Congratulations and Welcome New Vestry Members
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At the Annual meeting last Sunday in the Church, the following parishioners were elected to serve on the Vestry:
- Richard Metzger, Senior Warden (2020)
- Paul Barkett, Junior Warden (2020)
Elected to four year terms on the Vestry:
- Lauren Edwards
- Nora Rigby
- Desirée Davis Stolar
Thanks to everyone who ran and offered to serve St. John's on the Vestry. |
Update from the Rector Search Committee
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The Rector Search Committee has completed its last round of interviews with five semi-finalists. In the coming weeks, the Committee will present to the Vestry 2-3 finalists for their ultimate determination.The progress of the committee can be
followed on the Rector Transition page of St. John's website. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit guides us throughout the Rector Search process.
The Rector Search Committee
Hilary West (Chair), Krista Becker, Betsy Danello, Clark Ervin, Wendy Fibison, Andrew Hunt, Powell Hutton, Frank Klotz, Michelle Mangrum, Sara McGanity, Ralph Olson, Lisa Russo
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February 15 | Parents' Night Out
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Just in time for Valentine's Day - Parents' Night Out at St. John's!
Enjoy time by yourself or with your valentine while your children enjoy dinner and activities at the church with trained childcare professionals. This Friday night program is free for all children of the parish family (infants through age 10). All we ask is that you sign up by noon on Wednesday, February 13 so that we will have an adequate number of attendants and that you pick up your children before 9:00 p.m. when the doors will be locked.
Please fill out the sign up form here or
email Savannah Ponder, Assistant for Ministries to Children, Youth, and Families.
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St. John's Refugee Committee
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Sunday, February 10 after the 11:00 a.m. service
The Refugee Committee will host the Parish Lunch, prepared in part by Sadiq and Fazia, a refugee couple we have supported over the past year. Please come and enjoy Afghan food and listen and ask questions when Sadiq tells us about his family's journey to the Washington, DC area.
Sunday, February 17, after the 11:00 a.m. service
The next Refugee Committee meeting will be the Togo West Parlor, Sunday, February 17 after the 11:00 a.m. service. Please join us to discuss our goals and budget planning for 2019.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, February 9, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Tales from the Border: The Plight of the Haitian Migrant
Join The Association of Haitian Professionals, the University of the District of Columbia Immigration and Human Rights Clinic and The Black Law Students Association at an immigration information session focused on Haitian migrants to learn more about immigration policy, TPS, refugees, asylum seekers, DACA, and what organizations working with migrants do and what support is needed. This event is free. Register here.
Friday, March 8, 7:00-11:00 p.m.
A Celebration of Women Refugee Entrepreneurs. On International Women's Day, join One Journey as they celebrate the success, tenacity and resilience of women refugee entrepreneurs. The evening event will feature cuisine by refugee chefs with Foodhini, coffee by Sudanese Refugees, and more inspiring stories from incredible entrepreneurs. Tickets can be purchased here or you can make a donation if you are unable to attend but would like to support the effort.
Interesting Reads/Videos
The documentary film Displaced, which was shown at the U.S. Institute for Peace in December, does an excellent job describing the refugee crisis of the Rohingya in Bangladesh. View the film here.
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February 16 | Grace's Table
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Please join us in providing a hot meal to the homeless and underserved at Grace's Table. Grace's Table, an outreach ministry, of Grace's Episcopal Church in Georgetown, is a fellowship that provides and shares a meal at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays to the homeless and near homeless. Volunteers purchase and prepare the food, and then gather with guests to eat, and socialize together. The 60 minutes together each Saturday includes the reading and discussion of a biblical passage. Guests and volunteers take turns reading and participating in discussion with great enthusiasm and insight. A menu will be provided, from which volunteers can select food contributions. Volunteers can be reimbursed for food expenses. Parking is available at meters on the street, or at a lot adjacent to the church, for a $10. fee. For more information, please contact Robin Schwartz or Chuck Schwartz.
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February 20 | Theology on Tap
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 In an age where church attendance is declining and belief in conventional formulations is dwindling, this discussion will focus on how and why Jesus is important for Christians and on ways to think about him that may inspire a more meaningful faith. You're invited to a discussion with the Rev. Susan Flanders on Wednesday, February 20 at St. John's Church. Susan is on staff at St. Columba's Episcopal Church and spends much of her time working with parishioners on issues surrounding end-of-life spirituality, choices, and care. Her current book is If I Ever Lose My Mind: Aid in Dying with Advanced Dementia. Food, drinks, and good conversation will all be provided. For more information about Theology on Tap, please contact the Rev. Andy Olivo. All are welcome!
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By February 22 | Submit a Devotional for Pathways Through Lent
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It's time to think about your contribution to our daily Lenten devotional. We invite you to share your thoughts on the season of Lent by writing a brief reflection. Submissions only need be about 250 words long and can be inspired by the scripture verse of the day or some other Lenten or spiritual topic.
Submissions are due by Friday, February 22, 2019
so that the devotional can be ready by March 6 (Ash Wednesday). Please
email the Rev. Andy Olivo
to choose a date or for more information.
