St. John s United Church of Christ 501 East Main Street Evans City, PA May 2017 Messenger. Dated Material: please deliver promptly

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1 St. John s United Church of Christ 501 East Main Street Evans City, PA May 2017 Messenger Dated Material: please deliver promptly May 7 Communion/Choir Festival at Westminster May 14 Mother s Day May 21 Memorial to the Lost Service May 29 Memorial Day

2 Rev. Jane Duffield - Interim Pastor Worship Service 10:00 A.M. duffielddj2@yahoo.com Children s Sunday School 10:00 A.M. Office Office stjohnsevanscity@zoominternet.net Website: Facebook: St. John s United Church of Christ of Evans City May Newsletter EXCITING TIMES FOR ST. JOHN S BUT - The President s Message I hope you read in the April newsletter that Consistory voted to increase Pastor Duffield s hours from 24 to 30 per week for the rest of the year, excepting the three summer months. The decision was made because there is that much work to do here at St. John s and 24 hours just was not enough for the pastor to do her job properly. We also decided to increase our hours offered a new stated pastor when next we hire one. We are hoping this increase in hours offered will increase the number and quality of applicants for our stated pastor position. Our choir will join choirs from other area churches for a vocal concert May 7 at 7 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. I hope you will support our choir with your attendance. St. Johns is stepping out and planning a Memorial to the Lost, a means of marking the tragic epidemic of opioid deaths in Butler County. We will have a memorial service and a graphic display on our front lawn in May to call attention to this troubling trend. Planning for Vacation Bible School, which we are hosting this year, is ramping up. Within a thirty day period we will have welcomed three new members to our church and baptized a child of God. Meanwhile, all our other ongoing mission work continues. Pastor Duffield is visiting all our shut-ins around the Easter season. Breakfast with the Easter Bunny set an all-time high in attendance April 8. This is all wonderful news for our church and sets a new bar for our involvement in our church and our community. But it does come with a cost. The congregation approved the 2017 budget last November and that budget included a running deficit through The deficit will only get larger with Consistory s decision to increase our pastor s hours and pay. Part of the budget each year is an estimated amount which our fundraisers will earn. But every year is different, and we cannot say for sure what amount fundraisers will contribute to the overall budget. Two of the last three years the budget has balanced or had a small surplus. But we are in different territory this year. What can be done? While stewardship can be an awkward topic it is not difficult to see that we could use some additional income through our offering envelope system; about eight percent more on an annualized basis. What does eight percent equate to? Here are some examples. If you give ten dollars a week, eight percent is 80 cents more; $15 a week=$1.20 more, $20 a week=$1.60 more, $25 a week=$2 more, $50 a week= $4 more, (cont. next page)

3 News Around the Church (cont.) $75 a week=$6 more, $100 a week=$8 more, $200 week= $16 more. I realize not everyone is able to increase their giving. But if you are giving the same amount to church that you did five or ten years ago it could be time to consider an increase in your giving. Just like your grocery or fuel bill, the church bills have increased as well. There is another way to increase our income over the longer haul and that is called planned giving. I hope to address planned giving in another president s message in the future. For now, I ask that you seriously consider increasing your offering amount if you are able. As seen by the guideline above, we don t need a huge amount from each person. However, we do need to respond as a church family to the needs of the church. If you appreciate what St. John s has been doing lately and value our impact on our worship family and our community I hope you will respond positively. Your church leadership is working hard to accomplish the vision of the new St. John s. If you have comments or concerns I would be pleased to hear from you. Peace and joy to you all. Don Princeler, President, St. John s Consistory September Rummage Sale Have you and all your friends saved unwanted usable things for the September rummage sale? Furniture, small appliances, household goods, linens, etc. are accepted (no clothes). Any questions, ask Stella, Kay, Donna, or Nancy. I want to thank Kay Cumberledge who stepped in for me as Consistory Secretary at our April meeting while I was out of town with my FBLA students. Here are the highlights of that meeting: Consistory approved the bid of $3,500 from Gary Neff to repair the flat rubber roof. [On a side note regarding this, huge thanks goes to Don Princeler and his St. John s Team of Experts who spent countless hours and long conversations researching how best to handle the repair to the flat roof. Their diligence to this project will extend the roof life to ten, perhaps as much as twenty years and at a very affordable cost to us. Thank you Don and Team!] Final plans have been made for the spring Insights conversation titled The LGBTQ Communities: Defining, Understanding, Caring. Ted Hoover, a trainer/educator from the PERSAD Center in Pittsburgh, will be the speaker. As plans for the Memorial to the Lost are proceeding, it was announced that there were 74 people from Butler County who died from drug overdose in Roe Herb and Bert Enslen are making the cross stands for the T-shirts. These will be assembled and displayed on the church lawn the week of May 15 th. A service of remembrance will be part of our Worship on Sunday, May 21, at 10:00 am. New members will be received on Sunday, May 7. Blessings to All, Diane Iman

