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September 2010 Messenger

In this issue:
Pastor's Thoughts
Mission News
3-phase plan/sanctuary sound system
Red Party for AIDS
Thank You, St. John Presbyterian!!!
Opportunities to study the Word
Liturgical Construction Ahead!
Jazz Music Worship Service
Next Presbytery Assembly
Letter from Lori
Pyoca letter from Nichole Midgett
Help Us Fill Our Bags (deacons' Assistance Bags)
Stock the Shelves (ICC, Dare to Care Food Pantry)
Harvest Homecoming Notes
T-shirt Design Contest
You're Invited!! (West Baden; chili cookoff)
Prayer Matters
God's Promises
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance—Pakistan Flooding

Pastor’s Thoughts

Eph 4:23-24  and ... be renewed in the spirit of your minds,  (24)  and … clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Although in most cases, Fall marks the end – the end of Summer, the end of the greenness of the trees, the end of (we hope) the oppressive heat.  But in other cases, including the life of this particular church, Fall is a beginning – the beginning of rolling dough for dumplings, the beginning of our full Christian Education program, the beginning of full attendance in worship services, and in mid-October, the beginning of our Wednesday Night Live program.

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul says that we need to expect new things to happen, in our own lives and in the life of our church.  A person of faith always expects newness to happen, if they truly believe in the New Life opened by God in raising Jesus from the dead.  For  those of us founded on the faith of the cross, death becomes life and every day, even those when the trees stand shiveringly bare, holds the breath of Spring.

Even when everything seems to be ending, by God's Grace something is always beginning.

Thus, may God bless the month ahead of us as a time of new beginnings, pushing life through the beginning of “The Youth Group,” using it as an opportunity for our older youth to continue to bond with each other and grow in their knowledge of the life of faith – pushing life through us as community when we join together in preparing, assembling, and serving apple dumplings – pushing life through each one who chooses to feast on the Word intentionally through their participation in one of the many Christian Education opportunities provided by our congregation – pushing life through our hands as we continue our work of faith and labor of love for our community.

“Behold,” Jesus said, “I am making all things new!”  Lord Jesus, please so.  Make us new in this time of endings and certainly of new beginnings.

Sincerely Christian,

Pastor Allen

 

Mission News

• Melinda and Brent Snader (and also Anna and Asha) have received visas to return to India this fall.  One of the reasons they had left India when they did was that it was uncertain if and what type of visas they would have on return. Under the auspices of Christ Community Ministries, they will now be working with an Indian NGO that is doing church-planting and evangelism in remote mountain villages and is eager to add medical work to care for the needs of the people as well as to open more doors for the gospel—the very thing Brent is trained for. They are tentatively planning to leave for India toward the end of October.  They will be living in Mussoorie, where the girls will attend an international school.

• In Africa, HIV/AIDS isn't just killing individuals. It's killing entire countries. In Swaziland, the infection rate is more than 30 percent. In the last 25 years the country's population has declined from more than 2 million to less than 1 million. A pastor in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, Rev. Arnau van Wyngaard, has devoted full-time since 2005 to the ministry of Shiselweni Reformed Church Home-Based Care in Swaziland, which has become a model of care-giving and of how to mobilize large-scale volunteer efforts to combat community problems. It now has 25 teams of care-givers and more than 800 volunteers. The Presbyterian Church does not have a missionary in Swaziland but has a regional liaison for Southern Africa, which includes Swaziland

• At the World Communion of Reformed Churches meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in June, Allen Nafuki, a Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu pastor, was elected to a seven-year term on the Executive Council.  Despite the fact that nearly 35 percent of the people of Vanuatu are Presbyterian (undoubtedly the highest percentage in the world), Vanuatu is a country of only 220,000 people spread over some 83 islands.  Traditionally delegates from Australia represent Oceania on the Executive Council, but the Presbyterian Church's liaison for the Pacific region says, "This time it was time for one of the little guys."

• A documentary produced by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), "Horizons of the Spirit: Coming Home; Katrina 5 Years Later," received national attention as it was made available to NBC stations this fall. In the Louisville area it aired on channel 3.2 (over the air) and Insight Communications channel 194 on August 29.  Thousands of families were left homeless or displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Five years later, some of these families are still trying to return home. The most destructive hurricane in U.S. history brought thousands of volunteers from all over the world—taking leave from their jobs, their families—to work alongside families and communities desperately trying to return home. This new documentary gives insight into the relationships between volunteers and hurricane survivors and includes stories of how they have touched each other’s lives.

3-phase plan/sanctuary sound system
In order to better the worship experience of all our members and make our sanctuary better suited for more special events, we, your elected elders, acted to begin a three phase plan to improve our dated and limited sanctuary sound system.

