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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):
- Living on the Border
- Churchwide Survey
- Retirement Luncheon for Rev. Dennis W. Foust
- Love Offering for The Fousts
- Pride Volunteers Needed!
- AGO Concert
- On the Way!
- Annual Back to School Breakfast & Parents' Meeting
- Youth Parent Meeting
- Faith Journey Book Study Starting September 8
- WOC Luncheon
- YART Trivia Night
- Pictures from Worship on Sunday July 27
- Fall Churchwide 2025 Save the Dates
- Fall Kickoff Cookout for Children & Their Families
- Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations
- Financial Update
- Minister On Call Schedule
- Staff Contact Info
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LIVING ON THE BORDER
by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister
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Metro Charlotte exposes us to living on a border. The nightly news covers stories of both North Carolina and South Carolina. Our church members live in, work in, and hail from both states. We also live on borders between counties. We pay little attention to crossing county lines between Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston, Cabarrus, etc. These borders are porous.
When our family lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, our church members gathered at the facilities of downtown’s First Baptist Church from Georgia and Alabama. When we served in Louisville, Kentucky, a few members travelled from Indiana. And when we served in San Antonio, Texas, we were aware of how life near the Mexican border impacted our culture.
These weeks present us with another way of living on the borders. In three weeks, we cross into an interim season, a transitional time between senior ministers. This border crossing may feel to you a little less porous and more like a noticeable dividing line.
One primary reason this border crossing feels different is because it is rare for you. This border has only been crossed six times in St. John’s history through 103 years. When Joseph Parker resigned in 1929, St John’s called Chauncey Durden. When Chauncey retired in 1944, St. John’s called Claude Broach. When Claude retired in 1974, St. John’s called Julian Cave. When Julian resigned in 1986, St. John’s called Tom Graves. When Tom resigned in 1991, St. John’s called Richard Kremer. And when Richard resigned in 2009, St. Johns called me. Friends, to have only six senior minister transitions in 103 years is amazing in any Christian tradition – especially among Baptists! Well done!
I am grateful to our church staff for the ways they are embracing this border crossing. Amanda Morrison, Kheresa Harmon, Lee Gray, Noel Lance, and Kim Ray are collaborative, energetic, committed, and responsive to you and your needs. I am thankful that Phillips Bragg agreed to serve as Chair of Deacons for a second year. His love of St. John’s is unquestioned and his approach to caring for every aspect of St. John’s life and ministry – both now and into the future – are thorough. I am grateful to our Church Council and all members who are serving in roles of servant leadership. These are trustworthy folks who will guide you well. I am also convinced that our Transition Team is making choices for interim ministerial leadership that will contribute to your congregational health and vision. In other words, the land beyond the border will provide safety and promise – along with a few challenges that call for you to express Active Faith. Each of you will be needed along this journey beyond the border crossing.
In his book, Galilean Journey, Virgilio Elizondo writes about borderlands. He reminds us that Jesus invested most of his public life in a region that was considered marginal and challenging by most people in positions of prestige and power. However, Elizondo reminds the reader that Jesus began a new creation in that challenging situation. And this movement which Jesus started two-thousand years ago is still calling people to cross borders into a deeper relationship with God which is spiritually transforming. This new creation is depicted in the bread and cup of The Lord’s Table. I’ll see you this Sunday around The Lord’s Table. Kheresa is offering the sermon and leading us in communion. I am speaking to our children about the ways God works in our lives through change and transition. We are all living on the border between God’s work in us yesterday and tomorrow. Shalom!
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Help define the hiring profile for our next Senior Minister! | |
The St. John’s Pastor Search Team is tasked with identifying and recommending the next Senior Minister following Dr. Foust’s retirement in August, and your perspective on the type of candidate we should look for is important. We are asking for your participation in two ways:
- Step 1 is completing a quick survey to capture your thoughts on the demographics, background, and characteristics of an ideal candidate.
- Step 2 will come in September when we gather as a church for a conversation based on the survey results, and to further refine any input on key priorities for the Search Team.
Details on what we are asking you to do now:
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Please take a few minutes now to complete the anonymous survey by clicking on the link provided here, or by entering the link address in your browser. https://forms.gle/Q1Dda2Fhq8wgWwZj6
- There are 9 questions that ask you to select from options provided, and one question for you to provide any additional input you feel is critical.
- Each member or regular attendee is asked to share their input, meaning there will be multiple surveys completed for each family. We just ask each person to use the link to complete your input once.
Paper copies of the survey are being sent to those members who normally receive a printed version of the Family News. However, if you are unable to complete this online and need a paper copy to complete, please reach out to Amanda Morrison in the church office. Please return your paper copy to the after hours box outside of Amanda's office.
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, and we are excited to receive your input! Thank you for your prayerful attention to this important part of our process.
~ St. John’s Pastor Search Team
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| Retirement Luncheon for Rev. Dennis W. Foust | | |
Please join us for a catered lunch in Broach Hall immediately following worship service on Sunday, August 24, to honor the ministry of Dennis and Paula Foust.
There will be no charge for your meal, but YOU MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO ATTEND!
Only register children if they will be eating with you in Broach Hall.
Otherwise, childcare will be available for free, starting at 11:30 AM, and includes a child-friendly lunch. YOU MUST answer YES to childcare and provide your child’s/children’s name(s) and age(s) when registering yourself.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
Register by clicking HERE!
