ST JOHN UCC – September 2018 / page 1 A Word From Pastor Christy September 2018 Friends in Christ, “I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:16-19 As we stand at the beginning of another school year, and at the beginning of another year of Christian education in the church, we are granted the wonderful opportunity of centering ourselves, once again, in the life of the church, and planting ourselves in the rich soil of St. John UCC, so that we might grow together in the year to come. We have so many wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry in our congregation and throughout our community, and I want to highlight three of those opportunities with you. Worship – One of the main ways we learn and grow in our faith is through participating in worship together. Each week, we come together to encounter God’s word spoken to us in the midst of the joys and struggles of our lives. We feel the Holy Spirit moving as we sing songs, encounter scripture, center ourselves in Christ through prayer, celebrate sacraments, experience God’s grace, and support one another in community. Worship may only be for one hour each week, but that hour re-centers our hearts and minds on Christ and gives us the strength we need to face whatever life has in store in the week ahead. Study – Sunday school is another one of our primary sources of faith formation in the church. Every Sunday, adult volunteers provide education to our children and youth, preschool through high school, as they learn about God, Jesus, our ancestors in faith, and what it all means for them here and now. These are great, hands-on lessons that help engage the next generation in God’s story. But, faith formation does not end when we cross into adulthood. Learning about our faith is something we do throughout our entire lives, and so I would love to also offer opportunities for our adults to engage in study. I will have a sign-up sheet in the narthex over the next few weeks asking for folks who would be interested in such a Bible study. This way, I can engage interested people concerning what day/time might work best. Ministry – As a church community, we are blessed with abundant opportunities for ministry, both in our church and throughout the region.
Transcript
ST JOHN UCC – September 2018 / page 1
A Word From Pastor Christy
September 2018
Friends in Christ,
“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as
you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that
surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:16-19
As we stand at the beginning of another school year, and at the beginning of another year of Christian education in the church, we are granted the wonderful opportunity of centering ourselves, once again, in the life of the church, and planting ourselves in the rich soil of St. John UCC, so that we might grow together in the year to come. We have so many wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry in our congregation and throughout our community, and I want to highlight three of those opportunities with you.
Worship – One of the main ways we learn and grow in our faith is through participating in worship together. Each week, we come together to encounter God’s word spoken to us in the midst of the joys and struggles of our lives. We feel the Holy Spirit moving as we sing songs, encounter scripture, center ourselves in Christ through prayer, celebrate sacraments, experience God’s grace, and support one another in community. Worship may only be for one hour each week, but that hour re-centers our hearts and minds on Christ and gives us the strength we need to face whatever life has in store in the week ahead.
Study – Sunday school is another one of our primary sources of faith formation in the church. Every Sunday, adult volunteers provide education to our children and youth, preschool through high school, as they learn about God, Jesus, our ancestors in faith, and what it all means for them here and now. These are great, hands-on lessons that help engage the next generation in God’s story. But, faith formation does not end when we cross into adulthood. Learning about our faith is something we do throughout our entire lives, and so I would love to also offer opportunities for our adults to engage in study. I will have a sign-up sheet in the narthex over the next few weeks asking for folks who would be interested in such a Bible study. This way, I can engage interested people concerning what day/time might work best.
Ministry – As a church community, we are blessed with abundant opportunities for ministry, both in our church and throughout the region. Our gifts of time – whether in committees, fellowship groups, leadership roles, emotional/physical support, behind-the-scenes work, mission projects, etc. – provide the fuel we need to keep this corner of the body of Christ functioning and thriving. And, through our service, we are fed spiritually, as we continue to grow and experience God’s love, grace, and peace in the world. This fall, I’d like to lift the many ministries of St. John UCC. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex for “Mission Moments” each Sunday. I invite the various ministries of the church to sign up and share a brief testimony, right before the offering, of what gifts of time your group offers to the church and how you help in the body of Christ.
I’m so excited for St. John UCC to set off on this journey of worship, study, and ministry in the year to come, and I hope you are, too.
