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MARCH 2015 Volume 29.3
St. John’s United Church of
Christ
St. John’s is a community of faith centered in Jesus Christ, seeking guidance and direction through the
Holy Spirit, and demonstrating God’s love to all people in words and
deeds.
An Open and Affirming
Congregation
503 Stuart Circle Richmond, Virginia 23220 Telephone: 804.358.9291
Email: stjohnsrichmondoffice@verizon.net
Web Site:
stjohnsrichmond.org
Published monthly
© 2013 St John’s UCC
A Note from Rev. Nicholson...
Wow! The time is finally arriving when you will be hearing a sermon from and voting to call your next installed pastor. This is truly an exciting time. I believe your search committee has done a thorough, thoughtful, and prayerful search for the person whose name will be put before you. As they gave their report to the Council last week I could not help but be filled with joy and enthusiasm for the next chapter that you will be writing together.
A number of people have asked about me; what is my position in the transition. As an Interim Pastor I always know that my time with a congregation is limited. Anticipating this, my contract with the church specifies that the church can end its relationship with me with thirty days’ notice. When I began this work five interims ago this was very unsettling because I would have no idea what if any-thing was coming next. I don’t have those concerns now. We have retired to Richmond, coming back home after sixteen years away. We have family here including our son, his wife, and our precious three-year-old grandson.
The timeframe for voting on the new pastor, the pastor’s start date, and any overlap that might be desired are completely in the hands of the Council and the new pastor. As this point I may not initiate contact with the pastor candidate. Of course if the candidate contacts me, I will respond. All of this is in accord with “best practices” for Interim Ministers. I will do everything requested to facilitate a smooth transition, but it is now time to look ahead to a new and long term relationship and ministry with your new pastor.
I pray God’s richest blessing on you and upon the pastor as you begin your work together.
Godspeed,
Roger
The St. John’s Congregation Pastor Search Committee & Church Council
Right Now! Today!
The Council has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, March 22, 2015 for the purpose of hearing and acting upon a report from the Pastor Search Committee. The meeting will be held at the end of the 11:00 AM worship service.
Prior to the meeting the Pastor Candidate will preach the sermon during the service. There will be opportunities on Saturday March 21 for the members of the congregation to meet the candidate.
Please put a big red circle around these dates and make every effort to attend and participate in events that will be announced as they develop.
A letter from the Council and Search Committee will be mailed the first of this coming week with information about the weekend.
St. John’s is offering several opportunities for exploring faith during this Lenten season, as we follow the path Jesus took to the cross.
PRAYERS Like Jesus, we turn to prayer to help us find our way. Every Sunday, all are invited to write prayers
on paper leaves provided in the Parlor, Fellowship Hall, and Sanctuary. Prayer leaves can then be placed in the offering plates or in baskets beside the Prayer Tree on the Parlor wall. Include prayers for friends and family, our congregation, the Richmond community, and the world.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES Other practices will also sustain us on the journey. During the week, use the
insert in the Sunday bulletin to experiment with several different spiritual practices. Try them out alone or with others in your household. Listen to what God might be teaching you during this time of Lent.
THE CROSS As we head toward the cross, it is helpful to learn more about this important Christian
symbol. On Sunday, March 15, all are invited to participate in an hands-on intergenerational workshop from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in the Fell. Hall. Come join in activities such as making a cross necklace out of nails, and decorating different styles of crosses.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH ON SUNDAY MORNINGS It can be easy for children to miss out on all the stories that fall between Palm Sunday and Easter, since most Holy Week services are not child-friendly. To help St. John’s children fill in the gaps, the Toddler, Primary and Jr. Youth classes will be exploring the stories of Holy Week in advance. Jr. Youth will study the many symbols of Lent, make a timeline and create a set of Lenten Easter eggs. The Primary and Toddler classes will hear the stories of Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, and the Garden of Gethsemane. They will experience the stories through drama, images, puzzles, and other activities so that when Easter arrives, they will have walked with Jesus from the cross to the empty tomb.
