March 1, 2023

Happy Wednesday, Allisonville!

Guess what?! It is that time of year again! It is time to register for summer camp!!! The Indiana Region has officially opened registration for church camp at both Camp Bedford and the Geneva Center. Camp is open to children and youth of all ages and it can be such a special, formative, memorable experience for everyone! I grew up going to church camp at Disciples Crossing, the Disciples of Christ camp for north and east Texas, and it still holds a very dear place in my heart.

Allisonville will cover the cost of half of your camp registration. Go ahead and register as normal and we will work out the finances. Of course, if you need more than half covered for your kid to go to camp- PLEASE let me know. We will make it work so that anyone who wants to go to church camp can go. This year, I will be counseling the traditional middle/high school camp at Geneva and I will be directing the high school camp at Bedford! 

And, adults, don't think I forgot about y'all! The Region really needs more counselors, so if you are wanting to spend a week helping to lead a camp experience, please let me know and I can get you in touch with the right person.

The registration links can be found by clicking the button below. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me!

Peace and blessings,

Josh

Dear ACC,

Beginning the week of 2/26, Josh and I will be offering two study groups throughout Lent. Each will include an in-person and virtual option, so you can participate as desired (or even go back and forth). 

Our first group will discuss Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence. This group will meet in person on Wednesdays at 6 pm or virtually on Sundays at 4 pm.

The second group will focus on Unsettling Lent. This group will meet in person at 10 am and virtually at 7 pm on Thursdays.

If you plan to participate, let us know by clicking here (which takes you to a brief form) or you can email me at bunderwood@allisonville.org. A heads up isn't required but it makes our preparations a lot easier.

I pray this Lenten season is both unsettling and freeing in ways that draw us all closer to God!

Steadfast in hope,

Beau

Children's Moment Update

We have an exciting change to share about our children's moments in worship! We are going to keep doing them as videos for the time being, but during that time in worship, Josh and Beau will now invite the children to come to the front and sit with them and watch the children's moment together! See you on Sunday!

Inter-Generational Mission Trip Opportunity

Irvington Churches Mission Trip is a local ecumenical mission trip group that has been doing disaster recovery trips for many years. This year's service opportunity is in western Kentucky, helping to rebuild in the wake of the December 2021 tornadoes. This is an inter-generational mission trip. Due to onsite construction, the recommended age is 16+; However, there have always been exceptions to age requirements for families and youth. (No construction experience necessary!)

Where: Princeton, Kentucky

When: July 1st – 7th, 2023

Cost: $200 per person

Please contact Brian Schoen if you are interested or want more information.

Baptism Class 2023

Do you have a child, grandchild, or know someone who is interested in baptism this year? We are offering a baptism class during Lent led by Rev. Josh Jackson. Typically, 4th-6th graders at ACC participate in this class, but if your child/youth/adult is interested please reach out to Josh at jjackson@allisonville.org. More details will be coming soon!

Flocking

Our Flocking fundraiser has returned! If you want to participate in a fun, active way to support our youth mission trip to Los Angeles, click the link below for details on how to Flock someone! A gift of $25+ allows you to send the flamingos to someone's yard, $50 can give you insurance to prevent your yard from being Flocked, and after you are Flocked $50 will reveal who did it to you! Feel free to send the flamingos to your ACC friends and community - but also feel free (and encouraged) to Flock your friends and neighbors who might not go to ACC. Maybe send them to someone who you might want to invite here? Click the link below for more details.

Youth Group on Sunday

For youth group on Sunday we will be (you guessed it) sending out the first two flocks of flamingos! Join us for lunch, provided by Liz Young, a brief discussion on Beau's sermon, and then some fun with plastic flamingos!

Young Adult Book Study

Our Young Adult Ministry is beginning a book study! The group will be reading and discussing "Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved" by Kate Bowler. We will meet every other Tuesday, starting March 21, at 6:00pm in the Retreat House. Bring a friend, and reach out to Josh or Beau if you need a copy of the book!

