APRIL 2018

Volume 32.4

St. John’s
United Church
of Christ
St. John’s United
Church of Christ is a
diverse community
forming a united
congregation, seeking to It is Holy Week and Easter is this coming Sunday. I know we are all waiting to truly
grow our faith, share it feel like spring has come and that Easter has truly ushered in the growth and beauty
with others, and serve
of new life that comes with spring.
God’s people wherever
the need is present. We
are living God’s love and This week as we practice dying and resurrection it is a good time to think about what
all are invited!!! in you needs to die in order that you may have new life. Where in your life are you
looking for resurrection? What needs to die for you to experience that new life? Are
An Open and you willing to experience that death in the hope of resurrection?
Affirming
Congregation A second question for you to ponder is what are you willing to die for? Jesus clearly
503 Stuart Circle knew what he was willing to lay down his life for are you as clear? Knowing what
Richmond, Virginia 23220 we are willing to die for makes us more able to truly stand up for what we believe in
Telephone: and for creating the beloved community where all are treated with love. When you
804.358.9291 identify what you would lay down your life for the next question is how do create
Rev. Linda Higgins
resurrection?
Pastor
Email:
office@stjohnsrichmond.org
This is a good time to ponder and remember Easter like Christmas is not a day but a
season. We enter Easter on April first and the season ends with Pentecost on May
20th so I challenge you to look and act resurrected, for not just Easter day but the
whole season. What would that mean to you to act as one who lives in the world as a
resurrected one?

Web Site: I hope these questions help you to pray, ponder, journal and truly enter this holy
stjohnsrichmond.org time.

With Prayers and Love,

Pastor Linda Higgins
 Easter Celebration This Sunday ~ April 1, 2018
At 7:00 am St. John’s will join the churches of the West End Clergy Association for an Easter
Sunrise Service at Brookland United Methodist Church (2501 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA
23230), in the grove behind the church. Our very own Pastor, The Rev. Linda Higgins will be
preaching.

At 9:45 am St. John’s will participate in the Palm Sunday Parade.

At 11 am St. John’s will have a FESTIVAL COMMUNION to celebrate the RESURRECTION,

followed by a Light Lunch, Easter Egg Hunt for the children and planting of the pinwheels for
National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Church Council
The Congregation met on Sunday, March 11, 2018, and approved up to $30,000 for electrical
repairs noted in the December 2017 Building Electrical Analysis by Dunlap & Partners. The
money will come from the general fund. Church Council did not meet in March due to inclement
weather and illness.

ACTS Dinner
St. John’s table for the ACTS dinner is now full. If you would like to attend the dinner, please
contact ACTS directly at (804) 644-2401 to see if tickets are still available.

Monument Avenue 10K – Saturday, April 14th

Our usual Welcome Leader is not available to be at church on the morning of the 10K. For several
years, Don Warren has opened our doors and provided coffee, cocoa, water, and restrooms to
race fans. Please let Elisabeth Burnette know if you are interested in stepping into this important
community role for the race.

Yard Sale
Mark your calendars for St. John’s Basement/Yard Sale. The date is Saturday, June 2, 2018 so
start saving your stuff!

News From “The Fellowship” Ministry

We are invited to join First English Lutheran Leisure Group on day trips this spring and fall. The
first trip will be to Orange and Madison Counties. There will be a tour of Hebron Lutheran
Church, lunch at the Bavarian Chef and a visit to Montpelier, home of James Madison. A flyer is
posted on the bulletin board at our church with details. Reservations must be made by April 13th.
The cost is $125.00 per person. For more information call Lynda Merry at 756-0270 or Dorothy
Cook at 675-9269.
 Adult Education for April 2018
Sunday Mornings @ 9:45 am ~ Guild Room
Join us as we continue with the study of the Gospel of
Mark. We meet Sundays at 9:45 in the pastor’s outer office.

