Vol. 79 Issue 41 | Week of October 11-17, 2021 |
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Showing Up and Moving Forward
A Pastoral Note from Dennis
Greetings along this journey of gathering!
Thank you for SHOWING UP!
- Sunday Morning Growth Groups are now gathering on Sundays.
- Our Chancel Choir has re-established its Wednesday evening rehearsals.
- Every Sunday, I am seeing additional people SHOW UP in the sanctuary.
- You are SHOWING UP with increased regularity, re-establishing pre-COVID habits and patterns.
- I look forward to seeing more of you MORE OFTEN in the next few weeks in our safe and sacred spaces.
- You are also SHOWING UP in other commitments, collaborations, and visions that connect us. Thank you!
- Through the first 9 months of this year, you have given your tithes and offerings faithfully. Thank you!
- You are striving toward surpassing this year’s Global Mission Offering goal of $25,000. Thank you!
- In service and in church leadership, you are beginning this new church year with energy and vitality. Thank you!
Now, we begin MOVING FORWARD!
- Remember, in March 2022, we begin our second century as a local church. Over the next four Sundays, I will offer four sermons to introduce our church’s centennial celebration. Please see the article in this issue on the St. John’s Pulpit.
- Through this autumn and winter, we anticipate our children to begin their opportunities for vaccinations and an increasing number of adults and youth will be able to receive boosters.
- On Sunday evening, October 24, we will host the virtual Charlotte Pride Interfaith Service.
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We will participate in the CROP Walk on Sunday, November 7. Register HERE to donate or join our team!
- We will enjoy a Food Truck Fellowship on Sunday, November 14.
- We will enter our envisioning and commitment process for our Financial Ministry Plan Budget for 2022.
- We will celebrate our beautiful traditions through the seasons of Advent and Christmas.
- We will move forward by returning to our regular patterns of participation.
Shalom,
Dennis
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RENT Community Cue: “Seasons of Love”
You are invited to attend a Community Cue conversation in partnership with the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center with St. John’s on Tuesday, November 16 at 7pm in Broach Hall.
Join in for a deep dialogue into themes presented in the musical, RENT. The dialogue will center around the history of the AIDS epidemic and the awareness of those living and thriving today despite the virus. We’ll also examine the stigma placed on individuals within and allied with the LGBTQ+ community historically within families, faith communities and our society. Another thread highlighted in RENT is the lack of affordable housing and community displacement for segments of the population and how this affects our city today. Resources and organizations will be made available for those wanting to learn, connect and engage with others to become the change one longs to see in the world.
Please let Kevin Gray know you want to attend and participate in the Community Cue by emailing him at kgray@sjcharlotte.org.
If you are interested in going to see RENT with a group from St. John’s and getting a group rate discount on tickets, please contact Kevin Gray TODAY to express your interest. We can pick out the best date for those interested once we know who is interested.
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THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17: Tie-Dye Party
The youth group invites YOU (that means EVERYONE) to at tie-dye party this Sunday, October. Be prepared to get a little messy and create a whole lot of colorful fun.
If you want a shirt this year, you need to come to the tie-dye party OR let Allison or Todd Stillerman know that you want a shirt.
Won’t you join us?
Simply show up on October 17 at 5PM in the parking lot by the Main Entrance, enjoy a slice of pizza, and be ready to tie-dye. All materials will be provided.
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SAVE THE DATE: Food Truck Sunday on November 14 after worship in the parking lot! |
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The St. John's Pulpit:
Looking Toward the Horizon of Our Second Century
This is our 100th church year. In March 2022, we will enter our second century of ministry. Dr. Foust’s pastoral messages over the next four Sundays will highlight a few ways in which St. John’s has witnessed Christ and interpreted God’s Good News throughout the past century. As we focus on our future, it is good to remember that our faith must be active in God’s mission revealed in Jesus and our activity must be faithful to God’s character revealed by Jesus. This foundational fidelity will provide guideposts for our future.
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October 17, 2021: This Sunday, we will look at Exodus 3:1-6 for a message with a long title: “WHEN THE LORD SAW THAT MOSES HAD TURNED ASIDE TO SEE.” One hundred years ago, some people climbed atop the tallest building in uptown Charlotte and looked toward the edge of town. What did they see?
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October 24, 2021: Dr. Foust’s message will be based upon 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:5 and is entitled, “WE DO NOT PROCLAIM OURSELVES.” What was the central message proclaimed by St. John’s 100 years ago? What is the central message we proclaim in this 21st century?
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October 31, 2021: Some important promises of Jesus are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 7:7-11. With a message entitled, “GREAT EXPECTATIONS,” Dr. Foust’s message will ask, “What made those charter members trust God 100 years ago? Were times easier then?”
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November 7, 2021: Two stories from the ministry of Jesus, in Luke 13:1-9 and John 9:1-7, provide the backdrop for Dr. Foust’s message entitled, ‘ASSETS OF $40.43 VS. DEBT OF $78,090.” We serve The Living God who shows up in our darkest days. As God’s church, we show up alongside God in the dark days of people’s lives.
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Happy 101st Birthday!
On October 23, Mrs. Jerry Jerman will turn 101! If you would like to send her a card to wish her a happy birthday, her address is:
729 Aintree Road
Charlotte, NC 28215-2017
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Children & Youth Basketball
We do expect that basketball will return for our children and youth this season. We hope to know more about the league’s Covid safety and protocol procedures after a coordinator’s meeting today. Please stay tuned for updates in the coming days.
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Worshiping Together In-Person and Online! |
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On Sunday, Dr. Foust will offer a message called, "When the Lord Saw that Moses Had Turned Aside to See," based on Exodus 3:1-6. We hope you will join us as we gather in-person and online as we stream the service on Facebook and YouTube starting at 10:30am. The stream and worship guide links will be sent out via email on Sunday morning.
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Prayer Concerns, Celebrations, Thanks & Sympathy |
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Andrew Adair, Shirley Ballard, Katherine Barr, Carol Drye, Betty Fuller, Camille Green, Polly Hull, Jean Hutson, Naomi Lamphier (sister of Amy Chilton), Barbara Ledford, Tish Philemon, Gene & Carol Poole, Viorica Secere, Don Swofford, Elma Thomas
Sympathy to Mark McNeill in the passing of his grandmother, Kada McNeill, on September 28, 2021 at the age of 102. Her obituary can be found here.
Prayers for our world, especially those living in the wake of hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, COVID-19, and global conflicts
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Financial Ministry Plan Report |
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Week of October 5-11: $10,769
Income through October 11: $821,259
Annual 2021 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,175,000
Global Missions: $17,193
Global Missions Goal: $25,000
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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
October 11-17: Allison Benfield
October 18-24: Kevin Gray
October 25-31: Lee Gray
Staff Contact Information
Dennis Foust, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 12
Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-451-1309 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 15
Nate Dove, Minister for Youth and Young Adults - 704-662-2154 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 13
Allison Benfield, Minister for Spiritual Growth - 828-448-8412 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 18
Kevin Gray, Minister for Music and Worship - 803-524-0287 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 14
Jacquelyn McAbee, Church Administrator - 434-579-1177 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 20
Derek Henson, Administrative Assistant - 704-333-5428, ext. 10
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