Vol. 78 Issue 30 Week of July 27-August 7, 2020
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Welcome to St. John's
The three people pictured below became members of our church family this past Sunday!
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MidWeek Moment
A Pastoral Word to the People of St. John's
Our Senior Minister, Dennis Foust will offer a pastoral letter by video this week. He will update us on several areas of congregational life and ministry as we transition toward a new church year. Watch our website, YouTube and Facebook pages for Midweek Moments to be posted on this afternoon. He will offer a word to parents and teachers; youth and young adults; those living in Continuing Care Retirement Communities; members who are grieving the loss of loved ones; staff transitions; etc. He will also speak about our ‘One Another’ initiative and review the COVID-19 Task Force Recommendations as he describes ways we might begin re-gathering after the weather cools in September and October.
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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.
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ST. JOHN’S IS ONE
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.
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!
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Worship on August 2nd
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.
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: $3,975
The offering will remain open through the end of August, just one more month!
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We hope you will join us in supporting our Brothers and Sisters in South Sudan by contributing to this years Global Missions Offering by clicking below.
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Charlotte Pride is underway now here in the Queen City. Activities 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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Meet with Rev. Nate
Families with middle and high school students are invited to personally meet with Rev. Nate Dove, our new Minister for Youth and Young Adults. Sign up for a time to me with Nate in a physically distant way by clicking
Here.
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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. Click
here
or on the image below to read about each of the nominees via our website.
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The deacon affirmation will be held on Sunday, August 9 following worship via email and the Ordination of new Deacons will take place in September.
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Serving from the Seat of Your Car
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.
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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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Prayer Concerns, Thanks & Sympathy
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Emily Batts, Byron Bullard, Don Furr, Polly Hull, Gene & Carol Poole, Elma Thomas, Paislee, Alison Zieglmeier (daughter of Ken and Donna Scott),
Barbara Ledford, Elizabeth Laney
Our Weekday School and Head Start students, staff, and their families.
The family of Linda Walker following her death on July 21st.
To Carol Logan and her family following the death of her sister, Ellen Taylor of Conway, SC on Monday, July 20th.
To the family of Richard Canady who passed on ahead of us
on Wednesday, July 22nd.
Sympathy to the family of Pat Lloyd who passed on ahead of us Thursday evening, July 23rd. We are praying for her husband, Paul, and their family.
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Please email info@sjcharlotte to share a prayer request, thank you, or celebration.
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Financial Ministry Plan Report
Week of July 18-28: $13,215
Income through July 28: $641,726
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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Contact the Staff
To email a staff member, click on their name below
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