Sunday Schedule
March 21 | The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Join us Sunday, March 21. Worship will be livestreamed on Facebook and on the Worship Page of our website from the sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. A recording of the service will be posted on Facebook, YouTube, and our website's Worship Page after the service ends. Please note that the service will not be live on YouTube. If you would like to be on the list for attending services in person as space is available, please sign up here by Thursday at noon. We are able to open these services to 25 people each week on a rolling basis. Visit www.stjohns-dc.org for more information.
Virtual Coffee Hour
Sunday at 10:00 a.m. | Online via Zoom
Join us Sunday to socialize, catch up, and talk about the service. 
Send a message here for the link to participate.
Bible Study
Sunday at 10:00 a.m. | Online via Zoom
Please contact Jack Reiffer, who leads the class, for the link to participate.
Youth Group for Grades 6-12
Sunday at 11:00 a.m. | Online via Zoom
Click here to join the St. John's Youth Group meeting. Please contact the Rev. Savannah Ponder for more information.
Speaker Series
Sunday at 11:00 a.m. | Online via Zoom
Join us March 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., for a discussion led by Sarah Stewart Johnson, Associate Professor at Georgetown University. Her lab focuses on detecting biosignatures, or traces of life, and is involved with analyzing data from current spacecraft and devising new techniques for future missions. She has worked on NASA’s Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity Rovers. She is also a visiting scientist with the Planetary Environments Lab at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. She will speak on The Red Planet: The Search for Life on Mars. Following the discussion, there will be opportunity for Q&A. Click here to register to attend on March 21. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link for the meeting.
Pathways Through Lent
St. John's Church has successfully created and evolved many elements of its ministries during these months of the pandemic. For Lent this year, we are encouraging everyone to take advantage of the several weekly gatherings and postings as part of our Pathways through Lent. Weekly prayer services, Holy Habits podcast, Sunday gatherings and worship, the messages we get from our clergy—all of these combine to offer opportunities for reflection, gathering, and prayer. We are also publishing parishioner reflections on Monday and Friday mornings.
Sung Compline
Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. | Livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
New this year during Lent: sung compline by the St. John's Choir. The service will be livestreamed on Facebook and our website's Worship Page. Click here for a copy of the Thursday sung compline bulletin. For more information, please contact the Rev. Savannah Ponder.
Lenten Reflections
Sent as email Monday and Friday mornings.
If you were subscribed to the reflection list-serv in 2020, you should automatically receive these again this year. If you would like to begin receiving the devotions this year, please subscribe here.
Spoken Compline
Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom.
Compline is a service for the completion of the day or night prayer. Click the button below to join us for this peaceful liturgy as our day ends. Click here for a copy of the spoken compline bulletin. Click here to join the Tuesday Service of Compline. For more information, please contact the Rev. Savannah Ponder.
Centering Prayer
Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. | Online via Zoom.
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian prayer that allows us to experience God’s presence within us. Join us as we quiet our mind and begin our day with 20 minutes of silent prayer together. No experience needed. Contact Thom Sinclair for more information or for the link to participate.
Holy Habits Podcast
Sent as email Saturday mornings.
Holy Habits is a podcast from St. John’s, journeying through Lent. In these conversations, we explore the disciplines we need to live our faith here and now. This is an exploration into the shape of a life well-lived, that is, a life oriented to receiving the gift of belonging in God’s life. The Holy Habits podcast will be sent to the same list as our weekly eNewsletter The Word. Click here to subscribe. 
The 2021 Next Step Breakfast: Virtual Brunch with Yamiche Alcindor
Saturday, March 20, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thirty-five years ago, twelve Episcopal parishes established Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington to combat poverty, homelessness, and other challenges faced by our brothers and sisters. Today, Samaritan is supported by more than 40 parishes and schools and continues this vital mission. Through the years, St. John's has been a loyal supporter through both donations and volunteers. 
Please virtually join Matt Bode, our Samaritan Ministry Partner Representative, on March 20th for the 2021 Next Step Breakfast. This event is one of the main fundraisers for Samaritan Ministry each year and will be emceed by Yamiche Alcindor of the PBS NewsHour. This is a fundraiser so of course you will be asked for a donation, but no donation is too small.

