Weekly News from St. John's Church

Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

WEEKLY NEWS from ST. JOHN'S

February 5, 2016

AFRICAN PALMS exhibits at the

Diocese Convention.

~ THANK YOU ~

John & Mary Ellis

for being African Palms Ambassadors.

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEBRUARY 7

Fill Fred's Ford for Olney Help

Choir Rehearsal - 9 am Bell Ringers - 11:30 am

FEBRUARY 8

Monday Mission Society Meeting 7pm @ Gilly's

FEBRUARY 9 & 11

African Palms Packing
Parish Hall 9-11am

FEBRUARY 10

ASH WEDNESDAY

Chapel @ 8:30am

Ashes to Go @ 3:15pm

Service @ 7:30pm

FEBRUARY 11

Women of St. John's Valentine Luncheon

FEBRUARY 15

Presidents Day
OFFICE CLOSED

FEBRUARY 17

Vestry Meeting @ 6:30pm

FEBRUARY 21
Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction

Outreach Committee Meeting @ 11:30am

FEBRUARY 23 & 25

African Palms Packing
Parish Hall 9-11am

FEBRUARY 27

Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast - Parish Hall

WOMEN of ST. JOHN'S

Valentine Luncheon is

Thursday,

February 11th

at 11:30 AM at

The Inn at Brookville Farms, 19501 Georgia Avenue, Brookville, MD. The price is $30 per person. Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the back of the Parish Hall. For more information contact [email protected].

FILL FRED'S FORD

for

OLNEY HELP

Fred's Ford will be in the parking lot

THIS SUNDAY

to receive

non-perishable goods for Olney Help.

Dear Friends,

The annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington took place this past Saturday at the National Cathedral (and also the Cathedral of our Diocese). Like us at St. John's, all eighty-eight parishes of our diocese are learning what it means to be the Church in our time. Bishop Mariann encouraged us to remember that as we move into a deeper engagement in our common life in Jesus, that we remember and claim that we do not undertake this pilgrimage alone but as part of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement in our time.

Our bishop is leading us into the work of re-visiting our regional structures as a diocese so that strategies of change and growth can be specific to our own context (rural or urban, for example) as a region of the Diocese. Bishop Mariann also calls us to face the financial vulnerabilities we face so that we can invest in a financial strategy to ensure that all congregations have sufficient resources to support our emerging mission and ministries in the 21st century.

To that end, our Vestry has increased our pledge to the Diocesan Budget for 2016 and will continue to increase it each year until we reach the level of tithing 10 % of our annual income.

Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday, February 10th, join us at 7:30 pm for the liturgy of that day, including the imposition of ashes.

Sincerely,

Fr. John +

ADULT FORUM & Café

The Adult Forum invites you to participate in a Lenten program called "Growing a Rule of Life." We all sometimes experience being out of alignment with our inner selves, with nature, and with our family and community, throughout this journey we will be learning about the rewards and challenges of living a Rule of Life. This pilgrimage of the Spirit will gather on Sundays in Lent, February 14 th - April 10 th at 9 am in the Parish Hall. The series begins with short video teaching by the religious community of St. John the Evangelist, who also provides daily on-line support to encourage further reflections at home. Throughout this journey we will be learning about the rewards and challenges of living a Rule of Life. Teens are also encouraged to participate in the journey. The workbook and materials can be accessed on line at www.SSJE.org/growrule.

SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE

The Search Committee is in the final stages of its lengthy discernment process. In January, our top candidates met with the full Search Committee and the Vestry and had several hours of face time and tours of buildings with the head of St. John's School and members of the African Palms Board. Bishop Mariann has interviewed these candidates over the telephone and also had a conversation with Search Committee members. After we complete reference checks in the coming week and meet for a final review, the Search Committee will present candidates to the Vestry who will issue a call. Assuming a successful negotiation can be carried out regarding specific terms of employment, announcement of a new rector could take place within weeks. We are grateful that the Diocese has acted affirmatively on the Vestry's request to extend the term of interim rector John Price until April. A next step once the new rector has been announced will be to put together a transition team -- not the same folks as the Search Committee -- to make preparations for a smooth transition and welcoming beginning later in the spring. New vestry members also will be elected in this time frame (at annual meeting the Sunday after Easter), for what is expected to be a very interesting and exciting time at St. John's.

THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORT THIS WONDERFUL TRADITON.

SILENT AUCTION is still accepting donations... Have a gift item, tickets, service, restaurant certificate, or vacation home? Please consider donating to the Pancake Breakfast Silent Auction. Contact Diana Mayhew at [email protected] to make your donation or for more information.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

Please join ECW-DOW for its 133rd Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 13th at St. Columba's Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle Street, NW, Washington, DC. The Episcopal Church Women from around the Diocese of Washington, DC gather annually for a business meeting with elections, followed by holy eucharist with United Thank Offering ingathering, lunch, and a special workshop. The Reverend Prince Williams will give the homily and is the special speaker for our workshop. This year's theme is "Spiritual Pilates: Strengthening Our Spiritual Core." Registration begins at 8:30 am and the program begins at 9:00 am. Tickets are $25 (includes continental breakfast and lunch) and can be purchased in advance or at the door.

To register or for more information - http://ecw-edow.org/.