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Pride Week Begins Sunday June 10 There is so much happening at St. John's as we begin the celebration of Pride Week here in Columbus! Come and show your support and spirit for our LGBTQ brothers and sisters at both services, 9am and 11am. We'll also be celebrating our new members at our 11 AM service. PLUS... And next, some words from Pastor Gini about St. John's very active participation in next Saturday's Pride Parade: St. John's Joins The Pride Parade on Saturday June 16th  "We'll once again be on the St. John’s parade truck to raise awareness of our church’s ministry in Columbus. We will also be joined by a second UCC parade truck on which you can ride if needed, or preferably walk with our staff and leaders to distribute St. John’s bags and sunglasses to some of the hundreds of thousands of people expected at the parade. This is our biggest outreach and marketing opportunity of the year, and we need YOUR help to be successful in our effort to reach the city with our message of God’s unconditional love and acceptance!" Some History: The first Pride march in Columbus, Ohio was held in June 1981. Only 200 people were in attendance, and some even wore bags over their heads to conceal their identities. This year, we celebrate the 37th Year of PRIDE in Columbus. In 2017, there were over 215 unique marching contingents, representing a vast array of non-profits, community organizations, corporate sponsors, small businesses, political candidates and activists! Over 12,000 people marched in the parade and an estimated 500,000 attended Pride. Help us celebrate again this year! More information about PRIDE 2018 can be found at https://columbuspride.org/ Your St. John's contact for all things PRIDE is Amy Canini (see her message, below). If you have any questions about this week's events, please direct them to Amy at: alcanini2016@gmail.com  Happy PRIDE everyone- We will have same 2 trucks as last year. If you want to meet us on parade route, or find out where/who we are located by in line my cell is 740 953 0182. 7:30 – 8:45 = Loading trucks in back lot at ST. JOHNS = YES, we can always use the HELP, the more the merrier. (Chairs, water, swag, coolers, more swag, banners, and more stuff!) 8:45 = trucks will be leaving the if you would like to ride to the parade. The sooner we get in line, the better position we will have in parade since we are section C (ladder of the parade) NOTE: you can park in the lot behind the church, however getting out of the lot, you will have to wait until trucks return from parade to the building to unload. Or if you are planning to go on to the festival you will have to pay to exit, or chance that I am there to open the gate. Important details: ***changes from last year… We are in SECTION C We will be lining up heading EAST on BUTTLES AV. from NEIL AV. Let’s make this a great day for awareness for all, that we at ST. JOHNS welcome ALL no matter where you are on life's journey. See ya Saturday June 16 Peace ~ Amy  We are pleased and honored to again welcome Trey Pearson, who'll perform on our parade float. Also, be sure to be with us at the 11 AM June 24th service, when Trey joins our contemporary band for what is certain to be a moving and uplifting experience for all. Share this special service...bring your friends! More Parade Details: There's also free parking at the Franklin County Parking Garage. Bring your own coffee and breakfast to enjoy on the ride to the staging site. Parade Step Off will be at 10:30am at Goodale and High in the Short North Arts District. Community PRIDE 2018: For those who also wish to attend the Community PRIDE Festival on June 16th, the details are as follows: MAYME MOORE PARK 240 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD 11AM-7PM, ALL AGES A day of celebration, creativity, and joy. There will be performances and visual art by queer and trans artists of color, a community resource fair, outdoor activities for children (and the young at heart), POC-owned food trucks, and much more! More information can be found at: https://columbuscommunitypride.org/events/  We are all so privileged to have Pastor Dan Clark on our leadership team here at St. John's, and not just because of his musical gifts and our contemporary band! Dan's commitment to, and deep involvement in, important social justice causes (including his work as Ohio Director of Faith in Public Life) is beyond admirable. Below is Pastor Gini's FB post from Tuesday, when Dan was arrested for sitting in the middle of State Street in peaceful protest of treatment of the poor.   