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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):
- Taylor Swift, Wilson Phillips, and the Future
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CONVERGE This Sunday: Click here to see a description of the event
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On the Way in April and May: Email Lee to Participate!
- Common Table: A New Outreach Ministry
- Music Celebration Sunday
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Cinco De Mayo Party on May 5: Register Here
- Community and State Mission Offering
- Mercy Bags Available Now
- Nursery Volunteers Needed!
- Senior Adult Picnic Save the Date
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Baby Finn Is Here, Meal Train for the Blackwells: Sign Up Here
- Brotherhood of the Biscuit Workday
- Women of the Church Retreat Save the Date
- Summer Worship Series
- Prayer List, Sympathy, and Celebrations (A Special Thank You)
- Financial Update for March 2024
- Minister On Call Schedule
- Staff Contact Info
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TAYLOR SWIFT, WILSON PHILLIPS, AND THE FUTURE
By Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister
This Sunday, in Broach Hall, my sermon will give attention to some women I admire:
Taylor Swift, Carnie Wilson, Wendy Wilson, and Chynna Phillips.
My hope is that all Swifties will hear something new in the 23rd Psalm.
In one of his sonnets, Malcolm Guite paints a picture using words:
Tangled in time, we go by hints and guesses,
Turning the wheel of each returning year.
But in the midst of failures and successes
We sometimes glimpse the love that casts out fear.
Beloved, this coming Sunday, April 21, you are entering a new future.
Yes, there will be some hints and guesses and failures and successes.
If you would like to see the questions that can be explored by you this Sunday at 9:00 in Broach Hall during CONVERGE, you may find them here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YDQvHsL6_8aSmZOWKKCrsYEbwRBxwZhv/view?usp=sharing
My prayer is that you will shape the future with hopeful realism. My prayer is that you will bring a deep spiritual commitment to a shared vision. This will be the mortar that will build strong connections for you in the years ahead.
May you imagine new possibilities for God’s mission? May you provide the love that casts out fear?
Ready or not...here comes the future!
And there is nothing you must face that God’s people have not faced in the past.
The Lord is YOUR SHEPHERD. That’s all you need.
Everything else – shake it off and hold on!
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CONVERGE Is THIS Sunday!
Over 100 people responded to surveys, over 50 members helped shape the Converge event, and almost 25 servant leaders will guide us in discussion on Sunday!
Converge is here! Click here to see a description of the event on April 21.
See you in Broach Hall on Sunday, April 21. Breakfast begins at 8:45am, and Converge begins at 9:00am! Attendees at Converge will have the opportunity to discuss questions related to two of our six Covenant Pillars. Click here to see a list of the questions on the table for each pillar, and give some thought to the discussions in which you would like to partake, and the answers you would like to give.
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On the Way for April & May
Two Upcoming Outings for St. John’s Retired Adults and Friends
Please Email Lee Gray at LGray@sjcharlotte.org to sign up to participate in either or both of these outings.
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On Friday, April 26 we will go to lunch at Gary’s Bar-B-Cue in China Grove, NC. We have a bus that will hold 15 people. After lunch we will take a detour through downtown Kannapolis to drive by and see the North Carolina Research Campus, The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Stadium, and the Train Depot. We will meet at the church at 10:15 am to leave by 10:30am sharp. We will return to the church between 3:00 & 3:15pm that day. On this day, you just need to bring your own lunch and ice cream money. The sooner you sign up the better, as it can allow for finding an additional driver if we have more than 15 people who would like to go with us from the church
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On Thursday, May 16 we will go to the Flat Rock Playhouse to see “Jersey Boys,” the story of Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons for the 2:00pm show. We have a 15 passenger Bus and 15 tickets reserved. We can likely add an additional driver and tickets if we know soon enough. Please meet at the church at 9:00am so that we can leave by 9:15am. This will allow us eat lunch and have a little time in downtown Hendersonville before the play. We will return to Charlotte around 5:30pm that evening. Please bring your lunch money and a check for $70 made out to St. John’s to cover the cost of your ticket and bus rental.
