The Word from St. John's Church (Week of September 5, 2021)

Sunday Schedule

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost | September 5

Join us for in-person worship at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Worship will continue to be livestreamed at 9:00 a.m. on Facebook and on the Worship Page of our website and available later on our YouTube channel.

St. John's Greeters

In accordance with the most recent city and diocesan guidelines, St. John's Covid-19 safety practices are as follows:

Masks must be worn at all times by all over the age of two years.
Pre-registration is not required to attend Sunday services.
Our professional and volunteer choirs are back, and they are fully vaccinated.
Congregational singing with masks in place is allowed.

The church doors open at 8:30 a.m. Free valet parking will be available for services, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We look forward to welcoming you to worship, either in person or online. Visit www.stjohns-dc.org for more information.

Nursery Schedule

Sunday, September 5, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Parish House Second Floor

While the basement nursery is still under construction, the nursery will meet in the Godly Play Classroom #2 on the second floor of the Parish House. Please note that infants and children are welcome at all worship services. Nursery care will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Sunday for infants and children up to age 3. Please register your children here. Reminder: Masks are required for all children over the age of two.

Bible Study

Sunday, September 5 at 10:00 a.m.

Online via Zoom or in-person in the Parish House Third Floor Conference Room

To attend by Zoom, please contact Jack Reiffer , who leads the class, for the link.

Worship Offering for Children

Click below for the Children’s Bulletin with coloring pages of stories from this Sunday’s scripture readings.

• Children's Worship Bulletin 1

• Children's Worship Bulletin 2

Kick-Off Sunday, with Music Festival Service at 11:00 a.m.

Sunday | September 12

Join us on Kick-Off Sunday for a Music Festival Service to celebrate the start of the new program year. The St. John's Choir and Parish Choir will be joined by festival brass and timpani to present a service of musical favorites. Hubert Parry's stirring coronation anthem “I was glad” and Charles Villiers Stanford's rousing “Te Deum in B-flat” will be complemented by a selection of favorite hymns with brass accompaniment. Bring a friend to church at 11:00 a.m. to join in the fun!

Book Group

Thursday, September 2, 6:45 p.m. | Online via Zoom

The September selection for St. John’s Book Group is The Night Watchman , by Louise Erdrich. We will meet online on Thursday, September 2 at 6:45 p.m. via Zoom for an in-depth discussion of this 2021 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, based on Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C.

If you love to read, please join us for an evening of discussion and socializing. All are welcome. For more information and for links to participate, contact Janet Edmond.

Faith & Race and St. John’s Going Forward

In 2020-21 we poured the foundations with Sacred Ground. Having had 60 members of St. John’s engaged in a year-long journey of internal and spiritual exploration, we need to figure out how to build on that foundation! So, we are now planning to go out into our local community while retaining a connection with the internal exploration that we will continue to undertake. We are excited to be able to give you some concrete news on what we will be doing:

First, we will launch the first of our quarterly Saturday morning Faith & Race Explorations on Saturday, September 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noo. The theme of the morning will be an exploration of “Truth and Reconciliation” as tool for community healing. Hazel Monae, who is the bishop’s new Missioner for Equity & Justice, will join us to help guide us through the morning. This meeting will be in-person, and there will be a mixture of plenary and breakout sessions using the full campus to ensure appropriate social distancing. Also, to the extent possible, we will provide a welcoming coffee, as well as a closing lunch. We believe this will be a wonderful way to start a discussion about what it means to be St. John’s, Lafayette Square in the aftermath of all that has happened over the past year, and to discover what we are being called to be. (This is open to everyone, regardless of age, and whether or not you attended Sacred Ground.) Please sign up here or contact the Rev. Will Morris with questions.

As you know, we are exploring ways to cooperate with WIN (the Washington Interfaith Network), on their work with disadvantaged communities in DC to help improve conditions. To remind you, there is a WIN meeting by Zoom this evening, Thursday September 2 at 6:30 p.m. that you can still sign up for here. Also, if you want watch the St. John’s meeting with WIN Organizers on July 29, you can still do that by clicking here. More details about possible projects will follow soon.

