St. John’s United Church of Christ The...
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The Herald St. John’s United Church of Christ Last week I, once again, had the opportunity to attend the Battlemind to Home Mental Health Summit with some 400+ service persons, doctors, nurses, counselors, chaplains, pastors, and veteran support personnel. The sessions focused on topics ranging from family reunification to mental and physical health, social adjustment issues and spiritual reformation after soul injury. This was the seventh year that the Battlemind Symposium has been offered. It has developed a reputation for helping community partners gain greater appreciation and understanding of the challenges facing our returning combat veterans and their families, and has sparked increased community interest in joint collaborations for further enhancing care for our veterans of all ages. This year the event was held on September 22nd to raise awareness about the fact that 22 veterans commit suicide each day statistically. During the various sessions, a bell was tolled every 72 minutes to memorialize the death of another veteran. It was exceptionally sobering! I went not only because I am a veteran, a former Navy chaplain and pastor, but because I’m continually seeking ways that a local, civilian church might discover a mission and/or ministry that would support and diminish this horrible trend in the ranks of our present day veterans. Let me share two exceptionally easy ways each one of us might choose to reach out in mission and ministry. The first is through “Holy Joe’s Café.” Holy Joe’s began in 2006 when the First Congregational Church of Wallingford, Connecticut learned that a chaplain at a Baghdad, Iraq airbase was trying to create a café for the soldiers. Under the inspired direction of Tom Jastermsky, a deacon at the church, several coffee providers were contacted for donations, crates of coffee were sent overseas, and a new ministry was born! Today, Holy Joe’s, named from a Civil War nickname for chaplains, distributes coffee for chaplains in 47 countries around the world. In recent years, the ministry has expanded to European bases and troops in Africa. Holy Joe’s also sends coffee to chaplains at 63 U.S. bases where soldiers returning state-side can continue to find a bit of home and relax with a cup of coffee. “A cup of coffee is the conduit,” says Jastermsky, referring to the way coffee brings service men and women into contact with a chaplain. I have often referred to coffee as, “The oil of conversation!” If you would like to support this ministry, send your donation to help with shipping expenses to: First Congregational Church, 23 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492 (write “Holy Joe’s Café” in the memo section of your check) (continued next page) Rev’s Ramblin’s October 2016 HOW TO CONTACT PASTOR ROSS: Office hours: M-TH 9-Noon Office phone: 881-2353 has a message recorder that is checked each week- day morning. For pastoral emergencies or urgent church related issues call my home phone, 886-7535, and leave a message if I’m out. Holy Joe’s Café
Transcript of St. John’s United Church of Christ The...
The Herald St. John’s United Church of Christ
Last week I, once again, had the opportunity to attend the Battlemind to Home Mental Health Summit with some 400+ service persons, doctors, nurses, counselors, chaplains, pastors, and veteran support personnel. The sessions focused on topics ranging from family reunification to mental and physical health, social adjustment issues and spiritual reformation after soul injury. This was the seventh year that the Battlemind Symposium has been offered. It has developed a reputation for helping community partners gain greater appreciation and understanding of the challenges facing our returning combat veterans and their families, and has sparked increased community interest in joint collaborations for further enhancing care for our veterans of all ages.
This year the event was held on September 22nd to raise awareness about the fact that 22 veterans commit suicide each day statistically. During the various sessions, a bell was tolled every 72 minutes to memorialize the death of another veteran. It was exceptionally sobering!
I went not only because I am a veteran, a former Navy chaplain and pastor, but because I’m continually seeking ways that a local, civilian church might discover a mission and/or ministry that would support and diminish this horrible trend in the ranks of our present day veterans.
Let me share two exceptionally easy ways each one of us might choose to reach out in mission and ministry.
The first is through “Holy Joe’s Café.” Holy Joe’s began in 2006 when the First Congregational Church of Wallingford, Connecticut learned that a chaplain at a Baghdad, Iraq airbase was trying to create a café for the soldiers. Under the inspired direction of Tom Jastermsky, a deacon at the church, several coffee providers were contacted for donations, crates of coffee were sent overseas, and a new ministry was born!
Today, Holy Joe’s, named from a Civil War nickname for chaplains, distributes coffee for chaplains in 47 countries around the world. In recent years, the ministry has expanded to European bases and troops in Africa. Holy Joe’s also sends coffee to chaplains at 63 U.S. bases where soldiers returning state-side can continue to find a bit of home and relax with a cup of coffee. “A cup of coffee is the conduit,” says Jastermsky, referring to the way coffee brings service men and women into contact with a chaplain. I have often referred to coffee as, “The oil of conversation!”
If you would like to support this ministry, send your donation to help with shipping expenses to:
First Congregational Church, 23 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492 (write “Holy Joe’s Café” in the memo section of your check)
(continued next page)
Rev’s Ramblin’s October 2016
HOW TO CONTACT PASTOR ROSS:
Office hours: M-TH 9-Noon Office phone: 881-2353 has a message recorder that is checked each week-day morning. For pastoral emergencies or urgent church related issues call my home phone, 886-7535, and leave a message if I’m out.
