Mercy and Justice
Holy Land Pilgrimage
By Susan Shinn Turner Over the past decade or so, Michael Connor has visited the Holy Land six times.But in March, he led his largest group yet — 26 members and friends of St. John’s. They came from the Salisbury community and from California, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and South Carolina. “We had a…
Read MoreComing to Salisbury: New Americans Program
Coming to Salisbury: New Americans Program Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC), working with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), has a long, strong history of refugee resettlement. LSC initiated their New Americans Program (NAP) in response to the increased need for refugee support in recent years. This program is establishing additional regional offices to serve refugees…
Read MoreFrom Salisbury to Selma
By Roger Hull In 2019, the Conversations That Matter Committee at St. John’s Lutheran Church planned and organized a trip for the Salisbury community to Montgomery and Selma Alabama. The purpose was to provide an opportunity to learn more about the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Postponed for two years because of Covid, a…
Read More234 Personal Care Kits Shipped to Ukraine
Throughout Lent, members of St. John’s contributed items for Personal Care Kits to be sent to Ukrainian refugees who are fleeing the war. A total of 234 kits were assembled and shipped through Lutheran World Relief, in partnership with Lutheran congregations throughout the country. Below is a thank you note from LWR. …
Read MoreShower the Dwelling with Love
From their mission statement: “The Dwelling proclaims boldly that there is holiness in the identity as someone experiencing homelessness, that they share a kinship with God who reminds us all that we are all wanderers in search of belonging.” By Susan Shinn Turner St. John’s is developing a new relationship with The Dwelling in Winston-Salem. The…
Read MoreUpdate from Guatemala
By Hannah Nadeau-Giron Schools in Guatemala continue to be closed for in-person classes, the 15th months that our students at Escuela Integrada have been attending classes virtually. Thankfully, all of the teachers at Escuela Integrada have been vaccinated, and the vaccination is now available for all those 35 and older. As many of you know,…
Read More“Strength, Hope, Resilience”
By Karen Puckett Performing artists from around the community will celebrate the strength and resilience of communities of color during an afternoon of music, dance, and spoken word in the Faith Center, Saturday, Aug. 7 at 11:30 am. Featuring a performance by the NC Poet Laureate, Jaki Shelton Green, Strength, Hope, Resilience is part of…
Read MoreMy Journey in the Pursuit of Racial Healing
By Mark Ritchie When I followed God’s invitation into social justice work fourteen years ago, I began volunteering weekly at Rowan Helping Ministries in their Crisis Assistance Network (C.A.N.) program hearing requests for assistance from those who have less resources than will meet their basic needs. This is very humbling work as I quickly learned…
Read MoreThe Other Side of the Wall Study with Pastor Munther Isaac
By Susan Shinn Turner More than two dozen members of St. John’s and residents of five other states participated in a recent four-week Bible study, The Other Side of the Wall, led by author Munther Isaac, pastor of our sister congregation in Bethlehem, Christmas Lutheran Church. Each week, the group discussed two to three chapters…
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