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Re-entry Team Update

5/20/2021

The Re-Entry Team met on May 18 to discuss updating our mask policy for St. John’s

Here’s the update: You may attend worship and church activities without a mask if you are fully vaccinated. With the Iowa Bishop’s permission, we are aligning our mask policy with the new CDC guidelines that were announced last Thursday. Going forward, you may experience the mix of people continuing to mask and people who choose not to mask in the same worship space or at meetings. This decision is to be implemented this coming weekend on Saturday, May 22.

I thank you for extending the “umbrella of mercy” towards those who are making these important, but difficult decisions. Team members discussed the feedback received in the 6 days since the CDC changes were announced. Families with children and teenagers are encouraged to participate as they are comfortable. Your patience at these times is most appreciated since it often takes a few days to respond to changing circumstances with the pandemic. The process of updating our COVID policy will be ongoing through the summer months and into the fall.

For now the church will continue the following safety steps:

The filtration system at the front of the sanctuary runs 24/7: this provides 3 layers of protection, the HEPA filter catches mold, allergens and bacteria; the Charcoal filter takes out odors; the UV light ray takes out virus particles such as COVID.
The 6-foot distance will continue with every other pew roped off
No fellowship time after worship for the foreseeable future
Offering plates will continue to be located at the door
Communion will only be available with the individual cups

With the falling infection rates in Scott County, and lower number of hospitalizations, it seems to be a responsible time to update our policy. We also want you to know that there have been no infections or spread of COVID traced to our church since the pandemic started. Depending on personal comfort levels, individuals may wish to continue masking in worship or choose to worship online for a while longer. We recognize comfort levels vary widely within this congregation, some having higher risk levels in relation to COVID, and we therefore urge you to be respectful of the choices of your neighbor.

Further details will be in the next newsletter going out the end of May. We will also include responses to questions that have been received between the initial update and the publication deadline.

Pastor Jeff Dadisman

PS: The (11:00) Contemporary service will be open for in-person worship on Sunday, May 30. The online option will continue as well.

Worship in December

12/2/2020

Good afternoon members and friends of St. John’s,

The leadership team met via Zoom on Monday evening and decided to re-open for worship in December. The options available will be the same as earlier in November.
• 9:00 Classic worship in-person, online, and on the radio
• 10:00 Sunday School: a class for children in the Chapel, youth downstairs, and an adult group in the Parlor
• 11:00 Contemporary worship—online only
• Jesus Country is open on Saturday night @ 5:30pm
• Our December 13 Christmas program will be online only (pre-recorded) at 4:00pm
• December 20 Blue Christmas service will be held in the Sanctuary
• Christmas Eve is intended to be in-person (with reservations)

The leadership acknowledged the Bishop’s directive from 2 weeks ago and caution for all gatherings. Scott County infections continue to decline from a high on November 20 (435 new cases) to November 30 (88 new cases). It was our best determination that the safety precautions being used for in-person worship have been effective. We will continue to mask and be separated by the 6-foot distance, hand sanitizer at the door.

As always, we would encourage those with a health risk, and those who feel sick, to worship from home.

The church website will continue to be the place to find updates on special events and changes in schedule. You can call the office, (563) 324-5278, if you have a question about the status on an activity.

together, we will get through this

9/24/2020

As we enter the month of October, I begin with a word of appreciation to all who support the church with their prayers, their presence (online or in person), their gifts, their service and their witness. I share with the staff any notes of support sent our way and want to communicate back to the congregation how much your words of encouragement mean to us.

While we still cannot worship as we used to, we continue to worship in a variety of ways each weekend. God has wired our hearts to worship something. I urge you to give your time in the worship of Christ each week. Whether we are together, worshipping in-person or online, whether we are in our cars or at home; alone or with our family, using the computer or the radio…I know you can worship. We all have a God-shaped void in our heart into which we will put something to find ultimate fulfillment and satisfaction. Anything we use to fill that emptiness (other than God) will disappoint. Anything less than Jesus will leave us searching for more.

The challenges around us continue. The focus during the past six months has shifted from the pandemic, to social unrest, to the big storm in August; and now the news points us towards hurricanes and wildfires and political division. We know so many folks that are looking for hope in the midst of continuing chaos. As followers of Jesus, I pray your hope is grounded in a deep abiding faith. Let us lift up the name of Jesus. For I believe Jesus to be the true hope for a world trying to make their way where there seems to be no way.

Once again, I cannot thank you enough for your continuing support during this trying time. Together, we will get through this!

I love being your pastor,
Rev. Jeff Dadisman

update for in-person worship

9/2/2020

Good evening members and friends of St. John’s UMC!

