Facebook: “Like” for“Episcopal Church of St. John the

Evangelist” Page.

Website: stjohnselkhart.com

Inside this IssueStewardship Pg. 2-3

Christmas Flower Memorials Pg. 2

Advent Dates Pg. 3

Christmas Schedule Pg. 4

Epiphany Party Pg. 4

Vestry Nominations Pg. 5

Parish Telephone Directory Pg. 6

Outreach Christmas Families Pg. 7

Annual meeting date Pg. 7

Sunday School Schedule Pg. 8

The Bible Challenge Pg. 9

Ministry Reports Due Pg. 10

Outreach Soup Sale Pg. 10

Recipes Pg. 11

Vestry Minutes Summaries Pg. 12

Kid pages Pg. 13-14

Birthdays and Anniversaries Pg. 15

From the Rector Pg. 16-17

The Tower The Bi-Monthly Newsletter

The Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist

Capital Campaign Progress Report

The newest addition to the completed projects list is the ELEVATOR!!  If you take a quick look at the exterior wall,  you will see the changes.  No more keys to turn.  We have push button controls.  In addition,  all the sensors and connection devices were replaced with new,  and the elevator is now secure,  reliable,  dependable and safe to use.  So if you’ve been reluctant to attend because of the stairs,  come to service and use the newly restored elevator.  We look forward to seeing you. In other news,  the bell tower roof,  both levels, have been repaired.  We still have some electrical work to do with the speakers in the tower,  but that should be addressed next spring.  New wiring will be required in some areas there. The kitchen is basically done.  The new stove is installed,  and the last item remaining is to replace the noisy exhaust fan. Our Junior Warden is hard at work to get that completed before the end of the year.   With that project done, we will have depleted the funds we have available for 2013, and will look forward to the future projects in 2014.  These include the new tile for the stairs and hallways, painting the stairwells, and finishing the work in Father Dan’s office, and the administration office.  These will be done as funds become available. Much progress has been made and over the next two years,  we will be able to complete all the tasks on the Capital Campaign project list.  To date,  we have spent a total of $361,000 and have approximately $40,000 in project costs to finish the list.  We anticipate having everything done by the end of 2015. In other work, outside the Capital Campaign,  we have started restoring the exterior stone walls of our building.  Tuck pointing has been completed on the limestone face walls,  and work is started on the west wall exterior stone.  The Vestry received a report that some of the stone in the north small tower was not stable and there is a potential for failure of the stone if not repaired before winter.  With that thought in mind, the

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Vol. 78 * December 2013/January 2014 * Issue 06

Vestry voted to authorize the immediate repair of that section.  We will need to develop a plan in 2014 to repair the entire original stone walls to ensure that the do not have issues in the future.  Unfortunately, additional funding for that project will have to be secured to move forward.  We have come so far to date, we simply have to complete the work that needs to be done.  Fortunately, with these emergency repairs being done, we will have some time to develop a longer term plan of action for the rest. 

Thank you to all who pledged to the Campaign and are meeting your commitments.  Repairing our beautiful church would not be possible without your support.  If you were not able to contribute initially, but would like to help with the stone repair, please contact Father Dan or one of the Vestry members.  We would be happy to hear from you. 

Thanks for your continued support--Tom Goggan

StewardshipCounting Our Blessings – Thank you for your Blessings!

St. John’s is overwhelmed with so many blessings. We thank you for your continued support in ministry, especially in your financial commtiment to St. John’s. On Sunday, November 3 (All Saints’), Jim Burkert invited the congregation to share – “Does St. John’s have 2020 Vision?” As we make our commitments for next year, it’s important to consider our long term possibilities in ministry. On Sunday, November 10, guest preacher Tim McLaughlin of St. Michael’s South Bend shared his message of the gift of giving our blessings. Continuing this theme on Sunday, November 17, St. John’s gathered for a combined Mass and supburb catered brunch in celebration of our continued financial pledge and commitments for the upcoming year.

Thank you for your blessings! – Sandi Borneman and Susan Coyne

The diocesan annual Youth Winter Retreat will be held starting Friday, January 10th and run through Sunday, January 12th at the Wawasee Episcopal Center in Syracuse, Indiana.

