January 1^st is often a time for looking back on the past and looking forward to the coming year.  It is a time to reflect on the changes we want to make in our lives and resolve to follow through on those changes. 

Common New Year’s Resolutions include losing weight, joining a gym, stop smoking, balance your finances, take a vacation, spend more time relaxing, and spending more time with family and friends.  I would like to suggest a great New Year’s resolution would be to live our faith in our daily lives.  We can accomplish this in many ways including taking at least ten minutes each day for prayer, attending Worship every Sunday, joining a Sunday School class or Bible study group, volunteering for a committee or project at church, volunteering in the community to serve others, do one nice thing for someone else each day, see each person you meet as a child of God, send a card to a person on our prayer list, open your hearts to change, practice forgiveness and mercy. 

Here are five steps to help us decided upon and accomplish our resolutions. 

Step 1:  Be realistic by setting achievable goals.

      Step 2:  Describe your resolutions in specific terms. Instead of saying, "I want to be a better Christian” say, "I will volunteer in my community for one hour every week" or "I will be in Worship every Sunday."

      Step 3:  Break down large goals into smaller ones. For instance, commit to being more            active in our community of faith by thinking about your gifts and talents and                                  volunteering for a committee or project that uses these gifts and talents.                               

      Step 4:  Find alternatives to a behavior that you want to change and make them part of           your resolution plan. If you want to more active, but you are having health problems:                             can you join our prayer chain group, pray for each person in our congregation or send                      cards to our shut-ins? 

     Step 5:  Above all, aim for things that are truly important to you, not what you think you ought to do or what others expect of you.

I hope you have a blessed 2010.

Pastor Monica

St. John’s Ministers:      All Members

Pastor                               Pastor Monica J. Ouellette

Office Manager:                 Marieta Smith

Choir Director:                   Natalia Orlovskaia

Organist:                           Mona Hill, CAGO

Handbell Choir Director:     Sally Yocum

Piano Accompanist:            Elena Loukachkina

Children’s Choir Directors:  Jean Pierce & Renee’ Owens

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday thru Thursday 9am—2pm

Staff Lunch 12:00-12:30pm

PASTOR MONICA’S HOURS

 Monday-Tuesday-Thursday 9am-2pm

 E-mail & website addresses: 

Pastor Monica:  ordaineducc@comcast.net

Marieta Smith: 

joyousucc@comcast.net

Web page:  www.stjohnsucc.info

Penn Central Conference website:  www.pccucc.org

Northern Association website:                            http://northernassoc.50megs.com/

Hartman Center website:   www.hartmancenter.com

Thank you to everyone who serves as ushers, greeters, acolytes, readers, teachers, children’s church, nursery attendants and sound technicians during the past year and to all who serve in many other ministries “behind the scenes” for St. John’s.

Worship Ministry

January, 2010

January 3

Head Usher:          Yvette Willson           

Greeters                Dick & Linda Ackley

Reader:                Diane Ishler  

Acolyte:                Ryan Willson 

Nursery:                t.b.a.                       

Children’s Church:  t.b.a.           

Sound Technician:  Dave Lucas 

January 10

Head Usher:          Yvette Willson

Greeters:              Dick & Patricia Albright                      

Reader:                Bruce Druckenmiller              

Acolyte:                            Anna McFeeley                                 

Nursery:               Kathryn Bainbridge

Children’s Church:  Carol English            

Sound Technician:  Ryan Dwyer 

January 17

Head Usher:          Yvette Willson                                   

Greeters                Tina Allamon & Alice Breon    

Reader:                 Marion McCullough                            

Acolyte:                 Marissa Willson                                

Nursery:                t.b.a.           

Children’s Church:  t.b.a.

Sound Technician:  John Pierce

January 24

Head Usher:          Yvette Willson                                  

Greeters:              Lois Creighton & Carol English

Reader:                 Judy Weaver            

Acolyte:                 Faith Matthews                               

Nursery:                t.b.a.           

Children’s Church:  t.b.a.                       

Sound Technician:  Xavier Johnson         

January 31

Head Usher:           Yvette Willson                                  

Greeters:               The Dailey Family                            

Reader:                 Andrew Druckenmiller                      

Acolyte:                 Frank Boob  

Nursery:                t.b.a.                       

Children’s Church:  t.b.a.                       

Sound Technician:  John Pierce

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please note:  Worship Assistants not listed above will be announced in the bulletins as they are determined.

THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO:

… Pat & Cliff Long, Bill & Ellen Matten, Kathryn & Shawn Bainbridge, Laura & Bob Homan, Donna & Steve Vore, Bernie & Stan Lindsay, Phyllis & Richard Kipp and Seddie Hess for hosting cottage meetings.

