St. John's Church
giving of the keys to st. peter , perugino
Drew Willson Concert
Tomorrow Night

Join us tomorrow night (Friday, September 14) for an entertaining evening of original songs and stories with local songwriter Drew Willson featuring Richmond-based musicians and friends Jim Bennett (St. John's and Richmond Hill) on piano and Kevin Davis (Ban Caribe) on percussion.

For ten years, Drew Willson has been a minister in the United Methodist Church. He's currently serving at Trinity in the West End. For much longer, Drew has been a musician. From places like the Eastern Shore of Virginia to Atlanta,Georgia and Iona, Scotland, he has followed the muse to write and wrestle with all he has seen. Songwriting is the place where it all comes together.

Despite his day job, Drew tends to surprise listeners with the content of his songs. People, places, and humor abound without a lot of church talk. To quote a recent first-time concert-goer in Fluvanna, "I figured this was going to be religious music, but it was great!" Drew replied, "You know, I want to keep this interesting for myself, too!"

In the spring of 2018, Drew worked with Jim and Kevin to record and release a new album entitled Ritual Matters , the follow-up to Drew's 2016 debut Inviting Storms to Town.

Drew lives in Richmond with his wife, writer Shea Tuttle, and their two children. You can learn more at his website .

Friday, September 14
7:00 p.m.
St. John's Church
The concert is free and open to the public.
Donations benefit the St. John's music ministry.
Saturday is a Laundry Love Day

We need your help distributing coins and soap, folding laundry, and visiting with our neighbors. Laundry Love loves our neighbors one load at a time, providing them with clean clothes for free, so that they can direct their money to other necessary expenses.

Contact David Curtis for more information.

Saturday, September 15
11:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Richmond Coin Laundry
N. 25th & Fairmount
This Sunday, September 16, 2018
The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Program Year Schedule Begins this Week.
Nursery—9:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m  
                                        8:15 a.m.               Holy Eucharist (no music)
                                               9:15 a.m.               Adult Forum, Parish Hall
                                               10:30 a.m.            Holy Eucharist & Children’s Chapel, Keeper’s Cottage
                                               11:45 a.m.            Coffee Hour, Parish Hall


Sermons

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Annual Young Adult Cookout Postponed
The annual Young Adult Cookout scheduled for, Sunday, September 16, has been postponed due to concerns about the weather related to Hurricane Florence. Once we have determined a rain date, we will be sure to let you know.
From Amelie, with Love

Dear Friends,
         
One of the things I’ve been noticing more and more these days is the way that old friends, people who were really meaningful to me in different seasons of my life, keep weaving their way back in. The other day, I reconnected with one of these important friends, and we had a lot to share about our identities as priests, mothers, friends and spouses. So much had changed, and it was both challenging and enlivening to make the effort to articulate who each of us had become. After our exchange, my friend sent me the following quote - some thing she had stored away in her files:
 
“Knowing who we are is the key to everything. Only as we begin to know ourselves can we begin to know one another. The true nature of those with whom we journey becomes clearer to us as we become clearer to ourselves.”
 
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples in our gospel reading for this Sunday. It is a pivotal question, one that turns his friends from the surface of things to the depths. Peter’s answer seems to please Jesus, “You are the Messiah,” showing that Peter is grasping the bigger picture of Jesus’ mission and purpose. So, Jesus begins to teach his followers more openly about what lies ahead. Soon he will be not only be healing and teaching people, encouraging them in their suffering, but he himself will be the one undergoing immense suffering, even to the point of taking up a cross and being killed. They, too, will take up crosses if they are going to follow him.

“Whoa, wait up, what are you saying, Jesus? This is not what we had in mind!” Who among us wouldn’t want to interrupt our dear friend, stem the flow of such ideas as these? With Peter, we say, “No, Jesus, stop!” We’re not ready to hear this, to consider this, to live this.

For fear of what the response will be, we rarely take the risk to ask one another, “Who do you say that I am?” What if we hear more than we are ready to know? What if the way forward from the turning point of that question is too difficult to walk? To dare to ask someone else for unfiltered honesty, to offer our response with no pretense or ulterior motive or judgment, is to make an immense offering. And to receive whatever is given, without needing each other to be any more or less than we are, is to step more fully into the larger purposes of our lives. It is to become more fully ourselves.

“Who do you say that I am?” Be brave enough to ask that of someone you trust this week. Be brave enough to answer it, if asked of you. Trust that the true nature of those with whom we journey does become clearer, when we become clearer to ourselves.

 
In Christ,
 
Adult Forum Returns Sunday
“New Voices from Old Places: Emerging Christian Leaders”

To kick off the fall season, our Adult Forum will offer a three-week series on Christian leaders whose messages and ministries are breaking new ground in Christianity for the 21 st century. Members of our clergy and friends of St. John’s will share the stories of these emerging leaders, and they invite your participation and feedback. Child care is available.

September 16:     Bishop Michael Curry : The Jesus Movement - Sarah Kye Price, facilitator

September 23:     Bishop Carlton Pearson: The Gospel of Inclusion – Rev. Dorothy White, facilitator

September 30 :    Fr. Richard Rohr: Center for Action and Contemplation - Rev. Amelie Wilmer, facilitator

Sundays, September 16, 23, & 30
9: 15 a.m.
The Parish Hall
 Child care is available.
Wednesday Evening Faith Formation Continues this Week
The Letter of James: 
Be Ye Doers and Not Hearers Only!

