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April 7 | Children's Music Initiative
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Second floor of the Parish House, 10:10-10:45 am (during Speaker Series)
Children with or without prior music experience are welcome.
Join us for an engaging formation experience taught by a
professional music educator. Children will learn stories of faith
through song and will grow in their sense of belonging in the
family of God. Ages 3+ are welcome to join independently.
Infants to age 3 may join with a parent/guardian. Breakfast
snacks will be served before Church School begins at 10:45
a.m. All activities will take place on the second floor of the
Parish House.
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April 7 | Orchestra in Residence Performs
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Our "Orchestra in Residence," the Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra (ANCO), will perform the second of their two season concerts. The 90-minute program will include Fauré's
Masques et bergamasques, Britten's
Rejoice in the Lamb with the St. John's Choir, and Haydn's Symphony No. 101 "The Clock." The program engages themes of innocence, wonder, and the passage of time. ANCO is an innovative 30-member ensemble that performs as a full orchestra without a conductor using chamber music techniques.
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From a Visitor: A Word of Thanks
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Recently we received a lovely, and very long, letter from a visitor. It serves as a reminder of just how important is our ministry of hospitality.
I'm writing to let you know what a friendly and welcoming congregation you have...
[On March 17,] wearing sweats and a baseball cap, we made our way through Secret Service to the entrance of your church. We were immediately greeted with a handshake and a smile. At this point we still had no clue who was inside but we knew it was someone important. We nervously walked through the door of your church and immediately felt out of place in our street sweats and tennis shoes. The people in the pews around us shook our hands with a big smile and totally made us feel at ease. After the service, a member of your church took our picture and spoke to us for quite some time. She welcomed us and gave us a short history of the church and its members. I want to finish by thanking you guys for not judging us and truly being an example of Christ. We will visit each and every time we're in DC. Thanks for the unforgettable memory.
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St. John's Refugee Committee
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Please join the Refugee Committee at its next monthly meeting in the Togo West Parlor, Sunday, April 7 after the 11:00 a.m. service. Our guest is Sadiq, a refugee from Afghanistan who served as a consultant for the U.S. military. Sadiq will speak on the many challenges his family faced in Afghanistan, and their experience as they settled in the U.S. as refugees. Their story is amazing - as are so many others who have shared in such a journey - and we hope you will join us in welcome. Please contact Jessica Sanchez or Gay Pasley with any questions.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities for Action
Friday, April 26 at 6:00 p.m.
Dream Project is hosting a benefit concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington. Doors and food open at 6pm and the concert begins at 7:00 p.m. All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will go toward providing outstanding undocumented students mentoring and college scholarships for Dreamers in Virginia.
Thursday, June 27- Friday, June 28
Love God, Love Neighbor Advocacy in Action training on refugee resettlement issues. A two-day interactive training for clergy and laity interested in developing or improving their advocacy skills and having the opportunity to advocate directly to members of Congress and their staff about protections for refugees sponsored by the Office of Government Relations in partnership with Episcopal Migration Ministries.
Space is limited; please submit your registration as soon as possible. Registration deadline is May 17. Questions? Contact Melissa Coulston.
Saturday, June 29
One Journey Festival, a day-long festival held on the grounds of the National Cathedral, celebrates refugee contributions to our community. Sign up for updates on volunteering. We hope to have a strong St. John's presence at the festival this year.
See last year's recap video here.
Interesting Developments
A federal judge denied the government's motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit challenging the egregious processing delays experienced by Special Immigrant Visa applicants. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The oral argument on the pending preliminary injunction motion is set for May 3, 2019, at 10 am.
Read the press release from the International Refugee Assistance Project
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April 10 | Bishop Curry at NMAAHC
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Parishioner La Fleur Paysour, who is Manager of Media Relations at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), invites you to a conversation with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry about his latest book titled,
The Power of Love: Sermons, Reflections, and Wisdom to Uplift and Inspire at NMAAHC on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Admission is free and tickets may be reserved online.
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Pathways Through Lent for Kids - Submit Today!
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ALL CALL for children and youth visual artists and/or poets.
Help make known the gifts of the children of St. John's by supporting their creativity!
If you know a child who would like to share their art or writing as part of the Pathways through Lent devotions, please respond to this message. This is very simple--I will send you a reading, you take some time to support your child by responding in visual art, poetry, or prayer and send it in to share. Alternatively, families are welcome to submit a cooperative art piece responding to Lenten themes together. No expertise or formal training needed.
