Pysanka

Sunday, April 14, 2024

The Third Sunday of Easter

Nursery care available in the Parish Hall

9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Sunday Forum

9:15 a.m.

Parish Hall

Holy Eucharist

Church

10:30 a.m.

Live-streaming available on YouTube at 10:30 a.m.

Children's Chapel

Parish Hall

10:30 a.m.

Coffee Hour

Parish Hall

11:45 a.m.

Patriot's Day Reenactment

Church

1:30 p.m.

Bulletin Draft



Watch services on YouTube

Listen to sermons

Get involved

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From Amelie with Love



Dear Friends,

As many of you know, I will be taking a Sabbatical this spring and summer, beginning on May 1. Many of you have asked me what I will be doing, and in response I say, “How much time do you have?” The short answer is “a bit of everything.” A bit of family time, a bit of travel, a bit of study (and maybe a lot of study), and a bit of simply resting and doing nothing. Sabbatical is after all, based on the word “Sabbath” which lies at the heart of God’s command to rest – whether on the seventh day, or in the seventh year.

For me, resting and family time are one and the same. My three sons are by far the greatest gift that I have been given, and they have a way of bringing me back in touch with what means most and what gives the most life. To rest in it, relish it. To truly experience the unconditional love that I could never have fully understood without them.

I was almost 30 years old when I became a mother. That first moment of holding my tiny, brand-new son in my arms created a fundamental shift in the core of my being. No area of my life was left untouched, unaffected. How could I love a person I’d never met so deeply, so instantly?

What I have always wanted all three of my sons to know is that I love them with a love that I can’t really even fathom myself. It’s based not on their performance or perfection, but something far more solid: it is based solely on their existence. My hope as they continue to grow and mature and even become parents themselves is that they feel that love from me, that they trust it to be steady and sure, and that they know that nothing - and I mean nothing - can change that.

Becoming a parent changed my daily life and routine to be sure, but it was more than that. That singular moment also launched a “God” shift for me, because it brought a new kind of clarity. It made the words of this Sunday’s reading from the First Letter of John so much more understandable and meaningful to me: “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are.”

The idea that God loves us sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Many of us grew up being told about God’s love; maybe we even sang songs about it. However, it is something totally different to trust and internalize those words, to allow them to shape our way of seeing ourselves, our neighbor, and our enemy.

I know that as my sons grow into mature adults there will be all sorts of moments that challenge their sense of worth and belonging. That is, unfortunately, inevitable. My hope for them is that they will remember, through it all, the love I have for them and, in doing so, remember that they always have somewhere to belong and be loved without condition and without end.

And here’s the thing. God longs for each one of us to know the very same thing.

In Christ,

Amelie+

Mark Your Calendar for Our Next Parish Work Day

This Saturday

All are welcome to participate. There are tasks for all ages and abilities.

Many hands make light work!

April 13, 2024

9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

Meet in the Parish Hall

St. John's Church

and St. John's Church Foundation Present

The Fall of Richmond

The Fall of Richmond is a three-movement concert work for chamber orchestra that evokes the turmoil and exultation which overtook Virginia's capital on April 2-4,1865, as Confederate forces burned and fled the city.

Composer Curt Sydnor crafted the work as a symphonic ode to the US Colored Troops regiment which led the march into Richmond, saving it from greater destruction, and to President Lincoln’s improbable visit the following day.

The hymn "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is woven throughout the work to evoke the African American freedom struggle which found a deep symbolic expression in the events surrounding Richmond's transfer to Union control. The composer will be joined in this performance by members of the Richmond Symphony, conductor Naima Burrs, and other prominent local musicians.

Additionally, the concert will feature the premier of a song cycle inspired by the life of Elizabeth van Lew, Union spy and lifelong parishioner at St. John's Episcopal Church. The cycle centers around a movement entitled "Cipher" which is sung in code (and depicted on the concert poster)-- the same visual code van Lew used to secretly communicate with Union General Benjamin Butler during the Civil War.

Curt Sydnor has received numerous accolades for his compositions and was recently awarded a recording grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts to complete his sixth album, Air Ride Equipped. He holds music degrees from Vanderbilt and Indiana Universities and studied composition in Moscow, Russia with the late Yuri Butsko, a student of Dmitri Shostakovich.

Click here to reserve your spot. Reservations are optional but will help with our headcount.

