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Farewell

As we approach this Sunday, we come to a meaningful moment in the life of our community: the conclusion of Rev. Mike Looney’s time with us as our ministry intern.

Mike has been a true gift to St. John’s. In his time among us, he has brought a thoughtful and grounded presence, a deep love for the Church, and a genuine openness to learning and growing in ministry. Whether preaching, assisting in worship, offering pastoral care, or simply being present in conversation, Mike has shared his gifts with generosity and humility.

One of the blessings of a seminary internship is that it reminds us that formation for ministry is never done in isolation. Formation and discernment happen in community—in the shared life of prayer, service, and relationship. Each of us, in ways seen and unseen, has played a part in Mike’s formation. And at the same time, Mike has shaped us. He has helped us reflect more deeply on our own call to ministry as baptized people, and he has strengthened our life together through his presence.

As Mike prepares to take his next steps, we send him with our gratitude and our prayers. We are thankful not only for what he has done, but for who he is becoming. The Church will be blessed by his ministry, and we are grateful that St. John’s has been part of his journey.

I hope you will join me in thanking Mike personally and in praying for him as he continues his path toward ordained ministry. See his message below.

Mike+, thank you. You will always have a home here at St. John’s.

Faithfully,

Derek+

Rector

Dear St. John's Community,

As my time at St. John’s comes to an end, I offer a joyful ‘Thank you!’ to this wonderful community, especially Rev. Derek and Deacon Ruth, for your guidance, support, and love.  This coming Sunday will be my last serving at St. John’s as I prepare for graduation from seminary in May and ordination to the priesthood in June.  You are all invited to the Cathedral on June 27th for the ordination! We will see what God has in store after that.  It is my hope to serve in the Columbia area and look forward to opportunities to engage with the St. John’s community once I settle in somewhere. As I go forward, St. John’s will remain an important part of my foundation, and I give thanks to God and to you all for your grace and love.

Blessings,

Mike+

This Weekend's Readings: The Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116; 1 Peter 1:17-23; John 24:13-35  lectionarypage.net

Sun., April 19: “Biblical Language for a God Who Transcends Gender”

Join us for this intergenerational Adult and Youth Connect(ion) opportunity! How do you picture God? Does God have a gender in your mental image? Does the Bible assign God a gender? Do our worship practices? Does it matter to you? Do different generations have different takes on these questions? Come watch and discuss distinguished biblical interpreter Dr. Wil Gafney’s TheoEd talk, “Biblical Language for a God Who Transcends Gender.”

Sun., April 26: "St. John's Budget & Stewardship Update"

Join Rev. Derek and the Financial Stewardship Committee for a discussion of the parish’s finances. We will review the 2026 budget and discuss the vision and plan for the future.

Children in Worship

We welcome children at our worship services with all their joy! In both the Historic Church and All Saints Hall, we have books and worship bags for them to borrow as well as other accommodations, including designated changing areas and soft spaces with a table, rocking chairs, a rug, and soft toys. Look for more details in each worship space. Questions can be directed to Georgi Funderburk, Minister of Faith & Practice for Children & Youth, at gfunderburk@stjohnsec.org.

Rebuilding Together Day: Sat., April 25,

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

We are still in need of volunteers to fulfill our commitment. Please sign up today! 

Join fellow St. John’s parishioners and Rebuilding Together to provide home repairs for low-income families in Howard County on Sat., April 25th, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Location TBA). Rebuilding Together of Howard County improves the lives of the elderly, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and families with children; all homeowners in Howard County who have worked hard but can no longer afford to keep up with repairs. Today, the need is even greater amid the difficult economic climate. Adults and youth ages 14-17 are welcome. (Youth are required to have a signed parental consent form.) Please sign up! Questions should be directed to Dave Gradwell at Outreach@stjohnsec.org (Put "Rebuilding Together" in the subject line.)

St. John's 2026 Vestry Election: May 3rd

At our Annual Meeting on Sun., May 3rd, we will elect our Vestry Class of 2029 as well as our Lay Delegates to the Diocesan Convention. Please review the nominees' bios here (revised from the initial posting). Hard copies of the document are available at the Welcome Centers. Any questions about the election should be directed to the Vestry Nominating Committee at VestryNominations@stjohnsec.org.

You are eligible to vote if you…

† have been a member of St. John’s since Nov. 4, 2025

† are at least 16 years old

† have made a pledge to St. John’s for 2026 or are otherwise “known” to the Treasurer

† attend worship regularly at St. John’s

Every Day is Earth Day at St. John's! Get Involved!