Congratulations to Carrie, Educator of the Year at West High School "The award really isn’t a big deal & doesn’t need to be in the Beacon. I received the Educator of the Year Award at my school, West High School. The administrators choose who receives the award. I was shocked that they picked me for it!" Well, Carrie, we disagree. We think it's fantastic that you received the award and we are not shocked at all!  Anonymous Giver Donates Ice Machine "The "star" of our church kitchen today: our new church ice machine! Thank you to the anonymous donors who donated this miraculous device, and the maintenance committee which installed it. For the first time in a long time, our kitchen team had ice for genuine Iced tea and other summer treats served at The Largest Table, our weekly meal with our homeless and marginally housed neighbors." Weekly Calendar, June 10 through June 16
Sunday June 10 - PRIDE SUNDAY Nursery Care available 8:30am 9am Traditional Worship 11am Contemporary Worship 12:30pm-2pm Dr. Tayo Clyburn...Conference Room Monday June 11 6pm Care Team Leader Celebration...Youth Room Tuesday June 12 6pm Healing Broken Circles...Youth Room 7:30pm Gospel Choir Rehearsal Wednesday June 13 Noon Casual Worship...Sanctuary 12:30pm The Largest Table Meal...Fellowship Hall 3pm Staff Meeting...Pastor Gini’s Office 7:30pm Under the Stars Meal...Mound Street Thursday June 14 6pm Budget and Finance Meeting...Conference Room 6pm Healing Broken Circles...Youth Room Friday June 15 8pm Community Group AA...Fellowship Hall Saturday June 16 PRIDE PARADE UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER June 17 Father's Day/St. John's Grad Sunday Let Mary Torok know if your graduate would like to be included! Click here for the link to our graduation event on Facebook... June 24 Trey Pearson at St. John's! 11am worship ONLY July 22 Narcan Training 12:30-2pm in The Conference Room
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From our Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Marla: My favorite month of the year is upon us! This June is particularly special to me since my daughter, Jessica, just graduated with honors from Upper Arlington High School. I pray that God continues to bless her and all of our loved ones who are about to begin their journeys as adults. We have other St. John's families that include new graduates. To honor them, Mary Torok had the wonderful idea to recognize them at our 11am service on June 17th. Please contact the church office at 614 224 8634 if you or a loved one is a new graduate who would like to be included. With the new month comes Communion Sunday at St. John's. Please join us on the 3rd, at our 9 AM and/or 11am service. As always, nursery care is available and refreshments are offered in the sanctuary.  And another team of helpers is born... The volunteer team that cropped up a few weeks ago and did an amazing job outside around our church is stepping up again, this time with their eye on cleaning the sanctuary, especially in preparation for Trey Pearson's performance here during the 11AM service on June 24th. Eric got the ball rolling for our landscape efforts, and now Aryn has initiated another call for helpers. If you'd like to help but don't communicate via Facebook, just call the office and let someone know when you are available to stop by the week of the 18th. Or, mention it at church to any staff member. These are informal efforts done a bit at a time, but they work!!! Please also note that as in years past, The Open Shelter will be providing us with some serious cleaning help at the end of this month, courtesy of the group of Korean students that volunteer with them each year. The students will be working in the sanctuary most of the day on June 29, and we are again very thankful for Kent Beittel's and Shelli Mathias' offer of the students' help to us. As was pointed out by member Mary, some of us may not be good yard workers but are good shoppers :-). If you'd like to make a smaller in-kind donation that benefits just about all who visit our church, considering donating some Keurig pods (decaf or regular coffee, or teas) and bringing them to the refreshments area any Sunday morning. We'll always keep stocked regardless, but your donations would be very much appreciated.  