Phase 1- Base sound system ($4,000), which includes: sound board, speakers, and amplifiers.  Our goal is to have this done by mid-September

 

Phase 2- Carillon ($4,395).  This would include getting our steeple bells ringing again and be financed through congregation donations that would go to the Kenny Rapp/Carillon Memorial Fund.  This would be done by mid-November.

 

Phase 3- Sound Booth ($5,800).  This would be completed first of the year 2011.

Our hope is that both members and visitors will be drawn into the presence of God by being able to hear and appreciate all aspects of our wonderful worship services and special events, both in person and on the internet.

Yours in Christ's service,

The Session

 

Red Party for AIDS

Our church has agreed to be a drop-off point for individuals making donat9ons for the 8th Annual Red Party for AIDS Charity Auction on November 19. St. John Church members are also invited to make donations to this worthy cause. Requested contributions for the auction include artwork, antiques, trips, gift certificates, and any other item that can help raise funds for these important HIV-related charities.

 

Thank You, St. John Presbyterian!!!

Dear Rev. Allen and Congregation,
Thank you for your kindness.  We appreciate your letting us stay and use the facilities. We also are very thankful for the food you supplied us with for the week.
—Eastside Chritsian Church Young Group (Aaron, Carly, Joseph, John, Nikki, and Adelaid()

From Interfaith Community Council, Inc.:
We want to express our sincere thanks for your donation to Interfaith Community Council Inc.'s Backpack program. Your kind generosity helped us achieve our mission of addressing the needs of our community. Our 2010 collaborative program "Pack the Bus" supplied over 2,700 lower-income students with a backpack and/or school supplies. You are one of the donors who helped make it all possible, and we thank you so much for your part.

From the General Assembly Mission Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):
You donations to Healthy Women Healthy Families are helping women in Africa build healthier lives for themselves and their children. These are just some of the health services that your gifts will help provide: Prenatal care, cervical cancer screening, nutritional rehabilitation, fistula surgery, immunizations, and malaria prevention.


Opportunities to study the Word

There are several opportunities for you to go deeper into the Word and further in your walk of faith.  We are excited to be able to offer Christian Education opportunities for all ages!  Take time to look over the descriptions below and find the study group that’s best for you!

 Sundays

“The Gospel of Matthew”
for adults of all ages
9:30 am
Led by Mick Finch.
This class focuses on a book of Matthew in depth, discussing the text and its theological and spiritual interpretations, as well as application to the Church in the modern world. 

 “Children’s Church”
for Elementary Youth, Kindergarten through 4th grade during worship/
Led by various members of the congregation.
After the Children’s Moment during regular worship, these youth will head off to “Children’s Church” for crafts, stories, and games, experiencing the Word on their level, helping build them up into a strong faith that will last a lifetime.

“The Youth Group”
STARTS SEPTEMBER 12!]
for Middle and High School Youth, 5th grade and up
immediately following worship
Led by various members of the congregation
This class will incorporate video, music, and Scripture, sparking discussion as to how to walk the walk as a young Christian in today’s world and lots of fun and games as well!

Tuesdays
“Thru the Word”
for adults of all ages
10:30 am
Led by Pastor Allen
This group gathers once a week to work their way through, chapter and verse, an entire book of the Bible, discussing it both in context and in how it applies to our Christian walk.  Recently this group has finished up reading through the books of First and Second Samuel.

Thursdays
“About Faith: The Apostles Creed”
for adults of all ages
6:00 pm
Led by Mick Finch
This group for adults of all ages will gather once a week to talk about faith, beginning with the Apostles’ Creed, covering the possible dating of the creed and other creeds, how each section of the creed relates to Scripture. This will provide the opportunity to also discuss and examine Christian Doctrine in relation to our faith statements. All are encouraged to bring their own Bible and note pads. for this informative discussion on how this “statement of faith” is as meaningful today as it was over 1500 years ago.

“The Sermon Group”
for all ages, High School youth and up
6:00 pm
Led by Pastor Allen
This group studies the text(s) of Pastor Allen’s sermon in depth, getting more of the nuts and bolts of the history, context, and meaning of the Word that will be proclaimed the following Sunday.  Previous participants have commented as to how this Group deepens their appreciation of Sunday worship.  All you need to bring is your favorite Bible translation, and a passion for the Word.

 

Liturgical Construction Ahead!

As a result of a collaboration between our pastor, music director, Worship, Music, and Spiritual Life Committees, we look forward to offering some subtle changes to Sunday morning worship.

First of all, our welcome and announcements will begin at 10:20am as members and visitors gather.  The Call to Worship will begin at 10:30am, marking the official beginning of worship.

Second, we will be adding more time for silent reflection before and during worship.

Third, we will be further incorporating various styles of music, including Taize and other spiritual songs, at selected moments during each service.

