What’s Happening at
St. John’s Episcopal Church



11201 Parkfield Drive, Austin, Texas
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
A Letter from our Interim Rector

Letter to the Congregation
Wednesday, April 15, 2020

He is risen indeed!

Easter blessings to all! Keep your decorations up at home, Easter is a season of 50 days! I know, I never did find the box with my decorations; however, I knew exactly where the decorations were that were my mom’s; so it was special to have those sitting around.

My special thanks to Bill, Phillip, Catherine, Fay, Victoria, John and Alfonso! I know all of you put hours and hours into bringing the beautiful worship that was offered from St. John’s from Palm Sunday through Holy Week and Easter! I found that there was a beauty in the simplicity that brought us back to what the Easter journey actually is in our lives. The chapel looked absolutely beautiful! Thank you, Catherine! In the midst of the Corona virus, our chapel has experienced an incredible revival and become an anchor for all of us!

I’m writing this message on Monday, April 13. I really can’t believe it has been a month since one of Bp. Andy Doyle’s early memos to the clergy and leadership of the Diocese. He shared then, “When we gather we share the virus. Dr. Peter Pisters, president of MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dr. David Callender, president of Memorial Hermann, were very clear: ‘This is not about the food, nor about the bread and wine, and not about the pews and plates. This virus is spread from human crowds and gatherings.’” And so it has spread and we keep learning more about this virus. We also keep learning more about ourselves, as a worldwide community now, for the most part, socially distanced from one another. And, as we begin this Easter season, I believe we have learned and will continue to learn, God is in our midst and, indeed, we are His children. His children for whom he loves and cares for incessantly.

This letter and e-blast will probably come out on Wednesday, April 15. A date always marked with civic responsibility as the income tax deadline. Even that has been postponed until July 15! I always remember the date as the anniversary of my Baptism which was April 15, 1956 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Louisville, KY. Much more pleasant connection with the date!

So, as we move through the season of Easter, and do our best to abide by regulations; may we be reminded that when we were baptized, commitments were made with the response, “I will, with God’s help”. We will be paced and prepared with God’s help. Those of you who have a Book of Common Prayer at home, I invite you to go to the Daily Offices of Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Order of Worship for the Evening, Daily Evening Prayer, Compline, and Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families; found on pages 37-144 in the BCP.

Beginning this Sunday, April 19, our Sunday morning worship will be The Daily Office, Morning Prayer. Why the change you may ask? Cradle Episcopalians and those that have been in the church a long time will remember when Sunday morning services were Morning Prayer. Holy Communion was offered every other week, or once a month, or in some churches whenever there was a fifth Sunday. This all changed with the introduction of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

On April 6, the clergy and leadership of the Diocese received an abstract from Bp. Doyle to define what is The Episcopal Church’s Eucharistic Theology. I have tried to summarize in a couple of paragraphs a 22-page document obviously written after a great deal of prayer, thought, research and processing. I thought it was important to share this with all of you so you too know the thoughts and beliefs of our Bishop Diocesan. May you, too, take time to pray and reflect over these thoughts and beliefs.

The essence that challenges “‘Who is praying the Eucharist?’ and “The Eucharistic prayer is reunion theologically—a coming together of people who have been apart” is enlightening in this time of physical separation of the body of Christ. “The summary of ‘liturgical voices’ imply, infer, and assume that the body of Christ is present in the making of the eucharist through the gathered community…It is a prayer made by all together and has been from the beginning…We are gathered virtually, but we are not reunited…This [all] brings into question the motion of virtual Eucharistic life…We are meant for each other, and we are meant to be together…What I mean here is that the Eucharist itself is not meant for individuals alone…What we do in this moment matters because it matters how we do it at all times.”

Bp. Doyle goes on to say,”I believe that the most appropriate act of worship given physical distancing is the Daily Office…Meeting together virtually where we can hear each other’s “real time” responses and voices is the very best form of such virtual daily prayer…Let us long for reunion. Let us pray together for our return to our churches and missional communities.”

As your Interim Rector, I believe we at St. John’s have been very compliant. Worshiping the first half or the Liturgy of the Word is still acceptable; however, worshiping the liturgy of The Daily Office is not only more fitting at this time but is an opportunity to “learn and live” this beautiful service; and for longtime Episcopalians to be “reacquainted” with our beloved Daily Office.

All of our virtual services have been “live time” except one, the Good Friday service in Spanish at 7 pm, which incorporated a beautiful Stations of the Cross actually using the stations from inside the church with voices across the country. By the way, check our webpage; you, too, can walk the Stations of the Cross in English, using our own Stations.