ADULTS ON SUNDAY MORNINGS The Sunday adult class will explore the various people
that tradition places along Jesus’ path to the cross. They will imagine what it would have been like to watch Jesus as he was beaten, ridiculed, and abused by the authorities and the crowd. They will also reflect on how their own stories are linked with Jesus’ suffering and what God might be calling us to do and be in light of the brokenness of the world. This class meets 9:45-10:45 a.m. in B-2.
Observing Lent
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Holy Week And Easter
Palm Sunday - March 29
9:30 am Stuart Circle Parish Palm Sunday Processional
Pick up a palm branch at St. John’s and then head across Stuart Circle to
gather on the steps of First English.
10:30 am Back to St. John’s for coffee and pastries
10:55 am Procession of the Palms
All children and parents (and anyone else who wants to participate) will gather in the Narthex with a palm branch to wave as we together enter the sanctuary to open our
Palm Sunday worship service.
9:30 am Palm Sunday Worship Service
Maundy Thursday - April 2
7:00 am Communion and Tenebrae Service
Our Communion and Tenebrae (Latin for "shadows" or "darkness") Service will guide us as we remember the
night of Christ’s last supper and betrayal.
Good Friday - April 3
Noon Prayer Service
Easter Sunday - April 2
11:00 am Communion and Tenebrae Service
Join us in the sanctuary at 11:00 am for our Easter Worship Service. The service will conclude with the choir
and congregation singing of the Hallelujah chorus to Handel’s Messiah.
Noon Celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord!
Gather in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy fellowship and wonderful food prepared by the Congregational Life
ministry. Special activities will be provided for the children including our annual Easter egg hunt. We look
forward to seeing everyone as we greet one another with “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!”
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Please sign up on the lists in the Parlor to help welcome our
CARITAS guests each night.
MARCH CARITAS Volunteers
Please donate snacks for our CARITAS ministry.
March 1 Quick family
March 2 First English
March 3 First English
March 4 Jeff Michel, Steve Plymale
March 5 Scott Siefert
March 6 Allen family
March 7 Karen Marie Yust
March 8 Don Warren
March 9 First English
March 10 First English
March 11 Jeff Michel, Steve Plymale
March 12 Cheryl Goode
March 13 Cheryl Goode
March 14 Dale and Laura Totty
March 15
March 16 First English
March 17 First English
March 18 Arthur Dewey, Lynda Merry
March 19
March 20
March 21 Barbour family
March 22
March 23 First English
March 24 First English
March 25 Jeff Michel, Sal Anselmo
March 26
March 27
March 28
March 29
March 30 First English
March 31 First English
Easter Offering for ACTS ACTS - Area Congregations Together in Service - is a Greater Richmond interfaith mission providing support and resources during periods of financial crisis to prevent homelessness. ACTS serves as a resource to St. John’s UCC and 50+ other regional
congregations, by assessing and assisting people who visit or call the churches seeking financial assistance. Instead of the churches simply offering a hand out, staff is able to refer that person to ACTS who fully assesses the situation face to face while taking the necessary time to listen to each individual and how they got in financial crisis and the best solutions. Since it began assisting clients in the Greater Richmond Area in August 2006, ACTS has financially assisted hundreds of house-holds and given other more appropriate resources to hundreds more. Your support during 2014 enabled 825 people to retain their stable housing within 340 households. That included 332 children under the age of 18 who would have had their lives disrupted—often an indicator of repeated homelessness during their adult years. Your continued financial support is most appreciated by so many in our community who are in crisis. Special monetary offerings will be received on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday for ACTS.
