The Herald - St. John's United Church of Christ
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St. John’s United Church of Christ
The Herald
Rev’s Ramblin’s
January 2020
Christmas Future: Epiphany
(with many thanks to Marcus Berg & John Crossan)
In a Christmas story that has become almost as well known as the stories of Christ’s birth in
scripture, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens vividly portrays Scrooges encounters with the ghosts
of Christmas past, present, and future. Scrooge’s experience of the three spirits changes him. And
because of that change, Christmas future becomes different. Dickens got it right: Christmas has three
tenses. There is for us a spirit of Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas future.
Advent and Christmas are about a new world, a new possibility. They are intrinsically about
eschatology. That concept of the divine transformation of our world. It is not about some mass im-
migration from a doomed world to a blessed heaven. Rather, it is about the end of this era of war and
violence, injustice, and oppression. It is about the earth’s transformation, not about its devastation. It
is about a world of justice and peace.
So, how will this transformation of the world come about? To say the obvious, it has not yet
happened, despite the passage of over two thousand years. It is not yet accomplished. Does that
mean that the Christmas stories are a pipe dream? That they (and the New Testament as a whole) are
another example of failed eschatology, of hope become hopeless?
It depends upon how we think the new world is to come about. The Christmas stories are not
about a spectacular series of miraculous events that only happened in the past and that we are to be-
lieve in for the sake of going to heaven. Rather, they are about God’s passion, God’s dream, for a
transformed earth.
We are called by God to participate, to co-create with God in this transformative endeavor. In
St. Augustine’s brilliant aphorism, “God without us will not; we without God cannot.” We, who like
the Magi and the shepherds, have seen the star and heard the angels sing are called to participate in
the new birth and new world proclaimed by these stories. Continued on next page...
HOW TO CONTACT PASTOR ROSS:
Office hours: M-TH 9-Noon Office phone: 881-2353 has a message recorder that is checked each weekday
morning. For pastoral emergencies or urgent church related issues call my home phone, 886-7535, and leave a
message if I’m out.
The birth stories are not a pipe dream, but a proclamation that what we see revealed in
Jesus is the way - the way to a different kind of life and a different future. Both personal and po-
litical transformation, both the eschatology of rebirth and the eschatology of a new world, re-
quire our participation. God will not change us as individuals without our participation, and
God will not change the world without our participation.
Let us give the last word to one of the carols of Christmas which we celebrate in this
th
300 year of its composition. A song which we sing in the midst of winter darkness. Combining
Advent and Christmas in a remarkable way: joy to the world, the political images of Jesus as
Lord and king, the personal image of every heart preparing room for him, and the rejoicing of
heaven and nature, the whole creation:
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.”
Joy to the world - for God so loved the world. May the light of Christ brighten you and
transform your world as you greet the new year full of new possibilities to participate with
God’s creative dream!
~Pastor Ross
REPORTS FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING
Notice to all church groups...It's
never too early to remind each group
that your report for the annual meet-
ing is due in Tresa's hands no later
than January 12th, 2020. Please
keep your report to the point, one
Please plan to attend the
page or less. This will allow the con-
Annual Meeting on
Sunday, January 26th, 2020
gregants to read most of the reports
immediately following the while waiting for the annual meeting
10:30 a.m. service. to begin. Thank you."
MEMORIAL GIFTS: JANUARY Dorca
s Circ
BIRTHDAYS Will n le
Mikel Koverman ot me
in Jan et
given by: Beau Murphy uary!
Ron & Marty Brothers Jessi Collins !
Trinity Collins
Chase Beeson
Trenton Beeson
Women’s Fellowship 2020 Kickoff!!
The Women’s Fellowship will kick off 2020 on
January 21st at 6:00pm at McAllister's Deli on
135. Hope to see you there, everyone welcome
for fun and fellowship.
