Crossroads Volume 102, Issue 1 January 2020 ______

The Lively Climate of the Present from the Transition Priest-in-Charge

I remember the first year I was allowed to stay up to watch the ball drop over Times Square and to hear Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians play, “Auld Lang Syne” to a ballroom full of partygoers. At my young age, I didn’t understand much about the passage of time. I just knew that I wanted it to pass more quickly so that I could do the things that “grown ups” did. Like many parents, my own parents had an idea of when a child was the right age to do this or experience that, and I couldn’t wait until I reached those mileposts. I was in a The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. 700 High Street hurry, and time was passing much too slowly. Applegate Worthington, OH 43085 I didn’t understand the sense of nostalgia that came with the ending of one year and the beginning of another year either. Children seldom think much about the T (614) 846-5180 ‘good old days’ – after all, they haven’t lived long enough for there to be “good old F (614) 846-1564 days”! And although it’s not unusual for adults to look back to their childhoods www.StJohns with a warm glow, six year olds seldom wish they were three year olds again. Worthington.org More recently, I’ve been trying to figure out how to slow time down. When a much -improved ball drops over a much-improved Times Square, ushering in the New Year, I’ll be raising a glass to toast new beginnings while simultaneously looking The Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Applegate, for the brake pedal. Although every January 1 is the start of another year, the Transition Priest-in- arrival of 2020 will be different. I think it’s the anticipation of the new beginnings Charge ahead that has me feeling this way.

The Rev. Robert L. The first new beginning is the one here at St. John’s. Sometime near the mid-point Ficks, III of the month of January, your parish leadership will announce who your next rector Honorary Priest will be. What an exciting time! Even more exciting will be when that person Associate arrives and begins serving among and with you. This parish will be starting a new

Vicky Turner phase in its life. You’ve experienced more than a year of anticipation and faithful Office Coordinator preparation. I will bid farewell to St. John’s not less than thirty days before the rector-elect arrives, or perhaps sooner. It depends on a variety of factors. Then I Sara Seidel will begin the work of helping another congregation through their period of Coordinator of Music transition. So the first toast will be to your new beginning and, to my new Newsletter Staff beginning at another Episcopal Church somewhere down the road. Vicky Turner The second new beginning will be in the life of our family. Our daughter, Kate, Virginia Nussbaum will be married this coming summer in the Abbey Chapel of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were there for her graduation? (See what I mean about looking for the brake pedal?) Kate has told me in no uncertain terms that I am to act as her father that day rather than serve as the officiant at the ceremony. So, I will do what fathers do: offer my arm to my daughter and walk with her down the aisle to where Mike, her husband- to-be, will be waiting for her. So, the second toast will be to their new beginning and a happy life together. Continued on page 2 1

The Lively Climate of the Present Continued from Page 1 Continued from page 1 I’m not sure why the singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell was granted such wisdom at an early age, but the refrain from one of her songs, “The Circle Game” has been stuck in my head as the New Year approaches: And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can't return we can only look Behind from where we came And go round and round and round In the circle game The start of a New Year is always a good time to “look/ Behind from where we came” for all of us. But it is equally a good time to look ahead, to think about what is beginning and what is ending, what is worth preserving and what needs to be jettisoned, what is of lasting value and what is of transient worth, what brings us closer to God and what takes us further away. Above all, the start of a New Year is a call to each of us to move beyond our own self-absorption to a life of greater service. I like this prayer, written by the great preacher Ted Ferris for the beginning of each year, and I commend it to you: Grant, O Lord, that we go fearlessly into the New Year with our eyes open, our hearts pure, and our hands ready to serve and to minister to those who need us. Help us to be where the need is greatest, and save us from all narrowness and prejudice. And above all take us out of the past and put us into the lively climate of the present. Blessings, Father Stephen

