Even in this difficult time when we can’t do all we would like to do together, we have had our share – and then some – of wonderful holy moments since we reopened our building, haven’t we?
One was the first day we gathered for worship! Able to see each other at last, there was a sweet spirit in the air that day. The first Sunday we were able to sing together was another high holy moment for me and for many. For those of us who love to sing it is a primary way we lift our praise to God and to be able to do that in company with our beloved brought a surge of joy.
And how about the baby blessings we’ve done? Those were holy moments for sure as we celebrated the lives of Lucy Auble, Addison Auble, and Rosemary Wilson and pledged ourselves to being their people in the walk of faith.
We’ve been blessed by receiving ten new members into our fellowship since May 1st: Danielle Rupsis, Stephen Rupsis, Mitch Payne, Vernon Scott, Elaine Scott, Amanda Wilson, Brian Schoen, Dawn Schoen, Sarah Schoen, and Josh Jackson. It is always a holy moment when people present themselves to covenant with us to serve God as Christ’s church, isn’t it?
There have been many other sacred moments and encounters including renewing friendship and meeting new people at our weekly Lemonade Café out by the bell in front of the church. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons! Can’t do Coffee Café our normal way? Leave it to our wonderful Membership Chairs, Toni Medlen and Don Burrell, to come up with a new fellowship opportunity. To some, that may seem a small thing, but I have watched as new people have been welcomed there and I have been part of conversations where some have made new commitments to help with our various ministries. Holy moments.
A milestone holy moment came two weeks ago when we officially installed Josh Jackson as our associate minister and still another as he was ordained into Christian ministry last Saturday in Texas. You all may not have been physically present for that, but you were truly represented as I spoke on behalf of us all to endorse Josh’s candidacy for ordination. You can find and watch the service on our website at Allisonville.org or on Facebook too.
Just as God worked in so many amazing ways in us, and through us, during the long months that we were apart, so God is still showering us with blessing through these holy moments we are experiencing now. When we open ourselves to the Spirit, we are not disappointed; and I mean, of course, the “Spirit with a capital ‘C’, Divine Spirit,” as Bob Coalson said in his wonderful sermon last Sunday.
Dear friends, may we all be watchful for, and appreciative of, the holy moments we are given in daily life and in our life together in worship, and may we share the goodness of God that we know with others in every way we can, all in Jesus’ name.
Peace & Grace, Diane
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Sunday Morning Covid Guidelines
Here are the latest updated Covid Guidelines for gathering as a congregation.
- 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.
- 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.
- We ask that you wear a mask whenever we are gathered in the church building for worship or for any other reason.
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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.
- 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.
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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!
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Joys
- We celebrate with Suzy (Harroun) Garcia and Jeremy Garcia and great-grandma Linda Hunt the birth of Luna Grace Garcia on August 16th. She weighed in a 6lbs. 15 oz. and 21 inches long! Welcome to the world and to ACC, precious Luna!
- We give thanks for the ordination to Christian ministry of Josh Jackson and look forward to great ministry with him at ACC!
- We celebrate that our nursery is once again open and that the Sunday after Labor Day we will also begin Children Worship and Wonder and Exploring Worship!
Concerns
- Infant Henry Borgman, hospitalized for tests. Henry is the son of Christy Noens Borgman and Adam Borgman, and grandson of Tracy and Lenny Noens
- Martha Hofer’s great-granddaughter, Aubri, who has Covid-19
- The Kalala family
- Ann Ellerbrook, recovering from surgery
- Elaine Akermann, recovering from surgery
- Bill Ross, undergoing treatment for cancer
- Don Call, Sr., recovering from surgery
- Lee Ridoux
- Linda Stires, recovering from a fall
- Esen Gurtunca, recovering
- Araceli Castro, Grace Caress’s mother, undergoing treatment for cancer
- Jackie Cramer
- Donna Crimmins
- Many Reed
- Wayne Luttrell, the Lawrences’ brother-in-law, in hospice care, and brother Dan Dunn who also has cancer
- Robert Keltner
- Tim Escue
- Gene Ray
- Liz Nelson
- Geoff Higgins
- Cindy Method
- Mack Hunter
For all who are grieving
For those affected by Covid, their families, and caregivers
For all frontline medical workers who are being exhausted by this third wave of Covid
For all educators who are facing multiple challenges this year
For our work, and all work, to be anti-racist
We pray this week with our global prayer partner Mexico.
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Well as of Saturday afternoon, I am officially the Rev. Josh Jackson! Thank y'all so much for all of your love, support, and kind messages over the past few days. I promise I will get back to you soon! It's been a little busy. Anyway, I'm finally back in town today and it really feels like things are taking off and getting started now that this weekend has happened. I know I have been here for a month (exactly one month today, actually!!), but something feels different now. It feels so special to be starting off my ordained ministry right now with y'all. It seems like many of us are at the beginning of a new chapter, of a new path in our lives. Whether that's a new job, new school, new life change (for better or for worse), there is a lot of new around all of us- especially as we continue to navigate all of the "new normals" this pandemic keeps throwing at us. My hope and prayer for each of us today is that we are able to take hold of this "new" and bring life and good to the world from it. Cheers to new beginnings and new journeys, friends!
