Mission Statement—Adopted March 12, 2000

We are a family of many hearts and voices faithfully worshiping God. We encourage one another in our living,

learning, and growing as God’s people. Led by the Holy Spirit, we joyfully promise to serve others as we share the love and

hope of Jesus Christ.

Our Church Matters Sept 2019

606 N. Fifth Street—Vincennes, IN 47591

(812) 882-2720

Website: http:\\myucc.org

WHY? Why are you doing that? An adult class will begin on Sunday September 22nd

during the Faith Formation hour – (Sunday School). This class is an “all adult age” class rather than grouped into one demographic. I am excited about this prospect. I believe also that it is important for our congregation so that we can take advantage of our intersectionality of our generations. We all have something to offer one another, and in a class setting that invites the sharing of experiences and insights that transcend many things - in particular one’s age. At my previous congregations we created a new position for a full time ordained minister. After a solid search we called a very bright and qualified pastor. Prior to her selection I had a conversation with Emily about her joining our team. Emily was a recent seminary graduate entering her first call. I said to her, “My years of experience offers me a lot to teach you” – I paused and then said, “and you are closer to your degree than I am and there is much that you have to offer me!” I offer that story to add to the answer “why” have an intergenerational adult class. Our experiences and faith are filled with a richness that in our sharing with one another will only add to that richness. This class will meet in the Memorial Hall, and the coffee pot will be on each Sunday. Rather than being in a room, we want to be out for all to see, and hopefully join in. We will begin with the book “Short Stories by Jesus” The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine. In this Bible study based on her Short Stories by Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine analyzes these "problems with parables" taking readers back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us—and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.

In addition to the study we will also have the opportunity to view short videos by the author that will allow us to take the study to a deeper and meaningful level. I will order 10 books to start (10.00), and there will be a sign up sheet in the Narthex and on the bulletin board. I believe you can also order this as an e-book if you would prefer. Tell your friends – bring your friends … that is how we grow our faith community!

Who does not like a good cup of coffee and conversation? Maybe coffee is not your cup of tea, (sorry about that) so we can have a cup of tea, or a soft drink or a nice cup of water. Whatever your preference of beverage, honest and fun conversations will go nicely. Starting in September every 1st and 3rd Thursday 1:30-4:00 pm I will be at I'Mpressed Coffee Company, 1427 N 6th Street. I will bring my computer and a book and “conduct” hours at that location. Any and all are invited to join me for some coffee & a relaxed conversation about anything under the sun. I look forward to see you there!

August 2019 Church Board Highlights

Church Board met for their regular meeting on August 19th, 2019.

Treasurer Report was reviewed and approved.

Committee Meeting Highlights:

Finance Committee: Receipts received for June were $10,949.31. Expenditures for July were $19,364.07.

Outreach and Benevolence- Opening meeting for VU Faculty and Staff collected 485 food items, $475 and the Alumni Association will match the $475 for Sandy’s Pantry. Sandy’s Pantry starts back up in September. Will be attending the Community Vendor Fair at VU on September 12th. Latino Night on August 24th-will have a booth to promote our church and all of our outreach missions. Volunteers to help with the booth are welcome.

Technology- Continue to work with the website contractor.

Congregational Life- Will be providing the lunch on Sunday August 25th to celebrate VBS.

CE- Youth and Family Cookout at Quabache Trails on Sunday August 25th from 5-8 pm. The Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm. Complete Church Board minutes and treasurer’s reports are available after approval at the next month’s board meeting.

Natasha J. Coomes

If you have a caregiving need such as a hospital stay, a visit or desire communion, please contact the church office, Janet Goodman (chairman of Caregivers) or any caregiver listed below. We would appreciate your help and want to make sure everyone is blessed by St. John's when you need it!

Caregivers- Ed and Brenda Cummings, Carole Culp, Cindy Deckard, Connie Coulter, Peggy Meyer, Ray Pieper, Marge Beamon, Terry and Janet Goodman, Lonny Vieck and Marilyn Houchins.