$15 suggested donation

Saturday, April 13

6:00 p.m.

St. John's Church

Sunday Forum Easter Series:

Practicing Resurrection

This Sunday, we begin a two part series on Sabbath and Sabbatical time, led by Rev. Robin Teasley.

All are welcome to join us as we engage topics and ideas that form us personally, spiritually and as a community.

For more information, please contact Amelie.

Sundays

9:15 a.m.

Parish Hall

Nursery care is available 

Wednesday Online Programming to Resume Next Week

The Difficult Words of Jesus

On Wednesday , April 17 at 7:00 p.m. we will begin a new six-week online series based on the book The Difficult Words of Jesus by biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine. Each week we will consider some of the more perplexing of Jesus’ instructions to his followers, such as to hate members of their families (Luke 14:26), to act as if they were slaves (Matthew 20:27), and to sell all of their belongings (Luke 18:22). We will learn how these difficult teachings would have sounded to the people who first heard them, how they have been understood over time, and how we might interpret them in the context of Jesus’ teachings of love and reconciliation. 

The book is available through most online booksellers, both in electronic and hard copy. If you need assistance with the purchase, please reach out to Amelie. All are welcome to attend, and the format lends itself to drop-in participation. And note: it's not necessary to read the book to find meaningful engagement in our sessions. A study guide for our first session will be posted in our Monday email.

Wednesday Evenings

April 17-May 22

7:00-8:00 p.m.

Via Zoom

Remembering Stewart Gamage

St. John's will offer a service of remembrance for Stewart Sunday, April 21, at 4:00 p.m., so that our community can gather to remember her and to dedicate a tree planted in her memory. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. During the reception, there will be time to share memories or brief words of reflection.                                  

Stewart's family has created two fellowships through William and Mary—one focused on advancing global diplomacy and the other focused on serving Virginia—two causes she cared deeply about. You can make a donation here. 

Read Obituary

View Stewart's Memorial Service at Christ Church, Alexandria

Sunday, April 21

4:00 p.m.

St. John's Church

Patriot's Day Reenactment

This Sunday

Celebrate Patriot's Day at St. John's Church Foundation's public reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention of 1775, where Patrick Henry delivered the famous words, "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Click here to learn more and to purchase tickets.

Sunday, April 14

1:30 p.m.

St. John's Church

Walter W. Craigie Speakers Series Presents

Christie S. Coleman

Complimentary Tickets for St. John's Parishioners

Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Christy S. Coleman, will speak at St. John's Church April 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Ms. Coleman is a tireless advocate for the power of museums, narrative correction, diversity, and inclusiveness. An innovative leader in the museum field, she has held leadership roles at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and the American Civil War Museum.

Among Ms. Coleman’s numerous awards, she holds three honorary doctorates. Time magazine named her one of the 31 People Changing the South in 2018, and in 2019, Worth Magazine named her one of 29 Women Changing the World.

Ms. Coleman is an accomplished screenwriter and public speaker and has appeared on several national news and history programs. She served as the historical consultant for the award-winning film Harriett and for Showtime’s Good Lord Bird, with other projects in queue. She’s most recently appeared in the award-winning documentaries, Grant, Abraham Lincoln, Black Patriots: Civil War Heroes; The Neutral Ground; and When the Monuments Came Down.

Click here for more information.

Thursday, April 18

7:00 p.m.

Historic St. John's Church

First Fruits

The Christ Ascension food pantry needs peanut butter, green peas (along with all kinds of vegetables), pork 'n' beans, saltines, cereal, spaghetti sauce, tuna, chicken, and canned pasta.

Join us for Morning Prayer in the Parish House Garden Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this month's collection.

Collection Times :

Saturday, May 4, 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Sunday Morning, May 5, during church

Record Turnout for RISC Event

More than 1,700 people attended RISC’s (Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our Communities) Nehemiah Action on March 19—an increase of more than 500 people over last year and 200 more than this year’s goal. Thank you to the 20 people who attended in the name of St. John’s Church!

The turnout was critical in showing our strength to the invited public servants who attended: four city council members, six mayoral candidates, and three city council candidates. These attendees made the following commitments:

Affordable Housing: Council members Lynch, Addison, and Lambert agreed to call upon the mayor to transfer the $6M owed to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Healthy Homes: The Council members committed to support a budget amendment for an additional $2M in funding for mobile home repair and replacement.