Thank you all for your patience, prayers, and perseverance. May God continue to bless and keep each one of you healthy and safe in these challenging times. Please feel free to call, text or email me if you have any questions, or if I can be of assistance.

Faithfully,
Ann+

The Rev. Ann McLemore
Interim Rector
Email: mclemore.a@gmail.com
Cell: 769-257-2377
Easter Message from Bishop Andrew Doyle

Sunday Services at
St. John's
We are finding different ways to worship.

All Sunday s ervices are being live streamed from our Chapel:

10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer in English
12:00 noon Morning Prayer in Spanish
You can participate in our live stream videos by clicking this button to go to the St. John's Facebook page:
This will take you to the "videos" tab on the left side of the Facebook page. When the red box like the one below appears next to "videos", click on it.
If this doesn't take you to the live video, try using the "refresh" button at the top of your screen.

The live stream for each service will be available approximately 5 minutes before the start of the service.
 
Recorded video from all services will be posted on YouTube later in the day. Links to the YouTube videos will be posted on Facebook and on our website ( www.austinstjohns.org) .
Meanwhile in the Parish Hall ...

While we have been away, our Junior Warden, Hal Hughes, has made arrangements for the floors to be stripped and waxed, and the carpet to be steam cleaned! Huge shoutout to Hal and his crew!
Caring for Each Other

If you, or someone you know, need prayer or would like to be contacted by the church, please contact the Reverend Ann McLemore at 769-257-2377 or RevAnn@austinstjohns.org to add names to the Prayer List.
Prayer during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Most merciful and Triune God, you are the source of love and healing: We come to you in our weakness and our fear. We put our trust and hope in your hand as we turn to you in our time of need. We pray for wisdom for medical professionals, understanding and insight for scientists, compassion for caregivers. We pray for health and stamina for providers of food in the grocery stores and food banks, on the farms, in the distribution centers. We give thanks for all the people who keep our communities stable. We pray for families who are in distress, who grieve for their loved ones, who are finding new ways to love one another. We especially pray for those who are ill that they may restored to health. We pray for those who face death and those whose loved ones have died. We lift these prayers to you, O Lord God, in the name of Jesus, who with you and the Holy Spirit is the blessed source of healing love. Amen
Need Help?

Please, if you find that you need help financially, with food, spiritually, emotionally, do not hesitate to call Deacon Victoria (512-297-5953) or Rev. Ann (769-257-2377).

We are a church family; when a family member needs assistance we want to try and help that member.
Wednesday evening study -
The Apostle

The video sessions will resume on Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 p.m.

Use this button to join the Zoom meeting:
Or join the meeting by phone. Dial +1 346 248 7799
and enter the following information when prompted.

Meeting ID: 911 3530 6998
Password: 123395
Celtic Saints

The video sessions will resume on Thursday, April 16, at 10:00 a.m.

Use this button to join the Zoom meeting:
Or join the meeting by phone. Dial +1 346 248 7799
and enter the following information when prompted.

Meeting ID: 985 8916 7811
Password: 435351
HEB Grocery Delivery for Seniors

Limited to 25 items; same day delivery; $10 tip added to bill

Directions:

Call the Support line (833-397-0080) 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

OR

Stand up and be counted!

Or turn on your computer as the case may be. The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.

The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

It's also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.

There's also a pdf coloring book for kids which you can download!
Giving at St. John's

People have asked how to continue their giving as the ministry of the Church continues.

There are several ways you can continue to give:

Mail your check to the Church: St. John's Episcopal Church, 
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493

Go to your bank's website and set up direct payment - the bank will send a check directly to St. John's using this address: 
St. John's Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493

Use this link to pay online through our website: Click here to donate online

Use this button to go directly to our online giving site:
We  are asked as a Church to make Good Friday offerings to support the ministry of the dioceses of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. You can still make a donation through St. John's by using one of the links above or mailing a check to the church.

Our contributions are used to assist them to promote peace and mutual understanding through pastoral care and health and educational programs throughout the region.
Missing your Book of Common Prayer?

All Daily Office services are in the Book of Common Prayer. Don't have one at home? Here is a link to The Book of Common Prayer online:



Only Rev. Ann and essential support staff will be in the Chapel for the streaming of services as w e continue to follow the direction of government officials and the guidance of our Bishop.

All meetings and activities at St. John's are temporarily suspended.

Ministry continues. All St. John's meetings will be held virtually (via Zoom).

We will post a notification here, on Facebook, and on our website when this restriction has been lifted.
Virtual Sunday Services
10:00 am in English (Facebook)
Mediodía en español (Facebook)
For more information about events at St. John’s,
please visit our website at www.austinstjohns.org