… Jean and Renee’ for organizing the children for our Music Celebration on Sunday, December 20th.

… All the children, parents and members of the congregation, Natalia, Elena and Ryan who made our hymn celebration a success.

… Jean Pierce for organizing our Christmas caroling.

… Kathryn Bainbridge for sharing her recycling ideas with us.

… Mark Scott for leading Pastor Monica through the new member service.

… Rebecca Maciejczyk for sharing her gift of singing with us.

… The Celebration Ringers for sharing their gift of music on Sunday and during hometown Christmas. 

… St. John’s Choir for sharing their gift of music with us. 

… John Poorman for sharing his gift of singing with us.

… Chuck Hunt for all his hard work scheduling Ushers and Greeters this past year.

… everyone who donated to the UCC Christmas Fund. 

… Diane Ishler for her service as our Consistory President.

… Greg & Ann Fredericks who were narrators for 7:00pm Christmas Eve Service.

… Mark Scott who made the starry night background and Donna Vore who made the stars, hearts and hay bundles for the early Christmas Eve Service.

… Rebecca Maciejczyk for donating the wreath on the office door.

… Chuck Hunt for shoveling the sidewalk to the office.

… Bernie Lindsay for having the Consistory members and spouses for dinner in December

… Greg Fredericks for purchasing Dreamweaver.

… Todd Runkle for updating our website.

… Janet Kellerman, Lois Creighton, Hollie Woodle, Shirley Kline & Elaine Miller for the December Newsletter mailing.

… Everyone who contributed to the sock challenge for Back Bay Mission.  We collected 550 pairs of socks!!

… Patti Michaels for our beautiful Advent and Christmas altar.

… Beth Segall and Katie Holsopple for the Nativity sets display it the Sanctuary for Advent.

… Bernie Lindsay for organizing the Church Cleaning Crew meeting, providing delicious soup and to Tina Allamon for providing the scrumptious cookies.   

… Ian Pierce for helping with the Christmas Eve 11:00pm service candle lighting.

… Cliff Long & Ginny Mulhatten for proofreading the Newsletter.

Attendance Last Month:                        

December 6                                96

December 13                              58       

December 20                            122       

December 24  ( 7:00pm)           120

December 24  (11:00pm)            86

December 27                             59

January Birthdays:

January              3         Paul Walker

                         5         Kathy Piatt

                         8         Alicia Lindsay                                                     9         Lisa (Creighton) Homan

                        11         Scott Way

                        12         Bruce Druckenmiller

                        14         Tracy Williams

                        16         Curtis Addleman

                        17         Wyatt Bascom

                        18         Rob Bascom

                        19         Tracie Bogus

                                    Todd Trigger

                        21         Sally Yocum

                        22         John Pierce

                        23         Tammy Williams

27         Randy Meister

29         Chuck Hacker

I would like to thank the congregation for my 

Christmas Love Offering. 

I am overwhelmed by your generosity and blessed to be your new pastor.  I hope each of you have a healthy and prosperous new year.  Blessings, Pastor Monica

NEWS FROM THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE:

Lock Box Key   The Property Committee changed the combination on the lock box holding the church building key.  Please contact any member of the Property Committee or the church office for the new combination.  If you have flowers delivered to the church, please remember to notify the florist of this change.

Pew for Sale  A sanctuary pew, removed to accommodate the sound and projection systems, is currently stored in the shed and needs to be removed.  The cost?  An anonymous donation to the general fund.  Please contact the office or a member of the Property Committee to make arrangements.  We have pictures in the office if you are interested.

Tuesday Morning Lectionary Bible Study Group  Each Tuesday morning at 10:00-11:15am in the Parish House.  Everyone is welcome!

January 5:

Psalm 29; Isaiah 43: 1-7; Acts 8: 14-17; Luke 3: 15-22

January 12:

Psalm 36: 5-10; Isaiah 62: 1-5; 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11; John 2: 1-11

January 19:

Psalm 19; Nehemiah 8: 1-10; 1 Corinthians 12: 2-31a; Luke 4: 14-21

January 26:

Psalm 71: 1-6; Jeremiah 1: 4-10; 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13; Luke 4: 21-30

Monday Evening Bible  Study Group

This group will meet twice a month on the 2^nd and 4^th Mondays of the month from   7:00–8:30 pm in the Parish House.  We will start by reading through the Acts of the Apostles.  This book tells the story of the ministry of the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection, the work of the early church and the ministry of Paul.  Come join the fellowship.

