Sunday Schedule
The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost | October 31
We invite you to join us on Sunday, October 31, for worship. Please see below for a complete list of Sunday services and events.
Worship

  • 7:45 a.m. Spoken Eucharist. 
  • 9:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist
  • 11:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist, with livestream (new time) on Facebook and the Worship Page of our website. The service will be available later on our YouTube channel.

Masks must be worn at all times by everyone over the age of two years. 
Congregational singing with masks in place is allowed.

Church doors open at 7:30 a.m. Free valet parking will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We look forward to welcoming you to worship, either in person or online. Visit www.stjohns-dc.org for more information.
For our Children: Nursery Care and Worship
There will be no Church School this coming Sunday, October 31.

Nursery care is available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Sunday in the Godly Play Classroom #2 located on the second floor of the Parish House. Our Nursery welcomes infants and children up to age 3. Please register your children here. Reminder: Masks are required for all children over the age of two.

Children’s Bulletin are available by clicking the links below.

Bible Study Class
10:00 a.m. | In person in the Parish House Third Floor Conference Room
or Online via Zoom
To attend by Zoom, please contact Jack Reifferwho leads the class, for the link.
Diaper Drive
Sunday, October 31
This week is the final one for the St. John’s Book Club’s Diaper Drive. One in three mothers has reported running out of diapers for their child; mothers living in poverty report this at a higher rate (36%) and on a regular basis (monthly). After reading the book Broke in America, the Book Club has undertaken to help address this problem. The Book Club will accept diaper donations, cash, checks, and credit cards. If you have not already contributed to their efforts, please see them at the Diaper Drive table on the plaza after the service and find out how you can help. Please contact Holly Sukenik for more information.
Continuing our Sacred Ground Journey
Washington Interfaith Network

  • On Sunday November 14, Amy Vruno and Sidra Siddiqui from WIN, together with our own John More, will talk at the Speaker’s Forum about the history of WIN, and St. John’s long involvement; about what WIN is doing now; and about some of the opportunities we will have in the coming year for involvement. We also hope to have some residents, with whom WIN has worked from DC public housing, speak about how WIN has helped them.

  • We will hold a training by WIN personnel for those interested in getting more involved (including as community organizers) in the church on Tuesday, November 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
 
Second Year of Sacred Ground

We now have three groups formed, and emails are going out from the co-facilitators to group members to arrange the first meeting early in November. There may, however, still be possibility of squeezing in one or two more people!
 
Race & Faith Meeting
Saturday, November 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Hazel Monae, the Bishop’s Missioner for Equity and Justice, has rescheduled our first Saturday morning Faith and Race Exploration with the theme of “Truth and Reconciliation” as a tool for community healing. We will meet on Saturday, November 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The session will be in person with a mix of plenary and breakout sessions. Coffee and lunch will be provided. This is open to all, regardless of age, and whether or not you attended Sacred Ground. Please sign up here.
 
For questions on any of the above, please contact the Rev. Will Morris.
Midweek Music Resumes with Air Force Strings
Wednesday, November 3, 12:10 p.m. in the Church
Our Midweek Music Series (formerly First Wednesday Concerts) resumes on Wednesday, November 3, at 12:10 p.m. and will run for 35 minutes with a return performance by the Air Force Strings. Please join us to celebrate the return of our lunchtime concert series.

For more information, please contact Director of Music, Brent Erstad.

Upcoming Performances

December 1: The Navy Sea Chanters
The official choir of the United States Navy

January 5: The Polyphonist
The District’s newest professional vocal quartet

February 2: Samantha Scheff
Associate Organist of St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square

March 9: EYA Ensemble
Women’s vocal ensemble re-envisioning medieval music

April 13: Charlotte Stewart, mezzo-soprano with Baroque Orchestra
Antonio Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater for Holy Week

May 4: Andrew Brown, tenor & Brent Erstad, piano
Music of Francis Poulenc and Jake Heggie

June 1: Celtic Aire
The premier Folk Ensemble of the United States Air Force
All Saints Sunday Remembrance of Those who Died in the Past Liturgical Year
The deadline for sending in names is Monday, November 1
The names of those who have died during the past liturgical year (since November 1, 2020) will be listed in our All Saints Sunday Service bulletin on November 7. If you would like a name included in this remembrance, please email RJ Gravina.
Memorial Service for Dace Vidins
Thursday, November 4 at 11:00 a.m.