  Registration forms are available at St. John’s or the diocesan website. For more information, please contact Carol Bianchini at cjbianchini@comcast.net.  The theme for this year's retreat is "What's Your Soup?"

An envelope for your Christmas flower memorial is included in this Tower. Additional envelopes are available on the table at the back of the sanctuary and on the ministry rack in the hallway.

Please note that Sunday, December 15 is the deadline to have your memorials turned in to

the parish office so they can be printed in the Christmas bulletins. Memorial envelopes received after that date will be published in the January 5th Sunday bulletin.

T he Mitten Tree will be placed in the narthex for the hanging of new mittens, gloves, and scarves for children. After Christmas, your generous gifts of warmth are distributed to needy children

benefitting our Food Pantry and CAPS. Thank you for your gifts of love.

ADVENT DATES AND ACTIVITIES

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“If you want to be holy, be kind.” —Frederick Buechner

Elkhart Ecumenical Advent Lessons and Carols

The seasonal worship of anthems, carols, and biblical readings has returned to St. John’s this year for Sunday, December 1 at 4 p.m. Following the service, join us downstairs for a warm chili-meal with all the fixin’s in the Great Hall. Various chilis from our members will be served. Join us as we begin to prepare the Way!

Advent Formation: Prayer, Fellowship, and Formation

Join us for a said Evening Prayer followed by a simple meal and a video based formation, Shiny gods in the Great Hall, beginning at 5:45 p.m. Wednesdays in Advent (Dec 4, 11, and 18).

Why Shiny gods? Here’s a brief description: In a culture guided by shiny, life-promising distractions, “enough” seems elusive and keeps us chasing the next quick fix. What if the Giver of Life offered freedom from this downward spiral—would you take it? In Shiny gods, pastor and author Mike Slaughter (Methodist) helps readers reassess priorities to create a cultre and lifestyle of giving, based on the word of God and the example of Christ. In his inspiring, challenging, and humorous style, Slaughter helps us consider these topics: Naming our idols; money, work, and debt; faith; and the joy of giving. The message reminds us to “keep the main thing the main thing.”

St. Nicholas or “St. Nick’s Day”

There is the old custom of putting one’s shoes outside the door for sweets on the Eve of St. Nick’s Day (Thursday, December 5). Sweets aside, celebrating St. Nick’s Day – the real, historical Saint Nicholas – especially with children, is a great reminder of what seasonal giving is all about. Following the 10 a.m. Mass on December 8, watch out for some St. Nick’s Day goodies!

Rose “Gaudete” Sunday of Refreshment (that is for the Rector…)

Join us Sunday, December 15 our Lay Preachers offer homilies for the occasion of “Rose Sunday.” Louann Smith will preach at the 8 a.m. Mass and Trudy Myers will offer a children’s sermon at the 10 am. Mass. Children and young families are especially invited to attend for a special message.

Don’t have a name badge? Name badges (for those who don’t have one) will be ordered in late January. If you would like a name badge, please let

Becky know. Also, she will need to know how you want your name written. Example: Mary Ellen Smith or Mary Smith; Christine Smith or Chris Smith.

Please volunteer to be a Fellowship Hour host and bring goodies to the fellowship hour. If you would like to volunteer for a Sunday now and

then, sign up on the sheet posted in the Common Room.

Fellowship Hour HostsDec 1 Straight’sDec 8 OpenDec 15 Wogoman’sDec 22 OpenDec 29 Combined 9 a.m. MassJan 5 OpenJan 12 OpenJan 19 OpenJan 26 Open

+ Christian Symbol +Poinsettias

This shrub, native to Mexico, is at the heart of legend about a poor girl who wanted to bring Baby Jesus a gift one Christmas Eve. As she walked to church, she gathered a bouquet of weeds — which Jesus miraculously transformed into lovely red flowers. Thus the poinsettia (named for Joel Poinsett, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico who first brought the plant to America) is known in Mexico as la flor de la Nochebuena (flower of the Holy Night). The poinsettia is also an ideal Christmas symbol because its leaves turn red when deprived of sunlight and its flowers (the red inner buds) bloom in December.

