St. John’s HELPER
St. John’s United Church of Christ
1513 West Street
Rosenberg, Texas 77471
Church Office: 281-342-5159 Church Email:
Church Website: www.stjohnsunitedchurchofchrist.org
Rev. Daniel Haas, Minister Cell phone #801-368-1180
April 27, 2016 Rev. Donald Kolkmeier, Pastor Emeritus
No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at St. John’s United Church of Christ
“Rev. Longbottom called as Designated Conference Minister”
Rev. Dr. Donald Longbottom
The South Central Conference Board of Directors is pleased to announce the call of the Rev. Dr. Donald Longbottom to serve as Designated Conference Minister in service to the South Central Conference. After meeting with the Board at our April 16, 2016 quarterly business meeting, presenting his vision for how the SCC is to move forward, responding to the Board’s questions and concerns, anddialogingwith us about the future of our Conference, Dr. Longbottom proved to be clearly called by God to serve the SCC and to have the experience and skill set to effectively minister to, among, and with our SCC churches. After being officially extended the call to serve as Designated Conference Minister for the South Central Conference, Dr. Longbottom enthusiastically accepted.
Dr. Don, as he is affectionately called, grew up in Yuma, Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University with both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Political Science. After working the next few years, Dr. Don attended Golden Gate Seminary where he graduated with honors. His first congregation was Immanuel Baptist Church in Alameda, Ca. While serving this congregation, he was accepted into the PhD program at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Ca. His field of study was social ethics. Ultimately, Don received his doctorate in 2001 from Andover Newton School of Religion.
As his theological convictions matured, Dr. Don was attracted to the Mennonite Church over issues of social justice as defined by the life of Christ. After having served Mennonite congregations in Ohio and Kansas, he served as a chaplain at Prairie Psychiatric Hospital in Newton, Kansas.
Since 1991, Dr. Don has served throughout the United States as a Senior Minister in the United Church of Christ. His final settled ministry was at Countryside Community UCC, a 2,000-member congregation. While serving at Countryside, he was invited by Senator Chuck Hagel to open the U.S. Senate with prayer.
Beginning in 2006 he began serving highly conflicted congregations. Utilizing techniques taken from Appreciative Inquiry and insights gained over many years as a church leader, Dr. Don has helped numerous fractured congregations to work their way back to health and wholeness.
Rev. Dr. Longbottom is currently the Designated Senior Minister at Church of the Beatitudes in Phoenix, Arizona. He lives north of Phoenix with his spouse Mary Ann and his 91-year-old mother, June. They have two beloved Vizslas (aka Hungarian Pointers). Dr. Don is a lifelong Cowboys fan having attended ASU during the Danny White era.
What is a Designated Conference Minister? A DCM is an authorized minister of the United church of Christ who is designated (hence the title) for a particular ministry. In our case, we are calling a DCM to serve the SCC and our immediate ministerial needs during this current interim period without a settled Conference Minister. A distinct difference between a DCM and an Interim CM is that a DCM retains the option to submit her or his name to the search committee for the settled CM position when the opportunity presents itself should that DCM so choose.
Submitted by SCC
Board President
Dan DeLeon
Offering for April 24, 2016
General Fund …………………… 3,049.01
Benevolence …………………….. 175.00
Improvement Fund Memorial…. 20.00
Family Ministry…………………. 100.00
Non-Members…………………. 150.00
75th Anniversary…………………... 105.00
Total Offering 3,599.01
*annual budget of $162,738 needs $3,129.58 per week to sustain it.
Attendance for April 24, 2016
Church Attendance 157
THOSE IN OUR PRAYERS
Requesting Prayer for Themselves:
Denver McFarland
Requesting Prayers for Others
Cecilia by Karen Sikes
Tamara Banda by Sandra Flarity
Adolph Chabisek by friend, Karen Sikes
Rose Ann Elmore by Sister-in-law Doris Jezek
Nathan Gaskamp by Florence Gaskamp
Verna Noack Hoke & family by Karen Sikes
David Kveton by mother-in-law, Alice Prosise
Rose Rabata by husband, Victor Rabata
Leonila Zambrano by friend, Karen Sikes
Preparing for Sunday, May 1, 2016
Acts 16:9-15
John 14:23-29
Sermon: “Disciples Together”
75th Anniversary
For 75 years, St. John’s United Church of Christ has been a presence in our community! A celebration was held this past Sunday and was a great success as current and previous members worshipped together, ate together and shared fellowship and fond memories. A big thank you to all that helped make this celebration a success.
Help Needed after Recent Floods
The people of St. John’s in Rosenberg live in association with Godly people – the Houston Association of the United Church of Christ. We live and grow together in a fast-changing region of Texas. Economic fluctuations and population shifts change our congregations. Our people and our programs may become as diverse as the communities we serve. Houston Association churches share resources for our changing ministries. However, in every way our intention is to live out our faith and function as the hands and feet of Christ.
We face together the resulting disasters from traumatic weather events. We provide safe spaces for young people to meet together and to express their faith. We support programs that offer security and well-being to God’s people. As part of the Houston Association of the United Church of Christ, the people of St. John’s in Rosenberg share their values of faith, teamwork, and commitment.