A service in memory of parishioner Dace Vidins, who died August 9, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 4, at St. John's.

All are welcome to attend the memorial service and a reception immediately following.
Book Group
Thursday, November 4 at 6:45 p.m.
The St. John’s Book group will meet on Thursday, November 4, at 6:45 p.m. via Zoom to discuss The Nickel Boys: A Novel by Colson Whitehead. Based on the story of Dozier School, a hellish reform school in Florida that operated for 111 years and had its history exposed by a university's investigation, TIME magazine named it one of the best books of the decade. If you love to read, please join us for an evening of discussion and socializing. For more information and for links to participate, contact Janet Edmond.
Baptism Services
Sundays | November 7, January 9, and February 27
The next dates for Baptism and required pre-baptismal classes with the clergy are as follows: 

  • Baptism: Sunday, November 7, 9:00 a.m. | Class: Saturday, October 30, 10:00 a.m.
  • Baptism: Sunday, January 9, 11:00 a.m. | Class: Saturday, January 8, 10:00 a.m. 
  • Baptism: Sunday, February 27, 9:00 a.m. | Class: Saturday, February 26, 10:00 a.m. 

Please note that the parents or grandparents of children being baptized must be active, pledging members of St. John’s. Adults interested in baptism for themselves must attend the Rector’s Adult Inquirers’ Class and be active, pledging participants in the life of the parish. If you are interested in having a child baptized, or in baptism for yourself, please contact Kaye Edwards.
Latrobe Young Adults Fellowship
Wednesday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m.
The Latrobe Young Adult Fellowship at St. John's Church is an active and engaged group of adults, primarily in their 20s and 30s. Join us on Wednesday, November 10 for our monthly First Wednesday celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 7:00 p.m. Mark your calendars and register here.
Upcoming St. John's Speaker Series Events
Sundays | November 14, November 21, December 2, and December 12
10:05 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. | In-person Only
The Speaker Series will be held in-person on the following Sundays in the Togo West Parlor from 10:05 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. After the discussion, there will be opportunity for Q&A. There will be no livestream Zoom option. Click here to listen to past Speaker Series.

November 14: Amy Vruno and Sidra Siddiqui, organizers for the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN), and John More, parishioner. They will speak about the history of WIN and St. John’s long involvement, and about WIN’s future plans.

November 21: David Silverman, Professor at The George Washington University. He specializes in Native American, Colonial American, and American racial history. He will speak on The “Real” Story of Thanksgiving.

December 5: The Rev. David B. Wolf, Executive Director of Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington, St. John’s mission partner. Ben T. Morgan, a participant in Samaritan’s programs, will also speak about Samaritan’s mission of life change for those who are living in or on the edge of poverty in the DMV.

December 12: Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian and former Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. As Secretary, he oversees 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and several education units and centers.

For more information and the schedule, visit the Speaker Series webpage here.
Paul Barkett, Senior Warden (5:38)
Gail West (4:52)
Laura Herzog (7:55)
Desirée Stolar, Vestry (5:30)
Lauren Edwards, Vestry (1:58)
Justin Dean (4:36)
Our committee began our seasonal biweekly meetings last week and committed to a goal of having 400 pledges in the coming year, which is a modest but meaningful increase from the 367 we have for this past year. We believe this is an important goal not only for the current needs of the church but for our future—because it asks that quite a few people who have never pledged before get involved more formally in our community of faith. Even a small pledge can make a big difference over time and we encourage you do what you can. 

We were also heartened to hear that virtually every family making a pledge this year has been paying on their pledgewhich gives us hope that our allowance for unpaid pledges could diminish quite a bit by year's end. If you need a pledge report so as to know where you stand, please reach out to Preston Cherouny here.
Thank you to all of those who have already pledged online. We already have more than $80,000 pledged for next year! We have only just sent out our paper pledge cards this week, so this is very encouraging. In a couple of weeks, we will begin following up with people who have not yet pledged. If you would like to lend a hand in this effort, please send me an email here.
 
