A thunderstorm just rumbled through the neighborhood of the church-house bringing a hard rain and fresh air which I enjoyed through my open office window. Working at the computer I glanced up every now and then to make sure it wasn’t raining in but then was shocked to note that not only was it raining in, but a good-sized puddle had accumulated on one portion of the windowsill since the last time I’d looked!

Mopping up that puddle I was surprised to see how much dust and dirt had accumulated all along the whole sill since the last time anyone (I?) had dusted it. I don’t know when I even really looked at it last. Though I cleaned the office before I moved back in a couple of months ago, I clearly missed the windowsill.

Why am I telling you this rather mundane story?

Because it strikes me that it is a good metaphor for something I’ve been thinking about as I’ve wondered how the pandemic has changed, or is changing, us as a congregation, and wondered how we might step forward in a new, changed way as the pandemic ends.

Though the current Covid numbers presently belie it, we will eventually come to a post-pandemic time, and we need to be thinking about how to take advantage of this sea change.

Recently in a conversation about this with member Chris Coble, he mentioned that many college presidents are currently advising, “Never waste a crisis.” I was so taken by that idea that I looked up articles that employ the phrase.

It turns out that it may have originated with Sir Winston Churchill as he was leading Great Britain near the end of WW II, and is variously quoted as, “Never waste a good crisis,” and, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Either way, it is a perceptive thought.

Though we never would have invited this crisis that has brought so much pain, death, grief, and disruption, we can recognize that because of it the world has changed, and we can take a close look at our ways of ministering and being in this changed world.

So, think with me about our mission and ministry, and wonder with me about such basics as who we are called to be right now. What is needed around us? What gifts do we have that we can employ to meet those needs? What innovations might we make in our way of being church that will bring new life to others and to us? How might we reach out more effectively? Who might we partner with to bring Good News to the discouraged or the cynical or the suffering?

A tiny crisis, a flooded windowsill, caught my attention and now that clean sill brightens up one whole side of my office. I didn’t just wipe up the puddle – I used it to clean the whole thing. I think that’s something of what Churchill meant when he said, “Never waste a good crisis.” What else might it mean for our whole ministry together?
Peace & Grace, Diane
Sunday Morning Covid Guidelines

Here are the latest updated Covid Guidelines for gathering as a congregation.
  1. Worshipers are now seating themselves and all pews are open. If you would like to be seated apart from others, please tell one of the Diaconate members on duty and they will be happy to help you find a good seat.
  2. Though all pews are now open for seating, we do ask that you maintain a social distance of approximately three feet between you and other worshipers in your row.
  3. We ask that you wear a mask whenever we are gathered in the church building for worship or for any other reason.
  4. You no longer need to make a reservation to attend worship. *Since we will still need record of all in attendance, we will begin using new pew cards for everyone to fill out – members and visitors – with names and primary contact information. As an added feature there will be a place for you to share any prayer concerns or other comments you’d like the minister(s) and/or prayer team to know about. At the end of worship please take the card with you and place it in the offering plate at the door on your way out.
  5. Classes and other groups that want to meet in person may reserve space to do so by calling the church office or use the reservation link below.
  6. We are making plans to re-open the nursery for the care of our youngest ACC’ers very soon. We will reconvene Children Worship and Wonder and Exploring Worship on the Sunday after Labor Day. If you would like to assist with either of those important programs, please let Pastor Diane know.

We celebrate that we are making progress toward a more normal worship experience even as we are also continuing to care for those among us, including our young children, who are not yet vaccinated.

A heartfelt thank you to the members of our Reopening Committee for their care, wisdom, and faithful perseverance!
JOYS:
  • We celebrate with Suzy (Harroun) Garcia and Jeremy Garcia, with great-grandma Linda Hunt, on the birth of Luna Grace Garcia on August 16th! She weighed in at 6lbs, 15 oz, and she is 21 inches long! We are so excited to welcome Luna into the world and to Allisonville! 
  • We celebrate with the youth group who resumed weekly gatherings on August 22.
 
