St. John's Church
Jesus in the house of mary and martha , kennedy
Spread Laundry Love
This Saturday

We would love your help dispensing coins and laundry supplies, helping to run the machines, entertaining children, and being a friendly presence.  

Please contact   David Curtis   for more information.

Saturday, July 20
Richmond Coin Laundry
11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
This Sunday, July 21, 2019
The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

                                                  10:00 a.m.           Holy Eucharist
                                                                              Children’s Chapel, Keeper’s Cottage
                                                11:15 a.m.            Coffee Hour, Parish Hall
                                               4:00 p.m.           Inquirer's Class, Parish Hall
                     Nursery is available in the Parish Hall from 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.




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From Amelie with Love

Dear Friends:

During the season of summer, as many of us spend time traveling, visiting, and receiving visits from friends and family, we are given more occasions to experience the hospitality of others and to provide it, as well. In my own travels, I have learned much about what it means to offer true hospitality through the generosity of people who drop everything to make me feel welcome.

Our gospel story for this Sunday, is also about hospitality – the familiar story of Jesus’ visit to his friends, Martha and Mary, as he travels on his way to Jerusalem. The story begins quite simply: “As they continue on their way, Jesus enters a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomes Jesus into her home.” 

For those of us who know this story well, the fact that it begins with Martha welcoming Jesus with gladness, along with his entire group, is often overlooked. We tend to focus on Martha’s busyness, anxiety and distraction, not her open-hearted generosity. And yet, Martha really does have her heart in the right place! She does not dawdle, but gets to the work of hospitality in tangible ways.

Who among us doesn’t appreciate and depend upon the Marthas in our midst? What kind of dinner party would it be if guests arrived to a barren room, no refreshment on the table and no preparations being made? Martha sees what needs to be done and does it. What church, family or society does not benefit from her good heart and busy hands, her steady willingness to work?

But . . . Martha is unable to enjoy her gifts or be fully herself, to let her goodness flow freely, because she becomes distracted by comparing herself to her sister, Mary. Mary, too, welcomes Jesus—by sitting down, right there with the other disciples, by listening and being still. While Martha is busy with tasks, Mary carves out a new kind of welcome, creating space, confounding expectations, and watching for not-the-same-old-thing to happen.

Which one is right? Who shall we try to be, Martha or Mary? As I see it, the answer to this question is not “either/or,” but “both/and”. Which implies that Martha and Mary are not opposing sisters, but simply members of the same family, mutual parts of a whole. Without Martha, who would ever notice what needs to be done and get to work doing it? Who would help make a more welcoming world by taking specific actions toward that end? Without Mary, would we ever stop our frantic pace, calm our distracted minds, and listen for deeper wisdom to be given? Unless we nurture and respect both Martha and Mary, come to love them both and let them grow stronger within us, we might miss what God is calling us to do right now. No matter how messy or cluttered our interior home might be, company’s coming. Are we willing to let our guest teach us new ways?

In Christ,

Amelie+
Inquirer's Class
 
Our formation series is for those who are interested in learning more about the Episcopal Church or in becoming a member through Confirmation, Reception, or the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows. This year, we have 11 participants, and we invite the prayers of the congregation as they journey together.
 
The remaining four classes will be held on Sundays, July 21, 28, and August 11 and 18, all at 4:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
 
The series will serve as preparation for a service held at the Bishop’s office in the early fall. Please email Amelie directly with your interest or questions.

Wednesday Evening Programming


Join us Wednesday evenings for a series on Barbara Brown Taylor’s Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others. The evening begins with Centering Prayer, followed by supper and our discussion. You are welcome to attend any or all these evening offerings, and if you join us for dinner, you are invited to bring a side dish to share.  

This week we will be discussing Chapter 3 of the book, which is available in in paper or electronic versions via amazon.com or other booksellers. If you need assistance with the purchase, please contact Amelie. A few extra books have been ordered and will be available in the Parish House. If you are interested, please contact Amelie.

You are welcome to attend any or all of our Wednesday evening offerings, and if you join us for dinner, you are invited to bring a side dish to share.  