PLEASE KEEP THESE HEARTS CLOSE TO YOURS WITH YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS:

Betsy (Liz) Emmons Mary Gezon Rob Evans Kim Vieck

Gentle Care: George Varns

Colonial Assisted Living: Edith Martin

Petersburg Golden Living Center: Lue Stodghill

Willow Manor: Jean Downey, Joy Tooley

Fox Ridge Manor: Kathryn Cole

Home: Patty Lowe, Beth O’Brien, Donna Cullison, Clara Wirth

If you have friends or relatives you would like added to the newsletter Prayer list, please call the church office or Janet Goodman (812-887-2797).

New bathroom access from inside the classroom so students do not have to enter thru the hallway. Also a nice sink area for craft projects, and clean up.

To the right is the window type opening that allows teachers to keep a constant eye on the kids and be able to communicate in all areas.

Pictured to the right are some of our Butterflies enjoying their lunch. They were very excited to pack and bring their lunches!

To the left you can see the wall that was opened, giving the students access to the adjoining room allowing for more space to creatively learn.

The St. John’s UCC preschool is trying out something new this year for their Butterfly 4 year old class. An all day preschool on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays. By offering this extra time in the day it allows for more one on one teacher/student time. It also allows more time for S.T.E.M. curriculum . (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.) This helps with the 21st Century skills needed for students wishing to succeed in the workplace in the future. Pictured here are some of the happy students eating their lunch, preparing them for an afternoon of learning. Along with the all day class the preschool room was remodeled, opening up a wall adding an extra room for the preschool to utilize and a window area to see into the adjoining room. Another huge addition was door leading to the little girl and little boys room so they can enter the facilities from inside the room. A big thank you to Mike Lankford for the hard work put into the remodel he completed in the preschool room. Pictures can be seen to the left.

We would also like to extend a huge thank you to Mark and Susan Schutz for their donation of chairs and tables to the room. Teachers and administrators wish everyone a successful and fun filled school year!

stjohnsuccpreschool@gmail.com St, Johns UCC Attn: April /Preschool 606 N 5th St Vincennes IN, 47591

Preschool News

Birthdays

2 Kristene Newell

4 Mark Cummings 4 Bonnie Hendershot 4 Hannah Shields 5 Tyler Frizzi 5 Abby Linneweber 5 Bailey Stephens 8 Clayton Gilmore 8 Ray Pieper 9 Marilyn Schroeder 11 Paul Boorsma 14 Ryan Cummings 16 Tabitha Boorsma 17 Lauren Cummings 17 Jeannie Linneweber 17 Elaine Workman 19 Mike Cantwell 19 De Etta Welte 21 Daniel Vieck 23 Casey Dick 25 Tim Horton 27 Adam Schotter 27 Owen Schotter

Anniversaries

3 Nyal & Hannah Shields 17 Luke & Mackenzie Jones 19 Chris & Kim Vieke 20 Shawn & Christina Schlag

On Sunday Sept. 15th from 3-6pm the groups of M&M/KFC (age 4-6th grade) and their families will enjoy an afternoon at the Vincennes YMCA.

The groups will enjoy the gymnasium (3-4pm) swimming pool (4-5pm) and gymnastics area (5-6pm). This is a great opportunity for the families to invite friends and other families! Full details are on the Children and Family Ministry Facebook group! If there are any questions, please let Will Meyer know!

Starting on September 9, children age

4-12 are invited out of the Sanctuary

after the Children's sermon for

stories, games and activities. Middle school aged kids

may be helpers for Children’s Church also. Preschool

children are welcome to go to the nursery at this time

also. Children’s Church meets each Sunday morning

except the first Sunday of the month. Although your child

may already be attending Sunday School, Children’s

Church offers these children an opportunity to learn

more about God and our church in a casual, fun setting.

Volunteers to assist in aspects of Children’s Church are

always welcomed and needed! If there are any questions

please let Will Meyer know!

