We invite you to join us as we welcome back our community for Kick-Off Sunday on September 12. Please see below for a complete list of Kick-Off Sunday services and events.

Worship

  • 7:45 a.m. Spoken Eucharist returns. 
  • 9:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist
  • 10:00 a.m. Speaker Series with Madeleine Albright
  • 11:00 a.m. Music Festival Service, with livestream (new time) on Facebook and the  Worship Page of our website. The service will be available later on our YouTube channel.
  • 12:00 noon Welcome back reception

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 for services, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We look forward to welcoming you to worship, either in person or online. Visit www.stjohns-dc.org for more information. 

Music
Festival Service at 11:00 a.m.
St. John's Choir
The St. John's Choir and Parish Choir will be joined by festival brass and timpani to present a service of musical favorites. Hubert Parry's stirring coronation anthem “I was glad” and Charles Villiers Stanford's rousing “Te Deum in B-flat” will be complemented by a selection of favorite hymns with brass accompaniment.
For our Children: Nursery Care and Worship

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.


Church School and Children’s Chapel will return on September 19 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. respectively. Please register your children age three through grade six here by September 15. For more information, please contact Katherine Raab, our volunteer Church School coordinator.
The Speaker Series Welcomes Madeleine Albright
10:00 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. | Togo West Parlor and Online via Zoom
Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., for a discussion led by Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State of the United States from 1997-2001 under President Bill Clinton.

Following the discussion, there will be opportunity for Q&A. Click here to register to attend on September 12. You need to register only if you are attending via Zoom. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link for the meeting.
Welcome Back Reception
12:00 noon on the Church Plaza
Please join us for an assortment of goodies after the 11:00 a.m. service to celebrate being together again.
2021-2022 Church School Registration Now Open
(New date) Sundays at 10:00 a.m. starting September 19
We are planning to have a weekly 10:00 a.m. Church School hour again in person in September. Please register your children age three through grade six here by September 15. For more information, please contact Katherine Raab, our volunteer Church School coordinator.

Confirmation Class for Youth 2021-2022
Registration due by September 19
At Confirmation, the baptized make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to live out their Baptismal promises (Book of Common Prayer, page 412). Confirmands go through a period of learning, prayer, and discernment leading up to the service where a bishop will pray and lay their hands on them asking for strength from the Holy Spirit. This year, we've made a clearer and simpler path for Confirmation Classes. Confirmands are required to be in seventh grade or higher, commit to attending six classes, one retreat, and participating in one parish activity. Please register here by September 19 to participate. Click here for the Confirmation brochure. For more information, please contact us here.

2021 Fall Adult Inquirers' Class
Saturdays, October 9 and October 16
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
If you would like to be baptized, confirmed, or received into membership in the Episcopal Church at St. John's, join the 2021 Fall Adult Inquirers’ Class. The two-day class will meet on Saturdays, October 9 and October 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Rev. Rob Fisher, Rector of St. John’s, will lead the sessions. Anyone – newcomer or longtime parishioner – interested in learning more about our Christian faith and life, the Episcopal tradition, and the ministry of St. John’s Church, is invited to attend. For more information or to register, contact Kaye Edwards at 202-347-8766, ext. 317 or by e-mail here. Those who participate in this class, or have completed another inquirers’ class, may attend a Service of Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, November 13.

Ministry Fair
(New date) Sunday, October 10, after the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services
Celebrating Parish Committees, Organizations, and Activities
The Ministry Fair is a festive and welcoming way to recruit new people to parish ministries, to give newcomers a chance to see the variety of ministry happening at St. John’s, and to meet some of the outstanding lay leaders from our parish.

Sunday Worship Participant Retreat, Workshop, and Training
(New date) Saturday, October 23, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
St. John's Parish House and Church
St. John's clergy and lay leaders will be hosting a morning of prayer, retreat, and training, followed by lunch, for all who currently serve or who would like to be trained to serve in the Sunday worship services. This includes crucifers, acolytes, lectors, chalice bearers, flower guild, ushers, livestream broadcasters, and greeters. If you are interested in learning more about helping with any of these roles, please join us October 23. Click here to register. Please contact Holly Sukenik for more information.

