A Subversive Agent of Connection

Beloved in Christ, 

Loneliness is killing us. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently issued a report that called loneliness as deadly to our health and well-being as smoking. We live in an age when connecting has never been easier, and yet on the whole, study after study has confirmed that we are lonelier than we have ever been. Our bonds with one another affect every aspect of our emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being, and nearly everything in contemporary American society conspires to impede it. 

Pentecost, the major feast we celebrate this Sunday, is God's subversion of human isolation. It is God's answer to Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17, that we "all may be one." We are told that "there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem." When the apostles are praying, the Spirit descends on them like flames of fire, and everyone hears the apostles speaking in their own language. In the midst of that staggering cultural, political, racial, and linguistic diversity, Pentecost is the great miracle of community and communion. At Pentecost, God draws us from scattered fragments into the Beloved Community. (Incidentally, the mitre traditionally worn by bishops is meant to evoke this image, and is a symbol of the Spirit's ongoing presence in and with the Church).

But make no mistake, Pentecost doesn't erase the differences and diversity present. It's not that everyone speaks or hears the same language, it's that deep connections are formed across differences. The Church's mission is not uniformity, but community and connection. The Church's purpose is to join God's ongoing work of subverting human isolation with loving community.

This week, I invite you to pray, every day, for the Spirit to be poured out in new and fresh ways on our diocese. Pray that in a culture of exclusion and isolation, we might be agents of connection. Pray that our faith communities may be places of big, crazy, expansive, and life-saving embrace. Pray that you, and I, might fully take our part in patching the fabric of the creation God longs to heal in the eternal embrace of God's love. 

Grace and Peace,

The Right Reverend Craig Loya

X Bishop

Pentecost Sunday - May 28th

Wear Red this Sunday, let us fill the church with the fire of the Spirit.

The description in Act 2 states that, after Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus’ followers were gathered together for the Feast of Harvest (aka Pentecost), and the Holy Spirit “filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2). “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). This unusual event drew a large crowd, and Peter stood up to speak to them about repentance and the gospel of Christ (Acts 2:14). By the end of the day that the Holy Spirit came, the Church grew by 3,000 people (Acts 2:41). This is why Christians still celebrate Pentecost!

Sunday, June 4th is Trinity Sunday, w/Outdoor Worship & Celebrate Summer Picnic

Let's welcome summer, finally, and celebrate with worship on the lawn, great food, great games, and great community!!

Worship at 10 am on the lawn, followed by picnic and games!

If you are willing and able to help out with set up and clean up please contact Pam Hove here.

Congratulations to our Community of Hope Graduates!

Kate Maxwell, Jan Gibson Talbot, Avis Watkins, Helen Gehrenbeck, & Kathleen Peterson completed their Certification Training this last Saturday. Watch for how they will be sharing their gifts and ministry with St. John's.

Vision: To be a listening presence. 

Mission Statement: Creating communities steeped in Benedictine spirituality, to serve others through compassionate listening.

Music & Fellowship!

Join fellow St. John in the Wilderness parishioners, their families, and friends on a night out on the town with dinner and an evening performance.

Direct questions to Chantell Knauss at SJWFellowship@gmail.com or 651.387.8288.

Save the Dates - Future Fellowship Events

·            Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 2pm - "Come From Away" at the Ordway

·            November 2023 (exact date TBD) - "Jersey Boys" at Chanhassen Dinner Theater

·            December 2023 (exact date TBD) - "She Loves Me, the Holiday Musical” at Lakeshore Players

·            Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 7:30pm - "SIX" at the Ordway



We hope you can join us for our upcoming events!

Congratulations Graduates!

Loving God, we thank you for all who graduate from grade school, high school and college this time of the year.

You have blessed them during their years in school with wisdom, friendships, and skills. You continue to challenge them to make this world a better place because of their education.

Help them to look forward to their next steps: continuing in their education or entering the work world. Particularly help those who are seeking employment to find a job suitable to their education.

Give them faith and a sense of purpose in their next steps.

Show them how to serve others in effective ways.

And may they be always be aware in everything they do that they will find fulfillment in doing your will, that you will be with them always, and that you will bring to completion the good work you have begun in them.

Amen.

Belle Carpenter



This spring I will be graduating from Mahtomedi High School. After high school I plan on attending the California State University- Long Beach, where I will major in elementary education. I have gone to St.John in the Wilderness my entire life. This congregation feels like my family and I have so much love for our community. Thank you for all of the support throughout the years. And so I go into college with this bible verse in mind, Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Ethan Herrera



Next fall I plan on going to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I intend to study business and art with an emphasis on film-making.

I chose Coe because I liked the feel of the campus and was drawn to their art department. Thank you to all of our church community members for supporting me in my faith all these years. Some of my fondest memories at St. John’s are the special dinners for Easter and Thanksgiving. I also have enjoyed the mentorship of Dr. Lovett and the other youth leaders, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sara McBride



After high school I plan to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to study Environmental Science. I hope to continue playing in an orchestra in college. Over the summer I plan to volunteer as a counselor for the White Bear Lake Orchestra summer program

It's Spring - Help fill our worship space with flowers!!

There are opportunities to give flowers for the Sundays of Eastertide in April and May. There is a sign up chart on the wall near the Parish Hall. You can also order and pay online here.

What better way to share St. John's with our community. We are looking for a small group of people to both help plan our presence and be present during MarketFest.

4,000 to 5,000 people attend MarketFest every week. This is an incredible opportunity to meet and visit and be visible!

