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The Word
News from St. John’s, Lafayette Square
The Week of Sunday, April 2
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The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
7:45 a.m.
Eucharist with Blessing of the Palms—Sermon by the Rev. Rob Fisher
8 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal (Parish House Fourth Floor)
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Nursery (Parish House Second Floor)
9 a.m.
Choral Eucharist with Blessing of the Palms and Passion Reading—Sermon by the Rev. Rob Fisher
10 a.m.
Coffee Hour (Plaza, weather permitting, or Togo West Parlor)
Adult Bible Study (Parish House Third Floor)
11 a.m.
Choral Eucharist with Blessing of the Palms and Passion Reading—Sermon by the Rev. Rob Fisher (Watch live on Sunday)
Children’s Chapel (Children begin in church)
Noon
Coffee Hour (Plaza, weather permitting, or Togo West Parlor)
Church Tour (see below)
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TOUR OF ST. JOHN’S CHURCH
This Sunday at noon
For more than 200 years our church has served as a place of worship for a growing and everchanging city and country. Its structure is a lasting testament to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who, because of his training in both architecture and engineering, is considered by the American Institute of Architects as our country’s first architect. If you are interested in an in-person tour of St. John’s Church, meet at the front of the church near the baptismal font after the 11 a.m. service. Sunday’s guide will be Richard Busch.
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PLEASE HELP US DELIVER EASTER LILIES
This Sunday after each service
The Pastoral Care Committee is asking for help delivering Easter lilies to parishioners who may not be able to join us in person. Flowers will be in the Parish House parlors this Sunday, along with cards addressed to parishioners who live near you in Virginia, Maryland, or the District. Please plan to make at least one delivery if you are able. Give the gift of your time, love, and cheer to parishioners, many of whom cannot be with us in church.
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FOR CHILDREN
Children are welcome at all worship services.
A nursery for infants and children up to age three is available most Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Parish House.
Children in pre-K through fifth grade may participate in Church School on the second floor of the Parish House, most Sundays from 10 to 10:50 a.m.
Children from birth through grade 5 are invited to participate in Children’s Chapel, a special liturgy just for them during the sermon at the 11 a.m. service on most Sundays. Parents may accompany their children, and are encouraged to do so for those younger than three.
Children’s Bulletins with coloring pages of stories from this Sunday’s scripture readings are posted here each week in time for Sunday services.
For more information about our children’s ministry, please contact the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell.
Please note: There will be no Church School on Palm Sunday or Easter Day.
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FOR YOUTH
Most Sundays from 10 to 10:50 a.m., all middle and high schoolers are invited to Youth Group on the second floor of the Parish House for an exploration of life and faith with their peers. For more information about opportunities for youth, please contact the Rev. Shawn Evelyn.
Youth in sixth grade and above are also invited to join the Acolytes ministry. Acolytes assist with worship during the 11 a.m. service by serving as torch bearers or crucifers and by helping set the altar for communion. To learn more, contact Nora Haugh.
Please note: There will be no Youth Group on Palm Sunday or Easter Day.
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ADULT BIBLE STUDY
This group gathers most Sundays at 10 a.m., using a hybrid approach, with some joining via Zoom and others in person. The group is studying the structure, audience, and themes of the Gospel of Matthew. Conversations explore the connections with the Sunday lectionary lessons and sermons. To receive class notes and Zoom login information, please contact Jack Reiffer.
Please note: There will be no Adult Bible Study on Easter Day.
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PRAYER CARDS
You are invited to take a blank prayer card from the narthex (the entrance of the church) and write down something or someone you would like to pray for. You can hand your prayer card to the ushers when they take the collection, and your card will be blessed and prayed over during the week.
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STEWARDSHIP 2023
Thanks to all who have pledged to date. As of March 29, we have 310 commitments totaling $1,039,616 pledged for 2023. Every pledge, large or small, makes a meaningful difference! If you have not yet done so, please consider what you might be able to pledge toward the mission and ministry of this parish ithis year and complete a pledge card, or pledge online here. If you would like to help reach out to people who have not yet pledged, please contact the Stewardship Committee.
—Toby Stock and Carter Keithley, co-chairs of the Stewardship Committee
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LAST CALL FOR DIAPER DONATIONS
Drive officially ends Monday, April 3
Our March collection of diapers and related supplies for the Greater D.C. Diaper Bank (GDCDB) has been a huge success. If you haven’t yet donated, you have one last chance. Please contact Holly Sukenik to arrange to drop supplies off at her home.
Items of need include diapers (especially sizes 1, 5, and 6), Pull-Ups (especially sizes 3T–4T and 4T–5T), wipes, diaper cream, baby wash, baby lotion, adult shampoo and conditioner, adult body wash, and period products, especially pads.
