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March 2020 A Monthly Sharing of our Mission and Ministry

TIDINGS A TOUCH OF EARTH AND OIL

When I was in my first year of seminary, I had the honor of at-

tending a class on sacrament at Catholic Theological Union through

the consortium of theology schools. It taught me one very im-

portant lesson. The ceremony of church is important—very, crucial-

ly important. It sets the pace for the whole year, both inside church

and inside our lives.

I got to be good friends with the Jesuit teacher. He held to a

deep belief that the practices of faith were often more important

than the “spiritual” things we do each day (take the most common:

the Wonder and Welch’s made into the mystery and miracle). Dur-

ing this class, my teacher told us of the use of palms, and candles,

and oil.

Each year, our Catholic friends celebrate a special worship ser-

vice on the morning of Maundy Thursday, where the sacred oils for

the year are blessed. The three unique oils will be used throughout

the church year. At the end of each year, the unused oils are dis-

posed of “with care and reverence.” But how?

Each year, on Palm Sunday, many congregations mark the first

day of Holy Week with a parade of palms, remembering Jesus’ entry

into Jerusalem. We do this every year, waving palms, and shouting,

“Hosannah!” When the parade is done, we collect the remaining

palms, and store them safely. But why?

Each year, many faith traditions begin their Lenten journey on

Ash Wednesday, with a service of the marking of ash on the faith-

ful’s foreheads. But how does it all tie together?

Each year, while we’re eating pancakes and paczkis on Mardi

Gras, last year’s candles are used to light the desiccated palm leaves.

They are burned slowly, and turned into the ashes for Wednesday’s

service. The service is one of the last before the oil’s annual date

comes to pass. A tablespoon of ashes, and a few drops of oil are

mixed in a small dish, with care and reverence, blending the sacred-

ness of the palms and oil to begin our Lenten journey. Their final

blessing in marking our heads:

“Remember you are of the earth and to the earth you shall return.”

May your Lenten Journey take you to the desert, bring you to meet

companions and friends, and find your spirit resurrected.

See you in church,

LENTEN SUPPER

DISCUSSION

SERIES

Wednesdays,

March 4-25

Our weekly Lenten series will begin on

March 4, discussing “The Once and Future

Church”, with meal served at 6:00 pm and a

program beginning at 6:30 pm.

See page 5 for more information.

UCC LENTEN DEVOTIONALS

Deliver Us, composed by the UCC Writers

Group, is a collection sharing a progressive

Christian faith on the journey with Christ

through the stories and experiences of the

Lenten scriptures. Readings begin on Ash

Wednesday. Pick up one in the Narthex.

SPECIAL OFFERING, 3/22

Give generously to this opportunity support

justice and peace in our world.

See page 4 for more information

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ST JOHN UCC CHURCH

LEADERSHIP

MEETING SCHEDULE

The Church Council and Leadership Teams have

shifted their meeting schedules. Here is the schedule

of meetings for Spring 2020:

Church Council 4/6/20

Executive Committee Monthly, as called

Care & Community 4/7/20

Mission & Outreach 3/23/20

Worship & Education TBD

The many Task Teams and seasonal event groups that

make our ministry happen will continue to meet as

their work necessitates.

SANCTUARY FLOWERS

Help celebrate worship with a gift of flowers for our

weekly worship! Each week, an altar arrangement can

be dedicated in honor or memory of your chosen

designee. A schedule of dates is on the Narthex

bulletin board. Cost is $30, made payable to St. John

UCC. Pick your week to celebrate!

GOVERNANCE AND MINISTRY

JANUARY FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Income Actual Budget Difference

Pledges/Gifts $15,958 $22,083 (-$6,125)

Other Income $6,324 $9,703 (-$3,379)

Total Income $22,282 $31,786 (-$9,504)

Total Expenses $32,888 $31,473 $1,415

Month Total (-$10,606) $313 (-$10,919)

YTD Income $22,282 $31,786 (-$9,504)

YTD Expenses $32,888 $31,473 $1,415

YTD Total (-$10,606) $313 (-$10,919)

MUSIC MINISTRY AT ST. JOHN UCC

Do you have a song in your heart that praises your

Creator? Is it waiting to be celebrated in worship with

your unique style, voice, or instrument?

