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WITH GRATITUDE: A FEW THINGS FOR YOU TO KNOW
by Dennis W. Foust, Senior Minister
A few years ago, Scott Kerley developed some drone footage of St. John’s. We used it on our website and on our livestream introductions for a few months. Scott, please do this again, after we are able to get the middle banner replaced on the portico columns. Before we move into summer, I invite you to take somewhat of a gratitude drone tour of gratitude.
THANK YOU: I am very grateful for a couple of special days in recent weeks. As you know, I enjoy baseball. Todd Stillerman coordinated a day trip to Truist Park in Atlanta for several guys in our Brotherhood of the Biscuit group. We enjoyed a game between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals – my two favorite teams. (Braves won.) Many thanks to Todd and each friend who took the day to be together.
Another THANK YOU is to our children and their families and other members who gathered for lunch this past Sunday in the St. John’s Ballpark (a baseball designed Broach Hall). The gameplan was designed by Coach Kheresa Harmon. On baseball dishes we ate hotdogs with relish, mustard & ketchup, baked beans, cole slaw, cotton candy, crackerjacks, etc. There were cookies and various goodies, games, and photos of Paula and our family from our first pastorate until more recently. The children presented me with a bat which includes their ‘player autographs.’ Splendid!
HANDRAIL: Thanks to Rick Walker and Bert Green for designing, constructing, and installing a new handrail on the ramp from the Children’s Hall to the Sanctuary.
LIBRARY COMMONS: Tremendous gratitude to each volunteer and especially to Amanda Morrison for coordinating the wonderful newly renovated space in our Library Commons.
SURPASSED COMMUNITY & STATE MISSION OFFERING: Thanks to the entire congregation for surpassing the goal of $7,500. As of last week, you had given $10,250. These funds will minister in Western North Carolina and among our ministry partners who serve local immigrant and refugee people.
WORSHIP AND MUSIC LEADERS: Many thanks to our Worship Resource Team, Noel Lance, our Chancel Choir, our Children’s Choir, our Handbell Choir, our soloists, and our instrumentalists for investing your gifts, time, and energy into our worship in recent weeks. You are enabling the people to praise God and nurturing expressions of faith in all ages.
I am very grateful to each of you for the ways you are initiating leadership. Well done!
THE ST. JOHN’S PULPIT ON SUNDAY, MAY 25
This Sunday, St. John’s member and deacon, The Rev. Kathy Turner, will be in The St. John’s Pulpit. Kathy is a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains and earned her Master of Divinity from Duke University School of Divinity. She has been a member of St. John’s for over 10 years with her family; Husband, Kevin; Son, Cole; and Daughter, Natalie.
After serving as a Hospice Chaplain for Novant Health for several years, Kathy began a podcast called Angels 2nd Class, which is about Ordinary People Making Extraordinary Differences. Through her podcast, Kathy shares stories to share the wisdom she learned from working as a chaplain for the past 20 years. She grew up in New Jersey, is a Yankees fan, and favorite Disney Characters are Chip n’ Dale. Her life-purpose is to help people.
Kathy’s sermon on this Memorial Day weekend is, ‘Good Life, Good Death,’ and is based upon themes from John 11:32-35 and Romans 12:4-8.
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