Picture of Backpacks and School Spaces

School is starting! No matter what that looks like for you and your family this year, we're asking you to send pictures of your kids (or teachers in your family) in their backpacks and/or in their learning space at home. We plan to use these pictures for our Blessing of the Backpacks virtual service on September 13 in which Pastor will bless all students and families for the upcoming school year.  Anyone can participate: members, non-members, teachers, preschoolers through adult students. Please send the pictures to education@stjohnsuccgr.org or post them on our St. John's Families Facebook Group (click here to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/2447950898850056/?ref=share) by Wednesday, September 9. 

Please note: These pictures will be shown in a public forum via our live stream church service.

An Update on our Response to Covid-19

St. John’s remains committed to following the guidance of public health officials in terms of when we might be able to resume in-person activities at church.  It is difficult to imagine that we will be able to go back to anything that looks and feels like our old normal until there is a vaccine and a cure for Covid-19, the pathogen that causes the Coronavirus.

This is both overwhelming and frustrating, but we have to hold on to hope in the midst of this challenging time and there is great reason to hope.  We have never seen scientists and doctors so united in their work and their efforts to address a challenge to humanity.  Nationalities and egos are being put aside as never before and professionals from every corner of the world are coming together to share information, insight, and progress toward treatments and a vaccine.  There are no fewer than 100 vaccines in development and countless treatments moving out of research and into testing.  Compared to responses to previous health crises, advances are being measured in terms of weeks and months as opposed to years.  We have honestly never seen such focus and speed in terms of progress.  Let us give thanks for the power of human ingenuity and the ways in which we see the creative power of God at work within it.  May we daily remember in our prayers all scientists and healthcare professionals who are offering their gifts and graces to this vital work.

While we live in hope of a breakthrough, we also continue to grow in our understanding of what it means to be the Church of Jesus Christ in this time and place.  We will continue to offer livestreaming worship as well as virtual Bible studies and small groups.  Reaching out to each other by phone, text message, email, video conferencing, and even snail mail will only grow in importance as we continue to move through this crisis.  As several have noted, the church isn’t closed.  Our building may be closed to group gatherings, but we are still the Body of Christ—risen, alive, and active in this world, called to love and serve even now, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to bring healing and wholeness to this world.

The administration team and council will continue to meet regularly to evaluate the situation and make appropriate decisions.  They have formed a task force that includes healthcare professionals to offer advice and guidance in terms of best practices based on the recommendations of both public health officials and denominational leaders.  We will reevaluate the situation at the end of August and provide another update then.  Our core conviction is to provide for the safety and well being of everyone during this time while continuing to be the Body of Christ.  If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Pastor Wes or a member of the church council.

Virtual Vacation Bible School

Virtual Vacation Bible School at St. John’s United Church of Christ will be happening during the month of July. There will be a live Zoom class every Wednesday in July (starting July 1) from 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT. The videos and activities will be posted on a private Facebook group as well in case the Zoom class doesn’t work for you.

This year St. John’s VBS will follow the story of Noah’s Ark. VBS will include Bible stories, crafts, activities, songs and much more.

Members and non-members are invited for this free, fun-filled month of Vacation Bible School. All children are welcome (the activities are geared towards Preschool-5th grade). Sign up here now https://stjohnsuccgr.org/join-us/vacation-bible-school

Also, please share with friends and family! Everyone is welcome!!

If you have any questions, please contact education@stjohnsuccgr.org

Saturday, June 13, 2020: Family Zoom

The Education Team is hosting a Family Zoom Time for all St. John's Families (members and non-members). This is a great way for our kiddos to see each other and giggle together. There may be another scavenger hunt to engage the children and have fun!

If you have any questions please contact the Education Team at education@stjohnsuccgr.org

Location:

Join with audio and video from any digital device (phone, tablet, computer) by entering or clicking this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86893432525 . If you prefer, you can simply join by audio only by calling (312) 626 6799 and entering this code: 868 9343 2525.

13 Jun 2020 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

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Sunday Worship Online, March 15

We are so grateful to be able to offer online streaming worship this morning so that we can still be together as a family of faith and offer our prayers to God.  We will try to keep our liturgy as familiar as possible since we all need a bit of "normal" right now.  You'll be able to share prayer requests with the community and we will still celebrate Holy Communion.  To celebrate Holy Communion, please have some bread or a cracker and some juice (whatever you have will work and God will be OK with it). 