Finally, we will hold a second year of Sacred Ground for those who were not able to sign up last year. That will run from September/October to July 2022, and a virtual option will be available. We understand that this might sound like a large time commitment, but if you’d like to talk about the practicalities (as well as how great it is!) some of last years group coordinators would be very happy to talk to one on one. Please feel free to contact any of the following: Karen Eifert, Holly Sukenik, Andrew Clarke, Joanne Hutton, Jack Reiffer, Carolyn Crouch or Lisa Koehler.

To sign up for Sacred Ground, or for any questions on any of these items, please contact the Rev. Will Morris.

2021-2022 Church School Registration Now Open

Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (beginning in September)

We are planning to have a weekly 10:00 a.m. Church School hour again in person in September. Please register your children age three through grade six here by September 12. For more information, please contact Katherine Raab, our volunteer Church School coordinator.

Confirmation Class for Youth 2021-2022

Registration due by September 12

At Confirmation, the baptized make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to live out their Baptismal promises (Book of Common Prayer, page 412). Confirmands go through a period of learning, prayer, and discernment leading up to the service where a bishop will pray and lay their hands on them asking for strength from the Holy Spirit. This year, we've made a clearer and simpler path for Confirmation Classes. Confirmands are required to be in seventh grade or higher, commit to attending six classes, one retreat, and participating in one parish activity. Please register here by September 12 to participate. Click here for the Confirmation brochure. For more information, please contact us here.

2021 Fall Adult Inquirers' Class

Saturdays, October 9 and October 16

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

If you would like to be baptized, confirmed, or received into membership in the Episcopal Church at St. John's, join the 2021 Fall Adult Inquirers’ Class. The two-day class will meet on Saturdays, October 9 and October 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Rev. Rob Fisher, Rector of St. John’s, will lead the sessions. Anyone – newcomer or longtime parishioner – interested in learning more about our Christian faith and life, the Episcopal tradition, and the ministry of St. John’s Church, is invited to attend. For more information or to register, contact Kaye Edwards at 202-347-8766, ext. 317 or by e-mail here. Those who participate in this class, or have completed another inquirers’ class, may attend a Service of Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, November 13.

Ministry Fair

(New date) Sunday, October 10, after the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services

Celebrating Parish Committees, Organizations, and Activities

The Ministry Fair is a festive and welcoming way to recruit new people to parish ministries, to give newcomers a chance to see the variety of ministry happening at St. John’s, and to meet some of the outstanding lay leaders from our parish.

Sunday Worship Participant Retreat, Workshop, and Training

(New date) Saturday, October 23, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

St. John's Parish House and Church

St. John's clergy and lay leaders will be hosting a morning of prayer, retreat, and training, followed by lunch, for all who currently serve or who would like to be trained to serve in the Sunday worship services. This includes crucifers, acolytes, lectors, chalice bearers, flower guild, ushers, livestream broadcasters, and greeters. If you are interested in learning more about helping with any of these roles, please join us October 23. Click here to register. Please contact Holly Sukenik for more information.

Building Community: Outdoor Social Gatherings

To comply with safe Covid restrictions, St. John's will sponsor outdoor community events that connect parishioners away from the church campus. Options include cocktail parties on patios, brunches or suppers outdoors, picnics at parks, happy hour at a local establishment with an outdoor area, hikes, and bird watching.

Hosts will determine the type of activity they want to organize.
Hosts will choose a date.
Hosts will establish the number of guests they can accommodate.

We recommend that you set and advertise a limit (e.g., space is limited so the first 20 responses will be accepted.). If you are interested in hosting, please contact Holly Sukenik.

Sing with the Parish Choir

The Parish Choir is a group of dedicated volunteer musicians who provide choral music for the 9:00 a.m. worship service. Over the summer months, the choir meets at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings to rehearse for worship. Mid-week rehearsals will resume after Kick-Off Sunday in September. There is a straightforward voice trial for admission, but the main qualification is your interest in serving St. John's in its music program. Please be in touch with Brent Erstad, Director of Music and Organist, to learn more.

