Noted trauma therapist and author Rev. Dr. Chrys Parker returns to Saint John's on Tuesday, August 5, to share more insight on post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and its treatment.

Parker, who co-wrote I Always Sit With My Back to the Wall, will discuss non-prescription-drug treatment - and non-drug treatment - of sleep disorders, anxiety and anger issues. She will also share methods to manage PTSD and acute stress symptoms through specially devised approaches to sleep, hydration and nutritional supplements.

Rev. Parker has worked with more than 2,500 trauma survivors. As both an academic educator and military instructor, she has helped train nearly 5,000 personnel and developed effective new modes of trauma therapy for warriors, sexual assault survivors and burn victims. She served U.S. forces in Iraq in 2010.

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 5 in the Fellowship Hall. All are invited to attend.

Saint John's is a longtime supporter of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), a network of churches that provides food and housing for homeless families through the Foundation for the Homeless. Families with children will arrive at Saint John's on Sunday, August 17 to stay for a week.

During that time, Saint John's will provide lodging and meals, as well as warm hospitality, as these families seek to find permanent housing.

As a host, Saint John's provides several opportunities to volunteer - bringing supplies, preparing and serving meals, acting as an evening host, and staying as an overnight host. To help, sign up this Sunday in the Gallery or visit carecalendar.org (Calendar ID: 78101; security code: 9203).

For more information on IHN, please contact Sally Rodgers at (512) 452-5737 or [email protected].

Discover how to get involved with Saint John's at the Festival of New Beginnings in the Great Hall at 10 a.m. and at noon on Sunday, August 24. Learn about fall classes, children's programs, youth programs, senior adult programs, music, mission and more. For more information, contact Kate Harrington at [email protected] or (512) 565-2511 or Hilary Marchbanks at [email protected] or (512) 452-5737. 

The emphasis for Hope Food Pantry for August is salt, pepper, cooking oil and flour. Please deliver items to the "Hope Food Pantry" shelves in the Gallery on Sunday. Monetary donations are also accepted with checks payable to Saint John's and "Hope Food Pantry" written in the memo line. If interested in volunteer opportunities, contact Sheri Jones at [email protected] or 512-452-5737.

Award-winning author Maya McIlvain will lead a study of her novel, Stein House, at Saint John's on three Thursdays in August.

Myra and her husband, Stroud, were active members at Saint John's several years ago. At the time, Myra was known as a writer of many of the Texas state historical markers, as well as author of tour-guide books for different areas of the state. 

In the past few years, Myra has written historical novels about the early days of Texas history. Stein House, her most recent work, is about a German family who comes by ship to Indianola on the Gulf coast and establishes a boarding house. 

The book was awarded Best General Fiction Book for 2014 by the Texas Association of Authors.

The study is set for 6:30 p.m. August 14, August 21 and August 28. Sign up in the Gallery; books may be purchased at the church for $20 (which Myra will autograph). For more information, contact Jeanette Ball at (512) 452-5737 or [email protected].

On the next two Sundays, you may sign up in the Gallery to march and order a t-shirt. Shirts are $12 and Saint John's will be wearing blue again this year. For more information, please contact Janice Curry at [email protected] or Joan Hudson at [email protected].

The fast-paced lifestyle of the American population has caused us to become dedicated patrons of the bottled-water industry. It is estimated that Americans alone buy 29.8 billion plastic water bottles per year.  Yet, besides the short time we spend with each bottle of water we consume, how much do we know about  the birth, life and death of the plastic water bottle? Stay tuned for more information next week.

All are invited to suggest a vendor or charity to be included in this year's Gifts of Hope: An Alternative Gift Market, set for for December 6-7, 2014. This year's market will again offer a unique gift selection in support of artisans and craft cooperatives from around the world along with gift card contributions to worthwhile charities. 

To suggest a vendor, please fill out a form in the Gallery during August. You can also contact Karen Norris at [email protected] or Sheri Jones at [email protected]. Deadline for suggestions is September 1.

Last year's event raised more than $24,000. 

Saint John's crafters, bakers, members of Sunday School classes and UMW circles are also invited to contribute handmade items and delicious goodies to the Bake Shop, with all proceeds going to local nonprofit agencies.  If you would like to donate crafts to the market, please contact Nancy Williams at [email protected]. To donate to the Bake Shop, please contact Eva Jordan at [email protected].

Wearing your Saint John's name tag is a blessing to yourself and others.  The nametags allow others to get to know and be known to all the great folks in our beautiful community of faith. 

If you don't have a name tag or need a new one, please sign-up on the notepad attached to the name tag holder in the Gallery. You do not have to be a member of Saint John's to request a nametag.  It takes about two weeks to obtain your tag.

If you have questions, please contact Sallie Sassano, Director of Hospitality, at (512) 452-5737 or [email protected].