God’s blessings of peace and love be with you, friends of Allisonville! Please know that even in my absence, I’m keeping all of you in prayer. These are such troubling times and the fear of the unknown is great. I often read the prayers of Dr. Walter Brueggemann, an Old Testament scholar, who causes me to think more deeply and pray more fervently. He wrote this prayer for one of his classes, but it seems appropriate for us in this uncertain world. May you be blessed by his words:
We are fearful folk, and dwell in the midst of fearful people; fearful of our world falling apart, in terror and decay; fearful of too many “dangers, toils and snares,” fearful of not doing well… of being left out… of being abandoned.
And then we hear, astonishingly in the midst of our fearfulness, your mighty, DO NOT FEAR! Do not fear - I am with you…with you in wealth and poverty…with you in success and failure…with you for better or for worse.
We hear, we trust, receive your comfort and are made new;
We thank you for the newness of our identity, of our trust, of our calling.
Because of your new word of life to us, we will not fear, though the earth should change.
We, your new people, thank you for your newness and notice that you work newness among us: for we know about lame people who walk, blind people who see, dead people who live. We rally round your newness that is both our hope and our work. Your fearless newness into which we are immersed is beyond our expectations.
We ask now for energy and freedom, rooted in your fearlessness, that we may live toward and from and for your newness that bubbles up even in the midst of us, all around us, to the uttermost parts of the earth. We pray in the name of your fearless gift of newness who scandalizes the world and makes all things new, even Jesus. Amen.
- Dr. Walter Brueggemann
We live in frightening times. We don’t know where this Ukrainian crisis will take us, but we do know that God will lead us into newness - a new outlook, a new compassion, a new purpose, a renewed sense of unity, a renewed hope and a splendid joy. Help us, Lord, to be fearless in our pursuit of you. Amen.
Love, Pastor John
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This past week/weekend I traveled to Roanoke, Virginia, to celebrate the wedding of two of my very dear friends! It was a wonderful trip- the wedding was amazing and so much fun, Roanoke was beautiful, and it was so incredible to see so many of my Vanderbilt friends again.
This wedding was a "COVID wedding," meaning they had rescheduled it since COVID wrecked their first two plans. They actually got married last year and held this wedding celebration on their one-year anniversary. As part of the ceremony, the officiant, Daniel, talked about how the big reason Ryan and Mollie wanted to have this wedding anyway was so they could celebrate and share in this joy with their community. He acknowledged that everyone gathered has shared in Ryan and Mollie's lives and that it was important to affirm that.
Before the vows, Daniel led those gathered in an affirmation of community, a reminder to us all that we are there for Ryan and Mollie as individuals and as a couple, and that they are with us as well for God's love always connects us as community. I wonder what ways we affirm one another as community at Allisonville? We know we are all connected in love, but what are some clear ways, like this affirmation in the wedding service, that affirm our community? I can think of plenty, but my hope is that you think about this and find ways to affirm the relationships you have in this community and beyond.
Peace and blessings,
Josh
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Joys:
- We celebrate our generosity toward Week of Compassion with the special offering collected
- Buddy Bags collection the past few weeks and assembly next week
- The youth ministry Flocking fundraiser has gone well
Concerns:
- We offer our love and condolences to Pearl Ross and the family and loved ones of Bill Ross upon his passing on the evening of March 22nd. Services are pending.
Continued prayers for:
- Bonnie Ross
- Mack Hunter
- Ben Hinton
- Carol Q. Cosby
- Diana Moore
- Cora King
- Dottie Lloyd
- Bob Hessong
- Davis Goforth
- Lee Ridoux
- David Parker
- Linda Belding and Lois Nahre's brother, Dave
- Chris Baker's son, Nic
- Troy Snapp's stepmom, Judy Snapp
All who are grieving
All who are affected by COVID around the world
For our work and all work to be an anti-racist church and people
For the people of Ukraine
We pray with our Global Ministries partners this week for Indonesia.
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Mark Alan Delamater
Love and condolences are extended to Debbie Bonhomme and family in the death of Debbie’s brother, Mark Alan Delamater early last week. Mark suffered a heart attack.
