What’s Happening at
St. John’s Episcopal Church
11201 Parkfield Drive, Austin, Texas
Sunday, March 29, 2020
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A Letter from our Rector
Our meditation for March 24, in our booklet “Living Well through Lent 2020,” challenges us to have “the Courage to Let Go of Perfectionism.” Richard Rohr’s comment on this thought is “The only true perfection available to us is the honest acceptance of our imperfection.”
Ah, how timely! As we struggled throughout the day: John Williams, Victoria Mason, Fay Jones, Bill Cox and myself as to how would we best deliver worship this coming Sunday abiding by our Mayor’s requests, our Bishop’s direction, and our own technical inadequacies! Would we be filming inside (like last week), would we be zooming the service from home? How would that work for all? Back and forth we went most of the day. On page 8 of the Mayor’s decision, it speaks to the fact that clergy and church staff may travel to the church in order to offer virtual services there. So, unless there are further changes, this Sunday we will use the same format as last Sunday.
I just wanted to share this description from the meditation, “Perfectionism is not in any way the same thing as striving to be our best selves and striving to do the right thing. Perfectionism can actually cripple us and prevent us from
striving to be our best, like when a child who is constantly criticized for not living up to some perfectionistic standards may give up and stop trying…As people of faith, our belovedness is not something we earn or achieve. We are beloved by God because we are God’s children. Knowing and truly internalizing this is key to letting go of perfectionism.” Is this a time to let go of something in your life? What might help you let go?
God is working through each one of us right now in the midst of all of this confusion, fear, and not knowing – he is working through us, His children.
See you all this Sunday – online!
Faithfully,
Ann+
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Sunday services at St. John's
We are finding different ways to worship.
Sunday services of Holy Eucharist will be live streamed from our Chapel at 10:00 am in English and at 12 Noon in Spanish.
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Go to the St. John's Facebook page
(
Click Here
)
and scroll down to the “Videos” section of the page. The livestream for each service will be available approximately 5 minutes before the start of the service.
Video from all services will be posted on YouTube as soon as possible on Sunday afternoons. YouTube links will be posted on Facebook and on our website (
www.austinstjohns.org)
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Do YOU sew?
Ministry continues! Here are two opportunities to help support medical personnel in our community. There are not enough protective masks to meet the needs. Making protective masks is a great way to help during this critical time.
Thanks to Carol Acurso, here is a link to a program which provides safety masks for healthcare workers:
and another one from Deacon Victoria:
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Caring for Each Other
As we journey through this difficult time of "social distancing" and requirements to stay at home, it is ever more important to stay in touch with, and pray for, each other. To this end, many people are checking in with friends and family on a regular basis.
It is also important for the church, as the church, to stay in touch, especially with our vulnerable and more "at risk" members. Your vestry has taken on the ministry of calling certain members of the parish regularly, in order to ensure they are cared for. This also provides an opportunity to pray together.
We also continue to pray for our regular prayer list, both during Sunday worship and by the Daughters of the King.
If you, or someone you know, need prayer or would like to be contacted by the church, please contact the Reverend Ann McLemore at 769-257-2377 or RevAnn@austinstjohns.org to add names to the Prayer List.
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Giving at St. John's
People have asked how to continue their giving. The ministry of the Church continues.
There are several ways you can continue to give:
Mail your check to the Church: St. John's Episcopal Church,
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493
Go to your bank's website and set up direct payment - the bank will send a check directly to St. John's using this address:
St. John's Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493
Use this button to go directly to our online giving site:
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Missing your Book of Common Prayer?
You can also download an electronic version, available for iPhone and Android, which "provides interactive access to the liturgies, Daily Office, and associated lectionaries used in the worship of the Episcopal Church according to the Book of Common Prayer."
Click here to go to eCP
There is a cost of $9.99 for this app.
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Although this is a difficult time to "do church", we at St. John's are making it happen! Quite a few people joined us online last Sunday, and we hope for more participation this week.
Please note: The church buildings are closed until further notice! Only Rev. Ann and Bill (technical support) will be in the chapel for the streaming of the Sunday services.
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Lent and Easter
The Wednesday evening programs are suspended. Although we can't do virtual soup, we are trying to develop some way to do a Lenten program online.
See below for more information about Holy Week.
Sunday, April 5 Palm Sunday (virtual)
Thursday, April 9 Maundy Thursday (virtual)
Friday, April 10 Good Friday (virtual)
Sunday, April 12 Easter Day (virtual)
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All services through Palm Sunday and Holy Week will be broadcast from the St. John's Chapel.
Here is the Holy Week schedule:
Palm Sunday - we will have palm fronds and instructions for making your own palm crosses available outside the church. More information with be forthcoming as these plans are finalized. Services will be broadcast from the Chapel at 10:00 am in English and 12 Noon in Spanish.
Maundy Thursday - the service will be broadcast from the Chapel at 7:00 pm in English.
Good Friday - the Good Friday liturgy will be broadcast from the Chapel at 12 Noon in English and 7:00 pm in Spanish.
Easter Vigil - We invite you to participate in either the Christ Church Cathedral (Houston) or National Cathedral (Washington DC) services. We will post more information as it becomes available.
Easter Day - we will celebrate the Resurrection. Services will be broadcast at 10:00 am in English and 12 Noon in Spanish.
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All meetings and activities at St. John's are temporarily suspended.
Ministry continues. All St. John's meetings at St. John's will be held virtually (via Zoom).
Christian Formation classes for adults and youth are suspended until further notice.
Fellowship, refreshments, and Convivencia will resume when we are able to return to our regular service schedule at the church.
We will post a notification here, on Facebook, and on our website when this restriction has been lifted.
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Virtual Sunday Services
10:00 am in English (Facebook)
Mediodía
en español (Facebook)
For more information about events at St. John’s,
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