JULY/AUGUST

2016

Welcome to summer!
Sunday we said goodbye to Julia. I
know everyone will miss her and all
that she has been to each of you.
This represents also a time of change
in the church. The staff, at least for
now, is smaller and that means that
there is room for you to give of your
time and talents in new ways.

Volume 30.7/8

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:
[email protected]

Web Site:
stjohnsrichmond.org

Please do not assume I know what

gifts and talents you would like to
share with the church, rather tell me.
Help me know your skills and abilities.
I have been here for a year but I still
only know what a portion of you do
professionally and I know still fewer
peoples hobbies and passions. I need you to tell me about the skills you have and the ways
you would be passionate about serving.
We are in a time of transition as we move toward our retreat in September. I truly believe
this is also a good time for us to become stronger disciples and servants which is the effect
of spiritual growth
SPECIAL SUMMER SUNDAYS:
We are being blessed with some guest preachers this summer who will help us explore what
is going on in Richmond around Social Justice. Each of these guests has agreed to not only
preach but then to lead a forum following worship with those who would like to explore
further.
July 10 Kim Bobo the Executive Director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy will
be with us. She will give the sermon as well as lead the forum. Kim has just moved to
Richmond to lead VICPP from Chicago. Kim is a member of the UCC.

July 19 Rev. Charlie Summers will preach from Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our
Communities. Charlie is a retired Presbyterian minister. He was co-president of RISC for two
years while he was pastor of First Presbyterian. He and Lea Whitehurst, the lead organizer
will lead the forum following worship.
July 21 Nelson Reveley, a representatives of RVA Rapid Transit will preach and lead a forum
following worship to discuss transportation needs in our city.
September 11th, We will be have Rev. Lynn Litchfield with us from Grace Inside, Virginias
Prison Chaplain Service
Published monthly
2016 St Johns UCC

Pastor Linda

The Messenger / JULY/AUGUST 2016

Looking for a great Farmers Market in the middle of the week? Need fresh and
locally grown produce, meats, eggs, flowers, etc or perhaps a food truck so you
dont have to cook? Look no further!
Every Tuesday from 4-7 PM, a Farmers Market produced by GrowRVA (the
same folks who operate South of the James Market) is being held in the Auxiliary
parking lot of First Baptist Church located on Monument Avenue.
A portion of the proceeds of the Market benefit ACTS, a local nonprofit whose
mission is to provide support and resources during periods of financial crisis to
prevent homelessness. The Market is open to the public and also has food trucks
on site as well. So, come on out and shop locally and mingle with friends on
Tuesdays.
For more information on the ACTS Market including a list of vendors:
http://www.growrva.com/#!acts-farmers-market/sgozg

As I approach these last few days at St. Johns I am filled with gratitude for you and to
God for bringing me to you 12 years ago. It was wonderful seeing so many faces on Sunday.
Thank you so much for the meaningful farewell release during worship and celebratory reception after
worship. Many thanks to all the hands that made it such a special occasion. My family also wants to thank you for the
love and support you have shown them over the years and especially your kind words on Sunday. God frequently calls families
and mine has been happy to share my time and energy with you in service to God and the community.
I want to thank you for opening your hearts to me and giving me the opportunity to serve and support this congregation and the
ministries of St. Johns for so many years. The tasks I performed changed during the twelve years several times serving as
your administrative assistant while I was still wearing my mom apron and then eight years as your pastoral associate. I have so
many wonderful memories. But what has sustained me and encouraged me are the many relationships - each one of you that I
see and greet and work with each day. You inspire me and encourage me as you do for each other.
What I have witnessed and will remember the sharing of Gods work (CARITAS, the CROP Walk, Confirmation, Launch
Sunday, the Care Network, Fellowship Dinners, the German Dinner, the St. Johns Players) with people who you enjoy being
around, who share your vision and your gifts and passion, people with whom you laugh and with whom you cry, people with
whom you can talk about God and even disagree with love. It is those special moments when you look into the eyes of another
and see God alive when you look into the sparkling eyes of a child and smile; it is those moments when you are so discouraged
and sad, and someone calls you, or makes a special effort to offer words of inspiration and encouragement - that is what I will
remember. Those times when you know you are not alone but part of something special a family of faith, a family of God. You
know you made a difference -even if small in another persons life. This is St. Johns to me.
Thank you to all the wonderful mentors who have unselfishly shared their knowledge and expertise with me allowing me to better
serve you. Thanks to all the church leaders and committee chairs who I have had the privilege of supporting and working alongside, especially to the church council presidents who have shown unflagging dedication and faithful leadership to the church
council, staff and this congregation (Jack, Alan, Betsy, Rob, Billy, Teresa, Desiree, Elisabeth). Thank you to the staff Ulysses,
Jon and Linda, Shirley, Hank, Diane, and Linda who have been my partners in ministry.
I will pray for you and for St. Johns especially in September when you meet to talk about Gods plans for your future. I ask that
you would pray for me as I start a new journey, and for my family as we face several major transitions. May God bless you and
keep you. Now and always.

