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On Sunday, January 26th we will have a Potluck Lunch at 12:00 pm followed by the Annual Meeting to begin at 1:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. Reports form the staff and committees will be received, Council members will be elected, along with nominees to Youth Ministries, the Cemetery Board, and delegates to the Illinois South Conference. The Treasurer and Deacons will present the financial report for the past year as well as the proposed 2020 operating budget.

This meeting is also an opportunity to discuss or present other items for consideration in the future. Your input is important. Mark your calendars! Join us in planning the direction of St. John United Church of Christ for 2020 and beyond.

Childcare will be available during the meeting, beginning at 12:45 in the Nursery.

St. John Church Needs You! The nominating committee is seeking persons interested in serving on Church Council. This is an exciting time for our church! Council members have the opportunity to help St. John UCC grow into our future. Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to be a part of the life of St. John. If you are interested in serving on Church Council, or would like more information, please call the church office (618-344-2526).

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Sunday Attendance

Church Financials

Pledges made for Forward in Faith capital campaign:

$642,330.00

Donations through November 2019: $335,858.41

Expenditures November 2019: $95,343.03

Balance in Forward in Faith capital campaign fund

$240,515.38

Did you know that you can receive your giving statements electronically? Get your statements quickly and help the church reduce its carbon footprint, printing and postage costs by signing up for emailed giving statements. Contact Amy in the church office to get set up - it’s so easy!

November 2019

Special Worship

9:00 Worship

10:30 Worship

Sunday School

November 3rd 129 43 14 November 10th 152 36 23

November 17th 147 43 30

November 24th 137 53 19

Average 141 44 22

November 2019 Month Year-To-Date

General Fund Income $33,477.99 $416,772.34

General Fund Expenses $37,356.26 $506,398.84

Difference (General Fund) -$3,878.27 -$89,626.50

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Thank you to all who helped create and distribute over almost 40 Christmas Care bags for our St John friends who can not always attend services: Dema Weinacht for candy, Clyde Donovan for oranges, Evening Circle for cookies, and the Confirmands for packaging them. The deliverers included Rich & Joyce Skelton, Judy Brickey, Clyde & Vicki Donovan, Phyllis Bethel, Dianne Winney, Linda Powers and Joy Honegger’s carolers. Your Christmas spirit as well as the goodies were appreciated by all those who were visited.

A huge thank you to the members of St. John for their participation of collecting Christmas Cards and stamps to be handed out during S.O.S. Soup Kitchen. The patrons really appreciate being able to send these cards to their loved ones. A special thanks to Dana for her advise and support. Donna Graham, Phyllis Bethel & Pat Hays

Gifts to the Church General Fund

• In memory of Cleo. G. Fletcher from Barb, Scotty & Ashley Kusmierczak.

• In memory of Karen Take’s brother, Gary Pintar, from Becky McNeil. • In memory of Becky McNeil’s mother, from the Church Council. • In memory of Bob & Charleen Keller, from their family. • In memory of Nancy Berry’s mother, from Don & Pat Walker.

Church Council Highlights

December 2019 • Heard a presentation from the Search Committee on the St John UCC, Collinsville Church

Profile and unanimously approved it. The profile will now be posted on the ISC and UCC website.

• Approved 5 logos as potential new logos. These will be officially voted on at the January 26, 2020 Annual Meeting.

• Continuing to work on hiring a Music Associate (accompanist) and a Crib Room Attendant.

• Working on updating the Operating Policy since some of it has not been updated for 20 years and approved changes for one section.

• Nominating Committee was formed to find Council members to be voted on in 2020. What an exciting time to be a Council member!

*Please Note: Final Council and Special Congregational Meeting minutes are available from the church office upon request.

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From the Interim Pastor’s Desk -

The alignment of dates on the 2019 calendar, like few other years in recent memory, has caused one person after another to lament, to me, how quickly Christmas Day seems to be approaching. This sense of limited time has been frequently noticed within busy local congregations, not unlike St. John UCC.

Because the first day of December was also the First Sunday of Advent and only three days separate the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Day, those of us charged with scheduling holiday events, like Christmas Pageants, Choir Cantatas, Christmas Caroling and other holiday-related events (parties, shopping excursions, etc.) have felt as if there simply is too little time to do all the things that need to be done, in preparation for Christmas.

