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The Word
News from St. John’s, Lafayette Square
The Week of Sunday, December 11
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The Third Sunday of Advent
7:45 a.m.
Eucharist—Sermon by the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell
8 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal (Parish House Fourth Floor)
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Nursery (Parish House Second Floor)
9 a.m.
Choral Eucharist—Sermon by the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell
10 a.m.
Speaker Series (Togo West Parlor; see below)
Coffee Hour (Plaza, weather permitting, or Parish House Lower Level)
Church School Ministry Visit: Ushers (Parish House Second Floor; see below)
Youth Group (Parish House Second Floor)
Bible Study (Parish House Third Floor)
11 a.m.
Choral Eucharist—Sermon by the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell (Watch live on Sunday)
Children’s Chapel
Noon
Coffee Hour and Parish Lunch: Bell Tower Committee (Togo West Parlor; see below)
Church Tour (see below)
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SPEAKER SERIES
This Sunday at 10 a.m.
In honor of this year’s 200th anniversary of the St. John’s bell cast at the Revere Foundry in Boston, Nina Zannieri, Executive Director of the Paul Revere Memorial Association, will join us. The association’s mission is to inspire a deeper appreciation for the relevance of American history by sharing the life, legacy, craftsmanship, and iconic home of artisan, businessman, patriot, and citizen Paul Revere. St. John’s own historian, Richard Grimmett, will provide a brief introduction to place St. John’s Revere bell in a local, historical context.
Also in honor of the 200th anniversary of the St. John’s Revere bell, the Bell Tower Committee will host a Boston-themed Parish Lunch after the 11 a.m. service.
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CHURCH SCHOOL MINISTRY VISIT: USHERS
This Sunday at 10 a.m.
Children in pre-K through grade five are invited to learn about the ministry of St. John’s ushers. We will meet on the second floor of the Parish House immediately following the 9 a.m. service to explore in kid-friendly ways what it means to be an usher. Parents are welcome to join the group. Ministry Visits are held monthly and are a new addition to children’s faith formation. They give our youngest members opportunities to learn more about the St. John’s community and ways to be involved in various ministries. Ministry Visits take the place of Church School classes on Sundays when they occur.
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SUNDAY PARISH LUNCH
This Sunday at noon
Sunday lunch at St. John’s is a longtime tradition in which every member and every visitor can participate. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones—a time for fellowship and for hearing another’s story. The lunch is held most Sundays in the Parish House. Contributions of $5 for adults and young people 13 and over and $2 for children under 13 are requested to help defray the costs of the lunch. All are welcome, and valet parking hours are extended to 2 p.m. This Sunday’s lunch will be hosted by the Bell Tower Committee.
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TOUR OF ST. JOHN’S CHURCH
This Sunday at noon
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 11 a.m. service. This Sunday’s guide will be Rick Busch.
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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 on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Parish House.
Children in pre-K through fifth grade may participate in Church School on the second floor of the Parish House, on Sundays from 10 to 10:50 a.m.
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 11 a.m. service on most 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
On Sundays 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.
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
This group gathers most Sundays at 10 a.m., using a hybrid approach, with some joining via Zoom and others in person. The group is studying the structure, audience, and themes of the Gospel of 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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ST. JOHN’S STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
In March 2022, the Vestry held a one-day retreat with an expert strategic planning consultant who graciously donated his time to St. John’s. To prepare for the retreat, all Vestry members read Measure What Matters by John Doerr, a well-known book that provides a framework for strategic planning. Since March, the Vestry has been following the book’s framework to develop four high-level strategic objectives for St. John’s with corresponding key results for each objective.
In Measure What Matters, the author recommends that strategic objectives be published widely in order to encourage accountability. With that in mind, we share below the Vestry’s newly adopted strategic objectives for St. John’s Church. Please ask your Wardens or Vestry members if you have questions about the objectives or want to know the details of the key results.
Objective 1: Sustain St. John’s as a “place of grace” in the DC community and beyond for centuries to come. *
Objective 2: Attract additional families to St. John’s by making it a more welcoming and vibrant environment for children, teenagers, and families.
Objective 3: Devote more of St. John’s time and talent to outreach so that we expand our role as a spiritual and material resource to those in need in Washington and beyond.
Objective 4: Highlight and increase the diversity of St. John’s.
