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FAMILY LIFE EVENT - NEW DATE
VISION BOARD

On Wednesday, March 22th we are hosting a Family Life Event in Thaxter Hall from 5:30PM-7:00PM. This event is open to all St. John's community members, but is tailored to be a family-loving event. There will be a pot-luck meal shared, and together we will claim a bulletin board to create our own community vision board! A vision board (or dream board) is a great way to dream about our future as a community together and build a present reminder in our shared space of these ideas and values we hold together. Save your old magazines and bring them with you!

SIGN UP IN THAXTER HALL!
BEETHOVEN NINTH SYMPHONY with St. John's Choir


Not many tickets still available for the Saturday concert  
and Sunday is sold out!
DISCUSSING PALESTINE
Living Stones - Palestine
Sunday, March 19 after the 10am service
 
Linda McVay and Ann Tarlton traveled to Israel and Palestine in October 2016 to be witnesses to the effect that 50 years of occupation by Israel is having on the Palestinian people. They listened to the frustrations and feelings of hopelessness that all Palestinians are experiencing as a possible end to the occupation fades away as each new illegal settlement is being built on Palestinian land.
 
As both Christian and Muslim Palestinians are being forced onto ever smaller tracks of land, they are losing their homes, livelihoods and way of life. The Christian Palestinian population has shrunk from 23% to under 2%... and it is these steadfast Christians who have been gatekeepers to our holiest Christian sites, thereby keeping alive our Christian heritage.
 
Ann invites you to come, listen and hear a different story, one not often told, as she shares where they found extraordinary hope. A light lunch of soup will be offered.
SERVICE SUNDAY FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS
Dear St. John's Families,

I am excited to have planned a Service Sunday for all middle and high schoolers for Sunday, March 26 at the Seacoast Family Food Pantry.  We will meet in Thaxter Hall by 9:30 to carpool over to SFFP and will be back to St. John's by 11:00 

We are going to be helping to clean-up and organize the pantry, work that can only get done on the weekends when it is not open to the public.  As many of you may know, SFFP moved recently to a bigger location, 210 West Road (this is the road behind the Market Basket on Lafayette Road, near the Community Campus), with more space to allow them to continue to grow and expand their programs within the Seacoast community.  Check out their website to read about all of the great work they are doing:  http://www.seacoastfamilyfoodpantry.org/
I am thrilled we will be able to help support their work.

Look forward to seeing you all,
Lizzie
  YOC RECRUITMENT
EASTER MEMORIAL FLOWERS
Easter Memorial Altar Flowers Chart: is posted on the notice board in the church narthex. Place the people's name "In Memory Of" on the chart and person placing the name in "Donated By" column, so if I have any question I know who to contact. If you want to enter "In Honor Of" on the Chart please write "In Honor Of" along with the name in the "In Memory Of" column. There is also the form below you can fill out and mail to Ginny Edwards. Or you can call or email Ginny Edwards, I will see to it the names are put on the list. Please make donation check out to St. John's Altar Guild and mail it to Ginny Edwards, 173 Moses Gerrish Farmer Road, Eliot, ME. 03903. Thank You Ginny Edwards 207-439-2119 or edwardsga@msn.com. The Chart will be taken down Palm Sunday April 9th and if you mail the names I need to have it by Saturday April 8th so I have time to compile the list for the Easter Service Programs. Thank you Ginny.
 
 
Easter Memorial Altar Flower
 
In Memory Of:  __________________________________________
 
 
In Honor Of: ____________________________________________
 
 
Donated By: ____________________________________________
                       
 
Please made donation checks out to St. John's Altar Guild
and mail to Ginny Edwards 173 Farmer Road, Eliot, ME 03903
RITE 13
This year's Rite 13 Ceremony will be held Sunday, May 14th at the 10:00 a.m. service, which is also, appropriately, Mother's Day!

Generally the ceremony is for those kids either turning 13 before the next school year starts or who have turned 13 since last July; most who participate are in 7th or 8th grade. 

If you and your child are interested in participating in this ceremony please let me know.  We will be holding a meeting Sunday, March 26th following the 10:00 a.m. service in the Philbrick Room to talk about the details of the ceremony and your family's involvement. 

ADULT FORMATION DURING LENT
Lent is often a time of 'giving up' but this year you are invited to 'take up' for Lent and join one of the adult formation offerings:
Living Faithfully, Dying Well
 
Sunday Mornings-9:00-9:45 in the Philbrick Room
With Dick Siener, Rob Stevens, Anne Williamson and
Jim Zuckerman
 
March 19 : How do we cope with the serious breakdowns in our bodies and minds as we age?
March 26 :How does the medical profession help or not help us fulfill our life goals?
April 2 : What role does the Church play in helping us live a faithful life as we age?
 
This is not a book discussion, but Being Mortal by Atul Gawande and When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi are pertinent to the areas we will cover in the group.
 
Wednesdays
Mornings 10:30-12 noon - Bible Workbench
March 22, 29, April 5, 12 (Philbrick Room)
 
We meet for discussion and reflection on one of the
Bible readings for the upcoming Sunday and related writings. This gathering concludes with Noonday Prayer.
 
Evenings 7:00pm to 8:15pm - A Time to Pray  (Philbrick Room)
Using Joan Chittister's book 'The Breath of the Soul - Reflections on Prayer' as our guide, there will be opportunities to experience a variety of different ways of praying-come to one session, some or all!
 
March 22: body prayer
March 29: art in prayer
April 5: poetry and prayer
Each Wednesday in Lent-walk the labyrinth -
our portable labyrinth will be set up in Thaxter Hall each Wednesday evening until 8:30.

Please contact Anne Williamson anne@stjohnsnh.org for more information. The Chittister book is available for $10.
PRAY
Dear Friends,

As we continue our journey through Lent, I offer you this prayer from a lovely daily prayer book 'Celebrating Common Prayer' from the Society of St. Francis (SSF). On my heart this day are those in our community and those we love who are struggling in body, mind or spirit and I pray that in this prayer we stand in solidarity with them and one another: Lord Jesus Christ, May the tears shed in your earthly life Be balm for all who weep; May the prayers of your pilgrimage Strengthen all who suffer For your Name's sake. Amen.

Lenten blessings,

Anne



St. John's Episcopal Church
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