Toby Stock
Chair, Stewardship Committee
Sing with the Parish Choir
The Parish Choir is a group of dedicated volunteer musicians who provide choral music for the 9:00 a.m. worship service and for special events throughout the year. The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. with a light dinner provided at 6:30 p.m. There is a straightforward voice trial prior to joining, but the main qualifications are a commitment to the schedule and enthusiasm for serving our church through its music ministry. Please be in touch with Brent Erstad, Director of Music and Organist, to learn more.
We Are Hiring
Associate Rector
Director of Communications
Program Assistant
St. John’s is looking for a Associate Rector, Director of Communications, and a Program Assistant, which are much needed roles on our staff. While we do not hire parishioners, you can be helpful by spreading the word. The job descriptions are posted here. 
In case you missed it
Click here to listen to past Sunday Sermons and Speaker Series.
Visiting Loved Ones in the Church Columbarium
If you would like to visit a loved one in the columbarium, please contact us here to arrange a time for your visit.
Prayer List
Our Prayers are requested for the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially:


From our parish: Eve Atkeson, Jeanne Grimmett, Gary Hailey, Susan Herrington, Nelda Johnson, Susan Lewis, Jimmy Lowe, and Alex Morris.

Friends and family of our parish: Barbara Virginia Abalos Branes (Joanne Hutton), Mark Berends (Jack Reiffer), LaKeshia Bryant (GeeGee Bryant), Wendy Addiss Dellar (Joanne Hutton), Sharon Diehl (Alex Stolar), Karl Dornemann (Deb Dornemann), Bobby Doyle (Alex Pappas), Reagan Eudy (Alfred Thesmar), Jimmy Gallagher (Joanne Hutton), Frances Givhan (Gay and Bob Pasley), Linda Young Gsell (Rick Young), Nancy Guard (Kate Benner), Valerie Hart (Emily and Jason Ornstein), Courtney Jordan Hillman (Erika Northcutt), Vera Hyncik (Holly Sukenik), Willem Jewett (Preston Cherouny), Charles Jones (GeeGee Bryant), Chase Lasbury (Garrett Russo), Melanie Markiewicz and William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), Kathryn McGraw (Mary and Carl Raether), William Scott Miller, Jr. (Johnathan Miller), Britt Neff (Julie Neff-Lippman), Judy Nicola (Cynthia Walker), Pearson Reynolds (Kerri Stelcen), Susan Roberts (Kaye Edwards), Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston), Scott (Marta Cook & Cal Trepagnier), Mark Sissman (Mead Sissman), Ann Tusa (Will Morris), Marsha Walston (Robert Carroll), and John Whitmore (Preston Cherouny).


From our parish: Marcella Odom.

Friends and family of our parish: Pereda "Pete" Paty (John Paty).


Friends and family of our parish: Julie Howell (Cynthia Walker), Chase Lasbury (Garrett Russo), and David Maiden (Anne Harrington).

Those in our parish celebrating a birthday this week:
Alison Adkins, Christian Berlin, Larry Bradley, Julia Brandus, Lizzie Eversole, Clara Hallett, James Harmon, Judd Littleton, Kelly Miller, Claire Montgomery, Susan Morefield, Elizabeth Morrison, Robin Pennington, Matilda Rossbach, Lily Venzke, Alexian Wines, and Jessica Zavala.

Those in our parish celebrating an anniversary this week:
Kristy and John Highsmith, Katie and Paul Holder, Chrystal and John Martin, and Desirée and Alex Stolar.

For those on the front lines, especially: 

Friends and family of our parish: Janie Abernethy (Elizabeth Lewis and David Abernethy), Sandra Brown (Becca Brown), Nathan Cobb (Livy and John More), Chris Gardner (Ann Gardner), Yee Houston (Quin Woodward Pu), Marta Kochanska (Livy and John More), Amanda and Blake Tidwell (Willy Wolter), and Bill and Stephanie Wolter (Willy Wolter).
Stay connected with St. John's Church on social media!