—Clark Ervin, Senior Warden, and Nora Rigby, Junior Warden
* To sustainably preserve and maintain St. John’s historic buildings and grounds.
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THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE GIFT DRIVE!
This year’s Angel Tree Gift Drive has been a resounding success! Thanks to your generosity, over 200 children in need will have their wishes fulfilled this Christmas. Although gifts are already being delivered, we have a chance to keep the drive going online if you have not been able to claim an angel or want more opportunities to give. Selected storybooks for 41 students at Bishop Walker School are still available. Help keep a child from being left behind. To purchase books, please contact Emily Louise Able and Patrick Bond. Thank you for your generosity this holiday season!
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ANGEL TREE WRAPPING PARTY
Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In the spirit of our Christmas gift drive, we will have a special gift-wrapping event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for all of our Angel Tree Gift Drive donations. Whether you are great at wrapping gifts or not so good with your hands, come along. This will be a fun gathering with food and music to help us prepare to distribute the gifts that will help to make someone’s Christmas a little extra special this year. To RSVP, please click here.
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STEWARDSHIP 2023
The 2023 Stewardship Campaign is well underway. Thanks to those who have already pledged! As of December 4, we have received 230 pledges for a total of $871,281. This is very good progress toward our goals of 400 pledges and $1.125 million. If you have not yet done so, please consider what you might be able to pledge toward the mission and ministry of this parish in the coming year and complete a pledge card, or pledge online here.
The act of giving to our church and shared mission is one that brings great fulfillment—and to the extent you are able to make a formal commitment in advance, it helps our vestry greatly in planning for the year ahead. Thank you for prayerfully considering your 2023 commitment to St. John’s!
—Toby Stock and Carter Keithley, co-chairs of the Stewardship Committee
DID YOU KNOW?
Setting up automatic pledge payments on Realm is easy and convenient—but in order for us to know that you have made a pledge, we still need you to visit the “Make a Pledge” link on the website or turn in a pledge card. This will help us record your pledge promptly and accurately. Thank you for your support of the ministry of St. John’s!
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HONOR YOUR LOVED ONES WITH GREENS FOR ADVENT
During Advent, St. John’s Flower Guild decorates the church each Sunday with greens. When you make a contribution to the Flower Fund, you may honor loved ones with a dedication in our Sunday bulletin—remembering a loved one or marking a birth or birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, a graduation, or another special event. You can choose to dedicate the two main altar arrangements ($110), the side chapel ($55), the narthex ($55), or all four arrangements in the church ($220).
To pay by check, please complete this form, enclose it with a check payable to St. John’s Church, and send it to the Parish Office, Attention: Finance—or bring it with you to church on Sunday to place in the offering plate.
You may also pay online. Choose “Sunday Flowers” in the dropdown menu. Under memo, type the desired Sunday, list the name(s), and indicate whether your gift is in memory of or in thanksgiving for.
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CHRISTMAS FLOWER MEMORIALS AND THANKSGIVINGS
The poinsettias and evergreens that enhance the beauty of the church and parish house at Christmastide are given by parishioners as memorials for those who have died and as thanksgiving for those who are living. Please consider remembering those who are important to you. The suggested donation is $50 per name. Your support of this important ministry is greatly appreciated.
To pay by check, please complete this form, enclose it with a check payable to St. John’s Church, and send it to the Parish Office, Attention: Finance, with “Christmas Flowers” noted on the outside of the envelope—or bring it with you to church on Sunday to place in the offering plate.
You may also pay online. Choose “Christmas Flowers” in the dropdown menu. Under memo, list the name(s), and indicate whether your gift is in memory of or in thanksgiving for.
The deadline for inclusion in the Christmas order of service is Tuesday, December 13.
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THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Rehearsal: Saturday, December 17, at 10 a.m.
The annual Christmas Pageant will take place on Christmas Eve beginning at 4:30 p.m. Children ages three and up are invited to participate in the pageant as an Angel, Shepherd, or Friendly Beast. All children who wish to participate must attend the rehearsal on Saturday, December 17, at 10 a.m. Contact the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell for more information, or sign up here.
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LESSONS AND CAROLS
Sunday, December 18, at 5:30 p.m.