Julia

The Messenger / JULY/AUGUST 2016

SAVE THE DATE

The newly appointed Church Council met for the first time on June 13th.

NEW BUSINESS:

a request to rent the upstairs chapel to a Russian Orthodox Church and to provide space
to Senior Connections Organization. While everyone felt this would be a great use of
space, more information is needed for further discussion.
reviewing and approving the church calendar
assigning committee structures
reviewing committee updates
treasurers report.

CONGREGATIONAL
RETREAT
September 16 & 17
LAUNCH SUNDAY
September 18

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Newsletter will now be published the 1st of each month with submissions for the newsletter due by the 3rd Thursday of the
month

DECISIONS:

A Gift for Julia was approved

It was agreed that we would meet once a month with the option to call a special council meeting if the need arises. Email and
conference calls may be used to make decisions quickly, provided that there is a quorum vote.

CALENDAR:
Calendar of Events Approved:
November 13, 2016 Crop Walk
July 26, 2016 - CROP planning meeting
August 27, 2016 - CROP recruiters rally (suggestion was made to include Stuart Circle Churches)
September 11, 2016 Linda has invited a guest speaker with a talk-back following the service. Decision was made
that the service will be held at 10am on this day.
October 15, 2016 Wedding with Linda officiating and leading the effort

DEFFERED DECISIONS:

November 5, 2016 German Heritage Dinner; key participants are not available this day. Contacted Jeff Jacobs to determine
whether he wants to host dinner on another date, or move forward as planned. This is a tradition that may end if we dont
have enough participation.

Elisabeth Burnette
President
C 804-405-7696 W 804-225-3692
Scott Siefert
Vice President
804-350-0826
Chris Ward
Secretary
804-240-2361

Adrianne Dery
Treasurer
804-370-7278

Johanna Gilbert
804-270-6056
804-405-6225

Laura Totty
804-320-7631
C 804-380-5620
W 804-727-8585

Jeff Hetzer
804-550-3928
804-786-6724

Vicky Lyle
804-833-4726

Don Warren
804-201-0771

The Messenger / JULY/AUGUST 2016

Many thanks to everyone who helped with the

vendor/yard sale on June 4. Thanks to those
folks who got up early on a Saturday morning to
set up and greet our early shoppers, to those
who made baked goods for the youth table, to
those who purchased a table, and to all who
contributed fuds to support the sale. We were
able to raise over $900 for the trip to the
National Youth Event in Orlando at the end of
July!

Church Library Report

We have several new book that have been donated to the St. Johns Library by the children of Laura Siff. These books have been placed on the cart on the left side of the library shelves (second shelf) in the Parlor. Some of her books will also be available for
purchase during the October Book Sale. We hope you will enjoy reading these books!

