The Bridge
December 17, 2021
The Mission of St. John’s is to be a community of God’s people who heal brokenness, build bridges, and exemplify borderless kindness.
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Calendar of Events
Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
(updated)
- Saturday, December 18 - La Posada
- (bilingual, 6:30 pm)
- Sunday, December 19 - Greening of the Church
- (2:15 pm, refreshments)
- Friday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
- 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II with music (bilingual)
- 10:30 pm Choral presentation
- 11:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II with music (English)
- Saturday, December 25 - Christmas Day
- 9:00 am Holy Eucharist with music (English)
- Sunday, December 26
- Regular service schedule
- Sunday, January 2 - Feast of St. John the Evangelist
- 9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I in English
- (no music)
- 1:00 pm Bilingual Holy Eucharist
- (special lessons and music)
- 2:15 pm Parish Potluck luncheon
- Sunday January 9 – Feast of the Epiphany observed
- Trifles and Roscas at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall
- Ungreening of the Church at 2:15 pm
- Sunday, January 16 – MLK Jr. Day observed
- Regular service schedule with special liturgy and prayers
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La Posada
Saturday, December 18, 6:30-9:00pm
We have a really exciting evening planned for Saturday, December 18! St. John’s will be hosting a fun filled experience of La Posada. This bilingual celebration will include a procession following the footsteps of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, food for everyone, and candy-filled piñatas for the children. It is suggested that you bring a flashlight to help read the songs during the procession.
The food will be served outdoors. There will be seating available both indoors and outdoors. The main dishes will be prepared by members of the 1pm service, and the members of the morning services are invited to bring desserts.
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GREENING OF THE CHURCH
Sunday, December 19 2:15 pm
We will gather to decorate the church for Christmas! Catherine Turner is in charge, so if you have questions, please contact her. Teams have been developed to work on specific areas, but you are all invited to come join the fun – there is plenty of work to do! Refreshments will be served.
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We traditionally ask for donations to cover the cost of poinsettias to decorate our church for Christmas. If you would like to "purchase" one or more of these lovely plants, the suggested donation is $25 per plant. As usual, the poinsettias will be available for taking home after we celebrate Epiphany on January 9, 2022. |
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What goes up, must come down! We will ungreen, undecorate, put the church back to "normal" on Sunday, January 9, at 2:15 pm. We invite any and all who can be with us to help - many hands make light work. We will especially need "strong young men" to climb ladders and carry boxes back to the Annex. And, of course, we will have refreshments for those who are on hand to help!
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Help For Tornado Victims
On Friday and Saturday, December 10 and 11, a line of severe weather spread across the central United States, spawning over 50 tornadoes. Many lives were lost in these storms, and homes and businesses were severely damaged or destroyed. Episcopal Relief & Development is in contact with the affected dioceses as they assess the needs in their communities and stands ready to assist in the coming days and weeks. Please pray for the people impacted by the deadly tornadoes.
Donations to the US Disaster Fund will support Episcopal Relief & Development and its partners as they respond.
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Procession for Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 12, 2021
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Mother Minerva blessing the Procession |
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Vestry and Diocesan Council Information
Hello Fellow St. John's congregants,
We are excited to announce our newest members of St. John's vestry - Ms. Patricia Mata, Dr. Carolyn Cline, and Mr. Kevin Flegal. ThesePro new members were approved by acclamation. The vestry has approved Mother Minerva's appointment of Mr. Carlos Lugo to fill the one-year vacancy created by Ms. Glasebrook's resignation. We thank Ms. Jessica Glasebrook for her service on the vestry and as secretary. Ms. Maria Caballero has been elected to be the Vestry's secretary.
We are also excited to announce the Diocesan Council Delegates who were also approved by acclamation: Ms. Catherine Turner, Ms. Sandra Ward, Mr. Carlos Lugo, and Mr. Henry Welles.
Please join us in congratulating our new vestry members and our diocesan council delegates. Also, keep them in your prayers as they help lead our congregation and help our diocese make good decisions. You can see biographical information about each of the new members and delegates by clicking on their photo.
Paula Foy
Senior Warden
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Consider the mustard seed ...
Although St. John’s is not a “mustard seed-sized church”, we are somewhat anxious about people returning to services and ministry as the pandemic eases. We are also approaching the time for submitting our annual report to the Diocese. The encouragement in this article, and especially the last sentence, touched that place in my heart which wants more attendance, more service, more activity, more – more – more.
“It seems we should encourage mustard seed-sized churches to rely on God’s promise that nothing is impossible with faith. What if we – “the church” – teach them to seek and name the ways they, as two or three or five or ten households, are using their prayers and generosity to serve Jesus? What if their annual report included stories such as how a grandchild memorized a new table grace when he spent after school time at Grandma’s house? Or how a parishioner delivered hot meals to his next-door neighbor through the pandemic? … Let’s take an appreciative approach, trusting in God’s big promises about any sized gathering in Jesus’ name.”