Join the St. John’s Choir for a service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas. Sung in the beauty of a candlelit church, the service begins with the singing of “Once in Royal David’s City” followed by nine lessons interspersed with carols and choral anthems. The readings and music trace the ancient story of salvation from our beginnings in the Garden of Eden all the way up to the manger. For the first time this year, Lessons and Carols will take place on a Sunday evening, allowing us to fully embrace the spirit of Christmas while remaining faithful to our observance of Advent on Sunday morning. Complimentary valet parking will be available starting at 4:45 p.m. The service will be followed by a reception in the Togo West Parlor. Invite your friends and family to join us for this special holiday offering.
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2022 CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SCHEDULE
With New Year’s Day thrown in for good measure . . .
Saturday, December 24—Christmas Eve
4:30 p.m. Pageant & Choral Eucharist with Choir
7 p.m. Festal Choral Eucharist—Sermon—The Rev. Rob Fisher
10 p.m. Festal Choral Eucharist—Sermon—The Rev. Rob Fisher
Each service on Christmas Eve will be preceded by 30 minutes of carols and music. Come early and enjoy! Nursery care will be available for the 4:30 and 7 p.m. services.
Sunday, December 25—Christmas Day
11 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist—Sermon—The Rev. Will Morris
No valet parking available on Christmas Day.
No nursery, Children's Chapel, Church School, or Youth Group offerings.
The Church and Parish Office will close after the 11 a.m. service.
Sunday, January 1, 2023—New Year’s Day
11 a.m. Holy Eucharist—Sermon—The Rev. Shawn Evelyn
No valet parking available on New Year’s Day.
No nursery, Church School, or Youth Group offerings.
Children's Chapel will be offered.
The Church and Parish Office will close after the 11 a.m. service.
3:30 p.m. Bell Choir Performance at St. John’s
The National Bell Festival will host a New Year’s Day concert at St. John’s in celebration of our 1822 Revere bell. The concert will feature the 16-member ensemble Virginia Bronze, the premiere bell choir in our area. Admission is free. Registration and details available here.
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PARISH OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSURES
The parish office will be closed Monday through Wednesday, December 26–28. On Friday, December 30, the office will close at 1 p.m., and it will be closed all day on Monday, January 2.
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SPEAKER SERIES: FALL 2022
The Speaker Series is held Sundays at 10 a.m. in the Togo West Parlor on the first floor of the Parish House. This Sunday will be the final speaker of the fall. Stay tuned for upcoming speakers and topics in the new year.
December 11: In honor of this year’s 200th anniversary of the St. John’s bell cast at the Revere Foundry in Boston, Nina Zannieri, Executive Director of the Paul Revere Memorial Association, will join us. The association’s mission is to inspire a deeper appreciation for the relevance of American history by sharing the life, legacy, craftsmanship, and iconic home of artisan, businessman, patriot, and citizen Paul Revere. St. John’s own historian, Richard Grimmett, will provide a brief introduction to place St. John’s Revere bell in a local, historical context. In honor of the 200th anniversary of the St. John’s Revere bell, the Bell Tower committee will host a Boston-themed Parish Lunch after the 11 a.m. service.
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HELP DELIVER CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS
Sunday, December 18
Please plan to help us deliver at least one of the Christmas poinsettias to some of our fellow parishioners who cannot be present with us at worship at this time. The plants will be in the Parish House parlors on Sunday, December 18. You will find cards addressed to parishioners who live near you in Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C. Give the gift of your time, love, and cheer.
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LATROBE YOUNG ADULTS FELLOWSHIP
Special Date and Time: Sunday, January 8, at 9 a.m.
To start the new year, our fellowship will involve preparing and serving the Parish Lunch on Sunday, January 8. Meet at 9 a.m. in the kitchen to share some conversation and help others gather around the table. The Latrobe Young Adult Fellowship is an active and engaged group of adults, primarily in their 20s and 30s. We typically gather at St. John’s at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. For more information, contact the Rev. Shawn Evelyn.
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ST. JOHN’S BOOK GROUP
Note the New Date: Thursday, January 12, at 6:45 p.m., via Zoom
The St. John’s Book Group will meet virtually on Thursday, January 12, at 6:45 p.m. to discuss The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask. Filled with fascinating people and histories, The Address Book illuminates the complex and sometimes hidden stories behind street names and their power to name, to hide, to decide who counts, who doesn’t—and why. For more information, please contact Janet Edmond.