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February 23 | Community Building Event
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The next community building event will be held Saturday, February 23, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Parishioners Robin and Chuck Schwartz, who live on 15th Street across from McPherson Square, will host a Tex-Mex Potluck supper. Space is limited to 16 guests. Please contact Robin if you can attend or for more information.
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Parishioners continue to host fellowship opportunities on a neighborhood basis and also events open to all parishioners. These events may be potluck suppers, brunches, cocktail parties, happy hours at local restaurants, picnics, or wherever our creativity leads us. If you are interested in participating by hosting or organizing an event, please contact Holly Sukenik at hsukenik@hotmail.com.
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March 3 | Jazz Music Festival Service
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The St. John's and Parish Choirs will join forces with the Dan Dufford Jazz Ensemble to perform selections from Robert Ray's Gospel Mass and André Thomas' Mass in Celebration of Love and Joy in the context of the liturgy. Additionally, the anthems that morning will be Judith McAllister's spirited Hallelujah, You're Worthy and Ola Gjeilo's sublime Evening Prayer.
Please join us on Sunday, March 3 at 11:00 a.m. for our annual jazz service on the last Sunday of Epiphany.
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March 8-10 | Sixth Annual Women's Retreat
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You are invited to join the women of St. John's at a special weekend retreat on March 8-10
at the Dupont Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Our featured leader and speaker will be the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington, following the theme of "The Power of Love." The weekend is a wonderful opportunity to connect more deeply with other St. John's women, rest, rejuvenate, and dig more deeply into your own spirituality. The retreat house is warm and inviting and the food is delicious. Located just a couple of blocks from the beach, there is downtime on Saturday afternoon to walk, rest and commune with other women.
Reservations will be secured by sending in a $285 check (includes room and food), payable to St. John's Church and with "Women's Retreat" noted in the memo section of the check. In preparation for the weekend, please read Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's The Power of Love. The deadline for sending your check to secure a place is Thursday, February 28. Space is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible. For more information, please contact Lisa Kirchenbauer.
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March 23 & 30 | Spring Adult Inquirers Class
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If you would like to be baptized, confirmed, or received into membership in the Episcopal Church at St. John's, join the 2019 Spring Adult Inquirers' Class. The two-day class will meet on Saturdays, March 23 and March 30, from 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. both days. The Rev. Bruce McPherson, Interim Rector and the Rev. Andy Olivo, Assistant Rector, will lead the sessions. Anyone - newcomer or longtime parishioner - interested in learning more about our Christian faith and life, the Episcopal tradition, and the ministry of St. John's Church, is encouraged to attend.
For more information or to register, please contact Kaye Edwards, Assistant for Church Growth (202-347-8766, ext. 317). Those who participate in this class, or have completed another inquirers' class, may attend a Service of Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows at Washington National Cathedral on May 11, 2019.
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Stewardship of Creation: Calling Interested Parishioners
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Last summer the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church recognized the care of God's creation as a priority. The church's triennial Convention affirmed that "as individuals and communities of faith, The Episcopal Church needs to be an example by making intentional decisions about living lightly and gently on God's good earth." Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has also called on the Episcopal Church to take bold action to address the climate crisis, reminding us that we are all trustees and stewards of God's good creation.
What would it mean for our parish and for each one of us to take seriously the charge to be faithful stewards of God's creation in 2019? If you might be interested in thinking through these questions, and in being active to ensure our community honors this charge, please be in touch with Joanne Hutton, and we will find an opportunity to begin those conversations.
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The Parish Lunch Schedule
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February 10 - Refugee Committee
The Parish Lunch on February 10 will be hosted by the Refugee Committee, and prepared in part by Sadiq and Fazia, a refugee couple we have supported over the past year. Please come and enjoy Afghan food and listen and ask questions when Sadiq tells us about his family's journey to the Washington, DC area.
February 17 - Available for Hosting
February 24 - 2018 Holy Land Pilgrims welcome back 2019 Pilgrims
March 3 - Sandwich Sunday
March 10 - The Crouch Family |
We are happy that our Sunday Parish Lunch tradition has resumed. If you have not participated in the past, please begin a new tradition of your own and plan to come to our Parish lunches at 12:15 p.m., after the 11:00 a.m. service. It is one of the best fellowship opportunities at St. John's and a way to meet new friends, both members and guests, and to catch up with old friends. Hosts are needed. Gather your friends and family to help plan, cook, and serve in our new kitchen!
To sign up or ask questions, contact Holly Sukenik, the lunch coordinator, (or at 202-332-2952) or the Parish Office at 202-347-8766. |
An Easy Way to Help Others
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When you travel, bring back unopened toiletry items for
homeless shelters. Place them in the basket in the connector
between the Church and the Parish House.
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Be Cautious of Scam Emails
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Please do not respond to emails sent from Bruce asking for money or gift cards!
It has come to our attention that a number of parishioners have received emails claiming to be from Bruce, asking for money or iTunes gift cards.
The persons responsible have created fake email addresses so that it looks like it is from Bruce at first glance. Please do not respond to these messages. Report them as spam to your ISP and delete them immediately.
