JANUARY

2018
Volume 32.1

St. John’s
United Church
of Christ
St. John’s United
Church of Christ is a
diverse community
forming a united Dear All,
congregation, seeking to This month as we enter 2018 we enter the 175th year for St.
grow our faith, share it John’s. The church started by a small group of German
with others, and serve immigrant families. They worshipped together as a church on
God’s people wherever October 4th for the first time.
the need is present. We
are living God’s love and That was three buildings ago, before the civil war. In those days
all are invited!!! in Richmond there were enough German immigrants to have a
German Catholic church, a German synagogue and St John’s a
An Open and German protestant church. Through the years St John’s has
Affirming changed to fulfill its mission to serve God and the community.
Congregation Anniversaries and new years are always good times to take stock
503 Stuart Circle of who we are and how we have become who we are. About a
Richmond, Virginia 23220 year ago we rewrote our mission statement to say “St John’s
Telephone: UCC is a diverse community forming a united congregation,
804.358.9291 seeking to grow our faith, share it with others, and serve God’s
Rev. Linda Higgins people wherever the need is present. We are living God’s love,
Pastor and all are invited” So a year out how are we doing being that we
have stated is our intention to be? What do we need to do to live
Email:
office@stjohnsrichmond.org
more fully into our vision as we begin 2018?

Web Site: This will be a big year as we complete the sale of the parking lot
and begin to make renovations on the building, but it is our
mission and our ministry to Richmond and beyond that will
define us as we move into the next 25 years. It is time to look at
our community and see where the need is present. It is time to
truly share God’s love in a big way sharing our building and
building ministry that serves those who are in need.
With Love and Prayers,

Linda Higgins
Pastor Linda
stjohnsrichmond.org
The ministry of Worship and Music at St. John’s is definitely a team
effort. We have a choir team, worship teams, the Altar Guild team, the
sound-system team, the liturgists team, and the facilities team. These
Sunday team players are volunteers who help to make our worship
experience beautiful, audible, accessible, welcoming and uplifting.
As we begin a new year, the Worship and Music Committee would
like to meet with these different teams to express our gratitude and
appreciation, review their current responsibilities, and get their input
and ideas for how their team might function in the future. We hope
our first opportunity for this kind of team appreciation gathering will
be at a luncheon for the Altar Guild which we have scheduled for
Sunday, January 21, 2018. Anyone who is interested in becoming
part of the Altar Guild is also invited to attend the luncheon to learn
more about what the Guild does.

It should go without saying - but often is not communicated enough

especially to our new members and friends – the teams mentioned
above are not closed clubs. All are welcome! They do not require
special invitations, auditions or permissions or a vote of the
congregation to join. They do require some commitment and a little
common sense is always helpful.

We hope that if you are reading this and you are not currently part of
one of our many Sunday morning teams, you will prayerfully consider
volunteering. Please speak to any member of the Worship and Music
Committee which currently is:

Beverly Lindsey, Richard Bighinatti, Johanna Gilbert, Pastor Higgins

and Shirley Townsend.
OFFERING ENVELOPES FOR 2018
Your 2018 Offering Envelopes will be ready to pick up in the Church Parlor on
Thursday, January 4th. If you have not pledged yet for 2018, there will also be
pledge cards located in the Parlor. You may place your card in the offering plate or
in the mail slot in the Church Office door.

2017 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The last day to make a 2017 contribution is January 3,
2018. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS
CLEARLY MARKED AS A 2017 OFFERING AND YOUR
CHECK DATED IN 2017. If there is no indication on your
envelope/check, all monies received on or after January 1,
2018 will be credited for 2018. Thursday, January 4, we
will close the 2017 books. Your 2017 giving statement will
be mailed out no later than January 18, 2018.

Snowy
Weather

Should we get winter weather

and are forced to cancel worship, please watch
for our listing on Channel 8 TV,

or
Call the church’s main phone number at
(804)358-9291
and listen to the recording,

or
Check your email for an E-blast.

Even if we do not cancel services, we

encourage everyone to use their best
judgements to ensure their own safety and
well-being.
 Adult education for January 2018
Sunday Mornings @ 9:45 am in the Guild Room
For Sunday morning Adult Education, we will continue our series:
Sustaining Creation, a study of the environment and how we can be
effective advocates for mother earth.