2015
Be prepared to give on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday
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Stuart Circle Parish
Good Friday Blood Drive April 3, 2015 2:00 – 7:00
In this love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
--- 1 John 4:10-11
As we remember the reconciling, life giving grace of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, we are grateful for this opportunity to unite in offering the life giving of blood On average, every two
seconds someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion, and this is a precious gift that cannot be manufactured but only comes through the generosity of donors. We seek to provide 100 successful blood donations. All support is welcome, and if you are unable to donate yourself, we encourage you to consider seeking a substitute donor or volunteering your time. If you would like to donate please contact info@grace-covenant.org or 804-359-2463. Parking is in the alley behind Grace
Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Location: Fellowship Hall, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
1627 Monument Avenue Parking in alley behind the church
Participating Churches
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart , City Church, First English Lutheran Church Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, St. James’s Episcopal Church, St. John’s United Church of Christ
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed,
but that there might be equality.
At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their
plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written:
“The one who gathered much did not have too much,
and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
Through One Great Hour of Sharing, lives are literally changed daily. Your support provides
clean water, food, medicines, shelter, healthcare, education and so much more. In 2014, the OGHS offering reached $2,478,536. An additional $720 thousand was received to support specific disaster relief initiatives. One Great Hour of Sharing, as part of Our Churches Wider Mission, is the special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that carries God’s message of love and hope to people in 138 countries. The UCC works with international partners to provide sources of clean water and food, education and health care, small business micro-credit, emergency relief, and advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced persons. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and response.
St. John’s is proud that we have participated in this offering every year. This year, we will be taking up a special collection for The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering on Sunday, March 15 during the 11 am worship service. Please prayerfully consider how you
will financially participate in this ministry and come to worship on the 15th prepared to give generously.
6 The Messenger / MARCH 2015
...from the President The month of February brought the start of CARITAS and some snowy weather. Many thanks to the volunteers who made the effort to serve our guests! A “professional clothes” closet was set-up and our guests were given some much needed clothes of their choice to wear on job interviews and to jobs. This mission of ours continues through April 17th and I urge you to take a turn or two during this remaining period. A special council meeting was held on February 25, with a recom-mendation from the Search Committee of a candidate for our called pastor. The recommendation was accepted and will be presented to the Congregation on March 21-22 and a Congregational vote will take place on March 22nd at our worship service. The Constitution has been revised and will be presented to the Congregation at special meetings during the weeks ahead for your comments. Please make every effort to attend one of these ses-sions. Soon we will observe Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Our Worship/Music Committee is busy at work with these celebrations. Coming in April, St. John’s Community Players will present their An-nual Cabaret which is a fundraiser for the church. There will be Din-ner and show on the 25th or just the show and show on 26th .Tickets can be purchased on our St John’s web site and will be sold after church beginning in April. We are going to have a very busy spring and I pray that all of us will embrace the future with love. Peace to all Betsy J. Bighinatti
President
Next Church Council Meeting March 9, 2015 The next Church Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9 at 7:00 pm.
Each year we have lovely Easter lilies on display in the chancel area on
Easter morning. If you wish to order a lily in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please complete this form and drop it by the church office, place it in the offering plate, or mail it to the church office. The cost is $14 per plant, and you may take it home after the completion of the Easter morning worship service.
Ordering Deadline: Sunday, March 22, 2015
□ In memory of □ In honor of
Name ___________________________________________
Given by:_________________________________________ ▬
□ In memory of □ In honor of
Name ___________________________________________
Given by:_________________________________________ ▬
□ In memory of □ In honor of
Name ___________________________________________
Given by:_________________________________________ ▬
□ In memory of □ In honor of
Name ___________________________________________
Given by:_________________________________________ ▬ Your name _______________________ Phone: _________
Number of lilies ordered ___________
@ $14 = $________________
(please attach payment with this order)
Ordering Deadline: Sunday, March 22, 2015
Easter Lily Order Form
7 The Messenger | MARCH 2015
March Lectionary Readings
St. John’s Financial Picture YTD as of 1-31-15
Second Sunday in Lent
March 1, 2015
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22:23-31
Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38
Third Sunday in Lent March 8, 2015
Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19
1 Cor. 1:18-25 John 2:13-22
Fourth Sunday in Lent March 15, 2015
Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21
Fifth Sunday in Lent March 22, 2015
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-12
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
Palm Sunday
March 29, 2015
Mark 11:1-11 Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 14:1-15:47
2015 Budget Budget YTD Actual YTD
Income
Pledge Payments* $110,500 $9,209 $9,421
Cash Offerings $11,000 $917 $1,469
Other Income (Endowment Contributions $126,700 $26,380 $27,350
Parking Lot Rental, Wedding Income, etc.)
