Amazing and Wonderful

This past Monday, millions of people across North America took a break from their busy or not-so-busy lives to watch the solar eclipse. I, along with so many others, stepped away from my desk, away from my work, and went outside to crane my neck and peer into the sky as the moon passed in front of the sun. Here in White Bear Lake, the event was far from dramatic. The skies were overcast, and all I perceived was a darkening of the day. In other places, of course, the event was much more dramatic, and spectacular photographs of the eclipse were immediately shared across the internet.

How refreshing to have this event unify so many of us! In these tumultuous times in which we live, how splendid to share a few minutes of solidarity. People from across all political, religious and racial persuasions came together this past Monday night to be amazed and find wonder in God’s handiwork!

The natural world has the capacity to amaze… to draw us together, to help us connect with the deeper, truer parts of ourselves, to remind us humans that we are part of a beautiful complex web of life that is so much larger than our own little lives, to help us humans become, well, more humane. Time spent in the natural world has the capacity to do all of that for us.

Clearly, not all days are set apart and blessed by a total solar eclipse. All of our days, however, each and every one of them, has plenty of signs of wonder to help us to remember who we are and to reconnect us with the deep, deep pool of life and love that Jesus calls the Kingdom of God.  

For the most part, those of us in the parish family of St. John’s are pretty good folk. We pray and we grow and we serve. Most of us try to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. And let me tell you, living a life following the Way of Jesus is both challenging and sometimes exhausting. 

And so, as we engage each of the days that God gives us, my hope would be that we might pause regularly from whatever we may be doing, pause to step back into the natural world of which we truly are a part. My hope would be that, for maybe just a few minutes of each day, we might become as little children and adopt a disposition of wonder and amazement. My hope would be that as we reconnect with what connects us all, we might be recharged to then go forth back into our lives and into the world to do something good to the glory of God.

~Father Art

Welcome Bishop Loya!

The 10th bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota will be coming to St. John's on Sunday, April 14th. He is coming to confirm those who are reaffirming their commitment to walk in the Way of Jesus and to receive those who wish to walk the Way of Jesus in the Episcopal tradition. Bishop Loya will be celebrating at both the 8 and 10am services and will be meeting with the Vestry at 9am. During our time of fellowship following the 10am service, Father Art will be interviewing Bishop Loya and allowing for questions from all of you! Come and join us for this special time with our bishop.

We will be streaming the special Between the Trees 2.0 with Bishop Craig here and on Facebook!

Ladies Who Lunch

Friday, April 19th at 11:30 am

We will be gathering at Manitou Kitchen and Bar located at 2171 4th St. in White Bear Lake Minnesota at 11:30 AM. Please call Barb Maloney at 414-940-4100 for a reservation by Wednesday, April 17.

The Seasons of Life

Saturday May 4, 2024

9:00am - 6:30pm

The Women’s Retreat for 2024 has been reimagined to be one day instead of a weekend, at St John’s instead of the House of Prayer. We hope this will enable more women to take advantage of the opportunity.

Life isn’t simply a linear journey. We experience cycles in life, similar to the cycles of the seasons of nature. Come and explore the seasons of your life in this day-long retreat at St John’s on Saturday May 4. Take time for yourself and discover new energy in company with other women from St John’s. 

There will be time to get to know one another more deeply, time for individual reflection and time for meditative expression. Lunch is included. The day will end with supper and a Dinner Church experience. The cost is $85 for the day. 

Please sign up on the sheet on the GROW bulletin board in the hallway or contact Kate Maxwell, OSB here for more information.

Please join us for the April Table in the Wilderness, Tuesday April 16 at 6:00 pm.

This month is Greek food prepared by Maggie Howe! Sign up on the sheet on the PRAY board in the hall so we know how much food to make. 

Table in the Wilderness is a Dinner Church opportunity: having dinner together and celebrating the Eucharist as a part of the evening. Come and get to know other St John’s members (and guests, if you’d like). Contact Kate for more details or questions.

1st Saturday Service

On Saturday May 4th, we are taking a trip to Good Courage Farm for our 1st Saturday Service project! This is a meaningful opportunity for people of all ages to work, pray, and gather around the Table. Our carpool will depart from St. John's at 7:30am, and will have options to return by 3pm or 5pm. Please wear sturdy shoes and comfortable clothes, bring work gloves (if you have them), and bring a bag lunch. Sign up on the Serve bulletin board, and contact Maggie here with any questions you might have.

