Blessing Of The Animals Oct. 4 2015

The annual blessing of the animals will be held this Sunday, Oct. 4 at the Church.  (This has been moved from the Young's house.)  We Look forward to seeing you with your pets and assorted beasts!

Easter Joy at St. John's: Y'all Come Back!

The joy and hope of the resurrection was felt at St. John's this Easter Sunday.  It was strengthened by a large congregation!  We can be a so much more effective presence of Christ presence in the world when we come together.  Our joy and hope is magnified exponentially.  So this congregant's Easter messages is what father Dan said, "Blah, blah, blah, blah, Love!" with an added "Y'all come back, hear?"

 

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Moving Forward: A New Rector and Strategic Plans

OPINION:

St. John's is in the process of finding a Priest to lead us forward.  We are hopeful and excited and realistic.  We have been working on SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Sensitive. No leader will make a huge difference without the energy and buy-in of the congregation.  That must be clearly communicated or we will not attract anyone unless they know that there is no expectation that they will work alone, to work miracles.  "It takes a village," or in this case a parish.

There are many who already give of their time, talent and treasure.  There are many poised to be asked.  There are those whose physical, mental, and family demand limitations prevent them from doing more than they already do.  We understand that. There are some who make the choice to not be involved more than they do.  As to this last group, we must ask ourselves, "Why?"  Is there anything that we as a community of faith can do to engage them?

Strategic Planning will help us to answer this question and many more.  The Search Committee has started the process, now the whole congregation needs to be involved.  Strategic planning sets goals, not just for our new priest, but for our congregation.  Let's "do this thing" and do it together.

St. John's and the Episcopal Church as a whole, has a great opportunity, a Great Commandment, to be Christ in the World and in our local community in particular.  We have the responsibility to share our Anglican ethos of Scripture, Tradition and Reason informing our understanding of what Jesus wants us to be and do.

- Neil Houghton, Member of Diocesan Standing Committee,
                            Deputy to General Convention 2009-20015

Soup Supper Crowd Overwhelming

Here's a mitre.

Lenten Soup Suppers: ONLY TWO MORE!

Listen to Father Ken

Mery in the Kitchen

Lenten Soup Suppers

We are planning Lenten Soup Suppers, open to the community,

for Wednesdays in Lent.  These will be in the Parish House starting Wednesday, March 19 and continuing through
Wednesday, April 9.

Time:  6:00 p.m.

Bring a favorite soup or bread to share, but, this is not a requirement!

However, to help the committee with planning, if possible please use the sign-up sheets at the back of the church, in the Parish House kitchen, or in the church office if you are bringing in soup or bread.  Thanks so much, and looking forward to seeing all at our soup supper!

Andy and Alice

Sunshiny Sweet Potato and Hominy Soup

After dinner we talk about silence.

Very meta.















Soup as Art

And, Alice and David

Mary and Cyndy

Advent and World AIDS Day

Today, December 1, marks the first Sunday in Advent.  It also is World AIDS day.  Sadly I had forgotten this important day of remembrance and it wasn't until Starbucks offered me a 1/2 price espresso drink that I was reminded.  I'll be headed to our Calendar to add this recurring event so taht next year we can include it in our service.

As most of you know, HIV/AIDS was originally called GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency) and later changed to Acquired Immune Deficiency when it was realized, rather early on, that the infection was not limited to gay men.  As horrifying as it was in our first understanding it is even more devastating as it exists today, ravaging communities in the third world and in "developed" countries where repression is still the norm.

"Silence = Death" was the slogan used by early activists to urge those infected to overcome the stigma and speak out to seek diagnosis and treatment.  Today HIV/AIDS is more under control in the gay community because of wider acceptance of gay and lesbian Americans. But Silence still equals death in areas where oppression is still alive.  In many parts of Africa the church is at least a complicit, if not an active, part of in this oppression.  The shunning of the use of condoms has caused the death of countless thousands of men and women. It might be worth remembering, as we listen to the controversy around Russia's anti-gay laws surround the upcoming Winter Olympics, that this state sanctioned gag order on homosexuals and their allies is not without victims.

As we wait for the birth of our Lord this advent, let us also wait for the day that His church will speak up and speak out against homophobia around the world. As Mother Dahn said today, let us crack open those shields and let our light shine.   Silence still equals death.

- Neil Houghton, Advent 1, 2013

Suggested link:  Life Magazine's Photo That Changed the Face of AIDS, behind the scenes