4 Worship Information Sermon: Scriptures: Psalm 23 May 7 Lessons from the Early Church Acts 2: The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be Celebrated Sermon: Reception of New Members May 14 Living Stones Scriptures: Psalm 31: 1-5, Peter 2: /02 Lindsey Stanton 5/03 Tom Call 5/12 Elizabeth Iman 5/12 Brita Hicks 5/13 Krista Enslen 5/14 Alaina Ekstam 5/16 Grant Porter 5/20 Susan Kent 5/31 Alexandria Parrotto 5/31 Alison Cumberledge May 21 Sermon: Love Inside Out Scriptures: Psalm 130 John 14: Special Service: Memorial to the Lost 5/02 Bruce & Carol Kingsbury 5/03 John & Eleanor Camus 5/19 Nick & Carrie Barron 5/31 Nathan & Brandi Miller May 28 Sermon: Get on with Your Ministry! Scriptures: John 17: 1-11 Acts 1: 6-14

5 Minister s Reflections Christian Hospitality for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, Matt. 25:35 Some people say that Christian hospitality is best defined as Christ s love in action. This year, you at St. John s exhibited Christ s love in many different ways. Every visitor coming through our doors on Sunday is greeted with extravagant welcome. In recordbreaking numbers, families in our community enjoyed St. John s hospitality at the Easter Bunny breakfast. You take hospitality on the road when you serve at the Neighborhood Academy, the Jubilee Soup Kitchen, the Evans City Food Pantry, and the Mission Barn. Our new Insights Conversations series tackled many controversial topics that others shy away from discussing, such as substance abuse, end-of-life planning, and, most recently, understanding the LGBTQ communities. By opening-up up our hearts and minds to learn more about these topics, we become better prepared to minister to those in our community who are marginalized. in this tragic way and anyone concerned about the drug crisis in our community, will have a chance to pray, reflect, and mourn. You will continue to reach out to the community by hosting Vacation Bible School (VBS) during the week of July 24. True to the 2017 VBS theme, Batter-up! Playing on God s Team, participants of all ages will engage in a variety of community hands-on mission projects. Others may ask why we at St. John s do all the things we do. Well, the answer is really quite simple. Jesus said in Matthew, when you served one of the least of these, who are members of my family (children of God), you did it to me. When you open wide your doors to others, when you extend Christian hospitality, you are, indeed, letting in the Risen Christ. So in answer to the questions, we do the things we do, to put Christ s love in action! Blessings, Pastor Jane This month, you again, are showing Christ s love through the Memorial to the Lost. Starting on Monday, May 15, seventy-four T-shirts, representing each individual from Butler County who died from drug addiction in 2016, will be displayed on our church lawn. The Memorial will culminate in a special worship service on Sunday, May 21, where those who grieve loved ones died

