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20222022Prepared for the members & friends of:St. John’s United Church of Christ (Huntersville)300 N. Huntersville Road, Batesville, IN 47006Church Office: 812-934-4144 Church Fax: 812-933-9000Rev. Joseph Feldmann, Pastor lle.org www.facebook.com/sjuccbatesville stjohnsuccbatesville@etczone.comAs I write this, I am two days into life within my new office. Well, my freshly painted and newlycarpeted office, anyway. In my head, I wanted to take this opportunity, with every single piece offurniture removed, all of my books, knick-knacks and other items packed away, to reimagine my office.To make the space more “my own,” whatever that means. If you come visit my office after this ispublished it is likely you will see that I have made a few small changes, reorganized my books, and notmuch else. Honestly, reimagining a space has never been my strong point. So much for good intentions.But the process of doing this reminded me of the Lenten/ Easter journey we are on. Lent is a time of takingstock, of looking at ourselves and asking questions. What are the ways we are living up to God’s plan, God’sdesigns in our lives? And what are the ways we are not? What in our lives do we need to get rid of and discard?What on the other hand, merely needs some refreshing, a new coat of paint, some reorganization? It might be trite,but it feels very much like, well, emptying an office and in preparation for starting over. Clearing away that whichclutters our lives so that we can see more clearly and begin again with fresh eyes.Easter is that chance to start over. It is where we bring that which belongs back into the office and find how tomake them all new: Because Easer is about new life. And new life, despite what we sometimes think in theChurch, is about more than just eternity. Yes, it IS about our life after death, about the life that exists beyond thisone. That life is a life with God beyond our imagining and it is promised by the empty tomb. But Easter is alsoabout the new life that begins right now.New life is one of the primary gifts of our faith and that includes the ability to begin that new life each andevery day. Every day is a chance to start fresh, to begin again. Every day is a chance to love more, care for othersbetter, and live as if we truly believed that God is God and Jesus is Lord. Our lives are renewed because we havebeen loved by our Creator, because we have seen in Jesus a grace and mercy beyond our imaginings, and becausethe Spirit has come among us. New life is not just something we receive upon our deaths, but a chance in everymoment to turn toward God and go where God leads. It is very much like a newly empty office, ready to bereclaimed, remodeled, and redone. All we have to do is take the opportunity and follow our Lord.And here’s the thing, sometimes this daily new life will feel like a big change and sometimes it will besmaller. Sometimes we will totally rearrange the furniture, put in new carpet, and make the office of our lives lookdrastically different. And sometimes we will just change out a few knick-knacks and adjust how the books areshelved. What we do each time will vary depending on our needs and how we hear the Spirit. But the chance fornew life is there. Always. For new life is the gift of Easter and it never goes away. New life is a gift to be trusted.My office will look different the next time you come to see it. Not by huge amounts, because, well, that’s not mystrength. But different. But I hope all of us will take the gift of these two seasons, the gift of Lent and Easter, tolive into the new life Jesus gives us. The empty tomb is a sign of that gift. And it is one for which we should singpraise to God. May you be blessed the rest of this Lenten season. And may the new life of Easter inspire you for allthe year ahead.Shalom,

A page from the hymnal “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”#284The text of this ancient hymn was written in the twelfth century by Bernard of Clairvaux. St.Bernard, canonized in 1174, was born in 1090 in Fountaine-les-Dijon, France, and died atClairvaux Abbey, which he founded, on August 20, 1153. Originally written in Latin, basedon scriptures John 19:2, Psalm 22 and Matthew 27:28-29, it is based on a long medieval poem, “Salve MundiSalutare”, which addressed the various parts of the body of Christ hanging on the cross, the seventh part isaddressed to Christ’s head. Each section of the poem is intended as a meditation for the days of Holy Week. “OSacred Head,” is intended for use on Good Friday. There were originally eleven verses, three of which appear inour hymnal. The poem was translated into German in 1656 by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676), a Lutheran minister andhymnodist, and into English, in 1830, by James Waddel Alexander. Alexander, born March 13, 1804 in LouisaCounty, Virginia, graduated from Princeton and was a Presbyterian minister and author of several books ofsermons and juvenile books for