Wishing you God’s peace, Pastor Christy
ST JOHN UCC – September 2018 / page 2
St. John Prayer ListCountryside Manor – 450 West First Street – Aviston IL 62216: Betty Becker, Jack Milligan
Trenton Village – 980 E. Broadway – Trenton IL 62293: Beryl Kuhn, Lillian Janssen
Clinton Manor – 111 E. Illinois Ave. – New Baden IL 62265: Joyce Schmitt
Magnolia Terrace - 623 Hamacher St. - Waterloo, IL 62298: Velva McGavock
At Home: Hal Wehrle
Worship ParticipantsThank you for your service to the church!!
GREETERS:September 2: Betty SappingtonSeptember 9: Stan & Lois ClarkSeptember 16: Tim & Dorri StempelSeptember 23: Curt & Laura WesselmannSeptember 30: Shelby Atwood
ACOLYTES:September 2: Sunday School ChildrenSeptember 9: Sunday School ChildrenSeptember 16: Sunday School ChildrenSeptember 23: Sunday School ChildrenSeptember 30: Sunday School Children
LITURGISTS:September 2: Lisa GroennertSeptember 9: Cathy HallerSeptember 16: Emma HallerSeptember 23: Eileen HoffmannSeptember 30: Ian Henderson
If you can be a liturgist for a Sunday or a series of Sundays, there is a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex. Thank you!
COFFEE HOUR HOST/S:September 2: Connie ZimmersSeptember 9: Women's J.O.Y. FellowshipSeptember 16: Worship CommitteeSeptember 23: Congregational LifeSeptember 30: Mickey WilliamsonIf you can supply the Coffee Hour refreshments for a first or a fifth Sunday of the month in 2018, there is a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex. Thank you!
PASTOR’S HOURS: Please call Pastor Christy Eckert 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM Monday - Thursday at the church office 224-9828 and afterwards at her home phone 224-6061. You may also contact her by email at [email protected]. For pastoral emergencies you may use her cell phone #618-973-3040
September 1 September 2Connie Zimmers Kevin KunzSeptember 5 September 8Betty Sappington Tyler Davis Lana TobinSeptember 10 September 11Betty Becker Pat BairMickey WilliamsonEmily FisherSeptember 12 September 13Dorri Stempel Eileen Hoffmann Derek Von BokelSeptember 15 September 16Deanna Lucas Donna GraulSeptember 17 September 18Madeline Truscott Dan AthmerSeptember 19 September 20Kameron Fisher Collin HendersonSeptember 23 September 25Bella Johnson Marilyn Wehrle Maggie Gerstner Heather JohnsonSeptember 28 September 30Dustin Atwood Lucas Rottman Brian Nelson
Yard Work Schedule:September 2 OpenSeptember 9: Mike WilliamsonSeptember 16: OpenSeptember 23: OpenSeptember 30: Mike Williamson
Cathy Haller and her volunteers who helped St. John participate in the Brownbag Lunch program.
Stan & Lois Clark and Jo-Allison Rogers who with many volunteers from St. John were able to have a successful spaghetti dinner fundraiser.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM ST. JOHN TO:
September 2Brittany & Ryan Wuebbles
September 11Kim & Shane Nollau
September 15Christy & DJ EckertLois & John Roach
September 17Stan & Lois Clark
******************************************************CONDOLENCES to the family of Bob Schmitt who passed away Thursday, August 16th at Clinton Manor Nursing Home. Visitation and funeral was August 22 at
Moss Funeral Home with Pastor Christy officiating. Interment was in College Hills Cemetery, Lebanon. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Shriners Children's Hospital, Hospice of Southern Illinois or St. John UCC.
A MEMORIAL SERVICE for Miriam Huelsmann will be held on Saturday, September 29th at 11:00 AM with a lunch following downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.
Meat, cheese and bread will be provided. Members are asked to provide a side dish or dessert starting 8:30 AM..
ACOLYTES: A sign-up sheet is in the narthex for children to serve as acolytes. We need a number of children to sign up to make a schedule for the coming Sunday School year. For age readiness, we are leaving it up to parent's discretion to sign up their child. If you have any questions, please see Pastor Christy.
REMINDER: If you are in the church during non-church hours, please remember to turn off all lights and to check on the bathrooms before you leave. Also, if you are in the church and someone else comes in, please let them know you are around. Thank you!
ST JOHN UCC – September 2018 / page 4
Men's Fellowship BreakfastThe September Men's Fellowship Breakfast will be on Tuesday, September 4th at 8:00 AM. All men of the congregation are invited to join us for good food and great fellowship at Good Ol' Days in New Baden.