CONCERNS:
  • Infant Henry Borgman, who is now out of the hospital. Henry is the son of Christy Noens Borgman and Adam Borgman, the grandson of Tracy and Lenny Noens
  • Martha Hofer’s great-granddaughter, Aubri, who has COVID-19
  • The Kalala family
  • Ann Ellerbrook, recovering from surgery
  • Bill Ross, as he undergoes treatment for cancer
  • Don Call Sr., who is recovering from surgery
  • Elaine Akermann, recovering from surgery
  • Linda Stires, recovering from a fall
  • Esen Gurtunca, Osman Gurtunca’s mother, as she continues to recover
  • Araceli Castro, Grace Caress’s mother as she undergoes treatment for cancer
  • Donna Crimmins
  • Wayne Luttrell and family, the Lawrence’s brother-in-law as he is in hospice care, as well as for Dan Dunn who also has cancer
  • Lois Nahre
  • Mandy Reed
  • Tim Escue
  • Jackie Cramer
  • Gene Ray
  • Theron Nelson-Mercer’s mother Liz Nelson
  • Chris Higgins’ father Geoff Higgins
  • Ruth Wolff’s mother Cindy Method
  • Lee Ridoux
  • Mack Hunter

  • For all of those in the path of Hurricanes Grace and Henri
  • For one of our sister churches, Kings Highway Christian Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, whose building caught fire last Wednesday
  • For all who are suffering from COVID, along with their families and loved ones and caregivers
  • For the frontline medical workers especially who are facing an onslaught of COVID cases
  • For all educators who are facing multiple challenges this year
  • For our continuing work in understanding and dismantling systemic racism
  • For all of those still being affected by wildfires that are burning out of control

We pray this week with our global prayer partners in Ghana.
I hope that y'all have had a great week and that you've stayed dry in this surprise storm! My Alexa told me this morning that it was going to be sunny, so clearly she is full of lies and deception. Anyway, we had our first regular youth group this past Sunday and I think everyone had a great time! We shared a meal together (pizza, because you can never go wrong with pizza), and then did some fun "get to know you" games so that they could get to know me, I could get to know them, and that they could get to know each other better and reconnect with one another. We had a great time! It was definitely a big spot of joy for me, which felt rather fitting after Beth Guy's AMAZING sermon on Sunday. So, friends, I wonder... Where have you found or felt joy this week? Have you been able to share and spread joy this week? If you haven't yet, that's okay- things are pretty tough in the world and in many of our personal lives right now. My sincerest, deepest hope for you is that you are able to still discover and hold onto joy even in the midst of darkness and pain. So, maybe take another (or a first, I won't tell anyone) listen to Beth's sermon. I bet you might find something good in there. 

Peace and blessings,

Josh
ACC Building Pandemic Update

Since we have had a couple of "near misses" with regard to Covid-19 in the office, we are asking:

  1. that you be sure to wear a mask when you are in the building for any reason or length of time;
  2. if a meeting with the ministers or with Ruth can be done by phone or Zoom, please choose one of those options rather than coming in person;
  3. if you know or suspect you have been exposed to Covid please refrain from coming to the church building until you know you are clear;
  4. if you are meeting with a group who can meet outdoors, please choose that option. If you need to meet inside, be sure to wear masks at all times.

Thank you for your assistance in helping us prevent the spread of the virus, and we continue our prayers that all in our society will do all they can to halt the pandemic.
August 29 | Lemonade Cafe

Weather permitting, we will continue Lemonade Cafe by the bell on Sunday.
August 29 | Blessing of the Backpacks

THIS SUNDAY! All students, teachers, administrators, and anyone else who has started back to school, remember to bring your backpacks (or briefcase or whatever you use) to worship this Sunday. On August 29 in worship we will be having our Blessing of the Backpacks! Whether you are in preschool or all the way in graduate school, a teacher, principal, parent, caregiver, or anything else, we offer our prayers of blessing for you in this school year! Questions? Reach out to Josh.
August 29 | ACC Golf Outing Registration Deadline