• Caring for Our Gardens

Spring has sprung, and the Creation Care Gardeners are anxious to get back in the gardens! May 1st is our official start date. While our team meets on Fridays, do you know there are other options available? You can “Adopt a Garden” or water our newly planted trees and plants as needed. These are flexible options that allow you to set your own schedule, as well as invite family and friends to join you. Plus, it’s a great way to get youngsters involved! When you adopt a garden, Mary Louzan or Teri Salmons will meet you to introduce you to your garden and answer any questions. You take it from there!

• Single-Use Plastic Recycling

Not into gardening? We are always looking for people to assist in weighing, recording, and delivering our "NexTrex Bagzilla Challenge" collections to drop-off points in Ellicott City. Interested? Simply email creationcare@stjohnsec.org, and Mary or Teri will reach out to you.

If you are new to St. John's and not familiar with "Bagzilla," two years ago, we began collecting single-use plastics that are drowning the earth. In record time, we collected 1,000 lbs of plastic film and earned ourselves a Trex bench. We've continued the practice as an easy way to help the environment. Learn more here.

Did you see the article in the April Monthly Message about the new NexTrex Challenge rewards? Read it here.

Growing Together, In Love

St. John's Annual Giving Campaign for 2026-UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who responded to our 2026 pledge campaign! As of March 24th, 283 people have pledged $997,177. We're soooo close to our goal of $1,000,000 — will you help us meet it or exceed it?

For those of you who have not yet pledged, there's still time! You can pledge online or with a hard-copy form. Important Note: Setting up payments in Realm does not give us all the information needed to properly record your annual pledge. Please complete a pledge form.

St. John’s Parish Day School is proud to present “Boots, Bowties, & Bling,” our 2026 Annual Spring Gala and Auction! Join us on Saturday, April 25th at 6:00 PM for an unforgettable evening of Dinner, Cocktails, Dancing, Raffles, Games, Live & Silent Auctions, Live Music from Jake’s Country Band, and More! Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets!

Please keep the following people in your prayers:

Ady

Jim

Kathryn

Kelly

Peter

Deb Avant

Tracey Ball

Steve Belknap

Emma Brandon

Teddy Clarke 

Lynn Engelke

David Fischel

Georgi Funderburk

Anne Gallagher

The Rev. Mo Goff

Sunny Good

Allison Gradwell

Marti Guillet

Jack Heim

Pat Hersee

Leonora Hoenes

Naomi Hutcherson

Nancy Jaworski

Albert Jung

Carol Kiesler

The Kiesler Family

Haeng-Shik Kim

Judi LeBlanc

Angela Chaejung Lim

Christina Lim

Glenda Lovchik

Matthew Martin

Brent & Meg McDorman

Jimmy McEneaney

Pat Merson

Charles H. Miller

Gordon Nahas

Phyllis Nelson

Roger Nelson

Patty O'Connor

Kathy O’Dunne

Yvonne Osmond

Barbara Prettyman 

Jean Purcell

Roland Russoli

Ellen Sloyer

Amy & Ernest Stalder

Tricia Supik

Christopher Towle

Marion Walker

Alli Ward

Dylan Williams

For those who have died: The Rev. Shawn Brandon; The Rev. Bruce Freeman

For those serving in the military overseas and their families:

LCDR Matthew Kircher, USN; Airman First Class Holden Veeck, USAF

Our community shares the compassion of prayer with members and beyond. To have someone included on our prayer list, you may: Contact the Parish Office by phone; or Email your prayer request to Tracey Stone at tstone@stjohnsec.org. Names will remain on the prayer list for 30 days. After the initial 30 days, if you wish to have a name stay on the list, please re-submit your request.

Help fellow parishioners find you in the Parish Directory

After converting to Realm, all member profiles were made private. That means if you don’t adjust your settings, you do not appear in the church directory. Step-by-step instructions to edit your profile are available for the computer and the Realm Connect app. Set Your Privacy Settings in Realm

In addition to making an Annual Pledge to St. John's, you are invited to:

1.) Mail your check to the Parish Office: 9120 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21042.

2.) Visit the St. John's website under "Give."

3.) Text "SJEC" to 73256. You will receive a reply with a link to a secure site to complete your transaction.

4.) Donate via Venmo: @StJohnsECMD

5.) Leave a lasting legacy to St. John’s through a planned gift in your estate plan. Visit https://www.stjohnsec.org/planned-giving for more information.

Questions should be directed to Kathy Hahn, Finance Director, at khahn@stjohnsec.org.