Upcoming St. John's Speaker Series Events

Sundays | September 12, September 26, October 3, October 17, and October 24

10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. | In-person in the Togo West Parlor or Church

and Online via Zoom

The Speaker Series will be held on the following Sundays in the Church and online via Zoom from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. After the discussion, there will be opportunity for Q&A. You need to register only if you are attending via Zoom. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link for the meeting.

All speakers will be in person at the church except for Secretary Albright, who will join us remotely.

September 12 : Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State of the United States from 1997-2001 under then-President Bill Clinton.

Click here to register for the Zoom link if you are attending online on September 12.

September 26: Ruth Marcus, Deputy Editorial Page Editor at The Washington Post. She will speak on Politics and Policy in Washington. Registration link to come.

October 3: Elizabeth Rule, Director of the AT&T Center for Indigenous Politics and Policy, Washington, DC’s only university-based research center dedicated to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian issues. She is also a Professor at American University. She will speak on Native American History and Contemporary Indigenous Experience in DC and Beyond. Registration link to come.

October 17: Mike Molina, Head of the Bishop Walker School. Registration link to come.

October 24: Dr. Rebecca Carter-Chand, Director of the Programs on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She will speak on Religion and the Holocaust. Registration link to come.

For more information and the schedule, visit the Speaker Series webpage here.

Dedications for Music Festival Services

We invite parishioners to sponsor extra musicians for Music Festival Services and other special events in the life of the parish. These generous contributions enhance our worship life and allow us to present large-scale musical works over the course of the program year. Sponsorship is recognized by a dedication on the title page of the bulletin for the given service. A list of upcoming services that are currently available for sponsorship is below:

Monthly Choral Evensong

St. John’s is excited to offer a service of Choral Evensong on the Third Thursday of most months. This weekday offering begins a new outreach ministry to the workday crowd in our neighborhood. Sponsorship Cost: $1,560 per service.

Music Festival for Kick-Off Sunday

September 12, 2021

Sponsor Brass and Timpani for a festival service to celebrate the start of the new program year. Repertoire will include a host of favorite hymns and choral anthems. Sponsorship Cost: $1,500.

Advent Lessons and Carols

December 12, 2021

Sponsor singers for one of St. John’s most beloved holiday traditions, the annual service of Lessons & Carols, sung by the St. John’s Choir. Sponsorship Cost: $1,048.

Festival Strings for Christmas Eve

December 24, 2021

Sponsor the string ensemble that enhances the beauty of our Christmas Eve music. Sponsorship Cost: $3,000.

Epiphany Lessons and Carols

January 23, 2022

Sponsor four additional singers to join the Parish Choir in a service of Lessons & Carols

for the Season of Epiphany. Sponsorship Cost: $500.

If you are interested in sponsoring a service,

please contact Director of Music, Brent Erstad.

Baptism Services

Sundays | November 7 and January 9

The next dates for Baptism and required pre-baptismal classes with the clergy are as follows:

Baptism: Sunday, November 7, 9:00 a.m. | Class: Saturday, October 30, 10:00 a.m.
Baptism: Sunday, January 9, 11:00 a.m. | Class: Saturday, January 8, 10:00 a.m.

Please note that the parents or grandparents of children being baptized must be active, pledging members of St. John’s. Adults interested in baptism for themselves must attend the Rector’s Adult Inquirers’ Class and be active, pledging participants in the life of the parish. If you are interested in having a child baptized, or in baptism for yourself, please contact Kaye Edwards.

We Are Hiring

Communications Lead

Program Assistant

St. John’s is looking for a Communications Lead and a Program Assistant, which are much needed part-time roles on our staff. While we do not hire parishioners, you can be helpful by spreading the word. The job descriptions are posted here and here.

St. John's Financial Highlights

Quarter 2 | 2021

Below are the financial highlights for St. John's as of June 30, 2021. Pledges, offerings, and program expenses as of the end of the second quarter of 2021 (Q2 2021) are compared to the 2021 annual budget. Contributions include all 2021 pledges; Offerings is the amount received during Q1 and Q2 2021, and Program Expenses include clergy salaries, program support, music, outreach, and education expenses incurred as of June 30, 2021.

To make a pledge or pay a pledge online, click here.