ACC Golf Outing on September 12 at Sahm Golf Course. Golfers need to arrive by 12:30. DEADLINE FOR SIGN UP IS SUNDAY, AUGUST 29th. Please email Toni Medlen at [email protected] to sign up.
August 26 | Mary Martha Circle (now meeting in the sanctuary)

The Mary Martha Circle will meet Thursday, August 26th, 1:00pm at church in the sanctuary. Mask required. Study will be chapter 1 (Fruit of the Spirit, Love). Call Sandy Zimmerman, 317-407-7936.
August 31 | Shalom Zone Event: Gleaning

Come learn about GLEANING! Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest. Come learn about its benefits, and gleaning opportunities here in Indiana. Guest Speaker Dawn Barnes of the Society of St. Andrew will present and take any questions.

Tuesday August 31, 2021, 7:00pm
In person & live-streaming on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/Allisonville)

Presented by the Shalom Zone churches: Allisonville Christian, St. Pius X Catholic, Epworth United Methodist, Cross & Crown Lutheran, and First Friends Quaker Church
September 5 | No Food Pantry

Food Pantry Sunday has been moved to September 12, due to the holiday weekend. Please bring your items on September 12 and we will be happy to receive them.
NEW! September 8 | Sarah Circle Meeting

Sarah Circle will meet at 7:00pm on Wednesday, September 8, at Rosemary Ervin’s home. Our study this year centers on the book, In Defense of Kindness by Bruce Reyes-Chow. Questions: call Elinor Hanasono at 317-848-7950.
NEW DETAILS! September 8 | Prime Timers Picnic Information

Now is the time to start signing up to go to our annual Prime Timers Picnic. See Don or Barb at Church or call 317-697-6031 or email [email protected]. We are going to the Sycamore Shelter at Ft Harrison State Park.

Please arrive near 11:30 so we can eat at 12:00. This is the same shelter that we have visited the past few years. Parking lot and rest rooms are nearby and all is on level ground.

Please bring a covered dish or something for our potluck serving line. We will have hand sanitizer at the start of the line. Wear a mask if you wish but we are outdoors and most of us are old folks that took shots months ago so we feel safe coming together to share a meal. If you feel safer, please bring a sack lunch for yourself.

Our green ministry team is suggesting that we bring reusable plate and utensils to hold down on the trash. We will have both available for any that forget to bring those items.

Please bring a lawn chair so we can come together after lunch for a short program. Diane will have a brief presentation for us to think about in the beautiful outdoors. We will have a few door prizes and maybe a surprise or two. We suggest that we will wrap up a little after 2:00. We would love to get a group picture to help us promote future events.

Cost for the lunch, canned drinks, water, delicious grilled tenderloins, plus a share of the reservation fee is $5 per person. Everybody will get a ticket for the prizes when you arrive. We are suggesting that everyone think about giving an extra $5 (or more) per person. All of the funds that are over our costs will be presented to Diane to support the ACC Food Pantry. Let's push for a good number. This is a way our group can do God's work.

Cost to enter the park is $7 per car so some may want to meet at church and ride together. To drive to the shelter, leave Church, drive north to 465, east to 56th St Exit, east to Post Road, north to the entrance to the park entrance, then straight to the Sycamore Shelter.

If you have any last minute concerns on Wed 9/8, you can call Don at 317-697-6011, Barb at 317-697-6031 or Church at 317-849-3957. Should it be raining heavy we might have to move to the church. If you can spare a couple of hours for lunch and wonderful fellowship, please join us.
NEW DETAILS! September 10 | Summer/Fall Ladies Social

ACC Ladies Social will be held on Friday, September 10 at 7:00 p. m. The location is the home of Toni Medlen at 4305 Glenview Drive South, Indy 46250. Weather permitting, we will have everyone outside so just walk around to the back, please. We will be providing snacks/desserts. If you would like to share a beverage, you may bring a bottle of wine or soft drink. Once again, we want to continue to support The Coburn Place (an organization and location that supports victims of domestic violence). Their most urgent need right now is gas cards and grocery store gift cards. We will have a basket available to collect your donations of these cards, whatever amount you feel you can give of either kind of card. If you have any questions, you may contact Linda Belding or Toni Medlen.
September 12 | New Food Pantry Date for September
 
