St. John United Church of Christ 308 North Evergreen Avenue Arlington Heights, Illinois

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1 St. John United Church of Christ 308 North Evergreen Avenue Arlington Heights, Illinois We are a family of Christians raising children in Christian faith. From our Pastor November 2017 Sponsored by Judy Kriston Upcoming Worship Events November 5 All Saints Day 9:30 a.m. Communion Worship & Sunday School November 12 9:30 a.m. Worship & Sunday School November 19 9:30 a.m. Communion Worship & Sunday School November 26 9:30 a.m. Worship & Sunday School I remember fondly the season of fall in northeastern Ohio, where I grew up. We had two, very large maple trees in our front yard and my dad would spend hours raking leaves, only to have my sisters and I jump into the crisp piles he had meticulously created, scattering them everywhere in the wind. One day my dad brought home something new, a leaf blower. He plugged it in and raking leaves took on new life. I begged him to let me use the blower, but my dad was one of those dads who liked to do yard work himself, because he did it best. When he did finally let me try, it was powerful enough that it was hard for me to control. I gave up and soon was jumping in leaf piles rather than gathering them. And I loved every minute of it. While most of us don t find much joy in piles of leaves in our adulthood, there is something special about being carefree and jumping in a pile of leaves. It s at that moment when you let loose and dive in, trusting that the brown, orange, yellow, and red fallen leaves will cushion you and protect you from the hard ground.

2 In the season of pumpkin pie and turkey, leaves and cool, crisp weather, let s not forget to give thanks to God for these, the simple joys of life. Let s not forget to recognize how important a community of faith like St. John is in our lives and that the gospel s whole purpose is to allow us to live in and recognize those special moments where we can let loose and trust that God is protecting us and pouring out love on us every day. May you have a blessed November and Thanksgiving, Pastor Michael Stewardship Sunday Challenge On Sunday, October 22, St. John celebrated Stewardship Sunday. This year s theme is Why Give to St. John? with a focus on how we each answer that question. In his talk on stewardship, Pastor Michael spoke to the benefits of pledging, including allowing St. John s leadership to plan for the future, and he asked that everyone consider raising their pledge for The real challenge came when Pastor Michael challenged as least ten families/individuals to give $100 more a month in 2018, which is a challenge he and Blake are taking as well. Thank you to all who met the challenge or are increasing your pledges in any way for next year! As we look forward to 2018, keep in mind that we have hired for three staff positions and are expecting an exciting year of growth for St. John. We need your help in supporting this direction and vision for our church. If you weren t at church on October 22, please consider taking the challenge and/or increasing your pledge. Pledge cards can be put in the offering plate or turned into the office at any time. We re asking that all pledge cards be turned in to the office by Sunday, Nov. 5.

3 FIAT (Faith in Action Team) News Gary Gephart Mary Santi, Connie Wayman, and I attended the CRS (Community Renewal Society) 135 th Annual Membership Assembly on Saturday, October 7, at Pullman Presbyterian Church in Chicago. As always, the worship service and testimonials are inspiring, but this one also had a special celebration in that St. John was recognized as part of the Northwest Suburban FIAT with the City on the Hill Award. This was in recognition of the work done to have the Arlington Heights Village Trustees approve the construction of Hearts Place, a 16-unit supportive housing complex on Boeger Drive in Arlington Heights. Thank you all for not giving up when we lost the vote in Your letters of support, your attendance at our information meeting, and then your attendance at the Village Trustee meeting where the vote was taken were all vital to gaining this approval. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. A major platform item for CRS this coming year is Antiracism. We heard three eloquent speakers on various aspects of anti-racism including our faith-rooted commitment to tackle racism. I pray we will be able to work together as programs and activities are developed for this initiative. Other platform areas will focus on police accountability, justice reform, and economic development. As we learn to become more comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations, let us remember that this is done in the spirit of Christ and in a safe place. Together, let us embrace the belief in a unified community with God. Please contact Mary, Connie, or myself if you have any questions about how you can learn more about FIAT.