Celtic Service Celebrating Epiphany, In the Garden, January 5, 2020 Sunday, January 5, 2020, 5 p.m. Please join us in the Atrium on St. John’s will be serving dinner to the homeless and January 5 at 5 p.m. for the first lay residents of downtown Columbus at Trinity Church, -led Celtic Service of the new year 3rd and Broad, on Sunday, January 5. Our menu will as we celebrate Epiphany, the be baked spaghetti, rolls, salad, and fruit. There is a coming of light. Our service sign-up sheet for bringing sides or cooking baked follows the liturgy of the Iona spaghetti on the Atrium table. Please bring your food Abbey Worship Book and donations to the Atrium before the 9 or 11:15 service provides an intimate, quiet, and on January 5. Servers at Trinity are also needed. contemplative communal worship Please contact Eve Herold at 614 846-3736 or experience with music, meditation, [email protected] if you have any questions. Thanks and participatory liturgy. Stay afterward for for all you do! hospitality and fellowship. We welcome all St. John’s parishioners and friends from outside our church ~ Eve Herold for the Outreach and Social Justice family to join us on January 5. Enter through the Committee Atrium doors any time after 4:30. ~ The Celtic Fellowship

Christmas Eve at St. John’s

Adult Formation Begins New Year with Commitment to “Becoming Beloved Community”

With enthusiasm for a new year and the arrival of new clerical leadership for St. John's, the Adult Formation Committee is pleased to present a wide variety of programs: COFFEE & CONVERSATION will bring programs on church history, Biblical topics, sacred music, social justice concerns, and The Way of Love, led by both parish members and clergy. LISTENING GROUPS will re-form for the new year with new ideas and organizational guidelines (see article elsewhere in the CROSSROADS!), and FAITH & FRIENDSHIP will present a seminar on "Active Bystander Training" March 14 in conjunction with OSU's Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, The first SACRED GROUND STUDY GROUP will complete its work during Lent and plans for a follow-up group and activities will be explored. Our remodeled and re-organized CHURCH LIBRARY will burst into fuller use in 2020, and the popular WOMEN'S RETREAT will again be held in early October. All of our programs focus on continuing to build a parish centered on love, community, and living out the teachings of Jesus. If anyone is interested in becoming involved in the planning of future special programs and studies for St. John's, the Adult Formation Committee welcomes your ideas and participation! Contact Karen Peeler or the church office with any questions or suggestions! ~ Karen Peeler

St. John’s Early Ed Center

We want to thank everyone for all of the pajamas that were donated in December to needy children in Columbus through the preschool. Our students enjoyed learning about other cultures during our Holidays Around the World celebration just before break. Our young 3’s class begins in January. It is always so dear to see such little ones coming into their first school experience with us; so apprehensive and tentative, and watch them blossom and grow. Our teachers work especially hard to provide a trusting environment where children are comfortable and welcome. This experience will set the tone for their future education and so we take great care to set a positive example. The teacher to child ratio is 2 teachers for 12 children which enables more individualized attention for each child. This is typically the time of year that we receive many calls from parents of pre-school age children who are trying to decide where to enroll. We are finding out that many parents are finding us on our web site and apply without even visiting! We do encourage parents to visit and see what is going on in the classrooms. Our teachers are our best asset and when parents visit and see the classroom, many fill out the enrollment form at the time of their visit. We begin accepting applications on January 9 from families currently enrolled at St. John’s EEC for the 2020- 21 school year. St. John’s parish families are considered current families, so you may enroll starting January 9. On January 21, we will open the enrollment up for all families in the area. If you know of a family who may be interested in our program, please encourage them to visit us at www.sjpreschool.com, or call 614-885- 2315 for a personal tour by the director, Cathy Wahoff.

Visitors and Newcomers Reception January 26

Please join us in welcoming the newest members of St. John’s at a Reception following the 9:00 a.m. service on Sunday, January 26. Anyone new or visiting St. John’s can meet other members, new and old, meet staff, and get acquainted with ministries and community as we brunch and mingle. If you have not yet attended one of these receptions, watch for your invitation or contact Geralyn Esselburn at [email protected] or call 276-614-8300. ~ Geralyn Esselburn, Newcomers Committee Chair