Holy Joe’s Café
continued from cover ...
THOUGHTS FROM JANNA
The leaves are changing colors, the mornings are cooler, and they are selling Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks: it must be fall! As I begin my first fall here at St. John's, I am very excited. Throughout September we got our wheels rolling as both Sunday school and Youth Group got off to a great start. This great start was thanks to our most amazing volunteers who did it all. From scooping ice cream to hosting pool parties, from cleaning and designing rooms to leading lessons, inside the church and out they were awesome!
October is looking to be just as great as we plan our schedule for the year. If you didn't see it on Facebook or get it by email, please take a few minutes to go online and fill out the Youth Group 2016-17 Calendar Doodle poll: http://doodle.com/poll/5gw3p2x42psu4dsa. We are looking to have some fall fun with a couple of adven-tures so keep your eye on the bulletin! And don't forget to come to the Candy Corn Carnival!!
In the 9:00 a.m. service we are about to begin a time of imagination. We have been giggling and growing with Doctor Seuss just like the 10:30 service and this has lead me to wonder what makes worship meaningful for you? I am wondering how our early service is being called to grow and change and want to know what you think. If you would like to share your thoughts, come to the 9:00 a.m. service any Sunday in October and help us think together about what we find worshipful and what we are growing towards. May this month be a sea-son of growth and harvest for us all.
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The second way is to participate in an interactive dramatic performance fostering healthy communication and support for military members, veterans, families and friends. As a part of Indy’s 2016 Spirit & Place Festival, The Sapphire Theatre Troupe will be performing “Rebuilding Home: Moral Injury to Soul Repair” on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at The Athenaeum Auditorium (401 E. Michigan Street). Performances will be at 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
With God’s help, you and I can make a difference one life at a time to end this epidemic of veteran suicides.
Pastor Ross
Congratula ons to
Joan Davidson who won
the lovely Amish quilt
at the Altenheim’s
German Fest!
Thank you to everyone
who supported this
raffle!
Kay LaGrange, Kathy
Guignard, Louise Hoagland
& Marth Corley
PLEASE JOIN US AT MEROM FOR THE ADULT MISSION TRIP!
The Adult Mission group would like to extend our invitation to you to join our work week October 17-21. We will be
going to Camp Merom and welcome adults all week long or any of the days you may be available. No special skills are necessary; we will find you a job. Feel free to contact Bob Kleeman or Marcia Hauser for any in-formation. Trust that our group works hard but enjoys fellowship and has fun too.
COLLEGE SUPPORT MINISTRY
The next College Care Package collection will be Sunday, October 23rd. We have 8 students: 2 guys and 6 gals. Please have your items to the library between 10:00-10:20, sign the card and the parents will do the rest! The theme for this collection is “Fall/Halloween.” Questions, call Lori Houston, 422-8634. Thank you!
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SOUP-A-PALOOZA
All ladies are invited to attend a soup dinner on Tuesday, October 18th at 6:00 p.m. here at the church. A variety of soups will be served. Please RSVP to Jane Kreiger or Barbara Hancock. If you need a ride please contact Phyllis Lewis at 784-2015. Hope to see you there!
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTION
OCTOBER
BIRTHDAYS! Lauren Darland
Alexis Hearrell Ethan Tijunin
Gene Nichols given by
Art & Luann Miner
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REMEMBER OUR SHUT-INS
Jean Bailey David Banta Brown County Health & Living Ctr 1200 N SR 135 Rm 227 B 55 Willow St. Greenwood IN 46142
Nashville, IN 47448
Mrs. Marian Childers Elnora Chandler 6510 U.S. 31 South, #42 4717 Macy Dr
Indianapolis IN 46227 Greenwood IN 46142
Mrs. Marlys Connallon Beatrice Miner Alma Powell 3626 Candy Cane Drive 1380 E County Line Rd S, Rm 405 295 Greenwood Village S Apt 32
Indianapolis IN 46227 Indianapolis IN 46227 Greenwood IN 46143
Mr. & Mrs. John Rieck Ruth Smale Mrs. Marjorie Wagoner 6104 S Irwin c/o The Altenheim Community 8240 Beech Grove Lane Indianapolis IN 46237 3525 E. Hanna Ave. Martinsville IN 46151 Indianapolis, IN 46237
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayers, cards, phone calls and visits during my recuperation this summer. Your support was most appreciated.
Mary Meyers
I just want to thank everyone for all the prayers and support over the past 6 years during my father's battle with cancer. He felt all of your good thoughts and mentioned how honored he was to be held in prayer by so many people. Thank you all for your love, support, text messages and cards after his passing. I am so Blessed to be a part of a wonderful church family.
Janice Stanley
A special thank you to my St. John's family for the cards, get well messages, “goodie” bag, visits, and prayers for my recovery from a hip re-placement. Pastor Don and Dorothy's visits were certainly appreciated and a blessing. Thank you all, Kathy Guignard
We’re Thinking of
You
Dear Members of St. John’s,
Thank you for your hospitality in providing room for our rehearsals last summer. Your support makes our ministry possible. Sincerely,
The Summer Singers
Thank You To Our Brickyard 400 Volunteers!
