for Bridge Newsletter header
The Bridge
December 9, 2020

The Mission of St. John’s is to be a community of God’s people who heal brokenness, build bridges, and exemplify borderless kindness.
Holiday Safety Guidelines from Austin Public Health

Please click this button to read the latest suggested guidelines to stay safe and healthy during the holidays:
From Our Interim Rector

My letter last week ended with the news that I will be going on to be Interim Rector at St. George’s here in Austin, beginning January 1, 2021. Some folks said they didn’t see this message; so here it is at the beginning of this week’s Bridge/Puente!

While writing this letter for The Bridge/El Puente, I received a request from the folks at St. George’s for a story, from me, for their newsletter. So many things are the same and so many things are different! Both churches are having December vestry meetings the same day and the same time. Both will start the year with new clergy leadership and newly appointed Senior Wardens. Both do their best to be true to the Episcopal Way while being sensitive to the neighborhoods and neighbors that they each have in their midst. People behind masks are still people behind masks. 90 children call St. George’s their school Monday through Friday. For George, a homeless man who frequents our campus, possibly the closest thing he has to calling home during the week is the St. John’s grounds and buildings. All of this on the 60th anniversary of St. John’s!
How the world has changed since 1960. Think back, John F. Kennedy was President-elect, and he was organizing his transition team and getting his folks together as they headed towards the January 20, 1961, inauguration of the youngest president in United States history. It was President Kennedy who gave us the speech, “Ask not what your country can do for you; but what you can do for your country.” We are a country that has historically transitioned smoothly and with dignity. It doesn’t matter whether it is a change of presidential administrations or leadership for Episcopal churches in Austin, Texas.

President Kennedy’s question over a half century ago, “what can you do for your country?” is just as valid today. I might answer, “wear a mask”! We have received incredibly good news this past week – the fact that the vaccines will soon be going out and immunization will begin according to certain criteria for each tier! That is good news! Our ‘every year’ Good News in Advent is that John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of God Incarnate who would forgive our sins. Sins that are as different and as varied as the fingerprint of each and every one of us. Yes, the first Eucharist as St. John’s parish was celebrated 60 years ago today. No Eucharist today; but what we do have today is hope. Hope for tomorrow and hope for the future!

Faithfully,
Ann+
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Christmas Message for 2020

"Joy to the world! The Lord is come. In your hearts, in your homes, in your lives, prepare him room."

Click this button to hear Bishop Curry's message:
Christmas Worship at St. John's

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at St. John’s will look very different this year. We will have a single bilingual service on Christmas Eve, which will be live streamed on Facebook at 5:00 PM. The recorded service will be available for replay on our web site and on YouTube shortly thereafter. The service will begin with a set of prerecorded musical performances from members of the St. John’s Choir, followed by the Liturgy of the Word for Christmas Eve. We will hear the Christmas story through a musical presentation of Las Posadas.

No Facebook account or login is required to attend the service, but you must log into your Facebook account to comment or to view other comments. We will have the link to the Christmas Eve service in next week's Bridge.
There will be no services at St. John’s on Christmas Day. We are compiling options for online worship at other churches such as Christ Church Cathedral in Houston and the Washington National Cathedral. Links for those options will be posted on Facebook, on our web site, and in next week’s Bridge and Sunday bulletin.
Outside Work Day - Thanks

We met on December 5, 2020 to ready the grounds of the Church for the remainder of the year. We were blessed with a great attendance so the work was light and we had fellowship from afar. We began mowing the grounds and edging the walkways in the rain and the cold.  We were also able the clean some of the grass out of the Labyrinth, rake up countless bags of leaves, trim some of the shrubs, plant some flowers and clear out the Memorial Garden. We hope that if you drive by you will take a look at the wonderful work that was done. Thanks to all who showed up to work and give of your time and talent.
Labyrinth Community Garden Fundraiser

Our Labyrinth Community Garden is participating in the #SeedMoneyChallenge, a 30-day fundraising challenge and we could really use your support TODAY! In addition to keeping the funds we raise from individuals like you, we have a chance to win a challenge grant of up to $600 from SeedMoney based on how much we raise over the course of the 30-day period running from Nov 15 to Dec 15.
St. John's is turning 60!
Happy Birthday, St. John's
October 8, 2020
Sunday Services at St. John's
We are finding different ways to worship.
Our Sunday services are being live streamed from our Church:
  • 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer in English
  • 12:00 noon Morning Prayer in Spanish

There are two ways for you to participate in our Sunday services:
  • Go to Facebook Live. No Facebook account or login is required to attend the service, but you must log into your Facebook account to comment or to view other comments. Click this button to attend the service using Facebook:
  • Call 1-888-958-7272 and, when prompted, enter an access code to listen to the service on your telephone. For the English language service, the access code is  328853746#. 

In both cases, the live stream for each service will begin approximately 5 minutes before the start of the service.
 
