Dear Friends,
Let me begin by thanking you for all of your efforts to keep one another safe as we deal with the new constraints placed upon us during this disorienting time. I want to keep you informed about the efforts we are taking at St. John’s to protect you and to protect our staff. Now that Governor Hogan has issued a mandatory closure of essential businesses and strict restrictions on public gatherings, we will continue to suspend all public worship at St. John’s until notified by Bishop Sutton that we can be together again. We have also closed our Parish Day School, but our teachers are hard at work developing lesson plans and teaching using on-line platforms. All our buildings have been sanitized and cleaned. Additionally, all our church employees, with the exception of essential personnel, will work from home whenever possible.
I am grateful that the closure orders allow for offering online worship from our homes and sacred spaces provided that we restrict those involved to 10 or less, involve no one who falls in a high-risk category, and practice physical distancing while we worship. We have been offering Compline each evening on Facebook, and this Sunday at 10:15 a.m., we will celebrate Eucharist on our YouTube channel. (If you do not have a Facebook account, you are still able to view the recorded Compline at approximately 9:30 p.m. each evening.) Links to our Facebook page and other worship services can be found on the home page of our website — www.stjohnsec.org. On Palm Sunday, we will livestream our Blessing of the Palms Liturgy on YouTube and you will be able to drive by the Historic Church from 10:30-11:15 a.m. to receive Palms. Palms with be sanitized and handed out by your Clergy who will be gloved and masked.
During this time, because we cannot partake of the Eucharist together, your Clergy will not partake of Christ’s body and blood. Instead we will pray the prayers of consecration and be in spiritual communion with Christ and each other. A spiritual communion is a personal devotional that anyone can pray at any time to express their desire to receive Holy Communion at that moment, but in which circumstances impede them from actually receiving Holy Communion. The prayer we will use is as follows:
My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. I love you above all things, and long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
(St. Alphonsus de Liguori, 1696-1787)
While we are working differently at this time, some things have not changed, including our financial responsibilities. Like you, we still have to pay our bills. I ask that you please continue to support St. John’s through your pledges and offerings during this time. If you give each week at church through envelopes or a check, please mail your contributions to the church office. You may also give online or by text. (Instructions are included further down in this
Blessings
e-news.) If you are experiencing financial hardship, know we understand; please call the office to let us know how we can help. While this is certainly a time of challenge, there are also new opportunities to “be the church,” to deepen your prayer life, to practice Sabbath, to make a difference in the life of someone new, and I encourage you to try on new ways of connecting with God and one another.
I have been so inspired and impressed with your creativity in continuing the work of the church in spite of the disruptions we are all facing. If you are feeling disconnected or are sick, please call the on-call Clergy phone at 443-538-2806 or email Clergy or Vestry members. We are all in this together and with God’s help, we will get through this together. May God bless each of you and keep you and those you love safe and healthy.
Your sister in Christ,
Rev. Ann+
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Please be sure to fully read all St. John's correspondence and check in to the
website
and our
Facebook page
for all the latest information.
Please note:
You do not need to have a Facebook account to access our page; however, non-Facebook users do have to wait until live stream has concluded before being able to view it.
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Throughout the week:
At 9:00 p.m. each evening, members of the clergy will offer Compline (a service of evening prayers) on Facebook Live. Other spiritual gatherings may take place as well. Those without Facebook accounts can view the evening's recorded service at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Link to St. John's Facebook page.
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This Weekend's Readings
Reflection
Sunday is the last Sunday in Lent. Today’s readings celebrate the new life promised to believers through Jesus, the Christ. Ezekiel announces that, at the word of the Lord, God will restore the people and breathe into them God’s Spirit. In Romans, Paul asserts that those who belong to Christ have Christ’s Spirit living within, enlivening and empowering them. Jesus demonstrates his power to give life by raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. As you read and reflect on our readings this week you are invited to consider the following:
- How is Jesus offering you new life in this unprecedented time? Feel free to post you answer’s on Facebook.
- In what ways are you preoccupied from seeing God’s purpose for your life?
- What metaphor would be descriptive of your yearning for spiritual renewal?
- What if anything do these stories do to restore your spirit?
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Faith Formation from Home
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St. John's Small Groups via Zoom
We have been convening St. John's Small Groups for the past year with over 30 folks taking part in this wonderful fellowship and community-building ministry. Given all that is happening in the wider world, we decided to move our current St. John's Small Groups to "virtual groups" via Zoom. This allows us to continue to be present with each other, explore our spiritual journeys, be open to scripture, and offer pastoral counsel to each other without interruption. Now, more than ever, we are seeing how crucial these groups are for folks. We would like to expand the offerings of St. John's Small Groups (via Zoom) to those who might be interested in joining at this time.
If you are interested, please contact Rev. Stephen Hagerty via email at
shagerty@stjohnsec.org
.
