This week at Saint John's
October 16, 2014
Sunday in worship

Rev. Paul Escamilla shares the message "All In: The leap of faith," based on Mark 10-17-22. A certain person encounters Jesus with a burning question, and a conversation ensues that has echoed through the centuries. As you prepare for worship this week, find your way to this story and see where you would enter the conversation. 

The Gospel Birds lead us in worship at both the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services, with the Chancel Choir joining them at 11. Our children's choir, The Spirit Singers, will also sing in the later service.
Companions Class to host Brigid Shea, Kathie Tovo this Sunday
Brigid Shea, candidate for County Commissioner Precinct 2, and City Council member Kathie Tovo from District 9 will address community issues during the next Companions class at 10 a.m. Sunday, October 19. Both Shea and Tovo are members of the class.

The discussion will cover questions such as: How will the outcome of this election shape the future of the City of Austin or Travis County? How will this election impact fairness for all citizens in terms of police, safety, poverty, housing, traffic? What trends should we know about as we vote? The class meets at 5906 Wynona.

Spots available for women's retreat

Registration continues for our annual Women's Retreat November 7-8, 2014 at Summers Mill Retreat Center in Salado.

The retreat begins at 3 p.m. Friday, November 7 and ends at noon on Saturday, November 8. Cost is $65 sharing a bed/$90 for your own bed . Register here. Contact Hilary Marchbanks at hilary@stjohnsaustin.org or 512-452-5737 if you need assistance registering.  

 

Volunteers still needed for IHN

Homeless families with children will arrive at Saint John's on Sunday, October 19 to stay for a week.

During that time, Saint John's will provide lodging, meals and warm hospitality as these families seek to find permanent housing through the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN).

There are opportunities to serve as a day or evening host, or to bring food and supplies for the week. To volunteer, sign up at carecalendar.org; user ID:78101 and password: 9203. You can also sign up this Sunday in the Gallery.
For more information on IHN, contact Sally Rodgers at 512-461-1751 or sally@stjohnsaustin.org.

Remembrance Dinner - November 2

We invite you to join us on Sunday, November 2 for our Saint John's Remembrance Dinner for 2014. We will gather at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall to celebrate the lives of family members and friends who have passed away in the past year. Please bring your loved one's favorite dish or dessert; as well as photos or other mementos to display on tables around the room.

Also bring your happy memories and fun stories of your loved one to share with those at your table. In this evening, we hope you may find connection with others who have experienced similar losses, and find joy together in celebrating your loved one's life. Please RSVP to Pat Thomas in the church office, 512-452-5737, ext. 228 or to pthomas@stjohnsaustin.org.

Volunteer for national MFSA meeting

The national leadership of the Methodist Federation for Social Action will be meeting at Saint John's October 30- November 1. A group of 25-35 persons from throughout the country will need lodging, as well as food and transportation during their visit to Austin.

If your Halloween plans are flexible, please help us show hospitality to these visitors. Contact Anne Mund ennadnum@hotmail.com or Rowland Curry rcurry@austin.rr.com to volunteer or for more information.

 

Square One Lunch - November 3
Square One

Saint John's is looking for volunteers to serve lunch on Monday, November 3, as part of iACT's monthly gathering for refugees in the Austin area.  The lunch consists of vegetarian dishes usually served to between 60 and 80 people. Volunteers meet at the church, load up the food, and caravan to Central Presbyterian Church. Volunteers are encouraged to join in the meetings prior to serving lunch.

iACT(Interfaith Action of Central Texas) is the only agency in Austin that exclusively teaches English and essential life skills to newly arrived refugees. iACT helps all of these individuals establish roots in their new hometown and provides essential language and "cultural orientation" skills.

iACT currently serves over 500 adult refugees from 25 different nations. In addition, TheiACT for Refugee Summer Youth Camp provides ESL and math instruction, cultural orientation, outdoor recreation and more to 50 refugee youths.

To sign up, please contact Brad Howe at alvisbradhowe@me.com

 

Movie of the month: The Senior Adults will watch Hotel Rwanda at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 23, in the church library. The film tells the true story of one man's brave stance against savagery during the 1994 Rwandan conflict.  Free popcorn will be offered during the movie. Bring a lunch for the discussion following the movie..

Celebrate Octoberfest in Walburg: The Senior Adults are planning a trip to celebrate Octoberfest in Walburg on Friday, October 24.  Cost for the bus ride from the church parking lot is $10 per person. There is no cover charge for the event, but each person will pay for his or her own meal. The church bus will leave the church parking lot at 5:30 p.m. Please sign up in the Gallery; payment is due October 22.

Museum trip: Mark your calendars for our trip to see the free exhibit of "The Making of Gone with the Wind" at the Harry Ransom Center on Tuesday, November 18. 

