Reflections from the Rector | | |
Field of Dreams: A New England Meadow
Last Sunday, as part of our Earth Day celebration, Green Team member Bernie Miller unveiled the Vestry-approved plan to turn half of our large field beyond the rectory into a New England meadow.
There are many good reasons for doing so, including:
1 - By not mowing a portion of the field, we cut down on greenhouse gas emissions
2 - Longer grasses (along with the 60+ trees we've planted so far) help with rain run off from the more frequent torrential rain storms we have
3 - Meadows provide habitat for many beneficial insect specials
4 - We'll save some money from the cost of paying our landscaper to mow those acres
Read the Green Team's Info Sheet to learn more about this project (and answer any remaining questions you might have).
And (I think) most excitingly: we'll create a walking path around the perimeter of the field, with a couple of cross paths, that our parishioners and wider community can enjoy. The paths will be mown, much like the paths of our neighbor Newlin Grist Mill. This summer we'll have "Sneaker Sunday" gatherings to walk in our field, tramping a path around, enjoying the beautiful campus our ancestors gave us.
Blessings,
Rev Jill
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In Case You Missed It:
If you missed church last week or would like to hear it again,
here is Rev Jill's sermon from April 19th
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Pastoral Care Chaplain:
Rev. Terry Dinovo
Rev. Jill announced at the Annual Meeting that my position was elevated to 10-12 hours a week along with a new title, Pastoral Care Chaplain. My focus will be on providing pastoral care to the Saint John’s community through hospital visits, home communion and spiritual counseling. I will continue to preach and celebrate the Eucharist once a month and you'll see me at some (though not all) parish events.
Also, I now have with an office in the Parish Hall Building that I share with the Choir. My contact information is provided online as well as in Sunday bulletins. If you wish to visit me at church, please call to arrange a time.
I look forward to serving Saint John’s as together we live out Christ’s command to love and care for one another.
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Lay Eucharistic Visitors
“As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” - 1 Peter 4:10-11
In May, St. John’s will commission three lay people as Eucharistic Visitors. Lay ministers in the church are very Biblical (1 Corinthians 12-14, etc.) and rooted in the Christian tradition; St. John’s had Eucharistic Visitors prior to the epidemic.
This understanding is reflected in the Prayer Book. The Catechism in the BCP (p. 855) states: “The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.” It then outlines the scope and focus of lay ministry:
The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church;
to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according
to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world;
and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.
In the Church there are no “spectators.” We are all called to serve through our Baptism.
Eucharistic Visitors are licensed by the Diocese. I will supervise and send them out to bring Holy Communion to those who are home-bound. The Visitors will receive a prepared kit during the service following the Distribution and sent by the congregation with the following words:
Celebrant: I send you forth bearing these holy gifts that those to whom you go may share with us in the communion of Christ’s body and blood. People: We who are many are one body, because we all share one bread one cup.
Eucharistic Visitors for that parishioner have the privilege of being one of the links that keep that homebound connected to the larger parish family. Each Eucharist visit is an expression of the reality of the “Communion of the Saints.”
Rev. Terry Dinovo
Pastoral Care Chaplain
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Faith by the Fire
Saturday, May 2 @ 6 PM
Bring a chair & snacks/beverages to our new fire pit in the field for a time of prayer and fellowship around the fire. We’ll provide the s’more fixings! Rev Jill will lead us in Evening Prayer.
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| | It's soon that time of the year again! Please send any 2026 graduate information you have including a photo with their name, school they are graduating from and future plans to the office by May 31. We will honor our graduates in church on June 7. | | | | Registration is now open for our Arts & Crafts Showcase coming up in the Fall. We look forward to displaying the many artistic works of our members. ALL ages welcome! | |  |
Yoga Sessions
Join us for weekly yoga sessions Wednesdays through May 20 at 7pm in the Upper Room. Volunteer lead, and free to all. Bring a mat or beach towel.
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The Green Team will be sponsoring a Mother’s Day Sale, May 10th during coffee hour and after the services in the parish hall. We will have houseplants, flowers, flower arrangements, vegetables, perennials, annuals, succulents and some trees.
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Perennials: coneflower, black eye susan, blazing star
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Annuals: geraniums, zinnias, marigolds, creeping jenny
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Vegetables: tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts,
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Herbs: basil, parsley, chamomile, rue
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Saint Johns at the Blue Rocks
Reserve your seat at the Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game. The game is Friday, June 5 at 6:30 pm. The price of the tickets is only $13 per seat. Fireworks will follow the game and parking is free. Invite your family and friends to join us. We are sitting behind home plate, just below the press box. Last year 100 parishioners, family and friends attended. Let's break that record. See Steve Long between the services during coffee hour to reserve your tickets or email him at SWLong@comcast.net
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Adopt a Highway Road Cleanup
The Green Team will be conducting our next road clean-up, taking place Saturday, April 25 at 9 am, through PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway Program. We will supply reflective vests, trash bags, and caution road signs as we collect trash along a a two-mile stretch of Concord Road, from Overfield Lane to Baltimore Pike. All we need is YOU! Please consider donating one hour of your time to show the love to our community and our neighbors. Signup here.
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| | Spring Property Cleanup Day
Saint John's will hold it's annual Spring Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 25 from 9 AM - 1 PM. Come for any amount of time you can. Many hands make light work. Bring yard tools and gloves if you have them. Youth are welcome too! | | | | |
Vote for candidates with strong environmental platforms. Urge your representatives to pass stronger policies to limit greenhouse gases, fight climate change, protect wildlife and public lands. Vote with your wallet by donating to organizations fighting to end the extinction crisis. Sign and share action alerts, attend events, and talk to your friends about endangered species protection.
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Over 20 attended out last meeting featuring a panel discussion! | | |
Parkinson's Support Group
Mark your calendars for our
next Support Group:
May 6 @ 1:30 PM to 3 PM
More info here.
Please feel free to come; open to the community; all are welcome.
For more information - e-mail --darreeclark@gmail.com
| | | | Community & Diocese Information | | |
ARC Anti-Racism Training
Introduction to Systemic Racism
Sat. Apr. 25, 2026 from 9 am to 12 pm on Zoom
Fee: $20. Scholarships are available, especially for postulants and candidates for ordination. Email diopaarc@gmail.com.
REGISTER HERE
This training explores the multi-layered manifestations of prejudice, privilege, race, and systemic racism. The next training will be Racism and Institutions on Jun. 27.
The Anti-Racism Commission's anti-racism training series is facilitated by Lailah Dunbar-Keeys, M.S., M.Ed. and designed to help participants understand the historic creation, preservation, and personal and institutional effects of a society built upon ideas of racial difference, which in turn support an unjust, racially based hierarchy.
Anti-racism trainings are mandatory for clergy and open to all. Completion of all 5 trainings over 2 years meets the initial clergy requirement for anti-racism education. For more information, questions or concerns, please email diopaarc@gmail.com.
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The diocese has created resources for churches and community members to understand their rights and protect vulnerable neighbors during times of immigration enforcement activity. Rooted in our shared faith and moral calling, these resources are offered to support peaceful protest and the protection of human dignity in the face of injustice. Resources available here.
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The Episcopal Church has pulled together some resources for Protesting Faithfully: A Toolkit for Public Witness.
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Know Your Rights
Linked here are are documents about what to do and not to do if approached by ICE in public, at your place of employment, and at your home.
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St. John's Episcopal Church
Usual Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9 AM - 1 PM
610-459-2994
SaintJohnsConcord.com
The Rev. Jill LaRoche Wikel, Rector
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