Functioning as a local church pastor, during Advent 2019, with a need to coordinate schedules with a staff team and other church members, has resulted in several days and moments when I have felt rushed or that there simply is not enough time to get essential things done. Nevertheless, as the day of celebration draws near, and my “To Do List” grows shorter; in those rare moments when I’m able to sit quietly and honestly focus upon the reason for this important Christmas Season, my mind returns to the words of The Late Howard Thurman, previously shared in this publication. His work is entitled “The Work of Christmas”:

“When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among brothers [and sisters], To make music from the heart.”

St. John, my fervent prayer is that all of you will take some time, early in the New Year-2020, to hum, whistle and sing some songs, as you rejoice in the many ways we’ve all been blessed by Almighty God, our Creator and our Redeemer.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you from the Pastors, the Program Directors and the staffs who serve the ministries and congregation of St. John UCC.

Rev. Dr. Marvin Morgan, Interim Senior Pastor

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Dreams and Visions—A Jazz Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Oîkos Ensemble, under the direction of the Rev. Cliff Aerie will perform a sacred jazz concert, Dreams and Visions: A Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, at St. John United Church of Christ, 307 W. Clay St., Collinsville, IL, on Sunday January 19th at 3:00 pm.

For almost twenty years, Cliff has led the Oîkos Ensemble receiving rave reviews from around the country. Designing imaginative sacred jazz concerts and choreographing jazz worship services, Cliff and the ensemble have been acknowledged as innovators on the vanguard of creative interfaith and ecumenical celebrations. Joining Cliff on sax are some of the St. Louis area’s finest jazz musicians: pianist Carolbeth True, trumpeter Tim Osiek, bassist Glen Smith, and drummer David True.

Special guest vocalists include Kim Fuller Barnes, Dr. Leon Burke III and Arianna Aerie. The St. John UCC Choir, under the direction of John Hawn will also perform with Oîkos.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a fan of jazz. At the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1964 he said, “Jazz speaks for life. The blues tells the story of life’s difficulties.” He went on to say that jazz musicians “take the hardest realities of life and put them to music . . . to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph.” Affirming these words and honoring his lifelong ministry in the struggle for racial equality and justice advocacy, Oîkos and company will tell a story of the quest for human liberation and freedom.

The Oîkos Ensemble is a consortium of gifted musicians celebrating stories of transformation and enlightenment through its music. Oîkos paints vibrant soundscapes with the brush stroke of jazz improvisation affirming the global community as one human family. Grammy award winner, Paul Winter says: “I salute Cliff Aerie and the Oîkos Ensemble for their inspired music and mission. They are serving the world with their song.”

A Special Reception

The Reception to be held following the jazz concert will have a two-fold purpose: An acknowledgement of the Jazz Artists and also an initial Celebration of Pastor Marvin Morgan’s nearly three-year tenure as Interim Senior Pastor of St. John UCC.

Tickets are $30.00 each, and will be available in the Narthex, each Sunday morning after worship. You may also purchase tickets in the Church Office.

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The St John UCC Vision was written and approved this year as part of our Transition process: “We are called to create a community where all people seeking Christ will experience God’s Love and Grace.” This vision is incorporated into each of the logos that were created by Francesca Eales, Communications Coordinator, under the guidance and approval of the Council. #4 - The cross was brought to the forefront of the design and incorporated into the STJ in a different way than the previous monogrammed look. The mellow shade of blue has historically been used in our letterhead and is the predominate color in the sanctuary. #6 - The gray coming through from the blue cross represents moving forward. #7 - Instead of focusing on the STJ or the J in St John, this logo focuses on the “O” in St John. Having this O in the logo is a great way to bring forward a symbol within the actual logo. The O holds a picture of a dove which represents peace, the dove in the old church’s stained-glass window, and our movement as we evolve spiritually as a church. The dove also looks like a globe which shows the world that God’s love and grace is for all. #8 - This logo has a more modern/contemporary font. #10 - This logo incorporates the UCC crest. We will discuss and vote on the adoption of a new logo at the Annual Meeting on January 26.

#4 #8

#6 #6a

#7 #10

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Winter weather could be just around the corner. In the event of hazardous weather conditions, there is a possibility that worship services may be cancelled for the safety of our members and staff. Cancellation notices will be listed with the following news networks: FOX 2, KMOV-4 and KSDK-5 as well as on the St. John Church’s Facebook page and text reminders. Of course, whether or not church is cancelled, please rely on your own good judgement as to whether it is safe for you to venture out!

