Congratulations to our 2024 high school graduates: Warren Gray, Timothy Harmon, Melanie Goodson, John Bragg, and Jacob Goodson |
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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):
- Summertime, and the Livin' Is...
- Message for Parents of Children
- Summer Worship Series: The Kind of Church Our World Needs
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Thursdays on the Town: Register here
- Senior Adult Summer Picnic
- World Refugee Day Festival on June 22
- On the Way for June and July
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Wet and Wild Parent's Night Out in August: Register here
- Rise Against Hunger Save the Date
- Nursery Volunteers Needed August 18
- Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations
- Financial Update
- Minister On Call Schedule
- Staff Contact Info
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Summertime, and the Livin' Is...
by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister
When the Gershwins wrote the musical, Porgy and Bess, they included a melancholy song written in a minor key. Through the years, favorite renditions of this song have been recorded by Billie Holiday, Mahalia Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Janis Joplin.
The lyrics begin, “Summertime and the livin’ is easy; fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high…”
Summertime in the life of St. John’s may not always be easy; but it certainly offers a varied rhythm. Participation in mission trips, camps, and food truck events provide unique memories. Special summer events mix in Some folks go to the beach quite often while others head to the mountains. Some do both. Some enjoy more time with family and others travel on vacations to fun destinations or to view beautiful scenery. Some of us enjoy baseball games, strawberries, ice cream, peaches, fresh vegetables, and farmer’s markets.
One aspect of summertime in the life of St. John’s is how attendance patterns fluctuate. However, I am proud of the ways you are faithful to be present if you are in town. Thank you. In addition, you are faithful in your financial support through the summer. Again, I appreciate your steadfastness and commitment.
Our worship this summer will provide opportunities for you to consider the kind of church our world needs. Our world has many needs. Can we respond to each need? Maybe. Maybe not. What we can offer them is a church that is woven together in love, Here is the way Eugene Petersen interprets Colossians 2 in The Message: “I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery.” We can be woven together in love. Then, as we touch the needs of the world, God’s love works in us and through us to build a better world. I am grateful to our fine pastoral staff for sharing the pulpit with me this summer allowing me time for vacation, conferences, and to be with family. We all need time to enjoy days when ‘the fish are jumpin’.
Throughout this summer, I ask you to stay in touch with one another. Be present on Sundays when you are in town. Participate in our daily readings through our Divine Center Bible readings and prayer focus. Read the Family News. Read your Sunday School class weekly updates by email. And get ready to return with renewed energy after Labor Day. This autumn, we will focus our efforts on directions determined through this spring’s CONVERGE and Leadership Fair. Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy hearing about your summertime.
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Attention Parents of Children!
We want you all to know that the Crowder Team is on duty this Sunday, June 9 for both the Sunday School hour AND the worship hour.
The combined Sunday school class will begin the following Sunday, June 16.
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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 skillfully combine materials to craft durable fabrics and baskets, much like early Christians wove Jesus' teachings into loving communities, establishing resilient local churches. This summer, our worship will explore practical applications of Jesus' example of love, with our ministers offering messages on how we can emulate this model today.
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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Thursdays on the Town
REGISTER BY THIS SUNDAY!
June 13 at 6pm at 1900 Mexican Grill
Parents of children, ages birth - 5th grade, please join us on Thursday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. at 1900 Mexican Grill (Elizabeth Avenue). Free childcare will be provided.
Please register and reserve childcare by June 9.
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Senior Adult Picnic
Sunday, June 23 in Broach Hall, Register Today!
Senior Adults (75+), join us on Sunday, June 23rd for the annual Seniors' Picnic held in Broach Hall immediately after the worship service.
To register for the Senior Adult Luncheon on June 23rd please:
- Text "Senior Luncheon" and your name to 704-333-5428
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or call the Church Office at 704-333-5428 ext. 0
Please register by Tuesday, June 18.
Sponsored by Women of the Church.
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We’re Invited to a World Refugee Day Festival!