6 Honor the Graduates Sunday, June 11 The CE Committee knows of the following high school and college graduates: High School: Elizabeth Grochalski Alexandria Parrotto Corrina Yobp College: Connor Thompson (grandson of Sally Thompson) The Graduates will be recognized during the worship service on June 11 and honored at a special Graduation Fellowship immediately following the service. Please contact the church office if there are any additions or corrections needed ( ). St. John s will be parking cars at the Red Barn Theatre for their Summer 2017 season. This is not only a fundraiser for our church, but an excellent opportunity for outreach to the community. Listed below are the scheduled shows and dates: Not Now, Darling June 2-3, 8-10, Jesus Christ Superstar (Musical) July 7-8, 13-15, Beer for Breakfast August 11-12, 17-19, Hilda s Yard September 15-16, 21-23, The Red Barn Sign-Up sheets can be found in the Narthex. Your help with this fundraiser will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, see Diane Iman or Tammy Herb. See you at the Theatre!

7 St. John s Strawberry Jelly can always be found in the Narthex, and makes a wonderful gift! Each jar is $5.00. You say you don t need a gift...it is delicious on toast and makes a great Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich! Get your jar now! St. John s Garden Club Tour The date is set, and our hosts Elaine and Fred Gross, are anxiously getting ready for our arrival. They would like us to come July 26, We will meet at the church at 5:15 to leave and arrive at their Renfrew home at 5:30. Elaine has beautiful gardens of perennials and annuals, with Fred s chickens keeping them free of bugs. It will be a wonderful evening. Not only will you enjoy the beautiful flowers, but I m sure you will get many new ideas on what to do at your own gardens. Mark your calendars now, and we will see you Wednesday, July 19 th 2017.for St. John s 2017 Garden Tour! Meals on Wheels Our weeks for providing desserts for MOW are coming up in a few months. Look up your favorite diabetic recipe for a dessert or save your coupons for individual jello and pudding and cookies. Exact dates and quantity will follow. Food cupboard item: Kleenex Articles for the June Messenger are due by May 22!

8 St. John s Mission Updates & Opportunities! What an exciting and busy month we had in April! As I write this we aren t even done with the month! I hope everyone enjoyed the M&M s in the narthex. They are there to remind us all of Mission & Ministry, and you all earned M&M s this month! We started out the month with a wonderful Easter Bunny Breakfast for the Community, and the community came at one point I actually thought the ENTIRE community came. We had happy kids and parents everywhere, and broke all previous records. Fun was definitely had by all.including the Easter Bunny! THANK YOU!!! On Palm Sunday we celebrated Jesus entry into Jerusalem, and the Confirmation of Tony Camus. Congratulations Tony, we have enjoyed working with you as you grew in your Faith, and will be with you as you continue to grow in your Faith. You will soon learn it is a life long journey. Welcome, and for all your help and those that helped you on your journey THANK YOU!!!! We took Taco Salad, cookies, ice cream, and drink to the Neighborhood Academy. Due to a scheduling mix up.a Pittsburgh Rotary Club also brought dinner. Not to worry. We served Spaghetti and our dessert..they had Taco Salad for lunch the next day! We also got to meet two exchange students. Everyone was a winner! Thanks to Pastor Jane, Paula Purvis, Nancy Miller, Kirt Jones, Tony Camus, Grace Purvis, & Kylie Maze. To those who cooked and donated this isn t possible without everyone s help! THANK YOU!!! St. John s Runs and Walks! We had 13 people Run or Walk in this year s Patti J. Nelson 5K Walk/Run. Many won medals in their age category, some won baskets, some won quilts, and we all helped raise funds for the Evans City Library. Even with the cool weather we still had fun, good food, fellowship, and helped the Evans City Library. With the many funding cuts this is money they are very grateful for.thank YOU!!! This article is written before we even finished the Month we still have our first Garden Club meeting.to spruce up our new sign, and our Insight Series Understanding LGTBQ. With all your help I am sure they will both be a huge success. Again to all of you THANK YOU!!! I guess you could call this month the THANK YOU month. We could never ever accomplish everything without all of you! So again THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JOIN US NEXT MONTH FOR ANOTHER MISSION FILLED MONTH! Saturday, May 6, 2017 Eastbrook Mission Barn. Meet at the Church 8:00am. We will purchase lunch at Sheetz and return by 2:00. Dress for the outdoors with comfortable shoes, clothes to layer, and gloves. Saturday May 13, 2017 Garden Club. Meet in the kitchen at 8:30 am for coffee, donuts, a brief meditation, then off to the gardens. We are always done by 10:30! Sunday, May 21, 2017 Jubilee Soup Kitchen. We are collecting clean containers with lids, and Dawn Dish Detergent. A box is in the Narthex. We leave at 8:00am and are home by around 1:30. Bring money to stop for lunch. Saturday, May 27, 2017 Garden Club. Meet in the kitchen at 8:30 am for coffee, donuts, and a brief meditation before we head into the gardens. The only thing you need gloves and the desire to make our gardens beautiful!!! Saturday, June 3, 2017 Izzie s Dash 5K and walk. Isabelle Christenson s family are part of St. John s Family. This event raises funds for organ donation and educates us about donation. Go to the web site to learn more. And sign up! Come and join us in Mission & Ministry..Sowing Seeds of Ministry!!! Sue Ann Jones daveandsueann@zoominternet.net jonessa1220@gmail.com

