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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):
- CROSSWALK-A Pastoral Call to Congregational Prayer
- Happy Birthday!
- Meeting with Families this Sunday
- On the Way
- Valentine's Day Tea
- Basketball Schedule
- Yoga for Mental Health
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Room in the Inn: Sign up here
- Weekday School Enrollment Open
- Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations
- Financial Update
- Minister On Call Schedule
- Staff Contact Info
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Why Am I Calling You to Gather for Prayer?
CROSSWALK – A Pastoral Call to Congregational Prayer
by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister
One person who continues to shape my understanding and experience of prayer is Dr. Glenn Hinson. He was one of our seminary professors. And one person who shaped Glenn’s life of prayerfulness was Dr. Douglas Steere, a Quaker Ecumenist. Here is a word about prayer by Doug Steere:
“Prayer, if it is real, is an acknowledgment of our finitude, our need, our openness to be changed, our readiness to be surprised, yes, astonished by the beams of love.”
In our context of affluence and fast-paced lifestyles, prayer may be viewed as an intrusion, an interruption, or even an unnecessary expression of our faith. After all, we are unaccustomed to stillness and silence. Most people you know seldom acknowledge their finitude. Being honest about our needs usually becomes public only in tragedy. Our willingness to truly be changed from the inside out almost always depends upon some external motivation forced upon us. Our prayers are too often perfunctory or recited phrases without any theological reflection.
However, as I approach my 70th birthday in August, and as I have now crossed the threshold of more than 50 years of pastoral ministry in congregational contexts, prayer continues to be the primary way in which my spirit is renewed, my vision is clarified, and my inspiration is rekindled. Prayer is God’s gift helping us explore our relationship with God and God’s relationship with us. Prayer is not to be on the borders of our lives but at its center. I call you to gather for prayer because prayer diminishes anxiety, clarifies visions, offers pathways for spiritual maturity, and nurtures church unity.
Therefore, beginning this Sunday, January 19, I ask you to join me for Communal Prayer in the Sanctuary at 9:00 AM.
We will gather on the Third Sunday of each month in 2025 for this new prayer effort I am calling CROSSWALK. We will be finished no later than 9:10 so you can get to your Sunday School Ministry Groups. I will guide us in these moments to pray for our church leaders, our Converge process, our staff, and our Transition Team as we begin this year of significance. God will offer guidance and directional leadership to us. Let us discern how to follow with active faith as we continue Jesus’ ministry investing in the mission of God. Shalom!
For your calendar:
CROSSWALK COMMUNAL PRAYER SUNDAYS (9 – 9:10 AM)
- January 19
- February 16
- March 16
- April 20 (Easter)
- May 18
- June 15
- July 20
- August 17
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Happy Birthday!
Dean Bailey will celebrate a birthday on January 21. He is the son of Natalie and Chase.
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Meeting with Families
Rescheduled for This Sunday, January 19
All families with children are invited to attend a brief meeting after worship this Sunday in the Lounge on the first floor.
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ON THE WAY
January 22
St. John’s retired adults and friends will meet at Portofino (Italian Cuisine) on 5126 Park Rd for lunch and fellowship on Wednesday, January 22 at 11:30 am.
Please let Lee Gray LGray@sjcharlotte.org know if you will be participating by Monday, January 20.
A few of us will carpool and leave from the church at 11:05 on that Wednesday. If you plan to leave from the church please let me know when you make your reservation. You can also just meet us there.
Hope you can join us for lunch and fellowship!
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Valentine's Par-Tea for Children, Their Families, and On the Way Friends
Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 11:30am in Broach Hall
Children, their families, and On the Way friends are invited to a par-tea!
Please join us on Sunday, February 9, immediately following worship, in Broach Hall for a tea party to celebrate Valentine’s Day. With savories, scones, sweets, tea, music, and more, the afternoon promises to be a sweet one!
Reserve your teacup by February 2. You may register on Realm or email Kheresa or Lee.
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Basketball Game Schedule and Bake Sale!
January 18
- 6u Co-Ed – 10:30 am @ Providence Baptist
- 8u Boys Cardella – 3:30 pm @ Providence Baptist
- 8u Boys Allen – 9:30 am @ St. Stephen UM
- 8u Girls - BYE
- 10u Boys Short – 2:15 pm @ Victory Christian Center
- 10u Boys Barnhardt – 3:15 pm @ St. John’s
- 10u Girls – 10:00 am @ St. John’s
- 12u Girls – 11:00 am @ St. John’s
- 18u Girls – BYE
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Still in need of Room in the Inn Volunteers!
Room in the Inn hosting at St. John's runs through Friday, March 14, 2025. We need volunteers like you to sign up to make this happen successfully.
On Friday, January 24, we need overnight hosts and set up crew volunteers.
Please contact Dale Johnson at 704-454-8931 or Alice Wirz at 704-222-6208 if you have any questions on any of these tasks.
Sign up below.
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Weekday School Enrollment Open!
The Weekday School enrollment is now in progress for next school year and there are several openings NOW in the 2s and 3s class for the rest of this current school year.
Who can enroll?
The WDS is open to families with children 6 months to 6 years old during the school year. There are 6 classes: Infants (six to 18 months), Toddlers (18-24 months), Twos, Threes, Fours, and TK (children who will be five Dec.).
Please see more information below in our flier and reach out to Lydia Olmsted, the Director, at weekdayschool@sjcharlotte.org for more info.
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Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations
Current Prayer Concerns: Shirley Ballard, Pauline Funderburk, Martha Kiker, Ken Sanford
Continuing Prayer: Nancy Burgess, Carolyn Hall, Mary Rickenbaker, Anne Sutton, Jeck Warren
We will celebrate the life of Betty Mullins on Thursday, January 16 at 11:00 am in the St. John's sanctuary with a reception to follow in Lasater Hall.
We will celebrate the life of Arnold Philemon on Monday, January 20 at 2:00 pm in the St. John's sanctuary with a reception to follow in Lasater Hall. (this was scheduled for Friday but has since been moved to Monday)
We express sympathy to Al and Treva Bridges in the death of their son, Ric Bridges, this past weekend. Please continue to pray for them while respecting their need for no calls or visits at this tragic time.
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Financial Update
2024 Full Year Budget: $1,211,000
Income Received Through December: $1,164,277 (96%)
December income and expenses will be reported later in January
2025 Draft Budget (Total Expenses): $1,233,000
2025 Pledge Goal: 150 Commitments, $900,000
2025 Pledges Received: 134 Commitments, $845,520
2024 Pledge Total: 140 Commitments, $884,000
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Staff On-Call Rotation
- Jan. 13-19: Dennis
- Jan. 20-26: Kheresa
- Jan. 27-Feb. 2: Russell
- Feb. 3-9: Dennis
- Feb. 10-16: Lee
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Staff Contact Information
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Rev. Dennis Foust, PhD, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 2012
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Rev. Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-333-5428, ext. 2015; 704-451-1309 (cell)
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Rev. Kheresa Harmon, Minister for Children & their Families - 704-333-5428, ext. 2018; 910-890-3392 (cell)
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Russell Nelson, Minister for Worship & Music - (980) 228-6244 (cell)
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Mallory Brown, Media Coordinator - 704-477-3349 (cell)
- Chloe Hall, Children's Choir Director
- Noel Lance, Organist
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Amanda Morrison, Church Administrator - 704-333-5428, ext. 0
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Lydia Olmsted, Weekday School Director - 704-333-5428, ext. 2039
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