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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):
- A Note From Your Deacon Chair
- From the Heritage Room
- Children's Sunday School Promotion Sunday, September 7
- Youth Bowling Kickoff, September 7
- Faith Journey Book Study Starting September 8
- Women of the Church Luncheon, September 14
- WOC August School Supply Collection for ourBridge
- Church-Wide Meeting On September 21
- On the Way, September 25
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Rise Against Hunger: Sign Up Now!
- Invite Your Friends and Neighbors to Rise Against Hunger
- CROP Hunger Walk
- Roof Above/Kings on Lamar Open House, September 17
- Welcome to Herb, new Custodial/Maintenance Associate
- Heart Math Tutoring Needs Your Help!
- Get Your Key Fob!
- Fall Churchwide 2025 Save the Dates
- After-Hours Coverage During the Transition Period
- Reminder For Family News Submissions
- Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations
- Financial Update
- Minister On Call Schedule
- After Hours On Call Schedule
- Staff Contact Info
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A Note From Your Deacon Chair
by Phillips Bragg
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At the retirement party for Dr. Foust, David Allen wisely offered some assurance. He said, “Dennis, we got this!”
A week later we were in worship singing the hymn, “Revive Us Again,” when the organ suddenly completely quit playing; we kept singing. In fact our guest organist and others reported that we sang louder and more beautifully than before.
May this be our congregation during this interim. We are singing a cappella and it’s beautiful.
This coming Sunday, David Allen’s feet of clay will be standing in our pulpit offering the message, “Well, it was mostly me, Captain Butler.” The inspiration will be the perplexing and much debated parable found in Matthew 20:1-16, The Workers in the Vineyard.
On Sept. 14, Lee will deliver the message, “The Speed of Recognition” inspired by the parable of The Prodigal Son.
Perhaps you’ve been wondering when to invite friends to St. John’s. Maybe you think the arrival of our next Senior Minister is that moment. I’d argue that NOW is the best time. Our covenant is not with a Senior Minister; it is with one another with God as our witness. This is a wonderful time for a newcomer to hear our voices, to understand our complex and beautiful harmony. Who wouldn’t want to “make church” with us!?!
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From the Heritage Room
Celebrating Dr. Foust's 14 years at St. John's
Please stop by and see the display curated by Linda Crowder on the windows across from Amanda's office.
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| | Sunday School Promotion Sunday is Sept. 7 | |
All graded Sunday school classes will move up during the Sunday school hour on September 7. Three classes are offered for our children.
- Nursery, for babies through 2 years of age, meets in Room 219. Nursery care is provided from 9:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. each Sunday.
- Pre-K, for children 3 years of age through 5 years of age, meets from 9:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. each Sunday. Arrival and dismissal is in Room 221 with instruction in Room 223.
- Elementary, for children Kindergarten through 5th grade, meets from 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. in Room 225.
Teachers: You may also view the Sunday School and Nursery roster above or click here for a PDF to save.
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| You are invited to join the Faith Journey Book Study. We will begin meeting on Monday September 8 and will meet each Monday at 11:00 in the Church Lounge. Our book for the fall is Gospel Medicine by Barbara Brown Taylor. Books can be ordered by contacting Loretta Brown (lorettaybrown@gmail.com or 434-579-2669). All are welcome to this discussion group. For further information contact Kathy Bragg or Loretta Brown. | | |
WOMEN OF THE CHURCH ANNUAL LUNCHEON | |
We’re looking forward to our annual Women of the Church Luncheon and Business Meeting on Sunday, September 14, 2025, in Broach Hall immediately following the worship service.
This special gathering is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, share fellowship, and welcome friends—both familiar faces and those we haven’t seen in a while.
We are especially excited to welcome our guest speaker, LeDayne Polaski, Executive Director of the Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network (Meck MIN), who will share an inspiring message with us.
Cost: $15 per person
Registration is now open and runs through September 9th. Payment must be made prior to the event. You can register here through Realm, or by calling Amanda Morrison in the church office, or by filling out the paper form and giving it to Nancy Wilson on Sunday the 31st or September 9th.
Mark your calendars, invite a friend, and plan to join us for this meaningful time together.
Donations will be collected at the door for project Dignity Drive - Restoring Hope & Confidence. Requested items include: New Underwear: Boys 4-16, Girls 4-16, Women's S-3X, Bras - all sizes and Feminine Hygiene Products: Sanitary napkins, tampons, adult incontinence briefs.
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OurBridge for Kids School Supply Drive Ends on September 15 | |
The Women of the Church are sponsoring a collection of school supplies and gently used or new school uniforms for our ministry partner ourBridge for Kids from now through September 15.