Boomers! It's time to put together a new schedule for the Boomers to
meet and "dine" for the next six months (January - June 2020). If you
haven't been a Boomer before, we get together once a month with a
group of 7 or 8, and go out for a meal! Each group chooses its own
date and place to meet. This is a great way to get to know others at
church with whom you only get a chance to say hello on Sunday
morning. If you are interested in joining the Boomers, please let Mar-
cia Hauser or Dave or Joanne Hearrell know as soon as possi-
ble. Please join us!
REMEMBER OUR SHUT-INS
Mrs. Marian Childers Irene Moore
6510 U.S. 31 South, #84 Hearthstone Health Campus
Indianapolis IN 46227 3043 N. Lintel Dr.
Bloomington, IN 47404
Mrs. Marjorie Wagoner Mr. John Rieck
8240 Beech Grove Lane 6104 S Irwin
Martinsville IN 46151 Indianapolis, IN 46237
Mrs. Marlys Connallon Robert & Esther Wells
3626 Candy Cane Drive 6146 Moon Shadow Dr.
Indianapolis IN 46227 Indianapolis, IN 46259
The Next Book Club will meet Monday, January 27th at 6:30 p.m. in the Knack Room.
Here are the book choices.
Based on the true story of a forgotten hero,
the USA Today and #1 Amazon Charts best-
seller Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the trium-
phant, epic tale of one young man’s incredi-
ble courage and resilience during one of his-
tory’s darkest hours.
The McBride sisters all have different reasons for finding the holiday season challenging, but
their adoptive mother is determined this year will be different. As the countdown to Christmas
Day begins, arguments, connections and secrets start bubbling. The McBride family was made,
not born—but will they be able to make this the magical family Christmas their mother has al-
ways dreamed of?
WE NEED YOU ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY
OF EVERY MONTH!!
Your Spiritual Life Committee is asking our Youth to participate in
the 10:30am service by volunteering to be a Lay Reader and to serve
as Greeters between 10:00-10:30am. These are simple acts of service
to the St. John's congregation, and serve as an excellent opportunity to
build inter-generational relationships. Dates for this service are as fol-
lows: Jan. 26, Feb. 23, Apr. 26, and May 24. Please see Pam Dobbs or
Eric Livingston for information, and to sign up. There is a sign up sheet
outside the youth Sunday School Room.
Nursery Help Needed!!
The Nursery is looking for volunteers for the Dec. 29th. If you are able to volunteer for this date, please
contact Stacie Goldman, by email sdevine@lilly.com or text 317-997-1752. Thank you, in advance for
your time and support of the Nursery program.
A January Walk Around Preschool
Happy New Year! We are praying that every-
one will have a Blessed 2020! We are ready to get
this New Year started! Our 1st day back from
Christmas Break was on Monday, January 6th! On
your mark, get set, let’s Go!
This month we
will focus on the
letters of Nn, Oo, and Pp, and the themes of win-
ter, and the food groups. During our Jesus Time we
will be learning the Bible stories about Jesus as a
young boy and His early years in His ministry.
There will be 2 Lunch Bunches! Our 1st Lunch
Bunch will be on Friday, January 17, Operation Snowman! We will have lots of winter
fun with the benefits of staying warm inside.
Continued on next page...
Then, on Friday, January 24, we will have our Pirate &
Princess Pizza Party! This will also be our Pajama Day!
There will be lots of pirates and princesses running
around in their pajamas
that day! We will be going
on our first Field Trip to
The Dance Refinery this
month. It’s a great way to
help our students to burn
off some energy and get
some good exercise in!
There will not be any Preschool on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin
Luther King, Jr. Birthday!
At the end of the month, we will have our Parent-Teacher Conferences. Our
parents sign up for a conference time in which we can share with them their child’s
progress so far this school year. We will be evaluating our students through the
month. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, January 27, during
our Preschool hours. We will schedule conferences in the evening if the need is
there for our families.
Don’t forget to check out the Giving Tree for some much needed items at the Pre-
school!