Questions? Contact Jeanette Ball at 512-452-5737 or jeanette@stjohnsaustin.org

 

A message from the Green Faith Team:
Austin's goal is zero waste by 2040

Composting is a great way to recycle your kitchen scraps and yard trimmings, reduce your trash output and generate a free, rich soil conditioner.  We found that the open style compost bin encouraged critters to visit, so we have opted for the closed, tumbler style.  Turning your mix once a week cuts the decomposition time in half.

One part green (grass clippings, vegetable & fruit scraps, breads, old pasta & rice, tea bags and coffee grounds with filters) to 3 parts browns (dead flowers & leaves, wood chips, straw, paper, dryer lint) are the perfect balance.  Avoid all meat products, glossy paper, weeds & invasive plants in home composters.  These can be donated if you are part of the city's composting experiment with weekly curbside collection.

Compost needs water and air to complete the cycle.  Compost should be damp but not drippy.  If it is smelly, turn it and add more browns.  Finished compost is dark brown or black and crumbly with a rich, earthy fragrance.  Using compost now is ideal so that you can make room for fall leaves and another cycle.  If you invest in a worm bin, remember to bring them in to your garage (near the water heater) for winter's coldest nights! 

 

To learn more about the Green Faith Team, click here.
Reading together at Saint John's
The Intentional Faith Development (IFD) Committee recommends Death Letter: God, Sex and War by David Peters (2014). Peters is an Episcopalian priest in Austin, Texas. Written in the dark days immediately following his deployment to Iraq, Death Letter is part memoir and part comic lament. Peters has also worked as a pastor and a chaplain in both the army and local hospitals.

Each week, the IFD Committee recommends a theological or spiritual book through this column. To submit an idea, contact Hilary Marchbanks, Associate Pastor, at 512-452-5737 or hilary@stjohnsaustin.org. Have you looked into any of the books in this column? Let Hilary know that too!

 

Diversity, Dignity and Dialogue

All are invited to particpate in a planning discussion after last month month's meeting, "Diversity, Dignity and Dialogue: Learning from Ferguson."

Three key points discussed at the first meeting, which was held at Trinity UMC were:

-  Faith communities must lead the way in bringing together people from all walks of life. Coming together to get to know one another as individual human beings and celebrating common ground and differences is crucial

-  It is time for action, for drawing a line in the sand and saying the violence, discrimination, and degradation of people based on ethnicity or skin color must stop

- People experiencing this kind of trauma have stories that need to be heard and believed

The next discussion, which will focus on a plan of action, is set for 7-9 p.m. Monday, October 20 at Trinity. Feel free to share this invitation with your friends and family, as well as with organizations you feel might be a resource in this work. 

 

Thank you, Saint John's

A huge thank you, Saint John's, for your support of the Saint John's Pedalers in the Mamma Jamma Ride Against Breast Cancer on September 27. 

Your riders logged hundreds of miles and helped raise nearly $12,000 to support our Central Texas neighbors with breast cancer.

The Saint John's Pedalars included Amy Villock, Angela Russell, Bob Tomlinson, Chris Sparks, David Smith, Dawn Lewis, Jennifer Heath, Joan Hudson, Joene Grissom, Kerry Tate, Liza Chigos, Paul Escamilla, Sandi Tomlinson, Spencer Fivecoat, Tracy Kienitz and William Fivecoat.

 

Lamar MS band fundraiser

The Lamar Middle School band has partnerred with a mattress supplier to raise funds for its trip to Indiana. The same mattresses can be found at large retail stores, but can be purchased at the fundraiser at a much lower cost. A preview of the beds will be set up in the Lamar gym on November 16. All mattresses have warranties, with delivery and haul off available, just like the mattress stores. Each sale will benefit the band booster club which helps offset the costs of trips and makes scholarships available based on need.

Questions? Contact Kerri Rowland at kerrirowland@gmail.com 

 


The famous Saint John's Pumpkin Patch is now open for business! 

Click here to sign up.

 

Hope Food Pantry

 

Monetary donations are
now being collected to buy turkeys for Thanksgiving distribution. Make checks payable to Saint John's with "Hope Food Pantry" written on the memo line

 

Birthdays
October 17: Floyd Feuerbacher, Jill Lanman, Hank Waddell
October 18: Hannah Perrin
October 19: Nick Brocklesby, Draden Jones, Annell Todd
October 20: Ken Crockett, Jeffrey Honeycutt, Thomas Keith, Carolyn Peckham, Anna Schoppe, Audrey Schoppe, Pat Stewart
October 21: Gerald Clay
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Saint John's UMC
2140 Allandale Road
Austin, TX 78756
512-452-5737
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