Women’s J.O.Y. FellowshipMany school items were taken to Kindercottage last month. We then received a thank you
card from Brenda Crisp, Kindercottage Director: "Hello to our faith partners and friends. Wow is all I can say! Pehg arrived bearing school supplies, enough for each of our little ones to get items needed to help start school. Moms cried and hugged of course. Today was the first day and there were many tears shed. It was joyful yet painful. Our babies leave and go away to the big school. Thank you for helping our moms make their children happy and ready for school!" The next scheduled donation trip will be right after September 16. That trip will be for toothbrushes and toothpaste. Thank you for helping them keep their smiles bright.
The September meeting of the J.O.Y. will be Tuesday, September 4th at 6:00 PM at Lonna Patton's home, 103 South Adams Street, Trenton. We will be having a potluck picnic so meat and drinks will be provided and we are asking members to bring a side dish. We invite all women of the church to attend. If you have any questions, please talk to Lonna.
Youth Group NewsThere is a sign-up sheet in the narthex for youth who are in 7th-12th grade and would like to participate in bowling at V&H Recreation, 732 N. 4th Street, Breese on Sunday, September 16th starting at noon. See Pastor Christy if you have any questions.
PRESCHOOL NEWSThe Rainbow Preschool is holding an afternoon class this year on Tuesdays and Thursdays in addition to their weekday morning classes. Kathy Johnson wanted to make everyone aware that the line cord barrier between the alley and the concrete driveway will be up during school hours. Please make note of this so you will not try to park on the driveway.
Highlights of August 21st Council MeetingMembers: Laura Wesselmann-President, Lisa Groennert-Vice President, Cathy Haller-
Treasurer, Lana Tobin-Secretary, Stan Clark, Greg Erdmann and Connie Zimmers(Official copies of the Minutes are available upon request.)
Monthly reports were given by the officers, various committee/team members. The Search Committee is changing to the Pastor Parish Relations Team.DISCUSSIONS:
Rev. Mark Stryjak's pastor portrait Electronic giving promotion Concrete driveway between parsonage and church Sunday School curriculum Council member replacement
Next meeting will be Tuesday, September 18th at 6:00 PM.
ST JOHN UCC – September 2018 / page 5
It’s August, and so begins another school year at Rainbow. We are very excited to move forward and spend time each day with your child. The days and weeks prior to our Open House on the 16th proved to be as chaotic and ever fluid as in past years. However, we are almost settled in arranging our classes and getting to the key part of school -FUN! We are blessed to have two large morning classes and this
year, a new afternoon class on Tuesday & Thursday. Ms Misty and Ms Lisa have returned to share the fun and help with the entire learning experience. All is slowly returning to a normal process with many returning faces, and even more new ones. By now we have shared a day with all the students and those first days have gone very well. I am very excited about what will come during the next few months (which tend to fly by before we realize it). Pastor Christy will be reading and sharing with our students this week, and we have the story times scheduled all the way until Christmas break! And speaking of Christmas, yes we did sing a Christmas song, as well as our Halloween “Five Black and Hairy Bats” song. Sometimes, going with the familiar on the first few days makes the transition a little smoother.
August starts with several birthday celebrations. We wish a very awesome August “Happy Birthday” to Ilah Stempel on the 15th, Sylvia Jervis on the 18th, Paxton Weh on the 25th, Eli Strader on the 28th, and Calvin Young on the 29th! As always, you may bring a special birthday treat for your child’s day. We usually suggest let your son/daughter pick whatever snack they would like to share with friends. We do have lactose and tree nut allergies in the Tuesday morning class. However, we insure those students are covered for all snacks. If you choose to send a snack, please check numbers with staff closer to their special day as our enrollment is still fluid at this point and we will be adding several students during the next month or so.
I am putting together notes from questions asked at Open House. We had really great attendance. As I told several moms, please ask questions. I often move forward and forget the little items to mention such as our Tuition Mailbox just inside the door where you can just drop your payment. We try to check backpacks on a daily basis. However, things happen and we sometimes miss one or all. Also, if you place notes and things in the large pouch, we will more often find them inside since that is the one we place notes
into if we have something to send to you. We are off most Federal Holidays. We take Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks in conjunction with Wesclin’s schedule for most days. We do not take Wesclin’s in-service or other scheduled off attendance days. Please watch your monthly calendar for exact dates. I will also send a list home in the notes mentioned above next week. However, we are off on Labor Day, Monday, September 3rd!