Dinner & a Show

Join fellow St. John in the Wilderness parishioners and Mahtomedi High School students, their families, and friends for dinner and the Tony Award Winning, Broadway Musical Touring production of “SIX” on Tuesday, July 16 at 7:30pm at the Ordway. RSVPs and payments are due Sunday, May 5. Rides are available for anyone that wants/needs them. Complete details, RSVP and payment information can be found here at this link: 

"SIX'" is a British musical comedy, a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, presented in the form of a pop concert. In the show, each of the wives (Catherin of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr) take turns telling their story, to see who suffered the most from Henry VIII. Nominated for 7 Tony Awards and winner of Best Original Score and Costume Design in a Musical.(Wikipedia)

Direct questions to Chantell Knauss here or 651.387.8288.

Future Fellowship Events:

• August 7, 2024 at 7:30pm – “Little Shop of Horrors” musical at The Guthrie
• September 2024 (exact date/time TBD) – “Back to the Future” musical at the Orpheum
• November 2, 2024 at 1pm Curtain; 11am Lunch – Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas" musical at Chanhassen Dinner Theater
• December 2024 (exact date/time TBD) – “Book of Mormon” musical at the Orpheum

Our next host date for the Red Cross Blood Drive is April 22. Contact Margaret Thor here to sign up to be a welcome host!

Transformed by the Word:

Join us in person or online here.

During Lent the Transformed by the Word Bible Study will be reading and discussing the following Sunday's lectionary readings:

Connect with Kathy Smith or Sylvia Lovett to find out more about this great group!

Contact Maggie Howe here for event information and to get on her mailing list!

Wilderness Wednesdays on Hiatus!

We are putting Wilderness Wednesdays on pause until next fall as we enter this busy spring season. Many thanks to everyone who cooked meals and came out for programming throughout the year!

Rummage Sale News 

Yes, we are planning a Rummage Sale again this year. Please start saving salable items and paper sacks for bagging. Sale week has changed slightly to the last full week of September this year. Plan on helping, too, if you can. More information, such as when we can start bringing in sale items, will follow as the time gets closer. Meanwhile, for your questions, please call Lynn Gadbois at 651-270-8934

Weekly News and a Weekly Message from Bishop Loya

The Episcopal Church in Minnesota also has a weekly e-news, where you can read a message from Bishop Craig Loya, (or sometimes a special guest author), and read about what is happening in the Episcopal Church in MN and beyond! A great way to stay connected and learn about our church outside the walls of St. John's. 

To receive the ECMN news go here, scroll to the very bottom right and sign up.

Parish Family Prayer List

We ask your prayers for:

Angie G, Cindy K, Pat P, Jean T, David G, Larry K, Tony and Amanda, Mary Ann D, Kari D, Carolyn C, Kim K, Mark K, Kala K, Landon K.



Click the button below to fill out the web form, or email prayer@stjohnwilderness to request prayers and to be added to the parish prayer list. Please let us know if you would like the request to be publicly listed or private. Unless specifically requested, prayer requests will be kept on the list for a month.

For the Parish

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven

and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen

the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent.

Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring

us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCP p. 817

Morning Prayer & Compline

Join us on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8 AM for morning prayer and

Monday and Friday evenings at 8:30 PM for Compline.

Both prayer services are held via Google Meet. All are welcome.

The word liturgy comes from a Greek term meaning “public work or work done on behalf of the people.” Liturgy always referred to an organized community. A work, then, done by an individual or a group was a liturgy on behalf of the larger community.

If you would like to become part of the many ministries that help make our work, our worship, our liturgies, our community, please talk to one of our clergy.

Connect!

Our parish office is normally open Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 3 pm. Stop by and say hi!

Financial Coordinator: Maureen Vruno | Office hours M,T, Th, 7:30am - 2:30pm maureen@stjohnwilderness.org 651-429-5351 ext 12

Rising Generations Coordinator: Maggie Howe | maggie@stjohnwilderness.org

Parish Coordinator: Carrie Thomas | carrie@stjohnwilderness.org 651-429-5351

Deacon: The Rev. Margaret Thor | margaret@stjohnwilderness.org

Associate Priest: The Rev. Kate Maxwell, OSB |

kate@stjohnwilderness.org 651-263-3840

Rector: The Rev. Arthur Hancock |

art@stjohnwilderness.org 651-350-8425

Our current Health & Safety Protocols

• St. John’s encourages all of its members to get vaccinated and boosted.
• If you feel sick or have the typical symptoms of Covid-19, we ask you to worship with us online.
• Masks are optional while inside all parish buildings for those who are boosted and vaccinated. If conditions change and we experience another surge of Covid-19, we may alter our protocols.