10.11.18
Connect to God 
A question that I am often asked and am not always very good at answering is “How do I become a member of St. John’s?” or “Am I already a member of St. John’s?”

I always feel that I should have a quick, clear answer - but any answer I give is necessarily vague and a bit wooly. Not because our theology isn’t clear on the question, but because the Episcopal Church is always trying to hold together two very important things.

First, that God’s love and welcome are extended to all, inside the church building and outside it. In an important sense, all this talk of membership and records is secondary to the true, living reality: everyone who enters into our common life of worship, service, and love is an essential part of St. John’s. Engraved on our cornerstone from 1910 are the words “A House of Prayer for All People,” and that is a core part of our identity.

Second, and in seeming contradiction, there is our belief that committing to being part of a Christian community is a very serious thing; that to be a part of a church asks something real of us - our time, our love, our talent and treasure.

And so we try to make our sense of membership expansive - and yet also indicative of the commitment it takes to live faithfully in community and the power of the sacraments that connect us intimately to God and one another.

Clear as mud? I hope the following explanation, taken in part from Forward Movement’ s booklet on "Membership in the Episcopal Church," is helpful.

All are welcome
Anyone who wishes to participate in the worship and activities of St. John’s Ross is welcome here, Anyone can become a part of this community as we share eucharist together and seek to draw closer to God in Christ.  

You are welcome here - you do not have to be a member or an Episcopalian to share in the Eucharist, to join in a service project, to take a class, to send your children to sunday school, or to pledge to the church.

Becoming a Christian
Some can point to a particular moment when we were overwhelmed by God’s love and grace and turned our lives toward Jesus; others gradually came to understand the faith in which they were baptized as infants as their own; still others have chosen, even in the midst of doubt, to throw in their lot with those who follow Christ.

However we arrive at the choice to turn toward Christ, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is the outward sign of this inward reality, and the moment that makes this inner truth concrete and real. The Episcopal Church recognizes as Christian all persons who have been baptized with water and in the name of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). To ask for baptism for yourself or for your child, please speak to one of our clergy.

Becoming an Episcopalian
If you’d like to learn more about the Episcopal Way and be formally welcomed into the Episcopal Church (whether you grew up Episcopalian or are new to it), you are invited and encouraged to take our confirmation class, which begins in the fall for teens and in the spring for adults. At the end of this class, those who wish can be confirmed, received (those who have been adult participants in another denomination), or reaffirmed (those who were confirmed in the Episcopal Church before but wish to recommit to their faith).
Becoming a Member of St. John’s
Formal members of St. John’s are all those who:
  • Participate in the life of St. John’s, including attending worship
  • Are a "giver of record" (meaning you make a financial commitment to support the work and witness of St. John’s)
  • Baptism is encourage for all members of St. John’s and required for certain types of service in the church (Vestry, Eucharistic Minister, etc.)
  • Members of St. John’s can vote at our Annual Meetings and serve on the vestry.

Wherever you are in your faith journey, I hope you find a welcome and a home here at St. John’s. To learn more about Baptism, Confirmation, or Membership, please feel free to speak to our Rector, Rev. Chris or to me at any time.

Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Ginger Strickland, Associate Priest
email Rev. Ginger
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Pastoral Note: The funeral for the Rev. Chuck Gompertz is Saturday, November 3 at 2pm.
Connect to Community
Join us today at noon for eucharist in the chapel. All are invited to a light meal and discussion in the Fireside Room following the service. Please RSVP to the church office.

The St. John¹s Men's Group will meet for breakfast this Saturday, October 13. We'll celebrate Eucharist in the at 7am in the church with the Rev. Skip Fotch, followed by breakfast and discussion in the Fireside Room. Our featured speaker will be St. John's seminarian John Sullivan , who is in his third year of seminary at CDSP in Berkeley. Prior to seminary John had a long year career in business and politics as a lobbyist, and he'll discuss his amazing change in career path. We adjourn promptly at 9am.  RSVP's helpful.