Gun Violence: All six mayoral candidates in attendance (Andreas Addison, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett, Harrison Roday, Garrett Sawyer, and Bridget Whitaker) agreed to attend the RISC Group Violence Intervention (GVI) roundtable on May 20 and the Mayoral Candidates’ Forum on August 29. The aim of RISC, with this request, is to ensure that GVI is implemented city-wide by the next mayor of Richmond.

RISC’s Justice Ministry Celebration (the fourth and final big Assembly of our RISC year) will take place on Monday, June 3, at 6:30 pm. For more information about this event or RISC in general, contact Sarah Mattingly.

RISC is a grassroots, direct-action organization made up of 24 congregations throughout the Richmond Metro Area. Founded in 2002, RISC uses the power of large numbers of people to hold our public officials accountable and solve critical community problems. St. John’s joined RISC in 2020. 

Stitch and Chat Looks Forward

to Your Company

If you're looking for good company and time to work on your latest handiwork, or if you've always wanted to learn how to do some type of needle work (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, etc.) you're invited join a group of crafters each Tuesday morning in the Parish House Library.

Contact Martha Broughton for more information.

Tuesdays

10:00 a.m. to 12 noon

Parish House Library

2319 E. Broad St.

Next Vestry Meeting,

Tuesday, May 14

at 6:00 p.m.

in the Parish Hall

All members of St. John’s Church are welcome to attend vestry meetings as observers. Minutes of recent meetings are posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall foyer. Please share your ideas or questions about the life of our parish with a vestry member.

2024 Stewardship Campaign

It Is Not Too Late to Make Your Pledge

We give thanks for the 85 family units who have made their 2024 pledge to St. John’s, bringing us to $238,381 in pledges, which is 95% of our $250,000 goal. Our stewardship theme “Rooted in Abundance" reminds us that we are a mighty forest comprised of ancient trunks and sprightly saplings, each of us contributing our gifts to a world that needs us. 

If you are still discerning your 2024 pledge to St. John's Church, prayerfully consider the ministries of St. John’s you feel called to support.

Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself, you are welcome at St. John’s Church, and we are so glad you’re here.

Our campaign this year is as essential as ever in providing the sustaining and lifegiving support to St. John’s as we grow together in our faith and provide the right resources to support the growth within our community. 

Support the Ministries of St. John's Church

Episcopal Relief & Development

Responds to Israel-Hamas War

Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Al Ahli Hospital, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, to provide emergency support in Gaza following the outbreak of war in the region. Please pray for peace in the Holy Land as they experience violence, and consider making a contribution to the Episcopal Relief & Development Middle East Fund. Support of this fund will help to provide medicine and other supplies and help our partners tend to the physical and psychosocial wounds of all people affected by this conflict.

Read Episcopal Relief and Development's full statement here.

The Collect for Peace

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: so mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples, especially those of Israel and Palestine, may be gathered under the banner of peace as children of one God; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

--adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, p. 815

Sunday Nursery Care Available

9:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

Parish Hall Nursery

Children's Chapel

Children’s Chapel meets each Sunday in the Parish Hall during the first part of the service. Children join their parents in church during the offertory so that they can participate in the Eucharist.

For more information, contact the Rev. Anne Lane Witt.

Sundays

10:30 a.m.

The Parish Hall

Eucharistic Visits

We invite those who wish to have communion brought to their homes to contact Amelie.

You may also contact Amelie if you are interested in learning about serving in this important ministry.

St. John's Church

2401 East Broad Street

www.saintjohnsrichmond.org

 The Rev. Amelie Wilmer, Rector

The Rev. Robin Teasley, Interim Assistant to the Rector

The Rev. Anne Lane Witt, Children's Chaplain

The Rev. Deacon JD Dickinson, Deacon

Cabell Jones, Deacon Intern

Patty Duffy, Parish Administrator

Curt Sydnor, Minister of Music

Lora Toothman, Senior Warden

Laura Streat, Junior Warden

Office: 2319 E. Broad Street RVA 23223

804-649-7938

The deadline for submitting copy for the weekly bulletin insert and parish-wide email is Wednesday morning, but earlier is always appreciated. Please send your content to Patty Duffy. Please note that content may be edited to accommodate space limitations and style guidelines.