On Saturday, June 22 St. John’s mission partner, Refugee Support Services, will be hosting a celebration of World Refugee Day. This is an annual international day, organized by the United Nations and designed to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world.
The celebration in Charlotte will be an outdoor festival from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM near the entrance of Aldersgate Retirement Community at the intersection of Shamrock Drive and Willard Farrow Drive. With games for children, music, dancers and other performers, cotton candy, multi-cultural food, and neighbors from around the world dressed in colorful festive attire, it is an event for families to enjoy.
Assisting in the event are ourBridge for Kids and BOOM, along with a host of volunteers, again including volunteers from St. John’s who will be working at the photo station, providing festival attendees with mementos of this joyful occasion.
This is an opportunity for us to be instruments of peace, as we help welcome people from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Cambodia, Vietnam, Central America and other parts of the world and show our appreciation for them and their cultures.
Drop by anytime between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM and stay as long as you like. You don’t have to speak any of the languages. Just smile!!
If you are interested in volunteering or just want additional information, contact: Nina Phillips, ninacarl@gmail.com; Beverly Hester, beverlyrhester@earthlink.net; or Ken Hungate, khungate4866@gmail.com
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On the Way: June and July
For the month of June, St. John’s retired adults and friends are encouraged to sign up for or help out with the Senior Adult luncheon after church on Sunday, June 23.
For the month of July, we will have an introductory tech class led by our residential partners from the Shepherd Center on Tuesday, July 16 from 10:30-11:30 am in the church lounge (after all the sandwiches are made). We will then go to Hawthorne’s for lunch at 11:30 am. Please email Lee Gray at LGray@sjcharlotte.org if you plan to be a part of this class and or lunch that day. This tech class will also inform you of the ongoing technology services provided by the Shepherd’s Center.
Here is the class description
“Do you have technology questions? We've got answers! Join Shepherd's Charlotte's interactive Tech Q&A Session where you'll have the opportunity to get real-time solutions to your tech-related queries. Whether you're struggling with your smartphone, confused by your computer, or perplexed by your tablet, our knowledgeable instructor will be on hand to provide clear, easy-to-understand answers. This is an open forum designed to address your specific needs, so come prepared with your questions. All skill levels are welcome!”
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Wet 'n' Wild Parents' Night Out
Saturday, August 10
Parents, drop your kids off at church at 5:00pm on Saturday, August 10. Our SJBC youth, Haley, and Kheresa will slip, and slide, and splash, and giggle, with children 3 years of age through 5th grade.
Childcare for babies - two years of age will be provided by Mon Aye and Zebb Young, two of our WDS teachers. They will be accompanied by SJBC youth.
The cost of the event is $10 per child, which will help cover the costs associated with dinner, snacks, and supplies.
We’ll dry off and be ready to meet parents at 8:00pm.
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Rise Against Hunger Packing Event This Fall
Help us pack 20,000 meals on September 29
Please plan on joining us for our Rise Against Hunger Packing Event on Sunday, September 29, immediately after worship! We will be packaging 20,000 meals on site for those in need.
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.
This is an opportunity to be the hands and body of Christ to help feed the world. We are literally going to share the bread of life around the world. We cannot neglect to mention the severity of the problem: every three to five seconds someone dies from hunger or hunger-related diseases.
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Nursery Volunteers Needed!
August 18 Only
Nursery volunteers are needed for the 3rd Sunday of August only. Please contact Kheresa immediately to serve.
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Prayers, Thanks, and Celebrations
Current Prayer Concerns: Charles Gordon, Carolyn Hall, Cathy Hartsell, Arnold Philemon
Continuing Prayer Concerns: Shirley Ballard, Tom Bryson, Mary Rickenbaker, Jack Crymes
Our prayers are with the friends and family of Jane Winn who passed on ahead of us this past week.
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Staff On-Call Rotation
- Jun. 3-9: Russell
- Jun. 10-16: Dennis
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Financial Update
2024 Full Year Budget $1,211,000
Income received through May: $422,212
2024 Community & State Mission Offering Goal: $5,000
Income received through May 12: $7,175
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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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