TURN: Pause, Listen, and Choose to Follow Jesus Explore the Way of Love this month: While on earth, Jesus showed us a way of living characterized by radically open, self-giving love. Each month between now and Easter, St. John’s will explore one faith practice that supports our living out this Way of Love. This month, we explore the practice of turning toward Christ in our day to day lives. 
TURN activities this month:
  • “Turn” Mini-retreat for all ages – Saturday, October 13, 10am-noon. Breakfast for all; Art and Bible Story program for children; exploration and reflection for adults. Please RSVP to church office.
  • Second Sunday Gathering, “Turn” – Sunday, October 14, 11:30am-12:30pm.
  • Baptism and Membership Class – Sunday, October 21, 11:30am-12:30pm.

Save the Date: Advent Quiet Day is on Saturday, December 8, 8:45am-4pm. Treat yourself to a day of quiet, prayer, and Eucharist beautiful St. Columba's Retreat House in Inverness. Led by Rev. Jan and Rev. Ginger. Signup details to come. MOVE TO BOTTOM

Interested in learning more about Scripture? A small group is gathering to study the Bible together - date and time TBD. Interested? Please email Rev. Ginger.

The 80s are back . . . injecting classic songs with a dose of God's love. The music leaders from the 9am service are hosting a song re-writing session. We'll be re-writing and trying out some of our favorite songs from the 80s to be performed at some upcoming 9am services. Bring your favorite song and some ideas on how you'd rewrite it to show God's love. Some ideas to get you started: "Open Your Heart" by Madonna, "Jump For My Love" by the Pointer Sisters, "What's Love Got To Do With It" by Tina Turner. Anything is open game, and talent is extremely optional. Feel free to dress up in 80s garb if that gets you in the right headspace. See on Sunday, October 21 at 10am in the Parish Hall.

Interested in Baptism for yourself or a child?  Participation in a baptism class is required for those desiring to be baptized and for the parents of children preparing for baptism, and is also open to those who are just curious about the meaning of the sacrament. The class will focus on the meaning of baptism and on how to integrate faith into your life (and the life of your child). We'll also talk through the logistics of the baptismal service. A short (approximately 1 hr.) online course follows this session. The next class will be offered in the Youth Room on October 21, 11:30am-1pm. Please RSVP to Rev. Ginger. Nursery care will be available upon request.

St. John’s 2018 Harvest Party: November 9 It’s going to be a fun gathering . . . tasty food, refreshing drinks, and great company! To build community and raise funds for all of our great services and programs, the party will include a variety of “experiences” to purchase like sailing excursions, group cooking lessons, poker night, hiking with a pick, and more.) The evening will include a Fund-A-Need event in support of our youth program.  (Child care provided.)  Tickets may purchased online here or by calling Emily McFarland, Director of Stewardship at 415.456.1102, x117.

United Market Community Cards Contact Church Administrator, Virginia Kosydar via email or at 415.456.1102, x102 for an United Market Community Card. When shopping at United show your card at checkout and 3% of your purchase goes directly to St. John's.

Support our Faith Community If you are inspired to help support the work of St. John's, please send donations to P.O. Box 217, Ross, CA 94957, give securely online via our website call Emily McFarland, Director of Stewardship, at 415.456.1102, x117.
Connect to Service
Join us at coffee hour to feed the hungry. St. John’s usually puts together brown bag meals for the homeless on the first Sunday of the month, but we have traded dates with another church this month in because pets and food preparation are a bad combination! Instead, joi n us on Sunday, October 21, at coffee hour after the 10am service. All ages are welcome!

Gilead House, which offers transitional housing to homeless single moms and their children, is in need of volunteers! Please email Rev. Ginger to volunteer. We are looking for:
  • Mentors for moms: after training from Gilead House, work one-on-one with a mom in transition. Listen, care, help with job research and resumes. (volunteers age 18 and up)
  • Mentors for kids: after training, attend a monthly gathering for kids and their mentors. Play, listen, encourage. Plan one other outing or activity per month with your mentee (volunteers age 14 and up)
  • Childcare volunteer: after training, care for kids onsite at Gilead as their moms take life-skills classes. A great chance to encourage, listen, and learn with a great group of kids going through a difficult transition. Tuesday and Wednesday nights, 6:15-7:15pm. Sign up for the days that work for you.

