St. John's Family News

Week of August 19-25, 2024 | Vol. 83, Issue 35

www.stjohnsbaptistchurch.org | @sjbccharlotte

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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):


  1. Why I Enjoy Being a Pastor: First in a Series
  2. A Church that Shapes a People for God
  3. Blessing of the Backpacks
  4. Let's Begin a New School Year by Learning
  5. Weaving Our Community Fabric & Special Activity on Sunday for Families
  6. SNL Meals and Adults Needed
  7. No Children's Sunday School on September 1
  8. Family Fall Cookout: Sign Up Below
  9. Meeting for Families with Children on August 25
  10. Women of the Church Luncheon: Register Now!
  11. RISE Against Hunger in September: Register Now!
  12. Nourish Up Food Drive in September
  13. Craft & Bake Sale in October
  14. Stained Glass Windows History
  15. Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations
  16. On Call Rotation
  17. Financial Update & Global Missions Update (Almost to our goal!)
  18. Minister On Call Schedule
  19. Staff Contact Info

WHY I ENJOY BEING A PASTOR: First in a Series

by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister


Before I was nineteen years of age, I committed my life to serve God through congregational leadership in a pastoral role. There was much about myself I did not understand. However, with sincerity and humility, I said ‘yes’ to God’s calling and gave everything I knew and understood about myself to all I knew and understood about God. And, through the years, God has helped me learn more about both of us. As I enter my fiftieth year as a pastoral minister, there are many reasons why I enjoy being a pastor. Therefore, I am beginning a series this week to share a few of these enjoyments with you.


I begin with the cornerstone of my enjoyment. What I enjoy most, what I appreciate most, what I value most about serving as a pastor is being trusted. I value, enjoy, and give thanks to God for trusting me with a call to serve Christ’s Church through this pastoral pathway. I was on a path to major in psychology and pursue a career in human resources. Yet, through that year of my call, I kept praying, asking God to guide me to understand what I should do with my discipleship. Over several months, it became clear to me that God trusted me to lead other people in the ministry of Christ. This awareness was tremendously humbling.


However, it was also uplifting. God’s calling moved me to lower myself before God to say, ‘Here am I, send me.’ Yet, God’s calling also moved me to rise to the challenge of pursuing training for ministry and opportunities for professional development so I could offer my best to God and God’s people.


Intertwined with God’s trust in my calling is the trust God’s people present to me. People who work hard, sacrifice to care for their families, volunteer in the community, and strengthen organizations and institutions have blessed me with their trust. Individuals who are professionals in their vocational fields have realized (most of the time) that I am also a professional in my vocational field. Most members and leaders of the churches I’ve served have appreciated that their pastor has studied and continues to study prayer, biblical interpretation, theology, pastoral care and shepherding, pastoral preaching and the prophetic voice, congregational health, congregational vitality, congregational growth, staff relationships, worship, faith formation as one aspect of human development, discipleship, mission, education, spirituality and devotional life, grief, counseling, marriage & family, etc. People have trusted me to help them begin their journey of faith, their marriage, and their vocational choices. People have invited me inside their private world to carry their burdens with them and trusted me with their secrets of shame and guilt. People have allowed me to embrace them in their most difficult moments and welcomed me into their suffering.

Next week, I’ll offer a second aspect of my enjoyment. In this fiftieth year of ministry, I renew my commitment to God and to you. Let us trust one another as we pursue God’s mission in 2024-2025 and beyond. To the future!

A Church that Shapes a People for God


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.

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

Blessing of the Backpacks

THIS SUNDAY!


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.

Let's Begin a New School Year by Learning: Read, Study, Apply

by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister


As we pray for our parents, children, youth, teachers, administrators, counselors and all others involved in the beginning of a new school year, let’s begin a new school year by learning. I’m going to offer one to three passages of scripture in each week’s Family News.


The scriptures will be associated with sermons of the following Sundays. I encourage you to read, reflect, and apply each passage.


The readings for this week are Jeremiah 18:1-6 and Ephesians 4:11-16.


In addition, I will include some thoughts throughout this next school year to promote faith maturity with emphasis on discipleship and the teaching ministry of the church.

Weaving Our Community Fabric


This will be in the form of a tapestry made on a vertical loom. 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.


Bring your fabric as soon as possible!


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.

All Families & Children (Nursery – 5th grade): Community Weaving


Please meet Cindy Osborne and Kheresa in the sanctuary THIS SUNDAY, August 25 at 10:00am! 


Cindy will lead us in the making of fabric flowers, which will be put in the foreground of the tapestry landscape. She will also invite you, along with your child, to weave fabric into the tapestry that our church family is weaving together. You may bring your own strips of fabric or use what Cindy has provided. 

SNL Youth Begins Again in September

  

Our Sunday evening youth group will begin meeting again in September and we need YOU to help provide meals for them AND/OR serve as the second adult on site.


If you are interested in serving in this way, please email Haley at hblackwell@sjcharlotte.org.


