Weekly Announcements
May 27 - June 2, 2020
Please give to St. John's as we continue to do the work of Christ in these challenging times.
To see the directory or connect with a group, CLICK HERE to visit REALM.
WORSHIP ONLINE
PENTECOST SUNDAY WORSHIP
MAY 31, 2020
VIRTUAL YOUTH SUNDAY

The Youth of St. John's will help lead our Virtual Youth Sunday worship service this Pentecost Sunday. Please join us for Online Worship by clicking the links below:

On Sunday morning, please CLICK HERE to find a Sunday Worship Service video, children's sermon, Sunday School material, resources for prayer, formation, and much more.

You may also join us on Facebook at  10:00 a.m.  so we can worship together as a community.  CLICK HERE  to connect on Sunday morning.

Please give to St. John's as we continue to do the work of Christ in these challenging times.
WEEKDAY WORSHIP AND OFFERINGS
Please check our Online Church page for links to any of the offerings below:
Tuesdays at Noon: Noonday Prayer
Thursday at Noon: Facebook Live-stream
If you have any questions or topics you'd like to cover for the Facebook Live-stream
please email Peter in advance of the live stream on Thursday.
Lectio-Divina and Centering Prayer groups meet weekly via Zoom. If you would like to join in, please email Brad directly.
Zoom Daily Office
A Monday - Friday virtual gathering to frame our days around a regular life of prayer. Each day will offer three of the Daily Offices from our Book of Common Prayer: Morning Prayer at 7:30 a.m.; Evening Prayer at 5:00 p.m; and Compline at 9:00 p.m. Zoom Daily Office is a new Spirituality Group in REALM. To join, contact Brad directly. Please check email for Zoom link.
POP! INTO PROVERBS WITH MR. MATT
Join us for a new series on the Book of Proverbs for kids (and families). Visit our Online Church Page to see the latest Pop! Into Proverbs video posted there in the "Offerings for Children and Families" section, or watch on our YouTube channel. Episode 7 is now available!

MORE FAMILY RESOURCES
Additional resources for faith and family building activities: Family Faith-Building Ideas and Mealtime Conversation Starters.
HEY PARENTS! OPERATION SWEET SURPRISE IS UNDERWAY! Mr. Matt needs your help with a small surprise for his young (and young at heart) friends. Now we all know that one of the favorite days in Sunday School is Sundae Sunday, when everyone gets to have ice cream in the middle of the morning to celebrate the year.  Since we cannot join together for Sundae Sunday this year, let's try to surprise the kids with a virtual version. We are asking parents to get some sort of frozen treat (ice cream, popsicles, etc.) to hide away until Sunday, June 7th.  During the Children's Sermon on that day, Mr. Matt will talk about how we are missing Sundae Sunday, and then POW! we will surprise the kids by giving them ice cream at home. So, during the video when you hear Mr. Matt say, "I wish I could give a sweet surprise to all my friends", bring out the treats. I think it will be a fun way to wrap things up, and should make for a memorable morning in your homes. Thanks in advance for the help, and have fun being sneaky with Matt!
Please see Confirmation, Baptism, and VBS updates in the Announcements section below.
STAY CONNECTED WITH ST. JOHN'S
PRAY
Prayer List: Please check your email for the updated Prayer List. Please email Kerry in the church office with prayer requests.  
ST. JOHN'S WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP
St John’s Women’s Fellowship Hour
Every Thursday at 8:00 pm
Please join us on Thursdays at 8:00 pm to enjoy an hour of virtual fellowship. Please check email for Zoom link.
VIRTUAL EYC
Join us daily on Facebook and Instagram as we read through all 31 Proverbs!
NO VIRTUAL EYC
THIS SUNDAY
MAY 31st
PARENT GATHERING UPDATE
Please click the button below to take the Parent Survey today!
Join us virtually on Monday, June 1st at 7:30p.m. Please check email for Zoom link.
EYC SAVE THE DATE
On Sunday, June 7th the Seniors of St. John's EYC will be honored in a Drive Thru Parade. Stay tuned for details to come!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HAGAR'S BASKET
With thanks to the Sellers family, a number of our Hagar’s families received much needed items last week!  A drive thru arrangement allowed our guests to safely obtain personal hygiene supplies. We thank you all for your generous donations through the winter that kept the pantry stocked. As God provides for us, we provide for others!
DR. BOB COOLEY: PROJECT TO HONOR
Attention Dr. Cooley Bible Study Participants:  For almost a decade, Dr. Bob Cooley, as St. John’s resident theological archaeologist, led an enriching and spiritual exploration of the Bible.  If you were a lucky parishioner who attended these Sunday classes and benefited from this ministry, you may wish to join in a very special project to honor Dr. Cooley.   Please contact me, Tracey Gillespie via REALM if you are interested in learning more.
NEIGHBOR OUTREACH UPDATE: LETTER TO STJE
 To the members of St. John Episcopal Church,
I am writing on behalf of the many families who have received your generous donations of essential items. We are all so grateful and quite appreciative.
Your church has been a true blessing during this pandemic. This pandemic has physically separated our community but spiritually and emotionally pulled us closer together. Your thoughtfulness has helped us to be an asset to our under served families.
We will always be grateful. Please accept our sincerest thanks and God Bless.
 