Serve hot meals and share conversation with those in need of food and community at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room. St. John's serves every second Saturday of the month and the last Saturday of the month from 10:30am-1pm. To volunteer or learn more, contact Becky Hlebasko via email or 415.846.1589.
Connect to Children
Dispatches from Sunday School
Class Hope (ages 3-7:) Our eager students started their morning by thinking about the last time they spotted a rainbow and colored their own rainbow (using whatever colors they wanted) to remind them that “God keeps God’s promises.” Each of them very distinctively remembered and described the last rainbow they saw. The children were excited to explore the story of Noah and enthusiastically helped recreate the experience…especially all of the animals climbing into our wooden ark two by two! As always, we closed our lesson with The Lord’s Prayer. 
-Sunday School Teacher Erin Budlong
Class Faith (ages 8-11:) This week we explored the Tower of Babel. Using clay, each child instructed individual towers or tributes to God. I asked the open ended questions of “would you think it’s worth the time and effort to try and construct a tower tall enough to reach heaven?” Great discussion ensued. We ended our lesson with the corresponding chapter from Genesis read aloud and pondered a bit more. As we end each lesson on Sunday, we picked up a rock from the middle of our circle, and verbalized to the group or thought silently about a burden we’ve been carrying this wee. We prayed for each other and then left the rock to the middle pile of other rocks, giving the burden up to the Lord and lightening our load of worries for the upcoming week.'
-Sunday School Teacher Suzanne Egan

Want to learn more about Sunday School? Join us for a Sunday School TEacher’s training on Sunday, October 28 from 11:30am-2pm in the Youth Room. Open to current teachers, those who are considering teaching, and those who just want to learn more about what the kids are up to on Saturday morning. The Diocese will lead a program on keeping children safe from 1-2pm. This program or the online version of it are required for all those who work with children or youth at St. John’s. 
Connect to Youth
 Youth Group Corner 

Youth Sunday Schedule:
  • Confirmation Class: 8:30 - 10 AM
  • Church School: 10 - 10:50 AM
  • Espresso Coffee Hour: 11-12 PM
  • Afternoon Youth Group: 12 - 3 PM
  • Evening Youth Group
  • Junior High 5 - 6 PM
  • Dinner 6 - 6:30 PM
  • Senior High 6:30 - 7:30 PM


If you have any youth questions please  email  Tom Fregoso, Youth Minister.
Connect to Music
Children’s music (choir and organ scholars) For kids who love to sing and enjoy participating with other musical friends, our Children’s Choir meets during coffee hour following the 10am service. This group will sing about once a month or so in the 10am service, assisted by the adult choir. Also, any child interested in helping Dr. Montgomery play the last chord of the postlude may come to the organ console before the 10am service to find out what to do, and then come up again during the final hymn to help with the postlude. It’s a fun thing to do – no experience required!

St. John’s Choirs (children and adults) Our Chancel Choir is open and welcoming to all high-schoolers and adults who enjoy singing. The choir meets on Thursday evenings at 7. Singers who want extra help with their parts can come at 6:15pm for sectional rehearsals. The Children’s Choir  meets every Sunday for a short practice in the Sanctuary while parents enjoy coffee hour. This group is for 2 nd  through 6 th  graders and sings approximately once a month at the 10 a.m. service. The children also participate in Christmas and Easter events.

This Sunday's Music  To learn what Music Director David Montgomery has to say regarding the music selected for this Sunday's service, click  here
Sundays
8am: Eucharist in the Church
9am: Family Eucharist in the Parish Hall
10am: Eucharist in the Church
& Sunday School
Mondays
Tuesdays
7.15am: Meditation in the Chapel
2nd & 4th Tuesdays 
6pm: Dinner Church in the Parish Hall 
2nd Thursdays
Noon: Eucharist in the Chapel  
Contact 
St. John's Church 
PO Box 217 
14 Lagunitas Road 
Ross, CA 94957

415.456.1102 

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