MARCH 2015

Volume 29.3

St. Johns
United Church of
Christ
St. Johns is a community
of faith centered in Jesus
Christ, seeking guidance
and direction through the
Holy Spirit, and
demonstrating Gods love
to all people in words and
deeds.

An Open and
Affirming
Congregation
503 Stuart Circle
Richmond, Virginia 23220
Telephone: 804.358.9291
Email:
stjohnsrichmondoffice@verizon.net

Web Site:
stjohnsrichmond.org

The St. Johns Congregation

Pastor Search Committee & Church Council
Right Now!
Today!

The Council has called a congregational meeting for

Sunday, March 22, 2015 for the purpose of hearing and acting upon a
report from the Pastor Search Committee. The meeting will be held at the
end of the 11:00 AM worship service.
Prior to the meeting the Pastor Candidate will preach the sermon during
the service. There will be opportunities on Saturday March 21 for the
members of the congregation to meet the candidate.
Please put a big red circle around these dates and make every effort to
attend and participate in events that will be announced as they develop.
A letter from the Council and Search Committee will be mailed the first of
this coming week with information about the weekend.

A Note from Rev. Nicholson...

Wow! The time is finally arriving when you will be hearing a sermon from and voting to call your next
installed pastor. This is truly an exciting time. I believe your search committee has done a
thorough, thoughtful, and prayerful search for the person whose name will be put before you. As
they gave their report to the Council last week I could not help but be filled with joy and enthusiasm
for the next chapter that you will be writing together.
A number of people have asked about me; what is my position in the transition. As an Interim
Pastor I always know that my time with a congregation is limited. Anticipating this, my contract with
the church specifies that the church can end its relationship with me with thirty days notice. When I
began this work five interims ago this was very unsettling because I would have no idea what if anything was coming next. I dont have those concerns now. We have retired to Richmond, coming
back home after sixteen years away. We have family here including our son, his wife, and our
precious three-year-old grandson.
The timeframe for voting on the new pastor, the pastors start date, and any overlap that might be
desired are completely in the hands of the Council and the new pastor. As this point I may not
initiate contact with the pastor candidate. Of course if the candidate contacts me, I will respond. All
of this is in accord with best practices for Interim Ministers. I will do everything requested to
facilitate a smooth transition, but it is now time to look ahead to a new and long term relationship and
ministry with your new pastor.
I pray Gods richest blessing on you and upon the pastor as you begin your work together.

Published monthly
2013 St Johns UCC

Godspeed,

Roger

2 The Messenger | MARCH 2015

Observing Lent
St. Johns is offering several opportunities for exploring faith during this Lenten
season, as we follow the path Jesus took to the cross.

PRAYERS

Like Jesus, we turn to prayer to help us find our way. Every Sunday, all are invited to write prayers

on paper leaves provided in the Parlor, Fellowship Hall, and Sanctuary. Prayer leaves can then be placed in the
offering plates or in baskets beside the Prayer Tree on the Parlor wall. Include prayers for friends and family, our
congregation, the Richmond community, and the world.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Other practices will also sustain us on the journey. During the week, use the

insert in the Sunday bulletin to experiment with several different spiritual practices. Try them out alone or with
others in your household. Listen to what God might be teaching you during this time of Lent.

THE CROSS

As we head toward the cross, it is helpful to learn more about this important Christian

symbol. On Sunday, March 15, all are invited to participate in an hands-on intergenerational workshop from 9:4510:45 a.m. in the Fell. Hall. Come join in activities such as making a cross necklace out of nails, and decorating
different styles of crosses.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH ON SUNDAY MORNINGS

It can be easy for children to miss out on all the stories that fall between Palm Sunday and Easter, since most Holy
Week services are not child-friendly. To help St. Johns children fill in the gaps, the Toddler, Primary and Jr. Youth
classes will be exploring the stories of Holy Week in advance. Jr. Youth will study the many symbols of Lent, make
a timeline and create a set of Lenten Easter eggs. The Primary and Toddler classes will hear the stories of Palm
Sunday, the Last Supper, and the Garden of Gethsemane. They will experience the stories through drama, images,
puzzles, and other activities so that when Easter arrives, they will have walked with Jesus from the cross to the
empty tomb.