Will Meyer Children and Family Ministry Coordinator stjuccfamilyministry@yahoo.com

PPRC Committee:

Jake Alexander Hope Clausman

Bill Lathrop Beth Lindsey

Jill Lopez Jeff Mattingly

Pam Wirth Pastor Steve Boorsma

2019 St. John’s

Church League

Softball Champions

Kyle Doggett Jill Doggett

Steve Cooper Mitchell Cooper Jeff Mattingly Stephen Holka Jake Alexander

Delaney Coomes Chrissy Lange Jonathan Lange

Brayton Cummings Chase Miller

Christian Education News Our Vacation Bible School which was held during Sundays in

August was a success! We learned about the Fruits of the Spirit through stories, crafts, games, snacks, and songs. Twenty plus children attended. Our offering went to Backpacks of Love. (A total attendance and a total offering was not yet available at the time of this writing.) Very special thanks goes to all of the leaders and helpers: Jerri Johanningsmeier, Beth Lindsey, Carla Boorsma, Peggy Meyer, Sarah Lowe, Will Meyer, Natasha and Jeremy Coomes, Kim Godare, Mary Bahr, Isabella Lange, Delaynie Coomes, and Jill Lopez.

An extra special thank you goes to Sherri Stodghill and her crew for preparing a meal for the congregation on Aug. 25! Also, thanks to Becky Brockman for accompanying the children’s music on the piano.

There will be NO Sunday School for the children or youth on September 1st.

Beginning September 8 we will kick off our fall program for the children and youth. Sunday School will be from 9:15 to 10:15. Class groupings will be as follows:

Nursery - birth to 3rd birthday

PreK-K - 3 year olds through kindergarten

Elementary - First grade through 5th grade

Middle/High - 6th grade through 9th grade

On that day all children and youth will meet in the big blue room upstairs for a brief opening and for the introduction of teachers and room assignments. Consider making Sunday School and church attendance a habit!

Greetings from KHUSA Our program is in planning stages to begin another year in St. John’s UCC partnership with Riley School. Presently, our

goal is to increase our number of mentors to the students, train, and begin mentoring the week following Labor Day, September 3. We are servicing 9 students at this time, with the hope others will become involved in the program this year. The need is always there, and the rewards are unmeasurable. Please consider prayerfully. Every week, 45 min, makes a difference in these children lives. Flexibility, in scheduling is available and an important component as well. Thank you, Pastor Steve, Jill Lopez and Jana Vieck for helping to promote the outreach program during Sunday services. Your input was invaluable and much appreciated. If you would like to learn more about becoming a mentor for our Kids Hope USA outreach, please contact the church office or Jerri Johanningsmeier. It makes you feel good helping others.

Sandy's Pantry We are so blessed to be chosen as the recipients of VU's Food Drive this year! On Aug 14th Brian Fillingim picked up the initial donation from VU for Sandy's Pantry; 485 food items and $475. The VU Foundation has pledged to match up to $ 500 in donations as well! As the first couple of week pass, more donations from VU are expected. MANY THANKS TO VINCENNES UNIVERSITY for your ongoing support of Sandy's Pantry which continues the mission to provide non-perishable food items to supplement students' diets who are in need. MANY THANKS TO MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN'S who volunteer time, prayer and resources, also. Our first days open this season will be SEPT. 10th & 12th, 11:00-12:30. A schedule is posted below and on our Outreach & Benevolence bulletin board at church. We welcome all donations from our members as we continue to "FEED HIS LAMBS." Brenda Fillingim Sandy’s Pantry will be held from 11am to 12:30pm

on the dates below: Tues. Sept. 10 and Thurs. Sept. 12

Tues. Oct. 8 and Thurs. Oct. 10 Tues. Nov. 5 and Thurs. Nov. 7 Tues. Dec. 3 and Thurs. Dec. 5

Members of St. Johns UCC, Thank you for the donation to the North Knox School Nurse Fund. We feel very fortunate to receive continued community support of our local missions. Money is used for utility bills, groceries and gas money, also various other necessitates. This time of the year funds can become tight so your timing is perfect! God Bless, North Knox School Nurses Charlene, Jenny& Jessica

Precious people of ST. John’s UCC- Thank you for your generous support this summer, in particular for L.A.M. As you are aware your donation helps to build life into our community where there once was no hope. Thank you!