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For the month of January, there will be no Altar Guild or Pastoral Care Ministry Meetings.

If you do not

receive offering envelopes and would like to, please let Becky know now please.

Your 2014 offering envelopes will be available on Sunday, December 15.

THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS AND THE

EPIPHANY:

Altar Guild Workshop!

Whether you’re a member or not, mark your calendar for Saturday February 22, as the Altar Guild will host a 10:30 workshop and Q & A.

GATHER US IN AS A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESSChristmastide through the Epiphany

Sunday, December 22: Following the Advent IV Sunday Masses, join us in hanging the greens and creche! Many hands make light work!

Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass with Children’s Nativity Play 9:00 p.m. Christmas Cheer & Wassail in the Common Room10:30 p.m. Christmas Anthems and Carols11:00 p.m. Midnight Mass begins

Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day10:00 a.m. The Feast of the Nativity with a capella carols

Sunday, December 29: Combined 9 a.m. Mass (Rite I) for the Feast of St. John the Evangelist

Wednesday, January 1: 9 a.m. Feast of the Holy Name in the Chapel

Monday, January 6: 6 p.m. Epiphany Vesper Mass followed by a genuine Epiphany Party (replete with cake and crown!)

Help will be needed with the various lay ministries for these special celebrations. A Sign-Up board will be provided – thank you!

Pray for upcoming Baptisms!

For Harlan Graham on The Baptism of our Lord, January 12; for Miracle Johnson on The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 19; for Joshua Wiggens on The Presentation of our Lord, February 2.

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Epiphany Party

This year the Epiphany falls on Monday, January 6, with a Vesper Mass celebrated at 6 p.m. with a few surprises. Following, we will continue the tradition started with Fr. Repp’s installation with a genuine Epiphany Party in the Common Room. Find the coin in the cake and be the King or Queen for 2014!Come on out in good cheer!

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Epiphany House Blessings

Beginning on Epiphany and throughout the subsequent season marks a time when “house blessings” are traditionally offered. If you would like your home or residence blessed for the new year, please contact Fr. Repp.

Annual Meeting / Vestry Nominations

St. John’s Annual Meeting will be on the traditional last Sunday in January, the 26th, following a combined 9 a.m. Mass and celebration carry-in. The following slate of candidates has been approved by the nominating committee for wardens: George Biddlecome, senior warden; Jim Loomis, junior warden. Each term is one year, eligible up to four consecutive.

For vestry, there are three positions of three year terms up for elections. Names submitted and accepted as slated by the nominating committee to date are: Ed Battjes, Lori Purdie, and Daniel Brewer. Additional names will be updated.

Statements of intent and bios will be published forthcoming bulletin.

If you are interested in running for these positions, please see Fr. Repp.

In case of severe weather….. closings for worship services and events will be announced on WNDU.

The Blanket Lady’s

Blankets for Kids

As many of you know, St. John’s Pantry has an “Anonymous Blanket Lady” who spends much of her free time sewing quilted blankets for the children of our Pantry clients. Currently she has a large number of blankets nearly ready, but needs the batting & thread to complete them. Should you have extra batting or thread (any color) or would like to buy some, it would be greatly appreciated by both our Blanket Lady and the children who will eventually benefit from her personal ministry.

Did you know that though any size bag can be used, just one bag of King Sized batting produces about 9 children’s quilts?! Please leave your donations on the table downstairs in the hallway and we will make sure that they get to her in quick fashion. If you would rather donate funds, please make check payable to St. John’s Pantry with the memo “Blankets” and we will make sure it gets directed appropriately. Of course any extra fabric can also be donated to the cause!

Thanks & God Bless! Charlie Goethals, Pantry Director

St. John’s Pantry can use non-perishable food items such as canned fruit, vegetables, pasta, canned tuna or chicken, soup, meal helpers and cereal or the funds to purchase them ourselves.

According to Scripture, what does the name Jesus mean?

A. “God is with us.” B. “Anointed One of God” C. “[The Lord] will save his people from their sins.” D. “Son of the Most High

God”

(See answer on page 13)

9 a.m. Sunday Adult Formation

Adult Formation between the 8 and 10 a.m. Masses will resume on Advent 2-4 – stay tuned for more info!