Arrangements for inurnment and Celebration of LIfe recognition are pending. The Celebration of Life will take place here at Allisonville Christian Church, probably in late April.
Memorial contributions may be donated to the American Heart Association or All God’s Children International, Guatemala Program.
May God bring healing and peace to Debbie, Tracy, Zuzu and all of Mark’s loved ones. Please hold Debbie in your hearts and in your prayers. Even as we mourn Mark’s death, we give thanks for new life found in Christ.
Blessings,
John
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Nominations for Elders and Deacons
The Nominating Committee is accepting names for people to serve as Elders and Deacons for the coming term. Please submit nominations to any committee member: Mindy Armstrong, Sue Shadburne Call, Cindy Coble, Gary Hume, Christina Martin, and Sandy Nagy. Nominations are being accepted from now until Sunday, April 10.
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Congregational Survey
An important Congregational Survey has been sent by email and mailed to our members who receive their weekly BUZZ in the mail. The surveys will also be available anytime at ACC. We are asking for your responses by March 28. Thanks to all ACC members in advance for your participation and input in this most important process.
John Quick
Chair, ACC Search Committee
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Buddy Bags
Thank you for your generosity in helping to provide Buddy Bags for 90 students at Clearwater Elementary, Eastwood Middle School, and Northview Middle School. Please have your food donations to the church Narthex by this Sunday, March 27. Come join us in packing and delivering the bags on Tuesday, March 29, at 9:30am! Are you willing to help with some last minute shopping? Please let Loveta or Sandy know.
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Easter Lilies on Sale Beginning March 27
Lilies will be used to adorn our sanctuary this Easter Season. If you would like to place an order, please watch for forms in the bulletin in the coming weeks! The lilies will be $10 per plant. Please provide cash or check (made payable to Allisonville Christian Church with "Lilies' in the memo) along with the order form and leave in the offering plate.
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Easter Egg Hunt Volunteer Sign Up
Saturday, April 16th from 10-11am ACC is hosting our Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter Egg Hunt is one of our most popular community events and we need lots of volunteers to help make it a great event! It is short and sweet and a great way to welcome our community. A few areas we need help are: Set Up & Clean Up Crew; people to run our game booths; people to run our crafts tables; people to play with our littlest hunters in the "Toddler Zone"; people to read or tell Easter Stories; people to hide Easter Eggs; and someone to be our "SWIM" / safety volunteer. You can sign up by clicking on the sign up genius link below or email [email protected].
We also need people who could donate Easter Candy (individually packaged & nut free) AND/OR Fill the Easter Eggs with donated candy prior to the hunt. You can grab a bag of eggs to fill from Pastor Josh's Office or bring the candy to the church.
Contact Josh or Liz Young with any questions!
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Volunteers needed for Coffee Cafe!
This is a mission that takes little of your time but is a fun and fulfilling way to serve your church. Providing Coffee Cafe, casual fellowship is an important part of our Sunday morning schedule.
We have six teams of hosts which means that you serve just once every six weeks. We will provide training and you get dibs on the first cup of coffee! If you are interested, please contact Toni Medlen at [email protected]
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YOU. Yes, YOU! We want to “Get to Know You”
I am looking for members who haven’t yet been profiled who are willing to be interviewed for a “Getting To Know Us” entry. I promise it’s painless, and will take less than an hour. Your interview can be “live” or via Zoom.
I’d love to talk to you! Please contact me at 317-965-7852 or [email protected] if you’re willing.
Thanks!
Ginny Campbell
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Youth Group Meals for the Spring
We continue to have a signup to provide youth group lunch this semester. It is wide open, so please take a moment and find a day that you might want to bring lunch for the youth group. If you have questions, talk to Josh.
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Mar 27 | Youth Group
For youth group this week we will be helping with Buddy Bags and then learning some new, exciting games! Thank you so much to Dawn and Brian Schoen for providing lunch!
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Mar 27 | Lenten Study, 3pm via Zoom
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Mar 24 | Mary Martha Circle at 1pm
Mary Martha Circle will meet Thursday, March 24, at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
Our lesson will be from our study book, Fruit of the Spirit, Chapter 5.