Remember that this is our first try at doing this and it will be different and we'll have a lot to learn.  Patience is much appreciated.  We'll figure it out as we go and trust that what we do is pleasing to God and nourishing to our community.

Let us continue to hold each other and the entire world close to our hearts and to the heart of God in prayer.

The video should be able to be viewed below starting at 9:50am on March 15 or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsuccgr/posts/2656474021129714

Ongoing Non-Perishable Food Drive

Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to church on Sundays throughout October and November with the intention of sharing God’s bounty with our community. St. John’s UCC is part of Access of West Michigan’s Holiday Giving Network. We will be assembling Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets with your donated food items for local families in need who signed up for this wonderful gift. You are invited to deliver a basket that has already been assembled based on each household’s specific size and needs. Sign up to deliver a dinner to a local West side family on the mission board in fellowship hall, or by contacting Theresa Bileth at mission@stjohnsccgr.org. Delivery date is the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 24. We also welcome you to place non-perishable food donations on the pew in fellowship hall. You make a difference with St. John’s UCC!

New Member Class, begins March 1, 2020

Interested in becoming a member of St. John’s We welcome you to participate in the full life of this congregation, but we also welcome the opportunity to make that relationship more official by entering into a covenant of support that will allow us to deepen our commitments to each other. If you’re interested in becoming a member of St. John’s, please contact Pastor Wes. Regular membership classes are held several times each year. The next one will begin on March 1 and go through April 5. The classes will meet after church each Sunday fo about 30 minutes. New members will be received on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Blessing of the Animals, Oct 27

Blessing of the Animals! Please bring your pets to St. John's UCC on Sunday, October 27 at 10am! We enjoy meeting and blessing this beautiful part of your family each Fall. Please make sure cats are in a crate or kennel bag, dogs are on a leash or harness, and all others (hamster, guinea pig, ferret, fish, snake, turtle, etc) are in safe and comfortable containers. Kids are welcome to bring their favorite stuffed animal for a blessing as well. Help us make the October 27 worship service and coffee hour fellowship memorable by bringing your beloved pet to St. John's United Church of Christ. 1934 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.

Renucci Hospitality House, Oct 16

Mission Volunteer Opportunity: Renucci House: On Wednesday, Oct 16, you are invited to either drop off food (serving size 30) at 5:30pm or stay and serve with us from 6-7pm. Out of town families who are temporarily living at Renucci House while their loved one is undergoing treatment at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital enjoy our themed dinners prepared with love. Our Fall Theme is Casseroles, cold and hot pasta dishes and sides. Consider sharing your favorites. Please sign up on the mission board or email Theresa Bileth at mission@stjohnsuccgr.org if you are available or interested in more information.

Fall Non-Perishable Food Drive!

Please bring non-perishable food donations to church on Sundays throughout October and November with the intention of sharing God’s bounty with our community. St. John’s United Church of Christ is receiving a list of families from Access of West Michigan’s Holiday Giving Network and the Northwest Pantry. We will be assembling Thanksgiving Baskets filled with your donated non-perishable food items for local families in need and delivering them to local homes on the West side of Grand Rapids on Sunday, November 24.

How can you help? (1) Bring in non-perishable food each week. (2) Donate cash for a turkey and other needed dinner items. (3) Volunteer to deliver one or more of our assembled dinner baskets to a local family on Sunday, November 24. (4) Start a non-perishable food collection in your office or school. (5) Contact Theresa Bileth at mission@stjohnsuccgr.org.

NON-PERISHABLE DONATION Ideas: CANS: Veggies, fruits, tuna, chicken, salmon, and other canned meats, spam, pastas, beans, cranberry sauce, gravy, soups, broths, ravioli, single serving canned meals. BOXES: Rice, stuffing mix, any pasta, macaroni and cheese, variety of styles of dried potatoes, juice boxes, chicken & turkey broth, helper meal starters, cereals, granola bars, cookies, crackers, pudding mix, cake mix, lunchbox style individually wrapped items, rice krispie treats. JARS: Applesauce, spaghetti sauce, fruits, juices, jam/jelly, peanut butter, baby food. PACKAGES: Portioned commercially sealed packs of trail mix, dried fruit snacks, beef jerky, pudding cups, fruit cups, jello cups, bagged rice or beans, peanut butter crackers, pretzels, goldfish, cookies, crackers, chips, oatmeal packets, nuts, gravy and other packets, ramen noodles, variety of packaged Lipton or Knorr rice or pasta one-skillet meal packets, capri sun drinks, drink mix packets.