Vol. 79 Issue 48 | Week of November 29-December 5, 2021 |
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Advent II: Hanging of the Green |
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This Sunday, December 5, at 10:30AM in the Sanctuary, we will gather for our special Hanging of the Green worship service to prepare our sanctuary for Advent and Christmastide. During this service, we will sing carols, listen to special readings about the different decorative elements, and hear a message from Dr. Foust called, "Peace for the Disinherited."
We hope you will attend in person or online this Sunday and throughout the Advent season.
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Joy Sunday at St. John's
December 12 at 10:30AM
On Sunday, December 12, we will celebrate Joy Sunday with special music including: chamber orchestra, choir anthems, handbells, guests soloists Jessica and Sophia Borgnis and Dawn Anthony, as well as the children's tone chime choir.
There will also be readings, live visual art, and the baby dedication of Joy Christine Follis during worship!
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Christmas Eve Worship: TWO SERVICES
Friday, December 24 at 4PM & 6PM
St. John’s will offer two Christmas Eve worship services this Advent season.
Identical services will be held at 4PM and 6PM on Friday, December 24 in the Sanctuary and pre-registration will be required as seating will be limited for each service.
Register through Realm or with the button below.
When you register, you will select a service time for each person in your family and any guests. Please only register those in your household or guests who do not regularly attend St. John’s. Your registration is not complete until you receive a confirmation email.
You may also contact the church office to make your reservation.
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Christmas Cards for Neighbors Are Back!
Turn in cards to the boxes by December 19!
Our special Christmas card boxes are set up in the Main Entrance now!
Please take a list from the table or click below for the list and write notes with an encouraging message to any or all on the list. There are lots of cards for you to use on the table!
Once complete, return your cards to their respective boxes at the Main Entrance by December 19 so that Pastoral Deacons have time to deliver the cards and poinsettias to each recipient.
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Youth Christmas Party
THIS Sunday, December 5
All youth (middle and high school) are invited to a Christmas party THIS Sunday, December 5 from 5-7PM in the church lounge by the gym. We will have pizza, play Ambush, and do other fun activities to celebrate the season.
Bring a wrapped gift ($15 limit) for a “white elephant” gift exchange.
The church COVID safety rules apply, so please bring your masks (we will maintain physical distancing while eating).
Please let Autumn Sweet know if you plan to attend (awlsweet@aol.com or 704-345-7916). You can also contact Autumn with any questions.
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Thank you for your commitments to the
2022 Financial Ministry Plan!
If you have not pledged yet, you can do so by turning in your pledge card to Jacquelyn in the office or by pledging online through Realm or by clicking below.
As of November 29, we have received 123 commitments and have a total of $755,181 pledged.
Thank you!
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Coats and Blankets for Immigrant and Refugee Families
As you zero in on your holiday preparations, don’t forget that you can donate new or gently used coats (any size) or new blankets for ourBridge for Kids as they help immigrant and refugee families prepare for winter.
You can leave your donations at the ourBridge location, just inside the entrance of Aldersgate at 3800 Shamrock Drive, or bring them to St. John’s on Sunday, December 5, where we will have a one-day drive. Containers at the St. John’s Main Entrance will be available on that day only for a collection of these items on that Sunday.
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The Charlotte Chorale
Concert on Saturday, December 4 at 7PM in Broach Hall
The Charlotte Chorale is honored to be back on the stage in Broach Hall this Saturday, evening at 7PM presenting “Together At Christmas”. The moving music of the holidays reminds us how we treasure spending time with family and friends. Let the joy of music bring us all together this holiday season. The concert is 90 minutes long including a 15-minute intermission and the choir will be accompanied by a musical combo.
All performers will be wearing masks and audience members are also required to wear a mask.
We hope you’ll join us so we can be “Together At Christmas”.
Purchase your tickets by clicking the button below. $20/person.
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Thank you, St. John's!
On Friday, November 19, St. John’s had the pleasure of presenting our check for $10,000 to Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency for use in their housing and resettlement of current refugees coming from Afghanistan. Anna Cushman and Beverly Hester represented the St. John’s Immigrant and Refugee Ministry Group in the presentation of the check from our 2021 Global Mission Offering. Dan Biber, who is a volunteer with CRRA and is our link with CRRA, is shown in the picture along with Marsha Hirsch, CRRA director, and other CRRA representatives Rebecca Kurzt and Tanja Pauler.
During the visit, we learned more about the challenges being faced by CRRA and other resettlement agencies. The normal resettlement process is long and complicated but is all the more so in the midst of the crisis in which the current Afghan refugees are arriving. Our support is greatly appreciated!
Thank you, St. John’s, for being faithful and active in response to human needs!
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Prayer Concerns, Thanks, Sympathy |
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Shirley Ballard, Katherine Barr, John Bragg (back surgery in December), Betty Fuller, Polly Hull, Barbara Ledford, Tish Philemon, Gene & Carol Poole, Brad Sifford, Carole Ann Simpson, Don Swofford, Elma Thomas, Dee Turner, Johnathan (J.R.) Mullins (grandson of Betty Mullins)
Congratulations to Elizabeth and John Whipple on the birth of their son, Liam McQueen Whipple, on November 28. Kayleigh Mac and Jack are the proud big sister and brother and Gary and Kathy McFarland are the proud grandparents!
Sympathy to the family and friends of Joe Tyner in his passing on November 30.
We offer our condolences to the family of Andrew Adair, who passed on ahead of us on Monday, November 22. We pray for his wife, Pat, and his children as they grieve.
On Friday, December 17th, at 1PM, we will gather in the sanctuary to celebrate the life of Andrew Adair.
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Financial Ministry Plan Report |
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Week of November 23-29: $8935
Income through November 29: $962,268
Annual 2021 Ministry Plan Budget Goal: $1,175,000
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You can make contributions, view your giving history and pledge status, as well as update your pledge and giving information anytime by accessing your personal Realm profile online or via the Connect App. |
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Ministers On-Call Schedule
November 29-December 5: Kevin Gray
December 6-12: Dennis Foust
Staff Contact Information
Dennis Foust, Senior Minister - 704-359-7234 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 12
Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-451-1309 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 15
Allison Benfield, Minister for Spiritual Growth - 828-448-8412 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 18
Kevin Gray, Minister for Music and Worship - 803-524-0287 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 14
Jacquelyn McAbee, Church Administrator - 434-579-1177 (cell); 704-333-5428, ext. 20
Derek Henson, Administrative Assistant - 704-333-5428, ext. 10
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