Faith in Public Life is "a strategy center advancing faith in the public square as a positive and unifying force for justice, compassion and the common good." You may know of Pastor Dan Clark's involvement in and commitment to the goals of this interfaith organization. He had mentioned their publication to me, "Common Good News", termed their "weekly newsreel for progressive people of faith". While the newsletter includes links to many important articles, I cannot help but revisit (as did Faith in Public Life) Bishop Michael Curry's remarks during his sermon at the recent royal wedding: “When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook. When love is the way, poverty will become history. When love is the way, the Earth will be a sanctuary. When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields, down by the riverside to study war no more. When love is the way, there's plenty good room — plenty good room — for all God's children. And when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we are actually family. When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all, and we are brothers and sisters, children of God.” The St. John's Community Gospel Choir:First Rehearsal Held!12 members of this exciting new group at St. John's got things started at rehearsal held May 29th. Here's director Amber Fisher and our proud first members! The next 3 rehearsals are June 5, June 12, and June 19, as the choir prepares for its debut at the 11 AM service on June 24. That's EACH of the next three TUESDAYS, from 7:30 to 8:30pm. In order to sing with the gospel choir at their debut on 6/24, members must attend 3 out of 4 of these first rehearsals. SO, THERE IS STILL TIME TO JOIN and perform on the 24th; contact Dan Clark for more information: dan@stjohnschurchcolumbus.org  Our excitement level is HIGH as we continue to prep for Columbus' PRIDE weekend, June 15-17 TWO floats! Trey Pearson! St. John's Swag! Contact the church office if you'd like to be a part of this important event
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Work will be continuing this weekend, courtesy of more volunteers. Feel free to drop by any time and do a bit to help out, every hour helps. Bring and plant a few annuals or perennials if you like. Efforts will continue periodically throughout the summer as the weeds make their inevitable return!
Bishop Yvette Flunder Preaches at
St. John's: Friday May 25 at 6:30 pm
Bishop Yvette Flunder will be preaching at the post summit worship service here at St. John's, at 6:30pm on Friday, May 25th. Come and be challenged and encouraged by an amazing practitioner of justice and faith.
More Events at St. John's
From our Sunday bulletin, don't miss these events, classes, or ways to help in the community:
How can we respond to the Opioid crisis? Come discover more about this epidemic gripping our city. Learn how to stop and overdose and save a life. Members Tonya and Aryn Shortridge (registered nurses) will lead the session, and free Narcan kits will be distributed. OUR SESSION IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR JULY 22. Register today using the bulletin insert.
Why are you here? Come discover the unique way God has designed your spiritual gifts, personal style and passion for ministry. Our current Network class continues on May 20 and 27 from 12:30-2:30pm.
Southside Community Food Pantry Donations The SSCFP is sponsored by multiple area churches, including St John’s. This month’s specific needs include soup, and other canned goods, peanut butter, and juice. Please place donations in the blue containers as you enter the church.
Healing Broken Circles HBC provides opportunities for those touched by the justice system to heal, grown and thrive. Meetings are open to everyone! HBC gathers on Tuesdays at 6pm for Computer Empowerment Classes, and “Playback Theater” for story sharing.
Love to Sing? Or Ring? Share your musical gifts by joining our traditional choir, NEW gospel choir or bell choir. The traditional and bell choirs are currently on summer break, but see May Schwartz if you are interested in joining in the fall. Those interested in the gospel choir (which will perform periodically at our contemporary service) should contact Pastor Dan.
Dinner Dates! Get to know some of the people and stories of St John’s. If you’re interested in attending or hosting a quarterly Dinner Date (in a home or quiet restaurant), indicate so on the bulletin insert.
From our Sunday bulletin, don't miss these events, classes, or ways to help in the community:
How can we respond to the Opioid crisis? Come discover more about this epidemic gripping our city. Learn how to stop and overdose and save a life. Members Tonya and Aryn Shortridge (registered nurses) will lead the session, and free Narcan kits will be distributed. OUR SESSION IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR JULY 22. Register today using the bulletin insert.
Why are you here? Come discover the unique way God has designed your spiritual gifts, personal style and passion for ministry. Our current Network class continues on May 20 and 27 from 12:30-2:30pm.
Southside Community Food Pantry Donations The SSCFP is sponsored by multiple area churches, including St John’s. This month’s specific needs include soup, and other canned goods, peanut butter, and juice. Please place donations in the blue containers as you enter the church.
