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The Word
News from St. John’s, Lafayette Square
The Week of Sunday, April 28
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Work continues on our bell tower, under the watchful eyes of the Rev. Rob Fisher, Preston Cherouny, and Chase Rynd, pictured here on the upper scaffolding. | |
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The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Final day of our spring diaper drive; please see full announcement below.
7:45 a.m.
Eucharist—Sermon by the Rev. Shawn Evelyn
8 a.m.
Parish Choir (Parish House Fourth Floor)
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Nursery (Parish House Second Floor)
9 a.m.
Choral Eucharist—Sermon by the Rev. Shawn Evelyn
10 a.m.
Coffee Hour (Parish House First Floor)
Church School (Parish House Second Floor)
Youth Group (Parish House Second Floor)
Bible Study (Parish House Third Floor)
St. John’s Choir (Parish House Fourth Floor)
11 a.m.
Choral Eucharist—Sermon by the Rev. Shawn Evelyn (Watch live on Sunday)
Children’s Chapel (children begin in church)
Noon
Coffee Hour—All are invited to a special reception to welcome new members (Togo West Parlor)
Church Tour (see below)
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SPRING NEW MEMBERS RECOGNITION
This Sunday, April 28
St. John’s will recognize new members of our community during worship this Sunday at the 9 and 11 a.m. services, and at a welcome reception at noon. Please come show your support for our growing community and, if you have not already, say hello and get to know someone new.
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TOUR OF St. JOHN’S CHURCH
This Sunday at noon | Guide: Kevin Cordova-Brookey
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.
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SPRING DIAPER DRIVE
Final Sunday to donate!
When members of the St. John’s Book Group read Broke in America: Seeing, Understanding, and Ending U.S. Poverty, most were surprised by the disproportionate economic impact on women who need disposable diapers and period products. That’s why the book group is again sponsoring a spring donation drive: It’s a simple way to reduce poverty right here in our own DMV communities.
A collection table has been set up every Sunday in April for items of need, including diapers (especially sizes 4 and up and especially 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 arrange to drop off items at the garage of organizer Holly Sukenik. Or skip the shopping and make a donation by check payable to the Greater DC Diaper Bank (GDCDB) or by credit card to GDCDB.
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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 most Sundays during the sermon at the 11 a.m. service. 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.
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FOR YOUTH
Most Sundays from 10 to 10:50 a.m., 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.
Youth in sixth grade and above are also invited to join the Acolytes ministry. Acolytes assist with 11 a.m. worship by serving as torch bearers or crucifers and by helping set the altar for communion. To learn more, contact Nora Haugh.
For more information about opportunities for youth, please contact the Rev. Shawn Evelyn.
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ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Sundays at 10 a.m.
This group gathers most Sunday mornings, using a hybrid approach, with some joining via Zoom and others in person. The group is studying the structure, audience, and themes of the Gospels of Mark and John. Conversations explore the connections with the Sunday lectionary lessons and sermons. To receive class notes and Zoom login information, please contact Jack Reiffer.
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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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FAMILY MEETUP
This Saturday, April 27, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Calling all families with infants, toddlers, and elementary aged kids! Come spend the morning building community and playing on the epic Beauvoir Playground (3500 Woodley Road, NW). We’ll pause at 10:30 a.m. for brief, kid-friendly prayer. Weekend parking is plentiful on the cathedral grounds. Coffee and snacks will be provided. Contact the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell for more information.
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THE FINAL MIDWEEK MUSIC HAS BEEN CANCELED
Regrettably, the U.S. Army Chorus is unable to perform as planned on May 1 due to a superseding obligation. We will hold our normal 12:10 p.m. Eucharist on this day in place of the concert. We hope to welcome the Army Chorus back to St. John’s in the future.
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FANS OF THE EARLY SERVICE: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We are exploring a time change for our spoken service on Sunday mornings. Originally scheduled at 8 a.m., this service was moved to 7:45 in the early 2000s to accommodate the weekly attendance of President Bush and his security detail. We are soliciting input on switching the service back to its original time. Please let us know your thoughts. Thank you!
