Grapevine, Quincey (1887)

Sunday, April 28, 2024

The Fifth 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.

Bulletin Draft



Watch services on YouTube

Listen to sermons

Get involved

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From Amelie with Love

Dear Friends,

In our Gospel passage for this week, we hear another one of Jesus’ “I am” discourses. “I am the true vine,” Jesus tells his disciples. And then he takes another 27 verses to explain to them what this is all about, including, “Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.”

So often, when I hear these words of Jesus I focus on the admonition to “bear fruit.” Go, do, produce . . . be all you can be, and then some. Be productive or be cast aside. Growing up as the oldest in a family of four children, there was always a chore to do or sibling to care for as my mother scrambled to meet everyone’s needs – preparing meals, getting everyone dressed, cleaning the house, making sure the homework was done, making it to school or practices or appointments on time. I learned some good lessons about belonging by participating, and by knowing myself as needed. But I don’t recall much about the “silent partner” of bearing fruit, as my spiritual director would put it. I don’t recall being instructed in the fine art of “abiding.” Most people who really know me well, know this is true!

What strikes me the most as I approach my upcoming sabbatical is that Jesus’ vine discourse is just as much, if not more, about “abiding” than about bearing fruit. In fact, the word “abide” occurs 40 times in the Gospel of John. And that’s worth paying attention to, because so much of the time we are urged to stay busy. And if we can’t stay busy, we should at least look busy. We were not taught equally to abide, to stay connected to our life-giving center in God, and to trust that inward place for everything else.

Though I know I will always be wired to be a productive person and to bear good fruit, I am increasingly aware of my inner yearning to simply to abide. It has taken me most of my life to learn that to bear fruit and to abide are not incompatible. And that they are not supposed to be a frenzy of activity followed by a frenzy of overwhelmed rest. (A lesson I am really struggling to learn!) They should be, as my spiritual director also reminds me, “lighthearted children of the same parent.” To abide is to relax into the larger life that is beyond our life, our life in God. It means not straining always to be and do more, measuring and rating the outcomes. Instead, we allow. We breathe and wait. We trust the gardener to plant seeds, whenever and wherever that may be - the right seeds for our current soil’s condition.



My hope during the four months ahead is that we can all come to know better how bearing fruit can happen from a posture of abiding. I pray we can learn to trust the process, discover a different kind of pace and rhythm and balance between the ebb and flow of productivity and rest. “Abide in me,” Jesus says, “and I will abide in you.”

In Christ,

Amelie+

Professor John Carroll Returns to Sunday Forum

this Week

This Sunday, April 28 and next Sunday, May 5, Prof. John Carroll of Union Presbyterian will lead us in a two-part series: 

 "God Beyond Borders: Encounters with the Holy Spirit in Acts 8 & 10"

Week 1, April 28

"A Sermon for One: Philip & an Ethiopian Eunuch"

 (Acts 8:26-40)

Week 2, May 5

"Calling a New People: The Conversion of Cornelius and Simon Peter"

 (Acts 10:34-48)

All are welcome to attend, and we encourage your participation. To learn more about Professor Carroll, click here.

Sundays April 28 and May 5

9:15 a.m.

Parish Hall

Wednesday Online Programming

The Difficult Words of Jesus

Join us for an online series based on the book The Difficult Words of Jesus by biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine. Each week we 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 are learning 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. 

Next week, we will explore the ideas in Chapter 3, based on Jesus' challenging instructions to be "Slaves of all." 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 next session will be posted in our Monday email.     

To view study guides from previous sessions, click the links below.

Week 1

Week 2      

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. 

Wednesday Evenings

Through May 22

7:00-8:00 p.m.

Via Zoom

Men's Bible Discussion

All men are invited to join us for our next session, when we consider Chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke.  Contact Charles Lee for more information.

Saturday, May 4

9:30 a.m.

Parish Hall

First Fruits

Thanks to the generosity of St. John's members, Christ Ascension Food Pantry distributed 84 bags of food in April, feeding 260 people.

The food ministry currently needs: 1-pound packages of spaghetti noodles, 12 - 16-ounce boxes of cereal, pork 'n' beans, toilet paper, green peas, cream of chicken soup, canned chicken, canned tuna, stews, saltines, and canned pastas.

Thank you in advance for your donations.

Collection Times :

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

Sunday Morning, May 5 during church

Can You Read

in a Foreign Language?

If you can read aloud in a foreign language, please let Victoria Hauser know so that she can assign you a part in our gospel reading on the Day of Pentecost, May 19.

On the Day of Pentecost we read the gospel in foreign languages to commemorate the apostles' ability to speak in foreign tongues for the purpose of evangelism after the Holy Spirit descends upon them at Pentecost, which we recognize as the birthday of the Church.

You do not have to be fluent in the language you read, and this is a low-pressure performance, as others will be reading aloud in other languages at the same time you are reading.

Save the date for Shalom Farms

Shalom Farms is a local non-profit that grows and distributes fresh produce to areas of our community that have limited access to fresh vegetables and fruit.

St. John's will volunteer at Shalom's Powhatan Farm on Saturday, June 8, arriving at 8:45 a.m. and working until 12:00 noon.

Participants will enjoy an educational tour that will provide an overview of the farm's crops and programs before helping with planting, harvesting, mulching, weeding, cleaning, sorting. and packing produce.

We invite all parishioners ages 6 and older to join.

Please contact Victoria Hauser to express interest.

Saturday, June 8

8:45 am. - 12:00 noon

Shalom Farms

2676 Venita Rd., Midlothian, Virginia

Celebrate RISC

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. At this event, we will celebrate the progress that was made at this year's Nehemiah Action in addressing gun violence, affordable housing, and healthy homes. For more information about this event or RISC in general, contact Sarah Mattingly.

Richmonders Involved in Strengthening Communities (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. 

Fourth Annual Juneteenth Celebration Needs Volunteers

Planning for this year's join celebration of Juneteenth with St. Peter's and St. Paul's parishes is underway, and now is the time to begin searching for volunteers.

Details about the day will follow soon; however, we do know that festivities will begin at St. John's Church, Wednesday, June 19, at 8:30 a.m., followed by a march to Peter Paul, where we will gather for worship and entertainment. Afterward, a picnic lunch will be served at St. Peter's Church. The event will conclude by 2:00 p.m.

If you would like to volunteer to prepare for the day or to serve the day of, please contact JD Dickinson.

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.

Support the Ministries of St. John's Church

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

The Walter W. Craigie Speaker Series Presents

Brent Tarter

Retired Research Historian

and Senior Editor at Library of Virginia

Retired research historian and senior editor at the Library of Virginia Brent Tarter is a founder of the library's Dictionary of Virginia Biography project, a co-founder of the Virginia Forum and the annual Virginia History Conference, and a consultant for Liberty or Death, the educational video St. John's Church and WCVE produced in 2007.

Click here for more information.

St. John's parishioners attend free.

To reserve your spot, contact Stephen Wilson.

Thursday, May 23

7:00 p.m.

St. John's Church

Summer Public Reenactments Return May 26

The St. John's Church Foundation will begin offering their weekly reenactments of the Second Virginia Convention of 1775, where Patrick Henry delivered the famous words, "Give me liberty or give me death!" Sunday, May 26, at 1:30 p.m.

These reenactments are a perfect way to brush up on your history, entertain out-of-town guests, or spend a summer afternoon after attending church and coffee hour.

Click here learn more and to purchase tickets.

Sundays May 26-September 2

1:30 p.m.

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.