Prepared for the members & friends of:St. John’s United Church of Christ (Huntersville)300 N. Huntersville Road, Batesville, IN 47006

(812)934-4144, Church Office - (812)933-9000, Church FaxRev. Joseph Feldmann, Pastor

www.stjohnsuccbatesville.org / www.facebook.com/sjuccbatesville/stjohnsuccbatesville@etczone.com / pastorjoeystjohns@etczone.com

I have sitting on my desk a curious memento of this congregation’s life. It is a ribbon from the 150th

anniversary of St. John’s founding. On it is a picture of the old church building (before any of our additions were in place), a recognition of our years of existence (well, at least through 1987!), and a Bible verse. The verse is I Thessalonians 3:12. “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another.”

This lovely verse describes in so many ways how we are called to live as followers of Christ. Written by Paul who cannot be present with this congregation, it is Paul’s deepest wish for the Thesalonica. “May you walk in the ways of Christ,” he says. “And those ways are the ways of loving one another, just as we have so much love for you. And as you do so, this love will help you to walk in holiness, so that you may be blameless before our God in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (The paraphrase is mine.)

The argument here seems clear to me. Paul, who in other places will talk about how we are unified in the Body of Christ, how in Christ all division (Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female) are broken down, is saying that the way those things happen is through loving one another. When we work at that simple and yet not so simple task, all the rest falls into place. Do we need to be more forgiving of one another? Loving each other makes that possible? Are we called to care for the least of these? (Umm, yes.) Then loving our neighbors just as we love one another empowers us to do so. Are we called to see each other as members of the same global family, all of us children of God? Then let us love one another with the messy yet real love that families have for one another. Let us always be increasing our love for one another and abounding in that love.

Friends, I have no doubt that this was a great choice of Bible verses to describe the St. John’s of so many years ago. A far as I can tell, our history is full of examples of how we as a congregation have striven, even if at times imperfectly, to love one another in all things. From our long-standing support of the food pantry to our CROP Walks, from the Communion committees that use to serve home Communion, to Pastor Dave’s still talked about ecumenism, we have long been a congregation striving to abound in love for one another. And in this world of COVID-19, when so much else is uncertain, that is a call we are still invited into. Indeed, it is a call we must keep striving towards.

So let us continue to seek to love one another. Let us send cards and make phone calls. Let us listen to our neighbors regarding issues of injustice and how we can address the symptoms of poverty. Let us wear our masks, keep distances as needed, but also reach out to one another as much as we can. As we live in this moment in time, where we are unsure about so many things, let us be sure about this one thing. That we will always work hard to love one another, just as we have been loved by our Savior and Creator.

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another.” Good words some 200 years ago. Good words in 1987. And good words now. Let us live into them as best as we can.

Shalom,

A page from the hymnal… God Is Here!#1

The text of this relatively new hymn was written in 1978 by the Rev. Fred Pratt Green. Rev. Green was born on September 2, 1903 in Roby, Lancashire, England. He was a British Methodist minister and hymnodist. Ordained in 1928, he wrote most of his works after retiring from active ministry in 1969. In addition to writing hymns, he also translated hymns from other languages. In 1978, Green was requested to write a hymn text to be sung at the closing of an eight month festival on worship, music and the arts, and this hymn was published in 1979. Based on scripture references I

Corinthians 12:27-31, II Corinthians 4:5, II Thessalonians 2:15 and Titus 2:14. It helps us understand what it means to be the church and emphasizes the relationship between Sunday worship and daily living. Other hymns included in our hymnal by Fred Pratt Green are “When in Our Music God Is Glorified,” (#7) “When Jesus Came to Jordan,” (#241) “Let Every Christian Pray,” (#332) and “For the Fruit of All Creation,” (#723). Green died in England on October 2, 2000 at age 97.

The tune, ABBOT’S LEIGH, was named for a village near Bristol, England, and was composed in May 1941 by Cyril V. Taylor. Taylor was born in 1907 in Wigan, England and studied at Christ Church, Oxford and Westcott House, Cambridge. He was ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1932, and served as both pastor and musician. He also worked for the religious broadcasting department of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The hymn, “Lord, You Give the Great Commission (#592) is also sung to this tune. Taylor died in Pekinsfield, England in 1991.

We who cannot live without you, we adore you! We believe!

David W. Hanson, Organist/Choir DirectorSt. John’s (Huntersville) UCC

July Benevolence Calendar(Thank you for your giving!)

05 – Southeast Indiana Health Clinic 12 – Crossroads Children’s Home 19 – St. John’s Scholarship Fund

26 – Fernside

Annual Sunday School PicnicThe St. John’s UCC Sunday School Picnic will not take place

this month. However, we DO plan to have a picnic on Rally Day Sunday, September 13. At this postponed picnic, we plan to AT LEAST have turtle soup, roast beef, and ice cream available for sale in pints. Whether or not we have a dinner depends greatly on the public health situation in September. Watch for more details. But look forward, as Pastor Joey is, for the chance to eat our delicious picnic-food even in this odd year.