Our Bridge for Kids provides resources and out-of-school programs specifically designed for immigrant and refugee children and their families. Their goal is to address the social service gaps and help newly arrived children and their families adapt, develop a sense of belonging, and thrive in Charlotte.
Drop off bins will be available in the Giving Nook beginning this Sunday.
We are collecting the following items for the age and size range of K-8:
- Backpacks
- Binders, folders notebooks, and lined paper
- Dry erase markers, crayons, colored pencils, pens and pencil cases
- White, navy or red polo shirts
- Khaki or navy pants and shorts
I was a stranger and you welcomed me” Matthew 25:35. Help us extend a loving hand to these children as a new school year starts!
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Church-Wide Meeting On September 21 to Help Define Our Senior Minister Profile | |
We received 133 wonderful and thoughtful responses to our Survey to define your wishes for our next Senior Minister! This was a great response. The next step is a congregational meeting in Broach Hall on September 21 after worship. A simple lunch will be provided and we ask that you reserve a spot so we know how many to expect. During this interactive meeting, we will present the Survey results and discuss in table groups to allow all a chance to participate, and to further refine any input on key priorities for the Search Team.
Childcare with a separate kids' lunch will be provided. Please note on your reservation how many children will attend.
Please reserve your spot by Sept. 15 here.
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On the Way to House of Pizza: September 25 | On the Way will go to House of Pizza on Thursday September 25 at 11:00 am. We will meet at the restaurant 3640 Central Ave. Please email Lee Gray LGray@sjcharlotte.org if you plan to participate. |
Rise Against Hunger - September 28 | |
We’re coming together to pack 15,000 meals for families in need around the world!
Partnering with Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization, we’re joining a global movement to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives, and responding to emergencies. Since its founding, Rise Against Hunger has packaged and distributed over 600 million meals to countries worldwide.
This is a unique, family-friendly way to make a real impact — join us and be part of something bigger!
Register Today by visiting the link here!
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Help Invite Our Neighbors!
A Personal Invitation is THE BEST WAY to Reach Friends & Neighbors
You, yes YOU, can play a key role in extending an invitation for family members, friends, and neighbors to join us at our Rise Against Hunger event.
Follow these easy steps:
- Save the image below to your computer or phone
- Copy the below promotional text
- Go to your favorite social network, like Facebook or Instagram. (Bonus points if you share to your neighborhood's Facebook Group or on NextDoor).
- Upload the photo and paste the copied text in the caption/post area.
- Hit share! It's that easy!
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Promotional Text to Copy and Paste:
Hello! I am volunteering at an upcoming community service event to help fight world hunger. It's called Rise Against Hunger. We're going to be packing 15,000 meal kits that will be used to provide immediate nourishment for those facing hunger around the globe.
I hope you can join me! There will be a free lunch! This is the perfect way to engage your entire family in a unique community service event! We'll even have an ice cream truck on hand for sweet treats after the event!
It's on Sunday, Sept. 28, at St. John's Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC. Lunch starts at 11:30am, and meal packing is 1-3pm.
You can get more information and register at:
https://stjohnsbaptistchurch.org/event/rise-against-hunger-experience/
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| Kings On Lamar Open House: Sept. 17 | | |
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 4-6 p.m.
Kings on Lamar
323 Lamar Avenue
Members of St. John's and the entire community are invited to the open house for Kings on Lamar, the new Roof Above project adjacent to our church campus. Come and see how Roof Above has transformed former Kings College dormitories into a place of opportunity for men to transition into long-term stability. Drop in for a tour of the new facility. Parking is available in our own St. John's parking lots.
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Welcome to Herb!
New Custodial/Maintenance Associate
Please join me in giving a warm, hearty SJBC welcome to our new part-time Custodial/Maintenance Associate, Herb Parrott! Herb is no stranger to SJBC, as he worked with our beloved Don Swofford for years and continues to work with Selina. He has even previously helped the church with event set-up. Herb started on September 2. He works in the afternoons, Monday through Thursday, as well as on Sundays until 2 pm in our facilities. Welcome, Herb!
— Jason Benton, Chair of the Personnel Resource Team
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| Heart Math Tutoring Needs Your Help! | | |
Join St. John’s Baptist Church in supporting CMS students with just 1 hour per week as a volunteer tutor! Heart Math Tutoring is looking for volunteers to help provide foundational math skills and confidence to elementary students being nominated for the program in the 2025/26 school year. Read more details below and sign-up here.
1 hour per week with the same student
Fun, hands-on, game-based curriculum provided
On-site coordinator present during all sessions to support
Basic math (counting, comparing numbers, addition and subtraction)
Choose the school, day, and tutoring time that work best for your schedule.