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Common Table: You're invited to experience St. John's new outreach ministry on April 18
Members of St. John's are invited to celebrate the launch of Common Table, a new, ecumenical ministry launching this month, in partnership with St. Stephen United Methodist Church and St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church. This new ministry is designed to reach a wide variety of people, including folks who have little experience with the church or have experienced past church trauma, through free monthly dinner events, conversation, and community.
Common Table is an open community of believers and seekers, invited to gather around a common table, share a meal, and engage in deep and meaningful conversation about things that matter, especially spiritual things. Out of these experiences, an intentional community is born, providing space for healing, exploring our faith journeys, and strengthening our relationships with each other and with God, as we determine how best we can live our lives as followers of Jesus.
Members of St. John's are invited to experience a soft launch event on April 18, 6:30-8:30pm at VBGB at the Music Factory in Uptown. You can RSVP now for free.
The first public event for non-members/general public will be held on April 21, 6pm and the registration is FULL!
For questions, email Matt Comer at his work email address: mcomer@ststephenumc.net.
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Music Celebration Sunday
April 28
April 28 is Music Celebration Sunday! Come hear the choir sing lots of music, along with instrumental and solo vocal selections, as well as an appearance by our Children’s Choir. This will be a celebration of our Music Ministry for this year.
We hope you will celebrate with us!
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It’s Nacho Ordinary Party!
Let’s celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Independence Park immediately following worship on May 5th! Sabor Latin Street Grill will cater the taco bar. You bring your favorite festive dessert and an appetite for food and fun!
The cost is only $10 per person. Sign up by May 1.
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2024 Community and State Mission Offering
This year, our Mission Resource Team has chosen to invest the first $5,000 given toward our Community & State Mission Offering in the important community effort being initiated in rural North Carolina with Anna and LaCount Anderson. Conetoe is a rural community with a population of 294 in Edgecombe County. CBF is investing in transforming this impoverished community through the servant leadership of Anna and LaCount Anderson.
The Andersons will be with us in worship on Sunday, May 5, to help us better understand how our financial gifts will help transform one rural community. Please make plans to be present and participate in our Community & State Mission Offering. You may give online through Realm or by cash/check in an offering envelope.
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Mercy Bags Available Now
Offering Hope to Our Neighbors
You will find mercy bags in the Main Entrance and in outside Kheresa’s office. We invite you to please take a few bags, keep them in your car, and the next time you see another child of God standing on a street corner with a sign that reads, “Please help,” help. Roll down your window and offer hope and mercy in a bag.
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Nursery Volunteers Needed for April 28
Ministering with our youngest friends on Sunday mornings
We MUST have 2 additional volunteers to serve with our nursery (infants - 2 years of age) during Sunday school and worship (9:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) on Sunday, April 28. One volunteer is not enough to care for our children.
Please contact Kheresa immediately to help.
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Senior Adult Picnic Save the Date
Sunday, June 23 in Broach Hall
Senior Adults (75+), save the date of Sunday, June 23rd for the annual Seniors' Picnic held in Broach Hall immediately after the worship service. Details coming soon! Sponsored by Women of the Church.
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Provide a Meal or Gift Card for the Blackwells
Welcoming Baby Finn!
St. John’s church family, Baby Finn Blackwell was born on Tuesday morning, weighing 6lb 3oz and measuring 19 inches. All are doing well.He is precious.
lease see this link below to access the Meal Train set up to support the Blackwell family. Both Haley and Austin will appreciate your loving care with meals, gift cards and prayers as they care for Finn and themselves in the days ahead.
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Brotherhood of the Biscuit Workday
THIS Saturday, April 20, 8:30 – 11:30am
We will meet at 8:30am in the lounge for breakfast and Jeff LeVie will be our biscuit master. Work projects will start at 9:00 am and finish by 11:30 am.