Click here to register and for more information. If you do register, please list Matt Bode as your table captain.
Holy Week and Easter Schedule
Palm Sunday | March 28
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Palm Sunday Service with Passion Narrative, and with music on the plaza before the service begins.
 
Tuesday | March 30
8:00 p.m.
Spoken Compline. (Online via Zoom)

Wednesday | March 30
Watch Party at 6:00 p.m.
Pre-recorded Lamentations Holy Week Concert with Reflections.
(Online only on Facebook our website's Worship Page)

Maundy Thursday | April 1
7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday Service with Stripping of the Altar and Foot Washing.

Good Friday | April 2
12:00 noon
Good Friday Service with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament.

Easter Day | April 4
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Festival Holy Eucharist

3:00 p.m.
Easter Outdoor Gatherings with Music, Prayer, and Distribution of Communion.
Virginia Theological Seminary (Alexandria, Virginia)
Washington National Cathedral (Washington, D.C.)
 
In order to attend in-person worship, please click the button below to RSVP.
We can welcome up to 100 per service, but advanced notice is required.
All offerings, except outdoor gatherings, will be available online.
Please list the total number of people attending in your RSVP.

The deadline to RSVP for the Palm Sunday services is Sunday, March 21 at 11:59 p.m.

The deadline to RSVP for the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Day services
is Sunday, March 28 at 11:59 p.m.
Worship Offerings for Children
Please click below for the Children’s Bulletin with coloring pages of stories from this Sunday’s scripture readings.
Washington Interfaith Network Action Team Meeting
Thursday, March 25, 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
St. John's is a founding member of the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN), a faith-based, multi-racial, interfaith grassroots organization dedicated to improving the life of all residents of the District of Columbia.

If you are or have been involved in any of WIN’s actions, please consider attending the next online meeting of WIN on Thursday, March 25, from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. representing St. John’s Church. If you plan to do so or have any questions, please email John More. 3-10 leaders per institution. Members register here.
Book Group
Thursday, April 8 at 6:45 p.m. | Online via Zoom
The St. John’s Book group will meet on Thursday, April 8, at 6:45 p.m. via Zoom to discuss The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. This moving novel puts human faces on the Syrian war with the immigrant story of a beekeeper, his wife, and the triumph of spirit when the world becomes unrecognizable. If you love to read, please join us for an evening of discussion and socializing.

For more information and for links to participate, contact Janet Edmond.
Upcoming St. John's Speaker Series Event
Sunday, April 11
11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. | Online via Zoom
April 11: George Will, Washington Post columnist. He covers politics and domestic and foreign affairs. He will speak on The Function of Conservatives: What they Exist to Conserve, and What Only They Can Do. Click here to register to attend on April 11.
Baptism at St. John's
To give families options during this extraordinary time, and until St. John's is open for full Sunday services, the Rector will discuss options to a church service with families, including baptisms at home (and preferably outdoors) or a private baptism at the church. All baptisms must comply with health and safety guidelines. 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.

The Rev. Savannah Ponder will lead a required pre-baptism class on Thursday, April 8, at 7:00 p.m. If you are interested in baptism and would like to register for the class, please contact Kaye Edwards. 
Donate Blood
Saturday, April 17, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Want to help the community in these COVID-ridden times? Donate blood! The Scout Troop sponsored by St. John's Church is organizing a blood drive for the Red Cross on Saturday, April 17 at the Hall of Service (1730 E St. NW, only a few blocks from St. John’s). To sign up, click here.
Every two seconds, someone in the US needs blood. The COVID pandemic has caused a severe blood shortage, and blood banks are in desperate need. By donating you will not only help patients in need of blood, but also support some of the first girls in the Boy Scouts as they pursue the Eagle Scout rank. To learn more about blood donation and who is eligible to donate, visit redcrossblood.org.
Stewardship Update
As we're officially outside of the "season" for stewardship, I'll only say that we're very pleased to have surpassed $980,000 in pledges, putting us above budget for the year. With a few more late pledges trickling in, we hope to be above $1 million for the first time in several years. Thank you to everyone for your support for St. John's! 