If your child will be gone for a trip, scheduled hospitalization, etc., please put a note in his or her backpack. I know a couple parents mentioned potential dates of missed attendance. I have notes, but I probably missed someone. It really helps to get the notes in writing. We save any “projects” your child misses and you can complete them with him/her at your convenience. Thanks!
Rumor Control – I have recently been asked by several parents if it was true I was retiring soon. To my surprise, I have no idea where the story started. As of today, I have no plans to stop doing what I do at Rainbow. If that were to change for any unforeseeable reason, you our parents would be third to hear (right after my family and staff). I have enjoyed your kids over the past few years and plan to continue having fun at Rainbow!
Welcome to everyone, let’s have a fabulous year!
Have an awesome Labor Day weekend & be safe!Kathy
ST JOHN UCC – September 2018 / page 6
Neighbors in Need Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry(CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries(JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. Funding is provided through donations to the Neighbors in Need offering. We will be collecting this offering on Sunday, September 30 as a 5th Sunday offering. Thank you for your help to this special mission.
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
The Sunday School teachers are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to a new Sunday School year on September 9th. This year we are using an exciting new curriculum called "Deep Blue Kids" which starts off in the fall focusing on the theme "At Home With God." This curriculum is designed to help families grow in faith together as children take what they have learned in Sunday School and dive deeper into the stories at home with their families. "We will explore families in the Bible and learn how today's faith families care for kids as they grow, build loving relationships, and find out what it means to be a part of God's family." Children are encouraged to bring an offering, if able, to help with the Sunday School curriculum and future mission projects. Children who have already gone through confirmation will enjoy the "Caffeine" series youth curriculum with Pastor Christy which seeks to engage youth with imaginative re-tellings of Bible stories in order to energize their faith without energizing them with caffeine. We hope you will join us!
Wurstmarkt RaffleThe Wurstmarkt is on Sunday, October 7, and we will raffle off the quilt and many baskets.
The “baskets” are donated by members and include not only themed gift baskets but also gift cards, cases of soda, planters, and lots of other imaginative gifts.
If you would like to make a donation of a “basket” to the Wurstmarkt, please have it turned into the church library by Friday, September 28, so it can be catalogued and ticketed in time. Please have your name attached as the donor. These items can also be given to Margie or Pehg.
We are trying something new for the distribution of raffle tickets for the Wurstmarkt Raffle. Instead of a mass mailing of tickets we are using email to distribute the tickets. So you will find an email attachment of a sheet of tickets for the raffle. You only need to print as many tickets as you want to purchase or sell. Then return the stubs and money by the day of the Wurstmarkt. You can return the stubs and money to either Margie or Pehg, to the church office or to the raffle cashier at the Wurstmarkt by Sunday, October 7. If you prefer to make a donation of cash in lieu of purchasing tickets, simply place it in an envelope and identity it as “Raffle” and give to the office. Margie and Pehg will have extra tickets as needed.
ST JOHN UCC – September 2018 / page 7If you do not have access to a printer, simply ask for tickets on a Sunday morning. Pehg and
Margie will have tickets, or contact the office and we will see that you get tickets. Tickets will also be distributed at church beginning this Sunday, September 2. We need feedback on this method of distribution so let us know what you think.
INFO FOR SUNDAY,OCT.7, 2018 WURSTMARKT
Times for the dinner will be 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Ticket prices will be $4.00 for children 10 years and younger, $10.00 for adults and all carry outs.
We will continue having the beef as the second selection of meat. Applesauce will again be made on 2 days: Saturday, September 22nd beginning at 9am,
(light lunch provided) and Thursday, October 4th at 1pm (dessert refreshment provided.) Applesauce will be canned in pints and quarts. We will need jars donated. A sign-up sheet for applesauce workers will also be available in the narthex. Workers are needed for preparation on Saturday, October 6th and before and after church
on Sunday Oct. 7th, the day of the dinner. There will be two shifts of 10 am to 3 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm. Clean up is 6pm to 7pm. (Please see Committee Members below for the area you would like to work.)