Building Community: Outdoor Social Gatherings
To comply with safe Covid restrictions, St. John's will sponsor outdoor community events that connect parishioners away from the church campus. Options include cocktail parties on patios, brunches or suppers outdoors, picnics at parks, happy hour at a local establishment with an outdoor area, hikes, and bird watching.  

  • Hosts will determine the type of activity they want to organize.
  • Hosts will choose a date.
  • Hosts will establish the number of guests they can accommodate.  

We recommend that you set and advertise a limit (e.g., space is limited so the first 20 responses will be accepted.). If you are interested in hosting, please contact Holly Sukenik.

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.
Bible Study
Sunday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. | In-person in the Parish House Third Floor Conference Room or Online via Zoom
The Bible Study class will resume on September 19. To attend by Zoom, please contact Jack Reifferwho leads the class, for the link.
Upcoming St. John's Speaker Series Events
Sundays | September 26, October 3, October 17, and October 24
10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. | In-person or Online via Zoom
The Speaker Series will be held on the following Sundays in the Church and online via Zoom from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. After the discussion, there will be opportunity for Q&A.  You need to register only if you are attending via Zoom. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link for the meeting.

All speakers will be in person at the church except for Secretary Albright, who will join us remotely.
September 26: Ruth Marcus, Deputy Editorial Page Editor at The Washington Post. She will speak on Politics and Policy in Washington. Registration link to come.

October 3: Elizabeth Rule, Director of the AT&T Center for Indigenous Politics and Policy, Washington, DC’s only university-based research center dedicated to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian issues. She is also a Professor at American University. She will speak on Native American History and Contemporary Indigenous Experience in DC and Beyond. Registration link to come.

October 17: Mike Molina, Head of School of the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys, Washington's only tuition-free, Episcopal school which serves families east of the Anacostia River. He will be speaking about the urgent opportunity to make generational impact through investment in the potential of African American boys by sharing his own journey from troubled youth to Yale Law School graduate. Registration link to come.

October 24: Dr. Rebecca Carter-Chand, Director of the Programs on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She will speak on Religion and the Holocaust. Registration link to come.

For more information and the schedule, visit the Speaker Series webpage here.
Dedications for Music Festival Services
We invite parishioners to sponsor extra musicians for Music Festival Services and other special events in the life of the parish. These generous contributions enhance our worship life and allow us to present large-scale musical works over the course of the program year. Sponsorship is recognized by a dedication on the title page of the bulletin for the given service. A list of upcoming services that are currently available for sponsorship is below: 

Monthly Choral Evensong
St. John’s is excited to offer a service of Choral Evensong on the Third Thursday of most months beginning in October. This weekday offering begins a new outreach ministry to the workday crowd in our neighborhood. Sponsorship Cost: $1,560 per service.

Advent Lessons and Carols
December 12, 2021
Sponsor singers for one of St. John’s most beloved holiday traditions, the annual service of Lessons & Carols, sung by the St. John’s Choir. Sponsorship Cost: $1,048.

Festival Strings for Christmas Eve
December 24, 2021
Sponsor the string ensemble that enhances the beauty of our Christmas Eve music. Sponsorship Cost: $3,000.

Epiphany Lessons and Carols
January 23, 2022
Sponsor four additional singers to join the Parish Choir in a service of Lessons & Carols
for the Season of Epiphany. Sponsorship Cost: $500.
 
If you are interested in sponsoring a service, 
Faith & Race and St. John’s Going Forward 
In 2020-21 we poured the foundations with Sacred Ground. Having had 60 members of St. John’s engaged in a year-long journey of internal and spiritual exploration, we need to figure out how to build on that foundation! So, we are now planning to go out into our local community while retaining a connection with the internal exploration that we will continue to undertake. We are excited to be able to give you some concrete news on what we will be doing:

  • First, we will launch the first of our quarterly Saturday morning Faith & Race Explorations on Saturday, September 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noo. The theme of the morning will be an exploration of “Truth and Reconciliation” as tool for community healing. Hazel Monae, who is the bishop’s new Missioner for Equity & Justice, will join us to help guide us through the morning. This meeting will be in-person, and there will be a mixture of plenary and breakout sessions using the full campus to ensure appropriate social distancing. Also, to the extent possible, we will provide a welcoming coffee, as well as a closing lunch. We believe this will be a wonderful way to start a discussion about what it means to be St. John’s, Lafayette Square in the aftermath of all that has happened over the past year, and to discover what we are being called to be. (This is open to everyone, regardless of age, and whether or not you attended Sacred Ground.) Please sign up here or contact the Rev. Will Morris with questions.