April 8 True Power Mark 6 & 7

April 15 Who is this Guy Mark 8
April 22 Pastor Away No Class
April 29 On the Way Mark 9

We are serving as the intake center for the CARITAS women’s

group from 5 pm to 7 pm through May 18. First English will be
taking Monday and Tuesday nights and a group from the
Church of the Good Shepherd will handle the first Monday of
each month. You are welcome to assist our hosts Wednesday
through Sunday nights. There should be at least two people
signed up for each day. Feel free to sign up on a day that is
already taken but touch base with to coordinate refreshments.

We serve approximately 40 women each night and want to greet them with an Extravagant
Welcome. As they won’t have supper until somewhere between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. and lunch was
many hours earlier, we would like to serve a “substantial snack” – something sweet (cookies, brownies,
cupcakes, etc.), something savory/salty (chips with salsa or cheese and crackers), and something
healthy (fruit, veggies, etc.).

There will be a list with the sign up sheets of nonperishable items that we will need. All donations can
be placed in the kitchen with a note indicating it is for CARITAS. If you have any questions, please see
Don or Elisabeth. Paper sign-up sheets are in the Parlor.

St. John's will have a table at

the Equality Virginia dinner on
Saturday, April 14, 2018

Calling all Potential

Fellowship Hosts & Liturgist Volunteers:
We Need Your Help!
There are several Sundays in April open for both opportunities.
Remember all you need bring for coffee house is a fruit (like
grapes) or a vegetable (like carrot sticks): we have the coffee,
lemonade mix, cups, plates, crackers, and cookies. Thanks in advance for your help!
Call the church office or see Kate Schaefer for information.
 "The Fellowship” will meet for lunch on
Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 1:00 pm.
They will have lunch at:
The Balkan Restaurant
8905 Patterson Avenue, Henrico, VA 23229
For information call Dorothy Cooke at 804-675-9269

St. John’s Congregational Life and Care

Ministry will meet on Tuesday, April 10,
2018 at 6 pm. Please plan to join us.
For information you may contact
Scott Siefert @ 804-350-0826.

The Women's Fellowship Group will

meet on Sunday, April 8th at
5:30 pm at Pastor Linda's home (2928
West Stony Hill Court). We will have
fellowship at 5:30 pm followed by a
meal. You can bring a food item,
but it is not necessary. If you plan to bring a dish, please let Pastor Linda know
prior to the event. Looking forward to having everyone together! For additional
information please see Helena DeLigt or you can call the church office at 358-9291.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

CROP Walk Planning Meeting
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 @ 6:00 pm

Our Mission of the Month for April is ACTS (Area

Churches Together in Service). This organization
which was founded by the Stuart Circle churches,
including St John’s, provides funds, support, and other
resources to people in danger of homelessness to
enable them to stay housed and to keep their lives and
families intact.
 What’s Happening in Richmonders
Involved to Strengthen our Community’s
Childhood Trauma Initiative? (RISC)

In 2016, we started hearing stories of

children devastated by the three suicides of
their friends and classmates at James River
HS and Robious MS. We learned that
the rate of suicide attempts for youth in
Chesterfield has doubled over the last 5
years.

At the same time, we learned that African-

American students with disabilities are suspended from Chesterfield schools 4 times as often as any other
student group. We heard the stories of children with disabilities who react emotionally when they are
upset. They are accused of being aggressive against their teacher and suspended for months!

Both of these tragic and preventable problems facing Chesterfield kids have their root in unaddressed
traumatic experiences – “incidents that cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm and make a child
feel threatened, anxious, or frightened” (Healthline).

Local experts estimate that 5,000-6,000 children in our region have experienced multiple traumatic events.
When adults interacting with these children, including their teachers and school staff, do not know how to
respond appropriately, the problem is only made worse.
In 2017, Chesterfield County Public Schools officials agreed that trauma is a serious problem facing their
students and committed before 900 citizens to implement an evidence-based trauma training for their
teachers and staff.

Instead of using a specific, proven training in schools that need it most, Chesterfield is working with a
handful of schools who have volunteered for training and estimate it will take several years to provide
training in all schools. There is no clear training plan and little evaluation of the training’s results – in-
stead, each school gets different training based on the teachers’ interests.