Recorded video from both services will be posted on the
St. John's YouTube channel later in the day so that you can replay a service at your convenience. Links to the YouTube recordings will be posted on our website (www.austinstjohns.org).
Holy Eucharist on the Lawn

Limited in-person worship will continue this Sunday, with an outdoor ​Holy Communion Service at 1:15 PM. This week's service is in English. The service will be held on the lawn in front of the Annex.

Remember: Please bring a chair - chairs are not provided!
Pre-registration is required; please click the button to register. Please register for only one Sunday service at a time so others will have an opportunity to attend.

If you need to cancel your reservation, please return to the registration site or text Fay Jones at 512-626-1771.

In case of inclement weather, this service will be cancelled.
Sunday Morning Prayer services at 10:00 AM in English and noon in Spanish will continue to be live streamed on Facebook. ​ ​No login is required to attend the service. ​
Virtual Coffee and Fellowship:
Provide your own beverage and treat of choice

Join us for our Virtual Coffee and Fellowship on Sunday beginning at 11 am! This 30 minute opportunity to visit with friends you haven't seen in a while will be a separate Zoom meeting so you will need to use this link to join:
To protect the meeting participants from any possible "trolls" who might try to interrupt our fellowship, the Waiting Room is enabled for this event. The meeting facilitator will admit you to the meeting as quickly as possible.
Save the Date!

Wednesday, January 6, 2021 is Epiphany! That evening we will have Evening Prayer and an Epiphany Party - all at home via Zoom. You are invited to share the prayer service with your St. John's family and our new Rector, then "share" virtually your fancy Epiphany dessert. Wonder if we will have any trifles to show off?
An Amazing Gift from an Amazing Artist

Ruth Beer's oil paintings are now available at half price to St John's members, with ALL proceeds going to St John's Church. You can go to Ruth's web page to see her paintings by clicking this button:
Christmas Eve Candle Kit for your Home

Start a new tradition! Hold a candlelight service at home with this exclusive Home Candlelight Service set. It has everything you need for a worship service—10 candles and drip protectors, plus a service suggestion with the Christmas story and several classic Christmas carols. Available while supplies last.
There are several ways you can continue to give towards the mission and ministry of St. John's:

Mail your check to the Church: St. John's Episcopal Church, 
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493

Go to your bank's website and set up direct payment - the bank will send a check directly to St. John's using this address: 
St. John's Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493

Use this link to learn more about online giving: Click here

Use this button to go directly to our online giving portal:
To those who have returned your giving intention for 2021 -
Thank You!

If you have not already done so, please return your giving intention (pledge) card for 2021 to the church as soon as possible.
A Message from Farmshare Austin

"As the year is beginning to wind down, I just wanted to reach out to all our market partners to make sure everyone is aware of our home delivery service. Community members within certain zip codes (listed below) are eligible for free grocery delivery through Curbside Delivery. Customers can either order online at www.farmshareaustin.org/curbside-delivery or call the SFC Help Desk at 512-910-5860 to place an order. Fresh produce as well as healthy grocery items are available, and customers can pay using debit/credit card, cash, SNAP/ EBT / P-EBT, or Double Up Food Bucks."

Eligible zip codes:
78702, -04, -23, -24, -25, -27, -41, -42, -44, -45, -47, -53, -54, -58, 78612, 78617
Operation Blue Santa

We will not be able to have our Angel Tree this year, but you can still help those in need by donating to the Blue Santa program.

The Blue Santa program has changed this year due to the COVID pandemic and they are giving out toy gift cards to eligible children between infant and 14 years and food gift cards to approximately 12,000 families. Please click this button to go to the Blue Santa website if you wish to make a donation.
Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Assistance Program

"The Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Assistance Program provides up to six months of full rent payment for income-eligible Austin renters who have experienced a COVID-19-related income loss. Applications are open.

More eviction information, help with paying utilities and related housing services are available on the Housing Resources webpage."
Caring for Each Other

If you, or someone you know, need prayer or would like to be contacted by the church, please contact the Reverend Ann McLemore at 769-257-2377 or RevAnn@austinstjohns.org to add names to the Prayer List.
Need Help?

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 Rev. Ann (769-257-2377).

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


Only Rev. Ann and essential support staff will be in the Church for the streaming of services and outside for the in-person Holy Communion services as we continue to follow the direction of government officials and the guidance of our Bishop.

All in-person meetings and activities at St. John's are temporarily suspended.

Ministry continues. All St. John's meetings will be held virtually (via Zoom).

We will post a notification here, on Facebook, and on our website when this restriction has been lifted.
Fay Jones, Editor (fay@austinstjohns.org)
St. John's Episcopal Church
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493

Virtual Sunday Services
10:00 am in English (Facebook and website)
Mediodía en español (Facebook y sitio web)

In-Person Holy Communion
1:15 pm Sundays
On the lawn in front of the Annex
Alternating weeks: English and Spanish
For more information about events at St. John’s, please visit our website at www.austinstjohns.org