You may also make donations by check payable to the Greater D.C. Diaper Bank or by credit card at greaterdcdiaperbank.org.
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WE NEED YOUR HELP UPDATING OUR PRAYER LIST
The Pastoral Care Committee is asking for your help updating the prayer list. Please review this week’s list (found at the bottom of this email) and let us know whether prayers are still needed for any friends or family that you have requested. If we don’t hear from you, will reach out in the coming days—but you can save us a step: Just contact Pastoral Care to tell us whether names should continue or may be removed.
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JOIN THE LGBTQ+ FELLOWSHIP
Great times await!
Inclusion is important at St. John’s, and we want to ensure that every member has an opportunity for fellowship and to amplify their voice, while supporting one another and
the mission of the church. In the past, St. John’s has participated in the Capital Pride Parade, and with this group we hope to do much more. Come enjoy camaraderie and brainstorm ways to further inclusion at St. John’s. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Anthony Pegues.
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Holy Week and Easter at St. John’s | |
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Palm Sunday—April 2
7:45 a.m. Eucharist with Blessing of the Palms
9 a.m. Choral Eucharist with Blessing of the Palms and Passion Reading
11 a.m. Choral Eucharist with Blessing of the Palms and Passion Reading
Please note: There will be no Church School or Youth Group on Palm Sunday.
Wednesday in Holy Week—April 5
12:15 p.m. Midweek Music: Holy Week Concert (see below)
Maundy Thursday—April 6
Noon Choral Eucharist with Foot Washing
5 p.m. Family Service with Eucharist, Foot Washing, and Stripping of the Altar (see below)
7 p.m. Choral Eucharist with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday—April 7
12 p.m. Good Friday Service with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament
Easter Day—April 9
7:45 a.m. Eucharist with Hymns
9 a.m. Choral Eucharist with Brass and Percussion
11 a.m. Choral Eucharist with Brass and Percussion
Please note: There will be no Church School, Youth Group, or Bible Study on Easter Day.
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MIDWEEK MUSIC: HOLY WEEK CONCERT
Wednesday, April 5, at 12:15 p.m.
Our monthly lunchtime concert series continues with a special offering for Holy Week by sopranos Kaitlyn Brown Jackson and Amy Broadbent, who will be joined by organ and cello in a performance of François Couperin’s poignant Leçons des Ténèbres. Click for the full schedule of Midweek Music offerings. All concerts are open to the public without charge and run approximately 35 minutes. If you would like to make a donation to support future Midweek Music programs, please contact the church office.
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FAMILY MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE
Thursday, April 6, at 5 p.m.
St. John’s will hold our first family-centered Maundy Thursday service, including a story and homily by the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell. We will share the bread and wine of the Eucharist, have an opportunity to wash one another's feet, and strip the altar to prepare for Good Friday. All are welcome!
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DONATIONS TOWARD SPECIAL MUSIC AND FLOWERS
Holy Week is the most important week of our liturgical year and is made more special due to several extra musical offerings, including a trumpeter on Palm Sunday and a concert performance on Wednesday afternoon. If you wish to make a contribution of any size to help support these or other special musical offerings, please contact Brent Erstad.
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The flowers that enhance the beauty of the church and parish house are given by parishioners as memorials for those who have died and as thanksgiving for those who are living. Please consider remembering those who are important to you. The suggested donation is $55 per name. Your support of this important ministry is greatly appreciated.
To pay by check, please complete this form, enclose it with a check payable to St. John’s Church, and bring it with you to church on Sunday to place in the offering plate.
You may also pay online. Choose “Special Flowers” in the dropdown menu. Under memo, list the name(s), and indicate whether your gift is in memory of or in thanksgiving for.
The deadline for listing in the Easter Day orders of service is Monday, April 3.
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LATROBE YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP WINE TASTING
Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m.
Join the Latrobe Young Adult Fellowship for a celebratory wine tasting. We will begin in the church at 7 p.m. with a service of Holy Eucharist and then will gather in the Togo West Parlor to sample a variety of wines (non-alcoholic beverages will also be available). A $10 donation is suggested, and all are welcome! For planning purposes, we ask that you RSVP. The Latrobe Young Adult Fellowship is an active and engaged group of adults, primarily in our 20s and 30s. We gather at St. John’s at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. For more information, contact the Rev. Shawn Evelyn.