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RECOGNIZING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Submit names by this Sunday, April 28
Each spring, St. John’s recognizes parishioners who will soon be graduating from high school. This year, we will recognize our graduating seniors on Sunday, May 5, at the 11 a.m. service. If you have (or are) a youth graduating from high school this year, please contact the Rev. Shawn Evelyn by this Sunday, April 28.
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SIGN UP FOR THE SPRING ADULT INQUIRERS’ CLASS
Saturdays, May 11 and 18, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Would you like to be baptized, confirmed, or received into membership in the Episcopal Church at St. John’s—or just to learn a bit more about the church? If so, consider taking our two-day Adult Inquirers’ Class, offered twice a year. This class will next meet on Saturdays, May 11 and 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will be led by the Rev. Rob Fisher, Rector of St. John’s. All are welcome, whether you are a newcomer or a longtime parishioner. This is an opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith, the Episcopal tradition, and the ministry of St. John’s Church. To express interest or learn more, please contact Lisa Koehler.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Sunday, May 19
After two years at St. John’s, the Rev. Shawn Evelyn and his family will be moving later this spring. His final Sunday with us will be May 19. Please mark your calendar and help us give them all a festive send-off. Details will follow as the date nears.
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PARISH LUNCH
Sunday lunch at St. John’s is a longtime tradition in which every member and every visitor can participate. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones—a time for fellowship and for hearing another’s story. The lunch is held most Sundays in the Parish House. Contributions of $5 for adults and young people 13 and over and $2 for children under 13 are requested to help defray the costs of the lunch. All are welcome. Valet parking hours are extended to 2 p.m. any Sunday with a parish lunch.
The upcoming schedule and hosts are:
April 28—New Members Reception
May 5—Bishop Walker School
May 12—No Lunch: Mother’s Day
May 19—Reception for the Rev. Shawn Evelyn
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LATROBE YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP
Wednesday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m.
The Latrobe Young Adult Fellowship celebrates the return of warm weather with a special outdoors edition! We will begin with a service of Compline, followed by dinner and fellowship at an open-air location in downtown DC (weather permitting). Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. The Latrobe Fellowship is an active and engaged group of adults, primarily in their 20s and 30s. We gather at St. John’s at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month for a short worship service followed by an activity. For more information, please contact the Rev. Shawn Evelyn.
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CALLING YOUNG SINGERS: CHORISTER OPEN REHEARSAL
Thursday, May 2, 4–5:30 p.m.
Do you know a child or youth who loves to sing? On May 2, we will host an open rehearsal for any children or youth who would like to know more about the chorister program. If you know of a child who would enjoy the positive collaborative experience of singing in a choir, please invite them to join us for a fun evening of singing specially geared toward newcomers. Snacks are provided in Togo West Parlor beginning at 4 p.m., and rehearsal is from 4:30 to 5:30 in the choir room on the fourth floor of the Parish House. Questions? Contact Brent Erstad.
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WIN UNIVERSITY: POLITICAL EDUCATION
Final Session: Thursday, May 2, 6:30–8 p.m.
Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) concludes its political education series with dinner and a presentation on climate and healthy housing. This session will take place at St. Matthew Lutheran Church (222 M Street, SW). | Register here. | Contact St. John’s WIN leader Sarah Wood.
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ST. JOHN’S BOOK GROUP
Thursday, May 2, at 7 p.m.
Join us via Zoom to discuss A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. Set in the late 1930s amid the Spanish Civil War, this novel follows a young pregnant widow and an army doctor who are forced to flee Spain and unite in a marriage neither of them wants in order to survive. The book group typically meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. For information and the link, contact Janet Edmond.
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DAY OF RECOGNITION AND THANKSGIVING
Sunday, May 5, at 11 a.m.
St. John’s has many traditions of honoring its members for their accomplishments or various acts of service. Sunday, May 5, during our 11 a.m. service we will recognize and offer thanksgiving for our high school seniors, acolytes, and Christian education teachers. We ask all involved in these groups to be present as you are able—and all others to join us for this celebration.