ADULTS ON SUNDAY MORNINGS

The Sunday adult class will explore the various people

that tradition places along Jesus path to the cross. They will imagine what it would have been like to watch Jesus
as he was beaten, ridiculed, and abused by the authorities and the crowd. They will also reflect on how their own
stories are linked with Jesus suffering and what God might be calling us to do and be in light of the brokenness of
the world. This class meets 9:45-10:45 a.m. in B-2.

The Messenger | MARCH 2015

Holy Week And

Easter
Palm Sunday - March 29
9:30 am

Stuart Circle Parish Palm Sunday Processional

Pick up a palm branch at St. Johns and then head across Stuart Circle to
gather on the steps of First English.

10:30 am

Back to St. Johns for coffee and pastries

10:55 am

Procession of the Palms

All children and parents (and anyone else who wants to participate) will gather in the
Narthex with a palm branch to wave as we together enter the sanctuary to open our
Palm Sunday worship service.

9:30 am

Palm Sunday Worship Service

Maundy Thursday - April 2

7:00 am

Communion and Tenebrae Service

Our Communion and Tenebrae (Latin for "shadows" or "darkness") Service will guide us as we remember the
night of Christs last supper and betrayal.

Good Friday - April 3

Noon

Prayer Service

Easter Sunday - April 2

11:00 am

Communion and Tenebrae Service

Join us in the sanctuary at 11:00 am for our Easter Worship Service. The service will conclude with the choir
and congregation singing of the Hallelujah chorus to Handels Messiah.

Noon

Celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord!

Gather in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy fellowship and wonderful food prepared by the Congregational Life
ministry. Special activities will be provided for the children including our annual Easter egg hunt. We look
forward to seeing everyone as we greet one another with Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

4 The Messenger | MARCH 2015

Please sign up on the lists in the

Parlor to help welcome our
CARITAS guests each night.

MARCH CARITAS Volunteers

March 1

Quick family

March 2

First English

March 3

First English

March 4

Jeff Michel, Steve Plymale

March 5

Scott Siefert

March 6

Allen family

March 7

Karen Marie Yust

March 8

Don Warren

March 9

First English

March 10

First English

March 11

Jeff Michel, Steve Plymale

March 12

Cheryl Goode

March 13

Cheryl Goode

March 14

Dale and Laura Totty

March 15
March 16

First English

March 17

First English

March 18

Arthur Dewey, Lynda Merry

March 19
March 20
March 21

Easter Offering
for ACTS

ACTS - Area
Congregations Together
in Service - is a Greater
Richmond interfaith
mission providing support
and resources during
periods of financial crisis to
2015
prevent homelessness.
ACTS serves as a
resource to St. Johns UCC
and 50+ other regional
congregations, by assessing and assisting people who visit or
call the churches seeking financial assistance. Instead of the
churches simply offering a hand out, staff is able to refer that
person to ACTS who fully assesses the situation face to face
while taking the necessary time to listen to each individual and
how they got in financial crisis and the best solutions.
Since it began assisting clients in the Greater Richmond Area in
August 2006, ACTS has financially assisted hundreds of households and given other more appropriate resources to hundreds
more.
Your support during 2014 enabled 825 people to retain their
stable housing within 340 households. That included 332
children under the age of 18 who would have had their lives
disruptedoften an indicator of repeated homelessness during
their adult years.
Your continued financial support is most appreciated by so
many in our community who are in crisis. Special monetary
offerings will be received on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday
for ACTS.

Barbour family

March 22
March 23

First English

March 24

First English

March 25

Jeff Michel, Sal Anselmo

March 26
March 27
March 28
March 29
March 30

First English

March 31

First English

Please donate snacks for our CARITAS ministry.