4 Give to St. John While You Shop With One Click A little birdy told us some of you have been Christmas shopping already! As a reminder, if you are shopping through Amazon, visit smile.amazon.com and enter St. John United Church of Christ as your charity. Your purchases will be the same price, but St. John will receive 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases. Chicago Metropolitan Association (CMA) Fall Meeting Gary Gephart Pastor Michael, Kate Alexander, Kathie Schulz, and I attended the CMA Fall Meeting on Saturday, October 21, at Faith United Protestant UCC in Park Forest. The theme was Voices Still Speaking and the worship service was highlighted with a play the included the first black minister ordained by the UCC, the first woman ordained, and the first openly gay man ordained by the UCC. To hear their stories in the first person makes one awe-struck with their courage and commitment to God, and the leadership of the UCC to recognize the value of all persons. The message, however, is that the struggle still continues as we still have many marginalized persons in the US today. We were able to attend mini energizer sessions on immigration, homelessness, environmental issues, mass incarceration, restorative justice, and LGBTQ issues to further learn about being open to listen to the voices of these people. I trust we will all see and hear more about how we can be a Christian agent -of-change in these areas as the year progresses. It is heartwarming to know that St. John can join forces with others through the CMA and wider UCC churches so that we can gather enough voices of our own to be heard as we live to fulfill the work Christ began. Our keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Stephanie B. Crowder, admonished us to BE BOLD. May St. John continue to be bold, but (as she indicated) also to do so with insight and with knowledge gained from studying the past.

5 Free will offering to support the music fund. Refreshments will be served. Held in Fellowship Hall. Bring your dancing shoes and be prepared to have fun!

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7 St. John Christmas Cards Starting this month, you will see the foil-lined alphabetized trays in Fellowship Hall. St. John members are invited to place their holiday cards to each other in these trays and donate to the church what they would have spent on postage. Please check the trays for your cards! In lieu of sending cards, some members make a donation to St. John for the amount they would have spent on cards and postage. If you are interested in this option, let the office know by Friday, November 10, and a greeting listing your name will be put in December s Journal Calendars Available St. John/Meadows Funeral Home 2018 wall calendars are available in the back of Fellowship Hall. Senior High Wreath Sale pick-up will be on Saturday, December 2. Book St. John Club St. John Book Club will meet Nov. 20th, at 2:00 p.m. We will be discussing "The Day the World Came to Town", by Jim Defede. A moving story of a community who opened its homes to more than 6,000 stranded airline passengers on 9/11/01.

8 St. John Word Find

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10 November Birthdays 2nd 5th 6th 7th 8th 10th 13th 14th 18th 24th 27th 29th 30th Matt Temple, Kate Fauss Jessica Giambarberee, Amy Chagoya Isla Kave Terrie Glander, Frank Kaiser Jason Fauss Linda Rothermel, Paul Thoms Joe Bednarz, Elizabeth Haberichter, Christian Pump Rick Grimes Wally Schultz Charlie Lewis, David Payne Kathie Schultz Geoffrey Gephart, Pat Riemer Brad Doty Do we have your birthday? If not, call the office and let us know! Dear St. John Members and Friends, Thank you for your years of contributions to the Lutheran Church of the Cross Food Pantry. Your food contributions delivered to us by Barbara Jo Scott are always needed and appreciated. We are busy and you truly are a gift for the needy of our Community. Walker Reach LCC Food Pantry

