Email: www.unitedchurch@hotmail.com Website: www.stjohnsuccjackson.org

Church office (517) 7847580 Pastor: Rev. Dr. Patricia Kenney

President: Harry Wilson Office Administrator: Nikki Joly

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Pastor Patti’s Ponderings Gracing the Holiday Blues

Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He has brought us by faith into this experience of God's grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God's glory! We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God's approval, and his approval creates hope. This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us. Romans 5:1-5 (Good News Bible)

When I was a little child, Christmas was magical to me. I couldn’t wait to be old enough to help decorate the Christmas tree with ornaments and glass strings passed on from Great Grandma. I loved the glow of the holiday lights. I felt refreshed by the smell of pine. I could hardly fall asleep on Christmas Eve night. Wonder had ahold of me. I anticipated not only presents, but the presence of one greater than myself, and knowing myself seen and loved and cared for. I thought of it as Santa, and later came to know it to be the love of God meeting me at Christmas in the blessing of the Christ child. December is a holiday time for many faith traditions. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Eve. Jewish people light the menorah in celebration of Hanukkah, the rededication of the holy temple. African American culture celebrates Kwanzaa in honor of African heritage. Muslims celebrate Rabi’ al Awwai, the birth of Mohammed, in Decem-ber. The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, occurs in December. December is also one of the most difficult times of the year for many people. It is hard dur-ing a holiday time to be reminded of people we love who have died. Memories of broken relationships can haunt our dreams. Unfulfilled wishes and hopes can invite bitterness. Be-ing separated from people we love can deepen loneliness. Here are some ideas of daily practices that can help us all grace the holiday blues: Continued on back cover

Make a list of ten things you are thankful for. If

you can’t quite get to gratitude, make a list of ten things you would like to be able to feel thankful for.

Write a note to someone you love. Tell them you love them, note something you are thankful for about them, and recount a memory you treasure. Send the letter as an offering of love.

Breathe. Deeply. Three times in a row. With each breath in, name something you receive or wish to receive from the Holy One, or if you do not practice a faith tradition, from the Universe. With each breath out, name some-thing you release or wish to let go of.

Pause and notice where your body is carrying stress, and on the exhale of a deep breath, let your mind tell the tension to relax. Repeat as often as necessary until you are total-ly relaxed.

Make it a spiritual practice to give someone something each day. This can be a smile, a kind word, the sharing of a piece of bread. Small acts of kindness can change the world. They can help change our hearts too.

Let yourself feel, hear and know your worth. Invite the presence of Love into your spirit. Notice what your inner voices tell you. If the messages are not of hope, value, and possibility, let them go, and replace them with words such as: “I am somebody. I am beautiful. I am loved. I can make a difference.”

I wish you light, love, hope, and joy this holi-day season. Rev. Dr. Patti Kenney Pastor and teacher, St. John’s United Church of Christ, Jackson, MI

Pastor Patti’s Ponderings : Continued

YOU ARE INVITED!

Who? All who love music or just want to sing. What? Sing praise songs, Gospel, Hymns new and old When? 9:00 a.m. on Sundays Where? St John’s UCC in the Sunday School room Why? For personal Joy, comfort and blessing, be-cause it is fun With Love, Jan Middlebrook Questions call 764-0590

Senior Choir is beginning to rehearse for the Advent/Christmas season. If you would like to join the choir to celebrate the sea-son, please join us. We rehearse on Thursdays at 7:30. We would love to have you join us!

DECEMBER BIRTDAYS!!

2nd Eric Allen Lois Tiffany Eric Stadnikia John Smeltzer

3rd Robert Dinges Jennifer Ostrander 4th Barb Byrum Michelle Pratt 5th Charles Dickerson Isaiah Horsely Nikki Joly 6th Marjorie Hochstetler 7th Latasha Canter Sharon Glance Lucas Richmond

8th Robert Harkness

10th Kimberly Trudell 11th Kevin Handloser 13th Sean Bischoff 14th Dylan Trudell 15th Zachary Handloser Sarah Henry 17th Kristin Rose Jakob Bugbee Christopher Staton 18th Harry Wilson 19th Mae Covington

22nd Olivia Schroeder Jacqueline Stone 23rd Annetta Waldron 24th Thom Rathbun Chris Moore 25th Andrew Carey-Young Jeff Houser

28th Hannah Schuler Kristi Handloser 31st Louise Cole Brittany Kinstle Shannon Brooks Jean Cole Faith Smith

