St. John's News for the week of October 17, 2021

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e-News & updates for the week of October 17, 2021

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Message of the Week

The Rev. Sarah Phelps, Rector

I am so pleased and thankful to have Fr. Stephen Mazingo joining our staff part-time as Sr. Associate for Family Ministries at the end of this month. (He’ll be ¼ time through Nov/Dec, then goes ½ time in January.)

While some internet issues interrupted our “Meet and Greet” with Stephen this week, those who attended heard him say that the first and most important task he sees for himself in this role is to build relationships with the young families in our parish, and to listen. I could not agree more.

READ MORE HERE

St. John's welcomes The Rev. Stephen Mazingo

as part-time Sr. Associate for Family Ministries

The Rev. Stephen Mazingo will soon join our staff on a part-time basis to help us re-build our children's and family ministries which have suffered during these last several months of pandemic. Stephen also will supervise and support Kendall Bauer, our new EYC Director.

Stephen has been a priest for over 15 years. As a past rector, he has had a lot of experience as a pastor to young families, mentoring other staff and lay teams working with children and youth, and leading youth (and adult) pilgrimages.

Stephen is a young dad himself. He has a young daughter, Emma, in early elementary school and Emma will soon have a baby brother who is due to arrive just after Thanksgiving. Stephen is working on a Master's Degree in History (online, through UNC Wilmington), so between the degree and the new baby, he's content to have a part-time ministry for a season. And he's excited to join us at St. John's where his family also will enjoy being part of our church life. His wife, Abigail, is a nurse practitioner.

Fr. Stephen will begin his ministry with us on Sunday, Oct 31.

Welcome Fr. Stephen, spouse Abigail, daughter Emma, and soon-to-be-born son, Gus!

Sunday Morning Worship Schedule

7:45 AM Spoken Eucharist (in-person only, no streaming)

9:30 AM Eucharist (in-person & LIVE on Zoom/YouTube)

Click Here to Download Sunday Worship Bulletin

St. John's Annual Giving Campaign: A Future with Hope

Sarah Goodwin shares how St. John's digital ministries helped her family connect to St. John's as newcomers and get through the pandemic.

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Next PRAYground THIS Sunday, Oct 17th!

Our next PRAYground is on Oct. 17 at 6:00pm (feel free to come during the 5:00pm hour for fellowship). Our liturgy will include a “Circle of Hope” about caring for God's creation. We invite you to bring something that gives you hope about the future of our world and/or helps you cope with the stress of climate change. This could be a thing - like a news article about a climate tech break through - or it could be something that represents an activity - like a cross or your running shoes. As a part of the liturgy, we will also be planting three native trees on church grounds.

Soloists' Social

Saturday, Oct. 16 at 5:30pm

Questions? Please contact Helen Holt, hwholt09@gmail.com.

St. John's Soloists'

The next Soloists' social will be Saturday, October 16, beginning 5 p.m. at St. John's. We'll again set up lawn chairs around the garden urn, weather permitting. If it doesn't rain, we will gather in the parish hall where we can also have virtual access for those who want to attend but can't drive. Here's a Google Meet link to use but only if weather forces us indoors! https://meet.google.com/tca-nced-qcs

You are welcome to bring a favorite beverage plus an individual snack. Definitely bring a sweater if temps are cool and the weather is clear.

Newcomers always welcome!

Hope to see you soon.

Additional Saturday hikes in 2021 will be Nov. 20 and Dec. 18. Good walking shoes and water are essential; hiking poles/sticks recommended.

St. John's Hikers!

Join us on Oct 16th!

St. John’s Hikers will resume exploring the Mountains to the Sea Trail on Saturday, Oct. 16. October’s hike will begin at the Bayleaf Church Road trailhead and proceed west to Blue Jay Point, about 6 miles round trip. For carpoolers, meet in St. John’s parking lot at 8:30 am sharp; others, meet at the trailhead by 9 am and wait. If you plan to go, please contact Helen Holt, hwholt09@gmail.com or 919-522-7917, so we will know to look for you. Come join us!

Halloween Costume Blessing & Trunk or Treat

Sunday, October 31st, 3:00pm

Families and children (or children-at-heart) of all ages are invited to celebrate Halloween with your St. John's family! We'll begin with a costume parade around the Columbarium, and a blessing of the costumes. Stick around for crafting, games, and trunk or treating in the lower (preschool) parking lot.

If you would like to volunteer to help out, or let us know if you're going to attend;

Click this link to sign up!!

Are you interested in joining our Flower Guild Ministry or would you like more information? Contact Mealnie Murphy, Flower Guild Chairperson at melanie.murphy@gmail.com

Sponsoring the altar flowers on Sunday is a beautiful way to honor loved ones. Flowers are often given to mark special life events such as birth and birthdays; anniversary of a wedding, baptism, confirmation; the memory of a loved one; or as a thanksgiving for life’s blessings.

You can reserve a particular Sunday for your dedication with a donation of $35 per vase (you can choose one or two vases). Your dedication will be announced in our church bulletin.

Contact Barbara in the church office if you are interested barbara@stjohnswf.com.

Formation Corner

Children & Families (though 5^th grade)

Join us at PRAYground on Oct 17th! Bring a picnic dinner (and chairs or a blanket) anytime after 5 pm and enjoy some fellowship and play time before worship at 6 pm!

Episcopal Youth Community

In-Person Gatherings Coming Up

Come hang out before PRAYground on October 17th from 4:00pm and on. More details coming soon. You are also invited to come to church (9:30am service) with Kendall on October 24th, and enjoy some pumpkin-painting after the service. Questions? Contact Kendall Bauer at youth@stjohnswf.com.

Adult Formation

MEN'S BIBLE STUDY

Is restarting! Join Mike Phelps and other men from the parish as we read through a book of the Bible together on Zoom. The study will likely be at 9:00pm, biweekly, on a weeknight determined by the group. To sign up, email Mike Phelps at michaelbphelps@yahoo.com.

Jim Cooke receiving treatment for leukemia

St. John's parishioner, Jim Cooke (son of Pinky, spouse of Alexis, and dad of James, Mary Claire, and Charlie) has been diagnosed with an aggressive, acute form of leukemia. Please keep the Cooke family in your prayers. To receive updates as he moves through treatment, send a note, and find out how you may support the Cooke family, please visit Jim's page on the Caring Bridge site at the link below.

Visit Jim's Caring Bridge Page