11 Dear St. John Members and Friends, Thank you for all your happy birthday wishes and get well cards for Pam. They were much appreciated. Thank you also for the condolence cards for me and to everyone who brought dishes and helped serve for the luncheon after Pam s celebration of life. Craig Mallar St. John Members and Friends, I write on behalf of the Board of Directors of Community Renewal Society and our member congregations. Each year at our Annual Membership Assembly, the congregations and constituents of CRS gather to celebrate our victories and launch our new work. This year we are honoring community leaders, congregations, and a public official who have made extraordinary contributions to the work of Community Renewal Society and to establishing greater justice and equality in our region. I am pleased to inform you that in light of your congregation s outstanding leadership, in particular recognition of your congregation s victory with the Arlington Heights Faith in Action Team to win a supportive housing development in your community, the Policy and Organizing Committee of our Board, on behalf of our member congregations, would like to award St. John United Church of Christ and the Arlington Heights Faith in Action Team, with our City on the Hill Award! CRS has been grateful for the many ways you and St. John United Church of Christ have worked with us over the years and look forward to continuing to partner together for justice. You are a great blessing to us! Peace with Justice, Rev. Robbie Craig Interim Executive Director

12 St. John United Church of Christ 308 N. Evergreen Ave. Arlington Heights, IL Fax: Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-noon, Monday - Friday Pastor s Day off: Friday Rev. Michael D. Jones, pastor mjones@stjah.org Cell: Kate Alexander, Seminary Intern Amanda Spence, Administrative Assistant Erin Velez, Director of Children s and Youth Ministries Dr. J. Paul Cochran, Organist Linda Styzek, Pianist Alberto Mantovano, Choir Director Carin Zachar, Bell Director The congregation of St. John United Church of Christ rejoices that our community of faith is strengthened by diversity. We declare ourselves to be an open and affirming congregation, extending God s extravagant welcome to all people regardless of culture, economic status, age, sex, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, marital status, or physical/mental condition. We invite everyone to join our journey of faith and participate fully in the life of our congregation.

13 Christmas Poinsettias Order Form We have the opportunity to share our Christmas poinsettias to beautify our sanctuary as we celebrate Christ s birth. It is a glorious way to remember your loved ones this Christmas. The plants are $7 each. Please make your checks payable to St. John. Fill out this order form and return to the church office by Sunday, December 3. Pick up your poinsettias after the 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service. I wish to purchase poinsettia plants at $7 each. Enclosed is my check in the amount of $. FROM In memory of In honor of Envelope Number

14 November 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Bell Tones 6:15pm Chancel Choir 7:15pm 2 Thursday Work Crew 9am/St. John Cra ers 1pm/Women s Fellowship 7pm 3 4 Music Concert-Carole Stephens Macaroni Soup 3:30pm 5 All Saints Day Communion Worship & Sunday School 9:30am Confirma on 11:30am 6 7 Bible Study 10:00am/ Worship Band 6:00pm/ Spiritual Life Commi ee 7pm/ Mission Team Mee ng 7pm 8 Bell Tones 6:15pm Chancel Choir 7:15pm 9 Thursday Work Crew 9am/Cards 1pm/ Women s Fellowship 7pm Worship & Sunday School 9:30am FYS/Crew Club Thanksgiving Celebra- on Bible Study 10:00am Worship Band 6:00pm Council 7pm 15 Bell Tones 6:15pm Chancel Choir 7:15pm 16 Thursday Work Crew 9am/St. John Cra ers 1pm/Women s Fellowship 7pm Faithful Friends at Jamison s TBD 19 Communion Worship & Sunday School 9:30am Confirma on 11:30pm 20 Book Club 2pm 21 Bible Study 10:00am Worship Band 6:00pm Stewardship 7pm 22 Bell Tones 6:15pm Chancel Choir 7:15pm 23 Thanksgiving - Office Closed 24 Office Closed 25 Wedding 1:00pm 26 Worship & Sunday School 9:30am Bible Study 10:00am Worship Band 6:00pm 29 Bell Tones 6:15pm Chancel Choir 7:15pm 30 Thursday Work Crew 9am/Cards 1pm/ Women s Fellowship 7pm St. John United Church of Christ 308 N. Evergreen Ave. Arlington Heights, IL