Be prepared to give on
Palm Sunday and Easter
Sunday

The Messenger | MARCH 2015

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed,
but that there might be equality.
At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their
plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written:
The one who gathered much did not have too much,
and the one who gathered little did not have too little.
2 Corinthians 8:13-15

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, lives are literally changed daily. Your support provides
clean water, food, medicines, shelter, healthcare, education and so much more. In 2014, the OGHS
offering reached $2,478,536. An additional $720 thousand was received to support specific disaster
relief initiatives. One Great Hour of Sharing, as part of Our Churches Wider Mission, is the special
mission offering of the United Church of Christ that carries Gods message of love and hope to people
in 138 countries. The UCC works with international partners to provide sources of clean water and
food, education and health care, small business micro-credit, emergency relief, and advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced
persons. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and response.
St. Johns is proud that we have participated in this offering every year. This year, we will be taking up a special collection for The
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering on Sunday, March 15 during the 11 am worship service. Please prayerfully consider how you
will financially participate in this ministry and come to worship on the 15th prepared to give generously.

Stuart Circle Parish

Good Friday Blood Drive
April 3, 2015
2:00 7:00
In this love, not that we loved God but that he loved us
and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Beloved, since God loved us so much,
we also ought to love one another.

--- 1 John 4:10-11

As we remember the reconciling, life giving grace of Christs crucifixion and resurrection, we are
grateful for this opportunity to unite in offering the life giving of blood On average, every two
seconds someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion, and this is a precious gift that cannot be
manufactured but only comes through the generosity of donors. We seek to provide 100 successful blood donations. All support
is welcome, and if you are unable to donate yourself, we encourage you to consider seeking a substitute donor or volunteering your
time. If you would like to donate please contact info@grace-covenant.org or 804-359-2463. Parking is in the alley behind Grace
Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Location:
Fellowship Hall, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
1627 Monument Avenue
Parking in alley behind the church
Participating Churches
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart , City Church, First English Lutheran Church
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, St. Jamess Episcopal Church, St. Johns United Church of Christ

The Messenger / MARCH 2015

...from the President

The month of February brought the start of CARITAS and some
snowy weather. Many thanks to the volunteers who made the effort to
serve our guests! A professional clothes closet was set-up and our
guests were given some much needed clothes of their choice to wear
on job interviews and to jobs. This mission of ours continues through
April 17th and I urge you to take a turn or two during this remaining
period.
A special council meeting was held on February 25, with a recommendation from the Search Committee of a candidate for our called
pastor. The recommendation was accepted and will be presented to
the Congregation on March 21-22 and a Congregational vote will take
place on March 22nd at our worship service.
The Constitution has been revised and will be presented to the
Congregation at special meetings during the weeks ahead for your
comments. Please make every effort to attend one of these sessions.

Easter Lily
Order Form
Each year we have lovely Easter lilies
on display in the chancel area on
Easter morning. If you wish to order a lily in memory of or in
honor of a loved one, please complete this form and drop it by the
church office, place it in the offering plate, or mail it to the church
office. The cost is $14 per plant, and you may take it home after
the completion of the Easter morning worship service.

Ordering Deadline: Sunday, March 22, 2015

In memory of In honor of
Name ___________________________________________
Given by:_________________________________________

Soon we will observe Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday

and Easter Sunday. Our Worship/Music Committee is busy at work
with these celebrations.

Coming in April, St. Johns Community Players will present their Annual Cabaret which is a fundraiser for the church. There will be Dinner and show on the 25th or just the show and show on 26th .Tickets
can be purchased on our St Johns web site and will be sold after
church beginning in April.

Name ___________________________________________

We are going to have a very busy spring and I pray that all of us will
embrace the future with love.

In memory of In honor of

Peace to all
Betsy J. Bighinatti
President

Given by:_________________________________________

Next Church
Council
Meeting
March 9, 2015

In memory of In honor of
Given by:_________________________________________

Name ___________________________________________

In memory of In honor of
Name ___________________________________________
Given by:_________________________________________

Your name _______________________ Phone: _________

Number of lilies ordered ___________

The next Church

Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9 at 7:00 pm.