Workers are needed for waiting on tables, cleaning tables, pie / cake cutters, carry outs, “country store”, the drive thru system, the elevette service, the meat sales held outside, and ticket sellers.
Only cream pies will be ordered from Berkemann's Bakery. Members can pay as they order them for $8.34 each. We will need 24 pies and an order sheet will be in the narthex. Fruit pies, cakes, cupcakes and cookies are welcomed. Each family is asked to donate 2 pies or desserts. Berkemann's will be delivering the pies on Sunday, Oct. 7.
Sugar free and gluten free desserts are needed. We again will have the quilt raffle along with the congregation's donated baskets and single
items. The “country store” needs are: baked items and indoor plants. NO produce, jellies, or jams
can be sold. Donations of decaffeinated coffee, 2%milk, and or money will be appreciated.
Committee members:Jo-Allison Rogers, Chairman & Kitchen Tim Bair, TreasurerPehg Zeller, Co-chair & Desserts Margie Bopp, Co-chair & RaffleGreg Erdmann, Male help Betty Sappington, PublicityLaurie Henderson, Waitresses Karen Kunz, Country StoreSteve Feldmann & Lonna Patton, Beverages & Coffee
All are encouraged to support this effort as the profit from the Wurstmarkt is very important for the budget of St John. Every member's contribution by their donation of time, items, or money are deeply appreciated. As we come together for this annual tradition may we grow stronger through the fellowship that will be felt throughout the occasion. Thank you.
ST JOHN UCC – September 2018 / page 8
The Congregation of St. John UCC is invited to the installation of
Rev. Christy EckertSeptember 9, 2018
at 3:00 pmST. JOHN UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
21 N Walnut St.Trenton, Illinois
Offering will go to Our Church’s Wider MissionReception with light refreshments to follow
No gifts, please
Anyone wishing to help with donating or serving refreshments, please contact Bev Adams at 224-9828.
Remember to: Sign cards that the Sonshine Ministry puts out
on Sundays Sign up to help at Wurstmarkt
Sign up for bowling if you are in grades 7th-12th
Office ClosedMonday, September 3rd
INFO FOR SUNDAY,OCT.7, 2018 WURSTMARKT
Times for the dinner will be 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Ticket prices will be $4.00 for children 10 years and younger, $10.00 for adults and all carry outs.
We will continue having the beef as the second selection of meat. Applesauce will again be made on 2 days: Saturday, September 22nd beginning at 9am,
(light lunch provided) and Thursday, October 4th at 1pm (dessert refreshment provided.) Applesauce will be canned in pints and quarts. We will need jars donated. A sign-up sheet for applesauce workers will also be available in the narthex. Workers are needed for preparation on Saturday, October 6th and before and after church
on Sunday Oct. 7th, the day of the dinner. There will be two shifts of 10 am to 3 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm. Clean up is 6pm to 7pm. (Please see Committee Members below for the area you would like to work.)
Workers are needed for waiting on tables, cleaning tables, pie / cake cutters, carry outs, “country store”, the drive thru system, the elevette service, the meat sales held outside, and ticket sellers.
Only cream pies will be ordered from Berkemann's Bakery. Members can pay as they order them for $8.34 each. We will need 24 pies and an order sheet will be in the narthex. Fruit pies, cakes, cupcakes and cookies are welcomed. Each family is asked to donate 2 pies or desserts. Berkemann's will be delivering the pies on Sunday, Oct. 7.
Sugar free and gluten free desserts are needed. We again will have the quilt raffle along with the congregation's donated baskets and single
items. The “country store” needs are: baked items and indoor plants. NO produce, jellies, or jams
can be sold. Donations of decaffeinated coffee, 2%milk, and or money will be appreciated.
Committee members:Jo-Allison Rogers, Chairman & Kitchen Tim Bair, TreasurerPehg Zeller, Co-chair & Desserts Margie Bopp, Co-chair & RaffleGreg Erdmann, Male help Betty Sappington, PublicityLaurie Henderson, Waitresses Karen Kunz, Country StoreSteve Feldmann & Lonna Patton, Beverages & Coffee
All are encouraged to support this effort as the profit from the Wurstmarkt is very important for the budget of St John. Every member's contribution by their donation of time, items, or money are deeply appreciated. As we come together for this annual tradition may we grow stronger through the fellowship that will be felt throughout the occasion. Thank you.
