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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):
- Interpreting, Transitioning, Structuring, Visioning
- A Church that Moves the World Forward
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PRIDE Parade and Festival THIS Weekend: Sign Up Here
- Happy Birthday!
- Weaving Our Community Fabric
- On the Way August and September
- Family Fall Cookout
- Meeting for Families with Children on August 25
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Women of the Church Luncheon: Register Now!
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RISE Against Hunger in September: Register Now!
- Blessing of the Backpacks on August 25
- Common Table
- Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations
- On Call Rotation
- Financial Update & Global Missions Update (Almost to our goal!)
- Minister On Call Schedule
- Staff Contact Info
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INTERPRETING, TRANSITIONING, STRUCTURING, VISIONING
by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister
Greetings at the beginning of a new church year. Let me update you on some important information that you need to know as we look beyond the summer.
First, your Church Council has been working all summer on the information you input into the congregational planning process this past spring during CONVERGE. These fine church leaders have been steady in their efforts of interpreting and collating various perspectives into related areas of focus. You can expect them to present some Vision Ministry Goals to deacons and the congregation in September and October. These Vision Ministry Goals are being developed using a SMART Goals rubric: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
Second, your Finance Resource Team has been refining plans for our 2025 Annual Budget which is our Financial Ministry Plan for the year. Since we have emerged from the pandemic, we have been trying to determine the realistic level for annual income as we plan for St. John’s future. Last year, for the first time in my pastoral tenure, we finished the year in the red; our expenses surpassed our income. Through the first half of this year, we are running $26,000 behind; $580,000 expenses compared to $554,000 income. Please consider catching up on your giving if you have gotten a bit behind in your giving this summer. We are trying to get a good understanding of how to budget for our vision for 2025. Thank you for your prayerful consideration and faithful financial stewardship.
Third, you are making commitments to teach, serve, collaborate, invest, and care. Thank you. Our Leadership Council is just about finished enlisting people for roles of leadership. We will begin our new church year on September 1 and ordain new deacons on Sunday, September 8th. Thank you for your willingness to make the church strong and healthy.
Fourth, we have some important dates to place on our calendars in the coming weeks.
The next two Sundays, I will offer messages in our series, The Kind of Church Our World Needs. This Sunday’s sermon is entitled, “A Church that Moves the World Forward.” In the afternoon, several of us will be walking in the PRIDE Parade proclaiming, “God Loves Everyone!” This is a message all people need to hear from God’s people. On Sunday, August 25th, as we focus on our children and youth returning to school and our blessing of the backpacks, my sermon is entitled, “A Church that Shapes a People for God.”
In September, some of our adults are going to Hendersonville for a day of fellowship to view ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ Our young families will be gathering for fellowship. On Sunday, September 15th, we welcome Dr. Todd Still to the St. John’s Pulpit. Todd is Dean of the
George Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. On Sunday, September 29th, we will have a grand day of touching the lives of hungry people with our ecumenical and interracial missional day through Rise Against Hunger, as we pack 20,000 meals. On Sunday, October 6th, we will celebrate the children of our church in worship and we will participate in CROP Walk in the afternoon.
I am very excited about this coming year. I hope you are also. Let us pray for God to empower us as we work together to nurture our congregational culture of compassion, peace, justice, mercy, humility, spiritual renewal, and missional initiative as we continue to interpret, transition, structure, and envision. Shalom!
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A Church that Moves the World Forward
This summer, our worship continues to explore practical applications of Jesus' example of love, with our ministry staff offering messages on how we can emulate this model today.
See this summer's preaching schedule below.
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August 18 – A Church that Moves the World Forward, by Dr. Dennis Foust
August 25 – A Church that Shapes a People for God, by Dr. Dennis Foust
September 1 – A Church of Beautiful Grace in Action, by Rev. Haley Blackwell
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Join us for Charlotte Pride 2024!
THIS WEEKEND!
Thank you so much! We are happy to announce that we have been able to fill all time slots for Saturday and Sunday at our Pride Booth. If you would still like to come by or help out you are very welcome to, we are at the corner of Tryon & Brooklyn Vlg. Ave.
CALLING PARADE WALKERS:
We currently have only 16 people registered to walk! Please consider joining us as we shout the message that "God Loves Everyone!" As mentioned before, we are 25th in line so the wait time before stepping off will be shorter this year. You can stay parked at the church and take the Gold Line trolley over as a group to the parade staging area at the corner of 9th & Tryon.
You can register on Realm below or by contacting the church office.
If you have any questions, please contact either:
Amanda Morrison or Todd Stillerman.
amorrison@sjcharlotte.org
stillerman@gmail.com
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Happy Birthday!
Mason Banker will celebrate a birthday on August 20. He is the son of Erin Hinson.
Kate Bailey will celebrate a birthday on August 21. She is the daughter of Natalie and Chase Bailey.
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We invite you to participate in a literal weaving of our community fabric
This will be in the form of a tapestry made on a vertical loom. Weaving is a timeless art that symbolizes unity and strength in its intertwining threads.
What we need from each of you is a simple strip of cloth, 12-18” long X 3” wide (approximately). It may be cut or torn, any color, any pattern, and any type of fabric. You may choose to sign it or write something meaningful on it. Please bring your fabric to the sanctuary in the next several weeks. There will be a table in the front corner with a tapestry collection basket on it. You may also select a fabric strip from the table if you wish. The actual weaving will take place as we transition into fall.
Please join us in this journey of collaboration. Together, let’s weave a tapestry that embodies the beauty of this community.