@ $14 = $________________
(please attach payment with this order)

Ordering Deadline: Sunday, March 22, 2015

The Messenger | MARCH 2015

St. Johns Financial Picture YTD as of 1-31-15

2015 Budget

Budget YTD

Actual YTD

Income
Pledge Payments*
Cash Offerings
Other Income
(Endowment Contributions
Parking Lot Rental, Wedding Income, etc.)
Development Fund
Total Income

$110,500
$11,000
$126,700

$9,209
$917
$26,380

$9,421
$1,469
$27,350

$36,000
$284,200

$3,000
$39,506

$0
$38,240

Personnel
Committees
Operations/Maintenance
Local Benevolences
Other
Development Fund
Total Expenses

187,846
27,685
116,140
7,650
9,600
36,000
384,921

17,945
2,307
9,767
2,542
800
3,000
36,361

9,843
1,743
8,977
1,302
$0
21,865

Income/Expenses Total
surplus (deficit)

(100,721)

3,145

Expenses

16,375

NOTE:
1. Income includes a total of $85,000 annual contribution from Endowment Fund ($7083 monthly)
2. Annual Deficit to be covered by Endowment Fund and General Reserve Fund
3. 2015 Pledge Budget is $110,000. 55 pledges for $118,000 Were pledged.

March Lectionary Readings

Second Sunday in Lent
March 1, 2015

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Third Sunday in Lent

March 8, 2015

Exodus 20:1-17

Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 15, 2015

Numbers 21:4-9

Fifth Sunday in Lent

March 22, 2015

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Palm Sunday
March 29, 2015

Mark 11:1-11

Romans 4:13-25

Mark 8:31-38

1 Cor. 1:18-25

John 2:13-22

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

Hebrews 5:5-10

John 12:20-33

Philippians 2:5-11

Mark 14:1-15:47

Psalm 22:23-31

Psalm 19

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

Psalm 51:1-12

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

The Messenger | MARCH 2015

SJCP

St. Johns
St. Johns Community Players Present

Flashback!
A Musical Cabaret of Songs from the
60s, 70s, & 80s
April 17 - 19, 2015
Kiptopeke State Park
Cape Charles, VA
$65 per person
See Cheryl Goode for more information.
St. Johns UCC 503 Stuart Circle, Richmond, VA 23220
Saturday, April 25 @ 7:30 & Sunday, April 26 @ 3:00 pm
Seating for Theatre Only Tickets: $10 Adults * $8 Students
Saturday, April 25 Dinner @ 6:00 Show @ 7:30 pm $20 Advance Payment Required
Dinner reservations must be placed by Thursday, April 23
Call the Box Office to Make Your Reservations 358-9291
or pay on-line at
http://stjohnsrichmond.org/st-johns-players

The Board of Trustees and The Faculty of

Union Presbyterian Seminary

Request the honor of your presence
for the inaugural address of

Karen-Marie Yust, Th.D.

The Josiah P. and Anne Wilson Rowe
Professor of Christian Education

Monday, March 16, 2015 ~ 7:00 pm

Lake Chapel (Early Center)
Reception to follow in the Rose Hall

March Meeting
All are invited to join us on
Thursday, March 12 at 10:30 am
in the Fellowship Hall for a Lenten Program
led by Dr. Steven Plymale.
This time of fellowship and spiritual
development is always a special one for all
who attend.
Following the program you are invited to
stay for a lunch.
Call Lynda Merry at 756-0270 to make
reservations.
We will also be welcoming guests for this
program from Greenfield Assisted Living!

March 1

March 8

March 15 March 22 March 29

Welcome Team Doug Waldrop Justin Barbour Justin Barbour

Leader

Sound System

Jeff Michel

David Pittman

David Pittman

Richard
Bighinatti

Chris Ward

Richard
Bighinatti

Chris Ward

Fellowship Coordinator:
Sal Anselmo 358-1696
Tellers Coordinator:
Bud Higgins 301-5059
Lay Readers Coordinator:
Sal Anselmo 358-1696
Altar Guild Coordinator:
Sonny Darnell 743-7528