Wednesday Evenings
6:00 p.m. Centering Prayer
6:30 p.m. Supper
7:00 p.m. Discussion
The Parish Hall
Join Andrea Bleck-Smith for Gentle Yoga

Each Thursday, Andrea Bleck-Smith offers a yoga class meant for those who enjoy moving a little more slowly and who are looking to maintain or increase strength and flexibility. We focus on moving all joints and muscle groups, alignment, and breath awareness to maintain and restore balanced body function.

Students receive personal alignment suggestions and assistance as needed. Each class ends with a brief relaxation to balance the body.

$54 for a 6-week session or $10 drop-in per class.

Thursdays at 4:00 p.m.
The Parish Hall  
Thursday Evening Prayer

Attend Evening Prayer, according to the Book of Common Prayer, Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. in the Parish House, 2319 E. Broad Street (across 24 th Street from the Church). After prayers, you are invited to join other participants at a local restaurant for dinner. 

For more information contact Hannah Mawyer .  
National Night Out Ice Cream Social
Needs Volunteers (and Participants)

The Young Adults will sponsor our annual National Night Out Ice Cream Social in front of the church, offering hospitality in the form of ice cream to our neighbors while getting to know them better.

National Night Out is an annual, nationwide event, locally supported by the Richmond Police Department, that aims to lower crime rates by bringing citizens outdoors to meet their neighbors. It’s free and open to the public, so bring your friends and family.

If you’d like to help, please email Liz Broda . We need volunteers to show up early to set-up and to stay after to clean-up.

Tuesday, August 6
6:00 to 8:00 p.m
Corner of N. 24th & E. Broad
Next Evening Contemplative Service,
Saturday, August 10

St. John's offers a Saturday evening service the second Saturday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Each service includes Holy Eucharist, contemplative music, a quiet, candlelit atmosphere, and the rite of healing.

We hope you will find this service to be a relaxing supplement to your Sunday morning worship. Please consider inviting friends who prefer a more contemplative form of worship in the early evening.

Also, please consider serving at this service when you sign up for your service slots each month. 

Second Saturday of each month
5:30 p.m.
 St. John’s to Host a Service
of Lament, Reconciliation, and Commitment

St. John’s will host a Service of Lament, Reconciliation, and Commitment in observance of the 400 th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans at Jamestown and the lasting impact that slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, and white supremacy has had on our nation.

This service is sponsored by the Central Richmond Region of the Diocese of Virginia, of which St. John’s is a member. Bishop Susan Goff will preside. 

If you are interested in serving in worship or assisting with the reception that follows, please contact David Curtis or Amelie Wilmer.  

Saturday, August 17
5:00 p.m.
 It’s Almost Time to Reserve Your Spot
for this Year’s Shrine Mont Retreat

This year’s Shrine Mont retreat weekend is October 18-20, and the Shenandoah Valley in the fall is an extremely beautiful setting for connecting with friends, nature, and God.  Fittingly, this year’s theme will be An Altar in the World.  Details about activities, registration, fees, etc., are coming soon. In the meantime, if you are interested in attending or have any questions, please let David Curtis know.


Children’s Chapel now has an Instagram account: @stjohnsrvacc . 
Spotlight on Outreach

St. John's is committed to living our Baptismal Covenant
to seek and serve Christ in all persons,
loving our neighbor as ourselves
and respecting the dignity of every human being.
 

Ongoing Opportunities
Join the $5 Club : Pledge to spend at least $5 a month on non-perishable foods to feed others. Bring your donations on the first Sunday of each month, or deposit them in the basket at the rear of the church at any time.
 