We will be starting to accept Preschool registrations
for the 2020/2021 school year at the end of the month
from our St. John’s church families and our Preschool
families already enrolled. Open registration will begin
mid-February to the community.
Please help spread the word to your family and
friends about our Preschool!
May Jesus’ Love warm your hearts today and always!
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE
THESE EVENTS A SUCCESS!!
MYSTERY YOUTH LUNCH
ADVENT DINNER
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
-Zumba 9:15a
-OA 12n
-HMA 4:00p
-AA 6:30-7:30 FH
5 6 7 8 9 10 -Mtg. 10a 11
9:00a God Spot/Adult Bible -HMA 6:00p -AA 11:00a Bell Choir 6:00p -Council 7:00p -Zumba 9:15a -Girl Scout Baking
Study/10:00a Coffee Hour/10:30a -Staff Mtg. 6:00p -Prayer Grp. 4:15p Choir 7:30p -OA 12n 10:00a-2:00p
Traditional Service/Sunday School
-Preschool Returns (Knack Room) -HMA 4:00p
-HMA 6:00p -Scrapbking 6p
-BS 6:30p FH -AA 6:30-7:30 FH
12 Annual Mtg. Reports Due 13 14 15 16 17 18
9:00a God Spot/Adult Bible Study -AA 11:00a -Bell Choir 6:00p -SSPOM 7p -Zumba 9:15 -Father-Daughter
10:00a Coffee Hour/10:30a Tradi- -Prayer Grp. 4:15p -Choir7:30p (FH& Library) -OA 12n Dance 6p
tional Service/Sunday School (Knack Room) -HMA 4:00p
-HMA 6:00p -AA 6:30-7:30 FH
-Boy Scouts 6:30p -Cub Scout Lock
-In 6p-9a
19 20 -Feb. Herald Due 21 -AA 11:00a 22 23 24 25
9:00a God Spot/Adult Bible -HMA 6:00p -Prayer Grp. 4:15p Bell Choir 6:00p -Zumba 9:15 Happy Birthday,
Study/10:00a Coffee Hour/10:30a -No Preschool -BS 6:30p FH Choir 7:30p -OA 12n Pastor Don!!
-HMA 4:00p
Traditional Service/Sunday School -HMA 6:00p -AA 6:30-7:30 FH
-Women’s Fellow- -SSPOM 6:30p -Boy Scouts Pizza
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ship Kick Off 6p Fundraiser 8-2
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
9:00a God Spot /Adult Bible -Preschool Parent/Teacher -AA 11:00a Bell Choir 6:00p -Zumba 9:15a -Boy Scouts
Study/10:00a Coffee Hour/10:30a Conferences during school -Prayer Grp. 4:15p Choir 7:30p -O/A 12:00p Pinewood Derby
-AA 6:30p
Traditional Service/Sunday School hours -BS 6:30p FH -HMA 4:00p
8:00-3:00p FH
Annual Meeting -Book Club 6:30p -Genesis Mtg. 6p -Boy Scouts
(Library) Pinewood Derby
-HMA 6:00p Setup 6-8p
St. John’s United Church of Christ
7031 S. East St.
Indianapolis, IN 46227
Phone: 317-881-2353
www.stjohns-indianapolis.org
JANUARY 2020
CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Ross Tyler, Senior Pastor,
Pastor.StJohnsUCC@gmail.com
Rev. Dr. Donald Crismon, Minister of Visitation
Tresa Strakis, Secretary,
Secretary.StJohnsUCC@gmail.com
Custodian
Chad Wilkerson
OUR MUSIC STAFF
Debi Burns, Sanctuary Choir Director
Kay LaGrange, Bell Choir Director
Dr. Rebecca Sorley, Organist Please plan to attend
the Annual Meeting
OUR PRESCHOOL STAFF on January 26th
Beth Larimore, preschool Director/Teacher immediately after
Miranda (Randi) Brickley, Teacher the 10:30 service.
Maddie Larimore, Assistant Teacher
Preschool.StJohnsUCC@gmail.com
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