Vol. 78 Issue 29 Week of July 20-26, 2020
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Welcome to St. John's
The six people pictured below became members of our church family this past Sunday!
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ST. JOHN’S IS ONE
For the duration of this pandemic, I am making a pastoral request.
Let us use the 1:00 hour each day to do something to express our unity.
We cannot be together right now; but we are still united. We are still ONE. Our unity is in Christ.
Our St. John’s Church Covenant begins with this phrase,
“
United
in the faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God revealed in history, disclosed in the Scriptures, and experienced in human life, we do solemnly and joyfully make this Covenant together.”
It is significant that we begin with the word, ‘
United
.’
Our church covenant has authority in our living of active faith.
ST. JOHN’S IS ONE
Sacred scripture has more authority in our living of active faith than does our St. John’s Church Covenant.
In Paul’s words to the early Church, we read, “
For as in ONE body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function,
so we, who are many, are ONE body in Christ, and individually we are members ONE of another.”
(Romans 12:4-5) AND
“There is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as you were called to the ONE hope of your calling, ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
(Ephesians 4:4-6)
Jesus Christ has more authority than does the Bible for our living of active faith.
We are familiar with Jesus’ teaching:
“
I give you a new commandment, that you love ONE another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love ONE another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for ONE another.”
(Gospel of John 12:34-35) Three chapters later, in John 15, Jesus teaches how people who commit their lives to be his obedient disciples must abide in relationship with God through him using the metaphor of a vine, branches and fruit. Immediately after this teaching of Jesus, three more times, he teaches his followers to love one another (Gospel of John 15:10-17).
As we continue to live through these months of global pandemic, necessarily separate from one another for the good of one another, we must also remember
ST. JOHN’S IS ONE
. Our unity is in our commitment to the love of The Living God through Jesus Christ and the life of God’s Holy Spirit within us. Our unity, our oneness, is in our mutual commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord of our faith.
For the duration of this pandemic, I am making a pastoral request.
Let us use the 1:00 hour each day
to do something expressing our unity as we celebrate,
ST. JOHN’S IS ONE
.
Although none of us may be able to do something every day, some of us can do something each day.
You may write a note of appreciation, offer a prayer, make a call, send an email or text or write and mail a letter of encouragement. You may let someone know of a scripture or a hymn or choral anthem which is sustaining you during these months. Or, you may express your creativity in another initiative.
We will keep this theme in mind by using the logo shown here. (May the ‘1’ remind us to use the 1:00 hour to focus on one another.)
Although we cannot be with one another in the usual ways, let us explore new ways of our covenant unity, through our commitments to Jesus Christ, by celebrating that
ST JOHN’S IS ONE!
Rev. Dennis Foust Ph.D.
, Senior Minister
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Worship on July 26th
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. You'll want to have a pen and paper to participate in a spiritual practice during the service.
Worship will begin at 10:30 am via our YouTube channel and at our website under the Worship tab.
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Goal of $15,000
Received to Date: $3,310
The offering will remain open through the end of August.
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About Our World Missions Offering Recipients
When the young refugees from Sudan came into our hearts in 2001 they also opened our eyes. Most of us knew little about Sudan other than that it was a big country in the continent of Africa. As we formed warm relationships with the young men we learned something of the long civil wars that resulted in their being forced as preteens from their homes and families and their growing up in refugee camps, not knowing whether or not their own families had survived. As they settled into life here they began to make contact with various family members back in Africa and eventually began to make visits back to their home villages. One of the men, Lubo Mijak, with the help of his St. John’s mentors Leslie and Phillips Bragg, along with Mothering Across Continents, developed and implemented plans to build a school in his home village. The St. John’s family has been a major supporter of this school.
Today the Nyarweng School serves over 500 children and has continued to grow. Although the school is in temporary suspension due to the pandemic, teachers are being paid and some are working with those students who are preparing for their graduation exams. The picture below shows the teachers standing in front of the school.
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In the picture below, a large group of children stand by a cover built by villagers, using whatever materials they could find locally, to provide shelter for overflow. Parents have begun paying fees, which cover 20% of salary expense for the teachers.
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Phillips Bragg shares these recent words from Lubo:
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Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,
I came back to Juba yesterday on July 17, 2020, from Nyarweng village. The people (in the)…Nyarweng village are doing well by the grace of God and they are greeting all of you by the name of Almighty God. They are all wishing you good health in your church and city.I would like also to thank the church and it's members for supporting Raising South Sudan project since day (one) and until now. Thank you very much for your financial support.
Our educational project has been progressing well because of our help.
We have graduated more than 80 students in Nyarweng primary school since you have built this school in Nyarweng village. Currently we have registered 520 students and 24 students are (graduate) candidates for 2020.
The school is not functioning right now because of the Coronavirus pandemic, …but our candidates (are) receiving tutorial lessons in the school, so our teachers are very busy preparing the candidates for their national exams.