There will be an
APPRECIATION
LUNCHEON
for the
Altar Guild Ministry
on
Sunday, January 21st
at 12:30 pm

Please join us for food & fellowship and to show your

gratitude for the wonderful work of ministry they accomplish!
For Additional Information Call the Church Office at:
(804) 358-9291
On Sunday, January 7, 2018 we will have a fun day! In worship, we will
celebrate Jesus’ Baptism and welcome Annie Blakey into our membership
and celebrate Communion. Immediately following worship, we will take
down our Christmas decorations, so please plan to stay after and help us
pack up all the beautiful decorations.

On January 14th, 21st and 28th, our worship will focus on our call to be
DISCIPLES and how God is calling each one of us in 2018.

Planning for our 175th Anniversary

October 8, 2018 will be the175th Anniversary
of the founding of St John’s United Church of
Christ. If we want to celebrate this milestone in
a truly festive way, it is time to begin planning.
If you have ideas and would like to be part of
a planning committee for celebrating St. John’s
175th Anniversary, please inform Pastor Linda
Higgins or you can call the church office at 804-358-9291.
"The Fellowship” will meet for food & fellowship on
Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 1:00 pm. They
will be having lunch at The Roma Ristorante Italiano
Restaurant located at 8330 Staples Mill Road, Henrico,
VA 23228. For additional information, please contact
Lynda Merry at 804-756-0270.

Food Safety Class in February

For all those who have worked in the church
kitchen, or who would like to do so, Martha Cook
has generously offered to teach a food safety class
so that we are able to comply with all applicable
food health and safety regulations and
requirements. The class is tentatively scheduled for
Saturday, February 3rd, from 1 pm to 4 pm at
Martha’s home. Please let Martha or Jeff Jacobs
know if you are interested in attending.
 Ministry Jan. 7 Jan. 14 Jan. 21 Jan. 28
Team 2 Team 3 Team 3 Team 4

Welcome Team Lynn Snyder Bill Watson Bill Watson Doug Waldrop
Leader

Sound System Will Atkinson Bruce Miller Bruce Miller Jeff Michel

Tellers Jeff Jacobs Jeff Jacobs Rob Osborn Rob Osborn

Scott Siefert Scott Siefert Tony Sharpenstein Tony Sharpenstein

Liturgist Robin Walsh Dreama Terrill Cheryl Goode Chris Wing

Facilities Jeff Hetzer Bill Watson Bill Watson Bud Higgins

Altar Guild Erin Burnette Cheryl Goode Johanna Gilbert

Georgianne Stinnette Arthur Dewey Charlotte Quick

Fellowship
Hosts

Altar
Flowers

Please find a substitute if

Teller Coordinator:
Bud Higgins
you are unable to perform
301-5059 your ministry and contact
your Team Coordinator
AND the office to let them
Fellowship Host Coordinator: know who will be filling in
Kate Schaefer
804-239-2871 for you. Thank you for
making our church
ministries run smoothly!
 J A N UA RY 2 0 1 8
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6
1:30 pm
Music & Worship
Committee Mtg.

7 8 9 10 11 12 13
9:30 am Choir 6:30 pm
Rehearsal Church Council 1:00 pm
9:45 am Adult Ed. Meeting The Fellowship
11 am Worship Lunch @ The
Pastor Linda’s Roma Ristorante
Baptism & Communion
Undecorating Birthday

14 15 16 17 18 19 20
9:30 am Choir 7 pm
Rehearsal Installation of
9:45 am Adult Ed. the Rev. Dr.
11 am Worship John F. McCard
St. James
Episcopal

21 22 23 24 25 26 27
9:30 am Choir 8:30 am-5 pm
Rehearsal 6:00 pm ANNUAL DAY
9:45 am Adult Ed. Coming to the FOR ALL
11 am Worship Table Meeting PEOPLE
Altar Guild
Appreciation

28 29 30 31
9:30 am
Choir Rehearsal
11 am Worship

3 Rick Pearman 14 Suzanne Foltz

6 Freida Walsh 19 Dan Mascher
8 Kathy Freise 20 Fritz Will, IV
8 Pastor Linda Higgins 23 Vicky Lyle
9 Georgianne Stinnette 24 Bryan Etter
10 Judy Brown 25 Charlotte Quick
10 Stephanie Workman 26 Bruce Miller
14 Hank Allen