9 Spring All Association Meeting What Does God Require of Us? Justice and Witness Ministries Penn West Conference During the meeting there was a time to break out into groups and talk about different justice issues. There have been reports written on some of them. At the end of the day, each gave a brief word on what came out at each gathering. Some were already reported on, but this is a very brief summery of the reports. Widening The Welcome (Mental Illness)- Recognize and welcome all. Discuss how we can help those who need help. The Middle East Pray for peace and do not pass judgment on either side. Hunger and Homelessness- Be aware of the problem. See people as human beings. They are people with feelings. What can a church or churches do? Open and Affirming- How to read scripture. This is a long process. Creation Care- Each person can make a difference. Be aware of what you need versus what you want. Landfills are full of discarded usable things because of wanting the newest and more than we need. Consumerism is not simply a marketing strategy. It has become a demonic spiritual force among us, Walter Brueggeman has said. Check out Genesis and read what happened when someone wanted more. Consume less, recycle more. Economic Justice- Fair Trade a wonderful way to help. People right here in our country need help. -Donna Sailer Sign Fund Still Taking Donations The new electronic sign is up and running. I hope you can see the possibilities for our church, going forward, by the use of this modern communications device. The sign purchase was authorized at a January 2017 Congregational Meeting. Since the sign was installed and is working well, along with the refurbished wood sign above the electronic sign, we have paid the second half of the contractual price. Total cost of the electronic sign and the refurbished wood sign was $8600. The Helen Herb/Electronic sign fund has collected a total of $6400 so far. Consistory temporarily borrowed $2200 from the current fund to pay off the sign. So we are still taking donations for the Helen Herb/Electronic Sign fund now and through at least the summer to retire the remaining $2200 needed for the sign. If you wish to donate a sum, large or small, just add it to your regular offering envelope, but clearly mark on the front of the envelope the amount that should go to the sign fund. Consistory is excited about the electronic sign and how useful it will be to advertise regular church services as well as special events.

