The Word from St. John's Church (Week of August 22, 2021)

Sunday Schedule

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost | August 22

Join us for in-person worship at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Worship will continue to be livestreamed at 9:00 a.m. on Facebook and on the Worship Page of our website and available later on our YouTube channel.

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Diocese of Washington, will be our guest preacher at the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services this coming Sunday, August 22.

In accordance with the most recent city and diocesan guidelines, St. John's Covid-19 safety practices are as follows:

Masks must be worn at all times by all over the age of two years.
Pre-registration is not required to attend Sunday services.
Our professional and volunteer choirs are back, and they are fully vaccinated.
Congregational singing with masks in place is allowed.

The church doors open at 8:30 a.m. Free valet parking will be available for services, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We look forward to welcoming you to worship, either in person or online. Visit www.stjohns-dc.org for more information.

Nursery Schedule

Sunday, August 22, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Parish House Second Floor

While the basement nursery is still under construction, the nursery will meet in the Godly Play Classroom #2 on the second floor of the Parish House. Please note that infants and children are welcome at all worship services. Nursery care will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Sunday for infants and children up to age 3. Please register your children here. Reminder: Masks are required for all children over the age of two.

Bible Study

Sunday, August 22 at 10:00 a.m.

Online via Zoom or in-person in the Parish House Third Floor Conference Room

To attend by Zoom, please contact Jack Reiffer , who leads the class, for the link.

Worship Offering for Children

Click below for the Children’s Bulletin with coloring pages of stories from this Sunday’s scripture readings.

• Children's Worship Bulletin 1

• Children's Worship Bulletin 2

Refugee Assistance: Help Needed to Move Furniture this Saturday

Saturday, August 21 at 10:30 a.m.

A couple of strong folks are still needed to join a group of St. John's volunteers this Saturday, August 21, to help move furniture donated to the refugee committee for the next incoming refugee family.

The furniture needs to be moved out of a basement at a home in Silver Spring and into a U-Haul and transferred to a storage space in NE, Washington. (The truck and storage space are all arranged.) It should go quickly because there is not a lot of furniture, but some of it is heavy.

We'll gather at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the home in Silver Spring. But if you need a ride, let us know and we'll arrange for someone to collect you, probably at the Silver Spring metro.

The items to be moved are three dressers (two tall and one long), a single bed and box spring, kitchen table and four chairs, lounge chair and mirror.

To sign up, get a ride or more information, please contact Sarah Wood and Matthew Taylor.

Latrobe Young Adults Brunch

Sunday, August 29 at 12:15 p.m.

All young adults are invited for fellowship and brainstorming ideas for future Latrobe events over brunch immediately after the 11:00 a.m. service on August 29. Location TBD. Please contact Kate Benner and Carl Ward, co-chairs, for more information.

2021-2022 Church School Registration Now Open

Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (beginning in September)

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 12. For more information, please contact Katherine Raab, our volunteer Church School coordinator.

Confirmation Class for Youth 2021-2022

Registration due by September 12

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 12 to participate. Click here for the Confirmation brochure. For more information, please contact us here.

Ministry Fair

Sunday, September 19, 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. Watch for details in early September. Please contact Kaye Edwards if you would like additional information.

Liturgy Retreat

Saturday, September 25, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

St. John's Parish House

We will be hosting a morning for retreat, prayer, and training 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, livestream broadcasters, and greeters. If you are interested in learning more about helping with any of these roles, please join us for the Liturgy Retreat on September 25. Click here to register.

Building Community: Community Gatherings Return

Back by popular demand! St. John’s will resume our community gatherings to connect with fellow parishioners. The get-togethers can be cocktail parties, brunches or suppers in the homes of parishioners, or happy hours at local establishments, picnics, or whatever our creativity leads to.

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.

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.

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. Over the summer months, the choir meets at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings to rehearse for worship. Mid-week rehearsals will resume at the start of the new program year in September. There is a straightforward voice trial for admission, but the main qualification is your interest in serving St. John's in its music program. Please be in touch with Brent Erstad, Director of Music and Organist, to learn more.

Upcoming St. John's Speaker Series Events

Sundays | September 12, September 26, October 3, October 17, and October 24

10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. | In-person in the Church and 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 12 : Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State of the United States from 1997-2001 under then-President Bill Clinton.

Click here to register for the Zoom link if you are attending online on September 12.

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 the Bishop Walker School. 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.

In Memoriam

A memorial service for parishioner Major Neil Fletcher Wilson, United States Army (Retired) who died May 9, 2020, will be held at St. John’s on Tuesday, August 24, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. with full military honors.

Sacred Ground and What Comes Afterwards

For the past year, 60 members of St. John’s have been engaged in the Sacred Ground Dialogue Program, a series on race developed by The Episcopal Church as part of our commitment to racial healing. Everyone who has participated feels different now from what they did last September, the transformation the Sacred Ground journey promised.

Now as that year draws to a close, we are thinking of how we continue this journey, but also widen the opportunities for all members of St. John’s to be engaged. In particular, I mention two possibilities:

First, we are exploring ways to cooperate with WIN (the Washington Interfaith Network) on their work with disadvantaged communities in DC to help improve conditions. On July 29, we held a Zoom meeting with WIN, where they explained the projects they work on and how we might be involved. It was an inspirational hour, and we recorded it, so if you would like to watch it, click here. Additionally, for those of you who are interested in being involved in WIN, there is a District-wide meeting on September 2 at 6:30 p.m. People can register to join here.

Second, 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 to July 2022, and a virtual option will be available. If you feel called to help facilitate a new group, please let me know.

To sign up for Sacred Ground, or for any questions on WIN, 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

Communications Lead

Program Assistant

St. John’s is looking for a Communications Lead 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 and here.

St. John's Financial Highlights

Quarter 2 | 2021

Below are the financial highlights for St. John's as of June 30, 2021. Pledges, offerings, and program expenses as of the end of the second quarter of 2021 (Q2 2021) are compared to the 2021 annual budget. Contributions include all 2021 pledges; Offerings is the amount received during Q1 and Q2 2021, and Program Expenses include clergy salaries, program support, music, outreach, and education expenses incurred as of June 30, 2021.

To make a pledge or pay a pledge online, click here.