We’d love to hear you! See Gina Bertram for more

details, and join in rehearsals this spring!

Thursday night is our main meeting day:

5:30 pm - Sounds of the Spirit

6:30 pm - Bell Choir

7:15 pm - Chancel Choir

And there’s much more in the works! St. John Winds

and St. John Strings are practicing now for some

deeply moving Lenten offerings. Come and witness

all that God is singing with our music ministry.

There is a place for all, regardless of age, experience, or ability!

Come make a joyful noise to God!

SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE:

After a few months of spiritual leave, our associate

pastor Search Committee is back to work! After a

review of their time in service, a new Local Church

Profile has been posted with the UCC’s “Ministry

Opportunities.” Titled, Pastor for Community and

Outreach, this full-time pastoral position will help to

shape our faith formation, our mission outreach, and

our congregational life. Look for more information as

it is able to share.

The deadline for submitting articles

for the April TIDINGS

is Tuesday, March 10th.

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“GREEN TEAM” Environmental Justice

at St. John UCC

“There is a time to battle against nature, and a time to obey

her. True wisdom lies in making the right choice.”

--Arthur C. Clark, “2001: A Space Odyssey”

This quote sounds like something out of Ecclesiastes.

It is certainly in the same spirit. There are battles to be

fought with nature—think coronavirus. Our present

climate circumstances strongly suggest there’s been

too much battling, however, and not enough obeying.

Finding the ways to obey nature or, to put it more

positively, collaborate with nature is the discerning

task of our time – think cosmic nuclear energy. It’s

the free gift of God’s creation coming from the sun.

What’s not to like about that kind of collaboration?

We think of Native Americans, first peoples of our

continent, as wise in their respect for and use of the

gifts of nature. A return to Stone Age technology

would not be wise, near to impossible and very

unpleasant living for most of us. However, the

technological possibilities of our time can be and are

very much a part of living wisely with Nature – think

the solar panels on our roof.

At St. John we seek to grow in wisdom about our

place in nature both in our congregational life and as

individuals. This is an unfolding journey to becoming

a Creation Justice Church.

Your Green Team, Hugh Knapp, Tom Campbell-

Outcault, Dan Kreeger, and Pastor Hank

CARE FOR CREATION

SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT

Understanding the “Duck Curve”

Our 65-kWh solar panel array begins its day with the

first light of dawn, and works all day until sunset.

Over the course of the day, the

amount of solar radiation

increases. With the increase, so

does our electric generation.

Over one year, we should see

100,000+ kWh of clean, renewable energy produced.

Will this production meet our

daily needs? Ultimately, yes...but

there is a continuing problem:

the Duck Curve.

This curve happens when the amount of energy

produced falls below the amount of energy needed. It

is often imbalanced because of the lesser demand

during the middle of the day, and the higher need in

the later day and early morning.

Our partnership with ComEd helps mitigate the

canard of an issue. Our solar panels send their excess

power to the electric grid, where ComEd stores the

wattage throughout the day, returning it for common

use when the demand is needed.

Before we started efforts at energy conservation, here is some annual kWh data:

2014: 107,800 kWh; 8,984/mo 2017: 94,200kWh; 7,850/mo 2015: 90,200 kWh; 7,517/mo 2018: 91,320 kWh; 7,610/mo 2016: 95,200 kWh; 7,934/mo 2019: 81,600 kWh; 6,800/mo

GREEN ENERGY REPORT

Month 2020 2019 Change

December 8,400 kWh 7,800kWh 600 kWh

January 9,360 kWh 8,760 kWh 600 kWh

February 7,560 kWh 7,680 kWh -120 kWh

Total kWh 25,320 kWh 24,240 kWh 1,080 kWh

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a UCC special offering for global justice

In the church, we often talk about the virtues of

servant leadership. At its best, that term encourages

church leaders to model their ministry after Jesus,

who stooped to wash the feet of his disciples, who

served them at the table, and who prayed for them

faithfully even in his final hours.

