|
 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. |
Easter 2009
Dear Beloved of St. John United Church of Christ,
It was an ordinary day, the first day of the week. The first Easter. Even with so many perplexed, shaken, weeping, confused, out-of-breath visitors meeting a dazzling, white-robed
angel or two at the gaping mouth of the empty tomb, it was still an ordinary day. Ordinary, except for the Resurrection.
 Easter Sunday at St. John UCC was also an ordinary day. We sang, “Christ the Lord is risen toda-ay! Ahhhhh—le-lu-ia!” With humility, we recognized and admitted our broken-heartedness, claimed forgiveness, and turned our hearts back toward Divine Love. Then the children lined up along the chancel steps and in courageous, precious, near-whispers and mumbles, wished the congregation a Happy Easter. Scripture, sermon, prayer, communion,
song, gifts, and a benediction: these are ordinary Sunday things. Every day is ordinary.
However, it is those sparkling moments within the ordinary days—the resurrection
moments—that make all the difference. What transforms are those surprising shining fractions
of time when we catch a rainbow glimmer of the living Christ in each other, in our own
living—and dying. Soul-full glints of dazzling diamond Light when eyes meet eyes, and
hands touch, and together voices raise in joyful Alleluias!
Oh yeah,… I mustn’t forget the balloons and tank of helium—a surprise gift from our organist.
The result: a dozen delighted children and youth! Indeed.
Easter Monday was also ordinary, except for some resurrection moments, one about which is
the heart of this pastoral letter, marking our third Easter together. It goes like this:
A simple six-petal, yellow flower with a hairpin, drooping head and sword-like leaves made
an appearance in the south church yard where a patch of odd-looking leaves like those of the
flower were growing thick and widespread. On Saturday, Tim picked the flower, still a bud,
and we put it in a vase in the community room. By Sunday, it raised its drooping head and
opened delicate cupped petals to form a yellow star. Its center gave off a sweet violet
fragrance. Curious, I took it to The Growing Place where one of the master gardeners
identified it and eagerly researched further. She called me on Easter Tuesday and excitedly
shared her findings.
Tulipa sylvestris is the botanical name, she said. A species tulip (as opposed to a hybrid)
commonly known as the Florentine or Woodland tulip that was documented in the 12th century. Species means it wasn’t created by a greenhouse; it’s an heirloom tulip likely transferred from its native habitat, transplanted by European immigrants. It grows wild in meadows across Europe, Turkey, North Africa, and Asia. It snuggles deep in the dark soil, about two feet down, and naturalizes or spreads. It has been known to survive in a dormant state for 60-70 years. It blooms in early spring.
We speculate the summer 2008 Eagle Scout garden project unearthed dormant sylvestris bulbs by rototilling. Chips of the onion-like bulbs were spread in various areas on the south side.
Awakened from decades of slumber, they rise again, up out of the thawing ground, heralding
new birth. So, this brings me back to last year’s letter. Recall this sentence:
The idea that St. John’s is a “Nicodemus Church” has sprouted and is growing roots. By that, I mean that we are being re-born even though we have grown old—and wise…
Today, I offer to you that this story, about old, little, wild tulips planted decades ago (maybe a
century ago?) by a congregational ancestor, is a timely metaphor for this Nicodemus church.
Remember Nicodemus? He bought a hundred pounds of spices to prepare the crucified body
of Jesus. Like the tulip bulbs, Nicodemus started in the dark, hidden., and sneaking out at
night to meet this great “Rabbouni” whom he had heard so much about. Then Nicodemus
went to the tomb at dawn with sweet smelling spices to deal with death, to take care of the
ordinary things that one does in such a circumstance. Yet, surprised by the resurrection, he wound up celebrating life!
An ordinary day filled with resurrection moments. A star-shaped flower now whispers the promise of new life, first proclaimed by a star over a manger. May we never forget: we are a
Resurrection people—ordinary in body and mind, yet with spirits that soar because of a
promise made, and kept—the promise of new life, of God’s reign.
Remember the last verse of the opening song from our Easter worship?
Soar we now where Christ has le-d. Ahhhhh-le-lu-ia!
Following our exalted hea-d. Ahhhhh-le-lu-ia!
Made like Christ, like Christ we ri-se, Ahhhhh-le-lu-ia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the ski-es, Ahhhhhh-le-lu-ia!
In the Promise of our Risen Christ,
Rev. Cyndi |