Please bring your food pantry items on this date, 12 - 2pm. We will post the most critical items for the month in the coming weeks.
September 12 | Worship and Wonder Resumes

Worship and Wonder will officially start again on September 12! Worship and Wonder is for children aged three years old to first grade. It is a faith and worship-centered approach to kids' faith development with Bible stories, fellowship, and maybe even snacks (there are definitely snacks!)! Participants will be dismissed from worship right after children's moment in worship. Questions? Contact Josh Jackson or Kristen Bates-Scott.
September 12 | IHN/Family Promise at ACC

September 12th will begin the first IHN church rotation since the covid shutdown. We will be hosting this rotation at ACC.

Looking forward to having our IHN families back at ACC. Please keep all IHN families in your prayers, as well as our ACC volunteers as they help with this first week. I feel that we are taking all precautions to keep everyone safe.

More information and a link to register is below under Sign-Ups and Volunteering.
NEW INFO! September 12 & 19 | Sunday School Kickoff

We are so excited to start a new year of Sunday School! Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 12 at 9:30 for Sunday School starting back up again. All classes are welcome to start then, from children's classes to adult classes. We will be following our COVID protocol with masks and we recognize that this is subject to change if the COVID situation worsens. 

The next Sunday, September 19, we will have a celebration and kickoff for Sunday School and the new program year, including a blessing for all the classes and all the teachers! If you have questions, please reach out to Josh.
September 19 | Fall Pastor's Class

On Sunday, September 19th from Noon to 4pm Diane will offer a Pastor’s Class to think about faith, baptism, and church membership with any of our children who are in 4th, 5th, or 6th grades or are in that general age group. Lunch and afternoon snacks are provided.

At this point we have five students signed up and possibly one more so it will be a great group to join if you are thinking about what it means to be baptized. Parents, if you have not already responded for your child, please give Diane a call or send her an email and she’ll be glad to answer any and all questions.
NEW! September 28 | ACC Book Club

Next month we will meet Tues., Sept. 28th at 7:00. Our book is The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu.

The Three Body Problem is set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. 

Join us — we’d love to have you. The zoom link is: 
NEW DETAILS! October 16 | Shalom Zone: Electronics Recycling Event

SAVE YOUR UNWANTED ELECTRONIC ITEMS FOR RECYCLING

The annual electronic recycling event will be held 10-16-2021 at Epworth United Methodist Church. Please save any item with a cord or battery that you wish to recycle. Recycle Force will be present to take these items. This organization is a 501(c)3 social enterprise offering some of the most comprehensive and innovative recycling services while providing life-changing workforce training to formerly incarcerated individuals.
IHN/Family Promise Sign-Ups

September 12th will begin the first IHN church rotation since the covid shutdown. We will be hosting this rotation at ACC. The families will not arrive until Monday evening but we will setup the rooms after services on Sunday. We will need somebody to go to the Day Center on Saturday to pickup the van and trailer and bring it to ACC. If you can do this please contact me. All volunteers, as well as IHN family members must show proof of covid vaccination, except children not eligible for vaccination. All volunteers must be 18 of age or older. All volunteers and IHN family members must wear masks when they are in the family room area and also when riding in the van. Van drivers need to see that all family members use hand sanitizer before entering the van. We will have an adequate supply of hand sanitizer. Our ACC hosts will be serving the food, therefore making sure not to pass on germs by too many handling utensils.

We will only have 3 families, with a total of no more than 12 family members. This is because Family Promise wants each family to have their own seat in the van and to have their own bathroom at the day center. This is to keep everyone safe as possible.

I am asking that all snacks be prepackaged.

Van drivers, as you know from the past the delivery and pickup times may vary from day to day and I will see that you are informed of any changes.