The Pictoral Directory is still in print...we are not sure of the distribution date.

A new updated Parish Telephone Directory is coming in February…If you have had changes or additional information since February 2013, please fill in the lines below and place this form in the offering plate or mail it to the parish office at 226 West Lexington Avenue, Elkhart, 46516.

The below form is due no later than January 30.(Please be sure to submit your important changes and/or additions for the directory by the deadline…there will be no reprinting of the directory.)

PLEASE PRINT

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

New Home Address: _______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

New Telephone Number: _____________________ and/or New Cell Phone Number: ___________________

E-mail address:____________________________________________________________________________

Please check one of the following concerning your e-mail address:_____Office use only_____Print in the directory

Alternate Address:__________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alternate Telephone:________________________________________________________________________

Dates when the Tower and other mailings should be mailed to your alternate address: (Example: 11/01/2013 – 4/30/2014):

_____________________________ to ____________________________This is important because each returned piece of mail is an additional cost of .66-.86 cents to the church.

Other changes for the directory:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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SteepleSteeples are a remnant of Gothic church architecture of the Middle Ages, marked by high open spaces and pointed arches that direct one's attention heavenward. Nowadays a steeple atop a church small or large serves the same function. Typically topped with a cross, it designates a Christian house of worship. Steeples sometimes double as bell towers, sending a call to worship out high above the surrounding land.

+ Christian Symbol +

The Parish Office will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 28th and 29th, and on Monday, December 2nd.

At Christmas, the Parish Office will be closed December 24th thru December 27th, and December 31 thru January 3rd.

*Hanging of the Greens*On Sunday, Dec. 22 following the both Masses, we need your help! Many hands make light work as we will decorate the church for Christmas. We’ll put the tree up in the narthex and assemble the crèche.

*Removing of the Greens*On Tuesday, January 7, we will take down and put away our seasonal decorations…times TBA. We need your help. Again, many hands make light work. Thank you!

Outreach Christmas Families…It is time for our annual sponsorship of Beardsley School families for Christmas. We will have cards available for pick-up on December 1, 2013. All gifts should be wrapped and returned by December

22, 2013. Please attach the gift tag with the recipient’s name when you wrap your gift. This wonderful ministry is one of our most meaningful events of the year. Thanks so much for your support and participation.

God's heart toward us

Bryon and Ruthie were unemployed one December. Wanting their seven children to have gifts to open on Christmas morning, they took $20 and shopped diligently at the thrift store, finding seven small items to place under a tiny tree they’d found in a field. Feeling desperate about all their other needs and guilty for praying for presents, the couple asked God to bless their kids.

On Christmas Eve, a couple they barely knew, friends of friends from church, called and asked to stop by. They pulled up in a 15-passenger van and asked if Bryon and Ruthie’s kids could help carry in “a couple of things.” In fact, the rear seats had been removed and the vehicle was filled with packages and groceries. The next morning, the family unwrapped goodies both practical and fun.

“We felt as if the Lord was saying, ‘This is my heart toward you. I want to bless you,’” Bryon writes. “It is the Lord’s heart to bless his children.”

—Adapted from Miracles: 32 True Stories, Joanie Hileman

Announcement:

The One Hundred Forty-Seventh Annual Parish Meeting

will be held in the Great Hall on

January 26, 2014 (Third Sunday after the Epiphany)

After the combined 9:00 a.m. Mass and a carry-in Meal. This year’s theme:

YOUR FAMILY TO OUR FAMILY Consider bringing in a favorite family dish!

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The book of Revelation is

addressed to seven churches. Which city in the United States shares the name of one of those churches?

A. St. Paul B. Philadelphia C. Oconomowoc D. Orlando

(See answer on page 14)

The Pilgrimage to St. Gregory’s Abbey is rebooted & rescheduled!

Yes, Lent is a little ways off, but not that far. While the November pilgrimage was canceled, consider joining us for a Lenten trip to St. Gregory’s Abbey on Saturday, March 15 meeting at St. John’s at Noon. Stay-tuned for more info!

