UNITED CHURCH O  F    C  H  R  I  S  T

"Never place a period where God has placed a comma." -- Gracie Allen

God is still speaking...to and through our congregation!

From the Pastor's Word Processor:

Pastor's Annual Report The numbers: Baptized 5 infants/children; Baptized 3 infants at hospitals; officiated at 2 weddings and one blessing of a civil marriage; officiated at 7 funerals, 2 for members of St. John's UCC, 5 for members of the community.
As promised last year, I am continuing my personal and spiritual growth. In March, I attended a Healthy Congregations training session led by Richard Blackburn of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center and I then led a Conflict Transformation Skills workshop for colleagues. I am half way through a challenging unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Christian Hospital (formerly Christian Northeast). As chair of the Conflict Mediation group in the Conference I am currently working with one congregation's Council and Pastor on some conflict resolutions. A few times a month, I continue to serve as the evening and overnight chaplain at DePaul Health Center (where more and more of you are going for joint replacement and other services) and as a Relief Chaplain at Alton Memorial Hospital.
The Saturday evening services of this last summer were a joy-to see the youth involved and experimenting with different ways to praise God using more contemporary music. They also gave us a chance to expand our understanding of worship and "preaching" with more informal, conversational preaching moments, as well as celebrating Communion every week in a smaller, more intimate-almost family-atmosphere. Thanks to Kathi Kolosieke for her work with the Eye Praise Hymn Team
The new screen has us looking up in worship more-I don't know if all of you know this but you all look pretty good with your heads up and faces smiling at some of the pictures. The worship services with the screen are still a work in progress-I have been very appreciative of your patience as we get used to what works, what's readable and what's helpful in this new worship media. Please continue to share your thoughtful insights and observations. The screen is here to enhance our worship experiences so we need to know what does and does not work. And please take an opportunity to thank Thom and Evan Kolosieke for their willingness to work the projection and sound systems every week and keep our worship flowing smoothly.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank Tammy Oertel and Chris Dawdy for the wonderful work they are doing with our Sunday School. As families are busy and pulled in so many different directions, some of the children leave after Sunday School so those of us in worship don't see the growing attendance numbers Tammy and Chris must coordinate. Thank you, as well, to all those who volunteer to teach a workshop, shepherd or otherwise help with the program.
As always, I am inspired by the dedication of St. John's UCC's members. Thank you to the Administrative Team for all their hard work; to a congregation that has sacrificed and continued to be a leader within the Conference in giving and stewardship; to our choir for their outreach within the community as well as their leadership in worship; to Women's Fellowship and Loyal Daughters for their ministries and support of others and for the fellowship they encourage within the church; to the Building and Grounds Team for keeping the church building and grounds welcoming and inviting; and to everyone else who cleans, hosts, greets, mows, digs, plants, paints, picks up, serves and otherwise helps out around St. John's UCC.
ALIGN="Right"> In Christ's Service,

Pastor Mike