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COMING UP IN THE SPEAKER SERIES
The Speaker Series is held most Sundays from September through May 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.
May 5: Mark Hudson, Executive Director of Tudor Place Historic House and Garden in Washington, DC, will give a talk entitled “America’s Story Lives Here.” Tudor Place is a cultural anchor in Georgetown that traces stories of slavery and freedom through six generations of descendants of Martha Washington and the enslaved and free people who worked at Tudor Place.
May 12: Lauren Onkey, Director and Professor of Music, will talk about the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design.
May 19: Columba Stewart, Executive Director and CEO of the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, will present “Voices of the Ancestors: Saving the World’s Manuscripts from Destruction.”
May 26: Maureen Corrigan, Distinguished Professor of the Practice in Literary Criticism at Georgetown University, offers “The Great American Novelist, F. Scott Fitzgerald.”
Please note that the May 26 Speaker Series will take place at 9:30 a.m., on our first day of the summer schedule.
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SPECIAL CHURCH SCHOOL OFFERING
“There’s something about Mary”: Sunday, May 12, at 10 a.m.
Spend Mother’s Day learning about Jesus’ mom in this offering for kids and their caregivers. We will hear stories of Mary in scripture, make a craft, and celebrate moms and mother figures in our own lives.
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FINAL CHORAL EVENSONG OF THE SEASON
Wednesday, May 15, 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 is available in the parking garage at 818 Connecticut Avenue, NW. A validation ticket can be obtained from an usher before or after the service. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for this special offering.
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MIDWEEK MEN’S GROUP
Third Thursdays at noon: Next meeting, May 16
This lectionary-based Bible study for men of all ages is convened by parishioner Carter Keithley, who holds a master’s degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. The group meets on the third Thursday of every month for a brown-bag lunch with fellowship and a wide-ranging, scripture-based conversation. Contact Carter for more information.
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GRACE’S TABLE
Third Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Next Date: May 18
Grace’s Table is an outreach partnership between St. John’s and Grace Episcopal Church in Georgetown. Every third Saturday of the month, a group from St. John’s prepares and serves a meal at Grace to folks who are unhoused or at risk of losing their housing. Volunteers purchase and prepare food (including casseroles, rolls, salad, and dessert) and/or serve the guests. Typically, as many as 60 or 70 guests come seeking food and fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other St. John’s parishioners and to spread God’s loving kindness in our community. Contact leader Elizabeth Field with questions or to volunteer.
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PENTECOST IS SUNDAY, MAY 19
Plan to wear red and celebrate this major feast day
On the Day of Pentecost, we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples and the birth of the early church. At St. John’s, we will commemorate the day with baptisms at the 9 a.m. service and special music at 11 a.m. We will also offer thanksgiving for the ministry of the Rev. Shawn Evelyn on this, his final Sunday at St. John’s. Cake will be offered after the 9 and 11 a.m. services. During the education hour, all ages are invited to participate in an intergenerational activity: Come make your own windsock from recycled materials to take home as a reminder of the Holy Spirit’s movement in your life. This activity will be offered between the 9 and 11 a.m. services in the dining room and will take the place of Church School.
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SUMMER SERVICE SCHEDULE BEGINS SUNDAY, MAY 26
On Sunday, May 26, we usher in our summer schedule—moving to two Sunday services (spoken at 7:45 a.m., with music at 10:30 a.m.) until after Labor Day. Nursery care will be available each Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The Speaker Series, when scheduled, will start at 9:30 a.m. We will continue to offer Children’s Chapel at the later service throughout the summer.
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CURIOUS ABOUT ST. JOHN’S? READ OUR ANNUAL REPORT
The 2024 Annual Report is a great way to learn about our many ministries, volunteers, leaders, and the impact of this faith community. Check it out!
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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, May 19, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, November 3, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, November 2, 10 a.m.)
Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, January 11, at 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. For more information, see “Of Special Note” above.
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
We typically offer the following midweek services, except when precluded by a special event, funeral, federal holiday, or office closure:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday at 12:10 p.m.: Eucharist
Friday at 12:10 p.m.: Noonday Prayer
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JOIN A MINISTRY GROUP
Want to get more involved at St. John’s? Hoping to make some new friends? Check out our ministries at www.stjohns-dc.org and contact leaders via our online Ministry Directory for more details or to sign up.