God invites each of us to lead by serving, to share

freely of our gifts so that God may work through us.

Indeed, the word translated as servant in 1 Cor. 3:5 in

the NIV is diakonos, the root of the term deacon.

Paul uses the term to describe someone whose work

may be of benefit to others. Specifically in this

context, he describes someone whose efforts God

may use as a channel for good and growth. In

choosing to humbly give their gifts, servant-leaders

become channels of God’s healing love, so that all

may enjoy the powerful experience of shared value,

worth, and investment.

One Great Hour of Sharing works through a global

network of partners, so that none of us has to do this

work alone. Strong relationships are at the heart of

this shared ministry, recognizing that true servant

leadership empowers each person and community to

use the gifts they’ve been given.

When we give to One Great Hour of Sharing, our

gifts join with others and the effects multiply

exponentially as God gives growth.

Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)

help make this world look more like the world God

imagines. That’s what happens when we imagine the

world as God intends. Through your gifts, a new

reality exists for families around the world. Please give

generously!

GLOBAL MINISTRIES

MONTHLY PRAYER PARTNERS

March—Sri Lanka

The Church of the American Ceylon Mission

(CACM) strives to provide educational, medical, and

social services throughout Sri Lanka. Their programs

offer educational opportunities for children and youth

in impoverished communities to help them escape the

cycle of poverty. The services are focused on the

vulnerable Indian-Sri Lankan minority population

whose struggles include unemployment, child labor,

human trafficking and abuse, suicide, and emotional

trauma. CACM is involved in daycare and preschool

programs, after-school programs, sports programs,

leadership training, and vocational training. CACM’s

goal is to guarantee young people access to their basic

human right to receive an education.

Global Ministries is a partnership ministry between

the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ). For more information, please visit:

www.globalministries.org

OUR LOCAL & WIDER MISSION

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THE ONCE AND FUTURE CHURCH:

a Lenten reflection on

The living Body of Christ

In 1991, a 102-page book was published, asking the

question of where the church is going. It sought

“to provide a broad look at past and present changes

in the church, and postulates a future

to which those changes are calling us.”

The Once and Future Church: Reinventing the Congregation

for a New Mission Frontier was the culmination of the

life’s work of Loren B. Mead, founder and president

emeritus of the Alban Institute (now Alban at Duke

Divinity). An ordained Episcopal priest, Mead was an

educator, consultant, and author who worked to

strengthen religious institutions, especially local

congregations. This book was the first in a collection

of texts written to help churches see the present that

surrounds them.

Meade postulated:

We face a significant problem. Our need for a clear

consensus on mission from which we can construct the

forms of a new church is no guarantee we can find it...God

may have a more challenging future in store for us...

Our task is now to look at how our vision and mission for

the church came into sharp focus… Only then can we look

to an emerging sense of mission and begin to forecast the

kinds of changes that will require ordering our lives within

the church.

Thirty years later, we will look at Mead’s hopes,

observations, and predictions about the future of the

church, and what has come to pass. We will also look

towards the future of the church in the next thirty

years and what we can hope, observe, and predict

about the growing future of the church.

OUR LENTEN JOURNEY

The Series at a Glance

Each week will encompass one of the key topics of

this book:

3/4 Paradigms Lost: The changing face of the

church in ages past, and how it built the

church of today

3/11 The Cracks in the System: The roles in

leadership in churches, and how they empower

mission

3/18 The Reinvention of Church: The formation of

partnerships in futuring, the impediments to

change, and how to overcome their limits

3/25 Where in the World is the Church Going?: The

mission in community, beyond community,

and throughout the world

Following each session, we will have some thought

questions to keep our minds pondering. And

throughout the week, we will post polls and questions

on the church’s Facebook page to get a sense of what

others may witness in the present and future of the

church.

Come, take a moment this Lent. Hear where God’s

guiding voice is speaking to you. See what new

directions the Spirit’s empowering presence is leading

you and the church. Share in fellowship with Christ’s

amazing, powerfully, and wonderfully made people, as

we seek to be the church that our world—and the

Freeport Community—need us to be.

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Chicago Avenue Mission Dinner Program

Our culinary master team prepares Wednesday

dinners for the guests at the Chicago Avenue Mission.

