I’ve heard that many among us are struggling right now . . . because things are hard.
For instance, just among the people we know and love, in and out of the congregation, are individuals and families who have recently suffered significant losses through death.
Some are having trouble making ends meet financially.
Several have received a disturbing diagnosis.
Others are worried about a child or grandchild.

I’ve noticed that even small things bring people to a breaking point because they are already so emotionally stretched by all that’s going on.
Many are worn out by the ongoing discord in our nation, and by witnessing the pain of so many others around the world caused by natural and human-made disasters.

This third wave of Covid-19 illness sweeping over us is discouraging to say the least, as we watch ICUs fill up again and classrooms and whole schools switch to virtual learning to break the cycle of contagion. Our educators and other school staff, and our medical personnel, particularly hospital personnel, are wearing out and barely hanging on.

Some of you may find yourself on this list even if you haven’t shared with me.

So, what do we, the Body of Christ, do to offer solace in this moment, especially when some of us are in need of it ourselves?

One simple answer is to be kind to each other.
That may sound like an insignificant thing in the face of the huge loads some are carrying, but offering a deeply felt kind word or doing something unexpected out of Christ’s love for another can be a healing balm far beyond what we might imagine.

And, if someone says something that gets under your skin, you can go the extra mile and pause before you snap back with a remark of your own. Proverbs 15:1 reminds us that “A soft answer turns away wrath . . .”

In other words, a kind word that speaks to their pain rather than to what they said might melt their anger or impatience or whatever it is, and it will bless you.

There are so many things we cannot control in life, but we can, with practice, control ourselves to be Christ for each other.
Is it easy? No, not always. But it is at the heart of our call – to love one another.

With our words and our actions, we can bring peace into the world and into someone’s life when they may most need it. Ephesians 4:32 puts it this way, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

The verses I’ve quoted are two of many in the scriptures that say essentially the same thing, as if it’s a message that we should take to heart.

It’s almost as if God knew we’d need some help with this, isn’t it?

In this hard time, may you be blessed by a kindness and may you be a blessing by bestowing a kindness of your own, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 all of our children, youth, and adults who have returned to school and pray God’s blessing on each of them for health, safety, the new learning that will take place this year.
  • We celebrate that youth groups are up and running again and pray they will grow closer to God and to each other.
  • We are thankful that Don Call Sr. went home from rehab yesterday.
  • We thank God that we have so many wonderful preachers among us and we thank Bob Coalson and Beth Guy who recently brought the Word to ACC.

Concerns
  • Our love and condolences to Jane and Gary Lawrence in the death of their brother-in-law, Wayne Luttrell, and continue our prayers for Dan Dunn
  • Tim Escue, having a second surgery on his foot today
  • Donna Crimmins, having heart surgery on September 21st
  • Jackie Cramer, hospitalized last week
  • the Kalala family
  • Ann Ellerbrook
  • Elaine Akermann
  • Bill Ross
  • Lee Ridoux
  • Linda Stires
  • Mandy Reed
  • Robert Keltner
  • Gene Ray
  • Liz Nelson, Theron Nelson-Mercer’s mother
  • Geoff Higgins, Chris Higgins’ dad
  • Cindy Method, Ruth Wolff’s mother
  • 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 educators who are facing multiple challenges this year
For our work, and all work, to be an anti-racist church and people
For the people of Haiti
The families of the thirteen US service people who lost their lives this week in Afghanistan and for the great number of Afghans who lost their lives too; we continue to pray that everyone who needs to leave the country will be able to
For those affected by Hurricane Ida

Our Global Mission Prayer Partner is Israel/Palestine
I hope that y'all are enjoying this nicer, cooler weather that we're getting! It's making this Texan very happy to not be instantly sweating as soon as I walk outside. We're finally (maybe) seeing some glimpses of fall! In fact, one tree outside my apartment complex is starting to change color! Now, I don't know if the leaves are changing because of fall or if the tree is actually dying, but we'll go with the fall thing for now. This changing of seasons always gets me thinking about the different seasons we go through in church and all the different ways that God moves and works among us. Naturally, when the weather gets cooler and fall/winter start creeping in, new seasons crop up at church. A new program year for Youth Group, Sunday School, a new season for Worship and Wonder, a new stewardship campaign season (it's coming!), among other things. Before we know it, we'll be pivoting toward a new season of Advent. This constant changing of time and seasons is something that we all will always know, but one of those other constants we always see is the presence of God with us and in us in all times. I hope that y'all notice God at work as the seasons change, even if these changing seasons are different from how they have been in the past- God is still here, God is still at work with us, even when the changes themselves are different than what we know.