Finally, we will reincorporate the long-time practice of “Passing the Peace,” as our response to the assurance of pardon after confession.  During the Children’s Moment, Lori Tharp gave our Elementary youth a brief tutorial which we will all keep in mind: that if someone says “Peace of Christ to you,” then you respond “And also with you.” 

We hope that these changes / additions only heighten our worship experience as a people of God, drawing all worshipers nearer to the heart of God.

 

Jazz Music Worship Service

Sunday, September 5, with Chuck Marohnic, world renowned jazz musician. With 35 albums and CDs distributed under his name, this pianist, educator, author, composer, and arranger has spent over 40 years in the music profession.  Please invite neighbors, friends, and relatives to this special morning of inspiration and song.

 

The Next Presbytery Assembly is September 9, 2010
The September Assembly will be held at the United Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. Registration will begin at 9am ET (8am CT), and the meeting will begin at 10am ET. Reports to be included in the Packet must be submitted via email no later than noon on Monday, August 30th to itsupport@povpc.org.   As we get closer to the date, please check the Assembly page on the POV website at www.povpc.org for more information.

 

Letter from Lori

Hello Choirs,

We will begin rehearsal on:

Thursday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m.            Adult Choir

Sunday, September 12 at 8:45 a.m.            Handbell Choir

Sunday, September 12 at 9:30 a.m.            Adult Choir

The choir will sing Assurance by Beck on Sunday, September 12th.  Handbell Choir will ring on Sunday, October 3 as an Offertory.

Handbell and Adult Choirs will be performing a cantata during advent this year entitled, “The Thrill of Hope”. Dr. David Lamb will be accompanying us and we have handbell orchestration as well. 

We will be adding solos, duets, etc. in addition to the choral anthem each Sunday.  If you have any ideas, please let me know and I will see where it may work in the lectionary.

St John will host a concert series this year and the official calendar will be published in the October Newsletter.  I am very excited about all the new faces and talent in our choirs and we are sure to have an incredible year!

Singing God’s Praises,

Lori L. Tharp

 

Pyoca … by Nichole Midgett

In August, one of the church youth who attended Camp Pyoca shared with the church the following letter of appreciation:

This past week at Camp Pyoca was an unforgettable life changing experience.  I was accepted by a whole new family, and found a new relationship with GOD. I was washed of all my burdens and forgiven of all my sins.

 Everything I did symbolized my relationship with my Lord. My first time on high ropes, I overcame a fear and learned no matter where I am, GOD is always there and I can grab those ropes at any time, whenever I need GOD to lean on.

 Being told I’m beautiful all the time and sharing laughs together has got to be the best feeling I’ve ever had.  No words can even explain my time at Camp Pyoca. Saying goodbye was by far the hardest.  I’m already counting down the days for next year. 

So thank you, St. John, for making this experience possible.  It was one week that truly changed at least one life!            

Nichole Midgett

 

Help Us Fill Our Bags (deacons' Assistance Bags)

Through Sunday, Sept. 19, the Deacons of St. John Church will be collecting the following items to make up Assistance Bags for those people struggling with hunger in our community.  Please give generously, both for the Dare to Care Food Pantry and for our own food pantry, during these difficult economic times.  If you would prefer to give a monetary donation, please mark your check clearly with “Food Pantry” in the memo line and make it out to St. John Presbyterian.  Collection boxes are located outside of Pastor Allen’s office.

   Boxes of Mac & Cheese                   Rolled oats

   Spaghetti noodles & sauce               Crackers

   Canned soup                                     Bars of soap

   Tuna or other canned meat              Dried beans

   Canned vegetables or fruit               Peanut butter

   Plastic jars of juice                           Toilet tissue


(Please note that many of these items can be purchased at a lower cost at Aldis, Dollar General, and the Dollar Tree)

 

Stock the Shelves (ICC, Dare to Care Food Pantry)

St. John Church is scheduled to

stock the shelves

of the New Albany Dare to Care Food Pantry in September!

 

Please plan to bring the following items during the months of August and September for this Interfaith Community Council outreach:

Canned fruit                        Fruit juice

Pasta                                    Canned vegetables

Tomato sauce                       Canned meat

Boxed meals                        Hot & cold cereal

Snack foods                         Toiletry items

Cleaning supplies                Laundry detergent

 

Harvest Homecoming Notes

With temperatures in the 90’s it’s hard to think that Harvest Homecoming is just around the corner, but plans are already underway to prepare for this important fundraiser.  Our indomitable Martha Dysart is again in charge, and is looking for volunteers to help roll the dough for the 4,000 dumplings St. John will be selling this year.  Please plan to sign up!  Everyone is needed to help make this profitable event a success.