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Sunday Services
9:00 am Holy Communion Rite I (in person)
10:30 am Holy Communion Rite II (in person and Zoom)
1:00 pm Santa Eucaristía, Rito II (en persona)
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Offering Plates:
For those of you who have missed the passing of the collection plates, we have resumed this tradition. The collection will be taken after the Peace, during the singing of the Offertory Hymn.
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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.
You may also join the service by telephone -
dial (346) 248-7799 and enter the meeting ID when prompted.
Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837
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The video recording of the 10:30 a.m. English 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).
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Virtual Coffee and Fellowship
Our virtual coffee "hour" provides a time to greet those who do not feel comfortable attending in person. Stay on Zoom when the service ends or click on this button to say hello:
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St. John's Notices and Activities |
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We know there are people interested in providing non-perishable food to the food pantry and we thank you! We are in the process of reorganizing this ministry as things have changed during the pandemic. In the meantime, if you want to donate, please take it to the Vincentian Center located at 901 W Braker Ln, Austin, TX 78758. Follow the link to their website so you can see what they need and their hours of collection.
We have been told that the food pantry at the Vincentian Center was empty the day after Thanksgiving, and the need is anticipated to be that strong for Christmas and New Year’s weekends. Taking food to the pantry on those days will be very helpful, as will monetary donations to allow the Center to purchase what they need.
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Christian Formation at St. John's |
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Cornerstone Literary Circle
Beginning January 5, 2022 - Wednesdays, 5:30 pm - Zoom
NEW!
Many participants in the recent Sacred Ground class were interested in continuing their learning though a book study group. Cornerstone Literary Circle was developed to facilitate this book reading and discussion of other’s perspectives.
Cornerstone will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm on Zoom and is open to anyone who is interested. The first meeting will be January 5th.
On January 5th, the Cornerstone Literary Circle will begin a discussion of Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me." To be prepared for the discussion, please read pp. 1-64 (stopping at the break). Our discussions on that Wednesday will center on content on those pages.
Please contact Laurie Williams if you are interested and watch for news in the Bridge and the Tuesday Christian Formation email as January 5th gets closer.
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Wednesday Evening Bible Study - Zoom
Wednesdays at 7:00pm
Our Advent series, Commitment to Hope, will continue on December 15.
The link to join the class is here:
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Thursday Morning Bible Study - Hybrid
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. - Hybrid
To participate in person, join us at 9:55am in the Parish Hall. To participate virtually, enter Zoom meeting number 821 5253 7149 in the Zoom app or click this button to enter the waiting room for the meeting:
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(please refer to our website www.austinstjohns.org or to the Christian Formation email sent every Tuesday for more information and links)
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Wednesday Morning Grounds Crew
There are projects to be done all year, and your participation would be very welcome! We start about 8:00 a.m. and finish about noon.
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If you have questions about this ministry, please contact Hal Hughes.
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Labyrinth Community Garden
Thank all of you who donated to the Labyrinth Community Garden. As of December 15th, we have reached our $1,200 goal for this year!
Thanks to you, we’ll be able to build new raised beds in the year ahead and with this extra growing capacity, we expect to be able to substantially increase our produce donations to the local Vincentian Center Food Bank.
Thanks very much for helping our campaign reach its goal!
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If you are interested in obtaining a bed for you and your family, please contact Patty Arnold.
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SAVE THE DATE!
St. John’s Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the church on Sunday, January 30, at 12 Noon. Please plan to be there to learn about our plans for 2022!
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COVID-19 Related Information |
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click on the image to access the Austin Public Health website |
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For Prayer and Pastoral Care |
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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.
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St. John’s requires masks at all indoor worship services. Masks are optional at all other events on the St. John's campus. Based on the CDC guidelines, all persons who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to wear masks while indoors. |
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St. John's gathering policy continues to be updated as conditions change relative to the COVID pandemic. St. John's holds the health and safety of our community as a top priority.
Your understanding and cooperation are very much appreciated.
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for other ways to make a donation.
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Please send mail to the church post office box
St. John’s Episcopal Church
P. O. Box 81493
Austin, TX 78708-1493
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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. As we come back together, 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.
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Ms. Paula Foy, Senior Warden
Mr. Hal Hughes, Junior Warden
Ms. Sandra Welles, Treasurer
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Class of 2022
Ms. Paula Foy
Mr. Hal Hughes
Sra. Rosalinda Rodriguez
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Class of 2023
Mr. Steve Kriechbaum
Ms. Sandra Welles
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Class of 2024
Ms. Maria Caballero, Clerk
Sr. Alfonso Hernandez
Ms. Sandra Ward
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The Rev. Minerva Camarena Skeith, Rector
The Rev. Victoria Mason, Deacon
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Ms. Fay Jones, Director of Communications
Mr. Philip Riley, Choirmaster and Organist
Sr. Alfonso Hernandez, Spanish Music
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Fay Jones, Editor (fay@austinstjohns.org) |
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St. John's Episcopal Church
11201 Parkfield Drive
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493
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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
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The Parish Office is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
from 10am - 12Noon.
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For more information about St. John’s Episcopal Church, please visit our website at www.austinstjohns.org
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