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Dispatch from General Convention #GC79
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Greetings from Austin!
It's been a whirlwind the first two days I've been at General Convention; I feel like I've been here for a month. I'm not sure if any of these pictures will be particularly useful--I'll try to get better ones as the convention progressed. I also apologize if this isn't entirely coherent, my brain is fried.
My first event was the initial legislative session of the House of Deputies. As an alternate, I'm not allowed on the floor, but got relegated to an area on the side.
Read more about Matthew's first days in Austin here.
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Thanks from the Rector Search Committee
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The Rector Search Committee thanks the many parishioners who provided feedback through the recent survey, as well as the June 10 and June 24 focus groups; later this summer, a summary of the survey results will made available to parishioners. With this input, the committee will finalize St. John's profile in order to post the position with the Office of Transition Ministry in July; the position will remain open for a number of weeks to allow applicants sufficient time to submit their materials. The committee will then review such items and narrow the list of candidates with the intention of holding initial Skype interviews and subsequent site visits and in-person interviews across the fall. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit guides us during this very important part of the Rector search process.
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Singers, whether experienced or not-so-experienced, are invited to sing in the choir on Sunday mornings at St. John's through Labor Day Weekend. Members of both the St. John's Choir and the Parish Choir will be on hand to lend their voices as well, and you may sing for one Sunday or all Sundays. Rehearsal begins at 9:30 a.m. sharp each Sunday morning in the church nave, to prepare for the 10:30 a.m.service.
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Summer Church School is Open
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Summer Church School meets through July  29 with a one-room class for grades pre-K through five. Children will be learning lessons based on a reading in church that day, and will play games, participate in activities, and sing songs related to the day's reading. Summer
Church School starts promptly at 10:30 a.m. in the Hay-Adams Hotel. Students will come in to church to join their families for Communion. Thanks to all who have signed up to teach this summer. For more information, please email Kaye Edwards.
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Opportunities with the St. John's Refugee Project
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Hostelling International DC (
1009 11th Street NW,
20001
) invites the local community to a celebration of refugees' cultural heritage, courage and talents.
Manyang Kher,
founder of
734 Coffee
, will share his inspirational story as a refugee and a social entrepreneur.
Manyang's earliest memories are of war, death, and a struggle to survive. At age 3, Manyang became one of the Lost Boys, the name given to the 20,000 children who were displaced and orphaned by the civil war in Sudan. For 13 years, Manyang lived in refugee camps along the Ethiopian border, where hunger, fear, and abuse were part of his daily life. At age 17, he was given a chance to at last leave all that behind and emigrate to the United States. Manyang started 734 Coffee to help fund Humanity Helping Sudan Project's programming. Today, Humanity Helping Sudan Project runs on-the-ground programs at refugee camps across the region, providing fishing and agricultural aid, community gardens, and education programs that currently reach over 40,000 displaced people.
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Refugee Youth Soccer Camp
Location: Hyattsville, MD
August 6 - August 10, 2018
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This summer
L.A.C.E.S., an organization that uses sports to mentor refugee youth, will be hosting a Refugee Youth Soccer Camp in Landover, MD. This is a fun opportunity for youth from all nations and languages to unite over the common language of soccer. They will be providing a soccer camp that is fun, interactive and meaningful for refugee youth ages 9-14. They are looking for volunteers and coaches August 6-10thfrom 8:00am-12:30pm. If you are available all week, a few days or just a few hours L.A.C.E.S. needs you! You can learn more at
www.laces.org/rysc or email
helen@laces.org.
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August 1 | Holy Land Pilgrimage Informational Meetings
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Wednesday, August 1
910 15th St. NW (the corner of 15th and I Streets NW.)
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
St. John's Church has the opportunity to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from January 13-25, 2019. Over the course of the 10-day trip, pilgrims will thoroughly explore the Holy Land. Highlights include visits to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Nazareth, the Jordan River, and many other places and experiences.
The cost for the land portion of the trip is $2,600 and includes accommodations in a double room, all meals, transportation in Israel via deluxe bus, entrance fees, and tips for guest house/restaurant staff, and bus drivers. Each pilgrim is responsible for airfare to Tel Aviv.
For more information, you're invited to join one of the two upcoming informational meetings on either July 12 or August 1. At these meetings, we will look at the itinerary as well as answer any questions that you might have about the trip. To sign up to attend one of the informational meetings or for more information about the pilgrimage,
please
contact the Rev. Andy Olivo
.
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August 4 | Community-Building Event
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Saturday, August 4: Parishioners Robin Anderson and Chuck Schwartz, who live on 15th Street, across from McPherson Square, will be hosting an outdoor potluck barbecue
(will move indoors, if weather does not cooperate) on Saturday, August 4, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Space is limited to 16 guests. For more information, please email
Robin Anderson or call 202- 203-9467.
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With the temporary loss of our Parish House space for our Sunday Parish Lunches, we are organizing fellowship opportunities on a neighborhood basis. These events will be potluck suppers, brunches, and cocktail parties in the homes of parishioners, or happy hours at local establishments, picnics, or whatever our creativity leads to. If you are interested in participating by hosting or organizing an event, please
contact Holly Sukenik
.