Monday, January 11: chapter 1

Monday, January 25: chapter 2

CIA (Christians in Action)

Youth Group Schedule

Sunday, January 17 -      Mystery Dinner, 5:30 pm in

                                   Fellowship Hall

Monday, January 18 -     Winter Hike, 1:00 pm

                                    Mt. Nittany Trail

We will meet at the church, carpool out to the trail and come back to the church for hot chocolate.

Sunday, February 7 -     Super Bowl Party, 11:30am

Saturday, February 20 – Pasta Dinner Fund Raiser, seatings will be at 5:00pm, 5:45pm and 6:30pm.

Confirmation Class Schedule:

Sunday, January 10   Confirmation class:  Holy Spirit                                         Chapter 3 in Words for the Journey

Sunday, January 17   Mystery Dinner, 5: 20pm                                                 in Fellowship Hall

Sunday January 24    Confirmation class: UCC Background

Installation Service         The Northern Association has set Pastor Monica’s Installation Service for Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 3:00pm here at St. John’s.

MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES

Our congregation is invited to join two

mission trips to Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS. 

Faith UCC, State College is sponsoring a trip on March 13-21, 2010.  The trip Leaders are Joe & Terri Krabill.  The cost is $300.00 and you must be at least 16 years old.  Please call Joe & Terri Krabill at 814-364-9812 or remkrab@verizion.net if you are interested in joining this group. 

First UCC, Carlisle is also sponsoring a trip on June 20-26, 2010.  The trip leader is David McKibben.  The cost is about $300.00 for this trip.  Please speak to Pastor Monica by February 28^th if you are interested in joining this group.

The Caregivers Ministry is looking

for people who might be available to prepare a meal for shut-ins within the congregation, who are convalescing

from illness, surgery or other difficulty.  People are also needed to provide occasional transportation to those in need. 

If you are able to serve in this ministry, please contact Caregiver Coordinator, Kathy Mandetta

at 466-7204.

NEW GREETER SCHEDULE

 Beginning on January 3^rd, the   

 church office will be scheduling  

 every family in the church as  

 Greeters for one Sunday morning.  If you are unable to make your scheduled week, please contact someone in the church to cover your duty for that Sunday and let the church office know who will be greeting for you. 

GREETERS FOR MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2010

February 7        Rebecca & Ryan Dwyer

February 14       The Fredericks Family

February 21       Chuck & Roxanne Gill

February 28       Dennis & Brenda Hameister

GREETERS FOR MONTH OF MARCH 2010

March 7             Diane Hatch & Seddie Hess

March 14           Katie Holsopple & Beth Segall

March 21           Chuck Hunt & Kent Baker

March 28           Pat Hunt & Janet Kellerman

USHERS   Each member of our Church Council is providing ushers for one month of the year.  Thank you for your help.

Come join Pastor Monica for Coffee Hour at the Pump Station Café at 9:30am on Thursday mornings.

“UPPER ROOMS”  for January/February have been placed in the kiosk in the Narthex and on the table by the front door.  Please don’t forget to pick one up.

NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN ED:

Intergenerational Sunday School 

On Sunday, January 3rd, we will be celebrating Epiphany.  All are welcome!              

Attendants needed:  We are still in

need of Nursery and Children’s Church Attendants.  Sign-up sheets are outside

of the Nursery Doors.  Please consider volunteering.

Mystery Dinner for our youth group grades 6 & up including confirmand mentors on Sunday, January 17^th at 5:30pm.  Please

RSVP to Paige Thomas or Donna Vore by Sunday, January 3^rd.

Save the date:  Saturday, February 20^th will be the Youth Pasta Dinner Fundraiser at 5:30pm.   Monies raised go toward their confirmation camp fees in March 2010.  More information to follow.

Thank you  all for your generous support of our monthly mission projects presented to the Sunday school children.  To update everyone; The Crop Walk with Hollie Woodle was our first focus in October.  November was Back Bay Mission with Ellen & Bill Matten.  With your help, we collected 550 pairs of socks which exceeded our goal!!  Along the way, “mismatched socks” found homes carrying gifts for Christmas.  Then, Kathryn Bainbridge shared her many recycling opportunities we all can do to help support many worthy causes such as Ronald McDonald houses, P.A.W.S., Women’s Resource Center, etc.  Please visit her display on the windowsill of the nursery.

On Sunday, January 10^th starting at 8:45am with a “light breakfast”, Celina Ouellette will share the “Peace Crane” story and teach us how to make Peace Cranes.  Our goal is to make 1000 by August 2010 – the anniversary date of Hiroshima.  Everyone is welcome to join us!!!

Northern Association Workshops:

    Our Workshop this year will be February 7^th held at Trinity United Church of Christ, Pennsylvania Avenue in Centre Hall.  We will be posting a flier as soon as it arrives.  It sounds like a great selection with options for everyone.

