Rev. Ginger experiencing 'imperfect' walking weather in Ireland.
08.22.18
Connect to God 
Earlier this month, I took a week away from St. John’s to travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland, where a friend and I walked parts of the beautiful Irish Coastal Path along the far north of the island. 

Ireland has weather. Lots of weather. Every day involved some combination of pouring rain, bright sunshine, wind, and fog. For each walk, I wore sunscreen, sunglasses, and a thick raincoat with a hood.

One morning, my friend and I were in the parking lot at the beginning of our day’s walk. The sky opened and it began to pour. Being a delicate flower accustomed to Marin’s beautiful weather, I suggested that we wait out the cloudburst, maybe have another cup of coffee. My friend, being Irish, looked at me like I was crazy: “This is Ireland. If you wait for the weather to be perfect to start walking, you’ll never walk at all.” 

And so we set off, one of us grumbling. The rain soaked through my pants and my rain hat kept getting blown off by the wind. But it didn’t take long for the storm to blow through. The sun came out (for a while at least), dried my wet clothes, and sparkled on the water. And my friend was right - I would have missed all of it if I had waited for perfect weather to get started.

In my spiritual life, I am also tempted to wait for perfect weather to start walking. I picture some ideal future moment when I’ll have all the time in the world to pray and listen more deeply to God. At that perfect future moment, all the spiritual things that are hard for me now will magically be easier. I will somehow effortlessly make it to Tuesday Christian meditation at 7:30am. I will naturally love my enemies and treat everyone with kindness. Now isn’t the right time - I’m too busy now - but surely one day…

But, as my friend said, “If you want for the weather to be perfect to start walking, you’ll never walk at all.” 

There isn’t some future moment when starting these spiritual practices will be effortless. There is not some ideal time coming when prayer will suddenly be easy, some future when I will never be distracted or busy. There will always be difficult seasons and joyful seasons in our life of prayer, in our life of service, in our life in Christian community.

Sometimes we just have to start walking and refuse to let the weather get in our way. So consider this fall where you are being called to walk. And even if the weather isn’t perfect, just start walking.
The Rev. Ginger Strickland, Associate Priest
Connect to Community
Welcome Sunday & Parish BBQ  All are invited to attend a BBQ on the lawn after the 10am service on Sunday, September 15. Welcome Sunday marks the official start of our Sunday School program year, as well as the return of the Chancel Choir to the 10am service.

Update: Parish Weekend Away The retreat is now full and enrollment has closed. A waitlist has formed. To have your name added to the waitlist, please contact Rev. Ginger via email or at 415.456.1102, x104.

Mark your calendars: Monday Bible Study is beginning again. We’ll start meeting on Monday, September 23 in the youth room from 1-2:30pm. This group is open to all whether you’re new to reading scripture or a regular participant.

Mark Your Calendars for St. John's Harvest Party: October 19 Join your fellow parishioners in a festive gathering of exceptionally tasty food, a well curated bar and a chance to celebrate the season with this special community. Tickets are $75 and will be on sale soon.

Interested in serving the youngest members of our parish?  Come to our Nursery & Sunday School Teachers/Volunteers Training this Sunday August 25, 11:30am-12:30pm in the Fireside Room. This is an opportunity for you to serve in our faith community. For more information, email Sandra Pathik, Director of Children’s Ministry.

Own a St. John’s pew. We have a few pews available in exchange for a donation to the church ($200 or more per pew recommended). Please email Rev. Chris if interested. The church cannot provide delivery.

Leave a legacy at St. John’s. An area church has received two homes this year from parishioners who left their homes to the church in their estates. One of the homes will be used as much needed housing for their associate priest. St. John’s would benefit greatly from such a gift. A home is just one of many ways to include St. John’s in your estate plan. St. John’s Cornerstone Society honors all those who have included it in their planned giving. Please contact Rector Rev. Chris or Director of Stewardship Emily McFarland to discuss leaving a legacy gift to St. John’s.

Tennis Fest 2019 . . . Love & Serve!  All tennis players, young and old, are enthusiastically invited to the beautiful Lagunitas Club for an exciting afternoon of tennis and fun on Sunday, October 20. More information to come.
Connect to Service
Every first Sunday of the month at the coffee hour after our 10am service, St. John’s parishioners make brown bag meals for our homeless and hungry neighbors. These meals are distributed through St. Vincent De Paul. Please let Rev. Ginger know if you’d like to join our great leadership team (shopping, set up, delivery). This is a great project for an adult or teen!

St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room: Serve hot meals and share conversation with those in need of food and community. Saturdays from 10:30am-1pm. To learn more, contact Becky Hlesbasko via email or phone, 415-846-1589 for details.

Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP) To view the volunteer schedule for the church, click here .
Connect to Children
Click here for Children’s Ministry Newsletter.

Sunday School for School Year 2019-2010 starts September 15.  Parents are encouraged to bring their kids to Sunday School every Sunday at 10AM. Summer Sunday School will end on Sept. 8th and the following Sunday, divided classes according to grade level will commence. 
Connect to Youth
SUNDAY
  • Church School @ 10AM - our Guest Speaker is Alice Sansone and she has an amazing set of stories to share. She worked with Bryan Stevenson as a young lawyer (see his book Just Mercy). They did incredible work pursuing death row inmate defense in the South.

  • Espresso Hr - after church, youth will be making drinks in the Parish Hall. If you are new to SJR, please come by for a free drink.

  • Confirmation Meeting - 11:30 AM in the Youth Room (latest email about program)
  • Our Class is full with 12 youth
  • 12 - Ella Broome, Allegra di Carpegna, Piper Egan, Charlotte Fishburne, Lucie Garbo, Josie Hohenrieder, Alex Mitchell, Henry Pratt, Tor & Annelisa Svensen, Cameron Taylor, and Isabel Waite.

Summer Youth Pilgrimage - to SOUTH AFRICA!
  • Informational meeting 9/22 at 11:30 a.m. in the Youth Room
  • If your youth is interested in going please email Tom
  • Fundraising opportunity for the Trip Sat. 8/31 in Eve (please RSVP to Tom)

  • Dates: June 13-26, 2020.
  • Cost 4K-ish, Commitment deposit of $100 due before 10/1
  • Join before 10/1 - have scholarship access
  • After 10/1 - you are responsible for full cost.
  • More details to come.

Summer Youth Pilgrimage Reflection
  • Sunday 9/22 at the 10 AM service. Come here our pilgrimage youth share stories from the trip.

NEW JUNIOR HIGH CHURCH SCHOOL PROGRAM starting 9/15/19
  • I'm starting a new morning Junior High Program for those 6-8 graders on Sunday mornings from 9-10AM. Suzanne Egan has volunteered to help as one of my teachers
  • Our program year starts September 15th with kickoff Sunday.
  • More details will be forthcoming, please feel free to email me with questions.
Connect to Music
St. John's Choirs for Adults & Teens
  • Our Chancel Choir is open and welcoming to all high-schoolers and adults who enjoy singing. The choir meets in the Parish Hall every Thursday evening from September to June at 7pm, starting on September 5. 
  • The Children’s Choir meets every Sunday from September to June after the 10am service for a short practice in the Sanctuary while parents enjoy coffee hour. Rehearsals this season will begin on Sunday, September 22. This group is for 2nd through 6th graders and sings approximately once a month at the 10am service, as well as for 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