To request a date or make a submission, contact Savannah Ponder, Assistant for Ministries to Children, Youth, and Families.
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April 14 | Palm Sunday Procession
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If your child would like to process with palms during the 11:00 a.m. service, please arrive in the Togo West Parlor at 10:30 a.m. for instruction and practice with music teachers. Children ages 3+ are welcome to process with church school teachers. Children under age 3 may process with a parent/guardian. Church school will begin after the procession. Please support your child in preparing at home by listening to Hymn 154: All Glory, Laud, and Honor.
For more information, contact Savannah Ponder, Assistant for Ministries to Children, Youth, and Families.
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Sundays in Lent | Lenten Youth Gathering
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Through April 14, 10:10-10:45 a.m.
Choir Room, 4th Floor, Parish House
Youth ages 11+ are invited to meet for an informal gathering time. This will include simple prayer, a cappella singing led by youth parish choir singers, and eating breakfast together. If you play an instrument, feel free to bring it to this gathering. We will
also have access to a piano and percussion instruments. No musical expertise needed. Facilitated by Sara Josey and Savannah Ponder.
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April 10 | Prayer That Goes Deeper
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St. John's will continue to offer
Prayer That Goes Deeper: A Short Course in the Practice of Prayer
on April 10. Participants will meet at 6:30 p.m. for light refreshments. The evening will conclude by 8:00 p.m.
Sign up to attend here
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April 10
- Ignatian Prayer with Fr. Olivo
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April 12 | Parents' Night Out
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The Friday night program, which offers parents an opportunity to enjoy free time while St. John's provides child care, a light supper, and entertainment for children infants through age 10. All we ask is that you sign up by noon on Wednesday, April 10 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. To sign up, fill out this form or contact Savannah Ponder, Assistant for Ministries to Children, Youth, and Families. |
April 20 and 27 | Rebuilding Together
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Saturday, April 27, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Pre-Build Date: Saturday, April 20, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more than 20 years as part of our Outreach mission, St.
John's has been participating in National Rebuilding Together days by making repairs and improvements to homes in Southeast Washington, DC. Work activities this year will include general repairs, cleaning, drywall repair, and painting. No experience is necessary.
Please note the strict
requirement that volunteers must be at least fifteen years of
age. Five volunteers are needed for April 20, 2019 and 10
volunteers for April 27, 2019. We will have most of the tools, gloves, masks, etc. that volunteers will need. You may bring your own tools, e.g., saws, and drills. Lunch will be provided to volunteers. The homeowner's address and directions will be provided to those who volunteer.
A waiver form must be completed online prior to arriving at the site:
- Visit the waiver form web address
- Complete all personal information on the form then search for our team: StJohnsEpis - Gardner - 042719
- Select your preferred T-shirt size
- Check the box next to "I have read and agree to these terms"
- Click "Yes and Submit"
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April 27 | Ordination of Pete Burgess
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William "Pete" Burgess will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons (transitional) by the Rt. Rev. Russell Kendrick, IV Bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, on Saturday, April 27 at All Saints Church in Mobile, AL. We
have been blessed to have Pete with us as Seminarian this past year and look forward to welcoming him in May as the Rev.
Pete Burgess.
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May 1 | First Wednesday Concert
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12:10 p.m.-12:45 p.m.
Music for Trumpet and Organ with trumpeter Chuck Seipp and organist Lisa Galoci
Premiere of Paul Leavitt's
Fanfare for Trumpet & Organ
Please consider joining us during your lunch break on the First Wednesdays of the month, through June, and bring a friend.
See full season details on the church website
. Each concert is ticketless, free of charge, and held in the nave of our historic church.
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May 2 | St. John's Book Club
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If you like to read and meet with others who like to read and talk about books, the Book Club is for you. We meet in the 2nd Floor Teen Classroom, Parish House. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Leila Taaffe.
May 2
Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh
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The Parish Lunch Schedule
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April 7 - St. John's Vestry
April 14 - No Parish Lunch (Palm Sunday)
April 21 - No Parish Lunch (Easter Sunday)
April 28 - Available for volunteering
May 5 - Available for volunteering
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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 for April 28, May 5, and May 19. 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 the Parish Office at 202-347-8766. |
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The Ubiquitous Plastic
Shopping
Bag
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Plastic shopping bags are used the world over, at a rate of about 1,000,000 a minute... and littering the world almost as fast. Because they are light and strong, they are useful. And because they are light, we too often see them blown about the countryside or in the water, a danger to people and to wildlife. The typical useful life of plastic bags is about 12 minutes, but their presence can be virtually permanent. The carbon cost to make them is substantial: the amount of energy to make eight bags is roughly equal to the energy needed to drive a car half a mile. The cost of clean up is substantial as well: about 77 cents per bag. That means the cost to the average taxpayer for plastic bag waste is roughly $88 a year. If we can carry our own reusable bags, we can eliminate those unneeded costs and solve a major environmental problem.
