06.13.19
Connect to God 
One of my favorite T-shirt ideas was given to me by my last rector who had a passion for social justice. The words on the shirt were as shown in the picture above, the Church Has Left the Building! Being in Oakland, and having participated in training for community organizing, we collaborated with other parishes and community organizations. He preached over and over again about how the church needs to be involved in its context to affect the living out of our baptismal covenant. Here at St. John’s, I’m trying slowly to get our youth involved in their faith journey (hence the enormous focus on Confirmation) and then to give them chances to live out their beliefs through engagement in our community and beyond. 

This Summer, Ginger and I are heading to the South. It’s year two of our delving into an extended conversation on race. My program is based on a 3 year arc that was started by Bishop Curry’s diocesan youth program. We started last year with our state’s (California) context, exploring sites of racial significance (Allensworth, Manzanar, Home Boy Industries, the Museum of Tolerance, and the Cesar Chavez Memorial). This year we are heading to Wilmington, North Carolina to explore a post reconstruction story. We’ll have civic pride, turmoil, riots, heroes, and juxtaposing it with current realities. Oh, and I’ll be taking them to the beach to help marinate all their learning. Next year, I hope to end our arc by going to South Africa. I hope to take the youth into the footsteps of Nelson Mandela.

Why am I doing this? Our youth can go miles in any direction and still be exposed to the same economic and social conditions. It’s a bubble and as a faith leader, I’m charged with equipping our youth with tools to engage with our world’s complexity. What are the lessons of Jesus with regards to the poor, how do we live with people that believe differently, and how do we not be locked into first impressions. Getting them to see the harder truths that surround us is key. If you’d like to learn more about our journey or help with scholarship, please let me know. Please help me take our young “church” out of the building so that they may have an incredible experience that enriches their faith understanding. God bless all of you in your hard wrestling with your faith and its application in our complex world. May the fire of Pentecost enkindle your hearts.
Tom Fregoso, Youth Minister
Connect to Community
TODAY: Second Thursday Lunch and Eucharist . Join us today at 12 noon in the fireside room for eucharist. Bring a brown bag lunch and stay for conversation after!

Sign-ups for Youth Confirmation 2020 To sign up for our next youth confirmation class or to learn more, please come to a meeting on Sunday, June 23 at 11:30am in the Youth Room or email our Youth Minister, Tom Fregoso for more details The confirmation program is open to 8th- 12th graders.

Summer Scheduling
  • Yoga St. John’s will continue to meet on Mondays from 6:15-7:30 throughout the summer.
  • Monday Bible Study will meet on Monday, June 17 and then go on summer break until September.
  • Women of Wisdom will not meet in June, July, and August - we’ll look forward to seeing you on Thursday, September 26 for fellowship and theological exploration.
  • Second Thursday Lunch and Eucharist will continue in June, July and August. We will offer eucharist in the chapel but a meal will not be provided afterward. All are welcome to bring a brown bag meal and share conversation after the service. 

Monday Bible Study is open to all - whether you’re new to reading scripture or a regular participant. Our next meeting is this Monday, June 17 in the Youth Room from 1-2:30 pm. The reading is I Corinthians 12-13.

Save the Date: Parish Weekend Away  Hiking trails, swimming pool, tree swing, simple but well-appointed rooms, lots of car-free space for kids to roam, campfire, and amazing food! All are invited to the  The Bishop's Ranch   for our annual St. John's Parish Weekend. This year we'll gather from Friday, 9/6 to Sunday, 9/8 for fellowship, fun, rest, and spiritual development. Our staff and clergy provide activities and program for all ages: some of which are age-specific, and some inter-generational. Online sign-up coming soon.
Connect to Service
There are so many wonderful ways to serve alongside the poor in the community through St. John’s, and summer is a particularly great time to serve with your kids. We particularly need help serving Saturday meals at St. Vincent de Paul in San Rafael and spending time with kids at Gilead House. Check out details here .
Connect to Children
What our kids did in Sunday School on June 9  click   here.

Summer Sunday School starts this Sunday, June 9 where we will have all-ages-in-one-class. It’s a multi-age, mixed class that will allow the kids to interact with other kids of different age level and hopefully develop friendships as they do activities together. We will adapt the buddy system to engage all ages from 5 to 10 years old. For more information, please email Sandra Pathik, Director of Children's Ministry.

This year’s Adventure Camp’s theme is ROAR! It’s where kids will explore God’s goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life. Kids from pre-K through 5th grade are invited to join! It’s on July 29 th through August 2 nd at 9am to 122noon. Youth have an opportunity to serve as counselor-in-training. Parents can volunteer to help a day or more during the week. We will have a special surprise feature during the camp. Registration for campers is $50 and $20 for youth assistants. 
Scholarship will be provided if needed. You can register online here .

An Invitation: We invite you to volunteer as Sunday School teacher, greeter, or assistant; or help organize/arrange Sunday School materials; or donate snacks for Sunday School; or be our regular prayer supporter; or if you have other ideas on how you can support our Children’s program in St. John’s Ross, kindly email Rev. Ginger.
A big thank you to the youth that helped make Snow Cones for the Summer BBQ last Sunday!!!
Connect to Youth
Summary of Sunday 6/16/19

SUNDAY
  • 10AM Church School: meets in the youth room and we'll working one of the readings for this Sunday's Pentecost lectionary.
  • Afternoon Youth Group: TBD!
  • Evening Youth Group: It should be spiritually uplifting with just the right amount of prayerful snark.
  • 6-630pm Dinner
  • 630-730pm Sr. High YG

Next Confirmation Class
  • To sign up for our next youth confirmation class or to learn more, please come to either meeting
  • 11:30AM (Sun. 6/23) in the Youth Room
  • or email our Youth Minister, Tom Fregoso for more details (tom@stjohnsross.org). 
  • The confirmation program is open to 8th - 12th graders.
  • Note: I'd like to cap the class at 10 youth

Pilgrimage to North Carolina

Nostalgic Videos of the Past Year(s):
Here's a few video retrospectives of the last year:
Connect to Music
This Sunday's Music  To learn what Music Director David Montgomery has to say regarding the music selected for this Sunday's service, click  here. 
Sundays
8am: Eucharist in the Church
9am: Family Eucharist in the Parish Hall
10am: Eucharist in the Church
& Sunday School
Mondays
Tuesdays
7.15am: Meditation in the Chapel
2nd & 4th Tuesdays 
6pm: Dinner Church in the Parish Hall 
2nd Thursdays
Noon: Eucharist in the Chapel  
Contact 
St. John's Church 
PO Box 217 
14 Lagunitas Road 
Ross, CA 94957

415.456.1102