As I conclude my annual Winter Sabbath to visit with family and friends over the holidays, I came across a marvelous New Years’ reflection from Theologian Richard Rohr (posted by Brian McLaren) entitled Everything Changes, from Rev. Rohr’s series on Jesus: Modeling an Evolving Faith.

May we enter the New Year at St. John’s filled with joy, hope, and anticipation, knowing that the “full field of the future is in God’s hands.” 
 
Pastor Gini

We will celebrate our first communion service of the New Year this Sunday, January 6th, as we return to our two service format (9am – traditional; 11am – contemporary).
 
The UCC website offers these insights into Epiphany Sunday...
 
Epiphany;
(from Greek, meaning to show or to manifest) is a feast day of the church's year. Epiphany falls on the last of the twelve days of Christmas. The Gospels for this season all have to do with the manifestation of the identity of Jesus - starting with the wedding at Cana and ending with Transfiguration.
Celebrating God coming to earth in human form, Epiphany reminds us that Jesus comes to the world for all people. Wrapped up in the idea of ta theophania (The Theophany), as Gregory of Nazianzus noted, is the understanding that "God is With Us." We are not alone.
 
Epiphany this year comes at a time of anxiety and hope. Many of us are struggling and are afraid. It's not easy to hope when times are bad. But, hope has come and has been made known to us. During this part of the liturgical cycle of the church we not only reflect upon Christ's Baptism but what we are called to do, because of our baptism, in the church and in the world.

For this Epiphany Sunday, our Thought for the day is...
 
If you've got the faith,
God's got the power.
 
- Corrie ten Boom

Choir News, Schedule Information
The St. John's Community Gospel Choir will publish their rehearsal and performance schedule for the first part of the new year, soon. Watch here for news.
 
St. John's Chancel and Bell Choirs rehearsal information for the upcoming events:
 
Sunday, Jan 6
8:10am Three Kings Rehearsal
8:30am Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, Jan 10
7:00pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Sunday, Jan 13
8:20am Chancel Choir Rehearsall

​Sunday January 6
COMMUNION SUNDAY, EPIPHANY SUNDAY
9am Traditional Service
11am Contemporary Service
Nursery care available 8:30am to 12:30pm
"Unafraid" Study Begins (see "Coming Events", below)
 
Wednesday January 9
12 noon THE LARGEST TABLE RETURNS FOR 2019!
7:30pm Dinner Under the Stars 

Contact the church office if you are interested in volunteering or making a donation (in-kind or monetary)!
 
Send your friends this link to our web page, with more about our most important ministry! Click here...

February 10/17/24
“Network Spiritual Gifts Class:
Why are you here?”
12:30pm-2:30pm, Conference Room

3rd ANNUAL WOMEN'S MARCH
 
JANUARY 19 at
The Statehouse

Visit this Facebook event link to let the world know you are going!

Your financial support of the church is deeply appreciated. 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. 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)
2)   Recurring or one time donations through our church website
3)   Giving Kiosk at the rear of the sanctuary 

​"Prepare ye the way!" says John. How are you preparing during Advent? Come join us in the Youth Room at 10 am this Sunday, for our Advent Study -- "It was Not a Silent Night" -- by Adam Hamilton, as we walk back, then towards Christmas. This week, we consider Mary at the foot of the cross.
For more on upcoming Sundays (weeks 3 and 4 of Advent), see our "Upcoming Events" below.

Advent and Christmas at St. John's are wonderful opportunities to include your friends in our uplifting and inspiring worship services. And, as Pastor Gini often reminds us: No matter who you are and where you are on life's journey...you are welcome here.

​Join us for worship this Sunday at 9am or 11am, as we light the second Advent candle, hear Pastor Gini's sermon, entitled "Live Prepared", AND share in Communion.