Monday night, Staff Parish Relations Committee approved a new option for Sunday worship. The Narthex/Cry Room space at the back of the sanctuary will be a “no mask” space.

How is this going to work?

We are asking you to give us a RESERVATION so we know how many will be coming;
This space will be independent from the rest of the sanctuary, and doors into sanctuary will remain closed;
WORSHIPERS WILL ENTER VIA THE BRADY STREET RED DOORS;
If you enter through the building, a mask will be needed until entering the narthex;
Weekday use of the building will still require masks;
This option will be on a trial basis for the month of September.

How did this decision get made?

A series of leadership groups have wrestled with this decision.
The re-opening task force discussed this earlier in August and sent a recommendation to try a “no mask option” to Church Council.
Church Council discussed their recommendation but decided to table the issue and refer it to SPPRC.
A week later SPPRC discussed this option further and the majority decided to make this option available in a trial basis in September.

This decision tries to balance the desire to worship without a mask, and the safety of everyone in the sanctuary.

We understand that this is a sensitive topic and it will be revisited at the end of the month.

As an additional precaution, for the safety of all, we have added a new Air Purification System in the sanctuary. It will help us in 3 ways…

A charcoal filter will reduce odors
The HEPA filter takes out dust and allergens
And Ultraviolet Light will eliminate germs or virus particles

It will be allowed to run during the week, and is safe for people to be near when running.

Pastor Jeff

Parables and Real Life

8/20/2020

This week was a new week… the rest of our staff finally got electricity Sunday late afternoon. Personally, I just have to say, “It is wonderful to be able to turn on the light switch again when I return home at the end of the day!!”

Scripture text: Luke 18:1-8
Message: “Parables and Real Life—The Persistent Widow”
(Pastor Jeff is preaching)

This next Sunday starts a series of messages on the stories that Jesus told. These "parables" are stories that spoke to the relentless love of God, and the meaning and purpose of life. Jesus spoke of good Samaritans, prodigal children, rich fools and unforgiving servants, lost sheep and sprouts that were choked out by weeds--and with each story he spoke to some of the questions we ask in life.

When Calm is Contagious

8/14/2020

Good afternoon members and friends of St. John’s UMC!

This has been of week of unprecedented storm damage! Susan and I arrived home from vacation just before noon on Monday, the storm sirens went off as we were eating lunch and shortly thereafter, our electricity went out…and has not been restored yet. The Church was without power until Thursday morning. Storm damage has left many without power for days this week. (still no electricity at home for Pastor Jae and myself… so I am writing this while plugged into the charger in my car)

Scripture text: John 6:1-13
Message: “When calm is contagious” (Pastor Jeff is preaching)

The Apostle Paul wrote this: The Lord is near, therefore have no worries! [Philippians 4:5-6] This week has certainly reminded me that I am not in control of the weather. But it has been comforting to sense the nearness of Christ in the midst of all our difficulties: ie. Stop lights that are not working, no electricity, trees down in the streets, can’t go to work, cell phone won’t answer, etc. Jesus made an anxious moment with the disciples into a “teachable moment” – one they would never forget. This lesson comes to us in the story of the FEEDING OF THE 5,000. I’ve had a few teachable moments this week as well. This sermon will be a look at how the presence of Jesus was a calm force in the moment of great uncertainty.

Less Fret... More Faith

7/31/2020

Good afternoon members and friends of St. John’s UMC!

Communion is to be offered in worship this weekend. We have purchased a pre-packaged grape juice + wafer cup which will allow serving of the communion elements without having to handle it for another person. You will pick up your communion set upon entry to worship and at the end, each person will hold their own juice and bread while it is blessed; then all will receive together. Those online will need to have juice and bread to use at home for this sacrament, OR you can drive by to receive the sacrament in person.

Scripture text: Psalm 37:1-8
Message: “Less Fret… More Faith” (Pastor Jeff is preaching)

Max Lucado is one of my favorite authors and I recently ordered his book: Anxious for Nothing. I draw from some of his helpful comments this weekend as we address the topic of anxiety. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been wrestling with it. Psalm 37 has some very helpful verses as the psalmist give several references to “do not fret.” I am also looking forward to sharing communion together. Communion is God’s gift to us in this stressful time.

Why? Making Sense of God's Will

7/24/2020

Good afternoon members and friends of St. John’s UMC!

Communion is to be offered in worship next weekend. We have purchased a pre-packaged grape juice + wafer kit which will allow serving of the communion elements without having to handle it for another person. You will pick up your communion set upon entry to worship and at the end, each person will hold their own juice and bread while it is blessed; then all will receive together. Those online and on the radio will need to have juice and bread to use at home for this sacrament, OR you can drive by to receive the sacrament in person.

