WEEKLY MESSAGE
from Fr. Ripp
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Decisions
One of the dilemmas before us is the reality that the COVID-19 virus has killed 186,147 people worldwide, 47,992 people in the United States. Each death is difficult for families and different groups of people. There is no taking that lightly. It has also resulted in the loss of 24,600,000 jobs for the people of this country. We do not know all the details about those who are now unemployed, yet that is a staggering number of people who no longer have their regular stream of income to support themselves and their families. My good friend Joey is now one of these newly unemployed people. Unless he can return to work in a little less than a month, he is going to be in very dire straits.
As I said on Wednesday’s Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live, I don’t have much room to comment because I still have my job and am fortunate enough not to have anyone in this community that I know who are ill from the virus. There is much political hand wringing about what to do next. All I know is that many people are suffering from significant yet different types of loss; death and joblessness are both very serious matters for many people. The question remains for us all, “What do we do next?” The answers to this one question abound, especially from our political leaders, and there seems to be very little agreement. I recommend reading Adley Stump’s “PSA people!!! Listen up!!!” on Facebook, as she explains all that is currently in our way.
I am reminded this day of the words in James 3:13-17, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” I keep these words close to the heart when listening to our political leaders from either party. More and more, I find it very difficult to identify those who are speaking with purity, peacefulness, gentleness, a willingness to yield, mercy, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
Some would say it is their party, but I think there is a bias toward blindness. The most important thing we can do is not to claim we know the truth, but to seek the “wisdom from above.” I hope we will join together with friends and family to pray daily for the wisdom of God to show up in our leaders amongst all this wrangling. For the people, made in the image of God, are depending on these decisions to lead and guide us. There is not an easy way forward, and we need wisdom desperately. Again, I call upon us to pray. For we know that God will hear our prayers, and even the hardest of hearts can be affected by the power of God.
Furthermore, if unsure what to pray, look on page 821 in the Book of Common Prayer and pray the prayers for Sound Government. There is no better decision that we can make than to join together in prayer.
In Christ,
Ripp Hardaway
Rector
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OUR PEOPLE AND PARISHIONERS | All About Our People
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Honoring Our Medical Professionals of St. John's
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Dr. Peter Carlson MD practices emergency medicine in the ER at Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels. He is on the frontline of fighting against COVID-19 and keeping New Braunfels healthy.
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Caitryn Alexander is a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels. She cares for and comforts critically ill patients who are unable to have visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A prayer for doctors and nurses from the Book of Common Prayer:
Sanctify, O Lord, those whom you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing, and to the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their ministries the health of the community may be promoted and your creation glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day
Thank you to all of the Administrative Professionals for your time and work shared with the world! We would like to send a special thank you to Jenny Montgomery, Assistant to the Rector at St. John's. We are so grateful for you!
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APRIL ANNIVERSARIES
Jen and Paul Anthony 4/6, Bill and Lynn Campaigne 4/11,
Jim and Joanne Whitcomb 4/19, Reid and A’ndrea Fisher 4/20, Becky and Mike Luft 4/25
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
| April 23 - April 29
Pat Webb 4/23, John Evans Jr. 4/24, Donna Hager 4/24, Patricia Howard 4/25,
Eleanor Erdmann 4/27, Ron Camren 4/29
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WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
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COVID-19, Outreach, and Virtual Resources
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WORSHIP & CLASS SCHEDULE
| Live Streaming on Facebook
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- Worship and Prayers April 26 | 8:45 a.m.
- Family Devotions April 26 | 10:00 a.m.
- Children's Chapel April 26 | 4:00 p.m
- Noonday Prayers Monday-Saturday | 12:00 p.m.
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Virtual Altar Flowers given by God
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Facebook Live
- Daily devotions with Fr. Ripp and guest leaders at noon (Monday through Saturday)
- Sunday worship with Fr. Ripp at 8:45 a.m.
- Sunday Family Devotions with Fr. Ripp and Ms. Cheryl at 10:00 a.m.
The prayer and worship videos will be saved and uploaded to the church
website under the "Videos" tab located in the header menu and also on the
YouTube channel. Viewers are not required to have a Facebook account to view the live stream. Visit
St. John's Facebook Page, ignore the prompt to create an account, and then view the live stream and saved videos.
For assistance viewing any of the streaming services, contact the St. John's Communications Coordinator, Marjorie Nolan, by texting or calling (832) 729-3966.
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Virtual Services from Sunday, April 19, 2020
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CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINISTRIES
| Announcements & Resources
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Hello Children and Families,
Wow! Governor Abbott officially closing schools for the rest of the year hit me hard. It wasn't unexpected but the reality that my senior has spent his last days at Canyon High School was now a
for sure
moment. All the plans we have made, the travel of his older brother and family coming for graduation, the celebration, the announcements that were purchased, the cap and gown, the yearbook...all are now forever changed. I imagine many of you have felt the same sense of loss with your children and the school year they have virtually missed.