Want more information before you sign up? Join a Volunteer Information Session on Sept. 3rd or Sept. 17th.
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Get Your Church Key Fob!
Maintain your access to the church while ensuring the safety and security of our campus
As you know, St. John's has many doors, and it feels quite porous on Sunday mornings with all of them unlocked. The Safety and Security Task Force is trying to balance our desire to be hospitable with our need to be safe and secure. While we have greeters assigned to certain doors, it is not easy to staff every door, and sometimes volunteers do not report for their duty. (Our God is forgiving!)
Therefore, in the future, you may find that a fob would come in handy. On Sunday mornings, if you arrive at an unattended, locked door, you will still be able to get in via the Broach or Main Entrance by using a fob. (The Narthex doors will be open starting at 10 am.)
Here is how to order your fob today!!
- Key Fob forms can be found outside of Amanda's Office, in the Main Entrance Lobby, and the Broach Entrance Lobby Newsstands.
- Please fill out the form and place it in the white After Hours/Sunday Morning drop box beside Amanda's office.
- You may pick up your new key fob the following Sunday from the Reception Office behind the Sanctuary near the 5th Street Entrance. You can also pick it up by contacting Amanda and coming by the church office during the week.
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Fall 2025 Churchwide Save The Dates: |
- Fall Festival Sunday, October 26
- All Saints Sunday, November 2
- NAMI Walk Saturday, November 8
- WDAV Lessons & Carols, December 2
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| | After-Hours Coverage During the Transition Period | |
As St. John’s enters a season of transition, we are implementing a new system to ensure that urgent needs are met even outside of regular business hours.
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The Minister on Call is your contact for pastoral care needs—such as illness, tragedy, or other urgent spiritual concerns—that cannot wait until the church office reopens. Rev. Lee Gray and Rev. Kheresa Harmon will alternate in this role.
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The Administrator on Call is your contact for facilities-related issues—including building access, maintenance concerns, or alarms—that require immediate attention. Amanda Morrison will continue in this role, supported by members of the congregation. This week, Todd Stillerman will serve as the Administrator on Call.
If you encounter an issue after hours, please reach out to the appropriate person listed in the Family News. They will either assist directly or connect you with someone who can.
We ask for your patience and understanding during this transition. Staffing is reduced, and our congregational volunteers are generously offering their time to help. Everyone involved is committed to responding promptly and compassionately.
Thank you for your support as we navigate this time together.
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| A Reminder About Family News Submissions | | Hi St. John's! As a reminder, please send all Family News submissions to Matt Comer at matthewmhcomer@gmail.com during the month of September. Liza Tindall, who is preparing for her wedding, will return on October 6th. Thank you for your understanding! | | |
Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations | |
Current Prayer Concerns:
Mary Jo Breckenridge, Lynn Erdman, Anna Lynn Kearse, Chris Lavender, Carl Phillips
Continuing Prayer:
Mary Rickenbaker
Sympathy:
Please remember Carol & Dale Johnson in your prayers. Carol’s sister, Judy Kersey, passed on ahead of us on Friday, August 29th. A service to honor Judy’s life will held be at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 6th at Park Baptist Church, 717 E. Main Street, Rock Hill, SC.
Please remember Ashley & Wanny Hogewood in your prayers in the death of Ashley’s brother, John “Monty” Hogewood, on Friday, August 29th. A service to honor Monty’s life will be held in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, September 6th.
Please remember Kathleen Bumgardner (our oldest living member at 103) and her daughter Julie Tollison in your prayers. Kathleen’s grandson Joseph Freeman passed on ahead of us on Saturday, August 30h. Arrangements have not been made at this time.
Please remember Angie Wheeler, and her wife Janet Jones, in the death of Angie’s brother, Howard “Humpy” Augustine Wheeler on August 20th. The motorsport pioneer’s life has already been honored at St. Gabriel Catholic Church.
Continue to remember the family of Ken Sanford - Judy, Tim, Scott, and Jeannette in your prayers. We will honor Ken’s life and ministry in the St. John’s Sanctuary on Friday, September 12th at 2:00 pm.
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2025 Full Year Budget – $1,241,000
Budgeted Income thru August 31 - $827,333
Actual Income Received thru August 27- $801,113
Global Missions Offering - $23,000
Income Received thru August 27 - $18,170
| | Minister On Call Schedule |
- Sept. 1 - 7 : Lee
- Sept. 8 - 14: Kheresa
| - Sept. 1 - 7: Todd Stillerman
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Staff Contact Information
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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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Noel Lance, Minister for Worship & Music
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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
- Chloe Salmeron, Children's Choir Director
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Liza Tindall, Media Coordinator
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