We have received the check from our efforts at the Brickyard 400. The council will have the opportunity to apply $1,460.39 where they see it best used. Thank you to all who worked that event!!
All of St. John’s is invited!
Hello fall! Autumn is in full swing! We are enjoying God’s beautiful colorful world!
This month we will continue to learn Bible stories from the Old Testament. We want the children to know that God is with them and takes care of them all the time! Our Bible verse for the month is, “…do not fear, for I am with you…” (Isaiah 41:10) With all the creepy Halloween things out and about this month, it can be a little scary to our little ones! We want to reassure them that they do not need to fear for our God is near! We ALL need to remember this verse these days with all the craziness going on throughout the world!
We will also continue with our letters of the week, and we will incorporate Color Days! We encour-age the students and the church staff to wear the color of the day! We will also explore Autumn activities and items, and get ready for Halloween.
There will be 2 Lunch Bunches this month. On October 7, we will have our Mystery Clues where we will discovery many mysteries. The second one will be on October 21 with our fun Halloween Town Pizza Party!
Preschool will be on Fall Break the week of October 10-14! Preschool will resume on Monday, Oc-tober 17.
We will celebrate Halloween fun at our Pumpkinfest Party on Friday, October 28 from 11:00-12:00 in the Fellowship Hall. The children will come to school in their Halloween costumes. We will parade around the building starting around 11:00! All of you are welcome to come and hand out treats to our spe-cial little Trick or Treaters! We will have our Jesus Time together and we will see how a pumpkin can help to let Jesus’ light shine! We will then go into the Fellowship Hall for games, snack, and a craft! Also, our Pumpkinfest Party is our Kick-off for our Canned Food Drive!
The preschool staff will be here at St. John’s for the Candy Corn Carnival on October 30! We will have games in the preschool room! Come by and see us!
Make sure to let your Love for Jesus shine brightly this Halloween season.
“Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”
PRESCHOOL’S PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Men’s Breakfast 8a
2 Tea Cup Sunday Worldwide Communion Neighbors in Need Offering 9:00a God’s Spot Svc / Adult & Women’s SS 10:00a Coffee Hour 10:30a Traditional Svc / SS
3
Staff Mtg 6p GS 7p FH
4 GS 6p FH
BS 6:30p #5
GSL 7p Library
5
Bells 6p
Choir 7:30p
BCE 7p
Farmers Market 4-7p
6 7 Zumba 9:15a Quilting Bee 10a Library
8 Bridal Shower 12-5p
Movie Night 6p FH
9 9:00a God’s Spot Svc / Adult & Women’s SS 10:00a Coffee Hour 10:30a Traditional Svc / SS
10 GS 7p FH
Stephen Ministers 1p
Preschool Fall Break thru Friday the 14th
11
Dorcas 11:30a Library
BS 6:30p #5
12
Bells 6p
Choir 7:30p
Farmers Market 4-7p
13
Council Mtg 7p
14 Zumba 9:15a
Scrapbooking 6p Library
15 CPR 8-Noon Library
16 9:00a God’s Spot Svc / Adult & Women’s SS 10:00a Coffee Hour 10:30a Traditional Svc / SS
17 18 GS 6p FH
BS 6:30p #5
Women’s Fellowship 6:30p Library
19
Bells 6p
Choir 7:30p CPR 3-6p Library
20 Garden Club 5:15p FH
SSPOM 6:30p Library
21 Zumba 9:15a
Herald articles due
22 SSPOM Fall Party 9:00am-3:30pm FH
23 9:00a God’s Spot Svc / Adult & Women’s SS 10:00a Coffee Hour 10:30a Traditional Svc / SS
24
Prime Timers @ noon
Stephen Ministers 1p
25
Genesis 6p Library
BS 6:30p #5
26
Bells 6p
Choir 7:30p
27
28 Zumba 9:15a
Preschool Pumpkinfest 11-noon in the FH
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30 5th Sunday Offering 9:00a God’s Spot Svc / Adult & Women’s SS 10:00a Coffee Hour 10:30a Traditional Svc /Children’s Music-No SS
Candy Corn Carnival 6:00-7:30 pm
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2016
CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Ross Tyler, Senior Pastor, [email protected] Rev. Dr. Donald Crismon, Minister of Visitation Janna Meyers, Program and Worship Ministries Director, [email protected] Kim Stine, Secretary, [email protected] OUR MUSIC STAFF
Debi Burns Kay LaGrange Dr. Rebecca Sorley OUR PRESCHOOL STAFF
Beth Larimore Miranda (Randi) Brickley Cara Ford [email protected] CUSTODIAN
Mike Knose
St. John’s United Church of Christ
7031 S. East St. Indianapolis, IN 46227 Phone: 317-881-2353 www.stjohns-indianapolis.org
OCTOBER 2016