Healing Broken Circles HBC provides opportunities for those touched by the justice system to heal, grown and thrive. Meetings are open to everyone! HBC gathers on Tuesdays at 6pm for Computer Empowerment Classes, and “Playback Theater” for story sharing.
Love to Sing? Or Ring? Share your musical gifts by joining our traditional choir, NEW gospel choir or bell choir. The traditional and bell choirs are currently on summer break, but see May Schwartz if you are interested in joining in the fall. Those interested in the gospel choir (which will perform periodically at our contemporary service) should contact Pastor Dan.
Dinner Dates! Get to know some of the people and stories of St John’s. If you’re interested in attending or hosting a quarterly Dinner Date (in a home or quiet restaurant), indicate so on the bulletin insert.
St. John's continues to prepare for PRIDE,
June 15 - 17
Trey Pearson will join us again this year
on the St. John's float!
Ways to Financially Give to St. John's
There are multiple ways to give to St. John’s. In addition to legacy gifts, a time honored giving tradition is the “check/cash and envelope” method for paying your donation to the church either by mail or in the worship offering plate, and donation envelopes are available in the church office. We also have new, convenient ways to give to St. John’s:
1) Automatic, recurring donations through direct deposit (contact the church office or your bank for details);
2) Recurring or one time donations through our church website:
https://www.stjohnschurchcolumbus.org/donate.html
3) Our new online giving “kiosk” at the back of the Welcome Center.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING
OUR CHURCH'S TRANSFORMATION!
From our Minister of Faith Formation
Mary Torok
After a long Winter, it seems Spring is finally upon us! Amidst the excitement and chaos of having two children graduate, I often stop and look around at the amazing progress we’ve made together at St John’s. I am grateful to be a part of it all.
In the busyness that Spring brings, remember to take some time to slow down and appreciate all we have here at St John’s; ministry that reaches all types of people, leaders who are dedicated to excellence, and a congregation that loves and serves this city. Happy Spring!
Mary Torok
After a long Winter, it seems Spring is finally upon us! Amidst the excitement and chaos of having two children graduate, I often stop and look around at the amazing progress we’ve made together at St John’s. I am grateful to be a part of it all.
In the busyness that Spring brings, remember to take some time to slow down and appreciate all we have here at St John’s; ministry that reaches all types of people, leaders who are dedicated to excellence, and a congregation that loves and serves this city. Happy Spring!
How might we respond to the opioid crisis in our community? It seems so overwhelming! Join us on Sunday May 6 for Narcan Training. Narcan is a drug that quickly reverses the effects of opioid overdose, and saves lives. We will gather in Fellowship Hall after worship for a quick lunch and training featuring new members Tonya and Aryn Shortridge. Tonya and Aryn are registered nurses, and will assist with the training.
I completed this training a few weeks ago,and left feeling positive and empowered. Lunch and childcare will be provided. Reserve your spot using the bulletin insert, Facebook event, or see Tonya or Aryn.
I completed this training a few weeks ago,and left feeling positive and empowered. Lunch and childcare will be provided. Reserve your spot using the bulletin insert, Facebook event, or see Tonya or Aryn.
Tayo Clyburn at St. John's
We are excited that Dr. Tayo Clyburn, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and Mission at Ohio State, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will be leading a community forum on Pride 2018 here at St John's beginning May 6!
Come learn more about the history of the movement, where we are now, and ways to move forward together amidst some challenges. Tayo will be with us May 6, 20and June 3 from 12:30-2pm in The Conference Room. Lunch and childcare will be provided.
Marla noticed that Dr. Clyburn's FB cover photo just happens to feature him in St. John's purple. Coincidence? We think not ;-)
We are excited that Dr. Tayo Clyburn, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and Mission at Ohio State, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will be leading a community forum on Pride 2018 here at St John's beginning May 6!
Come learn more about the history of the movement, where we are now, and ways to move forward together amidst some challenges. Tayo will be with us May 6, 20and June 3 from 12:30-2pm in The Conference Room. Lunch and childcare will be provided.