When Christ UCC in Cypress sustained major flood damage, Keith Beck, John Eixmann and Rev. Daniel Haas traveled to assist in cleaning and salvage work. Now that the waters have receded Christ United Church of Cypress needs money to rebuild their church. Their GoFundMe page lists a goal of $250,000. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation you can write a check and our congregation will forward the funds for you.
Saturday, April 23, the Houston Association met at Frieden’s UCC in Beasley. Tom Gaskamp, John Eixmann, Karen Sikes, Rev. Daniel Haas, and Ron Gutowsky participated in the business meeting, worship service, and fellowship with other members of association churches.
Ron Gutowsky
CROP Walk
A team of St. John’s UCC will participate in the West Fort Bend County CROP Walk on Saturday, April 30th. This event will be held rain or shine, just be sure to register upon arrival. Please register to join our team of over 30 walkers, you can do that during office hours or 24/7 online:
https://www.crophungerwalk.org/rosenbergtx/Team/View/20660/St-Johns-United-Church-of-Christ
Over the last 34 years we were consistently among the top fundraisers. This year let’s also be among the largest walking groups! The current title holder issues a special challenge to our congregation:
Dear Sisters and Brothers of St. John’s!
Are you up for a challenge? Who got to know me a little knows that I love challenges and I love to challenge others. Today is the day that I, as the Rev. of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church together with my congregation challenge the Rev. Daniel Haas and the good people of St. John’s to beat us in the CROP walk, April 30th at George Ranch Park! The CROP Walk is to not only to fight hunger in and around the world! 25% of the funds raised that day will stay in Fort Bend County to fight poverty right among us in our community! Over the past years no congregation had enough people or donations to beat us – has the year come?
Well of course if you decide not to take on that challenge we from St. Paul’s are more than happy to receive your financial support! Come, let us fight hunger together – try to beat St. Paul’s!
Rev. Mirjam Haas-Melchior
Altar Flower Dates Available
The following dates are available for anyone wishing to place flowers on the altar: 5/29, 6/5 and 7/17. Please contact the church office if desiring to place flowers in honor or memory of a loved one.
Directory Information Sheet
The Women’s Guild will be creating a new updated church directory. Blank information sheets were included in last week’s newsletter, can also be found on our website and are available in the Narthex and the church office. For your convenience a return box has been placed in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall. You may also complete and email this information sheet back to the church office.
Falls Prevention Presentation
On Thursday, May 5th, at 9:00 a.m. the Family Ministry will sponsor a presentation on Falls Prevention.
Falls can happen to anyone at any age. They can be caused by loss of balance, limitations in vision, joint pain, change in coordination, low blood pressure, changes in metabolism and the endocrine system, and dizziness or vertigo. Falls can lead to reduced mobility, diminished quality of life, and can even be fatal, especially in the senior population.
The good news is falls are preventable. In this interactive presentation, you will learn how to discover your risk factors, what you can do to decrease the likelihood of a fall, and ways to improve your balance.
A sign-up sheet has been placed on the table in the Narthex to help know how many participation packets will be needed. Please bring a friend or neighbor and join us for a very informative morning.
Adult Sunday School
The Adult Sunday School class meets each Sunday morning from 9:00-9:30 a.m. in the Disciples classroom. The topic for Sunday will be: “Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen to Good People?” Please consider joining this class for fellowship and discussion.
Calendar
For Sunday, May 1, 2016
Lay Reader: Karen Sikes
Flowers for Altar: Jimmy Zwahr,
Kim & Mike Warnasch
Greeters & Ushers for May:
Janet & Darwin Enax,
Kim & Mike Warnasch
Lay Readers for May:
Karen Sikes, Sandra Croft, Janet Enax,
Tom Gaskamp, Michelle Gutowsky
Altar Flowers for May:
Jimmy Zwahr,Kim & Mike Warnasch, 5/1
Jean Allen & Robbie Hartfiel and
Delores Wleczyk for 5/8
Pat Lucky, 5/15
Ann Mikeska, Alice Prosise,
Linda & Glenn Urbanek, 5/22
Available for 5/29
April 27, 2016
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m.
April 30, 2016
CROP Walk at George Ranch
Register 7:30 a.m. walk at 8:00 a.m.
May 1, 2016
Rev. Daniel Haas will deliver the
morning message entitled,
“Disciples Together”
Holy Communion observed
Celebration of Joy
Looking Ahead
Bible Study, 2nd & 4th Tuesday nights
Confirmation Class 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
Choir Rehearsal each Wednesday at 7:00
Adult Sunday school, 9:00-9:30
CROP Walk, 4/30
Holy Communion, 5/1
Celebration of Joy, 5/1
Women’s Guild Rosenberg Luncheon, 5/2
Falls Prevention Program, 5/5
Mother’s Day, 5/8
Women’s Guild Retired Teachers luncheon and Guild meeting, 5/11
Brotherhood, 5/12
Thought for the week:
“Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must, but take the step.”
“Enroll” your Kroger’s card with the Brotherhoods Community Rewards Program. Go online and use #84302 as the organization number.
Link to Kroger’s Community Rewards website: https://www.kroger.com/communityrewards
(On your computer push Control and click your mouse at the same time while hovering the mouse over the above link and it will take you directly to the Kroger registration page.)