The commitment would be one planning session, and then one or two Thursday evenings, depending on how many people volunteer! Contact Carrie for more info or to offer up your time and ideas.

Starting June 5th!

We Need to Know!

Dear People of St John’s,

You may have heard about or come to the Listening Groups that were offered in January. The groups were to listen to what you had to say about Adult Formation. I heard that you all have much to say about formation at St John’s. I’m inviting you to tell us more about what interests you at St John’s.

We have put together a short survey that I hope all of you will fill out over the next three weeks. It can be accessed online here: https://stjohnwilderness.org/interest-survey-2023/

There will also be paper surveys at church at the greeter’s table as you come into the church from the parking lot. You can fill them out and leave them on the table in the library or in my cubby near the office. The surveys are anonymous, though you can choose to add your name for us to contact you about the survey. 

I hope each of you will do the survey so we can plan better for next year. Your voice counts. Thanks!

Kate Maxwell OSB

St. John's Emergency Food Shelf

Nearly 30% of children enrolled in the White Bear Lake Area School District qualify for free or reduced lunch. Some WBL

schools are as high as 70% eligible.

If Minnesota food shelves were open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, more than seven people would visit a food shelf every minute.

Our tiny food shelf in the north entry is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Help us keep it stocked. We need items that can be used by people with possibly no stove, or microwave, or even a refrigerator.

• protein bars and drinks
• prepared ready to eat meals such as tuna & crackers or lunchables
• Peanut butter & other nut butters
• Crackers
• Canned fruit in 100% juice and shelf-stable fruit cups
• Unsweetened applesauce cups
• Dried fruits, vegetables with no added sugar or salt
• Nuts

What we don't need:

× Food in glass jars. × Expired cans and boxed food items.

× Damaged, already opened food items. × Rusty or unmarked cans of food.

× Homemade food items. × Soda and sweetened drinks

× Sweets: cookies, cakes, candy. × Ramen noodles

× Any food you would NOT eat or feed your family.

Items can be dropped off in the entryway, next to the food shelf. Please leave them in a bag next to the shelf and thank you so much.

Our Library Neighbor!

We are privileged to share our parking lot and our community with the White Bear Branch of the Ramsey County Library.

When is the last time you went to the library? They have so much more then books. Check out their new Library of Things. Cooking utensils, tools, things you might need once!

Stop by anytime and check out the Library of Things at the library in White Bear Lake! Come see what they have for you to borrow.

Discipleship, Small Groups and Sharing Scripture.

We invite you and your faith community to continue begin meetings and gatherings by Dwelling in Scripture together. Please find instructions for Dwelling in the Word and Gospel-Based Discipleship here. This year, we will dwell together in the lectionary Gospel text for the coming week, which can be found here." Go here for instructions.

Weekly News and a Weekly Message from Bishop Loya

The Episcopal Church in Minnesota also has a weekly e-news, where you can read a message from Bishop Craig Loya, (or sometimes a special guest author), and read about what is happening in the Episcopal Church in MN and beyond! A great way to stay connected and learn about our church outside the walls of St. John's. 

To receive the ECMN news go here, scroll to the very bottom right and sign up.

Parish Family Prayer List



Jill, Charlie R, David G, Diane R, Greg B, Holly, Jan G-T, Janet K, Janni K, Jeffrey C, Kathy S, Kimberly, Kurt N, Larry K, Lorna C, Marcella S, Marilyn K, Mark K, Michael M, Melissa S, Nancy H, Pat P, Rick S, Tom H, and all who care for them. We also pray for Members of the Armed Forces.

For those who are mourning.



Click the button or email prayer@stjohnwilderness to request prayers and to be added to the parish prayer list. The list is renewed monthly.

Morning Prayer & Compline

Join us on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8 AM for morning prayer and

Monday and Friday evenings at 8:30 PM for Compline.

Both prayer services are held via Google Meet. All are welcome.

The word liturgy comes from a Greek term meaning “public work or work done on behalf of the people.” Liturgy always referred to an organized community. A work, then, done by an individual or a group was a liturgy on behalf of the larger community.

If you would like to become part of the many ministries that help make our work, our worship, our liturgies, our community, please talk to one of our clergy.

Click on Rejoice to give and pledge.

Connect!

Financial Coordinator: Maureen Vruno | maureen@stjohnwilderness.org 651-429-5351 ext 12

Rising Generations Coordinator: Maggie DeSmet | maggie@stjohnwilderness.org

Parish Coordinator: Carrie Thomas | carrie@stjohnwilderness.org 651-429-5351

Deacon: The Rev. Margaret Thor | margaret@stjohnwilderness.org

Associate Priest: The Rev. Kate Maxwell, OSB |

kate@stjohnwilderness.org 651-263-3840

Rector: The Rev. Arthur Hancock |

art@stjohnwilderness.org 651-350-8425

Our current Health & Safety Protocols

• St. John’s encourages all of its members to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
• If you feel sick or have the typical symptoms of Covid-19, we ask you to worship with us online.
• Masks are optional while inside all parish buildings for those who are boosted and vaccinated. For those who are unvaccinated and for your own protection, we recommend that you worship with us online or that you continue to wear your mask while inside our buildings. If conditions change and we experience another surge of Covid-19, we may have to alter our protocols and ask our members and guests to wear masks once again.
• While seated in the Church or in the Parish Hall, we recommend that all maintain an appropriate physical distance from those outside of your household.