The Bridge

May 12, 2023

The Mission of St. John’s is to be a community of God’s people who heal brokenness, build bridges, and exemplify borderless kindness.

Events and Announcements

Family Afternoon celebrating Mother's Day!

May 14, 2023

This Sunday, May 14th at 2:30 p.m. We will have a Family Afternoon event. The goal is to have family friendly events once a month which will range from educational activities to fun activities. This event will allow us to get to know each other better and for our kids to have a good time.

Come and join us celebrate all the Wonderful Mother's!

CHURCH DIRECTORY

This Sunday, May 14, we will have a table in the Narthex with the church’s directory. The purpose is to update any of our contact information. We will also have a blank contact information form if you would like top provide your information. If you join us from zoom you can email Sherri Rasmussen with any changes to your contact information. sheri@austinstjohns.org

PARISH HALL UPDATE

What's going on with the parish hall? When will we go back? We hear you and now we have something to report. Beginning on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, contractors will be arriving at St John's to begin working on remediating the asbestos in the Parish Hall. They will be there until possibly Thursday 18 May 2023.

The contractors will be using all of the parking spaces between the Parish Hall/Annex Building over to the field. It will be filled with cars and small trailers with their tools and to haul away the asbestos contained materials.

The drive way to enter and go around to the Church Building and it's parking lot will remain open and not blocked for our use, for visitors and for vendors use.

Click here to read first

Click here for additional information

APL Launches Enhanced Library Card Photo ID Pilot Program

Austin Public Library (APL) has launched a pilot program for photo ID Enhanced Library Cards, aimed at helping people who need additional identification and improving access to services.

The cards can be used like standard library cards and are recognized as valid IDs by several local agencies and organizations.

During the pilot phase, cards will be available at three APL locations, with plans to expand and refine the program in the future:

Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Ln
St. John Branch, 7500 Blessing Ave.
Southeast Branch, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd.

Save the Date

The Bishop is Coming!

May 20, 2023

Bishop Doyle will visit St. John’s on Saturday,

May 20, 2023 for Baptism, Confirmation, and Reception. We will have a single bilingual service at 5:30 PM followed by a reception.

Maria Alonso invites the congregation to bring a dish, fruit, or salad. If you are interested in bringing please contact Maria Alonso or Maria Angie

Graduation Blessings,

May 21, 2023

Join us to celebrate the 2023 graduates! Graduated are invited to receive a blessing on Sunday, May 21st during our services.

English Services 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM

Spanish Service at 1 PM

Our Community

El Buen Samaritano, an outreach ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas serving the Latino community of Central Texas, is committed to recognizing the dignity of all by ensuring access to healthcare, education and essential needs that lead to healthy, productive and secure lives.

Visit El Buen Samaritano Website

Farmshare Austin

Sunday, from

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Come shop for fresh, delicious, and affordable fruits and vegetables, local eggs and honey, and a variety of pantry staples!

The market accepts cash, credit, debit, SNAP, and Double Up Food Bucks.

Coffee and Fellowship

The Narthex is open for coffee and fellowship after each Sunday service!

Thanks to our volunteers who make the coffee, set it up, and clean up after.

Let's also be good stewards of our land and recycle! There will be signs in the Narthex with items that are recyclable.

Worship at St. John's

Our Sunday morning worship and education schedule:

8:30 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist Rite I (English)
9:45 a.m. - Adult Christian Formation Class
11:00 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist Rite II (English)
1:00 p.m. - La Santa Eucaristía Rito Dos (Spanish)

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.

Zoom link for 11:00 a.m. service

Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837 No passcode is required

Go to our website to download the bulletin

You may also join the service by telephone - dial (346) 248-7799 and enter the meeting ID when prompted. Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837

The video recording of the 11:00 a.m. 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).

Christian Formation

Sunday Morning Christian Formation

9:45 a.m. - in person in the church (nave).

Please mark your calendars for each Sunday in May where we will discuss the Book of Acts. These Adult Christian Education classes will last from

9:45-10:30 a.m. They will involve a presentation plus discussion. The schedule is:

Sunday, May 14 -- Acts 8:2-Acts 15:35

Sunday, May 21 -- Acts 15:36 -Acts 21:16

Sunday, May 28 -- Acts 21:17-Acts28:31.

Please contact Mother Minerva for more information.

Cornerstone Literary Circle -

Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Cornerstone Literary Circle is currently reading "Caste: The Origin of Our Discontent" by Isabel Wilkerson. A reviewer for the NYTimes wrote: "Wilkerson’s book is about how brutal misperceptions about race have disfigured the American experiment. This is a topic that major historians and novelists have examined from many angles, with care, anger, deep feeling and sometimes simmering wit."

Please contact Laurie Williams for more information.

Zoom Link to Cornerstone Literary Circle

Meeting ID: 865 2855 1870

Passcode 446185

Wednesday Night Bible Study - 7:00 p.m.

We will study the lectionary readings for the upcoming Sunday:

The class meets via Zoom:

Zoom Link to Wednesday Night Class

Meeting ID: 886 3246 7047

Passcode: 980365

Thursday Morning Bible Study

10:00 a.m. - Thursday

Thursday Morning Bible Study continues in our hybrid format at 10:00 a.m., via Zoom and in the narthex. We begin meeting the women of the New Testament and will hear what these women have to say to us. We will find many of them more familiar than the Old Testament women were, and look for both similar and very different themes.

Meeting ID: 821 5253 7149

No passcode is required

Zoom Link to Thursday Morning Bible Study

Please refer to our website www.austinstjohns.org or to the Christian Formation email sent every Tuesday for more information and links.

Ministries

Wednesday Morning Grounds Crew

For more information about this ministry, please contact Kevin Flegal.

Labyrinth Community Garden

To learn about how our Labyrinth Community Garden serves the community, or for information about obtaining a bed in the Garden for you and your family, please contact the Parish Office.

Card Ministry

St. John’s Episcopal Church is starting a new card ministry that will involve sending handwritten cards to our members who are suffering illness and/or bereavement.

Please let Henry Welles, Sandra Ward or Christi Crow know if you have a need or if you know of someone who does. Thank you.

Caring for

Each Other

For Prayer and Pastoral Care

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 email Mother Minerva.

We are a church family; when a family member needs assistance we want to try and help that member.

The Episcopal Church has a Rite of Reconciliation (Confession). Please contact Mother Minerva to schedule an appointment for Reconciliation.

Donations

Please visit our website (austinstjohns.org) for other ways to make a donation.

Please send mail to the Church post office box:

St. John’s Episcopal Church

P. O. Box 81493

Austin, TX 78708-1493

If you are having problems with the online donation system, please contact the treasurer at Treasurer@austinstjohns.org and someone will help you resolve the problem.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO ST. JOHNS. THANK YOU!

Fill out a pledge card here!

Gathering Policy

Masks are optional on the St. John's campus. The CDC guidelines highly recommend that all persons who are not fully vaccinated wear masks while indoors. Thank you for your cooperation in these efforts to keep our St. John’s community safe and healthy.

Austin-Travis County's COVID-19 Community Level is currently low.

For more information: Austin Public Health

Submit to the Bridge

You are invited to send pictures and articles to the Bridge! Please note the deadline: Noon, Wednesday preceding the Friday of publication.

Send to mariaangie@austinstjohns.org with "For the Bridge" in the subject line. Be sure to note the date of the issue in which you want to publish the information or article.