The Word
News from St. John’s, Lafayette Square
The Week of Sunday, June 4
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Pentecost baptisms (May 28, 2023) | |
The First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday
Please note: Our summer worship schedule begins this week
7:45 a.m.
Eucharist—Sermon by the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell
9:30 a.m.
Speaker Series (Togo West Parlor; see below)
10 a.m. to noon
Nursery (Parish House Second Floor)
10:30 a.m.
Choral Eucharist—Sermon by the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell (Watch live on Sunday)
Children’s Chapel (Children begin in church)
11:30 a.m.
Coffee Hour (Plaza, weather permitting, or Parish House First Floor)
Church Tour (see below)
Latrobe Fellowship Brunch (see below)
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SPEAKER SERIES SCHEDULE
Please note the new time beginning this Sunday, June 4, as we shift to our summer worship schedule.
The Speaker Series is held on occasional summer Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in the Togo West Parlor on the first floor of the Parish House. An audio recording will be available on our website the week after each talk. Visit the Speaker Series webpage for more information. Upcoming speakers and topics include:
June 4: More than a year since the invasion of Ukraine, the need for humanitarian aid and support for the people continues. St. John’s Refugee Committee invites you to learn more about the needs of Ukrainians. Judi Garrett, the Chief Operating Officer of the Jewish Relief Network Ukraine (JRNU), will speak about the organization’s work providing life-saving support to tens of thousands of Ukrainians, including those who have been displaced from their homes and those who have lost their jobs and other sources of income.
June 11: Re-Valuing Women Hymn Writers—Women have always been making sacred music, but they are underrepresented in our hymnals. Their contribution lies in the stories they tell from the margins, away from the narratives of dominant power. In this talk, our own Lyn Loewi will look at the poetry women have brought to our understanding of the Sacred. From the 9th-century Greek Orthodox nun Kassia to newly written hymns, women have expanded our language for God, remembered the stories of biblical women, and spoken for other discounted voices in society. Lyn Loewi is Associate Organist at St. John’s and also President of the Women’s Sacred Music Project, started in Philadelphia in 1995 to honor the 20th anniversary of the ordination of women.
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LATROBE YOUNG ADULTS FELLOWSHIP BRUNCH
This Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
The Latrobe Young Adult Fellowship will meet for brunch this Sunday, June 4, after the 10:30 a.m. service. All in their 20s and 30s (or thereabouts) are invited for food and fellowship. Gather on the Plaza around 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact the Rev. Shawn Evelyn.
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CHURCH TOUR
This Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
For more than 200 years our church has served as a place of worship for a growing and everchanging city and country. Its structure is a lasting testament to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who, because of his training in both architecture and engineering, is considered by the American Institute of Architects as our country’s first architect. If you are interested in an in-person tour of St. John’s Church, meet at the front of the church near the baptismal font after the 10:30 a.m. service. This Sunday’s guide will be James Longley.
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FOR CHILDREN
Children are welcome at all worship services.
A nursery for infants and children up to age three is available most summer Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon on the second floor of the Parish House.
From September through May, children in pre-K through fifth grade may participate in Church School on the second floor of the Parish House, most Sundays from 10 to 10:50 a.m.
Please note: Church School is on summer hiatus through Labor Day.
Children from birth through grade 5 are invited to participate in Children’s Chapel, a special liturgy just for them during the sermon at the 10:30 a.m. service on most summer Sundays. Parents may accompany their children, and are encouraged to do so for those younger than three.
Children’s Bulletins with coloring pages of stories from this Sunday’s scripture readings are posted here each week in time for Sunday services.
For more information about our children’s ministry, please contact the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell.
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FOR YOUTH
Most Sundays from September through May, from 10 to 10:50 a.m., all middle and high schoolers are invited to Youth Group on the second floor of the Parish House for an exploration of life and faith with their peers. For more information about opportunities for youth, please contact the Rev. Shawn Evelyn.
Please note: Youth Group is on summer hiatus through Labor Day.
Youth in sixth grade and above are also invited to join the Acolytes ministry. Acolytes assist with worship during the 11 a.m. service by serving as torch bearers or crucifers and by helping set the altar for communion. To learn more, contact Nora Haugh.
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ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Fourth Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
From June through August, this group will meet on fourth Sundays at 11:30 a.m., in person and via Zoom, with weekly study materials provided by email. The group is studying the Sunday gospel lessons from Matthew. Conversations explore the connections with the Sunday lectionary lessons and sermons. To receive class notes and Zoom login information, please contact Jack Reiffer.
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PRAYER CARDS
You are invited to take a blank prayer card from the narthex (the entrance of the church) and write down something or someone you would like to pray for. You can hand your prayer card to the ushers when they take the collection, and your card will be blessed and prayed over during the week.