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ST. JOHN’S BOOK GROUP
Thursday, April 13, at 6:45 p.m., via Zoom
Please join us Thursday, April 13, at 6:45 p.m. for a discussion via Zoom of Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of art and science, love and obsession, and our unfinished reckoning with racism. During the Civil War, an enslaved groom and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. Set also in New York City and Washington, DC, this fictional novel tackles the legacy of enslavement and racism in America. For more information, please contact Janet Edmond.
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CREATION CARE HIKE
Saturday, April 15, at 10 a.m.
Enjoy fellowship and a gentle morning hike at the National Arboretum on Saturday, April 15, sponsored by the Care of Creation ministry at St. John’s. On spring weekends, the arboretum is accessible only through the New York Avenue entrance. Meet at 10 a.m. in the parking area near the Grove of State Trees (see map). Allow extra time for slow traffic. Carpooling, binoculars, and water bottles are encouraged. The morning concludes with an outdoor eucharist service led by the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell. RSVP to the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell, including your cell phone number, so you are expected and we can notify you of any late changes in plan.
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COMMUNION 101 FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
Sunday, April 16, at 10 a.m.
While the Episcopal Church does not officially celebrate a child’s first Communion, many families see this as a special rite of passage. Our tradition holds that once you are baptized, you are a full member of the church and may receive the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Whether or not your child already receives Communion, they likely have questions about why we do what we do. This is the class for you! Parents and children are invited to bring their questions and curiosities. RSVP to the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell.
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CHORAL EVENSONG
Wednesday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m.
Steeped in the beauty of the Anglican tradition, Evensong meets us at the even point between the active day and the restful night. Evensong will be sung by the St. John’s Choir on the third Wednesday of each month through May, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Parking validation is available in the C & C Parking Garage at 818 Connecticut Avenue, NW. A validation ticket can be obtained from an usher before or after the service. Mark your calendar and plan to join us. The service will also be available via livestream. Mark your calendar and join us.
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SPEAKER SERIES SCHEDULE
The Speaker Series is held Sundays at 10 a.m. in the Togo West Parlor on the first floor of the Parish House. An audio recording will be available on our website the week after each talk. Visit the Speaker Series webpage for more information. Upcoming speakers and topics include:
April 23: Evan Osnos, staff writer for The New Yorker, will speak on his 2020 biography of President Biden. Osnos won the National Book Award for his most recent book, Age of Ambition, about economic, political, and social change in China, and he shared a Pulitzer Prize for his investigative reporting at the Chicago Tribune.
April 30: Pierre Thomas, Chief Justice Correspondent for ABC News, will speak about his work for the network, which he joined in November 2000. Thomas reports for “World News Tonight with David Muir,” “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” and all platforms including ABC News Radio and digital.
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BAPTISMS
The next dates for Baptism and required pre-baptismal classes with the clergy at St. John’s are as follows:
Sunday, April 16, 11 a.m. (Class: Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, May 28, 11 a.m. (Class: Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, November 5, 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, November 4, 10 a.m.)
If you are interested in baptism for yourself or a child, please contact Lisa Koehler. Please note that the parents or grandparents of children being baptized must be active, pledging members of St. John’s. Adults interested in baptism must also attend an Adult Inquirers’ Class, offered each fall and spring, and be active, pledging participants in the life of the parish.
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MIGHT YOU HOST A PARISH LUNCH?
Only three slots remain: Sign up today!
Parish lunch, held most Sundays in the Parish House, relies on volunteers to prepare and serve the meal. We encourage individuals, families, groups, and ministries to sign up. Hosts may be reimbursed for expenses or receive a tax receipt. Contact Holly Sukenik with questions or to sign up for an open date.
DATES & HOSTS
April 2—Palm Sunday: No Parish Lunch
April 9—Easter Day: No Parish Lunch
April 16—Marion Blakey & Team
April 23—
April 30—
May 7—
May 14—Mothers Day: No Parish Lunch
May 21—The Refugee Committee
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JOIN A MINISTRY GROUP
Whatever your interests—worship, outreach, Christian formation, music, pastoral care—we always have room for more volunteers. If you feel drawn to serve at or through St. John’s, please check out the various ministries on our website and reach out to the coordinator—or, if none is listed, contact Lisa Koehler.
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THIRD SATURDAYS WITH GRACE’S TABLE
On the third Saturday of every month, St. John’s and Grace Episcopal Church, Georgetown, partner to provide a healthy and delicious meal for those who need it. Grace’s Table also fosters community space for people experiencing homelessness around the Georgetown neighborhood. Volunteers can provide the food being served or be present for service and interaction with the guests. For more information or to get involved, please contact Elizabeth Field.