January Donations for Kindercottage

We ask that you continue to help assist Kindercottage, on a monthly basis. Needed items are

listed, in the Informer, each month. When out shopping please consider purchasing any/all of the listed items, and bring them to the church. A container, marked ‘for Kindercottage’, is located in

the atrium, and each month the donated items are taken to them. The requested items for January are;–Kleenex, paper towels, bathroom tissue.

Your support is greatly appreciated by the staff and children of Kindercottage.

Our book club has chosen the next book we will be reviewing; Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received

an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home. Bring your thoughts and come share in the discussion. We plan on meeting on Tuesday afternoon January 14th, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. in the Atrium. For planning purposes, count on the meeting lasting 1 ½ hours. We hope you will be able join us.

Save the Date – May 7th & 8th If you find yourself with tons of stuff after the holidays, remember St. John church would love to have it for our Spring Rummage Sale. You may bring your rummage to church for storage in the men’s dressing room located next to the stage in Faith Hall. Additional information available from the church office (618-344-2526).

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Faith Walking Mondays-Fridays 7-9 a.m. & 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 20 laps = 1 mile Greeters help you log your progress! Free-Will Offering. November Mileage: 858 miles January Prayer Theme: Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace No Walking January 1 Plan Ahead - Faith Walkers will be competing in the Alaska Iditorod beginning in March! Join in the fun and watch our progress on the map in the Faith Hall Lobby! Zumba Tuesdays at 7 p.m. $5 at the Door. Open to the public! Pickleball Mondays at 5:30 p.m. Free Will Offering Contact Norb Kniepp for more information.

TOPS Weigh In begins at 6:30 p.m. Faith Hall Stage Conference Room Contact Carolyn Peter at 345-6218 for more information. Adult Basketball Wednesdays at 8:00 pm NO play on January 8 and 15 for Learning Tree functions Free-Will Offering Open Play

We finished up the 2019 school year with an HHH Family Christmas Party on December 3. Our tutors got to eat dinner with the families of our HHH students and discuss the progress seen this semester. Thank you to the St. John members who helped with set-up, serving, and clean-up for this important outreach event! There were 130 in attendance! Families enjoyed their time together making Christmas ornaments.

HHH resumes on Tuesday, January 28. We need several volunteers able to tutor for one hour, from 3:00-6:00 each Tuesday and Thursday. We are losing many of our NHS students who have spring sports! The children we tutor are 1st-8th graders. Let Dana know if you can help!

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Thinking Ahead –HHH Fundraiser at Wurstmarkt – Christmas Decorations

If you are considering getting new Christmas decorations next year and your old ones are still in really good shape, consider bringing them to church to be sold at the Christmas Bazaar at Wurstmarkt in October. You can drop off your donations in the Faith Hall kitchen in January and we will store them until Wurstmarkt. This fundraiser brought in $1,000 in 2019 for HHH!

St. John will be serving at St. John Church on January 2, 2020. The Happy Wanderers are the St. John ministry to help in January. Look in the Narthex for a sign-up sheet to volunteer and bring food on December 29 or contact Dena Bieser or Amy Rhymer for more information. Check out the statistics for S.O.S. 2019 in the February Informer!

Collinsville Food Pantry Needs:

Canned Soup/Chili/Beef Stew/Chicken &

Dumplings Canned Pasta

Canned Meats (tuna, chicken) Applesauce Feminine Hygiene Products

Toilet Paper! Canned fruit Canned tomatoes

Canned spinach Canned pork & beans Macaroni & Cheese

Youth Ministries Invites You to Join Our Team If you are interested in serving on a vital St. John ministry that oversees the Christian education from birth to high school graduation, Youth Ministries is the spot for you! The term is a two-year commitment and begins in February. Please contact Dana or Pr. Katie Jo if you would like to know more. YOUTH MINISTRIES THANKS THE TAKE FAMILY FOR MAKING OUR ADVENT “ALL ABOARD FOR CHRISTMAS” EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS! Youth Ministries would like to thank Don & Karen, Randy & Jessica, and Duane & family for sharing their awesome train display with us as the main attraction to our All Aboard for Christmas event on Dec. 13, 14, & 15. In addition to viewing the trains, there was a huge train front (loaned to us by First Baptist, Collinsville) for children to have their pictures taken behind, crafts for families to make, and hot cocoa and cookies to enjoy. We had 211 people attend the train show. We sold Believe Bells for an entry to win a train set donated by Don Take. Erin Milkert was the grand prize winner! Thank You to All Those Who Made Christmas at St. John Church Special for Our Children

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Thank you to everyone who helped to make The Glory of Christmas Cantata such a success, including the parents who made sure they brought their children to Sunday School, to the extra practices and to the Birthday Party for Jesus. We would also like to thank Mr. John for the splendid job he did teaching the songs to the children! Most of all, thank you to Youth Ministries for doing such a great job of passing on the faith to our children – you all set an excellent example! This was truly a special celebration of our Savior’s birth!