Here are the projects on our agenda:
- Pressure wash plastic gray chairs, dry them, and set up in Broach Hall for CONVERGE
- Remove piano from 3rd floor
- Clean up the 1st floor courtyard
Please email Lee Gray at LGray@sjcharlotte.org if you can join us.
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Mark your calendars now for the Women of the Church Fall Retreat!
God's Tapestry: Woven Together in Power and Purpose
We have good news to share with the women of SJBC!
Please save the dates November 1-3 for our annual Women of the Church retreat. We are very glad to tell you that we will be returning to our beautiful mountain spot, the Blowing Rock Conference Center, for a weekend of food, fellowship, laughter, study, and a concentration on growing together spiritually.
Especially delightful is the news that Sabrina Gilchrist will be our facilitator for the weekend. Using the theme “God’s Tapestry: Woven Together in Power and Purpose," she will lead us in a study of Mary and Elizabeth, and guide us in learning how we, as a community of women, can affirm each other’s gifts.
Mark your calendar and be ready for more details as the time draws nearer.
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The Kind of Church Our World Needs
A Summer of Worship with St. John’s Baptist Church of Charlotte
June, July & August of 2024
Weavers take diverse yarns, threads or pieces of straw to create strong and useful fabrics, baskets, and other products. In like manner, the early Christian movement took the spiritual teachings and lifestyle practices of Jesus to weave communities of love. They received the love of God and blended their love for humanity to weave strong and useful local churches.
Today’s world needs this kind of church. Let us be weavers of the kind of church that is following the pattern of Jesus’ commandment to love God and love one another. Our summer worship will consider various ways we can be this kind of church. Our equipping ministers will offer messages to explore practical applications of Jesus’ example of love.
See this summer's preaching schedule below.
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June 9 – A Church of Heartfelt Devotion, by Dr. Dennis Foust
June 16 – A Church that Forgives What Cannot Be Forgotten, by Dr. Dennis Foust
June 23 – A Church of the Vulnerable, by Rev. Kheresa Harmon
June 30 – A Church that Loves in Truth, by Rev. Lee Gray
July 7 – A Church that Models Interdependence, by Dr. Dennis Foust
July 14 – A Church Where Failure is Accepted, by Dr. Dennis Foust
July 21 – A Church that Lifts Up People, by Rev. Lee Gray
July 28 – A Church that Weaves New Clothes, by Dr. Dennis Foust
August 4 – A Church that Embraces Differences, by Dr. Steve Harmon
August 11 – A Church that Really Notices People, by Rev. Lee Gray
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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Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations
Current Prayer Concerns: Haley, Austin, and Finn Blackwell; Dale Johnson; Gail Sifford, Jacob Goodson
Continuing Prayer Concerns: Shirley Ballard, Kelly Belcher, Tom Bryson, Mary Rickenbaker, Jack Crymes, Jean Hutson, Betty Mullins, Arnold Philemon, Jane Winn
Congratulations to Haley and Austin Blackwell on the birth of their son, Finn, on Tuesday, April 16. All are doing well.
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The message pictured here is from the staff at Refugee Support Services, thanking us for our donations for their hygiene kits for immigrant children and families.
"On behalf of CWS Charlotte and the children we serve, I want to share my sincere gratitude for the recent contributions of items for our hygiene kits. These kits will play a vital role in providing comfort to the families and children we work with. The generosity shows the true spirit of community and solidarity. Thank you again for standing with us in our mission to support immigrant children and families. Your collective efforts have made a tangible difference and we are immensely grateful for your partnership. With heartfelt appreciation, Gricelda de la Cruz and Nicole Fortoso"
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Staff On-Call Rotation
- April 15-21: Dennis
- April 22-28: Kheresa
- April 29-May 5: Lee
- May 6-12: Russell
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Financial Update
2024 Full Year Budget $1,211,000
Through March 2024:
Budgeted income: $302,750 (25%)
Actual income received: $245,093 (20%)
Income over (under) budget: $(57,657)
Actual expenses paid: $283,610 (23%)
Income/Expense Surplus (deficit): $(38,517)
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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) (ON FAMILY LEAVE)
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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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