A couple other notes: (1) we'll welcome a morning forum with Lisa Kirchenbauer to discuss planned giving later this spring, so if you have any questions you'd like her to address, please email Lisa here or me here; and (2) we have begun working to improve the St. John's website as it relates to online giving and pledging--and if there is anything in particular you suggest we address, please let us know. I'll add that we believe stewardship goes far beyond financial support to include the work you all do as stewards of our faith community. As we begin regathering in greater numbers, I hope you will also give thought to how we can work together to renew our prior habits of showing up on Sundays (and welcoming newcomers once again). Personally, I've gotten a bit too accustomed to being lazy on Sunday mornings! But I look forward to rejoining our in-person services, as I know you all do too.

Toby Stock,
St. John's Stewardship Committee Chair
COVID-19 Pandemic Service and Giving Opportunities
Direct volunteer service or requests for help:

Please send an email to help@stjohns-dc.org with your name, contact information and details of the type of assistance you would like to contribute or that you need. We are matching volunteers with those requesting help for practical support during the pandemic, such as grocery shopping. 

Financial Assistance: 


  • To support members of parishes in the Diocese of Washington who suffer from food insecurity and other hardships, the diocese has suspended the Annual Bishop’s Appeal for the diocesan budget and has replaced it with a Covid-19 Emergency Relief Appeal.  You can make a gift on the diocesan website at this link: https://www.edow.org/about/giving.
In case you missed it
Click here to listen to past Sunday Sermons and Speaker Series.
Visiting Loved One's 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:

Those who are sick or recovering:

From our parish: Eve Atkeson, Bobbie Falk, Susan Herrington, Nelda Johnson, Jimmy Lowe, Jim Mullins, Bob Patchell, Dace Vidins, and Jeff White.

Friends and family of our parish: Diane Bender (Peter Odom), Marsha Bonnett (Kerri Stelcen), Barbara Virginia Abalos Branes (Joanne Hutton), Caroline (Wendy Fibison), Harry Davis (Mary and Carl Raether), Wendy Addiss Dellar (Joanne Hutton), Karl Dornemann (Deb Dornemann), Bobby Doyle (Alex Pappas), Jimmy Gallagher (Joanne Hutton), Frances Givhan (Gay and Bob Pasley), Elaine Gravatt (Margo Wiegenstein), Courtney Jordan Hillman (Erika Northcutt), Vera Hyncik (Holly Sukenik), Martha Jenkins (Thom Sinclair), Tom Kiernan (Joanne Hutton), Phyllis Lambert (Will Morris), William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Sherill Mason (Kaye Edwards), Betty Maudlin (Susan Welch), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), William Scott Miller, Jr. (Johnathan Miller), Julia Morris (Will Morris), Timothy Mullins (Jim Mullins), Judy Nicola (Cynthia Walker), Wendy Paeth (Margo Wiegenstein), Ginger Parra (Leila Taaffe), Carlen Powell and Anthony Ramsey (Virginia Bader), Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston), Ashley Sukenik (Holly Sukenik), Zoe Taaffe (Leila Taaffe), and Richard Van Horn (Kaye Edwards).

Those who are in rehabilitative care: 

From our parish: Marcella Odom.

Those who are in the hospital: 

Friends and family of our parish: Alfredo Flores (Javier Obregon), James Hodges (Matthew Taylor), Julie Howell (Cynthia Walker), Terry Keeney (Richard Metzger), Chase Madar (Rob Fisher), Floyd Moye (Joanne Hutton), Owen Thomas (Kwasa Centre Partners), Travis Rogers (Robert Carroll), and Mary Seidman (Nora and Hap Rigby).

Those who died: 

Friends and family of our parish: Steven Pardo who died on March 15.

Those who were born: 

From our parish: Ezra Lagera who was born on March 9.

Those in our parish celebrating a birthday this week: Philip Anfinrud, Christine Arrasmith, Paul Barkett, Joanne Bauers, William Birdseye, Marion Blakey, Tad Blundon, Henry Chew, Ashley Coxe, Stephen Crochet, Anne Field, Kate Galm, Carolyn Gardner, John Gardner, Patrick Hanniford, Janet Helgert, Iona Lagera, Brandon Montgomery, Scott Raab, Katherine Rawlings, Peter Spaulding, Sang Yi, and Hannah Zeller.

Those in our parish celebrating an anniversary this week: Bonnie and Charles Dewitt.

For those on the frontlines in the coronavirus pandemic, 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).
Stay connected with St. John's Church on social media!