We would like to start these additional groups of 5-8 people as soon as we hit a critical mass of interest. If you have any additional questions, please contact Rev. Stephen and he can speak with you directly.
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Links: Other Opportunities & Resources
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- "Signs of Life: Why Church Matters" The Lenten Series we have offered at St. John's on Sunday mornings is available online at https://www.signsoflife.org/ The series is a joint effort of the Society of St. John the Evangelist — an order of Episcopal monks — and the Virginia Theological Seminary. This past Sunday's offering focused on Shelter.
- Living Lent: Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, well-known author and retreat leader, offers meditations on the hymns of the season.
- Candle Walk: A Bedtime Prayer to God: Author Karin Holsinger Sherman offers a beautiful illustrated picture book that prepares children for sleep by taking them on a candlelit wander through the woods and inviting them to experience the Compline, a centuries-old practice of contemplative evening prayer. Appropriate for toddlers through elementary aged children, Candle Walk is a wonderful way to prepare children for sleep, assured of the nearness of God. The Order of Compline from The Book of Common Prayer is also included at the back of the book.
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Ways to Support St. John's
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Please continue to support St. John's as you are able during this pandemic. You can send a donation or make pledge payments in the following ways:
1.) Mail your check to the Parish Office: 9120 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21043.
3.) Text "SJEC" to 73256. You will receive a reply with a link to a secure site to complete your transaction.
If you have not yet made your 2020 pledge, you can do so now
via this link.
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Campus Clean-Up Update
While the full campus clean-up was cancelled, the weeds have not gotten the message! We are now looking for individuals or single family groups (No mixed groups please!) to come to the campus during the week to help us work through the campus clean-up list. Most of the work is weeding and mulching beds. You will get plenty of fresh air and have space for social distancing. We can provide tools for a few people, but bring you own work gloves and hand sanitizer!! To schedule a time to come out, please contact Stu Scarborough (410-461-7793 ext. 117 or
sscarborough@stjohnsec.org
).
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J2A Mulch Sale Update
Spring has sprung and we still have mulch bags available for pick-up. Bags of 3 cubit ft of shredded brown hardwood mulch are still available. Support St. John's J2A youth and spruce up your yard and gardens before Easter (or after!). Bags cost $5.50/each. Reserve your bags. To minimize the amount of people picking up at once, please state your requested pick-up time in the comments when reserving your bags. You will receive a confirmation email with your pick-up time. Pay via check made payable to SJEC, marked "J2A Mulch Sale" on the memo line, and mail to the church office. Bags can be picked up at the back of the Historic Church parking lot. Thank you for your support.
Reserve your bags here.
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EASTER/SPRING BASKET MINISTRY ON HOLD; CAMP GIFT CARDS EFFORTS CONTINUING
While the Easter/Spring Basket Ministry efforts are on hold, St. John's Outreach Commission will be forging ahead with our Collington Square Camp Gift Cards initiative. We need your help as we cover the cost to send all children in 30 families to summer camp. The Club at Collington, which will run from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. throughout the summer, will include three meals a day. For $50 you can help all the children in one family enjoy a safe, nurturing, and enjoyable summer. For more information on how to make this donation, contact Diane Standeven,
dstandeven@comcast.net
or
Bonnie Sturm,
Bonnie_Sturm@yahoo.com.
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KENYA CONNECT 5K IS NOW A VIRTUAL RACE: Sat., March 28
It's not too late to participate!
Details
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While the coming weeks are uncertain, we do know that we will be celebrating Easter at St. John's (via online options). Therefore, we ask that you still help us decorate the altar so that we can fully experience the celebration of Easter in the manner to which we have become accustomed. Remember your loved ones both living and deceased by purchasing flowers for $30 each.
Following Easter worship, we have volunteers who are ready to deliver the flowers to the most vulnerable in our community, thus brightening their day as well.
Flowers will be shared with the sick, homebound; area hospitals, and nursing homes. Purchase flowers in one of the following ways:
- Mail a check (payable to St. John's) to the Parish Office at 9120 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, MD, 21042. Include with the check: 1) Your name; and 2) the name(s) of the person(s) in whose memory/honor the flowers are given. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY.
- Order online via the St. John's Member Portal. In the "Fund" box drop-down, choose "Easter/Xmas flowers." The online form does not allow for name recognition/submission, so once you complete the online purchase, you MUST email the names of the people being memorialized/honored to Yvonne Hollis at yhollis@stjohnsec.org.
- Text "SJEC" to 73256. You will receive a reply with a link to a secure site to complete your transaction. In the drop-down menu, choose "Easter/Xmas Flowers."
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St. John's Annual Meeting: Sun., May 3, 10:15 a.m.
This meeting will be a virtual meeting. Once plans have been set, we will share with you how this will happen. At the Annual Meeting, members will vote in our next Vestry members — the Class of 2023. There are five nominees.
Learn more about them here.