The workshop on the Narrative Budget was given by Jerry Tomason and Char Burch at the last Conference meeting and was well received. Hopefully if you didn't attend the workshop there, you will want to select this one along with someone involved in the budget process from your church. The Bible Study will introduce the Still Speaking Devotional available daily on your computer in conjunction with a Bible Study. And the Recycling fits well into our Stewardship theme for this year's Workshop. As in the past, each person may choose two of the three workshops.  In addition, the Ministerium decided at their monthly meeting to ask each church to bring as snacks "something good for us" and "something chocolaty" (early Valentine's Day indulgence!) enough to serve 8-10 people of each one.

     If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask any of us on the Planning Committee.

Terri Krabill

Chairman of the Planning Committee

SCHEDULE:

1:30  Registration

1:45  Opening Worship and Announcements 

2:15 - 3:00  Workshop Offering # 1

3:00  Food and Fellowship

3:30 - 4:15  Workshop Offering #2 

WORKSHOP OPTIONS:

1:  Still Speaking Bible Study – Stewardship of God's Word led by Rev. Julian Hall, Interim Pastor at Trinity UCC, Centre Hall

2:  Using the Narrative Budget - Stewardship of the Church's Money led by Jerry Tomason, chairman of the Penn Central Conference Stewardship Committee

3: Recycling - Stewardship of the Earth's Resources led by Ms. Amy Schriff, Centre Country Recycling program

The C. C. C.

(Church Cleaning Crew) will begin cleaning the church and Parish House on Thursday, January 7^th at 1:30pm.  Bring your favorite  cleaning cloths and join us.

The St. John’s Ladies Lunches

are held at 11:45am on the 4^th Tuesday of each month.  This month’s lunch will be on Tuesday, January 26^th at the Red Lobster Restaurant, 1670 N. Atherton Street, State College.  For more information contact Laura Homan at

                        238-3537 or Lois Runkle at 422-8221.

Fellowship Meals 

will resume on January 6^th with subs and are scheduled for every Wednesday evening at 5:45pm.  ALL St. John’s members and friends are WELCOME, not just choir.  The menu alternates weekly between pizza and subs.  The cost is $3 per person each week and $2 for children under 10, except on the last Wednesday of each month when we each bring a pot luck dish to share.  If you have any questions, please contact Jean Pierce at 234-3193 or      e-mail her at jean_pierce155@msn.com

Member Information Updates

We are updating all of our member information in the office and for our website.  Please send your birthdays, anniversaries, home addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers via e-mail to Marieta at joyousucc@comcast.net or call the office at 466-7162.

I would like to graciously thank

St. John’s for your generous gift.  During the past few months,

your support, encouragement

and kindness have given me the strength I needed as I endured my new office manager responsibilities.  I truly love my job and working with each and every one of you here at St. John’s.  Blessings & Peace, Marieta J. Smith

P.S.  A special thank you to “the St. John’s fan” that secretly left me a present at work.  J

Food Bank 

The overall success of the Food Bank comes from the dedication and support of the community.  Thank you St. John’s for being a part of this noble effort.

The next Food Bank Sunday will be January 10^th

Needs List updated 12/11/09:

• Grocery store Gift Cards - any denomination is appreciated **
• Spaghetti or other dried pasta
• Pancake mix
• Dried Fruit (cranberry, apricot, prune, etc.) - no raisins
• Different canned vegetables (beets, sauerkraut, etc) We have plenty of green beans, corn, peas, carrots
• Jello, pudding and pie filling other than pumpkin
• Canned Pasta
• Cereal
• Cream soups (mushroom, celery, chicken)
• Laundry & dish detergent
• Bars of soap
• Birthday bags - A decorated paper bag that contains a cake mix, frosting and candles.  People often add party favors as well.  This is a good activity for youth groups that can't come in to volunteer but would like to help out the community.

** Gift Cards are used to maintain our food inventory and supplement what we don't receive in food donations

The following items are always needed as we cannot purchase these through our state food purchasing program. We rely completely on donations for these items:

• Granulated sugar
• Mayonnaise & Miracle Whip
• Cooking Oil & Spray
• Coffee and/or Black Tea

In addition, we distribute donations of personal hygiene items (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc.) and baby items (baby food, diapers, formula, etc.).

A Moment by Marieta

Snowflake

Snowflakes falling from the sky

Help remind us exactly why

Christmas came so long ago

Cleansing the earth like each new snow

One pure, unique and perfect form,

Who came to earth to withstand the storm.

Each snowflake melts as does the ice,

But we can’t forget the sacrifice;

So display this symbol of the season

To recollect what gives us reason

One pure, unique and perfect form,

Who came to earth to transcend the storm.