The team serves a home-style meal every Wednesday.

Your generous gift of time and love fills hungry

people with food and friendship!

Because of County Health Code, the team will meet at

church, prepare the meal according to food handling

and safety standards, and serve the meal at the shelter.

We give thanks for Dan King’s creative leadership

and expansive menus! Talk to Dan to sign up.

A big thank you to Dan King and Tim Campbell-

Outcault for organizing this year’s Hunger Soup

Luncheon. It may have been snowy outside, but a lot

of warmth was felt within.

The Love Offering received $817 (and some trailing

gifts since the snowy meal!). These donations will be

given FACC for the continuing care of the homeless

in our community at the Chicago Avenue Mission.

Thank you to Dan and Tim for prepping all the

delicious soups, and to the many hands who

volunteered to help make this loving meal come into

being!

The Freeport Area Church Cooperative is a not-for-

profit organization whose mission is to provide

emergency food, clothing, and shelter to those in

need in Northwest Illinois and to empower those we

serve.

FACC supports two important ways to end

homelessness in our community. The Chicago

Avenue Mission is a 16-bed emergency homeless

shelter. Hope House is an eight-unit permanent

supportive housing program for chronically homeless

adults with disabilities.

Almost all of the men and women served through

Hope House were once regular clients and residents

of FACC's Chicago Avenue Mission emergency

homeless shelter or were living on the streets.

Food Pantry

In March we will be collecting Peanut Butter

Please drop your donations off in the grocery carts

located in the entryway.

Red Can Offering

Personal Care and Household items are always in high

demand at the FACC Pantry. You can help provide

these items with your financial support in the FACC

Red Can on the first Sunday of each month.

Please make checks payable to St. John UCC.

ENDING HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS

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5th/6th-Tuesdays | 7th/8th-Thursdays

3:00 – 5:00 pm

HELIX is back for the fourteenth year, supporting

the social and emotional needs of Middle High youth.

March creeps in and begins our springtime focus on

environmental care and justice. It’s also a bumpy

month of meetings, with several special days and

Spring Break in the last week.

This month at HELIX

3/3, 3/5 Regular Meetings, 3:00-5:00

3/10, 3/12 NO MEETINGS—

Half Day/World Arts Festival

3/17, 3/19 Regular Meetings, 3:00-5:00

3/24, 3/26 NO MEETINGS—Spring Break

We continue our spring tradition of helping youth

with their understanding of self, and making positive

decisions by reflecting on their core beliefs and

principles. And of course, we’re going to have A LOT

OF AMAZING FUN!!

For questions, or to register a youth for this year’s

meetings, send an email to: helix@stjohnuccfreeport.org

YOUTH ACOLYTES

Youth, are you on the schedule? Parents, keep an eye

out for information on Sunday mornings and in the

weekly Friday email on how to get your child involved

in leading our weekly worship celebration! Questions?

Check with Kelly Priewe.

Godly Play is in its third year, sharing God’s word

with our Pre School through 3rd Grade youth. Our

certified teaching team shares the stories of faith

using Montessori-style methods and models.

March’s sharing will include:

3/1 Mystery of Easter

3/8 Faces of Easter: Jesus’ birth and growth

3/15 Faces of Easter: Jesus is lost and found

3/22 Faces of Easter: Jesus is blessed

3/29 Faces of Easter: Jesus’ desert days

Drop in and meet our inspiring teaching team:

Kelly Priewe, Olivia Shaffer

Marla Kreeger, Sylvia Bomgarden, and Andrea Schrock

Kids’ Worship gathers our 4th-7th Grade youth as

they begin to creatively reflect on what God’s still-

speaking word is sharing in their lives.

Their journey is aided by Connect, a curriculum

designed to meet the youth at a fun, age-appropriate

place.

3/1 Jesus’ Ministry: Teachings

3/8 Jesus’ Ministry: Unit Rewind

3/15 Jesus, the Savior: Jerusalem

3/22 Jesus, the Savior: Last Supper

3/29 Jesus, the Savior: Betrayal

Come and see with our awesome teaching team:

Tommy Priewe and Kristen Bussen (and friends!)