I was reminded of Ripp's sermon last week about the "death" of dreams/expectations we have in our lives. Isn't it amazing to have a savior who brings us hope and comfort in the midst of our suffering? Who can bring goodness and light to dark days? This has been a year of enormous change and loss for my family, but we trust God will open the doors to a new life with new dreams. I am hopeful and blesssed. And yes, Kyle will graduate in a unigue way - a story to tell his children.
Children’s Chapel:
A
lesson will be posted at 4:00 p.m. each Sunda
y. Thi
s week we will explore the story of the Road to Emmaus, Luke 24:30-31. Father Ripp and I will see you live on Facebook on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for a Family Devotions service.
Enjoy this video
on last week's lesson, Doubting Thomas. I think your kids will like seeing other kids talking about Jesus and Thomas.
Mother's Day Video Entries:
We are asking families to send a short video (5-10) seconds of moms/grandmas/aunts and their children doing something together with the shout out “We love...! “ It could be something you always do like reading a story together, or something you have started doing during this time, gardening, taking walks, cooking, etc. Send the videos to
cheryl@stjohnsnb.com
.
The deadline is Sunday, May 3 at noon
. The videos will be put together and presented on Mother’s Day for all to enjoy.
I am praying for you and looking forward to when we are all together again.
Hope and love in Christ,
Ms. Cheryl
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Read Ms. Cheryl's letter from last Sunday, April 19 by
clicking here
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Resources from Ms. Cheryl
Cheryl Smith, Director of Children and Family Ministries, has compiled a list of resources during this time at home. Click the link below to read. Email
cheryl@stjohnsnb.com
with questions or for more information.
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Virtual Sunday School
Join a Children's Sunday School Zoom gathering this Sunday, April 26, at 11:00 a.m. Ms. Cheryl will send the meeting info to families through email. Please join us and visit with your church friends and teachers.😊❤️
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Virtual Family Faith Night This Sunday Afternoon
A virtual Family Faith Night has been set up on Zoom for this Sunday at 4:00 p.m. We miss the fellowship and interactions with friends from St. John's! This time will be used to check in with everyone, see how things are going, receive prayer requests, and also share information and ideas that may or may not have worked for your families during this period of isolation and social distancing. Contact Shannon Drichta at
lt_redhead@hotmail.com
to participate or with any questions.
Children's Chapel
Each Sunday, Ms. Cheryl, Director of Children and Family Ministries at St. John's, will provide an online Children's Chapel lesson for everyone to learn and enjoy. The lessons are available on the
St. John's YouTube Channel
and will also be posted on Facebook and the church website.
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Children's Chapel lesson from Easter Sunday, April 19, led by Ms. Cheryl
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Youth Compline Every Sunday Afternoon
Emma Kypuros, Youth Coordinator, will have weekly Compline meetings for all youth, on Sundays at 4:15 p.m. and evening prayer on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. This is a good time to get together virtually so that we may still join in prayer and community. We will be able to connect on a lot of the things we're going through right now. It's a weird and uncertain time, but togetherness and intentional times set aside to practice our faith and prayer are even more important than ever.
Emma will send the Zoom invitation link each week before the scheduled time and will hopefully see all of your faces there. Other family members are welcome too! Email Emma at
emma@stjohnsnb.com
to sign up!
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EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND DWTX
| Announcements & Updates
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Primary Camp at Camp Capers
May 31-June 6, 2020 | Grades 3-5
This session is lead by Fr. Ripp! Summer camp at Camp Capers offers people ages 8-18 the opportunity to experience the unconditional love and friendship of a Christian community through each of our 1-week sessions. Through God’s grace, Camp Capers is committed to offering fun, life-changing experiences to children and youth in a safe, Christ-centered community. Visit
www.dwtx.org
Summer Camp page for pricing, scholarship info, and more details on Camp Capers.
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Family Camp at Mustang Island
June 11-16, 2020
Gather your family for awesome fun in a Christian community led by Fr. Ripp. Surf lessons, crafts, games, s'mores, music, worship, and more. $395 for family of one, $535 for family of two, $700 for family of three, $860 for family of four, each additional child $180 and each additional adult $270. Children 24 months or younger at time of session no charge. This includes 1 room, 8 meals per person and activities. Visit
www.dwtx.org
to learn more. Questions? Contact
lynn.corby@dwtx.org
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Please read the
attached statement
from the Diocese in regards to COVID-19 and the 2020 Summer Camps schedule and payments.
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2020 Vestry Members
Linda Lund,
Sr. Warden; Don Greer,
Jr. Warden; Jim Whitcomb,
Treasurer
Paul Anthony, Janet Guillen, Bruce Howard, Carol Lenker, Adrian Quintanilla, Tori Smith
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