Please remember us in prayer, lives are being mended and restored! Faith is being restored or established! God be glorified! May God continue to bless your church and all your efforts to serve him!

Blessings

Marsha Bishop

Ann and I would like to thank you for all the cards, gifts and attending our 50th wedding celebration on August 17th at St. John’s.

Tony Riley

Jeremy and Natasha Coomes are once again coordinating Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. Classes will be held on Thursday's at 6:30 pm for 9 weeks starting on Thursday September 12th. If you are interested or know someone who is interested they can use the following link to sign up and purchase materials. If you are unsure if this is something you are interested in you can come to the first class without purchasing the materials. If you have any questions please call/text Natasha @ 812-890-6180. fpu.com/1098859

WANTED: Offering Ushers!

There are many ways in which all of us can help at church. As the old saying goes, many hands make light work! So, who I am missing calling upon when I schedule offering ushers for Sunday mornings?

I would very much appreciate it if you would consider allowing me to add YOUR name to the list of those I may contact. To do so, would you please contact me at your earliest convenience through any of these means? Please share your name and at least one preferred means of contact information.

Thank you.

Brenda Roark

812-890-1221 (call or text)

bjsr72@hotmail.com

Facebook private message

Building the Neighborhood Indiana Kentucky Conference Annual Gathering for 2019

Three delegates from St. John's UCC Vincennes participated in the IKC Annual Gathering for 2019 hosted by Friden's UCC on the south side of Indianapolis. Delegates from Churches across the IKC met to worship, share resources and ideas, learn how to take advantage of Conference resources and to discuss and vote on actions and priorities for the Conference. In addition to having a voice in the operations of the Conference there were many workshop opportunities. Workshops covered a wide range of topics including; Intergenerational Worship, the importance of Pastoral Relations Committees, Church Growth, Ethical and Theological issues of Injustice, and Conversations on; Being Conservative in the UCC, Evangelism and Church Growth, Local and Global Missions, Community Outreach, Youth Ministry and several other topics of value to our congregations.

In addition to Inspirational Worship was a joint Keynote address by the General Minister and President of both the United Church of Christ, Rev. John C. Dorhauer and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens. There were many opportunities to renew and make new friends from around the Conference. This year’s Missions Project was collecting supplies for the support of the Days for Girls, an international organization that supplies women around the world with reusable feminine hygiene supplies so that they can learn, work, and live in community without interruption. Supplies for several hundred kits were collected as well as additional items to support many local and regional shelters. This year’s Gathering was again an opportunity to Worship, have a voice in how the wider Church operates in today's world, make and renew friendships, find resources and actions to more effectively share God's Word in our World.

HELP WANTED!

September 1st - December 8th … 98 days! Why is that important? Because 98 days from September 1st is the Second Sunday of Advent which means … “Hanging of the Greens!” Yes, we need to begin thinking about that day … now!

The Worship Committee is in search of someone or a team to guide the decorating of the sanctuary and common church areas for Advent and Christmas. This is a great Service Opportunity to help our church family!

Last year all the decorations were sorted, cleaned and organized as were all the storage areas. It was a huge job and our thanks go out to Dale Linneweber who led that task with help from Joe Linneweber, Marge Beamon and Brenda Roark. I hope I didn’t leave anyone out!

The task will consist of pulling and laying out decorations for Hanging of the Greens. And following Epiphany we will reverse the process. This is a short term commitment of preparation and there will be many willing workers to help set up and take down.

We are hoping we can count on someone or a team to help

organize this. If you are willing or have a “team” please let

the church office know, or let Becky Brockman or pastor

Steve know or if you have any questions.