Sunday School News Sunday School resumes on Sunday, January 5, 2020 for Pre-K through 8th Grade. Senior High Sunday School resumes on January 12.

3 & 4 Year-Old Preschool students are dropped off in Room 5 of the Education Building. They must be signed in and out. K-6th grade students start in worship with their parents and are excused to go to Sunday School. Parents pick up their children in the Art Room following 9 a.m. worship.

Sunday School Lessons for January for Pre-K – 6th Grade: January 5: Jesus the Word, John 1:10-18 January 12: Jesus’ Baptism, Matthew 3:13-17 January 19: The Lamb of God, John 1:29-42 January 26: The Disciples, Matthew 4:12-23 The Pre-K – 6th grade students will begin learning the foundations of Faith 5 starting January 19! This special curriculum with culminate in a special family Lenten Workshop sponsored by Youth Ministries, date to be announced next month.

Crib Room Volunteer Needed for 2nd Sunday As you may have read in the December Informer, St. John Church is in the process of hiring a Crib Room Attendant for both the 9:00 and 10:30 AM worship services. We are still in need of Crib Room Volunteers so there is a second adult in the room. We are looking for volunteers to serve in the Crib Room as an assistant to the Attendant. In particular, we need someone on the 2nd Sunday of each month and we need volunteers interested in helping during the Mosaic service. If you can help, please contact Dana at 344-2526. Senior High Sunday School Notice

The Senior High Sunday School students will be attending worship on Sunday, January 5 to receive communion. Sunday School resumes on January 12.

St. John to host VBS SHOWCASE on Friday, January 3! We have invited Illinois South Conference and local church Christian Educators to a VBS SHOWCASE on Friday, January 3, 2020 from noon – 2 p.m. to view curriculum and discuss coordinating the sharing of resources. The Showcase will feature 5 curriculums this year. This event is sponsored by Youth Ministries and includes lunch. If you would like to help select our VBS theme, please contact Dana or Pastor Katie Jo to RSVP by January 2.

Youth Ministries has scheduled Vacation Bible School for 2020! Mark you calendars for the week of July 13 – 17. Followed by VBS Sunday, July 19th for one service at 9:30 am.

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Welcome 2020! Our Learning Tree children are back and ready to learn. We pray this will be a blessed year for all of us! Dinosaurs will be taking over the 4-year-old curriculum for the first half of the month of January. This unit is highlighted with a dinosaur party where the children hatch dinosaur eggs and participate in a volcano experiment!!! The second half of the month will be devoted to Kindergarten readiness testing and learning about our bodies and how to keep them healthy. Our Kindergarten class will also have testing to check their progress. Next, these young explorers will tackle the Rainforest. The 3-year-old classes will be learning about winter and animal hibernation. They will end this unit with a Pajama Day! Another busy month at Preschool! Our next Family Fun Night will be Wednesday, January 15 from 6:30 – 7:30 p m in Faith Hall. Learning Tree will sponsor an Open House on Sunday, January 19 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Prospective new families are invited to attend and registration forms for the next school year will be available. Registration for the 2020-2021 school year will beginning on Tuesday, February 11, at 8:30 am for St. John church members. This will take place in the computer lab, downstairs in the Education Building. Registration will continue on Tuesday, February18 for current students and their siblings and end with Open Registration on Tuesday, February 25. Both of these registrations will also begin at 8:30 am and will be in the Parlor. I will open the doors at 8:20 am both days. Please share this information with your friends and family members! We will again offer classes for 2-, 3-, 4-year-olds and half-day Kindergarten. Happy New Year! Karen Rose Learning Tree Director

Save the Date Mark your calendar to join us for the Learning Tree Fundraiser at

Camelot Bowl on Sunday, March 15th

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222 Goethe Ave.

