|
 St. John United Church of Christ is a "Nicodemus
church." We are being re-born after having grown
old--and wise.
We are uncovering and recapturing the adventurous and
pioneering Christian spirit of our immigrant founders.
By building new relationships with the Aurora Community, we are committed to co-creating collaborative partnerships in order to innovatively serve the diverse neighborhoods of the city's east side. We will construct a new identity as a mission church providing outreach with love.
 St. John UCC is committed to remaining in the community of its origins. We welcome you to the table! Then together, may we build the church to meet the community’s needs of today and tomorrow.
Peace and grace,
Rev. Cyndi Gavin, Pastor
Welcome to the United Church of Christ—a community of faith that seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. The UCC, a mainline Protestant denomination, was founded in 1957 as the union of four different Christian traditions: from the beginning of our history, we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the United States. Our motto—"that they may all be one"—is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church.
The United Church of Christ is a union (1957) of two churches with deep roots in the history of our nation. The Congregational Christian Churches trace their beginnings back to the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth in 1620. The Evangelical and Reformed Church is the spiritual heir of the 16th century Reformation and embodies the theology of John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and Martin Luther.
Today the 1.4 million member denomination with nearly 6000 local congregations is in the forefront of the struggle for justice for all people. It is working for further church union to honor Christ's desire "That They May All Be One."
The United Church of Christ considers itself evangelical, catholic and reformed: evangelical in its mandate to proclaim the gospel to all the world, catholic in its universality and openness to other faiths, and reformed in its desire to reshape its structure and style to meet the needs and challenges of each generation.
Teen taps talent in his family tree for Eagle Scout landscaping project
June 30, 2008
BY KAREN GOVEIA Special to the Beacon News
AURORA -- When 17-year-old Kyle Meyers heard that a small church in Aurora needed help with a landscaping project, he knew he'd be a perfect match for the job.
 Having served as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout for most of his life, Meyers took on the service project in hopes of receiving the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America -- Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project provides an opportunity for a Boy Scout to demonstrate leadership skills while performing a project for the benefit of a community, religious institution or school.
After exploring several possible community service projects, the Naperville teen heard about the Aurora church's needs for a beautification project and was immediately drawn to it.
He also had the right resources for the job. Meyers' grandfather, Anthony Tyznik of Batavia, is the renowned landscape architect of 40 years at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.
 Together, Kyle and his grandfather developed an architectural landscape plan for the grounds at St. John United Church of Christ in Aurora, which includes an array of more than 500 perennials, shrubs and trees encompassing a bricked patio meditation area with benches.
The garden has gone far beyond the expectations of Pastor Cyndi Gavin, who said prior to the improvements much of the landscaping on the grounds of the church -- which was built in 1887 -- looked tired and was in need of attention.
"Kyle has done such an incredible job from the early planning stages to the project's completion," Gavin said. "The culmination of this project exhibits a deep connection between the planting of seeds, the nurturing process, and the engagement of creation and our church being alive."
For Meyers, who will be a senior this fall at Naperville Central High School, its meaning is much more than attaining the Eagle Scout honor.
"I feel as though I've really been able to make a difference at a church whose congregation is small and mainly consists of elderly people," he said. "I was fortunate enough to be able to bring the necessary resources and manpower along with me."
The community has been very responsive to the project, said Meyers. Donations of mulch and brick pavers were made by the city of Aurora and area businesses, as well as plants from the Planter's Palette in Winfield. Meyers and a group of about 15 volunteers, including Scouts, parents and church members, were able to complete the project during one weekend in June.
Tyznik said of his grandson, "He is a dedicated young man who has helped make a meaningful enhancement to the community."
Gavin said the garden will serve as a gathering place for parishioners and visitors, and will be a wonderful place to host many church programs and workshops.
"Our parish is moving in the direction of becoming a mission-focused church, and through our outreach programs we are looking to engage people into the meaning of life," Gavin said. |
* * FREE * *
| What: |
Summer Camp for the Performing Arts for Youth and Children |
| Where: |
St. John United Church of Christ
309 Fifth Street ~ Aurora, IL |
| When: |
Jul 28 - Aug 1 and Aug 4 - 8
2 Weeks: Mon-Fri
10:00 am to 1:00 pm for ages 8-10
1:00 to 4:00 pm for ages 11-13
Performance for public on Aug 9th |
| Cost: |
FREE! |
All participants are invited for
Daily Lunch at 12:30 pm
Click here to register online
or
Click here to download PDF register form
or
Call 630-892-1932
Leaders are Jen Chada and Kathi Campbell
(se habla español)
*This program is made possible by a grant from the United Church of Christ-Strengthen The Church Fund.
 Jen Chada is a Chicago based actress, singer, spokesperson and performance coach with a wide variety of experiences under her belt.
In addition to major roles in Chicago area theatres, she has done national tours and world premieres as well as television and film. Her work with young people includes four seasons with CBS-TV's The Magic Door; Funstuff at the Chicago Improv; Touring show throughout the Chicago Public School's about the "Great Chicago Fire"; and Someone You Can Trust with Music Theatre Workshop, a theatre company dedicated to raising awareness of teen issues from peer pressure to gangs and guns.
More recently, Jen conducted a Biz of Acting workshop for the Rising Stars Showchoir; co-directed Lincoln Elementary school's 5th grade Drama Club offering; and acted as teen co-leader for Emerald City Theatre Company's Performance camps located at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet. Currently, Jen is Music Director for the DuPage Center for Spiritual Living in Glen Ellyn.
Kathleen Lawrenz Campbell (Kathi Campbell) brings a varied background to the Peace Players including performance, production management, and team building as well as work in corporate, government and non-profit organizations.
She has been a performer and stage manager with youth productions for the Plymouth Theatre Guild and Showstoppers Summer Program (both in Michigan); and the Cincinnati Music Theatre. Notable Chicago performance work includes Pitchmen through St. Clement Players; After You with The Artistic Home; and guest performances with the Swing Shift Orchestra at the historic Green Mill in Uptown.
Kathi also serves as a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation's award-winning Student Loop Tour. Her corporate experience with consulting, facilitation and public relations focuses on communication and team building. Kathi's varied experience even includes a brief stint in the Aldermen's office for the City of Aurora! She's pleased to be back supporting this growing community. |