Scripture text: Job 39:1-12
Message: “Why? Making Sense of God's Will” (Pastor Jeff is preaching)

This weekend we go back to the story of Job and reach deeper into the dilemma many face: how do we hold together faith in God when there is so much tragedy in the world? How do we keep the faith when that tragedy touches those that we love? Pain and suffering actually bring these deep “God questions” to the fore front for many. Job’s story gives us a way to engage these questions with a more meaningful response than some find initially. Faith in Jesus doesn’t deliver us from times of struggle. Faith can give us the strength to face the struggle.

I invite you to join worship on Sunday at one of the times listed below.

Pastor Jeff

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The church building is now Open for in-person worship each weekend! Face coverings are required.
5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11
10:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 12
Please bring your mask, as they will be required. If you do not have one, we have some on hand.
Live-streaming and radio broadcasts will continue
Radio broadcast each Sunday is now the recording from the previous week.
Online worship live streamed via YouTube @ 10:00 (you will find links on our website and on Facebook)
Communion next weekend; For those online or the radio, there will also be drive by Communion @ 11:15-noon outside

The Center Drive by / Drop off is Wednesday, July 29 @ 9:00 & 4:00
Our crew will be at the Perry Street portico for an hour both of these times to receive donations for The Center. Bottled water, to-go food containers, hand sanitizer and bathroom tissue are greatly appreciated!

Throughout the month of August, we will collect donations for our annual Ingathering to provide school and health kits in cooperation with Midwest Mission Distribution Center, an UMCOR–cooperating depot near Springfield, IL. Their philosophy is to collect and distribute to those in a time of need or crisis as quickly as possible. Rather than collecting items for the kits as we have in the past, due to the pandemic, we will be collecting funds to purchase supplies. You can send your donations to the church office, or leave in the collection plates as you enter or leave worship. Please note "Ingathering" in the memo of your check.

COVID Recovery Iowa assistance is available for you.
Anxiety. Loneliness. Anger. Sense of loss. All of these feelings are normal. And the pandemic doesn’t affect everyone the same way. You may feel fine and confident one day and overwhelmed the next. Your family members may feel things differently – and at different times – than you. That’s why COVID Recovery Iowa offers a listening ear. Click here for more information.
http://www.stjohnsumcdav.org/covid-recovery-iowa-program-info.html

we are debtors

7/17/2020

Good morning members and friends of St. John’s UMC!

Our in-person worship experience went very well last weekend. There were 17 in attendance for Jesus Country Saturday evening and 66 present for Sunday morning. All people did mask and I think we were able to gather safely in the process. If you do not feel safe coming or have a health condition that makes it risky for you to attend please use one of the other options to join us for worship each weekend.

Scripture text: Romans 8:12-25
Message: “We Are Debtors” (Pastor Jae is preaching)

We are all indebted to the love of Christ. We were the ones who were supposed to die for sin, but Jesus saved us by dying on the cross. The only way we can repay that debt is to share Christ's love with others. We are experiencing a new epidemic in a culture that drives us through individualism and selfishness. We must consider how to repay the endless love of Christ as a debtor to Christ in this situation.

I invite you to join worship on Sunday at one of the times listed below.

Pastor Jeff

The church building is now Open for in-person worship each weekend! Face coverings are required.
5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11
10:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 12
Please bring your mask, as they will be required. If you do not have one, we have some on hand.
Live-streaming and radio broadcasts will continue

Radio Broadcast each Sunday is now the recording from the previous week. (the email from last weekend will now match July 19th message on the radio: the story of Job)

Online worship live streamed via YouTube @ 10:00 (you will find links on our website and on Facebook)

2020 HAS BEEN THE PERFECT STORM

7/10/2020

Good afternoon members and friends of St. John’s UMC!

Good News! We will return for in-person worship this weekend;

Jesus Country @ 5:30 Saturday in Fellowship Hall
Sunday @ 10:00 in the Sanctuary

Face coverings are required.

We will continue broadcasting worship on the radio @ 9:00 on station 1420 am, and on Facebook and our website at 10:00.

Scripture text: Job 1:1-22
Message: “2020 Has Been the Perfect Storm” (Pastor Jeff is preaching)

This weekend I will be preaching from the life of Job: that Old Testament character that seems synonymous with pain and suffering. Here we have a story that causes us to cringe. He lost belongings (his great wealth), and all his children, and finally his health, and he was faithful in God’s eyes. Job is the story of a person of faith wrestling with unexpected tragedy; the storm that strikes takes everything Job held dear. His story helps us wrestle with the times when life is not fair for us. It gives us a way to process our suffering within the context of faith and ask the hard questions.

I invite you to join worship on Sunday at one of the times listed above.

Pastor Jeff

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