Wednesday evening programming has returned with a three-week study of the Epistle of James. Once denounced as the “straw epistle” by Martin Luther for its focus on works instead of grace, the letter of James has been re-embraced for its emphasis on embodying the way of Jesus, rather than on reciting a set of beliefs or doctrines. In other words, “walking the walk," and not just "talking the talk.” 

Each evening begins with a simple supper at 6:30 followed by discussion at 7:00, and you are invited to join us for either or both.  Our next session will focus on Chapters 3 and 4 of the letter.  All are welcome; no advance reading is required. 

You may bring your own bible or use one from our St. John’s collection.

Wednesdays through September 19
Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Study & Discussion 7:00 p.m.
The Parish Hall
Pastoral Care Opportunity:
Take Lucretia and Mark a Meal

As you might remember from our announcement a few weeks ago, Lucretia Gorter and Mark Schnake recently welcomed their son, Henry, to the family. As they adjust to their new routine, Lucretia and Mark would appreciate meal deliveries.

To sign up to take them a meal, click here , or contact Sue Schutt for help signing up.
Knitting Resumes Tuesday, September 18

The Knitting Circle will resume its normal weekly schedule on Tuesday, September 18, at 10:00 a.m. in the Library. Anyone may join this close- knit group; you don’t need to know how to knit already to participate. Other crafts are welcome, and the knitters are eager to teach others this meditative art and are even willing to throw in the supplies needed to get newcomers started.
Remembering Bryan Anderegg
The memorial service for our beloved parishioner Bryan Anderegg will take place here on Saturday, September 22, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. with a reception in the Parish Hall immediately following. We hope you will attend. If you would like to serve at this service or assist with the reception following in the Parish Hall, please notify Patty Duffy .

Donations
to Episcopal Relief and Development
in Response
to Hurricane Florence

On Sunday, October 7, our loose plate offering will be designated for hurricane relief through Episcopal Relief and Development.

You may make gifts for hurricane relief before then by clicking here.
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 your donations in the wicker basket at the rear of the church at anytime. Thank you for your generosity in supporting First Fruits. Your living out the Gospel allows others to go to bed without being hungry.

First Fruits Sundays : First Sunday of every month. Bring non-perishable food items to church for donation to the Christ Ascension Food Pantry. This month, you contributed 243 pounds, giving us a 1,353 pound year-to-date total donation. That’s 90% of our goal of 1,500 pounds 75% of our way into the year.  The pantry currently needs canned fruit, canned pasta, canned chicken, soups, and cereal.
Next First Fruits Sunday—Sunday, October 7

Laundry Love : Third Saturday of every month from 11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Help do your neighbors' laundry at the laundromat at 25th & Nine Mile. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow, if you're able to help out. Contact David Curtis for more information .
Next Laundry Love Day— Tomorrow, Saturday, September 15

Outreach Meeting : To explore ways that you can be involved in St. John’s Outreach projects and to share your ideas about enhancing our efforts, please plan to attend the next Outreach meeting Tuesday, September 18, at 7:00 p.m. in the Library.
Shrine Mont Retreat: Two Slots Available

Two slots are still available for this year's Shrine Mont weekend, October 19-21 . If you were hoping to reserve a spot, p lease notify Patty Duffy to do so.

 Details about this year’s activities, fees, etc., are coming soon.
Reserve Your Spot in the Van Headed for Karla Hunt’s Ordination

Karla Hunt, a long-time member of St. John's, will be ordained as a vocational deacon Saturday, September 29, at Galilee Episcopal Church, Virginia Beach ( note change in location ). St. John's is renting a 15-passenger van to provide transportation for those who wish to attend. We will leave promptly at 7:45 a.m. from St. John's and should return to Richmond by 4:00 p.m. Please sign up online , or contact David Curtis to register or to ask questions.
Altar Flower Remembrances

We encourage everyone who is a part of the St. John’s community to remember or honor loved ones and special anniversaries and events by sponsoring the flowers at the altar for a specific Sunday. The cost is $30. You may pay via cash or check in the offering plate or in the church office, or through Paypal. Sign up for the Sunday when you want to sponsor flowers on the sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall foyer.
Next Vestry Meeting,
Tuesday, October 9,
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.
Save the Date: Blessing of the Animals

Please clear your pets’ dance cards for Sunday, October 7, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. when they will receive their annual blessing in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. All creatures are welcome; no exceptions. Please leash or cage your pets, and invite your friends to bring their pets, too.

Third Quarter Pledge Statements Will Be Mailed Early Next Month
  We will mail statements reporting your 2018 pledge payments and balance through the third quarter of the year during the first week of October. If you want a current accounting of your pledge balance before then, please contact Patty Duffy.
You Are Invited
to Sarah Kye Price’s Ordination

The St. John's community is invited to Sarah Kye Price's ordination to the transitional diaconate (all ordained priests are first and always ordained deacons).

Everyone is invited; no exceptions.

Saturday, November 10, 2018
5:30 p.m.
New Small Group Ministry
for the Victims of Abuse

Over the past year, there has been a growing interest among some of our members in forming a support group for those who are currently dealing with abuse or those who have been victims of abuse in the past. If you are interested in participating in a group that would meet regularly to read and discuss selected books on healing and transformation and to offer companionship, prayer, and mutual support, please contact Amelie.
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 prayer Sundays during communion.

Wednesdays
10:00 a.m.
Keeper's Cottage (to the left of the church)
To learn more, contact Carolyn Dallas

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.

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