February 2014 by Kevin Eckert

Sunday Worship 9 a.m. Kids Worship 9:20 a.m. Joint Ministry Meeting 2-2-14 Our Mission Statement: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bringing the Healing Love of Christ To Our Community for the Glory of

February 2014

Vol.112

St. John United Church of Christ is an open and affirming congregation who is welcoming and

embracing of every person, of every race, age, nationality, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, as a child of God. We invite all to join and fully participate in the life and ministry of this church.

STAFF Ministers………………….…The Members of the Church Senior Pastor……………………….……Donnley Dutcher Director of Children & Youth Ministry / Director of technologies………………………………...…Kevin Eckert Youth Ministry Assistants ………….....Jasmine Coleman, Christine Busker & Savanna Muench Ministry of Church Life & Membership…......Pam Wessel Choir Director…………………….……….....Gina Bertram Organists………..….Carole Bertram & Marsha Roberts

OFFICE HOURS

Monday– Friday...…8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.…&.1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Church (815) 235-2824

E-Mail: stjohn@comcast.net

www.stjohnuccfreeport.org 2

AS THE SPIRIT MOVES ME… One of my favorite stops on vacation is bookstores. Surprise. Surprise. Right? Well, last year, we stopped at the main outlet of Half-Price Books in Bloomington, Ind. We‟ll be making annual visits from now on, as I found several gems. One is the book, “The Rise and Fall of the Bible,” by Timothy Beal, which our “Learning Our Faith” Class has been discussing. Another is the book, “Laying Down the Sword: Why We Can‟t Ignore the Bible‟s Violent Verses,” by Philip Jenkins. Part of the theme of the second book is a reflection on Jews and Christians who condemn Islam because of the violent passages in the Quran. Jenkins reminds us that “Western Christian churches have largely dropped the most frightening and troubling passages from the public readings (i.e., our worship services), and generally from preaching.” For instance, “Esther (an Old Testament book) is a book of blood, one of the most brutal tracts in the Bible. After Haman is hanged, the Jews inflict on his people all the slaughter he had intended against them. .. Many convert to Judaism because of „fear of the Jews‟ who „slew of their foes seventy and five thousand.” How many of you have heard THAT passage read in worship? Jenkins continues, “In terms of the ordinary experience of Christian church life, the book of Esther has virtually ceased to exist. So has most of Joshua. Both have been subjected to an effective textual cleansing. What remains is an acceptable Bible Lite.” The result has been for us to reduce the Bible to those passages that are most comfortable, least offensive, most pleasing to the spirit, and least difficult to struggle with and understand. It would be like people only reading or hearing those portions of the U.S. Constitution which they like.

So, maybe those who believe in slavery would like to pretend the 13th Amendment isn‟t in the Constitution. Maybe those who believe it should be more difficult for persons of color to get the right to vote would like to believe the 15th Amendment isn‟t in it. Maybe those who believe women shouldn‟t have the right to vote would like to believe the 19th Amendment isn‟t in it. In the same way, when we ignore or exclude the Bible‟s most repulsively violent passages, it‟s as though we‟re pretending they aren‟t there. But, they are. I want to believe the people who compiled the Bible were as uncomfortable with those stories as are we. However that may be, I am convinced they believed those violent stories tell a truth we need to hear and know, as uncomfortable as they are to hear, read, and know. I will likely be preaching on 3 or 4 of these stories between Feb. 9th and March 30th, though I do not know which Sundays, yet. They may be difficult to hear, even as they will likely be difficult to preach. But let none of us pretend that this “library of books” the Bible - is less than it really is. I hope you will join us for these services, so you can be introduced to, stretched by, and grow more in your faith and understanding of God and our faith – even through these very discomforting stories. So often, we grow more by facing, dealing, and doing the hard things of life than the easy. Let it, often be, the same in our faith, too. Hope to see you in worship!

JOINT MEETING

MINISTRY 4

Our occasional meeting of all ministries will be on Sunday, Feb. 2nd, beginning by 10:45 a.m. We expect to conclude by Noon.

PASTOR ON VACATION Pastor Dutcher will be on vacation, Sunday afternoon Feb. 16 th through Sunday, Feb. 23rd. Please contact the Rev. Carol Ahrens at (815) 616-8901, the Rev. Stan Bomgarden at (815) 589-3700, or the Rev. Becky Hebert at (815) 616-5904, at any time during the week, if you are in need of pastoral services in Pastor Dutcher‟s absence.

PASTOR DONNLEY’S MISSING BOOK Pastor Donnley loaned his copy of “Scarred By Struggle, Transformed By Hope,” by Sister Joan Chittister to someone in the congregation. He does not remember who. Please call him or return it to him, if it was you. Thank you.