Total Worship Service Attendance:

Please note that liturgical Sunday propers do not always overlap with

comparative monthly dates

2012 2013Proper 21 98 112Proper 22 195 184Proper 23 120 98Proper 24 139 65Proper 25 106 108All Saints’ 114 156Proper 27 100 110Proper 28 133 99Last Pentecost 108 82

Have you lost something? Don’t forget to check the Lost & Found Basket

in the Common Room on the library shelf.

Sunday School Schedule for December and January

Sunday School is from 9:15 to 10 a.m. As the second Sunday of the month, Children’s Chapel will follow. Any questions, see Miranda Repp. Below are the Sunday School and Children’s Chapel dates for December.

December 1: No Sunday SchoolDecember 8, 9:15 a.m.: Sunday School followed by 10 a.m. Children’s ChapelDecember 15, 9:15 a.m.: Sunday SchoolDecember 22: No Sunday SchoolDecember 24, 7:00 p.m.: Sunday School will be invited to share in a Children’s Nativity Play!December 29: No Sunday School

January 5: No Sunday SchoolJanuary 12: Sunday School followed by 10 a.m. Children’s ChapelJanuary 19: Sunday SchoolJanuary 26: No Sunday School (Combined Mass and Annual Meeting)

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Tower publication

Editor: The RectorPublisher: The Parish AdministratorAssemblage: Our appreciated and disciplined members

The deadline for the March/April Tower is Wednesday, February 12th. It is very important that we have your article submissions to the parish office on time.

Tower Assemblers please note: The assembly of the March/April Tower will be on Wednesday, February 26th after the 9:00 a.m. mass.

Tower Schedule for the remainder of 2014: No February Tower August/September

March/April October/November May/June December/January 2015 No July Tower

Please note: Any news updates for the month of February will be sent out with the year-end statements in January. News update notification for the month of July to be decided.

Ministry Spot-Light - December

In the narthex, space will be provided for our various ministries to provide helpful information and displays about their respective ministries over a series of Sundays. The next ministries to be “spot-lighted” are:

December 1: Music DirectorDecember 8: Food Pantry

The Ministry Spot-Light will take a hiatus during the month of January but is looking forward to returning in February.

The Bible Challenge… continues and never ends…

Many at St. John’s have accomplished, will accomplish, or at least bravely attempted the Bible Challenge for 2013. Whether you completed reading the Bible in a year’s time or not, 2014 is a new year. Most people who tried the Bible Challenge at St. John’s did so individually or within families. A few “Bible Summit” meetings were held to discuss biblical basics and theories. For 2014, St. John’s is considering ways of group support for all interested in the Challenge or just biblical basics.

What is the Bible Challenge again? Simply put, a way to encourage reading the Bible in a year’s time. For more information, checkout this website: thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org or handouts available at St. John’s. We should take some pride in this study. The Center for Biblical Studies which developed the Bible Challenge comes from St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Fort Washington, PA. Yes indeed, Episcopalians do and should read the Bible beyond liturgy.

Additional interest continues to be expressed for a study on the Book of… Revelation. The last book of the Bible is perhaps the most puzzling and diffcult to understanding. Theories of interepretation let alone purpose and history of composition are as enigmatic as the language we find in “The Apocalpyse.” The Revelation (never Revelations) of St. John the Divine is too often grossly misinterpreted as either a rigid comentary on current events or as a meaningless piece of bizarre historical propaganda. In actuality the Book of Revelation – exotic imagery aside – is a magnificent and cinematic expression of God’s final hope for us. Stay-tuned as future formation dates are considered.

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ATTENTION: Ministry leaders

Please turn your reports in to the parish office for the Annual Report by…

January 6th or earlier via e-mail. The following reports needed are:

Senior Warden Green Thumb Club Ministry Junior Warden Lectors – 8:00 Treasurer Lectors – 10:00 Music Director Outreach Ministry, including finances Altar Guild, including finances Pastoral Care Ministry Bible with Breakfast Ministry Prayer Shawl Ministry Christian Formation Women’s Bible Study Food Pantry Ministry, including finances Prayer Chain Ministry Archives Ministry Kitchen/Fellowship Ministry Capital Campaign, including finances Holiday Bazaar, including finances

It is St. John’s SOUP time!Soup for Sale from our Outreach ministry…Each year we have dedicated volunteers who make 3 varieties of soups which are very tasty. The proceeds from the soup sale are used to promote the work of our Outreach ministry. We are taking orders through January 19. We are in need of plenty of help making the soup. A sign-up sheet for Friday, January 25 and Saturday, January 26 will be posted. Soup will be available for pick up on January 26 after our Annual Parish Meeting. Order forms are available below and on the table at the back of the nave.