- St. John's Care of Creation Group
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Host a Community Building Event
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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.
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Those who are sick or recovering:
From our parish: Teresa Huettner, Judy McKevitt, Bob Patchell, Gordon Richmond, Dace Vidins, and Samuel Watson.
Friends and family of our parish: Bruce Anderson (Cay Buser), Bonni Ashburn (Kaye Edwards), Mark Bewsher (Powell Hutton), Rachael Buckley (Chrystal Martin), John Frew Carter (Margo Arnold), Lane Carter, Ellen Cromwell Cecrle (Carolyn Becraft), Kevin Chaney (Andrew Tomlinson), Laura Chaney (Andrew Tomlinson), Bill Clark (Clark Ervin), William Frew Conderman (Margo Arnold), Sambar Datta (Ashley Culbertson), Emily DeHaan (Carolyn Crouch), Bobby Doyle (Alex Pappas), Henry Farrington (Samuel Watson), Ted Fibison (Wendy Fibison), Kate Fisher (Katherine Kehoe), Antonina Gawel (Margaux Polanski), Joe Heitzler (Mike Becraft), Lucas Hunt (Matthew Taylor), Lucien Johnson, Jr. (Wande Johnson), Frederick T. Kraus (Grant Kraus), Jan Lindsay (Catherine Olivo), 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), Sanaullah (Gay Pasley), Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston), Diane Sinclair (Pat Dalby), Elizabeth Soyster (Debby Hailey), Jacob Stein (Samuel Watson), Henry and Sandy Welles (Donna Welles), Jim Wolter (Willy Wolter), and Kristen Wyckoff (Pat Dalby).
Those who are shut-in:
From our parish: Max Hudgins.
Those who are in the hospital:
Friends and family of our parish: Bob Adams (Laurie Adams), Shelley Agnew (Jeff Agnew), Julie Howell (Cynthia Walker), Lucien Johnson (Wande Johnson), Joan Keeney (Richard Metzger), Shirletta Lewis (GeeGee Bryant), Aiden Mylnikov (Lindsey Bowen), Conyers Thompson, Jr. (Joanne Hutton), and Larry Watson (Catherine Outten Olivo).
Those who have died:
Friends and family of our parish: Travis Bannon and Bill
Hyncik who both died March 30, and Arlyn Anfinrud who died
March 31.
Those in our parish celebrating a birthday this week: Sally Barnes, Diana Brown, Polo Edwards, Sybil Evans, Eleanor Eversole, Kristie Hansen, Carolyn Harris, Daniel Honeycutt, Allen Jamerson, Hugh Kieve, Samuel Lancaster, Ravi Lodico, Haley Lyerly, Nathan Miller, Joy Nathan, Chloe Neufeld, Robert Rasmussen, Chase Rynd, Chris Singer, and Svetlana Tibbits.
Those in our parish celebrating an anniversary this week:
Sarah and Brady Demarest, Mary and Carl Raether, and Annie and Will Simonds.
Those who are deployed:
Friends and family of our parish: Steve Helmer (Sara McGanity).
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7:45 a.m.
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: Frank Sesno, Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University and former CNN reporter
10:10 a.m.
St. John's Choir Rehearsal (Nave)
Children's Music Initiative (2nd Floor)
Lenten Youth Gathering (4th Floor, Choir Room)
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.
Hospitality Hour
Parish Lunch
Tour of the Church
Refugee Committee Meeting (Togo West Parlor)
12:30 p.m.
St. John's Choir Rehearsal (4th Floor)
1:00 p.m.
Oraciόn Vespertina
5:00 p.m.
Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra Concert (Nave)
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The Speaker Series is held at 10:00 a.m. on the following Sundays in the Togo West Parlor:
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:
* April 28, 11:00 a.m.
* June 9, 10:30 a.m.
* August 4, 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
Oaklyn Drive, Potomac, MD; Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA; and Tracy Place, NW, Washington, DC.
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Listen now
to past Sunday Sermons and Speaker Series.
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