THE MESSENGER

The weather has certainly matched the     somber mood of Lent.  I am more than ready for the sun, spring and Easter to arrive.  All this self-denial and the dreary days are taking their toll.  Thankfully, we are only two weeks from Palm Sunday—the doorway to Holy Week and Easter.

Following Easter we will have a Council  Sponsored Carry-In Dinner followed by a Congregational Meeting.  There were a few items we did not address at our last Congregational Meeting, plus a few others that have come up since that meeting.  I hope all of you will plan to be there.  As you will note on page 7 of this newsletter, the items up for your consideration are rather important.  Plus, our landscaper from Wickman’s will be there to answer all questions.

I realize I have been recommending many changes since I arrived two and half years ago.  My hope was to generate some really exciting programming that would rev things up around here and attract others to us.

We have established a youth group, began Spiritual Development groups, a new adult Sunday School class, the Weight and Grace group, started offering Missions trips, established a Visioning Committee, a Strategic Planning Committee and a Department of Spirituality.  We’ve come up with some new worship experiences: for example, World Communion Sunday and MLK Choir exchange.

With so much now in place, it is time for the second leg of our venture—getting the word out.

Today this began to take shape.  Kristy McDonald called me at about 8:30 a.m. wanting me to be at KOLR 10 by 9:30 am.  Tom Trtan wanted to interview me during the 11:00 a.m. news about the upcoming formation of a Bread for the World chapter in Springfield.  I was a nervous wreck.  Kristy has also has me lined up for another live interview on FOX 27 Morning Show on Wednesday morning.

Not only am I excited about the ministry in which Bread for the World  will involve us, but about the attention it will bring to us.  My hope is that you have all read the brochure mailed to you about this great organization.  I hope you will also be here on Saturday to hear The Rev. Mariah Priggen from Bread for the World’s Chicago office further explain this organization.

We have only begun to scratch the surface of the media attention our involvement with this organization and the meditation/memorial garden with labyrinth will bring to us.

As nervous as being in front of a camera makes me, I am committed to getting the word out about our wonderful congregation—a congregation that knows how to stretch its arm wide to embrace diversity, a congregation that is willing to be stretched in its faith, a congregation that knows how to hug, care and be there for you when you need them, a congregation willing to go forth to do mission, and learn what it means to have a more intimate relationship with the man from Nazareth who leads us to Jerusalem.

There may be a cross looming in the shadows of Lent—for learning to love with Christ may well get us in trouble., but Easter morn looms ever larger.  There is no limit to the future possibilities for this congregation.  It all gives me goose bumps.  How about you?!  Are you ready to grow?

Blessing and Love,

Pastor Becky

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. John's Chapel

United Church

of Christ

 

 4344 S. Fremont     Avenue

Springfield, MO 

65804-7306

 

 (417) 881-5175

fax (417) 881-1647

 

 www.stjohnschapel.org

pastor@stjohnschapel.org

sec@stjohnschapel.org

 

 Sunday School - 9 a.m.

Worship - 10:30 a.m.

 

Pastor

Rev. Becky Hebert

 

Pastor Emeritus

Rev. Robert M. Dohm

 

Council President

Tona Griggs

 

Vice President

Linda Marshak

 

Board of Christian           Education Chair

Joyce Burton

 

Evangelism Committee Chair

Elaine Tebbenkamp

 

 

 

 Our Mission        Statement:

 

At St. John's Chapel UCC our dream is to accept and embrace one another in a   family of faith with love and  understanding, reaching beyond ourselves to the community and to the world in the name of  Jesus Christ. 

 “That all may be one”

Pastoral Reflections by Pastor Becky Hebert