March Food Pantry Special Requests

Food pantry Sunday is March 5, beginning at 9 am and running until 1 pm. Please donate any items for the Linwood Food Pantry on that date! Special requests for the month of March are:

• Tampons
• Diapers: 4, 5, 6
• Peanut butter
• Toilet paper
• Canned peas
• Boxed pudding
• Kids' juice boxes/pouches

Thank you for your generosity!

Gratitude from the Preschool

Thank you (very belated) to Toni Medlen, Jenni Ayers, Cathy Wilson Hobbs, and the rest of the membership committee for the wonderful Christmas/end-of-semester breakfast and Starbucks gift cards for the preschool staff. It was very much appreciated!

We also wanted to thank the youth group for all of the fun, homemade Christmas cards that were left for the preschool staff. That was a fun surprise!

With gratitude,

Mindy Minnick, assistant preschool director

Allisonville Creation Care Garden

Preparation for the 2023 Allisonville Creation Care Garden will soon begin. The food from our garden is meant to feed both those who participate in the work and our hungry neighbors around Indianapolis. We would love to have you join in this effort to feed God's people.

Where: Creation Care Garden, located behind the church.

When: Garden preparation will begin in April. Interested volunteers will be notified of dates and times.

Who: All are welcome.

No gardening experience is necessary. Guidance and training will be provided, so come join us. Join our gardening team and expand your gardening skills. Help us grow and share healthy foods with our ACC families and other hungry Indianapolis families.

Contact us to participate:  

Jean Tatum

tatum.jean@gmail.com

317-626-8625

Janette Smith

janettebsmith@gmail.com

317-938-0550

ACC Ministerial Scholarship

Allisonville Christian Church Ministerial Scholarship applications are being received for the 2023-2024 Academic Year. The Ministerial Scholarship was established to nurture, encourage, and support those who are considering or preparing to enter professional ministry.

A maximum scholarship of $1,000 per year may be granted to an individual. Awards may be considered for renewal with a new application. The applicant must be entering or attending a

qualifying undergraduate school or a graduate seminary as a full-time student and be an active

member of a church affiliated with Disciples of Christ. Scholarship application forms may be

obtained in the church office or from Larry Rahn (email plrahn@comcast.net, phone or text 317-

379-3898).

Scholarship applications are due in the church office or may be received by a Scholarship Committee member by April 2, 2023. Potential applicants should also feel free to contact the Memorial and Endowment Committee chair, Theron Nelson-Mercer, at tnelsonmercer@gmail.com.

The form can be downloaded by clicking the button below!

General Assembly Registration OPEN

The 2023 General Assembly Kindom of God, Within Us, Among Us, is a call for Disciples to strengthen their relationship with God, both as individuals and as a part of God’s community through an expansive gathering of the church in Louisville. The past two years, we have had to be separated but we have also innovated new ways for God’s limitless love to be revealed in our church, our communities, and around the world. God’s limitless imagination holds so many possibilities for our church.



This four-day event will encourage Disciples who gather to celebrate the way that God’s expansive love connects each of us as “kin” and to be part of the larger Kindom of God. Join us July 29-August 1, 2023 for worship, workshops, Bible study, opportunities to explore Louisville, mission project, and the sacred work of the church for children, youth, and adults across the life of the church.

Hyperion Players Latest Production

For weeks the Hyperion Players, a performance group to which our own Mandy Wakefield belongs, is putting on a production of the Yasmina Reza play "God of Carnage." A dark comedy, this show "features two sets of parents who meet to discuss an altercation between their children. Although the evening meeting begins in a civilized fashion, it soon degenerates into an evening of chaos, insanity, and outrageous shenanigans." If anyone is interested in attending the show, go to the link in the button below and secure your tickets. Please use the code ACCGOC at checkout and you will receive a 100% discount on your tickets! Fair warning: the show contains strong, potentially offensive, language.