10 STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH OFFERING SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 As we went through the profile process for calling a permanent pastor, this congregation asked many questions, such as Who are we, and who is God calling us to be? and How do we think beyond our walls to impact the community around us for the better? In the bulletin for the Strengthen the Church offering, we are asked to look at some multiple choice questions. I have included 2 of those questions for you to consider. 1. Why church? a. To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves b. To be united in Spirit and inspired by God s grace to welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all c. To vision a just world for all, united in Christ s love d. All of the above 2. Where does Strengthen the Church money go? a. To seed brand new churches that bring hope to people on the margins who wouldn t set foot in church otherwise b. To help established churches begin projects working with refugees and immigrants c. To fund creative ideas experimenting with new ways Christian millennials are gathering d. All of the above and so much more! If you chose answer d for both those questions, then you are thinking outside the building and boxes that have defined the message of Christianity in the past. By giving to the offering on June 4, we are strengthening the Church not only for the church we have grown up knowing, but also for the church that God is calling us to be. Outreach Committee

11 Memorial to the Lost Remembering those from Butler County Who Died from Drug Addiction Sunday, May 21, at 10:00 am at St. John s United Church of Christ 501 East Main Street, Evans City In a special worship service on Sunday, May 21, St. John s UCC will remember those in Butler County who died from drug addiction. Family members who lost loved ones due to the opioid epidemic and anyone concerned about the drug crisis in our county are encouraged to join us for worship. This service will culminate a week-long Memorial to the Lost, starting May 15, during which 74 T-shirts will be displayed on the church lawn; each T-shirt will represent an individual from Butler County who died from drug overdose in St. John s is undertaking this project to urge everyone to protect themselves from the real, life-threatening danger of drug addiction and to offer support and comfort to all with loved ones who died in this tragic way.

12 Greetings Join us this summer for a very special Mission-Based Vacation Bible School. Batter Up! VBS is geared for All Ages 2 to 92!! Four different teams will make up the Batter Up! VBS and are as follows: T-Ball team ages 4 5 (Children under 4 must be accompanied by an adult.) Little League team ages 6 8 Pony League team ages 9 11 EDCO Park team ages 12 thru adults During the week Team Members will Step Up to the Plate to serve and help our Evans City Community with special projects for EDCO Park, Evans City Food Cupboard and VOICe. Team members are welcome to begin the each evening at the Tailgate dinner. (See the registration & release form for daily menu.) The Opening ceremonies and the first pitch begin promptly at 6:00 pm in the PHN Park (Praise His Name Park). If you cannot make the tailgate, make sure you are in your seats for the Start of the Game at 6:00 pm. At the conclusion of the Opening Ceremonies the Batter Up! VBS teams will proceed to their designated playing fields. (See registration and release form for daily schedule.) So fellow teammates grab your bats and ball and let s Batter Up! and Step Up to the Plate to serve our Evans City Community. Suit up! Join us on... July 24 28, :00 8:00 pm St. John's United Church of Christ 501 East Main Street Evans City, PA

13 Registration Form Evans City Community Vacation Bible School Sponsored by: St. John s UCC, St. Peter s Lutheran Church, Westminster UP Church July 24 28, :00 8:00 PM (Tailgate Dinner at 5:30 PM) For Ages 4 100! (Children under 4 must be accompanied by an adult) Send registration form to: St. John s UCC, 501 East Main Street, Evans City, PA registration form to: stjohnsevanscity@zoominternet.net Attendee s Name Age Will be at the Tailgate Dinners? Allergies/Medical Needs (Indicate for those under 18 only) YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO Attendee or Parent/Caregiver s Name if under 18: Address: City State Zip Phone: In case of emergency, contact: Phone:

14 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Musicians 6:00 pm Praise Team Eastbrook Mission Barn 8:00 am 6:30 pm Choir 7:00 pm Worship/ Children s S.S. 10:00 am Choir Westminster 7:00 pm Consistory Quilters Garden Club 7:00 pm 6:00 pm 8:30 am Musicians 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Choir 7:00 pm Worship/ Children s S.S. 10:00 am Jubilee Soup Kitchen 8:00 am Worship/ Children s S.S. 10:00 am Memorial to the Lost Service Christian Ed 6:30 pm Worship Committee 5:00 pm Musicians 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Choir 7:00 pm Quilters Garden Club 6:00 pm 8:30 am Musicians 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Choir 7:00 pm Worship/ Children s S.S. 10:00 am Musicians 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Choir 7:00 pm