Development Fund $36,000 $3,000 $0
Total Income $284,200 $39,506 $38,240
Expenses
Personnel 187,846 17,945 9,843
Committees 27,685 2,307 1,743
Operations/Maintenance 116,140 9,767 8,977
Local Benevolences 7,650 2,542 1,302
Other 9,600 800 -
Development Fund 36,000 3,000 $0
Total Expenses 384,921 36,361 21,865
Income/Expenses Total (100,721) 3,145 16,375
surplus (deficit)
NOTE:
1. Income includes a total of $85,000 annual contribution from Endowment Fund ($7083 monthly)
2. Annual Deficit to be covered by Endowment Fund and General Reserve Fund
3. 2015 Pledge Budget is $110,000. 55 pledges for $118,000 Were pledged.
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St. John’s
April 17 - 19, 2015
Kiptopeke State Park
Cape Charles, VA
$65 per person See Cheryl Goode for more information.
Flashback! A Musical Cabaret of Songs from the
60’s, 70’s, & 80’s
SJCP
St. John’s Community Players Present
St. John’s UCC 503 Stuart Circle, Richmond, VA 23220
Saturday, April 25 @ 7:30 & Sunday, April 26 @ 3:00 pm Seating for Theatre Only Tickets: $10 Adults * $8 Students
Saturday, April 25 Dinner @ 6:00 Show @ 7:30 pm $20 Advance Pay-ment Required
Dinner reservations must be placed by Thursday, April 23 Call the Box Office to Make Your Reservations 358-9291
or pay on-line at http://stjohnsrichmond.org/st-johns-players
The Board of Trustees and The Faculty of
Union Presbyterian Seminary
Request the honor of your presence
for the inaugural address of
Karen-Marie Yust, Th.D.
The Josiah P. and Anne Wilson Rowe
Professor of Christian Education
Monday, March 16, 2015 ~ 7:00 pm
Lake Chapel (Early Center)
Reception to follow in the Rose Hall
All are invited to join us on Thursday, March 12 at 10:30 am in the Fellowship Hall for a Lenten Program
led by Dr. Steven Plymale. This time of fellowship and spiritual
development is always a special one for all who attend.
Following the program you are invited to stay for a lunch.
Call Lynda Merry at 756-0270 to make
reservations.
We will also be welcoming guests for this program from Greenfield Assisted Living!
March Meeting
To order fresh flowers to be placed on the altar in honor of a special
occasion or person or in remembrance of someone, please sign-up on the flower chart on the bulletin board in the hallway near
the nursery or contact Sonny Darnell at 743-7528 or
kenandsonny@comcast.net $45.00 for two beautiful bouquets.