Sincerely,
Carlenia G. Ivory
CMS Family Engagement and Community Partnership
We will continue to collect essential items for CMS students and families in need until further notice . Please see the image below for details of items needed and how you can help. Please check your email for further information.
VBS OFFICIALLY CANCELLED
While it was anticipated that Vacation Bible School (VBS) would not happen in June, there was a small hope that we could postpone it until later in the summer. Unfortunately, the guidance provided by the Diocese makes it clear that an in-person VBS is not possible this year . With that said, we are exploring a "Virtual Vacation Bible School" option, so stay tuned for more information!
CONFIRMATION & BAPTISM UPDATES
CONFIRMATION UPDATE  
In the recent guidance from the Diocese regarding a multi-stage plan to reopen churches, the Bishop indicated that, "It is appropriate to delay confirmations until the community can be together. Regional confirmations will take place once we may gather, in consultation with the bishop’s office." There was no specific date mentioned. This suggests that the Bishops will not be conducting confirmations until either Stage 3 or Stage 4 of the plan. Given the public health indicators necessary for these later stages, it seems safe to say that it will be September at the earliest  before regional confirmations are held.  We will keep you updated as we learn more from the Diocese . If you have any questions, please contact Matt Williams via email or the church website.
BAPTISM UPDATE
In the recent guidance from the Diocese regarding a multi-stage plan to reopen churches, the Bishop indicated that, "It is appropriate to delay baptisms until the community can be together. If done, this service could be incorporated into the main service video on Sunday, or can it be performed privately."  The plan goes on to state that baptisms may begin taking place in Stage 2, with strict restrictions on the number of people present for the worship service (25 in total). At this point, the earliest we will enter Stage 2 is July 1. The clergy at St. John's will determine if and how baptisms may be performed and we will share those options with you. In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact Matt Williams via email or the church website.
NEW TAX ADVANTAGES CREATED FOR THE PANDEMIC
To help encourage charitable giving in 2020, the CARES Act provides several key changes to 2020 charitable contribution rules. As you consider your giving to St. John’s, please keep these changes in mind (and always seek the advice of your tax advisor):
  •  Individuals who take the standard deduction typically do not get any deduction for charitable gifts. For 2020, the CARES Act creates a $300 ($600 married filing jointly) above-the-line deduction for a taxpayer who takes the standard deduction and makes cash gifts to public charities, such as churches.
  • The cap on annual contributions for those who itemize has been lifted. So, now taxpayers can make total 2020 donations to charities up to 100% of adjusted gross income, instead of 60%. 
TENT COLLECTION
Mecklenburg County’s Metropolitan Interfaith Network receives requests from different agencies and ministries who work with the most vulnerable populations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. One of the requests was for the donation of gently-used tents and camping equipment. Please contact Deacon Wendy Merrill via REALM if you are interested in donating.
BLOOD DONATIONS
As happens in many catastrophic events the supply of blood for transfusions becomes critically short. The COVID-19 pandemic is no exception.  Please consider giving blood to help others. Call your nearest American Red Cross center for their hours of operation or for Blood Mobile locations: 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or Email: [email protected]. Donating your blood to someone else is an essential gift that keeps on giving.
YOUTH HELP
St. John's EYC Youth / Youth Families are available to help to older or immune-compromised members with any errands, so they can reduce their risk of exposure. This could include grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, picking up take out food, and more. Parish Members who would like help can email Jillianne via REALM. Please include name, address, need or errand desired, and date errand needs to be completed. 
THE PARISH SHOP UPDATES
The Parish Shop is still hard at work looking for ways to serve you! We have been able to partner with a couple of our vendors to offer their products through these links:

  • Jane Marie, LLC is a regional, small family-owned business offering fun and classic jewelry and accessories. Bonus: they are offering a 10% discount with a special code available to you! DISCOUNT CODE: 157248 CLICK HERE FOR JANE MARIE
  • Bridgewater Candle Company, a Greenville/Spartanburg area company, is a favorite with several parishioners. Every candle purchased feeds a food insecure orphan for a whole day. They also have hand sanitizer! CLICK HERE FOR BRIDGEWATER CANDLES
  • Lastly, The Parish Shop has opened up the ability to purchase digital gift cards through "Square"! Follow our link to purchase a gift card for you or some one you love to use at The Parish Shop! CLICK HERE FOR PARISH SHOP GIFT CARDS

​Please follow the Parish Shop Facebook page HERE.
LOAVES AND FISHES UPDATE
  • 2,925 individuals (1,122 children, 158 seniors) served this week.
  • Since early March, L&F has served over 660 veterans.
  • Will continue mobile pantry units throughout the summer.
  • Coordinating with CMS Child Nutrition services and Second Harvest Food Bank to support the Summer Feeding Program beginning June 15th to ensure all children and families have access to food this summer.
Loaves & Fishes Latest Updates can be found here: LOAVES & FISHES .
GALILEE COMMUNITY MEAL
 Help Galilee Ministries feed more people!  During the COVID-19 "Stay at Home" orders, Galilee is working with Charlotte Community Kitchen to expand their community meals to three meals a week. These meals are safely prepared by furloughed restaurant workers and served take out style on Galilee's front lawn or hand delivered to senior and differently abled adults in the neighborhood. If you would like to treat our neighbors to some good, home cooked, nutritious food, please consider making a donation. Donations of any amount will make a difference and can be made here:  CLICK HERE TO DONATE  or mailed to 3601 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Please contact these organizations directly for up-to-date information about their needs and ways to support them. Below is a list of local community outreach organizations that are supported by St. John's. Please click the links below to find out about their response to COVID-19, how they are helping others in our community, and what you can do to help in their efforts.


 
 


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LET US PRAY
The Intercessory Prayer Team would love to pray for you! All requests are confidential.
REALM
Please connect in REALM in order to stay connected with your group, ministry, and other parishioners. Please share photos with your church family. Join the STAYING CONNECTED group in REALM to post pictures and help us stay connected or email them to Rebekah .
WEBSITE & FACEBOOK
We will post emails, update the website, and post on Facebook to stay connected with you. Check our WEBSITE and FACEBOOK frequently for updates and postings each week.
POSTPONEMENTS
All in person events at St. John's are postponed until further notice.