ONE initiative.

By clicking on the Regathering Plan button below, you can review the work of the COVID-19 Task Force. Please continue to care for one another as we progress through the coming weeks and months. These documents have been reviewed by our Deacons and so now we share them with you.

As the pandemic continues, and so do the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. As we have been reporting over the past few weeks St. John's is continuing to send the monetary allocations we have pledged from the Mission Resource Team budget to the local agencies that are serving those most impacted. Sometimes we also want to have a more hands on way to serve. Refugee Support Services, located in the Galilee Center on Central Ave., in its regular program provides cultural orientation and support for newly arrived refugees to help them make Charlotte their new home. The programming is in suspension right now, but RSS has put in place an every Wednesday morning distribution of basic essentials for the clients they have been serving.

Individuals and groups in Charlotte help supply essentials for the over 100 boxes RSS prepares each Wednesday. Donors are asked to sign up at  Wednesday Park-and-Go Donations in advance for specific items to be delivered on specific Wednesdays. Some of the items requested are bulk items, so this might be a good project to team up with a Sunday school class or other friends.

The well organized delivery process is totally “no contact”. Donors who have signed up, drive into the RSS parking lot at the back of the RSS building at 3601 Central Ave. between 8:45 and 9:30 a.m. on the agreed upon Wednesday, give his/her name to a waiting (and masked) staff member or volunteer, click the trunk open, and a masked volunteer removes the item from the trunk. The donor drives through the parking lot, back onto Central, without getting out of the car or directly encountering anyone, and is on the way home. The brief experience gives a close up view of the valuable service provided by RSS with the help of a caring community.

RSS staff and volunteers quickly prepare over a 100 boxes for the refugees whom they serve in their regular programs. Beginning at 10:35 the pre-certified recipients drive through in a similar manner to pick up their box of supplies, which include not only food, but other necessities and activities for children.  We invite you to be a part of this expression of care for our refugee neighbors. 

Questions? Contact Beverly Hester, beverlyrhester@earthlink.net, 919-696-5018 or Nina Phillips, ninacarl@gmail.com, 704 596-313.

Congratulations to Dan Redding and Carly Fortune on their wedding on Friday, July 31st! Your St. John's Family wish you and your family all the best!

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 app.