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FLOWER MEMORIALS AND THANKSGIVINGS
The flowers that enhance the beauty of the Church and Parish House are made possible by gifts from our community and are often dedicated to the memory of a loved one or to mark a birth or birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, a graduation, or another special event. To make a dedication, pick up a flower card at the entrance to the Church.
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MAKE A PLEDGE TO ST. JOHN’S
A pledge is a commitment of financial support over the course of a year, to be paid weekly, monthly, or on another schedule. By making a pledge to St. John’s, you enable us to plan for the work we will undertake in mission and ministry. It’s easy to make a pledge commitment online on our website. Thank you!
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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:
Friends and family of our parish: Susan Baxter (Rob Fisher), Billy Beardsley Conderman (Margo Arnold), Brett Bowman (Jack Reiffer), Diane Chrisman (Jack Reiffer), Francis Collins (Fruzsina Harsanyi), Bruce D’Innocenzo (Jim and Michele Mullins), Mary Leche Delong (Margo Wiegenstein), Ed Eder (Joanne and Powell Hutton), Patricia George (Kelle George), Linda Young Gsell (Rick Young), Morgan Hickenlooper (Livy More), Doug Holy (Joanne Hutton), Jack (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), Latithia and Charles Jones (GeeGee Bryant), Charlotte Crowley Junilla (Margo Arnold), Olivia Kehoe (Kat Kehoe), Lynne Kessler (Mary and Carl Raether), Elizabeth Lee (Clayton Crawford), William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Jim Martella (Livy More), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), Barbara and John McGraw (Mary and Carl Raether), Nell Montgomery (Brandon Montgomery), Bruce Mortimer (Nancy Mathis), JaVonté Odom (GeeGee Bryant), Janet Rich (Christie Rich), Deanne Scanlon (Wendy J. Fibison), Alan Schutz (John & Zachary Schutz), Nancy Stephenson (Ann and John Gardner), Scott (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), Patsy Swain (Margo Arnold), Lou Thesmar (Alfred and Hilary Thesmar), Sallie and William Wilkie Thompson (Cecelia Thompson), Mackenzie Toland (Wendy J. Fibison), Jerome Wiggins (GeeGee Bryant), Edward Leland Williams II (Virginia Bader), and Linda Woolley (Blount and Charlotte Stewart).
THOSE WHO ARE IN HOSPICE CARE:
Friends and family of our parish: Carol Bradley (Larry and Krista Bradley) and Henry Farrington (Wendy J. Fibison).
THOSE WHO ARE IN ASSISTED LIVING:
From our parish: Eve Atkeson, Milton Chamberlain, Jack Kinsey, Barney Malloy, Marcella Odom, and Becky Schergens.
Friends and family of our parish: Wilma Daubs (Kay Gilley), Pat Morris (Will Morris), Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston), and Carl Wright (Frank and Nancy Klotz).
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK:
Barbara Burkhardt, Victoria Cherry, Carter Faris, Anne Formanek, Ann Gardner, Carrie Garland, Kay Gilley, Peter Hardinge, Cecil Hornbaker, Mac Johnston, James Kirchenbauer, Daniel Kroese, Turner Kroese, Jeffrey Lovelace, Nora Rigby, Jed Sadqi, John Schutz, Stephen Smith, Patrick Sissman, Ellen Underwood, Will Watson, Henrik Weng, Anita L. Woehler, and Evie Yi.
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK:
Betsy and Daniel Danello, Amanda and Eric Eversole, Katherine and Keil Green, Dick and Jeanne Grimmett, Jon and Liz Kosobucki, Paolo Mastrangelo and Perri Warren, and Chase and Tara Woodley.
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES:
Friends and family of our parish: Janie Abernethy (Elizabeth Lewis and David Abernethy) and Philip L. Faris (Caroline and Steve Faris).
Please click here to add, remove, or change the status of someone on the prayer list.
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