The Food Pantries

Many thanks to all the faithful St. John's parishioners who contributed food or monetary donations to our Food Pantries in December, especially to those who completed an "Advent Calendar Food Box." I hope you had fun with your Advent food gathering - what a special way to Prepare the Way for our Lord's coming. Your donations helped the Gladden and Worthington Food Pantries fill Christmas baskets and re-stock their shelves for the New Year. Thanks also to those who collected food at holiday parties and contributed it to one of our local pantries - this is such a meaningful way to share the spirit of giving. Hunger, unemployment, and high heating bills will continue to plague some families and individuals in the coming months, so let's continue that spirit of giving and share our own blessings with additional donations of food and money in the New Year. Our food donations go straight to the pantry shelves, and both the Gladden and Worthington pantries can stretch our dollars even further - a $10 donation can provide 56 meals, a $25 donation can provide a 3-week supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for a family, while a $100 donation can provide food for a single mom and her kids for 3 months. With God's help, we are Preparing the Way to transform the lives of others, helping to feed God's hungry people in our community. As we did last winter, we will begin the New Year with a "Meal of the Month" plan. During January we will concentrate on breakfast foods. In addition to food, the neighbors served at our pantries may also need personal hygiene products, diapers, and pet food. Pet food is not a frivolous request - for some homebound pantry clients, a beloved pet is their only companion, and food stamps don't buy pet food, toiletries, diapers, or household products. Keep your eyes open for bargains, or follow these breakfast suggestions for January: January 5 granola bars; feminine hygiene products 12 complete pancake mix, syrup; toilet paper 19 fruit juice, canned fruit; toothbrushes 26 oatmeal or cereal; pet food

Farewell to Father Karl

Oh the weather outside is frightful . . .

How do I know whether St. John’s will have services? In November 1985 I moved to Cincinnati from Buffalo. I vividly remember the terror that struck people’s hearts when, one December morning, the National Weather Service forecast two inches of snow. The grocery stores were mobbed. Bread and milk sold out in no time. And neighbors made preparations to be stranded in their homes for days. “All this for two inches of snow,” I thought. “Huh. We had two inches of snow every day during the long Western New York winters. What’s wrong with people?” All it took was driving my car east on Sharon Road to understand the difference in reactions. Buffalonians knew how to drive; folks in Cincinnati were clueless. My experience is that those of us living in Central Ohio deal with bad weather better than they do in Southeast Ohio, but we aren’t as capable as those who live in the snow belt to the south and east of Cleveland. As we move into the months of January, February, and March, the questions are frequently asked, “will St. John’s be having services?” and “is the church office open?” Let me address each question in turn: St. John’s will be having church services unless there is a Level 3 snow emergency. The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness (OCSWA) has developed a set of snow emergency classifications. The county sheriff may close state, county, municipal, and township roads “for the preservation of the public peace.” Here are the levels: LEVEL 1: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy. Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously. LEVEL 2: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be very icy. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roads. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work. Motorists should use extreme caution. LEVEL 3: All roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be driving during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel or a personal emergency exists. All employees should contact their employer to see if they should report to work. Those traveling on the roads may subject themselves to arrest. My plan is to be here to hold services unless there is a Level 3 snow emergency. As long as one other person shows up, we’ll offer our praise to God, give thanks for God’s blessings, and pray for the church and the world. We may not have a choir, or any kind of music. Christian formation programs may not function as they usually do. Our plowing and shoveling service may not have cleared us out by the time we usually open our doors. But we’ll have church. Having said all this, please use common sense! Although driving on treacherous roads may be an opportunity for prayer, there are other reasons to pray than that. I don’t want to be visiting parishioners who have fallen and broken an arm, a leg, or, God forbid, a hip. Stay home. Take out your Book of Common Prayer and your Bible, and come back to St. John’s when the weather improves. As for whether the office is open, we’ll function the same way St. John’s Early Education Center does: that is, if Worthington Schools are closed, our office will be closed. If Worthington Schools are on a delay of some kind, we will be delayed in opening the office, too. I hope this helps you in your planning. And remember what Will Rogers used to say, “If you don’t like the weather in Central Ohio, wait a minute and it’ll change.” (I’m paraphrasing . . .) Father Stephen