The dates are as follows:


September 8th, September 15th, September 22nd, September 29th, October 6th, October 13th, October 20th, October 27th, November 3rd, November 10th, November 17th, November 24th, December 8th, December 15th

Children, 3 years of age and up, will not meet for Sunday school on Sunday, September 1. Nursery will be provided as usual.

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.

Sign Up to Bring Items Here
Sign Up to Attend Here

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.

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
Register Here

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:


  1. Event set-up with Rise Against Hunger staff from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  2. Meal packaging from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  3. 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.

 

*www.theworldcounts.com. 

Register Here

September Food Drive for Nourish Up


Each Tuesday about the same time you are going to lunch, there is a line in Charlotte of about 100 people (yes, 100) who have been approved waiting to receive free food.


The location is the Galilee Church located at 3601 Central Avenue and the group is Nourish Up (formerly known as Loaves and Fishes).


Lynne Lewis is the Pantry Coordinator and has been a volunteer with Nourish Up for 21 years.


During the month of September, St. John's will have a Nourish Up Drive collecting food items (see list below) for the approved folks.


Especially needed:


  • Beans, canned or dried. Not green beans
  • Canned corn, peas
  • Cereal
  • Canned peaches
  • Flour, sugar, salt, pepper
  • Preserves, any kind


Food can be left in the Giving Nook at the Main Entrance.

Annual Craft & Bake Sale Is Back!

Sunday, October 20


The Needle and Craft Ministry will be having a Craft and Bake Sale on Sunday October 20th in Lasater Hall from 11:30 to 1:00pm. All proceeds will go to support the playground renovations. 


If you are interested in participating with craft items and/or baked goods please contact Ruth Jackson or Tricia Miller. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated. We will only accept cash or checks on the day of the sale. Thank you for your support, our children will benefit from these renovations.

From the Heritage Room

A brief history of our stained-glass windows


As the church entered its third year in 1924, the statement was made: “We (are) confronted by an immediate and imperative need, which calls for the undertaking of our supreme task. We must build our church.” Being Baptist, finance and building committees were formed. Pledges of more than $100,000 were made, and Goode Construction Company was chosen as the contractor.


The architect was J. M. McMichael (1870-1944), a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania who practiced in Philadelphia before moving to Charlotte in early 1901. At his death, he had established several records including designing the greatest number of churches and institutional buildings in the United States, in the South, in a single state and in one city. Other churches in Charlotte designed by McMichael include First Baptist Church, Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church, Tabernacle A.R.P Church, First Baptist of Concord and Lincolnton, and Myers Park Presbyterian Church, in addition to the Carnegie Library in Charlotte. He always did the designs for his buildings personally and felt that a building should always reflect the best “values of society. A building that has design character instills high morals and ideals. A poorly designed building is a sham, an embarrassment and out of character with the part it plays in the community . . .A church building should not hide its light under a bushel but rather should be built as a lamp set upon a hill whose light cannot be hid."


Read the rest of the article here.

Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations 


Current Prayer Concerns: Becky Benton, Kathleen Bumgardner, Linda Crowder, Jack Crymes, Carolyn Hall, Lanny Loftis, Arnold Philemon, Shelly Zeigler


Continuing Prayer Concerns: Shirley Ballard, Tom Bryson, Mary Rickenbaker


Congratulations to Betty Harkey on the birth of her great-granddaughter, Margot Pass, 8lbs 7oz, at 8:10am on August 11, 2024 in Richmond VA.


Sympathy to Landis and Janet Wade in the death of Landis's mother, Julia Wade. A memorial service will be held for her on August 23, 2024 at 2pm at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte.

On Call Rotation


  1. August 19-25: Dennis

Financial Update


2024 Full Year Budget: $1,211,000


Income Received Through August 18: $675,771


Through July


Budgeted Income: $706,417 (58%)

Actual Income Received: $631,430 (52%)

Income Over (Under) Budget: ($74,987)


Actual Expenses Paid: $662,309 (55%)

Income/Expense Surplus (Deficit): ($30,879)


Global Missions Offering Goal: $25,000


Received through August 18: $22,260

Staff Contact Information


  • Rev. Haley Blackwell, Minister for Youth & Young Adults - 704-333,5428, ext. 2013; 620-515-3558 (cell)
  • Rev. Dennis Foust, PhD, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 2012
  • Rev. Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-333-5428, ext. 2015; 704-451-1309 (cell)
  • Rev. Kheresa Harmon, Minister for Children & their Families - 704-333-5428, ext. 2018; 910-890-3392 (cell)
  • Russell Nelson, Minister for Worship & Music - (980) 228-6244 (cell)


  • Mallory Brown, Media Coordinator - 704-477-3349 (cell)
  • Chloe Hall, Children's Choir Director
  • Noel Lance, Organist
  • Amanda Morrison, Church Administrator - 704-333-5428, ext. 0
  • Lydia Olmsted, Weekday School Director - 704-333-5428, ext. 2039

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St. John's Baptist Church | 704-333-5428 | 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 | stjohnsbaptistchurch.org