4 11 18 24 25

Christmas Eve-

11:00

Driver D. Leece M.B. Dorsey R. Poor W. Beavers

Worship S. Smith M.B.Dorsey J. Benedict G. Johnson

Greeter J. Allen M. Tittler L. Canter M.B.Dorsey

Greeter M. Dubois W. Beavers E. Bolenbaugh J. Benedict

Greeter L. Cubile, N. Hackworth J. Nelson D. Benedict

Greeter M. Ort A. Bonner R. Nelson A. Bonner

Greeter B. Parks M. Dubois B. Parks

D. Chesney

Usher E. Handloser G. Reasoner NHackworth B. Byrum

Usher J. Benedict M. Dubois B. Parks S. Smith

Usher B. Harkness J. Roggenbuk D. Woodruff B. Sisk

Usher D. Benedict T. Schroeder L. Chase S. Sisk

Usher W. Beavers M.B. Dorsey A. Bonner J. Nelson

Usher R. Nelson

D. Chesney

Crib

Commun G. Johnson M. Wilson

Commun R. Johnson A. Schroeder

Coffee

Coffee

December Schedule 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Poinsettias Are available for purchase.

You may purchase Poinsettia plants for $9.00 each, or you may wish to donate to St John’s Flower Fund. Please designate your donation in memory or honor of a loved one. Those who order poinsettias may take them home following the Christmas Eve service.

Please fill out the bottom portion of this sheet and return it, by mail or offering, to the church, with your payment.

Orders should be in by December 11..

---------------------Please print clearly---------------------- I wish to purchase __________ Poinsettia plant(s) at $9.00 each; OR I wish to make a donation

to the flower fund, for alter flowers in future months, in the amount of $___________.

Color (circle) Red White Pink

IN HONOR OF: _____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

IN MEMORY OF: ____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Your Name(s) ______________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Thanksgiving and Pastoral Gifts

In this season of thankfulness and rebirth, it is fitting that our church think about our pastor as our leader on both fronts. Please join your fellow mem-bers and pray for Patty and Tom this Christmas season, your church depends on their loving care and support to sustain us into the future.

It is customary to give a small gift or donation to the pastor and her family at this time of year, please remember that being called to St. John’s and dealing with the challenges we have is no easy task. Yet, we have always been proud people of Christ who see hope when others see despair, faith when others have nowhere to turn and love at the place where it is most needed.

As you prepare for the Christmas season, please consider the people and the work of St. John’s, support our pastor and help us continue to be the beacon that shines brightly for our members and far beyond.

In Christ,

Harry

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

NAACP - 6:00 pm Cherub Choir: 5:30 pm Youth Choir: 6:30 pm Senior Choir: 7:30 pm .

2

3 Black History Brunch 10:30 am

4 Adult Bible Study 9:00 am Good News Choir II 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am

5

6 PPDNA 4:30pm Elders 6:00 pm

7

Staff Meeting 4:30 pm United Center 5:30 pm

8 Women’s Prayer Group 1:00 pm

Cherub Choir: 5:30 pm Youth Choir: 6:30 pm Senior Choir: 7:30 pm

9 10

LGBT work day 10:00 am

11 Adult Bible Study 9:00 am Good News Choir II 9:15 am Worship 10:30 am

12

Church Council 6:00 pm

13 14

Worship Team 5:00 pm

15 Cherub Choir: 5:30 pm Youth Choir: 6:30 pm Senior Choir: 7:30 pm

16 Food Pantry 10:00 am - Noon

17

18 Adult Bible Study 9:00am Good News Choir II 9:15am Worship 10:30 am

19 20 21

Community Table 6:00 pm

22 Women’s Prayer Group 1:00pm Cherub Choir: 5:3pm Youth Choir: 6:30 pm Senior Choir: 7:30 p.m.

23

24 Neighbor to Neighbor mobile food pantry– Chalet Terrace Christmas Eve Service: 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service 11:00pm

25 Adult Bible Study 9:00 am Good News Choir II 9:15 am Worship 10:30 am

26 27

PPDNA - 4:30 pm

28 29

Cherub Choir: 5:30 pm Youth Choir: 6:30 pm Senior Choir: 7:30 pm

30 31

Ave on the Eve 10:00

Hope for the Hood and the

New Year After Race

December 2016

Come celebrate with us to bring in

Hope for the Hood and the New Year

Brought to you by Chris Moss and Riley Kidd

United Center Gift Card Drive Please donate gift cards so ALL of our guests Receive a little something for the holidays.

Drop off cards to St. John’s BEFORE

The Community Table dinner December 21, 6:00pm

Please remember many of our guests have no or limited transportation and no internet use