One Service at 10 This Sunday | | |
Join Us This Sunday at 10:00 AM!
Come worship with us this Sunday,
Blessing of the Animals
The service begins at 10:00 AM
All are welcome!
| | What’s Happening at St. John’s | | |
From The Rector:
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that… some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2
Last Sunday, Sarah reminded us of the mysterious ways the sacred interrupts our ordinary routines - calling us back to Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels unawares. (I like the King James Version better)” In a world where we curate our existences with algorithmic feeds and comfort-zone affinity groups, we quietly surround ourselves only with those who look, think, and react like us. The concept of possibly “Entertaining angels unawares” Angels bursting into our day-to-day existence, remind us that genuine Christian community is an intentional antidote to our self-created echo chambers. God’s grace begins exactly at the edge of the unfamiliar, daring us constantly to widen our circle and discover God’s messengers in the places, people, and creatures we least expect.
This weekend, as we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and the blessing of our animal companions, that invitation expands beyond our human neighbor to all of God’s creatures. Francis recognized that every creature - from the unruly puppy sleeping at our feet to the sparrow outside on the windowsill – all creatures…. ALL – are our neighbors, carrying messages of unconditional loyalty, presence, and simple joy. Animals reflect a pure, non-curated vulnerability that mirrors the divine. When we make room in our pews (and our hearts) for paws, feathers, and fur, we practice the
holy hospitality of welcoming God’s beloved creatures as quiet ambassadors of grace.
As October begins, we also turn our hearts toward All Saints, All Souls, and the vibrant tradition of Día de Los Muertos, a celebration of our Angels! Starting this Sunday, we are asking you to bring in framed photographs or mementos of your loved ones who have passed away - including the beloved animal companions who once shared your life - to place all the way around our sacred space. Together, we will build a living altar of memory so that whenever we gather, we do so visibly surrounded by “So great a cloud of witnesses.” Every week, we can come together, welcome, and celebrate those members of our community, the strangers at the door, and the beloved angels whose love continues to shape our common life.
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St. Benedict’s Way of Peace: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World How can the centuries-old monastic tradition of peace stabilize our modern, chaotic lives? Join us for an engaging symposium grounded in the biblical Shalom of God and the transformative insights of twentieth-century monks like Thomas Merton. Discover how the Benedictine spirit of peace can become a grounding, stabilizing force for you today.
Upcoming Sessions:
- Saturday, Oct 3: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | St. David's Episcopal Church, Washington, DC
- Saturday, Oct 10: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Emmanuel Episcopal, Chestertown, MD
- Sunday, Oct 11: 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Trinity Episcopal, Washington, VA
Information & Registration https://benedictfriends.com/seminar
| Bring your beloved fur babies, scaly babies, stuffies, or photos of them for priestly blessings as we honor all of nature and our relations in the animal world, just as St. Francis of Assisi did. Social pets are welcome to the 10am service as well! In addition, we’re hosting an ADOPTION EVENT with City Dogs & City Kitty Rescue from 11:30am to 2:30pm! | 10/11 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY | |
This Sunday we will celebrate the wisdom and deep spirituality of our Indigenous brothers and Sisters. Special prayers and music will be used as we strive to honor all the long-suffering tribes and nations that despite generations of mistreatment are still here waiting for us to recognize the Great Spirit in all living things.
Then, during coffee hour we’ll be led again by Rev. Laura through the dynamics and stages of our 2-year Parish Vision Plan. We are truly in a special moment as we prepare for the next 230 years! If you missed the first talk, please make every effort to attend this one.
| 10/18 CHORAL BLAST SERVICE #2: GODSPELL SUNDAY!!!! | |
This will be a Sunday you Do.Not.Want.To.Miss!
