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The Bridge
April 29, 2022

The Mission of St. John’s is to be a community of God’s people who heal brokenness, build bridges, and exemplify borderless kindness.
Worship at St. John's
Christian Formation Classes return to Sunday Morning -- starting May 22

Adding a Christian Formation class to our Sunday morning programs requires that we slightly adjust the times of our worship services. Our new Sunday morning worship and education schedule, effective starting May 22, is:

  • 8:30am - The Holy Eucharist Rite I (English)
  • 9:45am - Adult Christian Formation Class
  • 11:00am - The Holy Eucharist Rite II (English)
  • 1:00pm - La Santa Eucaristía Rito Dos (Spanish)

Our Wednesday evening and Thursday morning Christian Formation classes will continue as usual.
Sunday Services - May 1
The Third Sunday of Easter
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (In-Person)
10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (In-Person and Zoom)
1:00 pm Santa Eucaristía Rito II con bautismo (en persona)
You are invited to come to the communion rail to receive the Eucharist or a blessing. You may receive the wine either by intinction, sipping, or not at all. Receiving the Eucharist in one kind is full reception. You may receive standing or kneeling. If you need a gluten free wafer, please tell the minister. If you prefer a blessing, please stand in the line with the priest and cross your arms over your chest.
To participate in our virtual Sunday services, you do not need to have a Zoom account or download Zoom. Simply click the link to join.
Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837
No passcode is required
You may also join the service by telephone -
dial (346) 248-7799 and enter the meeting ID when prompted.
Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837
The video recording of the 10:30 a.m. service will be posted on the St. John's Facebook page, YouTube, and the St. John's website later in the day. Additionally, recordings of the English and Spanish sermons will be available. Links to the recordings will be posted on our website (www.austinstjohns.org).
Consider This
If you keep thinking about what you want to do or what you hope will happen, you don't do it and it won't happen.
St. John's Notices and Activities
DAUGHTERS OF THE KING TEA PARTY
Sunday, May 15, 2:00pm

All women and girls at St. John’s are invited to a tea party given by our Woman at the Well Chapter of the Daughters of the King. Learn more about this religious order for lay women and girls in the Episcopal Church and how we might start a chapter for girls here at St. John’s. This will be a bilingual event. Come join us Sunday, May 15th 2:00-3:30 pm in the parish hall. 
Father David’s Bookshelf
In theology and spirituality, older books are not necessarily out of date. This is certainly true of Soul Friend: The Practice of Christian Spirituality by Kenneth Leech, which first came out in 1977. It’s in our church library. Reading through it again I found the book rich in information on the history and nature of Christian spiritual practice, with an interesting description of Celtic spirituality and the advisability of having an anmchara, or spiritual companion. In this vein the book takes us from the early Desert Fathers to modern times. One section deals with the tradition of spiritual direction within Anglicanism.

Although Fr. Leech focuses on the role of the pastoral director in one’s spiritual life, many significant milestones of spirituality are touched on, including the medieval Cloud of Unknowing, the dark night of the soul, meditation, mysticism, the Jesus Prayer, Sufism, Hinduism, and monasticism.  Much can be gleaned from this book on these and other topics which make up the tradition and practice of the Christian spiritual life. Not always the easiest of reads, but well worth the effort.

This book and others are to be found in our Library in the Parish Hall.
FARMSHARE AUSTIN

Sunday, from 11am-1pm.

Come shop for fresh, delicious, and affordable fruits and vegetables, local eggs and honey, and a variety of pantry staples!

The market accepts cash, credit, debit, SNAP, and
Double Up Food Bucks. 
COFFEE AND FELLOWSHIP

The Parish Hall is open for coffee and fellowship after each Sunday service!

Thanks to our volunteers who make the coffee, set it up, and clean up after. And always, thanks to Sheri Rasmussen who keeps us in iced tea!

If you would like to bring snacks, you are invited to do so. Please take your dishes home with you so you won't have to wonder what happened to that plate Dear Old Aunt Gladys gave you.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Wednesday Bible Study - Zoom
7:00 p.m.

The Sunday readings will be found in each week's Christian Formation email sent out on Tuesday.