A Stewardship “Epiphany” in 2020

What would you consider a serious commitment? We might think of a serious commitment as one that is legally binding or made in writing. Many of us might not consider our “New Year’s Resolutions” to be serious commitments. Maybe that is the reason we see many of them on our lists year after year, or maybe that is just me.… I’ve heard that some parishes conduct a “stewardship” campaign, which asks parishioners to itemize (in writing) their offering of time, talents, and treasures to the parish over the course of the year. We do not do this at St. John’s. However, if the Spirit moves you, maybe this is a good opportunity for each of us to write down how we can be a practicing stewards in the new year. Let’s see what a stewardship way of life might look like in 2020. What gifts of stewardship can we give to Jesus, just as the Magi did? The Magi did not seek out Jesus to gawk at Him - they sought to worship the newborn Lord. Part of that worship included offering gifts. I read an article from a priest years ago (I am embarrassed that I have forgotten his name, but his message stuck with me) that mentioned the three gifts offered to Jesus from the Magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and how they related to gifts of stewardship. He explained that we can find symbolic meanings of stewardship behind each of these gifts. For gold, we might see this in relationship to treasure, which seems the most obvious out of the three. Frankincense is an ingredient in the incense used at Mass, which then can represent the time we offer in worship and prayer with God. Finally, he went on to mention that it takes effort and knowledge to transform and create perfumes, so myrrh is a fitting symbol for the gift of talent. All of these gifts that the Magi presented to Jesus represent gifts of time, talent, and treasure that we can share with our St. John’s community. Each of us has a role to play in offering our gifts and being good stewards at St. John’s.  Your decision to worship with us each Sunday (or as often as possible) or to serve on Vestry or on a committee is an example of your commitment to stewardship of time.  Your decision to share your talents, such as reading the lessons, singing, teaching Sunday School, or offering a warm welcome when you greet us at the door, represents good stewardship of your talents.  Your decision to place a financial gift in the offering plate or submit a gift online shows care and attention to a shared responsibility to support the St. John’s community and help maintain our spiritual home. Each of us has a role to play. During 2020, you will have the opportunity to share your time, talents, and treasure, and we hope you will engage with us in one or all of these stewardship practices. To provide nourishing liturgies and sacraments, dynamic faith formation resources, and engaging and welcoming ministries, we need your help. As you reflect on your New Year’s Resolutions for 2020, consider a resolution to be a good steward. Like the Magi, take a journey to a deeper relationship with Jesus by practicing a stewardship way of life in 2020. ~Donna Hissrich, Stewardship Co-chair Church Office to be Closed January 1 & 20

The church office will be closed on January 1, New Year’s Day and on Monday, January 20, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Listening Groups to Re-Organized for 2020

2019 was a “learning year” for the more than fifty-five St. John’s parishioners who participated in the eight “Listening Groups” that began last February. Over half of the participants returned recent questionnaires about aspects of the program, and inviting suggestions for improvement; based on those (as well as empirical comments!), the planning committee has determined a path forward for a new—and improved—resumption of activities for the new year! In general, response was positive, especially about friendships deepened, new friends made, and the helpful exchange of ideas and philosophies. With some “tweaking” of organizational structure, most people wanted to continue, so here is a brief outline of how we will proceed:  All persons, both former participants as well as new, will fill out Participant Forms in January.  Seven times throughout the month will be chosen for meetings, with flexibility always an option.  Forms will be more thorough, with opportunities for selecting a meeting time, and expressing special needs or preferences for group type; couples may join the same group or different groups, but each should fill out a Form.  Group facilitators will rotate.  Groups will be encouraged to meet every month at their selected time.  At least three “courses of study” will be available for groups to select from if they wish, along with additional helps for structure and process.  A “Kick-off” breakfast will be held in Kilbourne Hall Saturday, February 8 to introduce the groups and initiate the new year. New members are invited to join this program aimed at deepening our relationships and our faith together! Watch for further information and the beginning of sign-ups in January. If you have questions, see Diana McCullough, Louis Huffman, or Karen Peeler. ~ Karen Peeler

Please welcome these new members to St. John’s . . .