ST. JOHN’S ANNUAL SOUP SALE- 2014Sponsored by the Outreach Committee

Place your order by Sunday, January 19 by mailing it to the church office or by putting it in the offering plate on Sunday. Pick up your order after church on January 26 at our annual meeting. Cost per quart is $6, due at time of pick up. If you cannot pick up at this time, we will place your soup in the freezer. Please ask your friends and organizations to order soup as this is the largest single fund raiser for our outreach program at St. John’s. Thanks for your participation.

Name: _______________________________________________ Telephone: _______________________

How Many? Kinds Available This Year Amount Total(at $6 per quart)

Chicken NoodleBroccoli CheeseVegetable Beef

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Total Cost

St. John’s Recipe Corner

A Joyful Memory: Catherine “Kate” Nusbaum’s famousDelicious-In-A-Hurry-Chicken Recipe

Ingredients: 1 bottle of Russian (or French) dressing 1 small jar of apricot jam (or peach jam) 1 envelope of dry onion soup 1 ½ cup water 10-12 pieces of chicken

Mix ingredients and pour over chicken. Put in 350 degree oven (preheated) and bake until done, unusually an hour depending on size, in a greased 9 x 12 pan.

Spiced Cranberry Apple Chutney

"Cranberries, chopped apple, golden raisins, and celery are cooked into a sweet and tangy chutney with orange zest and spices. Serve it warm in a pretty sauce bowl on Thanksgiving day, or spoon it over a baked wheel of brie cheese for a festive, elegant appetizer. "

Prep Time: 15 Minutes / Cook Time: 45 Minutes / Ready In: 1 Hour 15 Minutes / Servings: 48

Ingredients: 2 cups fresh cranberries 2 cups white sugar 3 tablespoons water, or more as needed 1 large Granny Smith apple - peeled, cored and chopped 2 stalks celery, finely chopped 1 tablespoon grated orange zest

1 cup fresh orange juice 1/4 cup pecans (optional) 1 cup golden raisins 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 pinch salt, or to taste

Directions:Place the cranberries, sugar, and water in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook until all the cranberries have popped, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the apple, celery, orange zest, orange juice, pecans, raisins, ginger, cloves, and salt, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the celery is tender and the sauce is reduced, about 35 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the saucepan, and let the chutney stand to thicken, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Allrecipes.com

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Do you have a favorite recipe you would like to share? Consider sending in your recipe – or “make it” for our upcoming annual meeting. The carry-in pot-luck theme is: YOUR FAMILY TO OUR FAMILY. What’s a favorite family dish you have to offer in celebration for our family?

Vestry Minutes SummaryOctober 2013

Charlie Moore, Sr. Warden, led the Vestry in prayer. Several recent and upcoming events were reported on and discussed. The November Stewardship Drive will include a combined mass and catered meal from Antonio’s on November 17. The Budget Committee has met to begin looking at the 2014 budget. Some boiler repairs need to be done, elevator work is proceeding, and the limestone tuck pointing has been completed. Other projects are still in development. The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

November 2013

Fr. Repp opened the meeting with prayer. Cheryl Menzel reported on the November 9 bazaar results: proceeds of $2,187.30 will be divided equally among Outreach, Food Pantry, and Capital Campaign. The Photo Directory may be available by Christmas. Sandi Borneman reported on the stewardship drive. Charlie Moore reported that the Nominating Committee has met and discussed potential nominees to fill three empty Vestry seats and Senior

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Warden. The 2014 budget is in development. Several building projects have been completed. A report on the Capital Campaign will appear in the next Tower. The Artley Bequest funds are now available. The Vestry voted

to take the full amount and place it in the Reserve Fund. Fr. Repp closed the

meeting with the Lord’s Prayer.