Josh
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Week of Compassion at Work in Haiti
Last Saturday morning a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, stronger than the one that caused such destruction in 2010, brought to the southern part of Haiti. At this time, it appears that some 2,000 lives have been lost. Complicating matters, yesterday a tropical storm dumped inches of rain on the island compounding the misery of all who are now camping outside of their ruined homes.
Haiti has a special place in the heart of ACC since many of us have traveled there on mission trips and pilgrimages.
We celebrate that the gifts we’ve previously given to the Week of Compassion offering are already at work through our partners on the ground in Haiti. They have sent out volunteers to help with rescue operations and are working to meet immediate needs including offering: temporary shelters, flashlight and power generators, hygiene kits, clothes, water, food, first aid kits, health and rescue workers, fuel, and vehicles.
They are also already planning for a longer-term response, and all of this is possible because of offerings we, and others, have given in the past.
Or you can text WoC to 41444
Or you can mail a check to:
Week of Compassion
PO Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206
And let us pray, too, for our siblings in Christ in Haiti.
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Schedule Updates
Pastor Diane will be taking a few vacation days over the next week. Please note which days she will be available for you to contact.
Vacation Days: Friday, August 20 -- Tuesday, August 24
Back in the office on Wednesday, August 25
For administrative issues, please contact our Office Manager, Ruth Wolff, and for pastoral care issues or emergencies, contact Joyce Coalson through August 15th, and Josh Jackson or Joyce Coalson, August 20-24.
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August 22 | Lemonade Cafe
Weather permitting, we will continue Lemonade Cafe by the bell on Sunday.
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NEW! August 22 | Youth Group
This Sunday at noon we start weekly youth group again! This is for youth from 6th grade to 12th grade. We will meet at noon in the yard out front of the Retreat House! This week we will have a fun afternoon of getting to know Josh (and each other) better, with food of course. Bring yourself, bring a friend, all are welcome! If you have questions, reach out to Josh.
See Sign-Ups below to assist with Youth Group meals.
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August 24 | ACC Book Club
The ACC Book Club will be reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, a classic by Zora Neal Thurston. The epic tale of Janie Crawford, whose quest for identity takes her on a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life’s joys and sorrows, and come home to herself in peace. Her passionate story prompted Alice Walker to say, “There is no book more important to me than this one.”
We will meet Tuesday, August 24th at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. The ID for the meeting is:
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NEW! August 26 | Mary Martha Circle
The Mary Martha Circle will meet Thursday, August 26th, 1:00pm at church in room 14. Mask required. Study will be chapter 1 (Fruit of the Spirit, Love). Call Sandy Zimmerman, 317-407-7936.
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August 29 | Blessing of the Backpacks
Calling all students, teachers, administrators, and anyone else who has started back to school! On Sunday, August 29 in worship we will be having our Blessing of the Backpacks! We invite you to bring your backpack, or briefcase, or tote bag, or whatever you use for school (yes teachers and administrators, this includes you!) for a blessing in worship at 10:30. 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.
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NEW! 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.
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NEW! 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
Presented by the Shalom Zone churches: Allisonville Christian, St. Pius X Catholic, Epworth United Methodist, Cross & Crown Lutheran, and First Friends Quaker Church
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NEW! 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.
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September 8 | Prime Timers Picnic
Just another reminder, please keep Wed. Sept 8 on your calendar for the Fort Harrison State Park Picnic. Come and enjoy fun fellowship with ACC friends.
We will eat at noon. More information will follow as we get closer to the date. We have the Sycamore Shelter reserved for the day but we normally wrap up by 2:00 to 2:30. Most Prime Timers are seniors but all are welcome.
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September 10 | Summer/Fall Ladies Social
REMINDER … ACC Ladies social on Friday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Toni Medlen. Look for more information in next week’s announcements.
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NEW! 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.
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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.
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September 12 & 19 | Sunday School Kickoff
We are so excited to start a new year of Sunday School! On September 12 at 9:30, Sunday School will resume. All classes are welcome to start back up 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! If you have questions, please reach out to Josh.
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NEW! 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.
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NEW! October 16 | Shalom Zone: Electronics Recycling Event
More information will follow in the coming weeks, but we wanted to make sure that you have time to gather your electronics to recycle on October 16.
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NEW! 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 will have our usual paper signup sheet starting August22 nd but we also have a signup genius sheet. 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
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NEW! Youth Group Meal Signup
We are so excited to begin youth group again this year! We 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. If you have questions, talk to Josh.
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NEW! 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).
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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.
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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].
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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
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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.
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Getting to Know Us Stories on Hiatus
The Getting to Know Us Stories (GTKU) will be on hiatus until September while we work to get
more people interviewed, more stories written, and more stories edited for publication. If
anyone would like to have their stories told or if anyone is interested in writing stories, please
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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.
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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.
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Allisonville Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
(317) 849-3957
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