Sunday school libraries. He died in Alleghany County, VA, on July 31, 1859.The tune, PASSION CHORALE, is attributed to Hans Leo Hassler, born October 29, 1564 in Nuremburg,Germany, and first appeared in print in 1601. Hassler studied music in Italy and was well known in his time as anorganist, composer, and consultant to organ builders. He died of tuberculosis in Frankfurt, Germany on June 8,1612. This tune was harmonized by Johann Sebastian Bach in his oratorio, “St. Matthew Passion” in 1727. Bachwas born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany, and is primarily known as an organist of the late baroqueperiod. He was composer of hundreds of cantatas and instrumental works for the church. His most famousappointment was organist and cantor at St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, Germany. He died in Leipzig on July 28,1750.“O sacred head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down”David W. Hanson, Organist/Choir DirectorSt. John’s (Huntersville) UCCCongratulations to the proud Grandparents,John & Cindy Wilhelm on theirnew granddaughter. ParentsDerrick & Rachael Wilhelmwelcomed a baby girl, SuttonJane, who was born March 8, 2022. Sutton iswelcomed home by big sister Oaklee Ann.APRIL CHOIR SCHEDULEMen's Choir:Practice: Sun, 3rd @ 8am / Perform: Sun, 3rdChancel Choir:Practice: Wed. 6th @ 7pm / Perform: Thu. 14th / Sun. 17thPractice: Wed, 20th @ 7pm / Perform: Sun, 24thCHILDREN’S CHOIR: There is still time tojoin our children’s choir (grades 1-12) this year. Thechoir will be performing on Palm Sunday and againon Mother’s Day. Our songs are not complicated andcan still be learned in time for these Sundays.Rehearsals are after Sunday School. Come join us!!PRAYERS FOR:-- Nikki Sarringhaus.- Ruth Thie (dementia).- Bonnie & Dave Johnston.Kent Meyers (son of Taaron & Roger).Elizabeth Hall (ongoing health issues).Chyntia Buczak (cancer, friend to Dan Hall).John Thie (Jennifer Huffmeyer’s brother).Dawn Buettner (battling breast cancer).Danny McDonough (father of Sarah Feldmann).Dr. Ashton Akridge (on her recovery, daughter ofJennifer & Gerald Huffmeyer).Marian Koester (on her recovery).The Family of Elton Linville.The Family of Melvin Krieger.The Family of Fred Sagester.Robert Weiler Jr. (colon cancer).The Family of Bea Wessel.The Family of David Butt.The Family of Doug Laws.John & Connie Moody (health issues).The Family of Owenita Grubert.The Family of Ron Raver.The Family of Sam Bruce.The Family of Russell King (Brother-in-law to theVonderheide’s)

If you would like to place an Easter flower orHeavenly bouquet (monetary donation to helpmaintain the beauty of our alter) in the Sanctuary inmemory/honor of someone on Easter Sunday,please fill out the form below and place it in theoffering tray or turn in it to the office. All formsneed to be turned in no later than Sunday, April10th. Please have all flowers to the church bynoon on Holy Saturday, April 16th. You may pickup your flower after service on Easter Sunday,April 17th. (Please call the Florist of your choice15689101215Name:16172021222429Given By:30to order your flower!)I would like to place a (circle one) Easter flower orHeavenly bouquet in the sanctuary in (circle one)Memory of or In Honor of:We will be having anEaster Breakfast thisyear prepared by ourConfirmandsandtheir families. Thebreakfast will bebetween our Sunriseservice and our regular worship serviceon Easter (roughly 7:45-8:30ish.) Allare welcome, though we are asking youto RSVP on a sign-up sheet in the backBea Wesselof church so we have an approximate The memorialcount. Let’s break bread together this service for Beayear as we celebrate the gift of new life Wessel will befound in Jesus!the afternoonof Sunday,April 24. Savethe date andplan to join usto rememberthis specialperson ofour faithcommunity.Our hearts go out to everyone for the cardscelebrating our 68th Anniversary & Georgia’s87th Birthday on 2.22.22. May God BlessYou! Don & Georgia HaarmanAprilJanet Shields, Sarah MeyerEric Thie, Brian BlantonElton SarringhausDave JohnstonJim Bauman, Molly WeilerJenni FullenkampDeborah Griffith, Alina Sarringhaus,Peter Frye, Chris Weiler, Decklyn DayGerald Huffmeyer, Brenda Becker,Denise RichardsRick Dial, Gerald Bessler, Stephanie AndersonJeremy OwensDick PlackeLinda WestrupAustin MeyerCarson WeilerNathan Cornett, Pastor Joey Feldmann,Shan Gardner, Nick SchaefferAlison Meyer, Rhett DavisANNIVERSARIES19121621252728AprilErik & Jamie ArkenbergMike & Janet SchumacherWally & Eunice MeyerNancy & Ed Lochard, Katie & Chris SappDennis & Holly KuykendallTraci & Mason GrahamDoug & Marlene Emsweller,Ken & Lisa SlagleSandy & Whitey WeberdingDaren & Nikki SarringhausLITURGIST & BENEVOLENCESCHEDULE FOR APRILApril 3April 10April 17April 24Dan NarwoldBAMAJoan Westerfeld Granny ConnectionBev SchwierYES HomeAnna Mauer St. John’s Membership ServicesYOUTH MISSION TRIP INFORMATIONAL MEETING:After worship on April 10th. If you cannot make this date and stillwish to go on the mission trip, please contact Pastor Joey ASAP.