ANNUAL REPORTS All Ministries and social groups are asked to submit a report of their activities for the past year. All reports are due to the church office by March 3rd.. They will be prepared and distributed for the Congregational Meeting in March. Please check with your group or Committee Chair person to decide who will be preparing this report.

The deadline for submitting articles in the March Tidings is February 11. SECRETARIAL POSITION OPEN We will be hiring a new secretary in early March. Please apply for the position through Hughes Resources, if you are interested 5

in being considered for the position.

PREPARING FOR TRANSITION The B.O.L.D. Team, the Council, and Pastor Donnley have begun looking to the latter half of this year so they will be thorough in their preparations and plans for a healthy closure of his ministry and a strong, positive, healthy transition to the interim ministry period. The Rev. Kathy Lawes, Associate Conference Minister of the Illinois Conference for the Prairie Association, met with the Council at its Jan. 13th meeting. She shared valuable information about the template and normal timeline for hiring an interim pastor and calling the next Senior Pastor. The B.O.L.D. Team, the Council, and Pastor Donnley are committed to an honest, transparent process and information sharing, in a timely and appropriate manner. An upcoming event: Sunday, Feb. 26th - This gathering in the Fellowship Hall, following worship, will be an opportunity for asking questions and expressing concerns or anxieties related to the upcoming changes from Pastorâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Donnleyâ&#x20AC;&#x;s retirement. He will be on vacation that Sunday, which may make some people feel free to express themselves. Those attending will be gathered in small groups with a facilitator to assist the group.

LIFELINE SCREENING St. John UCC Friday, March 7, 2014 6

Together we can help prevent strokes in our community. The “Helping Hand” program can help save your life and the lives of your loved ones through simple painless, preventive health screenings. Register today at 1-800-324-9458, or online at www.helpinghandsforhealth.com. To ensure you receive the special $10 package discount plus a matching $10 donation to St. John UCC, you must preregister.

O N G O I N G WAY S T O PA R T I C I PAT E I N THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH BIBLE STUDY We meet at 9 a.m. Wednesdays, in the Chapel Hearth Room, and are discussing the book “Rummaging For God” by Melanie Svoboda. All are welcome! .

CARD CLUB Join us for Euchre the first Monday of the month, in the Chapel Hearth. See you February 3rd at 1pm

MISSIONS RED CAN SUNDAY We will be receiving monetary donations on February 2nd for the FACC emergency fund. 7

PING PONG We meet every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. We would love to have more men & women join in on the fun!

MEN’S GROUP We're having a great time! Come join us! We‟re not “holier than thou,” nor is all the talk just “God-talk.” It‟s a wonderful blend of maleness, conversation, laughter, the spiritual and the unspiritual. Our next gathering is Saturday, February 1st at 8 am. Come check us out!

RESOURCE GROUP Join us on Thursdays at 9 a.m. for coffee, treats, friendship, and volunteer work! We will assemble the March Tidings on February 27.

S.O.S.,BELL&CHANCEL CHOIR Practices are Thursday evenings. S.O.S. 5:30pm, Bell Choir 6:30pm, and Chancel Choir 7:15pm. If you have a love for music, we would like you to join us! Contact Gina Bertram. All are invited.

$265.00 was collected in January.

FOOD FOR FACC In

February our food item to collect is

250 jars of grape jelly.

If you are

watching for sales, our item for March will be 250 jars of peanut butter.

FACC CLOTHING ROOM Our next time to work at FACC clothing room will be February 10 and February 12. The time slots we need to fill are 9am to 12pm, and 1-3pm. Sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex, or call the church office.

LGBTQ Ministry Group The LGBTQ support group will meet at 6:30 pm on Monday, February 24. This is a group for teens and adults that are Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered, Bisexual or those Questioning their sexual identity. This is also a safe group for allies, friends and family, of the LGBTQ community. Childcare is provided. 9

HELIX Listen,

Honor, Engage, Include, eXample MIDDLE SCHOOL

Tuesdays (5th and 6th graders) 3-5pm Thursdays (7th and 8th graders) 3-5 pm

SENIOR HIGH Sundays (9th thru 12th graders) 6-8pm

C . A . T. s (Caregivers And Toddlers) Please join us for our play group geared for toddlers and the adults that care for them. We get together in St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x;s nursery Tuesday mornings 10-11am. On the Third Tuesday of the month we will be in Fellowship Hall to run and ride. Bring your friends, all are welcome. Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CATSPlayGroup?fref=ts

COFFEE HOUR On Sunday mornings, before and after service, 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. Please, if your name is on the list (dates are assigned alphabetically by the directory) for this month, bring in a treat to share. Some ideas are... cookies, bars, mini muffins, bagels etc. or please consider bringing fruit to share. If you do not wish to be on the list for treats, please contact the office and we will remove your name. 10