We believe that Chesterfield kids and teachers deserve a well-designed training that has proven
effective in another community, not an experimental, patchwork approach!

Through months of research, RISC leaders have identified effective training opportunities from Richmond
child welfare agencies, Duke University, and the University of California, which have shown to reduce
suspension rates and disruptive classroom behaviors.

At the 2018 Action on April 30, 2018, we will ask Chesterfield County Public Schools officials to
implement one of the proven trainings RISC has researched in schools that would otherwise be on the
waiting list for years!

Your presence at the Great Nehemiah Action on April 30, 2018, matters so that the
school system sees the community’s expectation for effective tools that will help our
students and teachers overcome trauma and be successful. Please save this date:
Monday, April 30, 7 p.m., St Paul’s Baptist Church, 4247 Creighton Road.
 We pray for members of the St. John’s Family:
Prayer Concerns
Remembering our Shut-Ins:
Judy Brown, Rev. Hank Harman, Iola Miller, Frieda Walsh
Fritz Will, III, Anna Oxenham, David Townsend

Prayers for Healing:

Sympathy to Peggy Ford (In the loss of her brother, Carl Hassel, Jr.)
John Michel (Jeff Michel’s Father)
Joyce Stewart (friend of Dorothy Cook) Joe McGregor & Ann E. Osborn.
If you would like to add loved ones to our prayer list please call 804-358-9291
 Ministry April 1 April 8 April 15 April 22 April 29
Team 4 Team 1 Team 1 Team 2 Team 2
Welcome Team
Leader Doug Waldrop Richard Bighinatti Richard Bighinatti Lynn Snyder Lynn Snyder

Sound Jeff Michel David Pittman David Pittman Will Atkinson Will Atkinson
System

Tellers Jeff Jacobs

Scott Siefert

Liturgist Rev. Beverly Lindsey Dreama Terrill Marcie Agee

Facilities Bud Higgins Richard Bighinatti Richard Bighinatti Jeff Hetzer Jeff Hetzer

Altar Guild Erin Burnette Arthur Dewey Johanna Gilbert Dorothy Cook
Georgianne Stinnette Lynda Merry Charlotte Quick Helen Bunch

Fellowship
Hosts
Rev.
Altar Beverly Lindsey
Flowers

Please find a substitute if

Teller Coordinator:
Bud Higgins
you are unable to perform
804-301-5059 your ministry and contact
your Team Coordinator
AND the office to let them
Fellowship Host Coordinator: know who will be filling in
Kate Schaefer
804-239-2871 for you. Thank you for
making our church
ministries run smoothly!
 A p r i l 2 018
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
11:00 am 5:30 pm 6:30 pm 1:30 pm
Easter Worship Finance Mission Music/Worship
Egg Hunt, Easter Meeting Meeting Committee
Pot Luck Lunch, Meeting
Planting of the
Pinwheels

8 9 10 11 12 13 14
9:30 am Choir 6:30 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 1:00 pm
Rehearsal Church Council Congregational CROP WALK The Fellowship Equality Virginia
9:45 am Adult Ed. Meeting Planning Lunch @
Life & Care Dinner
11 am Worship Meeting The Balkan
6:30 pm Meeting Restaurant
5:30 pm Women’s
Fellowship R.I.S.C. Rally

15 16 17 18 19 20 21
9:30 am Choir
Rehearsal
9:45 am Adult Ed.
11 am Worship

22 23 24 25 26 27 28
9:30 am Choir 6:00 pm
Rehearsal Coming to the A.C.T.S.
11 am Worship Table Meeting @ Dinner
St. John’s UCC

29 30 31
9:30 am Choir
Rehearsal
9:45 am Adult Ed.
11 am Worship

2 Dale Totty
16 Desiree McNeice
20 Charlotte Ford
23 Hudlah Anderson
29 Anne Osborne
30 Betsy Bighinatti