Looking forward to having our IHN families back at ACC. Please keep all IHN families in your prayers, as well as our ACC volunteers as they help with this first week. I feel that we are taking all precautions to keep everyone safe.

We have our usual paper signup sheet in the narthex but we also have an online signup genius. Hopefully this will be beneficial in keeping track of who’s signed up. Thank you to Ruth for setting this up for us.

Blessings,
Sherilee McLain
Youth Group Meal Signup

Youth group continues to meet on Sundays from 12:00-2:00. Each time we gather, we share a lunch together. We need volunteers from the church to provide food for the youth group! Please click on this signup and fill in your name on a date (or dates) that you'd like to bring lunch for the youth. Thank you so much to those of you who have already signed up! But, we are still in need of 10 more volunteers, so there is plenty of room for you to help us out! If you have questions, talk to Josh.
Virtual Scripture Readers

Virtual scripture readers are needed!! If you would like to participate please email John Quick ([email protected]) or call or text me (317-294-2709).
Worship and Wonder Volunteers

We are excited to start Worship and Wonder this fall on Sunday, September 12! We are looking for some more volunteers to make sure it can happen! If you are interested in being a storyteller or a greeter, please reach out to Josh and let him know! We need two more storytellers and could always use more greeters in rotation.
Seeking Receptionist Volunteers

Pre-COVID there was a lot of activity in the ACC office and some of that busyness is coming back. In order to allow coverage for all of the office needs, we are once again seeking folks who might have some time in the middle of the day to greet those who come to the door and answer the phone as calls come in. Bring a book or your favorite reading app, help to take care of tasks that come up during the day, and enjoy connecting with others at ACC. To start, we are looking to fill Tuesday - Thursday shifts, 10am - 1pm with a commitment for one or two regular days of the month (1st Tuesday each month, for example). Contact Sandy Nagy if you have questions about what is involved or if you might be interested in helping out, [email protected].
IHN/Family Promise - Seeking Co-Coordinator

The last 5 years Kimberly Amos has served as my IHN co-coordinator. Kimberly has informed me that due to job requirements and health issues she will no longer be able to fulfill this position. We want to thank Kimberly for her last 5 years of service to IHN and also thanks to her daughter Amanda who came with her Mom many evenings and helped with the babies and small children. She told me she still hopes to be a volunteer when time allows.

Thank you again Kimberly!! If you see or talk to Kimberly be sure to thank her for her service. We will need a new co-coordinator. We have our first IHN rotation coming up September 12. If you are interested in filling this position and want to find out more of what is involved you can contact me at 317-403-2010. Below you can find a guide to hosting IHN families at our church and it includes coordinator’s duties. I would be more than happy to meet with anyone in person who would be interested in fulfilling this position.

Being an IHN coordinator is a special Blessing to me. When you see the families coming into ACC you want to immediately want to make them feel at home.

Blessings,
Sherilee McLain
Worship Flowers: Oct 17 & 24 Available

Please click the link below to sign up to provide flowers for worship.

The flower arrangements for a Sunday will be $40 and payment may be made to Allisonville Christian Church.
Vaccination Reminder

ACC members can offer rides to vaccination locations, so we invite you to call the office at 317-849-3957 if you would like assistance.
September 11 | Opera in the Park

Lesley Salmon's nephew, Ganson Salmon, will be performing at Opera in the Park on September 11. The performance will take place at MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park located at 2450 Conservatory Drive.

Doors open at 6pm and the show starts at 7pm. The show is free, but has a suggested donation. Space is limited, so reserve your tickets early! Description of the event from the Indianapolis Opera:

Our 4th annual Opera in the Park performance at Garfield Park will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021. This outdoor concert will feature an all-Indiana line-up of music superstars, including international opera soprano Angela Brown and Maestro Alfred Savia, along with special guests, our featured pianist, Joshua A. Thompson ("Sock Joplin") and, Indianapolis' very own opera tenor, Ganson Salmon. This season's talented Resident Artists and the Indianapolis Opera Chorus will also be featured throughout the evening. Enjoy the very spacious park while picnicking with friends and family and wonderful music.