Rolling:  August 30-October 2 (Except Labor Day)

           Monday & Tuesday evenings 5-7:30pm

Saturday mornings 8-11:00am

Selling:  Thursday-Sunday, October 7-10

Cooking:  begins Wednesday, October 6

 

Calling All Rembrandts, Warhols, & Rockwells!!

St. John Church is having a T-shirt Design Contest!!

We are asking everyone in the church to submit a design for the new church t-shirts which will be proudly worn during Harvest Homecoming and other future events.  Submitters are asked to incorporate the name of the church and “what your church means to you” in the design and drop off their drawings in a posted box in Memorial Hall.  Deadline is Sunday, September 19, and the winner will be selected by the Session.  So pull out your crayons, sharpen those pencils, and get your creative juices flowing—its t-shirt log

 

Prayer Matters

What do you most prioritize as a believer in Christ?

This year the Barna Group conducted a study to determine how the nation's economic woes had influenced American priorities, particularly the practice of individual faith. The president of the Barna Group said, "When it comes to why so much of American religion seems merely skin-deep, this gap between what people call themselves and what they prioritize is perhaps most telling." The study's responses ranked the priorities as follows:

45 percent ranked Family as their No. 1 priority.

Health/Leisure/Lifestyle followed at 20 percent

Work/Profession/Finances were at 17 percent

and Faith fell in last at just 12 percent

What do you most prioritize as a believer in Christ? ?

• Developing my personal faith

• Attending church regularly

• Telling others about my faith

• Directly influencing my culture


Five simple practices

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is inviting congregations, small groups and individuals to be immersed in the Spirit through five simple practices that can form them into Scripture-shaped congregations and individuals. It is an invitation to read, pray, study, remember and live Scripture.

• We can read Scriptures in a variety of contexts—in public worship, in Bible study or prayer groups, in a disciplined reading program.  One of the great ways to read Scripture is to hear it read aloud. Scriptures take on a whole new dimension when you can hear its rhythms, its cadences, its poetry.

• Praying before and after reading Scripture underlines our dependence on God in order to hear, understand and respond to what the Spirit is saying.

• The treasures of Scripture sometimes require hard work to mine. For this reason it is valuable to read large sections of Scriptures—sometimes entire books—in sequence to understand the larger context and its implications.

• Memorizing individual verses allows the words of Scripture to sink deeply into our hearts. Memorizing longer passages implants an even richer source of Biblical wisdom deep in our souls, one that can sustain us in times of struggle.

• If we are to become Scripture-shaped communities and individuals, Scripture must transform the way we live.  The daily practice of examen, a discipline of self-examination and repentance is one way  to do this.

 

“You may not think you can reach it. Climb anyway. You may not think you’ll be heard, Speak anyway. You may not think you can change things, Try anyway.”— Maya Angelou

 

God's Promises (installment #8)
A collection for the St. John family from the Spiritual Life Committee

Peace, cont.

I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!   (John 16:33

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.    (Philippians 4:6-7)

Persecution

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven...Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.    (Matthew 5:10-12)

I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!   (John 16:33)

Protection

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.   (Psalm 91:4)

But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.   (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

Salvation

O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.   (Psalm 130:7)


Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.   (Isaiah 43:1)


Those who drink of the water I give them will never be thirsty.
The water that I give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.   (John 4:14)

Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.   (John 5:24)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  (John 10:10)

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  (John 14:6)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.    (Romans 8:1-2)

(Continued next month)

 

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance—Pakistan Flooding

The country of Pakistan has suffered numerous natural and human-caused disasters over the last few years.  A powerful earthquake in 2008 left thousands homeless at the onset of winter.  In 2009, millions of people were displaced by conflict between the Pakistan military and militants.  Now 2010 —a year that was supposed to be a time of new beginnings and a continuing road to recovery following previous disasters — has turned into

a record-breaking year for flood destruction throughout the entire country, with more than 1,400 people dead and more than 1.5 million displaced.  Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is working with our ecumenical partners to help meet emergency needs and is providing food packages, shelter materials, and non-food essentials.  Emergency health services are also being provided.

How Can We Respond?

Give — to support the relief and recovery ministry.|
   Gifts should be designated for DR000038, Pakistan.

Act — stay informed through the PDA web site www.pcusa.org/pda and by
joining the PDA Rapid Information Network (PDA-RIN) for reports via
email. Subscribe at www.pcusa.org/subscriptions/

Pray — for those who have lost family or livelihood, those who cannot yet
return home, and those who are working tirelessly to provide rescue,
humanitarian aid, and spiritual and psychological support.

Donations are being accepted during Sunday morning services—simply drop your check (clearly marked “Pakistan Flooding”) in the offering basket, and we will see that your contribution is mailed to PDA.