Marla noticed that Dr. Clyburn's FB cover photo just happens to feature him in St. John's purple. Coincidence? We think not ;-)
Network Spiritual Gifts Class
Have you ever taken a class that changed your life? I have, and now I get to lead it at St John’s! Join me on May 13, 20and 27 in The Youth Room from 12:30-2:30 for Network. Come discover your own unique passion, gifts and personal style. Discover who God made you to be in the Body of Christ. Lunch and childcare provided. Reserve your spot using the bulletin insert, the Facebook event, or see me.
Have you ever taken a class that changed your life? I have, and now I get to lead it at St John’s! Join me on May 13, 20and 27 in The Youth Room from 12:30-2:30 for Network. Come discover your own unique passion, gifts and personal style. Discover who God made you to be in the Body of Christ. Lunch and childcare provided. Reserve your spot using the bulletin insert, the Facebook event, or see me.
Mark your calendar now for the Heidelberg Choir Concert at St John’s on May 14 at 7pm. Join us in The Sanctuary for an evening of beautiful music and fellowship (and say “Hey!” to Pastor Gini’s daughter, Katie). A freewill offering will be accepted to support the choir on their Spring tour.
We Love Wednesdays and TLT
The Largest Table makes Wednesdays at St. John's so special, with our 12 PM casual service followed by lunch in our fellowship hall.
This week was extra-special, as students from The Wellington School joined us, not only helping out in the kitchen but providing great live jazz during lunch. We served 240 meals!
The Largest Table makes Wednesdays at St. John's so special, with our 12 PM casual service followed by lunch in our fellowship hall.
This week was extra-special, as students from The Wellington School joined us, not only helping out in the kitchen but providing great live jazz during lunch. We served 240 meals!
As we have mentioned, TLT's food expenses alone are over $1000 per month. We need your help not only via donations (cash or in-kind), but also in spreading the word about TLT to your friends! Anyone can help, not just congregation members. Send your friends this link to TLT webpage, and encourage them to experience how great it feels to support such a worthwhile effort.
https://www.stjohnschurchcolumbus.org/the-largest-table.html
https://www.stjohnschurchcolumbus.org/the-largest-table.html
Weekly Calendar, April 29 - May 5
Sunday April 29
Nursery Care available 8:30am
9am Traditional Worship
11am Contemporary Worship
Monday April 30
6-8pm Care Team Leader Training
Tuesday May 1
6pm Healing Broken Circles...Youth Room
Wednesday May 2
Noon Casual Worship...Sanctuary
12:30pm The Largest Table Meal...Fellowship Hall
3pm Staff Meeting...Pastor Gini’s Office
7:30pm Under the Stars Meal...Mound Street
Thursday May 3
4pm Budget and Finance Committee Mtg...Conference Room
6pm Healing Broken Circles...Conference Room
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal...Choir Room
Friday May 4
8pm Community Group AA...Fellowship Hall
Saturday May 5
9 to Noon, The Open Shelter's Women's Event, hosted by St. John's in our Conference and Youth Rooms
PLEASE NOTE: We've moved our Membership Sunday date to May 20
Sunday April 29
Nursery Care available 8:30am
9am Traditional Worship
11am Contemporary Worship
Monday April 30
6-8pm Care Team Leader Training
Tuesday May 1
6pm Healing Broken Circles...Youth Room
Wednesday May 2
Noon Casual Worship...Sanctuary
12:30pm The Largest Table Meal...Fellowship Hall
3pm Staff Meeting...Pastor Gini’s Office
7:30pm Under the Stars Meal...Mound Street
Thursday May 3
4pm Budget and Finance Committee Mtg...Conference Room
6pm Healing Broken Circles...Conference Room
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal...Choir Room
Friday May 4
8pm Community Group AA...Fellowship Hall
Saturday May 5
9 to Noon, The Open Shelter's Women's Event, hosted by St. John's in our Conference and Youth Rooms
PLEASE NOTE: We've moved our Membership Sunday date to May 20
Senior Pastor Gini