December Kids Page 12

January Kids Page13

Bible Quiz answer from page 5: C (See Matthew 1:21.)

December AnniversariesTom & Sue Williams 12-10 Charlie & Sue Moore 12-17Jim & Betty Loomis 12-15 Bob & Mary Lou Stackhouse 12-29Ron & Jill Longbrake 12-17 Jack & Ann Turnock 12-29

December BirthdaysAlexis Ham 12-02 Floyd Moreland 12-20Tom Goggan 12-03 Bobbi Meyers 12-21Thomas Burkert 12-05 Michelle Klemm 12-24Ann Turnock 12-05 Kaitlyn Robinson 12-24Tim Purdie 12-06 Trudy Battjes 12-26Bob Stackhouse 12-06 Lynne Miles 12-26Sally Doering 12-10 Brenda Goethals 12-27Jim Morningstar 12-11 Patsy Logan 12-27Phil Lux 12-15 Miranda Repp 12-31Cheryl Menzel 12-17

January AnniversariesTom & Susan Coyne 01-12 Jim & Dellaura Riggle 01-23

January Birthdays John Yonkers 01-03 Glenn Holtz 01-15David LaBaw 01-07 Phyllis Companion 01-16Matt Davis 01-10 Margaret Burkert 01-19Michael Row 01-11 Carl Tiedemann 01-22Jessica Robinson 01-12 Odette Cassis 01-23Emilie Tiedemann 01-12 Jeff Morningstar 01-25Donald Bloom 01-15

February AnniversariesDavid & Dina Borneman 02-23 Ed & Willy Welter 02-23

February Birthdays Jim Baker 02-04 Norma Nolte 02-22Brian James 02-04 Sandy Dixon 02-23Sondra Walker 02-09 Michele Ham 02-24Roena Williard 02-11 Kay Miller 02-25Celeste Goggan 02-13 Nancy Morningstar 02-25

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Bible Quiz answer from page 8: B (See Revelation 3:7-13.)

Robin Schalliol 02-15 Rob Eckstein 02-26Margaret Davis 02-20 Mary Jean Williams 02-26

Don’t see your birthday or anniversary? Call the parish office so we can update our database. Thanks!

GATHER US IN AS A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

There’s a romantic, slightly gilded view of the December-January imagery we find in Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Much of it is tempered by Victorian sentimentality. Our imaginations turn to ragamuffin choirs, Advent calendars, evergreen trappings and colorful paper wrappings with bows, the pungent smell of bayberry and holly, the Magi approaching the crèche, The Messiah and The Nutcracker, and a good cup of wassail. This tradition is now absorbed into something adorned with gaudy lights, last-minute-all-night specials of things we just can’t live-without, endless shopping lists, a host of musically-tinged media programs and pagaents of varying taste, a glut of obligatory socials interspersed with loneliness and a pile of debit-card receipts sticking to a stack of dirty dishes under a day-glo Madonna holding the Christ-child. Of course, for much of the world, this is just another season of need and hunger or the remembrance of the loss of loved ones.

Perhaps this is a bit harsh or jaded, but as we enter into the “darkest time of the year,” it’s important to understand what all this “darkness” really means. It’s more than our slipping toward the winter solstice. It’s more than precious, savory trappings. It’s more than prying ourselves away from the gluttony and commercialization of the season. The darkness is real and no matter how hard we try, we can’t drape it over with garland. Seriously, it’s real – and for many – a complicated time of the year. That’s generally not the typical message for the season, but hear me out.

Only two Gospels contain overt infancy narratives of the coming Christ-child: Matthew and Luke. The first tends to favor the telling from the “father’s side” and for the latter, the “mother’s side.” Both harmonize well but contain distinctive qualities. Only in Luke do we find the Magnificat, the witness of the shepherds, the Presentation, and the actual birth-moment. Only in Matthew do we find the annunciation to Joseph, the visit of the Magi, and the Flight into Egypt. Taken together, these elements and others contribute to our general perception of the Infancy of Christ. Some argue about the historicity or the meaning behind these texts. Like it or not, this is all we have about the specifics of how Christ came into our world. Just like with the trappings of the season, sometimes it’s important to take a step back, pray, and remember that there’s more to how Christ comes into the world than obsessing about the details. I don’t think these stories were told or passed-on to argue about details, but rather to point us to the Light that emerges in the darkness of the world. The darkness of human sin is real. The Light of Christ is equally very real – and not merely a pretty idea to be gift-wrapped. If we can take only one thing from Matthew and Luke, it’s that Christ comes to us in a very earthy world – and in utter humility.