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SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday we usher in our summer schedule, which will remain through Labor Day:
7:45 a.m.—Eucharist (spoken)
9:30 a.m.—Speaker Series, when scheduled
10 a.m.—Nursery opens (closes at noon)
10:30 a.m.—Eucharist with music
11:30 a.m.—Coffee Hour
Church School and Youth Group will not meet during the summer. Adult Bible Study will meet monthly (in person and via Zoom) on fourth Sundays, with weekly study materials delivered via email. Contact Jack Reiffer for details.
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SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
Sundays, June 11, 18, and 25
The Refugee Committee is hosting a backpack and school supply drive for 6th- through 12th-grade refugee youth through Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA).
On Sundays, June 11, 18, and 25, we will be collecting supplies at a table on the plaza in front of the church, before and after the 10:30 a.m. service. In case of rain, you will find the table under the portico of the church facade. Contact Lacy Broemel with questions.
Items needed include: New backpacks, pencil boxes or pouches, boxes of colored pencils, #2 pencils; black, blue, and red pens; highlighters, erasers, glue sticks, scissors, three-ring binders (2- to 3-inch), binder dividers with tabs, packs of college-ruled paper, packs of graph paper, spiral notebooks, packs of 3x5 index cards, basic calculators, and rulers (with both inches and centimeters).
Click to contribute via our Amazon Wish List.
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SING WITH THE SUMMER CHOIR
Sundays, beginning June 18
Singers of all stripes are invited to join the Summer Choir which sings for the 10:30 a.m. service from June 18 through Labor Day weekend. Rehearsal begins each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the choir room on the fourth floor of the Parish House. There is no midweek commitment, and you are welcome to sing for as many or as few Sundays as you are able. This is a great opportunity to explore the choral program at St. John’s and to get to know members of the St. John’s Choir and Parish Choir who will be on hand to lend their voices as well. Please contact Brent Erstad to learn more about Summer Choir and the music program at St. John’s.
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DIVERSITY AT ST. JOHN’S
An Occasional Series of Parishioner Reflections
As promised in the recent Wardens’ quarterly update, we are sharing the first in a series of essays that you will see over the course of the next few months. They are written by various parishioners who collectively reflect St. John’s in all its rich diversity. In these essays, these parishioners explain what drew them to St. John’s and what keeps them here. This week’s reflection is by Andrew Clarke.
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Join a Group at St. John’s | |
Take note of these new or returning groups and see if one is right for you. | |
BEING WITH: A COURSE EXPLORING CHRISTIAN FAITH AND LIFE
New class coming to St. John’s this autumn
This fall, we are excited to offer a new 10-week class called Being With, developed by the Rev. Sam Wells and his colleagues at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Participants may choose between online and in-person learning groups and will spend time exploring the core ideas and practices of a Christian life. Please contact the Rev. Will Morris with questions, or click to express interest in this course.
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LAFAYETTE FELLOWSHIP RETURNS
Plans are underway to revive the Lafayette Fellowship, a group for parishioners who are, broadly speaking, in their 40s and 50s. The group will offer time and space for building friendships, expanding our hearts and minds, exploring the city, and having fun. To learn more, indicate interest, or offer suggestions for activities, contact Hilary West. Our first gathering will take place in September. We look forward to seeing many of you then!
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MIDWEEK MEN’S GROUP FORMING
In September, St. John’s will begin a lectionary-based Bible study for men of all ages, convened by parishioner Carter Keithley, who holds a master’s degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. This brown-bag lunch will meet on the third Thursday of every month for fellowship and a wide-ranging, scripture-based conversation. Please contact Carter with questions or to indicate interest.
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SISTERS AT ST. JOHN’S
Calling women of all ages!
Are you a woman who attends St. John’s? We would love for you to join the Sisters at St. John’s, a group for women of all ages. We also want to hear from you about what you might want from this group; please take a few minutes to answer our survey.
Questions? Contact Emily Lucio.
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FAMILY MEETUP AT HAINS POINT
Saturday, June 3, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Picnic Area D, 2301 Ohio Drive, SW
(Rain date: June 10)
Spend the morning outside with families from St. John’s. We’ll gather at picnic tables near the playground at the end of Hains Point. We’ll provide coffee, juice, and breakfast snacks. Most of our time will be open-ended to build community. Kids can play, while babies lounge and parents connect. We’ll have a brief, family-friendly prayer service at 10:30 a.m. You’re encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, water bottles, and outdoor games. Please contact Rev. Sarah with questions. An RSVP is suggested but not required.
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JOIN US TO CELEBRATE PRIDE
Saturday, June 10, at 1:45 p.m.