Missions— Set Up/Serve

Rockey,

02/02 John & Debra Rice, Shaun & Erin Rice, Floyd & Marsha Roberts, Wes & Joyce Robinson, Ruth Dave Rockey, Edith Rosenstiel, Marilyn Ruthe

02/09 Floyd & Vivian Schlickman, Gerald & Pat Schneiderman, Steve & Lisa Schubert, Deb Scott, Sybil Scovil, Olivia Shaffer, Jerry & Sharon Simler

02/16 Mike Smith, Stan & Carol Smith, Seth & Katrina Spangler, Steve & Vicki Spyrison, Jackie Stewart, Roger & Deb Swanlund, Mark Swanson & Amy Doll 02/23 Glenn & Marilyn Underwood, Don & Norma Valkema, Quentin Valkema, LaVonne Wagenknecht, Jeff & Sally Wagner, Roger Watson

March— Property Management — Set Up/Serve 03/02 Patty Weik, Pam & Dan Wessel, Cathy Williams, Jean Wurtzel, Carol Ahrens, Mary Arnold, Terry & Deleana Atz, Wayne Bahn PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR PRAYERS: Kathryn Cramer, Phyllis, Sandy, Ryan Shaffer, Maddie, Keith, Dolly Boland, Betty Remmers, Dorie DeFrane, Esther Dickman BIRTH: Lexi Sue Hartman, daughter of Laura Wessel and Andrew Hartman, born January 13, 2013 DEATH: Our condolences to the family of Maxine Miller who passed away on December 30, 2013 . HOSPITILIZED: Keith Hinrichs, Betty Heiden, Don Valkema, Jerry Simler, Maida Gimple, Clyde Fruth, David Crowell, Esther Dickman, Dorie DeFrane

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE 1/5-116

1/12-167

1/19-100

1/26-96

FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES 2/08-Dean & Irene Amendt 2/10-Monty & Carolee Dietmeier 2/11-Ulan & Cindy Price 2/20-Brad & Jody Nieman 2/28-Ted & Joan Wootan

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

2/4-Angie Folgate 2/5-Mary Eder 2/6-Paula Nieman 2/7-Pam Wessel 2/8-Liam McNiel 2/9-Willie Kreeger, Abbey Newkirk 2/10- Bill Lieber 2/11-John Heiden, John Fox 2/12-Gracie Busker 2/14-Vicki MacAdam, Dana Williams, Lavonne Dietmeier 2/15- Ben Spyrison 2/16-Alex Bertram, Shirley Durrstein, Janet Piefer, Gary Wilson, Landon Rice 2/17-Deb Swanlund, Kevin Eckert 2/19-Brennan Simler 2/20-Sara Moffatt 2/21-Logan Kuntz 2/23-Joyce Kaiser, Pat Schneiderman, Diane Heilman 2/25-Arlene Kreeger, Cody Pruitt 2/27-Nancy Lassiter 2/28-Jerald Watson

USHERS 02/02- Tim, Colin, Kristi Ebbers, Dennis Manus, Jim Drew 02/09-John & Paula Rawleigh, Phil & Barb Copus, Tom Priewe 02/16- Tom & Melinda Ferguson, Wes & Joyce Robinson 02/23- Keith & Kathy Moffat, Lyle & Jane Krug, Dana Underhill, Jeanne Koch GREETERS 02/02- Monty & Carolee Dietmeier 02/09- Ben & Lucille Lee 02/16-Jeanne Koch & Shirley Ifert 02/23- Kya & Keona Eckert WELCOMERS 02/02- Bonnie Gennusa & Jill Kuntz 02/09-Marilyn Ruthe & Cherryl Hinrichs 02/16-Clyde & Jeanne Cross 02/23-Mavis Clark & Edith Rosenstiel NURSERY 02/2-Tom & Jacob Priewe 02/9-Carla Meyer & Jeanne Cross 02/16- The Newkirks 02/23-Marla Kreeger & Olivia Shaffer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHUT-INS: The following is a list of people that canâ&#x20AC;&#x;t get out and may love a visit or a card from those thinking of them. Deloris Burkhalter at Oakley Courts Claire Biesemeier, Dorothy Miller and Laura Uthlaut at Parkview Nettie Hendren at Hawthorne Inn, Liberty Village June Nagel, Joyce Kaiser and Holly Genant at Stephenson Nursing Center Katherene Benson, Dorothy Fox, Kathryn Cramer at Provena Evelyn Dworak in Kewanee Provena In their homes are, Kathryn Cramer, Karen Salter, Vivian Pals, Esther Dickman, Maida Gimple, Shirley Durrstein, Harold Reints, and Ardath Lei. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you to my many friends at St. John who have visited me and sent cards wishing me well while I am at Provena. Your thoughts are much appreciated. I am not sure just how much longer I will be at Provena, but I want to thank you again. Kathryn Cramer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank you to everyone who brought in pasta and gifts for the FACC Christmas boxes and continue to fill the shopping carts each month with our designated food item. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