Collinsville, IL 62234 618-344-5008 www.stjohnscc.org

As St. John’s Community Care begins our 35th year of ministry to families caring for elders, our Board is launching another long-range strategic planning process. We try to do this every three or four years to assure we are taking appropriate steps to make progress toward our vision of having a community where all caregiving families can access the services, training, and support they need. 2018 and 2019 were years of significant change for Community Care. Thanks to grant funding from The Retirement Research Foundation, Stacey Rhodes developed Brain Wave, a series of classes for individuals who are early in their journey with memory loss. We will begin our sixth ten-week session soon. A big percentage of our “students” have enrolled in more than one session because the exercises and interaction with others in similar situations have been meaningful. Stacey does pre-tests and post-tests to measure anxiety and depression. Nearly every one of them has shown decreased anxiety and depression after completing Brain Wave classes. And their care partners comment on how much their self-confidence has improved. AgeSmart Community Resources Area Agency on Aging offered us the opportunity to teach Savvy Caregiver classes to caregivers for loved ones with dementia. This, too, has been a rewarding experience as our “students” tell us they are have learned strategies to improve their caregiving techniques and make life easier for both their loved ones and themselves. In 2020 we are partnering again with AgeSmart to offer Stress Busting sessions to expose family caregivers to a variety of activities they can use to reduce their stress. Studies prove that the stress of caregiving shortens the lives of the caregivers and also shortens the length of time they can continue their caregiving. Social isolation also has a detrimental effect on seniors who lose social connections as their health conditions make such interactions more difficult. Our new Memory Cafes in Edwardsville, Collinsville, and Alton offer informal opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy the company of others. Many of these new programs were handed to us, but all are very obviously within our mission to improve the lives of families challenged by aging or disability. As we move into this new decade, our Board will review our current programs and discern how we should invest our resources – financial, experience, and expertise – to further our mission. As the long-term Executive Director, I know how blessed I continue to be by the commitment and involvement of members of the St. John’s Healing Community Board.

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COLLINSVILLE FAITH IN ACTION® 233 North Seminary Street, Collinsville, IL 62234

Volunteer Caregivers: 618-344-8080 Answers on Aging: 618-344-7788

The Elder Connection: 618-799-9085 Website: www.fiacollinsville.org Fax: 618-344-3227

“Serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

Make Volunteering for CFIA Your New Year’s Resolution “Do something today that your future self would be proud of.” (Unknown)

Another year has passed, and 2020 is here. Now is the time that many of us are reflecting on the passing year and thinking about what we want to do differently in the New Year. Often times New Year resolutions revolve around us and self-improvement. However in 2020, why not commit to a New Year’s resolution that benefits others and yourself at the same time? Resolve to volunteer as a driver for Faith in Action.

Volunteering not only benefits the community and the organization, it has benefits for you too. It has a positive impact on your life and the lives of those around you. Volunteerism has been shown to improve confidence, reduce depression, and increase socialization for those who commit their time. There are studies in which individuals say that volunteering has made them feel healthier, and has enriched their sense of purpose. How is that for self-improvement?

Volunteerism is one of the most selfless actions that we can take. But it can easily become one of those back burner activities. It’s that type of activity that always seems like a nice thing to do, but loses steam when it comes to reaching out and signing up. Faith in Action needs you to make volunteering a reality this year. Make a commitment today to help seniors and adults with disabilities in our service area to thrive and live independently. Sign up to drive a senior to a medical appointment, to the grocery store or pharmacy, or to the hairdresser or barber. Help make a difference with Faith in Action. Call 344-8080, and make volunteering for CFIA your New Year’s resolution.

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The Informer

St. John United Church of Christ 307 West Clay Street Collinsville, IL 62234 www.stjohnucc-collinsville.org ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Time-sensitive information: please expedite delivery

*Communion will be served during worship **Coffee Hour – Refreshments will be served by the Welcome Team. Office Hours: Contact Us: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday Phone: 618-344-2526 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm on Wednesday Email: office@stjohnucc-collinsville.com

Sunday Preaching Schedule *January 5th 9:00 a.m. Classic Worship Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Morgan 10:30 a.m. Mosaic Worship Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Morgan January 12th 9:00 a.m. Classic Worship Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Morgan 10:30 a.m. Mosaic Worship Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Morgan **January 19th 9:00 a.m. Classic Worship Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Morgan 10:30 a.m. Mosaic Worship Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Morgan January 26th 9:00 a.m. Classic Worship Rev. Katie Jo Bielke 10:30 a.m. Mosaic Worship Rev. Katie Jo Bielke