Annual MeetingThe July biannual meeting of our congregation has been cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19. A report featuring what WOULD have been shared at the meeting will be available sometime after July 15. (Please give us a few days.) The Council recommended benevolence calendar (the only actionable item on the agenda) will be emailed to congregants after the July Council meeting. Please plan to look it over and email in your response of Yay or Nay. If you wish to receive a hardcopy via the regular mail instead, please let the office know and we will mail one to you along with postage paid envelope for you to mail it back in. Thank you for your understanding of this one-time change.

GriefsharePastor Emeritus Dave Johnston, coordinating with Margaret Mary Health, will be hosting a Griefshare class starting up again July 2 at 5:00. This will continue to be

held Thursday nights as before. Meeting should last about an hour to an hour and a half. Please enter using the ramp on the side of the church, signs or a greeter will be directing you where to go upon arrival. This is designed to help people who have recently lost loved ones (anyone from spouses to children to parents) to process and deal with their grief in a way that takes their faith into mind. It is open to both the public and the congregation. For more information, please contact either Pastor Dave or Pastor Joey.

National Youth EventThe National Youth Event that was to take place this month has been moved to 2022. But there are still several online events being shared. Please watch our church Facebook page for updates and links.

Vacation Bible School (VBS)The Sunday School Board moved in April to not have a week long VBS event, but to have a one-day event. Watch this space and your emails for more details.

NEXT MESSENGER DEADLINEJuly 17, 2020

Please note: The newsletter is typed on Tuesday following the deadline date. Any items submitted after the 17th will be TOO LATE to be included in this month’s Messenger!

Reminder: Messenger InputIf there are any announcements, updates or just info you wish to share, please don’t hesitate to contact the office via phone or email. I’ll be happy to hear from you and help get your message out!

I would like to thank you all for the cards, notes, calls and prayers following the death of my sister, Diana Schantz. It meant a lot to me and Roger.

Thank you again, Roger & Becky Schutte

Graduation Celebration!There will be a celebration held honoring Laura Janet Marie Vest for her 2020 Graduation. The celebration will be held Saturday, July 18 @ 2:00pm at the Old Delaware Fire House.

IN/KY Annual ConferenceThe Annual Meeting of the Indiana-Kentucky Conference was held virtually the last Sunday of June. Please watch for a report from it in our next newsletter.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDEDPlease see the enclosed form requesting updated information for your family. Since I’ve been here, I have received several returned emails as well as several calls or

emails letting me know that my messages have not been coming through. I’ve also tried to mail different items or even call and that information does not seem to be up to date either. If you can please complete the enclosed form and drop it off at the church office or even in the offering bin the next time you attend that would be great. I am also more than happy to email this to you if you would either call or email me and I can respond at that time. It is very important to keep the church records up to date and communications flowing.

1 - Sharon Davidson 2 - Bridget (Thie) Linville 3 - Emily Weberding, Kim Vest 4 - Dick Sitterding, Roger Schutte,

Quentin Comer, Brooke Hartman 5 - Erin Bischoff, Pam Gutzwiller, Anita Narwold 6 - Bill Hazelwood 7 - Emily Placke, Lily Sarringhaus,

Lydia Sarringhaus 9 - Daren Sarringhaus, Amy Pohlman,

Savannah Pohlman10 - Aydin Nunlist, Carleen Weiler11 - Warren Boor12 - Jacob Benoit14 - Nancy Meyer, Derrick Wilhelm15 - Violet Baldwin, Dennis Siebert, Audrey Hall,

Nathan Hall, Charrel Raver16 - Nancy Lochard17 - Marlene Emsweller18 - David Hanson, Delores Cornett, Linda Meyer19 - Johnathan Welborn20 - Theresa Owens, Rob Shane22 - Jeffery Meyer

23 - Jay Weber, Jr., Todd Lehfeldt25 - Rebeca Lehfeldt26 - Rachel Davis, Justin Huff27 - Dick Feller, John Wilhelm28 - Vyona Borchelt29 - Deloris Brebberman30 - Brenda Henkle, Heather Oliver

5 - Travis & Shari WesterfeldJarrod & Sarah Dobson

6 - Tom & Cami Muto 7 - Alex & Rachel Davis 9 - Josh & Maddi Vohland10 - Kent & Teri Sitterding

Mark & Melissa Blanton11 - Randy & Linda Meyer

Todd & Kindred Lehfeldt14 - Steve & Emily Vonderheide15 - Justin & Sarah Benoit16 - Tom & Jenny Fullenkamp20 - Chris & Carey Weiler26 - Dennis & Roberta Siebert

Changes or Additions for Birthday/AnniversariesIf there are any changes or additions to the Birthday or Anniversary list, please email or call the church office. Only you can help us keep our list up to date. Thank you.

St. John’s UCC