FAITH FORMATION MINISTRIES

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LEARNING OUR FAITH (LOF)

Sunday Mornings, 11:15 am

LOF Class meets weekly after worship. We welcome

all interested folks and we promise you will find a

spirit of exposure and growth!

ADULT FORUM

Sunday Mornings, 11:15 am

Come discuss the week’s topics, current events, and

how our faith guides us in action and witness.

Wednesday Mornings, 9:00 am

Enjoy a mid-week break with an incredible group of

thoughtful people on life’s journey. This month, we

will continue reading and discussing Max Lucado’s

book, When God Whispers Your Name. Anyone is wel-

come to join at any time.

SENIOR RESOURCE CENTER PING PONG

Every Tuesday, 9am, Room S 6B

RESOURCE GROUP-Thursdays, 9am

Coffee, treats, friendship, and more!

We will assemble the April TIDINGS on 3/26

First Saturday of the Month, 8:00 am

Come join the next gathering of the Men’s Ministry.

Join the lively group in the Chapel Hearth Room as

we share a few jokes and cover any number of topics

in the spirit of good fellowship. Coffee and donuts

are provided.

First and Third Mondays, 6:30 pm

PRISM is a facilitated group, providing a safe space

and confidential community group for LGBTQ

youth, adults, and those who love and support them.

PRISM meets on the first and third Mondays.

For more information on PRISM, our outreach to the

LGBTQ community, please visit our webpage:

stjohnuccfreeport.org/open-affirming/prism

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS MEETING

Every Wednesday, 6:00 pm

St. John UCC is pleased to welcome the Alcoholics

Anonymous (AA) group to our building. AA is a fel-

lowship of those who have had a drinking problem.

Their stated purpose is to enable “members to stay

sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." The

group is led by Michael Linck.

FAITH FORMATION MINISTRIES

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THANKS AND CELEBRATIONS MARCH BIRTHDAYS

3/01 Robert Mayfield

3/03 Jill Kuntz

3/04 Graham Atz, Hallie Atz, Kath-leen Monte

3/05 Tom Hull

3/09 Shirley Fritzenmeier Michael Smith

3/11 Lisa Ebbers, Kim Evans

3/13 Hugh Knapp

3/14 Kevin Souders

3/15 Kelly Priewe

3/16 John Rawleigh, Norma Valkema

3/18 Bonnie Gennusa

3/20 Dee Agnew, DeLeana Atz

3/22 Diane Jochum Ben Lee

3/25 Bill Kuntz

3/26 Marilyn DeVries Peter Flynn

3/28 Shan MacAdam

3/31 Mason Lehman

OUR HOMEBOUND

MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

The following is a list of our friends who cannot leave

their residence and may love a visit or a card from

those thinking of them.

Manor Court: Dorothy Ness

Hawthorne Inn: Jack & Marge Criddle

Parkview: Claire Biesemeier, Dorothy

McGregor, Carolyn Moyer, Norma Fluechtling

Walnut Acres: June Nagel, Betty Remmers

Heritage Woods: Betty Carpenter

Provena: Jackie & Jerry Watson, Joyce Bloyer,

Bounce Back: Glenn Underwood

In their homes: Shirley Durrstein, Karen Salter,

Shirley Fritzenmeier, Arlene Kreeger, Ben Lee,

Stan Bomgarden, Clyde Fruth

PRAYER CHAIN

At this time, there are no names

on the Prayer Chain.

COME TO SUMMER CAMP!

Illinois Conference UCC

Outdoor Ministries

Time to think about summer church

camp. Registration has begun!

Spend some time with new friends, new faces, and

new images of God with the youth of the Illinois

Conference. The 2020 Summer Camp Season begins

at the two Camps operated by our Conference. There

are programs and sessions for

• Grandparents and Grandchildren (ages 4+)

• Grades K-2 and K-3

• Grades 3-10 and 4-11

• And for Women and Adults in Autumn

Check out the camps at Pilgrim Park and Tower Hill

on the following website:

www.il-outdoorministries.org

Keep an eye out for more information and

details on upcoming events in our weekly

e-blasts and Sunday bulletins!

