February 15, 2023

Dear ACC,

Next Wednesday (2/22), we'll first eat pancakes together and then join in worship on Ash Wednesday. This may sound strange, but Ash Wednesday is a liturgical experience I look forward to every year. It's the rare occasion in our culture when we acknowledge our limits, creatureliness, and our mortality. As J. Todd Billings puts it in his profound book, The End of the Christian Life:

Our lives are like a speck of dust in comparison to the eternal God, and we cannot be the true heroes of the world. But we can live lives of service, loving God and neighbor in a way that does not allow the fear of death to master us. 

Beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing throughout Lent, Josh and I will offer a sermon series called "Liberating Love." There are ingrained fears, broken systems, tired ways of thinking, and lots of other things that hold us back in life. We'll talk about the ways that God's love frees us from such shackles and cages.

Still, we need to be mindful of the dynamic involved. The freedom we seek comes from beyond ourselves. It is something God provides. And, our motivation is not to be free of all limitations - to become godlike ourselves - but to live in a proper relationship with the divine source of our being. We seek liberation not to do whatever we want, but with the desire to enjoy our life with God more fully. 

So, bring whatever is holding you back from God and neighbor with you this Ash Wednesday and on Sundays throughout Lent. I am hopeful you'll better understand and experience the transformative nature of the liberating love that comes from beyond us in order to free us. 

Steadfast in hope,

Beau

P.S. A huge THANKS to everyone who participated in and contributed to last Sunday's installation service and luncheon. It was such a joyful Sunday and I'm so, so grateful for all those who shared their time and talent to make it happen. 

On Wednesday, February 22, we will gather at 5:30 pm in the Family Room for a pancake dinner. All are welcome to attend. Afterwards, at 7:00 pm, we will join together in the Sanctuary for our Ash Wednesday service. Rev. Beau Underwood and Rev. Josh Jackson will begin a sermon series titled "Liberating Love." Together, we will explore how God's love frees us from the shackles and cages of the ingrained fears, broken systems, tired ways of thinking, and other things which hold us back in life. It is sure to be a meaningful service as we begin this Lenten season. We hope you can join us.

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

Week of Compassion Offering Received February 19 & 26

Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. For nearly 80 years, Week of Compassion has pursued its mission, working with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world, toward the vision of a world where God’s people transform suffering into hope.

The Allisonville Christian Church congregation traditionally supports the Week of Compassion special offering in a big way! There will be envelopes in the pew rack on Sunday mornings, or you can mail your offering to the church marked “Week of Compassion,” or you can give online on our website, allisonville.org. Thank you in advance for your gifts!

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!

Youth Group on Sunday

We will have youth group again on Sunday. We will meet for fellowship at 12 pm. Lunch will be provided!

JYF on Sunday

JYF will gather on Sunday, February 19 from 12:00 until 2:00 pm. This is open to all kids in grades 3-5. Come join your JYF friends for a time of food, fun, and fellowship! Contact Josh Jackson, Jessica McCracken, or Liz Young if you have any questions. Bring a friend!

Gratitude for the Membership and Search Committee

A gigantic THANK YOU to the Membership and Search Committee peeps for two days of hard work to pull off the lunch to celebrate Pastor Beau's Installation this last Sunday. These people tirelessly give their time to make it possible to have these kind of events. Also, a grateful hats off to all those who pitched in to put away tables and chairs. I was in the kitchen most of the time so didn't see how the tables and chairs magically disappeared, but my husband tells me that many of our youth were among those responsible. It must be that good guidance and mentoring from Pastor Josh! Our ACC family is just so awesome!

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.

February 18 | Tie Blanket Making and Fellowship Day

On Saturday, February 18, our Disciples Women’s Ministry is sponsoring a day of “Tie Blanket” making, along with a light lunch and fellowship. Everyone is welcome!

You can purchase the kits for making a blanket through Amazon or at JoAnn Fabric. JoAnn’s has

coupons available, and if you have their app on your phone, you can get a 40% discount! Help will be available that day if you haven’t made a blanket before.

Just choose any pattern you would like and bring your kit, scissors, a tape measure or ruler, and some straight pins. We will have extras if you forget! The finished blankets will go to Coburn Place Safe Haven here in Indianapolis. Their website states:

“We offer compassionate support and safe housing choices for survivors of domestic violence and their children. We specialize in fresh starts – letting survivors lead the way in creating their own paths forward.”

Here is the planned schedule for the day:

9:30 a.m.: Arrive for set up and fellowship

12:30 p.m.: Break for lunch

If you haven’t finished your blanket by lunchtime, we will stay until they’re finished!

If you do not want to make a blanket but you would like to come for the fellowship and lunch, you are welcome to do that! Just be sure to sign up!

Sign-ups will take place in the Narthex on two Sundays: January 29 and February 5.

Contact Linda Belding for questions. We’re looking forward to a wonderful day!

February 19 | Coffee Cafe

Please join us in Coffee Cafe this Sunday to celebrate, with coffee and cake, Jane Gradison's 95th birthday! Jane says she is grateful that she has been able to stay around long enough to celebrate this birthday. She's done more than just "stay around!" She looks like a million bucks and has been blessed with good health and great charm.  

February 21 | Damaris Circle

The Damaris Circle will be meeting on February 21 instead of Feb 14, since that is Valentine's Day. Please mark your calendars if you are interested. We will be discussing Anne Lamott's Plan B, specifically "Chapter 4: oh noraht, noraht." We start around 6:30 pm to catch up on what is happening then we have discussions around 7 pm and close around 8 pm.  If you are not a member of Damaris - no worries. Contact the church office and they will contact us. We meet by Zoom at this time so please give us your email address. We hope you can join us!

February 28 | ACC Book Club

The ACC Book Club will meet on Tuesday, February 28 at 7 pm via Zoom. The book will be The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah. All are welcome! Please use the button below to join us on Zoom.

Published in 2006, Patty Engelmann of Booklist describes the book as follows:

"Although a judge rules in her favor, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is found guilty of incompetence in the press. Her entire life has centered on her exclusive practice, and now all her patients have abandoned her. Salvation comes unexpectedly at the behest of her estranged sister, Ellie, the chief of police in their hometown of Rain Valley, Washington. Julia never wanted to go back to their small logging town, where she was the scrawny bookworm and Ellie was the homecoming queen, but now, even though they refuse to admit it, the sisters need each other as they try to save a young girl found in a forest in the company of a wolf. She behaves like an animal and doesn't speak. Julia works hard to break the mute silence of the mysterious little girl; Ellie tries to find out where she belongs; and both of them defend the girl they decide to call Alice against those who would exploit her. Through helping this young lost soul, Julia and Ellie learn a lot about themselves and about their relationships in one of this perennially best-selling writer's most compelling and riveting novels to date. Magic Hour will enhance Hannah's popularity and affirm her dominance in women's fiction."

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 8:00 am until 10:00 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!

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!