March 4 | Men's Breakfast at Skillets Pancake House

The men's breakfast group will be meeting for breakfast and fellowship at Skillets Pancake House on Saturday, March 4 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. Come out and join for some hearty breakfast food and good fellowship to jumpstart your weekend!

March 4 | Crafters Group

The ACC Crafters Group will meet on Saturday, March 4 from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm for a morning of starting, continuing, and finishing projects. Feel free to join and flex your creative muscles!

March 8 | Prime Timers Lunch

Our next get-together will be at the Olive Garden, 6130 E. 82nd Street in front of Castleton Square Center. Please arrive at 11:30. They offer the very popular unlimited soup and salad special for $8.99 or several other lunch specials for $9.99. Their regular menu is also available. Please let Barb or Don Burrell (317-849-7470 or barb.burrell08gmail.com) know if you can join us. We need to reserve the number of tables needed. All friends and members of ACC are very welcome!

March 21 | Shalom Zone Seminar

Over 800,000 Hoosiers are food insecure. Most of these are working families, and their hunger is hidden from those around them. In a time of low unemployment and food abundance, why is this happening and, more importantly, what can be done?

The five churches of the Shalom Zone, Allisonville Christian Church, Cross & Crown Lutheran Church, Epworth United Methodist Church, First Friends Meeting, and St. Pius X Catholic Church are presenting the PBS film, The Working Hungry. This film discusses food insecurity in Indiana. Following the film, there will be a panel discussion.

The presentation will be held on March 21, 2023, at 7:00 pm at Allisonville Christian Church, 7701

Allisonville Road.

March 23 | Mary Martha Circle

The Mary Martha Circle will meet on March 23 at 1 pm in Room 15 at Allisonville Christian Church. We will be discussing Chapter 4, "Listen to God When All is Lost." We look forward to listening to each of you on this special topic, and hope you can join us!

March 28 | ACC Book Club

The ACC Book Club will meet Tuesday, March 28 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. If you need the zoom link, please contact Karen Bayne at kbayne5900@gmail.com. This month, we will be reading Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Sue Hanna will have hard copies at church on Sunday if you would like a copy. 

TheWashington Post says that it is “ A feel-good book guaranteed to lift your spirits.” Amazon calls it: "The dazzling reader-favorite about the choices that go into a life well lived."



Happy reading!

April 1 | Men's Breakfast at Skillets Pancake House

The men's breakfast group will be meeting for breakfast and fellowship at Skillets Pancake House on Saturday, April 1 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. Come out and join for some hearty breakfast food and good fellowship to jumpstart your weekend!

April 1 | Crafters Group

The ACC Crafters Group will meet on Saturday, April 1 from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm for a morning of starting, continuing, and finishing projects. Feel free to join and flex your creative muscles!

Seeking Virtual Scripture Readers

Virtual scripture readers are needed. Please contact John Quick (317-294-2709, qman21611@gmail.com) to sign up!

Youth Group Meal Signup

It's that time of year again! Weekly youth group is back, and if you would like to serve and help out with our youth ministry a great way to do so is to provide the weekly meal for the group. Josh will communicate instructions with you the week before, but please click the link below to sign up for a Sunday (or two) to bring lunch for our young people! If you have questions, talk to Josh.

Exploring Worship and Worship & Wonder Volunteers for 2023

Would you like to be involved in our children's ministry next year? We are seeking volunteers for both Exploring Worship and Worship & Wonder. Here are brief descriptions of the roles we are needing to fill:

W&W Greeter - The Greeter helps to welcome the kids to Worship & Wonder and assists the Storyteller in crowd control and keeping the ministry flowing. 

W&W Storyteller - The Storyteller leads the lesson directly from the Worship & Wonder curriculum. We have access to the official W&W training. 

EW Teacher - The Teacher leads the activity for the day, such as the sharing of joys and concerns, reading the scripture for the day, etc.

EW Shepherd - The Shepherd assists the Teacher in getting the kids to the EW space and keeping the activity going smoothly. 

If you are interested in any of these roles or if you would like more information about them, please reach out to Josh!