Acolytes

Lay Reader

Fellowship
Hosts
Nursery Helpers

Tellers

Facilities

Altar Guild

Flowers

Bryan Etter

Sean Barbour

Sean Barbour

Josh Lyle

Josh Lyle

Ashley Quick

Joyce
Schnabel

Bud Higgins

Richard
Bighinatti

Sal Anselmo

Elisabeth
Burnette

TBA

Barbour family

Cook family

Don Warren

TBA

Chris & Abby

Ward

Laura Totty

Marjorie &
Justin
Barbour

Martha Cook

Jeff Jacobs
Iola Miller

Jeff Jacobs
Iola Miller

Richard
Bighinatti

Richard
Bighinatti

Johanna
Gilbert
Charlotte
Quick

Bryan
Anderegg
Sonny Darnell

Johanna
Gilbert

Elisabeth
Burnette

Jeff Michel Sonny Darnell Sonny Darnell

Denise Martin Dorothy Cook Dorothy Cook

Bud Higgins

Justin Barbour Justin Barbour

Erin Burnette
Georgianne
Stinnett

Cheryl Goode
Arthur Dewey

Abby Ward

Sonny Darnell

Dorothy Cook
Sonny Darnell

CARITAS Coordinators:
Don Warren
Richard Bighinatti
Please find a substitute if you are
unable to perform your ministry and
contact your team coordinator AND
the office to let them know who will
be filling in for you. Thank you for
making our church ministries run
smoothly!

To order fresh flowers to be placed

on the altar in honor of a special
occasion or person or in
remembrance of someone, please
sign-up on the flower chart on the
bulletin board in the hallway near
the nursery or contact Sonny
Darnell at 743-7528 or
kenandsonny@comcast.net
$45.00 for two beautiful bouquets.

2015
2

1
9:45 am Faith Formation

4
5 pm Card Ministry

11 am Worship/
Communion

CARITAS

CARITAS

11:30 am NA Meeting

11 am Worship

7:00 pm Church
Council

12:30 pm Confirmation

CARITAS

CARITAS

159:00 am Breakfast

16

1:00 pm SJP

CARITAS

CARITAS

CARITAS

13

5:30pm Worship/Music
7 pm Choir Rehearsal

CARITAS

10

11

12

10:00 am Staff Meeting

5 pm Card Ministry

10:30 am
The Fellowship

11:30 am NA Meeting

6:30 pm Cong. Life and

Care

7 pm Choir Rehearsal

CARITAS

CARITAS

CARITAS

CARITAS

CARITAS

17

18

19

20

21

5 pm Card Ministry

11:30 am NA Meeting

2:30 pm Reception

7 pm Choir Rehearsal

Office
Closed

9:45 am All Church Workshop

10 am Choir rehearsal

11:30 am NA Meeting

.
10:00 am Staff Meeting

11 am Worship

One Great hour of

Sharing Offering

CARITAS

CARITAS

22

11:30 am NA Meeting

24

25

26

27

28

5 pm Card Ministry

11:30 am NA Meeting

Office
Closed

Monument 10K

CARITAS

CARITAS

CARITAS
CARITAS

30

9:30 am Outdoor
processional
10 am Choir rehearsal

CARITAS

CARITAS

31
10:00 am Staff Meeting
11:30 am NA Meeting

11 am Worship
ACTS Offering
CARITAS

CARITAS

CARITAS

March Birthdays
1
2
3
4
4
5
5

CARITAS

CARITAS

7 pm Choir Rehearsal

29

1:00 pm SJP

CARITAS

11:30 am NA Meeting

12:30 pm Confirmation

Office
Closed

CARITAS

10:00 am Staff Meeting

11 am Worship
Noon Congregational
Meeting

14
8:30 am Indian Orthodox

CARITAS

23

9:45 am Faith Formation

10 am Choir rehearsal

CARITAS

10 am Choir rehearsal

6
Office
Closed

11:30 am NA Meeting

10:00 am Staff Meeting

10 am Choir rehearsal

Teresa Jolles
Ginny Etter
David Townsend
Aghavni Dalton
Sonny Darnell
Rick Cook
Joan Cooper

17
13
16
19
26
31

Florence Cross
Frances Smith Vass
Scott Siefert
Gill Caldwell
Sam Dalton
Johanna Gilbert

1:00 pm SJP