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 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
Can you say Polygonatum odoratum variegatum?
Or how about filipendula rubra venusta magnifica? While botanical names for some of the plants we’ll find growing in the St. John UCC church yard garden may be more daunting to pronounce than any biblical name from Artaxerxes to Zerubbabel, our enjoyment of their beauty and interest is not the least diminished by the multi-syllable Latin.
 Once we make the acquaintance of each flower, shrub and tree, we substitute common names like Solomon’s Seal or Queen of the Prairie, recognizing and taking pleasure in their unique and noble colors, flowers, fruits, seeds, leaf patterns and even fragrance (notice “odoratum” meaning “fragrance” in the title). Ever walk out on a spring morning to the tantalizing pink-flowered perfume of a viburnum carlesii compactum, aka Korean Spicebush? Inhale this viburnum’s fragrance just outside the front doors of the sanctuary. Have a seat on the benches in the south yard Peace Garden and smell the dwarf Lilacs blooming in Spring. Or the Honey Perfume summer roses growing along the fence.
 St. John UCC wants to share its garden with you. Designed by Landscape Architect, Tony Tyznik, 40 years of the Morton Arboretum, it was installed the summers of 2008 and 2009 under leadership of Eagle Scouts Kyle Meyers (north side) and Stephen Whitt (south side) along with Boy Scout Troops 75 and 57.
Let’s turn from real gardens to metaphorical gardens.
We talk about nurturing the soul, growing spiritually, cultivating faith. St. John UCC wants to share the spiritual journey with you.
 How does YOUR spiritual garden grow? Do you sow seeds of compassion, water them with prayer, kindness and charity? Do you fertilize with scriptural Words of Wisdom and daily life experience? Do you keep the weeds of blame, boredom, and cynicism from overwhelming the gift of your one special life, growing in the rich earth of your family and community? Do you bring your unique beauty as God’s beloved to the entire Garden of God’s Creation?
 Can you rest from your busy-ness? Once a week for four weeks, will you sit for a spell in the candle-lit garden for a few evenings of getting to know each other, for sharing, and prayer? Try it. Come. All are welcome.*
Now…
Can you say Matka Ursula Ledochowska?
Or do you say cle-MAT-iss and
I say CLEM-ah-tiss?
*(Mosquitoes could also join us, so you may want to apply some insect repellent before coming.)
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Spiritual Gardening:
Tending to the Presence
of God
September 9, 16, 23 and 30
Wednesdays at
7-8:30 pm
Community, Dialogue, & Prayer
Register by calling 630-892-1932 or
email office@uccaurora.com
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With nearly 200 UCC churches from around the country, St. John UCC entered into a Covenant of Prayer Partnership at “General Synod – 27” the biennial denominational meeting held June 26-30 in Grand Rapids, MI.
Each participating church prayerfully crafted and blessed a candle cloth (quilted fabric, crocheted, or woven) to exchange with another local UCC church. The candle cloth will be used as a centerpiece along with a candle to claim sacred space for prayer.
We received this cloth and prayer from Christ Church UCC in Orrville, OH:
“We give you thanks for the common faith we share in you, O God. Let us all strive to be a light that shines for you; an instrument to carry out your mission; a family that nurtures and inspires one another. Surround this congregation with your love to allow each to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly. Amen.”
St. John UCC created this octagon-shaped candle cloth which went home with Sharon Nelson, Youth Coordinator of Christ Church UCC in Orville. Our prayer for a candle cloth:
“In the Light of Your Presence,
we pray…
Potter God, shape our lives and hallow out our hearts to cup your Spirit.
Baker God, knead us until we shine with your grace and rise into your image for us.
Gardener God, dig deep into our very souls and plant seeds of justice for us to water with compassion. Seamstress God, stitch the stories of our calico lives together in a pattern of unity. Then tailor us to your will as we become the hands you use to shape your Kindom.
Amen.” |