Capital Pride events return to the District this month, and St. John’s will be marching in the Pride Parade with a contingent from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. All are welcome. We will meet at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (1514 15th Street, NW) before heading to the parade staging area. To learn more about the parade or the LGBTQ+ Fellowship at St. John’s, contact Anthony Pegues.
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ST. JOHN’S BOOK GROUP
Next Meeting: Thursday, August 3, at 7 p.m.
St. John’s Book Group is taking a brief hiatus this summer. We are currently voting on book selections for September through January and will announce the winners shortly. Our next meeting will take place virtually on Thursday, August 3, at 7 p.m. to share personal recommendations for great books. On September 7, we will discuss And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meacham. Contact Janet Edmond for more information.
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BAPTISMS
The next dates for Baptism and required pre-baptismal classes with the clergy at St. John’s are as follows:
Sunday, November 5, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, November 4, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, January 6, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, February 11, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, February 10, 10 a.m.)
If you are interested in baptism for yourself or a child, please contact Lisa Koehler. Please note that the parents or grandparents of children being baptized must be active, pledging members of St. John’s. Adults interested in baptism must also attend an Adult Inquirers’ Class, offered each fall and spring, and be active, pledging participants in the life of the parish.
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JOIN A MINISTRY GROUP
Whatever your interests—worship, outreach, Christian formation, music, pastoral care—we always have room for more volunteers. If you feel drawn to serve at or through St. John’s, please contact Lisa Koehler.
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Our prayers are requested for the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially:
THOSE WHO ARE SICK, RECOVERING, OR GRIEVING:
From our parish: Margo Arnold and Dolph Hatfield.
Friends and family of our parish: Danny Albano (Joanne Hutton), Barbara Virginia Abalos Branes (Joanne Hutton),Zelie Church (Norma Jean Reck), Billy Beardsley Conderman (Margo Arnold), Samantha Carlson (Kim Carlson), Charlotte Crowley Junilla (Margo Arnold), Sharon Diehl (Alex Stolar), Ed Eder (Joanne and Powell Hutton), Reagan Eudy (Alfred Thesmar), Pamela Evelyn (Shawn Evelyn), Patricia George and Joseph George (Kelle George), Grace Grifferty (Kerri Stelcen), Linda Young Gsell (Rick Young), Jackie Hanson (Brent Erstad), Margaret Harrell (Bud Harrell), Doug Holy (Joanne Hutton), Jack (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), Jim Kasson (Rob Fisher and Sarah Wood), Olivia Kehoe (Kat Kehoe), Kathy Devlin Kelly (Wendy J. Fibison), Lynne Kessler (Mary and Carl Raether), Lori LaPoint (Brent Erstad), Chase Lasbury (Garrett Russo), William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), Barbara and John McGraw (Mary and Carl Raether), Scott (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), William Singer (Emily Lucio), Evan Sweeney (Mary and Carl Raether), Lou Thesmar (Alfred and Hilary Thesmar), Sallie and William Wilkie Thompson (Cecelia Thompson), Carole Walker (Pamela Venzke), Theresa Weber (Kerri Stelcen), and Edward Leland Williams II (Virginia Bader).
THOSE WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL:
Friends and family of our parish: Pat Morris (Will Morris) and Amy Tejral (Jill Dowell).
THOSE WHO ARE IN HOSPICE CARE:
Friends and family of our parish: Carol Bradley (Larry and Krista Bradley) and Henry Farrington (Wendy J. Fibison).
THOSE WHO ARE IN ASSISTED LIVING:
From our parish: Eve Atkeson, Jack Kinsey, Barney Malloy, Marcella Odom, Becky Schergens, and John Whitmore.
Friends and family of our parish: Wilma Daubs (Kay Gilley) and Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston).
THOSE WHO HAVE DIED:
Friends and family of our parish: Melanie Markiewicz, May 25 (Matthew Taylor).
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK:
Claire Gaziano, Dick Grimmett, Lilibet Hagel, Kelly Hallett, John Highsmith, Will Huettner, Powell Hutton, Ava Kosegarten, Jon Kosobucki, Margaret Love, Nkem Onwuamaegbu, Jacob Parcell, Susan Parcell, Sun Woo Park, Carl Raether, Dorothea Teipel, and Tara Woodley.
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK:
Laurie Adams and Matt Bode, Cecil and Lydia Hornbaker, Kelly and Nathan Miller, Catherine and John Morefield, Elizabeth and Greg Morrison, Avo and Sarah Reid, Brian and KayAnn Schoeneman, Ann and Christopher Tierney, and Sang and Sarah Yi.
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES:
Friends and family of our parish: Janie Abernethy (Elizabeth Lewis and David Abernethy), Philip L. Faris (Caroline and Steve Faris), and Hugh Yeomans (Debby Hailey).
Please help us keep this list updated: Contact us with corrections, additions, and updates on status.
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