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March 24 | Grief Group for This Week
Grief Group will meet Thursdays, 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom. Everyone welcome:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 858 113 1740
Passcode: 7srZvu
Note that there will not be a meeting on April 14, so that people are free to attend the Maundy Thursday service.
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Mar 27| Buddy Bag Food Donations Accepted
Please consider a food or monetary donation to help make one of these bag recipients’ break a little more enjoyable.
Please have food donations to the church Narthex by Sunday, March 27.
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Mar 28 & 29 | No Lenten Study |
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Mar 28 & Apr 1 | ACC Office Closed
The ACC Office will be closed on Monday, March 28 and Friday, April 1. If you need access to the building one of those two days, please contact the office in advance to make arrangements.
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Mar 29 | Buddy Bag Delivery
We will be packing and delivering the bags on Tuesday, March 29 at 9:30 am. Come and join us!
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Mar 30 | Council Meeting In-Person and via Zoom
The next ACC Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 30. This meeting with be a hybrid, with both in-person and virtual capabilities.
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Apr 24 | Anti-Racism Book Study and Club
The Anti-Racism Book Study and Club has finished our discussion of Waking Up White. For April we will be reading The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. This book will have a one-time discussion on Zoom on Sunday, April 24 at 5:00 pm. We encourage anybody who has read this book or wants to read this book to join us for this discussion.
The Fire Next Time - James Baldwin
A national bestseller when it first appeared in 1963, The Fire Next Time galvanized the nation, gave passionate voice to the emerging civil rights movement--and still lights the way to understanding race in America today.
“With clarity, conviction, and passion, James Baldwin delivers a dire warning of the effects of racism that remains urgent nearly sixty years after its original publication.
Penguin Random House Books
IndyPL has many copies of this in various forms - book, CD book, e-audiobook, ebook
We also hope to have pizza and a movie - look for details coming soon!
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Apr 26 | ACC Book Club
Our ACC Book Club will be reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz in April. We will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 pm. Amazon says: “ This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity.”
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Exploring Worship and Worship and Wonder Volunteers
Would you like to be involved in our children's ministry? We are still in need of volunteers for both Exploring Worship and Worship and Wonder. Here are a brief description of the roles we are needing to fill:
W&W Greeter - The Greeter helps to welcome the kids to Worship and Wonder and assists the Storyteller in crowd control and keeping the ministry flowing.
W&W Storyteller - The Storyteller leads the lesson directly from the Worship and Wonder curriculum. We have access to the official W&W training.
EW Teacher - The Teacher leads the activity for the day, such as the sharing of joys and concerns, reading the scripture for the day, etc.
EW Shepherd - The Shepherd assists the Teacher in getting the kids to the EW space and keeping the activity going smoothly.
If you are interested in any of these roles or if you would like more information about them, please reach out to Josh!
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COVID Guidelines for Worship - UPDATED 3/2/2022
After careful consideration, our COVID team has updated our guidelines to move us closer to a
more “normal” use of our facilities. Beginning, March 6, we will observe the following:
- Masks are optional during worship and other activities. If you are more comfortable wearing a mask, please do so. Our number one goal continues to keep everyone safe, comfortable and healthy.
- Please seat yourself for worship; all pews are open. Be aware that some worshipers may still prefer a little space between them and their pew mates, so just do a quick check in with them about their space preferences.
- We will continue to observe our offering time and communion as we have been doing during the COVID restrictions. It was agreed that it was healthier to have limited contact with offering trays and communion ware until numbers are significantly down.
- Hymnals will be returned to the pews and ready to use on March 6.
- The Membership Committee will begin our Coffee Cafe after Easter.
- You may schedule groups or class meetings at the church. Please call the office to reserve a room or follow the link below. Zoom calls for meetings are still an option depending on the group’s preference.
- Greeting one another is encouraged, always respecting one another’s comfort. Instead of hugs and handshakes, fist bumps or elbow bumps are suggested. Social distancing continues to be encouraged.
- The Nursery is open each Sunday morning, along with Children’s Worship and Wonder and Exploring Worship which are in session each week.
We are moving closer to a sense of normal for our life at the church. It is our prayer that we can
continue to care for all among us with the deepest Christian care. These guidelines are subject
to change depending on need. Thank you for your patience and for participating fully in keeping
everyone safe and healthy.
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