Third Wednesdays
Three months
Three great books
Lets read and gather to discuss some books this summer! This is an opportunity to gather for a light nosh and discuss some books that will help us as we move into our new vision of St Johns. For these gatherings we will meet at Lindas new home 2928 West
Stony Hill Court, apt1B, Richmond VA 23235

JULY: Continue the discussion of Real Good Church by Molly Baskette.

Begin discussion of Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger.
We will meet 6:30 -8 on July 20
AUGUST: Beyond Resistance by John Dorhauer (the new president
and General Minister of the UCC)
We will meet 6:30-8 Aug 17

The Messenger / JULY/AUGUST 2016

Small Group Fellowship

Sign up in the Parlor to attend a Summer Fellowship
Dinner!
There are many different days, times and locations to
choose from:
July 15, 6:00 pm at the Burnette Home
July 16, NOON at the Smyth Home
July 29, 6:00 pm at the Darnell Home
August 6, 5:30 pm
atST.
the JOHHS
Bighinatti
Home
THE
FELLOWSHIP
August 6, 6:00 pm at the Dery Home
September 10, 6:00 pm at the Jacobs Home

July 3
July 10

July/August
Worship
Schedule

July 17

Galatians 6:1-16
2 Kings 5:1-14

What so you want?

-Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy - Kim Bobo

-RISC

July 24

Colossians 2:6-15
Luke 11:1-13

BAPTISM
Shaped in Prayer

July 31

Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 12:13-21

Soul Investment

August 7

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Luke 12:32-40

Living into the Promise

August 14

Jerimiah 23:23-29
Psalm 82

Ever Present God

August 21
August 28

-Rapid Transit
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14

Open Welcome

The Messenger / JULY/AUGUST 2016

July 10
July 10th Kim Bobo from
Virginia Interfaith Center for
Public Policy will preach and
then welcome questions at a forum following worship.
The VICCP is a broadly diverse, morally
driven group of advocates working to
advance public policies that better serve
low-income, vulnerable, and underrepresented communities in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
They engage and educate people of faith and the public regarding
critical social issues, the legislative process, and the call to
advocacy.
Kim Bobo is a nationally known promoter of social justice who
literally wrote the book on faith-based organizing. She began work
as the new executive director for the Virginia Interfaith Center for
Public Policy on Feb. 10, coming to Virginia from Chicago, where
she founded and served as the executive director of Interfaith
Worker Justice, the nations largest network of people of faith
engaging in local and national actions to improve wages, benefits
and conditions for workers. Prior to that she was national organizing
director for Bread for the World and an instructor at the Midwest
Academy. Born in Cincinnati, Kim attended Barnard College. She
was married for 31 years to Stephen Coats, who died unexpectedly
in 2013. She has twin sons, Eric and Benjamin, who are graduating
from college this year.

July 17
July 17th a member of RISC,
Richmonders Involved to
Strengthen our Communities
will preach and be open to
discussion at a forum following
worship. RISC is an interracial,
interfaith, nonpartisan
organization which brings congregations together to
build the power to meet God's call to do justice in
the Greater Richmond region.

Currently, RISC has 17 member congregations that join

together to work on the root causes of serious community
problems. They represent over 4,000 people in the city of
Richmond and the surrounding counties. RISC is a diverse
organization that unites the community across socioeconomic, racial, geographic, and denominational backgrounds, including Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish
faith traditions.
They are committed to empowering congregations and
individuals to identify and develop solutions to serious
community problems. RISC addresses and achieves
solutions to community problems by listening, establishing
networks both within and between congregations,
conducting research, and direct action meetings. RISC
empowers hundreds of congregational leaders through
training and civic engagement in order to make changes in
public policy.