March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29
Welcome Team
Leader
Doug Waldrop
Justin Barbour
Justin Barbour
Richard
Bighinatti
Richard
Bighinatti
Sound System
Jeff Michel
David Pittman
David Pittman
Chris Ward
Chris Ward
Acolytes
Bryan Etter
Sean Barbour
Sean Barbour
Josh Lyle
Josh Lyle
Lay Reader
Ashley Quick
Joyce
Schnabel
Bud Higgins
Richard
Bighinatti
Sal Anselmo
Fellowship Hosts
Elisabeth Burnette
TBA
Barbour family
Cook family
Don Warren
Nursery Helpers TBA
Chris & Abby
Ward
Laura Totty
Marjorie & Justin
Barbour
Martha Cook
Tellers Jeff Michel
Denise Martin
Sonny Darnell Dorothy Cook
Sonny Darnell Dorothy Cook
Jeff Jacobs Iola Miller
Jeff Jacobs Iola Miller
Facilities Bud Higgins
Justin Barbour
Justin Barbour
Richard Bighinatti
Richard Bighinatti
Altar Guild Erin Burnette Georgianne
Stinnett
Cheryl Goode Arthur Dewey
Dorothy Cook Sonny Darnell
Johanna Gilbert
Charlotte Quick
Bryan
Anderegg Sonny Darnell
Flowers Abby Ward
Sonny Darnell
Johanna Gilbert
Elisabeth Burnette
Fellowship Coordinator: Sal Anselmo 358-1696 Tellers Coordinator: Bud Higgins 301-5059 Lay Readers Coordinator: Sal Anselmo 358-1696 Altar Guild Coordinator: Sonny Darnell 743-7528 CARITAS Coordinators: Don Warren Richard Bighinatti
Please find a substitute if you are unable to perform your ministry and contact your team coordinator AND the office to let them know who will be filling in for you. Thank you for making our church ministries run
smoothly!
March Birthdays
1 Teresa Jolles 2 Ginny Etter 3 David Townsend 4 Aghavni Dalton 4 Sonny Darnell 5 Rick Cook 5 Joan Cooper
17 Florence Cross 13 Frances Smith Vass 16 Scott Siefert 19 Gill Caldwell 26 Sam Dalton 31 Johanna Gilbert
2015
1 9:45 am Faith Formation
10 am Choir rehearsal
11 am Worship/Communion
CARITAS
2
CARITAS
3
10:00 am Staff Meeting
11:30 am NA Meeting
CARITAS
4
5 pm Card Ministry
CARITAS
5
11:30 am NA Meeting
5:30pm Worship/Music
7 pm Choir Rehearsal
CARITAS
6
Office Closed
CARITAS
7
1:00 pm SJP
CARITAS
8
10 am Choir rehearsal
11 am Worship
12:30 pm Confirmation
CARITAS
9
7:00 pm Church Council
CARITAS
10
10:00 am Staff Meeting
11:30 am NA Meeting
CARITAS
11
5 pm Card Ministry
6:30 pm Cong. Life and Care
CARITAS
12 10:30 am
The Fellowship
11:30 am NA Meeting
7 pm Choir Rehearsal
CARITAS
13
Office Closed
CARITAS
14 8:30 am Indian Orthodox
1:00 pm SJP
CARITAS
159:00 am Breakfast
9:45 am All Church Workshop
10 am Choir rehearsal
11 am Worship One Great hour of
Sharing Offering
CARITAS
16
CARITAS
17 .
10:00 am Staff Meeting
11:30 am NA Meeting
CARITAS
18
5 pm Card Ministry
CARITAS
19
11:30 am NA Meeting
7 pm Choir Rehearsal
CARITAS
20
Office Closed
CARITAS
21
2:30 pm Reception
CARITAS
22
9:45 am Faith Formation 10 am Choir rehearsal
11 am Worship Noon Congregational
Meeting 12:30 pm Confirmation
23
CARITAS
24
10:00 am Staff Meeting
11:30 am NA Meeting
CARITAS
25
5 pm Card Ministry
CARITAS
26
11:30 am NA Meeting
7 pm Choir Rehearsal
CARITAS
27
Office Closed
CARITAS
28
Monument 10K 1:00 pm SJP
CARITAS
29 9:30 am Outdoor
processional 10 am Choir rehearsal
11 am Worship ACTS Offering
CARITAS
30
CARITAS
31
10:00 am Staff Meeting
11:30 am NA Meeting
CARITAS