. . . or perhaps, better, say “welcome back” to Derek and Kay Wheeler. Kay was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s and the two were married here in the early 1980’s. Following a move to Houston, they returned to the area and attended St. Matthew’s, Westerville, where Derek grew up. Following that congregation’s split, they attended several churches before coming back “home.” The Wheelers regularly come to the 9:00 am service. Please also welcome Heather and Melissa Stanton, and their son, Roland (born September 10). Heather and Melissa both work at Wendy’s headquarters in Dublin where Heather is a Senior Business Analyst in IT and Melissa is a Senior Finance Analyst. Heather, who’s originally from West Islip, Long Island, graduated from the University of Louisville with two bachelor’s degrees in Communication and Organizational Leadership and Learning. Melissa, from McCutchenville, Ohio, has a bachelor’s degree from American Intercontinental University in Business Administration. In their spare time (of which there has been less since Roland’s birth), Heather is an active alum of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and enjoys hiking, camping, and rock climbing. She volunteers for the Arthritis Foundation. Melissa is a volunteer for the Kaleidoscope Youth Center and enjoys softball, knitting, rock climbing, and reading. Roland, say his mothers, “is an avid drooler, and loves the zoo, the color yellow, and blowing bubbles.” The Stantons attend the 11:15 am service.

Coffee & Conversation— Rascals and Rapscallions: Two Unlikely Heroes from the Hebrew Scriptures

Several years ago, a parishioner gave me a gift. It was a kneeler for my prayer desk. She had taken an old leather kneeler that had been retired, removed the top of it and replaced the top with one she had needlepointed by hand. The needlepointed words read, “At the very least you may conclude that human scandal is no disproof of God’s hand at work.” She had borrowed the phrase from a book a group of us had been reading together for Lent – Rowan William’s Christ on Trial: How the Gospel Unsettles our Judgment. Williams was writing about the long genealogy of Jesus that Matthew uses to start his gospel, a genealogy that includes unimpressive or disreputable outsiders, either foreign or immoral or both. Archbishop Williams’ phrase could just as easily be applied to two of the key figures in all of the Hebrew Scriptures: Jacob – one of the patriarchs of the people of God – and David – the greatest king Israel ever knew and the model for the long-expected Messiah. What was God up to in choosing these two scoundrels to lead the chosen people? For two weeks in January at Coffee & Conversation, we’ll read about key moments from their stories and try to find out. Here’s the schedule: January 12 – Jacob, the Usurper The story of Jacob takes up about half of the book of Genesis – the first book of the Bible. And what a story it is! Jacob was born holding on to his twin brother’s heel. The name, Jacob, is derived from a Hebrew word that means “to seize by the heel,” which carries by extension the meaning “to overreach,” or “to supplant.” Which is just what Jacob does to Esau – the firstborn. From the beginning, Jacob works hard – and deviously – to gain the right of precedence which by birth was not his. He even wrestles a blessing out of a mysterious divine being, perhaps God, at which point his name is changed to Israel – the name by which the chosen people have been known every since. Jacob’s story is distasteful in many places; it is delightful in others. How do we see God acting through this rascal? January 19 – David, the Adulterer and Murderer The main sources for the life of David are the books of Samuel and I Kings, chapters 1-2, chapters which include some of the most authentic historical writings of the Hebrew Scriptures, a section known as “The Court History.” Nothing is whitewashed in this eyewitness account. On the one hand, we get to know a warrior whose kingdom extended from Egypt to the Euphrates. On the other, we get to know a selfish man whose passions led him into an affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his mercenaries. The consequences of the affair affected David’s kingship and the fortunes of his people. None of this, of course, is mentioned in the “official” sanitized version of his reign in the books of First and Second Chronicles. Evidently, “human scandal is no disproof of God’s hand at work.” What might we learn about this from the unexpurgated story of David? I hope you’ll join me. Father Stephen

Financial Summary for the Eleven Months Ended November 30, 2019

(Under) or Over Budget Actual Budget

Operating Revenue: Pledge Contributions 384,587 367,385 (17,202) Other Plate Contributions 44,299 59,203 14,904 Other Revenue 31,319 32,174 855 Total Operating Revenue 460,205 458,762 (1,443)