August 21
August 21
RVA Rapid
Transit will be
welcomed to
our pulpit with
a forum following worship.
Formed in 2013, RVA Rapid Transit is an organization
made up of citizens who see the need for a metro area
rapid transit system, and are dedicated to sharing a
common vision, organizing advocacy, and providing
community input into rapid transit projects to fully seize the
opportunity in the region.

RVA Rapid Transit's mission is to connect all people of the

Richmond region as we educate, organize, and advocate
for the design, construction, and operation of a first-class
metro-area rapid transit system. Based on multiple studies
of development and use of Metro Richmond, the vision
consists of four main BRT lines, traversing the four highest
traffic corridors of the area.

Get Involved in Richmond!

The Messenger / JULY/AUGUST 2016

JULY MISSION OF THE MONTH...

TO BENEFIT ACTS
Usually we hear about ACTS as our Mission of the Month during the month of Easter. ACTS is a local nonprofit whose mission is
to provide support and resources during periods of financial crisis to prevent homelessness. We have heard that ACTS is in need.
The pantry is practically bare. So, for the month of July, we will be collecting items from the list below that are needed for their
clients. If you can pick up any of them on your next shopping trip(s) please bring them and leave them on/under the table by the
back door (parlor entrance).
PERSONAL CARE ITEMS
Soap, hand sanitizer, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant, hand & body lotion, feminine products

AUGUST MISSION OF
THE MONTH
We will be collecting school
supplies during the month
of August. Donation boxes
will be in the Parlor.

PAPER PRODUCTS
Toilet Paper, paper towels, tissues

CLEANING PRODUCTS
Dish Detergent, laundry detergent, sponges, household cleaners, dishwasher detergent
CHILDRENS ITEMS
Diapers, wipes, toothpaste, tooth brushes
Misc
Bus passes ($5 or $10 denominations), stamps, envelopes, pens

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION:
This summer we are doing one Newsletter for both July and August
then we will put out the September Newsletter a little early (due
date the 2nd Thursday of August). Come September the due date
for all newsletters will be the third Thursday of the month, so if you want information in a newsletter it needs to be
received in the office by then. There are no magic writers in the church office who create the
Messenger rather office staff lays out what you submit. If something is not in a Messenger you think should be, the
question is what committee needs to be submitting something that is not, or maybe the better question is: do you want to
write something for the next Messenger to fill a void?

&
July 3 July 10 July 17 July 24 July 31 Aug 7 Aug 14 Aug 21 Aug 28
Fellowship Coordinator:
Barbara Etter 543-1543
Bill
Watson

Welcome
Team
Leader

Doug
Waldrop

Sound
System

Mark
Atkinson

Tellers

Sonny
Darnell

Sonny
Darnell

Dorothy
Cook

Dorothy
Cook

Scott
Siefert

Liturgists

Beverly
Lindsey

Bill
Watson

Facilities

Altar Guild

Erin
Burnette
Georgianne
Stinnett

Doug
Waldrop

Jeff Michel Jeff Michel

Richard
Bighinatti

David
Pittman

Jeff Michel Jeff Michel

Denise
Martin

Denise
Martin

Richard
Bighinatti

Lynn
Snyder

Chris
Ward

Mark
Atkinson

Mark
Atkinson

Mark
Souza

Mark
Souza

Jeff
Jacobs

Jeff
Jacobs

Daniel
Martin

Betsy
Bighinatti

Betsy
Bighinatti

Scott
Siefert

Scott
Siefert

Bud
Higgins

Joe
McGregor

Bill
Watson

Bill
Watson

Arthur
Dewey

Dorothy
Cook

Johanna
Gilbert

Cheryl
Goode

Sonny
Darnell

Charlotte
Quick

Cheryl
Goode

Bud
Higgins

Richard
Bighinatti

Richard
Bighinatti

Arthur
Dewey

Dorothy
Cook

Johanna
Gilbert

Sonny
Darnell

Cheryl
Goode

Sonny
Darnell

Charlotte
Quick

Charlotte
Quick

Flowers

Erin
Burnette

Bill
Watson

Chris
Ward

Bud
Higgins

Don and
Beth
Stiegler

Bill
Watson

David
Pittman

Cheryl
Goode

Fellowship
Hosts

Lynn
Snyder

Joe
McGregor
Erin
Burnette
Georgianne
Stinnett

FLOWERS:
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 Pastors
Office or contact Sonny Darnell at 743-7528 or
[email protected] - - $45.00 for two beautiful bouquets.