Please address questions to Cindy Osborne through Realm or email her at loupaints@gmail.com.
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On the Way
Outings for St. John’s Retired Adults & Friends
AUGUST – We will have a lunch outing at The Famous Toastery (2400 Park Rd) on Wednesday, August 21. You can leave with folks from the church at 11:15 am or meet us there at 11:30 am.
SEPTEMBER – We will be going to see “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Flat Rock Playhouse on Thursday September 19. All tickets are taken at this point. If you still want to go, get your own ticket, and meet us there, please feel free to do so.
Please Email Lee Gray LGray@sjcharlotte.org to make reservations for either or both outings.
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Family Fall Cookout on Saturday, September 7
Let's "fall into Fall 2024" with a cookout at the home of Liz and Jordan Benton (1401 Kingscross Drive, Charlotte, NC 28211-3973) at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 7! Hamburgers and/or hotdogs, and buns will be provided. Let’s bring the condiments, sides, desserts, beverages, and paper products! Please review the available slots below and click below to sign up to bring items by September 2nd.
Questions? Please email or text Kheresa at kharmon@sjcharlotte.org or 910.890.3392.
Register to bring items and sign up below.
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Calling All Families with Children!
There will be a meeting for ALL families with children on Sunday, August 25 in Broach Hall following worship. We hope to see you there.
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Women of the Church Annual Luncheon
Registration Open
The Women of the Church are looking forward to the Annual Luncheon and Business Meeting to be held in Broach Hall on Sunday, September 15 at 11:45 AM. We are excited to gather again for fellowship and food as we begin exploring this year’s theme of God’s Tapestry: Woven Together in Power and Purpose.
We are delighted to welcome our own Lynn Erdman, as our guest speaker. She will be sharing with us the work she does as the nurse at Dove’s Nest. We hope you will join us and be blessed by her message.
Reservations are REQUIRED by September 8 and the cost is $15.00 per person. You may register through Realm (click on events OR below) or by submitting the paper form and a check made payable to St. John’s Baptist Church. Paper forms may be found on the stands alongside the worship bulletins in the Sanctuary. For your convenience, you may place the form and your payment in the after-hours drop box outside the Church Office. Nancy Wilson will be available to receive reservations from 10:00 – 10:20 AM outside the Church Office on Sundays, September 1st and September 8th.
In the spirit of Women of the Church, donations to Dove’s Nest will be collected at the door. Such items include:
- non-alcohol mouthwash
- toothpaste
- dental floss
- Ibuprofen
- feminine products (pads, tampons)
- lotion
- shampoo & conditioner
- Ace bandages
- slide-on knee supports (S-XL)
- protein bars
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Rise Against Hunger
Register Today for September 29 Event at St. John's
Did you know that a child dies from hunger every 10 seconds?*
Let’s work together to end global hunger. Please join us and congregants from several other local congregations for our Rise Against Hunger Packing Event on Sunday, September 29, immediately after worship with a fellowship lunch. Together we will package 20,000 meals on site for hungry people around the world.
Registration for our event is now open. You may register to serve in up to 3 ways:
- Event set-up with Rise Against Hunger staff from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Meal packaging from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Event cleanup with Rise Against Hunger staff from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
We encourage you to learn more about the Rise Against Hunger packaging event by viewing an informational video:
https://youtube.com/shorts/jEgkcUCOAiw?feature=shared
If you have questions about our Rise Against Hunger event, please contact Anna Cushman or Kheresa Harmon.
Rise Against Hunger is a global movement to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives, and responding to emergencies. It’s an international humanitarian non-profit founded in NC over 25 years ago by Christian clergy.
*www.theworldcounts.com.
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Blessing of the Backpacks
August 25
On August 25, we encourage students of all ages (preschool-graduate school) to bring their backpacks or another symbol for their educational journey to worship for a special blessing of the backpacks. We will also give rising first graders their own Bibles.
Bring your backpack and receive a blessing for the new academic year.
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Common Table on August 25
6-8pm at Vaulted Oak Brewing on Monroe Rd.
St. John's members are encouraged to invite family, friends, and neighbors searching for a new faith experience to our next Common Table dinner on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 6-8 PM at Vaulted Oak Brewing, 3726 Monroe Rd.
Common Table is an open community for believers and seekers to share a meal and engage in meaningful spiritual conversations. This gathering fosters an intentional community, offering space for healing and faith exploration. It is ideal for those new to church, rarely attending, or seeking a safe environment to explore their faith.
Learn more and share with others at commontableclt.com.
If you're a St. John's member interested in learning more about this new ministry and attending this month's or future events, email Matt Comer at matthewmhcomer@gmail.com to get connected; we'd love to have you present to experience this new and growing ministry of the church.
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Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations
Current Prayer Concerns: Becky Benton, Kathleen Bumgardner, Jack Crymes, Charles Gordon, Carolyn Hall, Lanny Loftis, Arnold Philemon, Shelly Zeigler
Continuing Prayer Concerns: Shirley Ballard, Tom Bryson, Mary Rickenbaker
Please remember the family of Mrs. Johnnie Morcock in your prayers in her passing on ahead of us last week.
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On Call Rotation
- Aug. 12-18: Russell
- August 19-25: Dennis
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Financial Update
2024 Full Year Budget: $1,211,000
Income Received Through August 11: $653,507
July income to be reported next week
Global Missions Offering Goal: $25,000
Received through August 4: $22,210
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Staff Contact Information
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Rev. Haley Blackwell, Minister for Youth & Young Adults - 704-333,5428, ext. 2013; 620-515-3558 (cell)
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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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