By Susan Shinn Turner

St. John’s Lutheran Church

St. John’s is throwing a party, and you’re invited.

A community block party will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Lutheran church in the 200 block of Jackson Street, between the Faith Center and Child Development Center. It will include free food, games, corn hole and bounce houses, says Bradley Chestnut, contemporary worship leader.

Catawba College students will provide acoustic music. The kindergarten playground will be open.

“It’s gonna be a relaxed vibe and a fun day,” Chestnut says.

Chestnut is spearheading the party with members of the 9:27 leadership team, who include Missie Weaver, Cheryl Sjoblom, and Dennis and Kathy Weaver.

Chestnut and Laura Henrik, pastor for discipleship, were talking recently about the theology of TV’s Mister Rogers: “Who are our neighbors?”

“We want to get to know our neighbors,” Chestnut says. “We have a community within the church, but there’s a community outside the church, too. So we wanted to have a party.”

A cadre of 20 to 30 volunteers will help with grilling, hospitality and food teams. The leadership team will rely heavily on youth group members, Chestnut says.

“It’s been a lot more planning than I thought,” he admits, but he hopes to draw families with young kids as well as church members and potential members.

“At the Lutheridge churchwide retreat in early October, I got to meet people I normally wouldn’t see,” he says. “The block party is a great opportunity for people who didn’t get to go to the retreat to fellowship with people from inside this community of St. John’s and a chance to meet new folks as well.”

Updates will be posted on St. John’s website and social-media pages, including weather information. Call the church office at 704-636-3431 for more information.

Susan Shinn Turner is staff writer for St. John’s Lutheran Church.