Tellers Coordinator:
Bud Higgins 301-5059
Lay Readers Coordinator:
Barbara Etter 543-1543
Altar Guild Coordinator:
Sonny Darnell 743-7528

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!

NOTICE ALL THE

BLANK
SPACES???
Please stop by
the Parlor to sign
up!!!

2016
1

Office Closed
10 am Return of the
Glass Slipper
6:00 pm Return of
the Glass Slipper

3
10 am Worship
Communion

10
10 am Worship

4
Office Closed

11:30 am NA Meeting

Office Closed

11:30 am NA Meeting
.

11

12
11:30 am NA Meeting

13

14

15

16

5 pm Card Ministry

11:30 am NA

Office Closed

8:00 am India Orthodox

6:00 pm
NOON Fellowship
Fellowship Dinner Dinner at Smyth
at Burnette Home
Home

VICPP Program
11 am VICPP Forum

17

18

19

10 am Worship
RISC Program
11 am RISC Forum

24
10 am Worship
Baptism

5:30 pm Worship and

Music

Office Closed

6:30 pm Council

6
5 pm Card Ministry

20

21

22

5 pm Card Ministry

11:30 am NA Meeting

Office Closed

28

29

23

11:30 am NA Meeting
6:30 pm Adult
Bible Study @ Pastors
house

25

26

27

6:00 pm
5 pm Card Ministry
11:30 am NA Meeting
Fellowship Dinner
at Darnell Home
-National Youth Event, Orlando11:30 am NA Meeting
6:30 pm CROP
Meeting

31

2
2
4
5
6
7
10
10
10

Richard Bighinati
Bill Watson
Lynda Merry
Ashur Caraher
Camie Allen
Erin Burnette
Sal Anselmo
Michael Yust
Wyndham Anderson

20
21
22
28
29
29

Will Atkinson
Lynn Snyder
Hank Harman
Jeanne Wigand
Kim Vann
Arthur Dewey

30

2016
1

5
Office Closed

5:30 pm Finance
Meeting

11:30 am NA Meeting

5 pm Card Ministry

11:30 am NA Meeting
5:30 pm Worship and
Music

10 am Worship
Communion

2
5:30 pm
Fellowship Dinner at
Bighinatti Home
6:00 pm
Fellowship Dinner at
Dery Home

10

11

12

5 pm Card Ministry

11:30 am NA Meeting

Office Closed

17

18

19

20

5 pm Card Ministry

11:30 am NA

Office Closed

8:00 am India Orthodox

27

11:30 am NA Meeting

13

6:30 pm Council
.

14

15

16
11:30 am NA Meeting

10 am Worship

6:30 pm Adult
Bible Study @
Pastors house

9:00 AM

21

22

23

10 am Worship
RVA Rapid Transit
Program
11 am RVA Transit
Forum

28

24

25

26

5 pm Card Ministry

11:30 am NA Meeting

Office Closed

11:30 am NA Meeting

29

10 am Worship

birthdays

30

10:30 CROP Rally

31

11:30 am NA Meeting
5 pm Card Ministry

2
5
9
9
13
16
16
20

Sue Foltz
Abby Ward
Deniz Michel
Vivian White
Ginna Minasian Dalton
Dreama Terrill
Lydia Woods
Ray Pollard

22
22
22
23
23
26
26

Adrianne Dery
James Cook
Don Warren
Josh Lyle
Jennifer Martin
Jeff Michel
Thomas Viergever