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.
September 5 | Lemonade Cafe

Weather permitting, we will continue Lemonade Cafe by the bell on Sunday.
IHN/Family Promise Update

It saddens me to announce that we will not be hosting IHN the week of September 12th. With conversations with Pastor Diane and Mike, Director of Family Promise, we have decided that it would not be healthy or safe to host families at this time. Several of you have voiced your concerns that you did not feel comfortable helping this time. I want to thank everyone who had already signed up and your willingness to help. We have signed up to host 3 rotations in 2022 and hopefully we will be able to do this. Mike, assured me that there is money to rent more apartments so that families will continue to be taken care of. Please continue to pray for these families and that by 2022 we will feel comfortable to host once again.

Blessings,
Sherilee McLain, Coordinator
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 LOCATION! September 8 | Sarah Circle Meeting

Sarah Circle will meet at 7:00pm on Wednesday, September 8, outside in back of the church on the patio at the southeast corner. This is a location change from the previous announcement. If it rains we will move inside the church, so please bring masks. Our study this year centers on the book, In Defense of Kindness by Bruce Reyes-Chow. Water provided. Questions: call Elinor Hanasono at 317-848-7950.
September 8 | Prime Timers Picnic Information

Only a few more days to sign 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 need to know who is coming so we can purchase tenderloin to be grilled and canned drinks.

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 restrooms are near by and all is on level ground.

Please bring a covered dish or something for our pot luck 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.

We have purchased biodegradable paper plates and we are taking silverware from the church for all. This is to be consistent with our Green Team Ministry at ACC.

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 draw for door prizes. We may have a surprise or two. We should wrap up a little after 2:00. We would love to get a group picture to help us promote future events. Our reservation for the shelter is for all day so feel free to hang out for as long as you wish.

Cost for the lunch, canned drinks, water, delicious grilled tenderloins plus a share of the reservation fee is $5 per person.

Everybody will get one ticket for the drawing when you arrive. We are suggesting that everyone consider giving an extra $5 (or more) per person. All receipts over our costs will be presented to Diane to support the ACC Food Pantry. If you donate extra, you will get two tickets for the drawing. This is a way our Prime Timers group can support God's work.

Cost to enter the park is $7 per car. To drive to the shelter, leave Church, drive north to 465, east to 56th St Exit, east to Post Road, north to the entrance of the park. Drive 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. Weather forecast is looking good. If it is raining hard we
might have to move to the church. If you can spare a couple of hours for lunch and wonderful fellowship, please join us. As always, all are welcome.
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.
UPDATE! September 12 | ACC Golf Outing
 
ACC GOLF OUTING ON SEPTEMBER 12 AT SAHM GOLF COURSE. A reminder to golfers ... We are working on forming teams and will send out emails soon with information for those who have signed up for the outing on September 12th. 
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 & 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.
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: 
An Update on Disciples Special Day Offerings for 2021
From the ACC congregation, we have received the following Disciples Mission Fund Special Day Offerings for 2021:

Week of Compassion (the relief, refugee, and development work of the Church) - $8700;
Easter (supporting the General Ministries of the Christian Church) - $1310; and
Pentecost (supporting new church development) - $1788.

Thank you to everyone who supports these special offerings above and beyond pledges and gifts to our local congregation!

On September 25 and October 2, we will highlight special offerings for Reconciliation, the pro- reconciliation/anti-racism work of the Church. Watch for more information and be ready to support this all-important offering.
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.
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 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.