For more information, please contact Scott Morizot.
Meeting ID: 818 0719 2209
No passcode is required
Cornerstone Literary Circle - Zoom

Cornerstone Literary Group just finished His Truth is Marching On. Next week, we will begin a new book, The Kindness of Color by Janice Munemitsu. We'll be reading the Foreword and first three chapters. Mary Hutka will host this book recommended by Kim Evert.

The reading assignments will be found in each week's Christian Formation email sent out on Tuesday.

Please contact Laurie Williams for more information. 

The link to join the class is here:
Meeting ID: 865 2855 1870
Passcode  446185
Thursday Morning Bible Study - Hybrid

We will continue meeting in person and via Zoom on Thursday, at 10:00am.
For more information, please contact Elaine Jackson.
The link to join the class is here:
Meeting ID: 821 5253 7149
No passcode is required
(please refer to our website www.austinstjohns.org or to the Christian Formation email sent every Tuesday for more information and links)
WEDNESDAY MORNING GROUNDS CREW

As Spring brings us rain and sunshine, the tasks needed to be completed for the continued beauty of our campus grows. Please consider joining this dedicated group of volunteers between 8am-12pm on Wednesdays.
For more information about this ministry, please contact Kevin Flegal.
LABYRINTH COMMUNITY GARDEN
To learn about how our Labyrinth Community Garden serves the community, or for information about obtaining a bed in the Garden for you and your family, please contact Patty Arnold.
Episcopal Diocese of Texas
Established in 1921 by the Diocese of Texas, Camp Allen Summer Camp is widely known as the "best week of the year" by countless children each year. And after two years of the pandemic, kids need camp more than ever! Camp Allen offers action-packed and faith-filled one week summer camp sessions for ages 8-16. 
Caring for Each Other
Christi Crow will be unavailable for providing transportation for several weeks. Please contact Sandra Ward, Ann Faithful and or Cap Metro for assistance.
FOR PRAYER AND PASTORAL CARE
If you find that your situation is causing financial, spiritual, or emotional difficulties, or if you are in need of food, do not hesitate to call Deacon Victoria (512-297-5953) or email Mthr. Minerva (RevMinerva@austinstjohns.org).

We are a church family; when a family member needs assistance we want to try and help that member.
A Prayer for Ukraine

God of Peace and Justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow. that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war and peace, for wisdom, discernment, and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
Archbishop Justin Welby
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell
Our Gathering Policy
Masks are optional on the St. John's campus. The CDC guidelines highly recommend that all persons who are not fully vaccinated wear masks while indoors. Thank you for your cooperation in these efforts to keep our St. John’s community safe and healthy. 
Please visit our website (Austin St. John's)
for other ways to make a donation.
Please send mail to the church post office box:

St. John’s Episcopal Church
P. O. Box 81493
Austin, TX 78708-1493
All First Class Mail, Priority Mail and Priority Express Mail will be forwarded through Dec. 7, 2022.
Stories and Photos for The Bridge

You are invited to send photos and stories about yourself, your family, and our parish for inclusion in The Bridge. Let's share our experiences! Please send your ideas, stories, and photos to Fay Jones, (newsletter editor) by 12:00 pm on Wednesdays.

Running event announcements two weeks prior to the date is recommended.
Our Vestry
Mr. Steve Kriechbaum, Senior Warden
Mr. Kevin Flegal, Junior Warden
Ms. Maria Caballero, Clerk
Ms. Sandra Welles, Treasurer
Class of 2023
Mr. Steve Kriechbaum
Ms. Sandra Welles
Sr. Carlos Lugo
Class of 2024
Ms. Maria Caballero
Sra. Maria Angie Hernandez
Ms. Sandra Ward
Class of 2025
Dr. Carolyn Cline
Mr. Kevin Flegal
Sra. Patricia Mata
Our Staff
The Rev. Minerva Camarena Skeith, Rector

The Rev. Victoria Mason, Deacon
Ms. Fay Jones, Director of Communications

Mr. Philip Riley, Choirmaster and Organist

Sr. Alfonso Hernandez, Spanish Music
Fay Jones, Editor (fay@austinstjohns.org)
St. John's Episcopal Church
11201 Parkfield Drive
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493
Regular Sunday Services
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II hybrid
(in-person & Zoom)
 1:00 p.m. Santa Eucaristía, Rito II
The Parish Office is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
from 10am - 12Noon.
For more information about St. John’s Episcopal Church, please visit our website at www.austinstjohns.org