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August 5 | Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
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St. John's at Nats Park
Washington Nationals vs. Cincinnati Reds
Sunday, August 5 at 1:35 p.m.
Tickets: $32 per person
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August 7 | St. John's Men's Retreat
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Information Session: Tuesday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Taking a page and inspiration from our fellow "sisters" of St. John's, we are exploring holding an inaugural St. John's Men's Retreat later this fall. Co-leaders Jeff Agnew and Chuck Schwartz along with the Rev. Andy Olivo will host an initial information session on Tuesday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Catch 15 (1518 K Street NW) for all interested male parishioners. A second information session will be held in early September for those unable to make it on August 7. Jeff and Chuck will provide details regarding possible date, venue and program agenda. If you're interested in participating and will attend,
please RSVP by Friday, August 3 to the Rev. Andy Olivo so that we may get an accurate head count.
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Parish House Renovation
Update
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Roof repair, carpentry and painting/stucco work move to the west side of the building as new scaffolding is erected. On the east side, we will soon bring in a crane to install the roof steel for the new stair tower in the driveway. That will be followed by the setting up of a concrete pump truck to pour the new stair tower's treads and landings.
Our expectation is that we will achieve substantial completion of the renovation near the end of September.
This Sunday we will have refreshments in front of the church after the 10:30 service. The nursery will be at the Hay-Adams Hotel from 9:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and Church School will be at 10:30 a.m.
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Contributions for St. John's Hospitality Hour
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During the renovation of the Parish House, St. John's is providing beverages during the coffee hour but is unable to store and provide pastries. From May 20 through Labor Day Weekend, Hospitality Hour will be held in the front of the church following the 10:30 a.m. service. Several parishioners have offered to donate baked goods, pastries, or other snacks during this period.
If you are interested in contributing refreshments of your choice to accompany the beverages, please sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board in the narthex or contact
Robin Anderson to choose a date.
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Our prayers are requested for the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially:
Those sick or recovering:
From our parish:
Carol Flanagan, Kristie Hansen,
Jim Kirchenbauer, Katherine Kyle, and Jimmy Lowe
.
Friends and family of our parish:
Yvonne Allen (Nikki Allen), Bonni Ashburn (Kaye Edwards), Jim Bailey (Mike Becraft), Gianna Balerna (Judy McKevitt), Carrie Nelle Moye Bannerman (Joanne Hutton), 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), Dona Coultice (Betty van Iersel), Sambar Datta (Ashley Culbertson), Henry Farrington (Samuel Watson), Ted Fibison (Wendy Fibison), Allison Gardner (Elizabeth Gardner), Tyrone Gayle (Jessica Sanchez), Ted Hadley (Carolyn Becraft), Anne Harrington (Anne and Robert Harrington), Bob Kingsnorth (Joanne Hutton), Redmond McNeill (Livy More), Deborah Mason (Samuel Watson), Rosemary Mariner (Carolyn Becraft), William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Timothy Mullins (Jim Mullins), Judy Nicola (Cynthia Walker), Luther and Dorothy Nixon (Samuel Watson), Jerry O'Hagan (Lance Jensen), Jonathan A.I. Olowu (Elizabeth Leach), Susie Pappas (Alex Pappas), Lisa Pell (Mike Becraft), Montica Pes (Thom Sinclair), Drew Sinclair (Thom Sinclair), Jim Tatosian (Pat Dalby), Henry and Sandy Welles (Donna Welles), Maya White, and Peter Winkler (Betty van Iersel).
Those in the hospital:
Friends and family of our parish:
Missy Cooley (Eric Peters), Robert Hohman (Wendy Fibison), Julie Howell (Cynthia Walker), Betty Mauldin (Susan Welch), Aiden Mylnikov (Lindsey Bowen), and Larry Watson (Catherine Outten Olivo).
Those who have died:
From our parish: Heather Wilson, who died on July 4.
Those celebrating a birthday this week:
Peter Alison, Annette Anfinrud, Geoffrey Baker, John Davis, Walton Ehrich, Ben Harris, Maxwell Hayhurst, Tyler Hayhurst, Elizabeth Heil, Laura Herzog, Olivia Kehoe, Sherill Mason, Saunders McElroy, Eric Neff, Justin Parker, Nancy Pappas, Susan Petniunas, William Rasmussen, Sarah Reid, Elizabeth Rose, Thom Sinclair, Hilary Thesmar, Paul Van Nice, Sheryl Walter, Alis Wang, and Marc Warren.
Those in our parish celebrating an anniversary this week:
Newman and Megan Evans and Mary Blanche and Kyle Hankey.
Those who are deployed:
Friends and family of our parish: Brian Anderson (Ellen Parke).
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7:45 a.m.
Holy Eucharist with
Homily -
The Rev. W. Bruce McPherson
9:30 a.m.
Summer Choir Rehearsal
(Nave)
Nursery opens
10:30 a.m.
Choral Holy Eucharist with Sermon -
The Rev. W. Bruce McPherson
Church School (Hay-Adams Hotel)
11:45 a.m.
Hospitality Hour (Front of Church)
1:00 p.m.
Oración Vespertina
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The next date for
Holy Baptism is:
*
September 16,
10:30 a.m.
* November 4,
11:00 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 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC.
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Listen now
to past Sunday Sermons and Adult Forums.
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