First Fruits Sundays : First Sunday of every month. Bring non-perishable food items to church for donation to the Christ Ascension Food Pantry. Christ Ascension Food Pantry currently needs canned fruit and rice.  The food pantry always needs cereal, canned tuna, pasta, and peanut butter. Next First Fruits Sunday—Sunday, August 4

Laundry Love : This ministry takes place the third Saturday of every month from 11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m., at Richmond Coin Laundry, 25 th & Nine Mile, and defrays our neighbors’ cost of doing laundry so that they can direct their income to other necessities. We would love your help dispensing coins and laundry supplies, helping to run the machines, entertaining children, and being a friendly presence.  Please contact David Curtis for more information. Next Laundry Love Day— This Saturday, July 20.

Laundry Love Activity Table : The Outreach Team needs new or gently used donations for the kids' activity table at Laundry Love, a place for safe play and learning while parents are busy with clothes. Possible donations include:
  • addition/subtraction flashcards
  • Play-doh
  • simple puzzles
  • picture books, coloring books
  • markers, crayons
  • small Lego sets
  • simple craft supplies (pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, glue, etc.). 

A box for your donations is in the Parish Hall. This is an ongoing collection. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Broda.
Volunteer Opportunities

Thanks to all of you who have expressed an interest in offering your gifts, skills, and experience to support Re:Work Richmond , the new East End employment initiative that St. Peter's Episcopal Church launched this spring. 

New volunteer opportunities are continually being identified, and you are invited to complete one of the "Good Neighbor Network" cards now available in the Parish Hall. A basket for completed cards is in the Parish Hall, or you can send your card to the Parish Office at 2319 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23223.

To add your name to the Re:work email list or for any questions, please contact Diana Vasquez .
Strategic Plan Information Available

The Power Point presentation of this year’s Strategic Plan , including our goals and objectives and the tasks we have identified to accomplish them, is available here.

Hard copies are available in the Parish Hall.

We encourage you to view the slides and provide input as we work together to implement our shared vision for St. John’s in the year to come.
Sign-up to Sponsor Altar Flowers
While Slots Are Still Available

Only 4 Sundays remain available for altar flower sponsorship, thanks to our Senior Warden’s successful campaign to get us to sign up. 

If you would like to honor or remember someone with flowers at the altar, these dates remain: July 28, August 25, September 22, and November 3.

The cost is $35. Please send your payment and the name(s) of the person or people you are honoring or remembering to Patty Duffy in the church office. You can also send your payment through Paypal by clicking the button below.  
It is never too late for you to submit your pledge to support the ministries of St. John’s Church, either to the parish office, in the offering plate, or at our website .

Pledge cards are available in the back of the church.
Next Vestry Meeting,
Tuesday, August 13
at 5:30 p.m.
in the Parish Hall

All members of St. John’s Church are welcome to attend vestry meetings as observers. Minutes of recent meetings are posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall foyer. Please share your ideas or questions about the life of our parish with a vestry member.
Prayer Group & Sunday Prayers
 
Bring your prayers to the Wednesday morning prayer group. Pray with us silently or aloud as the Spirit leads you, and let us surround you with love and prayers. Find sacred silence and hear the still, small voice of God. Simply stop by the Keeper's Cottage any Wednesday at 10:00.

Prayer ministers also offer individual prayers Sundays during communion at the 10:30 a.m. service.

Wednesdays
10:00 a.m.
Keeper's Cottage (to the left of the church)
To learn more,   contact Carolyn Dallas
Sign-up at Kroger
 for the Good of St. John’s

St. John's participates in Kroger's Community Rewards program, receiving funds based on a percentage of total purchases made with Kroger cards linked to St. John's. To link your card, sign up here.

Use account code 81386 and click "Search.” Funds received support St. John’s ministries, and we are grateful.

Click here to read the 2018 St. John's Church Annual Report. You may pick up a hard copy of it in the back of the church or in the Parish Hall. If you have any questions about the report, please contact our Rector, Amelie Wilmer , or Senior Warden, Horace Dowdy.
St. John's Church
2401 East Broad Street







Office: 2319 E. Broad Street RVA 23223
804-649-7938

The deadline for submitting copy for the weekly bulletin insert and parish-wide email is Wednesday morning , but earlier is always appreciated. Please send your content to  Patty Duffy . Please note that content may be edited to accommodate space limitations and style guidelines.