Cherry Lane, our runner up Choral Blast Team of Rexford Tester and Mark Duer are crafting a fabulous (of course!) service to joyously let your hair down and send love, fun and beauty through every fiber of your being. Feel free to break out the bell bottoms, Quiana double-knit and tie-dyed clothes and join in the grooviest Sunday of the year. Let’s make it a day to remember! Our own Anthony Vernon will be the Guest Preacher.
| 10/25 A SERVICE OF CENTERING PRAYER | Come experience the healing and grounding practice of centering prayer and mindfulness. We are all looking forward to a shared moment of peace, purpose, and the quiet art of just simply being as we learn to better connect with the still, small voice of the Divine that lives within each of us. Our own Reuben Varghese will be our Guest Preacher. Dick and Linda Hall, coordinators of Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington, an organization that supports the practice of Centering Prayer in contemplative groups, will lead a program about contemplative prayer during coffee hour. | |
To prepare for All Saints Day on November 1st, we invite you to help us fill up our Dia de Los Muertos Ofrendas (altars). Over the next few weeks, please bring in your saintly items to our special altar, and in the sanctuary window bays. We’ll use your photos, mementos, symbols, trinkets, flowers, even bottles of their favorite beverages to welcome those beloved souls who have passed on so we may surround ourselves with their love and presence. Not sure what you might bring? Key Elements of an ofrenda include:
· Marigolds: Bright orange and yellow flowers whose scent guides them home.
· Candles: Lit to create a warm flame that lights the path for returning souls.
· Papel Picado: Delicate tissue paper cut-outs that represent the wind.
| COMING IN OCTOBER – FAITH IN ACTION | |
How do we put our faith into action in the world around us?
As people of faith, we are called not only to worship together, but also to live out the Gospel in the public square—with compassion, courage, and a commitment to the dignity of every person. This fall, we invite you to join us for Faith in Action, a monthly Coffee Hour series exploring how our faith can shape our engagement with some of the most important issues of our day.
Beginning in October, we’ll gather to consider recent Supreme Court decisions on issues of particular concern to people of faith—including voting rights, immigration, and LGBTQ+ rights—and to look ahead to what the Court’s 2026–2027 term may bring. We’ll also learn more about how The Episcopal Church engages in advocacy and outreach in these areas and discover ways we can support and participate in that work.
Beginning in November, we’ll turn our attention to selected topics and consider together what faithful action might look like in our own community. We hope you’ll join us. Come to listen, learn, ask questions, share your perspective, and discern how God may be calling us to put our faith into action. And if you feel called to help lead a discussion on one or more of these subjects, please let us know. There is a place for every voice and every gift in this work.
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Please sign up for this holiday weekend. We appreciate all volunteers! Our hands hold the hearts of our neighbors. Join us right after church or on Monday afternoon.
Sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F44A9A92AAAFA7-66321353-grate#/
| TWO EXCELLENT CHRISTIAN FORMATION OPPORTUNIES!! | |
DISCOVER DANIEL, Thursday October 13th
Attend a fascinating forum connecting serious scholarship with the theological and pastoral questions people bring to Daniel: power and empire, faithful witness, suffering, hope, and the strange symbolic world of apocalyptic Scripture.
Daniel for the Twenty-First Century: Four Authors in Dialogue, on Tuesday, October 13, 7:00–8:30 p.m., at Old Town Community Church in Alexandria. Registration is free.
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/daniel-for-the-twenty-first-century-four-authors-in-dialogue-tickets-1998998313768
Daniel Fest information: https://vts.guru
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The RIGHT REV. ROWAN WILLIAMS LECTURE at Georgetown University
On Tuesday, October 20th the Rt. Rev. Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, will deliver the 2026 James M. and Margaret H. Costan Lecture in Early Christianity and be awarded an honorary degree in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to our understanding of Christian faith and to interreligious dialogue in the global Church.
His talk, “Vision, Knowledge, Desire: the Intersection of Philosophy and Spirituality in Early Christian Writing,” will speak to early Christian reflection on prayer and contemplation’s connection to classical philosophical discussion.
This event is free and open to the public and takes place in Georgetown's historic Gaston Hall. We invite all members of the St. John's community. Register here: https://events.georgetown.edu/theology/event/rowan-williams
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EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!
Our Parish 230th Anniversary Service and Party will be on Sunday, November 15th.
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LAST CALL FOR YOUR RECIPES! PARISH 230th RECIPES DUE NOW.
You’ve seen how we party—now it’s time to share the "flavorite," tried-and-true recipes that keep us coming back for seconds (and thirds).
We are looking for one legendary recipe from every member in each of these categories: Appetizers & Drinks (The party starters), Mains & Sides (The heart of the table), Desserts (The grand finale).
Please email your recipe to tammycox1010@gmail.com. Don't forget to mention if it's Gluten-Free, Veggie, or Vegan.
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