You are encouraged to write a note to the Fousts and either mail it to the church, leave it in the church office, or drop it in a basket provided at the luncheon.
If you did not receive a confirmation email yesterday, please contact the church office to register or try registering again.
| | Love Offering for The Fousts | | While planning continues for the 8/24 special service and lunch to celebrate Dennis' final service as our Senior Minister, we are also providing another way to give the Fousts a loving sendoff from St. John's. A special Love Offering fund has been set up as a tangible indication of our best wishes for Dennis and Paula from the St. John's family. If you would like to make a donation, just follow the special link below to give online, selecting the "Love Offering" option (the last one in the list of options). While this is the easiest and preferred method to donate, you can also put a check or cash in a separate envelope marked "Foust Love Offering" and drop it in the collection plate. Love offering donations are direct personal gifts and are not considered tax deductible donations to the church. To give online, click here. | | |
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Charlotte Pride is Saturday and Sunday, August 16–17 at First Ward Park and surrounding streets in Uptown Charlotte.
We need volunteers to walk in the Charlotte Pride Parade on Sunday, August 17 and help us share the message: “GOD LOVES EVERYONE!”
If you can't walk but still want to support, we also need booth volunteers:
- Saturday, August 16: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday, August 17: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
(Booth shifts are 2 hours each.)
To sign up or ask questions, contact Amanda Morrison at amorrison@sjcharlotte.org
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On the Way
Las Margaritas, Thursday, August 21
St. John’s retired adults and friends are invited to gather for lunch at Las Margaritas (4426 E. Independence Blvd.) at 11:30 am on Thursday, August 21.
Please email Lee Gray at LGray@sjcharlotte.org if you plan to attend so our reservations can be adjusted for the right number of people.
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| | Back - To - School Breakfast & Parents' Meeting | Children and families are invited to our annual Back-to-School Breakfast on Sunday, August 24 at 9:15 a.m. in the SJBC Library Commons. Following a continental breakfast parents will meet with Kheresa to discuss Children’s Sabbath, the Nativity Play, and the new Sunday school year. |
You are invited to join the Faith Journey Book Study. We will begin meeting on Monday September 8 and will meet each Monday at 11:00 in the Church Lounge. Our book for the fall is Gospel Medicine by Barbara Brown Taylor. Books can be ordered by contacting Loretta Brown (lorettaybrown@gmail.com or 434-579-2669). All are welcome to this discussion group. For further information contact Kathy Bragg or Loretta Brown. |
WOMEN OF THE CHURCH ANNUAL LUNCHEON | Save the Date! Join us on September 14th, at 11:45 AM, for the Women of the Church annual luncheon and business meeting in Broach Hall. Details to follow! Please mark your calendar. |
Young Adults will meet again for Trivia Night on Tuesday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Petty Thieves. Join us! |
| | Thank you to Rev. Dr. Chris Thomas! | |
Thank you to Rev. Dr. Chris Thomas from 1st Baptist Church in Wilson, NC, for serving as our Guest Proclaimer on July 27, 2025. We are grateful for your presence and the message you shared with our congregation.
Thank you Linda for sharing these pictures!
| | Fall 2025 Churchwide Save The Dates: | |
- Charlotte Pride August 16-17
- Luncheon for Foust Family Sunday, August 24
- Rise Against Hunger Sunday, September 28
- Children's Sabbath and World Communion Sunday, October 5
- Fall Festival Sunday, October 26
- NAMI Walk Saturday, November 8
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Fall 2025 Cookout for Children & Families | |
Let’s "fall into Fall 2025" with a cookout at the home of Kelli, Eric, Hailey, and Grayson McCombs (6508 Calvert Commons Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078) at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 6!
Please RSVP here by September 1.
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Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations | |
Current Prayer Concerns:
Debbie Pittman
Continuing Prayer:
Mary Rickenbaker, Joseph Freeman
Sympathy:
St. John’s,
We are grieving with three of our church households. Please remember these grieving sisters and brothers in your prayers.
We express our sympathy to Tami and Alan Dietz, as her father, Andy Graven, passed on ahead of us on Sunday, July 27th. We also pray for Clinton and Hampton in the loss of their grandfather. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte on Friday, August 1st, at 10:45 a.m.
We express our sympathy to Jan and Scott Kerley, as her mother, Pauline Funderburk, passed on ahead of us on July 24th. A memorial service will be held in the Chapel of Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe, NC, on Sunday, August 3rd, at 2:00 p.m. Jan and the family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 to 1:45.
We express our sympathy to Lee Gray, whose sister, Beth, passed on ahead of us on July 12th. We also pray for Wilson and Warren in the loss of their aunt. A memorial service to honor her life and ministry will be convened in the Sanctuary of Providence Baptist Church on Friday, August 8th, at 11:00 a.m. Lee and the family will receive friends following the service.
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2025 Full Year Budget – $1,241,000
Income Received thru July 27 - $699,446
Global Missions Offering - $23,000
Income Received thru July 27 - $5,915
| | Minister On Call Schedule |
- July 28-Aug. 3: Dennis
- Aug 4 - 10: Lee
- Aug 11 - 17: Kheresa
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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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Noel Lance, Interim Minister for Worship & Music and Organist
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Liza Tindall, Media Coordinator
- Chloe Hall, Children's Choir Director
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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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