Not receiving the e-blasts?

Send an email to

office@stjohnuccfreeport.org

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USHERS

3/1 Tim Ebbers, Jim Drew, Dale Priewe, Shan MacAdam

3/8 Phil & Barb Copus, Dennis Jochum, Tom Campbell-Outcault

3/15 Brett & Michele Piefer Ron Slade & Mike Smith

3/22 Jack & Diana Fox, Dan King & Robert Mayfield

3/29 Shirley Ifert, Mary Frazee, Jeanne Koch, Linda Heidenreich

GREETERS

3/1 Michael & Susan Feagan

3/8 David Crowell & Shawn Killingbeck

3/15 Bonnie Gennusa & Sandy DeBoer

3/22 Jeanne Koch & Jane Lehman

3/29 Roger & Deb Swanlund

WELCOMERS

3/1 Marsha Boll & Connie Orde

3/8 Dan King & Robert Mayfield

3/15 Shirley Ifert & Lorraine McMurray

3/22 Mary Frazee & Carla Meyer

3/29 Ulan & Cindy Price

INFANT AND TODDLER ROOM

3/1 Pam Wessel

3/8 Carla Meyer

3/15 Jill Kuntz

3/22 Volunteer Needed

3/29 Pam Wessel

COMMUNION SERVERS

3/1 Mike Smith, Vicki MacAdam, Melinda Fruth, Cindy Price, Colin & Kathryn Eb-bers, Sarah Priewe, Tom Campbell-Outcault

MARCH HOSPITALITY

VOLUNTEERS

On Sunday mornings, we gather for coffee and treats

in the Narthex area and Fellowship Hall to socialize.

If you would like to find a place to sit and talk, there

is plenty of room in the Chapel Hearth.

If your name is on the list below for this month,

please bring in a treat to share. Some ideas are: 3 doz-

en cookies, treat bars, mini muffins, fruit, etc. Also,

please plan to help share in clearing the hospitality

station at the end of the hour.

To ensure everyone has an opportunity to share,

dates are assigned alphabetically from the members

and friends directory. If you are unable to help at this

time, please let the church office know.

3/1 Vanessa Hughes, Shirley Ifert, Dennis & Diane Jochum, Dan King & Robert May-field, Donna Klapp, Hugh & Sarah Knapp, Jeanne Koch, Dan & Marla Kreeger

3/8 Lyle & Jane Krug, Jill Kuntz, Lucille Lee,

Jane Lehman, Shan & Vicki MacAdam, Jean Mahon, Pam Manus

3/15 Lorraine McMurray, Carla Meyer, Jackie

Neebel, Ruth Olson, Connie Orde, Lee & Nancy Otte, Diane Peterson

3/22 Brett & Michele Piefer, Janet Piefer, Elva

Piehn, Ulan & Cindy Price, Dale & Kelly Priewe, Betty Pruitt, Mike & Michelle Queckboerner

3/29 Edith Rosenstiel, Marilyn Ruthe, Floyd &

Vivian Schlickman, Ken & Andrea Schrock, Steve & Lisa Schubert, Deb Scott, Sharon Simler

SERVING IN MARCH

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CHURCH STAFF

Ministers: Members of the church

Senior Pastor:

Rev. Henry E. “Hank” Fairman Hank@stjohnuccfreeport.org

815-616-5626

Director of Congregational Life

Pam Wessel Pam@stjohnuccfreeport.org

Administrative & Creative Assistant

Lisa Elsner Lisa@stjohnuccfreeport.org

Youth Ministry Assistant: Madison Riddell

Choir Director: Gina Bertram

Church Musicians: Randy Cook

Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Dr. Donnley Dutcher

OUR CALLING STATEMENT

To be a Sacred Place to Inspire Faith

and Nurture Compassion

OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Friday 9:00am—3:00pm

Church office (815) 235-2824

www.stjohnuccfreeport.org

www.facebook.com/stjohnuccfreeport

Place Stamp Here

Change Service Requested

1010 South Park Boulevard

Freeport, IL 61032

www.stjohnuccfreeport.org