  • As you know, we are exploring ways to cooperate with WIN (the Washington Interfaith Network), on their work with disadvantaged communities in DC to help improve conditions. If you want watch the St. John’s meeting with WIN Organizers on July 29, you can still do that by clicking here. More details about possible projects will follow soon.

  • Finally, we will hold a second year of Sacred Ground for those who were not able to sign up last year. That will run from September/October to July 2022, and a virtual option will be available. We understand that this might sound like a large time commitment, but if you’d like to talk about the practicalities (as well as how great it is!) some of last years group coordinators would be very happy to talk to one on one. Please feel free to contact any of the following: Karen Eifert, Holly Sukenik, Andrew Clarke, Joanne Hutton, Jack Reiffer, Carolyn Crouch or Lisa Koehler.

To sign up for Sacred Ground, or for any questions on any of these items, please contact the Rev. Will Morris.
Baptism Services
Sundays | November 7 and January 9
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. 

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.
We Are Hiring
Director of Communications
Program Assistant
St. John’s is looking for a Director of Communications (new) and a Program Assistant, which are much needed part-time roles on our staff. While we do not hire parishioners, you can be helpful by spreading the word. The job descriptions are posted here (new) and 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, Rob Fisher, Susan Herrington, Katie and Paul Holder, Nelda Johnson, Susan Lewis, Jimmy Lowe, and John More.

Friends and family of our parish: Barbara Virginia Abalos Branes (Joanne Hutton), Barton Edwards Bruce (Kaye Edwards), LaKeshia Bryant (GeeGee Bryant), Bill Barrett, Jr. and Tyler Carlson (Kim Carlson), Wendy Addiss Dellar (Joanne Hutton), Karl Dornemann (Deb Dornemann), Bobby Doyle (Alex Pappas), Reagan Eudy (Alfred Thesmar), Jimmy Gallagher (Joanne Hutton), Frances Givhan (Gay and Bob Pasley), Elaine Gravatt (Margo Wiegenstein), Linda Young Gsell (Rick Young), Nancy and Neil Guard (Kate Benner), Valerie Hart (Emily and Jason Ornstein), Courtney Jordan Hillman (Erika Northcutt), Vera Hyncik (Holly Sukenik), Charles Jones (GeeGee Bryant), Tom Kiernan (Joanne Hutton), 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), Judy Nicola (Cynthia Walker), Wendy Paeth (Margo Wiegenstein), John Perry (Joanne Hutton), Pearson Reynolds (Kerri Stelcen), Susan Roberts (Kaye Edwards), Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston), Scott (Marta Cook & Cal Trepagnier), Mark Sissman (Mead Sissman), and Ann Tusa (Will Morris).


From our parish: Jeanne Grimmett and Marcella Odom.

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


Friends and family of our parish: Julie Howell (Cynthia Walker) and Marsha Bonnet (Kerri Stelcen).

Those who are in hospice care:

Friends and family of our parish: Ora Jackson (Wande Johnson) and David Williams (Carter Keithley).

Those in our parish celebrating a birthday this week:
Scott Barnes, Ashley Culbertson, Jim Czerwonky, Consuello Faunteroy, Zoe Fisher, Molly Giammarco, Marian Hampe, Mary Johnston, Elizabeth Lewis, Sandy Martin, Sara McGanity, Joan Moyer, Amber Neville, and Peter Neville.

Those in our parish celebrating an anniversary this week: Merrell and Preston Cherouny, Lisa Koehler and Ted Faris, Katie and Jeff Hantson, Robin and Graham Keithley, Holly and Trent Smith, Christine Brown Stehle and Mike Stehle, and Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier.

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), and Marta Kochanska (Livy and John More).
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