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Other Important Reminders | | |
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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, January 8, 2023, 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, January 7, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, February 19, 11 a.m. (Class: Saturday, February 18, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, April 16, 11 a.m. (Class: Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, May 28, 11 a.m. (Class: Saturday, May 27, 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 first 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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PARISH LUNCH: SEEKING HOSTS IN THE NEW YEAR
Parish lunch, held most Sundays in the Parish House, relies on volunteers to prepare and serve the meal. We encourage individuals, families, groups, and ministries to sign up. Hosts may be reimbursed for expenses or receive a tax receipt. Contact Holly Sukenik with questions or to sign up for an open date.
DATES & HOSTS
December 11—Bell Tower Committee
December 18—No Parish Lunch
December 25—Christmas Day: No Parish Lunch
January 1—New Year’s Day: No Parish Lunch
January 8—Latrobe Fellowship
January 15—
January 22—Children and Youth
January 29—“Sisters” of St. John’s
February 5—Annual Meeting and Reception
February 12—St. John’s Book Group
February 19—
February 26—
March 5—
March 12—
March 17—
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YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE ST. JOHN’S TOUR GUIDE MINISTRY
St. John’s Tour Guide Ministry is seeking new members to become part of an effort to share the history, architecture, and outreach of our church with visitors from around the United States and abroad. Leading tours is rewarding because of the people you’ll meet and the history that you will share. Training is provided by current tour guides and is done at your convenience. Tours take place following the 11 a.m. service during most of the year, and after the 10:30 a.m. service during the summer. Once trained, tour guides serve about once every six weeks. If you would like to experience what a tour is like, please consider taking a tour from one of our guides. For more information, please contact Rick Busch.
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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: Ezra Lagera George and Robert Kirchenbauer.
Friends and family of our parish: Sarah Baker (Pamela Venzke), Cal Bowie (Chase Rynd), Barbara Virginia Abalos Branes (Joanne Hutton), Tom Burkart (Pamela Venzke), LaKeshia Bryant (GeeGee Bryant), Jackson Bryce (Livy More), Billy Beardsley Conderman (Margo Arnold), Charlotte Crowley Junilla (Margo Arnold), Glenn Carlson (Kim Carlson), Wendy Addiss Dellar (Joanne Hutton), Sharon Diehl (Alex Stolar), Reagan Eudy (Alfred Thesmar), Pamela Evelyn (Rev. Shawn Evelyn), Janet Fischer (Ann Gardner), Linda Young Gsell (Rick Young), Jackie Hanson (Brent Erstad), Margaret Harrell (Budd Harrell), Charles Jones (GeeGee Bryant), Olivia Kehoe (Kat Kehoe), Lori LaPoint (Brent Erstad), Chase Lasbury (Garrett Russo), Melanie Markiewicz and William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), Kathryn McGraw (Mary and Carl Raether), Lynda Michaelis (Wendy J. Fibison), Britt Neff (Julie Neff-Lippman), Judy Nicola (Cynthia Walker), Carl Raether, Jr. (Allie Raether), Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston), Scott (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), William Singer (Emily Lucio), Samuel S. Spaulding (Diane Spaulding), Lou Thesmar (Alfred and Hilary Thesmar), Carole Walker (Pamela Venzke), William Wilkie Thompson (Celia Thompson), and Marsha Walston (Robert Carroll).
THOSE WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL:
From our parish: Elizabeth Thompson.
Friends and family of our parish: Cal Bowie (Chase Rynd), Monica Notzon (Jill Dowell), and Amy Tejral (Jill Dowell).
THOSE WHO ARE IN HOSPICE CARE:
Friends and family of our parish: 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.
THOSE WHO HAVE DIED:
Friends and family of our parish: Melffi Tejera, December 3 (Dax Tejera).
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK:
Charles Bader, David Begley, Robert Beizer, Linda Gaines, Annie Gardner, Debby Hailey, Kate Huffman, Joanne Hutton, Ailin Lovelace, Grant Lucio, Roslenn Richardson, Randall Roe, Nadia Sadqi, Sandy Sierck, Jonathan Wakely, and Richard Young.
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK:
Alex and Jessica Sanchez, and Jim and Lisa Kirchenbauer.
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 More), Philip L. Faris (Caroline and Steve Faris), Yee Houston (Quin Woodward Pu), Marta Kochanska (Livy More), Amanda and Blake Tidwell (Willy Wolter), Bill Wolter (Willy Wolter), 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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