Operating Expenses: Human Resources 338,541 304,714 (33,827) Diocesan Expense 81,800 70,038 (11,762) Other Administrative Expenses 19,510 19,582 72 Building & Grounds Expenses 153,302 120,852 (32,450) Committee Expenses 48,913 21,873 (27,040) Total Operating Expenses 642,066 537,059 (105,007) Operating Cash Flow (181,861) (78,297) 103,564

Financial Recap:

At the end of November, our pledge contributions were under budget by $17,200; our other plate contributions (which consist primarily of contributions from non-pledging members, prepaid 2020 pledges and plate cash) were over budget by $14,900; and our total revenues were under budget by $1,400. In total, our operating expenses were under budget by $105,000, which, in combination with our revenues, left us with a negative cash flow of $78,300. This cash flow shortage has been supplemented entirely from funds from our reserved gift fund investment.

St. John’s Calendar of Events

Church Service Opportunities Both special events and regular activities of our parish are listed below. These include the dates of all church committee meetings. Please consider attending one or more committee meetings to explore where your interests and talents fit in best. The committees and their work are important components of the lay ministry here at St. John’s. We need you.

More details about these activities can be found on the announcement sheet each Sunday. If you would like your special events or regularly scheduled meetings to be published for the congregation, please contact the church office at (614) 846-5180 or [email protected]. Please understand that these calendars are prepared well in advance of the actual events and that subsequent changes cannot be reflected.

JANUARY Wednesday, January 1 Office Closed, New Year’s Day Sunday, January 5 1:30 p.m. – In the Garden, Trinity: Capitol Square Sunday, January 5 5:00 p.m. – Celtic Service, Atrium Monday, January 6 1:30 p.m. – Prayer Shawl Ministry, Atrium Tuesday, January 7 6:00 p.m. – Communications Committee, Library Tuesday, January 7 7:00 p.m. – Worship Committee, Conference Room Wednesday, January 8 7:00 p.m. – Adult Formation Committee, Conference Room Thursday, January 16 Deadline for Newsletter submissions: Send to http://[email protected]/news2/submit-news/ Thursday, January 16 5:00 p.m. – Finance Committee, Conference Room Monday, January 20 Office Closed, Martin Luther King Day Tuesday, January 21 7:00 p.m. – Vestry Meeting, Music Room Thursday, January 30 6:30 p.m. – Friendship Dinner, Undercroft

FEBRUARY Sunday, February 2 1:30 p.m. – In the Garden, Trinity: Capitol Square Sunday, February 2 5:00 p.m. – Celtic Service, Atrium Tuesday, February 4 5:30 p.m. – Property Committee, Conference Room Tuesday, February 4 6:00 p.m. – Communications Committee, Library Saturday, February 8 9:00 a.m. – Listening Group Event, Kilbourne Hall

MONTH AT A GLANCE: Regular Activities for the Month of January

Sunday 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Including Children’s Church, Nave 10:20 a.m. Christian Education for Children, Youth & Adults 11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Nave

Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Bible Study, Nave

Thursday 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room

January Birthdays

Harriet Culver Jan. 4 Ellen Hitch Jan. 17 Robert Shelly Jan. 5 Rob Thurman Jan. 17 David Talbot Jan. 5 Calder Nemeth Jan. 20 Parker Ryckman Jan. 5 Leigh Thurman Jan. 21 Rich Rastetter Jan. 6 Fran Compton Jan. 23 Nneoma Anaba Jan. 11 Kristen Begg Jan. 24 Shari Schwartz Jan. 12 Marley Nemeth Jan. 24 Barb Rogers Jan. 12 Nadine Wise Jan. 26 Leslie Heckert Jan. 28 Scarlett Reel Jan. 12 Lorey Roggenkamp Jan. 27 Emerson Begg Jan. 28 Miriam Utter Jan. 13 Kevin Masterson Jan. 27 Dick Martin Jan. 30 Lenore Holbrook Jan. 14 Teddy Hash Jan. 28

Giving Tree Gifts Abeoseh Nyanforh, PIMIL tuition recipient at school in Liberia.

Nativity Festival Thanks

December's Nativity Festival was the biggest ever thanks to those who helped with set up, tear down, hosting and most importantly--lending treasured Nativities. Thanks to all for sharing our St. John's Christmas cheer with the Worthington community! ~ Tricia Herban