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Rebuilding Together: Sat., Sept. 26 * New Date *
Rebuilding Together is a one-day effort where we descend on a needy home and perform needed repairs. This event is one of the most rewarding services you will ever experience. Plus it's a ton of fun! This year our efforts will involve power washing, yard work, and various handyman tasks such as stair and deck repairs. We can use all levels of skill, but especially need handy persons! Youth are also highly encouraged! Come for the whole day or simply as much time as you can give that day.
Sign Up here.
Questions: Dan Wise,
dan.wise3@gmail.com
.
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Shrine Mont Retreat: Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-25
We are in communication with Shrine Mont and, as of today, we are still planning to have the parish retreat there on Memorial Day weekend. We believe it could be a welcome respite to be outdoors and among friends following our time of social distancing. The Shrine Mont planning committee will be meeting via Zoom on Saturday and will provide an update next week. Questions can be directed to Emily Murphy at
emilypmurphy@gmail.com
or Brynn Conover at
brynnconover@verizon.net
.
Learn more here.
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Join Bishop Sutton on a South Africa Pilgrimage of Creation, Reconciliation and Hope, November 6-18, 2020
We will travel to both Cape Town and Johannesburg, visiting historic sites related to Apartheid, President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We will tour the countryside, including nature preserves, whale watching and a safari. We’ll spend two nights at an Anglican monastery, but otherwise stay in hotels. Most meals and all transportation will be included in the price.
More information/registration.
Questions? Contact Sally Goss,
sallykgoss@gmail.com
.
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Join the Rain Garden Team!
Please join us to care for God’s creation and to help prevent runoff from affecting Historic Ellicott City. Have a green thumb or just like to work outdoors? Our campus rain gardens are in need of a team of volunteers to maintain them. Join us for a training session on May 17th. If you are interested in joining us for the training or can help with the gardens, please contact Nancy McAllister (
nancymcallister@yahoo.com
) or Mike Runge (
mcr5@comcast.net
).
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Please keep the following people in your prayers:
Alma, Deb Avant, Barry Baker, Robyn Bates, Jean Belknap, William Eric Boin, David Bryant, Barbara Burris, Bob Cecil, Oliver Chang, Melissa Chavez, Krista Chepulis, Matt Cremen, Laura Davis, Jeffrey Edmonds, Leslie Edmonds, Steven Edmonds, Brian & Melissa Ellison, Mary Fyock,
Debi Gable
, Ralph Gallaway, Amy Gebhard, Matthew Gebhard, Tom Goetting, Gary Good, John Green, Frank Grondahl, Rose Haak, Jennette & Richard Hamilton, Natalie Cox Hennes, James Houston, Nancy Hurd, Sarah Hustead, Jennifer, Joe, Joel, Chris Jones, Terry Kreft, Cathy Kulpinski, Christine Lee, Robert Lippold, Michelle Long, Nancy Maestri, Jim McCormick, Latrell McGregor, Emily Mello, Carol Mello, Tom Merson, Joe Mickiewicz, Charles Miller, Bob Monouski, Johnny Morris, Bill Mulligan, Stephen Norris, Su Patterson, Famebridge Payne, Diane & John Poynor, Lauren Ralston, Maureen Reddy, Ruth, Marilyn Scala, Connie Scholl, Heather Schwenk, Eric Scott, Shirley & Jack, Pam Sikora, Patricia Stebbins, Sue, Aaron Tagbo,
Karin Tourtellotte,
Verity Truby, Jennifer Tang Turner, Victoria Weimer, Jonathan Weston-Dawkes, Allen "Mitch" Wright, and Jerry Yatsko.
For those who have died:
Thomas Wilkes, brother of Carl Weinberger
For those in harm's way:
Jonas Kelsall, Keith Scharnhorst, Barry Weimer, Kristina Randazzo, Nik Haddock, Chris Peterson, Mike Jackson, and Scott Geist.
For health care professionals, first responders, business workers, and others out caring for the needs of us during this uncertain time.
Our community shares the compassion of prayer with members and beyond. To have someone included on our prayer list, you may: Complete a prayer card found at the Welcome Centers and give it to one of the clergy; Contact the Parish Office by phone; or Email your prayer request to: Tracey Stone at
tstone@stjohnsec.org
. Names will remain on the prayer list for 30 days. After the initial 30 days, if you wish to have a name stay on the list, please re-submit your request.
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St. John's Parish Day School
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Summer Camp: June 8-Aug 14, 2020
SJPDS offers 10 fun-filled weeks of camp for children
ages 3 1/2 to entering Kindergarten in fall 2020
. Starting June 8th to August 14th, each week explores a unique theme that’s sure to spark curiosity, a love of learning, and more! We offer choices for Full Day and Partial Day sessions. Plus, Before and After Care is available. Choose your favorite week(s) and choose what session(s) fit your needs! Register online at
https://www.stjohnspds.org/summercamp/
.
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ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH • ELLICOTT CITY
Office: 410.461.7793 • Pastoral Emergencies: 443.538.2806
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