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Those who are sick or recovering:
From our parish: Sarah Agnew, Martha Ellison, Ann Gardner, Jimmy Lowe, Bob Patchell, LaFleur Paysour, Gordon Richmond, Diane Spaulding, and Samuel Watson.
Friends and family of our parish: Yvonne Allen (Nikki Allen), Bonni Ashburn (Kaye Edwards), Jim Bailey (Mike Becraft), Mark Bewsher (Powell Hutton), Barton Edwards Bruce (Kaye Edwards), Rachael Buckley (Chrystal Martin), John Frew Carter (Margo Arnold), Lane Carter, Ellen Cromwell-Cecrle (Carolyn Becraft), Bill Clark (Clark Ervin), William Frew Conderman (Margo Arnold), Sambar Datta (Ashley Culbertson), Bobby Doyle (Alex Pappas), Henry Farrington (Samuel Watson), Ted Fibison (Wendy Fibison), Kate Fisher (Katherine Kehoe), Allison Gardner (Elizabeth Gardner), Antonina Gawel (Margaux Polanski), Joe Heitzler (Mike Becraft), Lucas Hunt (Matthew Taylor), Lucien Johnson, Jr. (Wande Johnson), John Linton (Cay Buser), Linda Linton (Cay Buser), William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), Timothy Mullins (Jim Mullins), Judy Nicola (Cynthia Walker), Jerry O'Hagan (Lance Jensen), Jonathan A.I. Olowu (Elizabeth Leach), Lisa Pell (Mike Becraft), Diane Sinclair (Pat Dalby), Elizabeth Soyster (Debby Hailey), Jacob Stein (Samuel Watson), Henry and Sandy Welles (Donna Welles), John Wilson (Neil Wilson), Sonya Wilson (Neil Wilson), Peter Winkler (Betty van Iersel), Jim Wolter (Willy Wolter), and Kristen Wyckoff (Pat Dalby).
Those who are in the hospital:
From our parish: Max Hudgins and Dace Vidins.
Friends and family of our parish: Julie Howell (Cynthia Walker), Shirletta Lewis (GeeGee Bryant), Aiden Mylnikov (Lindsey Bowen), Conyers Thompson, Jr. (Joanne Hutton), and Larry Watson (Catherine Outten Olivo).
Those in our parish celebrating a birthday this week:
Lourdes Avilés, Brady Demarest, Anna Fleming, Mary Getz, Missy Grealy, Imogen Hahn, Izzy Hill, William Hughes, Robin Keithley, Claire Marshall, Annie Morefield, Ariana Paslar, Richard Price, Jack Reiffer, Jean Schepers, Desiree Stolar, Teddy Tierney, Anderson Waltz, and Carl Ward.
Those in our parish celebrating an anniversary this week:
Barbara and Craig Burkhardt.
Those who are deployed:
Friends and family of our parish: Mary Formanek (Annie Formanek).
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Holy Eucharist with Homily - The Rev. Andy Olivo
8:15 a.m.
Parish Choir Rehearsal
8:30 a.m.
Nursery Opens
9:00 a.m.
Choral Holy Eucharist with Sermon - The Rev.
Andy Olivo
10:00 a.m.
Speaker Series -
Mark Updegrove-George H.W. Bush: President and Patriot
(Togo West Parlor)
10:10 a.m.
St. John's Choir Rehearsal (Nave)
10:45 a.m.
Church School (2nd Floor)
11:00 a.m.
Choral Holy Eucharist with Sermon - The Rev. Andy Olivo
12:15 p.m.
Parish Lunch: Afghan Lunch hosted by Refugee Committee
Tour of the Church
12:30 p.m.
St. John's Choir Rehearsal (4th Floor)
1:00 p.m.
Oraciόn Vespertina
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The Speaker Series is held at 10:00 a.m. on the following Sundays in the Togo West Parlor:
February 10
Mark Updegrove, President and CEO of
The Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation. He will speak on
George H.W. Bush: President and Patriot.
February 17
The Interim Rector, the Rev. Bruce McPherson
will speak on
Congregations and their Life Cycles.
February 24
Warren Finch, Jr., Director of the
George H. W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas.
March 3
Peter Bergen, CNN National Security
Analyst and terrorism expert. He will speak on
An Update on Terrorism.
March 10
Jeremy Ben-Ami, Executive Director of J
Street, an organization that advocates for policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests
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April 7
Frank Sesno, Director of the School of Media
and Public Affairs at George Washington University and former CNN reporter.
April 28
Karen King, Hollis Professor of Divinity at
Harvard Divinity School.
She will speak on
Death and Life: Some Lesser
Known Views from the Early Christians.
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The next dates for
Holy Baptism are:
* February 17, 11:00 a.m.
* April 28, 11:00 a.m.
* June 9, 10:30 a.m.
If you are interested in having a child baptized, or in baptism for yourself,
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Help brighten the day of parishioners who can't be with us by taking them flowers, located in the side chapel. A card is attached to each vase with contact information. Thank you for checking to see if a delivery address is convenient for you.
Flowers need to be delivered on Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA and N Taylor Street, Arlington, VA.
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Listen now
to past Sunday Sermons and Speaker Series.
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