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YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN ST. JOHN’S TOUR GUIDE MINISTRY
St. John’s Tour Guide Ministry is seeking new members to become part of an effort to share the history, architecture, and outreach of our church with visitors from around the United States and abroad. Leading tours is rewarding because of the people you’ll meet and the history that you will share. Training is provided by current tour guides and is done at your convenience. Tours take place following the 11 a.m. service during most of the year, and after the 10:30 a.m. service during the summer. Once trained, tour guides serve about once every six weeks. If you would like to experience what a tour is like, please consider taking a tour from one of our guides. For more information, please contact Rick Busch.
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Our prayers are requested for the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially:
THOSE WHO ARE SICK, RECOVERING, OR GRIEVING:
From our parish: Nathalie Demirdjian-Rivest, Ralph Olson, Justin Rivest, and Jocelyn Tichenor.
Friends and family of our parish: Sarah Baker (Pamela Venzke), Barbara Virginia Abalos Branes (Joanne Hutton), Katherine Buchanan (Finley Buchanan), Tom Burkart (Pamela Venzke), LaKeshia Bryant (GeeGee Bryant), Zelie Church (Norma Jean Reck), Billy Beardsley Conderman (Margo Arnold), Samantha Carlson (Kim Carlson), Charlotte Crowley Junilla (Margo Arnold), Wendy Addiss Dellar (Joanne Hutton), Sharon Diehl (Alex Stolar), Reagan Eudy (Alfred Thesmar), Pamela Evelyn (Shawn Evelyn), Janet Fischer (Ann Gardner), Grace Grifferty (Kerri Stelcen), Linda Young Gsell (Rick Young), Jackie Hanson (Brent Erstad), Margaret Harrell (Bud Harrell), Doug Holy (Joanne Hutton), Charles Jones (GeeGee Bryant), Jim Kasson (Rob Fisher and Sarah Wood), Olivia Kehoe (Kat Kehoe), Kathy Devlin Kelly (Wendy J. Fibison), Lynne Kessler (Mary and Carl Raether), Lori LaPoint (Brent Erstad), Chase Lasbury (Garrett Russo), Jay Marcucci (Robert Carroll), Melanie Markiewicz and William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), John McGraw (Mary and Carl Raether), Jenny Newlson (Michelle Mangrum), Hope Rigby (Hap and Nora Rigby), Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston), Scott (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), William Singer (Emily Lucio), Patsy and Cliff Swain (Margo Arnold), Evan Sweeney (Mary and Carl Raether), Lou Thesmar (Alfred and Hilary Thesmar), Carole Walker (Pamela Venzke), William Wilkie Thompson (Celia Thompson), Marsha Walston (Robert Carroll), and Theresa Weber (Kerri Stelcen).
THOSE WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL:
From our parish: Elizabeth Thompson.
Friends and family of our parish: Pat Morris (Will Morris), Monica Notzon (Jill Dowell), and Amy Tejral (Jill Dowell).
THOSE WHO ARE IN HOSPICE CARE:
Friends and family of our parish: Henry Farrington (Wendy J. Fibison) and Samuel S. Spaulding (Diane Spaulding).
THOSE WHO ARE IN ASSISTED LIVING:
From our parish: Eve Atkeson, Jack Kinsey, Barney Malloy, Marcella Odom, Becky Schergens, and John Whitmore.
Friends and family of our parish: Wilma Daubs (Kay Gilley).
THOSE WHO HAVE DIED:
From our parish: Richard Loren Doege, March 26.
Friends and family of our parish: Hallie Scruggs, March 27 (Laura and John Herzog).
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN:
From our parish: Caroline Wood Hoover, March 20.
Friends and family of our parish: Thomas Lewis Cohen, March 21 (Elizabeth Lewis and David Abernathy).
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK:
Christina Berlin, Ellie Eversole, Keil Green, Carter Harrell, Heather Hopkins, Charles Kaye, Samuel Lancaster, Rita Louise Leonelli, Patricia Leslie, Haley Lyerly, Michelle Morris, Chloe Neufeld, Nick Robischon, Chase W. Rynd, John Staples, Jennifer Weng, and JoAnn Zuercher.
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK:
Jennifer Egsgaard and Nick Robischon, and Alfred and Hilary Thesmar.
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES:
Friends and family of our parish: Janie Abernethy (Elizabeth Lewis and David Abernethy), Nathan Cobb (Livy More), Philip L. Faris (Caroline and Steve Faris), Yee Houston (Quin Woodward Pu), Marta Kochanska (Livy More), Amanda and Blake Tidwell (Willy Wolter), Bill Wolter (Willy Wolter), and Hugh Yeomans (Debby Hailey).
Please help us keep this list updated: Contact us with corrections, additions, and updates on status.
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