St. John UCC Council Minutes 1-13-14 Members Present: Tim Ebbers, Deb Hartman, Dennis Manus, Ulan Price, Joyce Robinson, Marilyn Ruthe, Pastor Donnley, exofficio. Kathy Lawes (Associate Conference Minister Serving Prairie and Western Associations) was a guest. Opening Prayer: Pastor Donnley Transition to Interim Ministry and Pastoral Search: Kathy Lawes passed out a handout breaking down the tasks ahead, who is responsible and the expected timeframe. This will be very helpful in the planning and assigning of tasks as well as giving us information on how this process works. This sheet will be shared with everyone at the Joint Ministries meeting on February 2, 2014. Kathy answered questions and provided insight into the reasons for an interim period and what we might expect as we move through this time. Our position as an Open & Affirming church, along with our many other strengths will work in our favor in attracting high quality candidates. B.O.L.D. Team Report: Notes from the last meeting were distributed. Council reviewed them and discussion followed. Financial Report: It was noted that 2013 ended in the black. It was also noted that the report shows that the spending was under budget. The projected income from the Janshen Fund for 2013 is about $16,000, giving us nearly a $23,000 balance to begin the year. The costs incurred from the Interim and Pastoral search processes can probably come from this account. It would be appropriate to include this in the budget process for 2015 and to keep in mind that these costs will be unique to this time frame. Marilyn made the motion to approve the financial report as presented. Deb 2nd. Discussion followed. Motion carried. 16

Ministry/Council Openings: We have a large number of potential openings on the Council and Ministries. The sheet with the list of all these will be shared at the Joint Ministry Meeting coming up. As discussed at the recent B.O.L.D. meeting, it is important for our congregation to appear strong for potential pastoral candidates. Retooling the Council and Ministry structure was discussed to better serve our mission and direction. The interim period would be an appropriate time to accomplish this. Form follows functionâ&#x20AC;Śas a church, we need to discern our direction, how we have changed and to restructure, accordingly. Our structure should not impede our vision but instead facilitate it. Staff Positions: Applicants for the open secretarial position will be received through Hughes Resources and the interview process will begin in February. Options concerning the janitor position were discussed. Pastorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report: Pastor Donnley will be on vacation 2-16-14 through 2-23-14 and 4-27-14 through 5-4-14. Sanctuary Doors: Betty Carpenter, Paula Rawleigh and Pastor Donnley sought approval to purchase and install stained glass inserts for the center doors to the sanctuary. These will coordinate with the stained glass in the sanctuary and add to the beauty of our narthex. They will be designed and made by the same artist who did the inserts for the Chapel Hearth doors. It is expected/hoped that they will be done by Easter. Council approved this project. Adjournment: Tim made the motion to adjourn, Joyce 2nd. Motion carried. Adjourned with the Mizpah Benediction. Respectfully submitted, Deb Hartman Council Secretary

February Scripture Readings 01

Acts 13:13-35

Matthew 18: 1-14

Acts 13: 36-52

Matthew 19: 13-30

Acts 14: 1-28

Matthew 22: 15-40

Acts 15: 1-21

Leviticus 19: 1-18

Acts 5:22-14

Deuteronomy 6: 1-25

Acts 16: 1-15

1 John 1.1-2.6

Acts 16: 16-40

1 John 2.7-2.9

John 2: 1-15

1 John 3.1-24

John 3: 1-21

1 John 4.1-21

John 3: 22-36

1 John 5.1-21

John 4: 1-26

2 John

John 4: 27-42

3 John

John 4: 43-54

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

John 10: 1-21

John 10: 22-42

FINANACIAL STATEMENT Beginning Balance January 1, 2014

$5,678.71

01/01 General Fund Beginning Balance

$5,678.71

01/06

GF Income

$3,674.55

01/13

GF Income

$5,052.00

01/20

GF Income

$2,642.70

01/27

GF Income

$4,849.00

Less 01/27

GF Payroll & Compensation

$18,413.95

01/27

GF Other Checks

$ 5,436.59

01/27

GF Current Bills Outstanding

01/27

Ending Balance

474.57

($2,428.15)

_________________________________________________ Beginning Balance January 1, 2014

$3,676.70

01/01 Building Fund Beginning Balance

$3,676.70

01/06

BD Income

$269.00

01/13

BD Income

$686.00

01/20

BD Income

$149.00

01/27

BD Income

$119.00

Less 01/27 BD Checks

$1,690.20

BD Currrent Bills Outstanding 01/27 Ending Balance

$0.00 $3,209.50

FINANCIAL STATEMENT