Once again thank you all.
Yours faithfully,
James Lubo Mijak
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We hope you will join us in supporting our Brothers and Sisters in Sudan by contributing to this years Global Missions Offering by clicking below.
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The Immigrant Support Study Group recently released Part 2 in the series of 3 videos "Journey to Understanding: Stories of Immigrant Children and Families" on the St. John’s Baptist Church blog. In this video, we hear from Jessica Contreras, a DACA Recipient interviewed by Anna Cushman. Anna has also composed an article, "
Implications of the Recent Supreme Court Decision on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program" to accompany the video.
Click here or the image above to view the video and read the article.
This series leads up to the Immigrant Support Study Group’s event, Journey to Understanding: Stories of Immigrant Children and Families, that will be held in Broach Hall in the future.
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Wednesday July 29th, 5:30-8:30 pm
16040 McAuley Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
Only 19 of 50 reservations are still available!
This outing will be mostly outdoors, however the barn does provide an indoor space should there be inclement weather or needed shelter from the heat. The space will allow us to be physically distant, the food truck allows for online ordering and individual/no contact pick up, and we plan to have plenty of locally sourced hand sanitizer available.
We are asking for people to BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage), BYOFC (Bring Your Own Face Covering) and BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair). We plan to be cognizant of physically-distancing and wearing face coverings when appropriate.
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Charlotte Pride will be celebrated July 24th - August 2nd here in the Queen City. Activities will include a virtual festival as well as a week long scavenger hunt to businesses and organizations across the city. Look for St. John's in the Parade Livestream on August 2nd!
Charlotte Pride Citywide Scavenger Hunt
Friday, July 24 – Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020
Festival Livestream
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, 1-9 pm
Parade Livestream
Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, 1-3 pm
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For details and information visit the event website by clicking
here.
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Prayer Concerns, Thanks & Sympathy
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Andrew Adair, Emily Batts, Byron Bullard,
Carol Drye, Don Furr, Camille Green, Polly Hull, Barbara Ledford,
Gene & Carol Poole, Elma Thomas,
Paislee,
Alison Zieglmeier (daughter of Ken and Donna Scott);
Our Weekday School and Head Start students, staff, and their families.
Sympathy and prayers to the family of Linda Walker of Columbus, Georgia
following her passing on July 21st.
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Dear Ones,
Thank you for celebrating my 100th birthday with me. I am so thankful to have a loving church family to make my birthday special. My heart is humbled and filled to overflowing with love and thankfulness foe each though, prayer and greeting. God bless you.
Love,
Virginia B. Allen
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Please email info@sjcharlotte to share a prayer request, thank you, or celebration.
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The Leadership Resource Team is pleased to present its slate of nominees for the 2020 deacon election. In addition to the customary sixteen (16) nominees to replace deacons whose terms are expiring, the slate includes five (5) additional nominees: one (1) to fill the unexpired term of Sally Young, who was elected deacon chair for the 2020-2021 church year, and four (4) to replace deacons who have resigned prior to the end of their terms (Tim Gibson, Kathy Turner, Deacon Jones and Donna Scott). An asterisk (*) indicates nominees who would be ordained as new deacons in September.
Ministry Panel
Becky Skidmore*
Steven Follis
Sara Vavra*
Laura McGuire*
Amy Chilton* (1-year term)
Administrative Panel
Dan Redding
Patti Klein*
Ellen Smith
Carter Sorrell
Phillips Bragg (2-year term)
Steve Carter (1-year term)
Pastoral Panel
Chris Lavender*
Eric McCombs*
Scott Hicks
Renee Hutchison
MC Sorrell
Eva Lee
Jimmy Kimball*
Jim Kesee*
Maggie Bond (1 year term)
Dale Johnson (2 year term)
The deacon election will be held on Sunday, August 9, via electronic vote. Please stay tuned to the Family News for more information about the deacon nominees and the election process. The Leadership Resource Team extends its thanks to the nominees for their willingness to serve our congregation as deacons.
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Throughout
our time as a scattered congregation, our Growth Groups have found new and creative ways to gather virtually for study, fellowship, and companionship. Most of the groups are still meeting during the Sunday School hour at 9:15 am on Sunday Mornings. If you would like help finding a group to connect with, contact Allison Benfield, Minister for Spiritual Formation at
abenfield@sjcharlotte
.or or 828-448-8412
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of July 15-17: $14,305
Income through July 17: $628,511
Annual 2020 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 app.
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The COVID-19 Task Force would like to have your input on our regathering plans for St. Johns. The group has developed a short survey for the people of St. Johns so that your input can be taken into consideration as we make plans to move forward this fall. Please click the button above to complete the survey. Thank you to those who have already completed the survey.
Next week we plan to share with the congregation the plans that the task force has developed and approved.
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Contact the Staff
To email a staff member, click on their name below
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