Let’s not forget the other Gospels. Mark starts his Gospel with an earthy bang. Jesus is being proclaimed to prepare the way (a dirty highway) by the John the Baptist (a rustic preacher), who then baptizes Jesus in the Jordan (a muddy ditch). If that wasn’t enough, Jesus is then tempted (not in a shopping mall but the wilderness). The darkness is real but Christ heals – His first action is a miraculous healing. Our patron, John, begins his namesake Gospel with the unabashed imagery of Light and darkness. Jesus was “before” all things including Christmas, as the Word spoken at creation. Jesus is the Way, the Light, and the Truth. Yes, we’ve heard it before.

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And this is the time of the year when we should hear it again – or in the words of the season, knock the dirt and dust off of it and unwrap it.

Continued.

I’m often asked about how I see St. John’s in relationship with our location and community. An obvious answer is that we are a downtown parish. We are in a downtown neighborhood. We have many members that commute from a larger circumference. While I don’t think we do it at St. John’s, let’s not pretend we’re something we’re not. Our capital campaign of “Building a Stronger St. John’s” affirmed both our identity and our location. We can serve the community in our pantry, through a

There are a lot of church growth and help books available, most often targeting church communities in very different contexts from our own. We’re not a suburban or a county road church. Whatever warts people might perceive of “downtown parishes,” we possess a very visible call for ministry in our neighborhood. Our location should also remind us of all the other places in the world that also need not only outreach, but the Light of Christ. When people ask me about how I see St. John’s, I often reply – pointing to our landmark tower – as a beacon of Light.

Yes, there’s darkness in the world. Yes, the world is more complicated than we would like it to be. And that’s where Jesus meets us. I invite all of us at St. John’s to embrace the Seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany as witnesses to the Light of Christ and share it with all of our neighborhoods in great joy. Fr. Repp

The Wardens and Vestry

Charlie Moore, Senior Warden Jim Loomis, Junior WardenSusan Coyne, Treasurer

2014 2015 2016Diane Botts Sandi Borneman Steve Cash

Jim Burkert Robin Hansell Tom Goggan

Charlie VanHeldorf Cheryl Menzel Margie Paulen

The Episcopal Church ofSt. John the Evangelist

226 West Lexington AvenueElkhart, IN 46516-3128Office: 574-295-1725Fax: 574-295-1744

E-Mails:

Rector: Fr. Daniel Repp fr.repp@hotmail.com

Parish Administrator:

Mrs. Rebecca Martin parishoffice2000@yahoo.com

Director of Music: Mr. Jeff Cooper

jthcooper@gmail.com

Please keep the following people in your daily prayers.

For our children: Claudia, Jensy, and Wilmer.

For those in the Armed Forces: Michael, Andrew, and Chris.

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For those who are ill or have a special need or concern: Nancee, Kyle, Jack, Denny, Tom, Steve & Judy, Cashin, Bob & Lee, Linda, Willard, John, Jean, Dan, Tracy, Donald, Katie, Robin, Rob, Robby, Jim, Ray, Ed, Betty, Carol, Catherine, Amanda, Brad, Micki, Mike, Ron, and Suzy.

For our Vestry: Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church and so guide the minds of those who make choices for your people and our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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St. John’s Episcopal Church 226 West Lexington Avenue Elkhart, IN 46516-3128

DATED MATERIAL—PLEASE DELIVER

Happy birthday, Jesus!

Each Christmas, a family celebrated by holding a birthday party for Jesus. To remind themselves of Jesus’ presence, they placed a chair of honor for him at their dinner table.

The highlight of the party was singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus and then blowing out the candles on a special cake.

One Christmas, a visitor asked the family’s 5-year-old daughter, “Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?”

The girl paused and then answered, “No! It’s not my birthday!”

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