​Thanks to Pastor Dan and contemporary band members Paisha Thomas and David Butler, for again volunteering their time and talents to make our Wednesday noon casual service another blessed one. Also that morning, St. John's was honored to have a volunteer team from Davis Middle School in Dublin join our St. John's team, to help prepare and serve The Largest Table meal.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELP ST. JOHN'S CONTINUE THIS MOST IMPORTANT MINISTRY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, be they in kind or monetary.
Remember that our homeless can use rolling suitcases, and that this month's Mission items are washcloths and baking mixes. Bring your donations to church or call the office if you'd like to drop things off during the week. Hats and gloves are always needed this time of year.

SHARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Certainly one of the best and easiest ways to share our amazing church with your friends is via social media. Get into the habit! CLICK HERE for Pastor Dan's great How-to...

Visit our Facebook page regularly, and SHARE!!!

Choir News, Schedule Information
​
Our Children's Choir practices during the 11am service sermon time in preparation for singing at our Christmas Eve service.
Our Community Gospel Choir will rehearse on Tuesday 12/11 at 7:30 pm in preparation for their performance on Sunday December 16

Chancel and Bell Choirs rehearse each Thursday:
6:30pm Carillon Bell Choir...Music Room
7:15pm Traditional Choir Rehearsal ...Music Room
Let any staff member know if you are interested in joining any of our choirs.

Weekly Calendar December 9-15, 2018
Sunday December 9

Lighting of Advent 2 Candle 
Traditional Service 9am
Advent Study 10am Conf Rm
Contemporary Service 11am

Nursery Care 8:30am–12:30pm

Tuesday December 11
7:30 Gospel Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday December 12
Noon Casual Worship/Communion
12:30pm The Largest Table Meal

6:00pm Route 66 Bible Study
Note: Following the 12/12 meeting, Route 66 takes a break until the New Year

7:30pm Under the Stars Meal...Mound Street

Thursday December 13
6:30pm Carillon Bell Choir Rehearsal...Music Room
7:15pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal...Music Room

Saturday, December 15
Trey's SAFE SPACE Event
St. John's is pleased to host Trey Pearson's SAFE SPACE WEEKEND, 10 to 7. Click here to visit Trey's Facebook event...
​
Upcoming Dates to Remember

Our Advent Study continues on the 3rd and 4th Sundays...join Pastor Mary at 10am as she leads us through Adam Hamilton's "Not a Silent Night".

December 16 Jesus is lost! Mary and Joseph find him teaching in the Temple. Imagine what Mary must have been feeling, then her relief (and surprise!).

December 23 Mary learns she is to be the mother of God's son. Explore the culture of her time, and discover the social implications of this unusual birth.

December 30 Jesus is born, and it was NOT a silent night! Encounter the disparities between the idealized Christmas we yearn for, and the realities of our messy, difficult, challenging lives; between the perfect world we hope for and the broken world in which we live. 

Sunday Dec 16
"DOUBLE DAY"
Bring your friends! Our Community Gospel Choir performs at the 11am service.

Sat Dec 22, 2 pm
Carols, Cookies, and Christmas Sweaters, Oh My!!!

Wear your fave Xmas sweater (ugly or not!), bring one dozen cookies to share with our guests, and be prepared to make some joyful Christmas noise in our sanctuary and with our band, during this new-from-St.-John's COMMUNITY EVENT!

Click for the link to our Facebook event...and share it!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 23

Following the 11am service on December 23, be sure to join us for the Celebration of Jim Davies’ Service to St. John’s.

Jim is retiring from serving as St. John’s custodian and doorkeeper after 18 years of exemplary service to the church. Please join us after the second worship service to honor his service with a cake and punch reception.
Many Blessings and Thank You to Jim!

December 24 Christmas Eve Worship 6pm

Starting in January
6-week study, Sundays 10am- 11am
“Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in the Uncertain Times”

​January 13/20/27
New Members Class
12:30PM-3:30PM, Conference Room

February 10/17/24
“Network Spiritual Gifts Class:
Why are you here?”
12:30pm-2:30pm, Conference Room
​