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St. John in the Wilderness

White Bear Lake, MN

If it’s not about love, it’s not about God

The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry

Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

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Sunday, January 22 - Religious Life Sunday

  • 8 am Holy Eucharist
  • 8:45 am Connection Hour
  • 9 am Forum on Religious Life in the Episcopal Church, Parlor
  • 10 am Holy Eucharist (on Boxcast here)

Monday, January 23

Tuesday, January 24

  • 8 am Morning Prayer (Google Meet)
  • 6 pm Adult Formation Team Meeting

Wednesday, January 25 - Office closed for Staff Retreat

  • 6:45 pm Transformed by the Word Bible Study (Google Meet)
  • 7:15 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, January 26

  • 9 am The Gathering (Parish Hall)
  • 6 pm A Round Table on Inspired Leadership w/Linda Brandt, Parlor

Friday, January 27

Sunday, January 29 -

  • 8 am Holy Eucharist
  • 8:45 am Connection Hour
  • 9 am Forum on Community of Hope, Parlor
  • 10 am Holy Eucharist (on Boxcast here)
St. John's Full Public Calendar

Find St John's 2022 Annual Report Here!


Quick summery of our Annual Meeting held Sunday, 1.15.23

  • The bylaw changes passed with voice vote.
  • All nominees listed in the report for vestry and delegates were elected by voice vote.
  • Angie Gordon was recognized for all she has done for St. John's especially these past 2 Covid years.
  • We had 12! entries in the chili contest and the winner was the Rev Kate Maxwell, OSB!! Just ask and she will share the recipe with you.
  • Mark Sears and Fr Art tied in the chili contest for 4th place, and the contest was not rigged. Jus' sayin'

January Ladies Who Lunch

      Friday, January 20, 2023

      Manitou Grill at 11:30 a.m.


   RSVP Janet Kelber - 651-484-7193 or

        Helen Gehrenbeck -651-246-5832


  Please come join us! Happy New Year!

Third Wednesdays

Healing Service w/Eucharist

Wednesday, February 15th at 6 pm



Our Wednesday Worship is now only the third Wednesday, with a healing service. Join us every third Wednesday of the month at 6 pm for a special time of reflective music, quiet meditations, and healing prayers.

Upcoming Adult Formations

1/22  Religious Life Sunday (Parlor)

1/29  COH introductory meeting (Parlor)

2/5   Listening group (Parlor)

2/12  Listening group (Parlor)

2/19  Listening group for parents of children & youth (Parlor)

What is Religious Life Sunday? 


Forum on Religious Life in the Episcopal Church - 1/22, 9:00 in the Parlor


Many Episcopalians aren’t aware that communities of monks and nuns and sisters and brothers exist in the Episcopal Church. We are very much here in the Church!


Come on January 22 and learn a bit about religious communities and ask questions about the state of religious life in the Episcopal Church. Kate Maxwell, OSB, will facilitate.


We all need companionship along the way to help deepen our relationship with God and to help center our lives in Christ. Over centuries, vowed religious—living as monks, nuns, sisters, brothers, and friars—have developed traditions and practices that assist in developing spiritual growth and discernment. Vowed religious engage in teaching about prayer practices, lead retreats, give spiritual direction, assist in writing and living a rule of life, give presentations about the spiritual journey, and provide spiritual friendship. Our residential religious communities offer hospitality for short visits or longer retreats. 


Religious communities also welcome associates or oblates who engage in a special relationship to the community. Our communities are also eager to welcome new members to join in our vowed lives and to carry forward our ministries and traditions. 


Residential Communities: CAROA.net

Dispersed Communities: NAECC.net

Kate’s community, the Priory of St. Mary: PrioryStMaryOSB.org


COH - Community of Hope


Note the date change!

Informational Meeting, Sunday, January 29th 9 am in the Parlor!


St. John in the Wilderness, in partnership with St. David’s Minnetonka and Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Minneapolis, is excited to be offering training for lay pastoral ministers beginning in February 2023. 


The purpose of Community of Hope (COH) is to create Christian communities of lay volunteer pastoral ministers united in prayer, shaped by Benedictine Spirituality and equipped for and serving in pastoral care ministries. 


These ministries may include visiting parishioners at home or in healthcare settings, bringing the Eucharist to homebound members, coming alongside and listening to folks in transition, facilitating grief groups, or any number of other ministries.


For detailed information on the training or for an application, please contact Kate Maxwell OSB at 651-263-3840 or at kate@stjohnwilderness.org

Wednesday Evenings @ 6:45 pm Transformed by the Word

January 18 - February 15, 2023

Join us as we explore the Gospel according to Matthew over the next few weeks on Wednesday evenings. Join us in person in the Parlor or online via Google Meet


From now until next Advent we will be hearing this Gospel in the liturgy on Sundays and this is a great introduction to it.


Facilitated by Kathy Smith

No meeting on Ash Wednesday, February 22

Listening Groups


February 5, 12, & 19


Listening Groups will convene in the Parlor during the 9:00 Connection time. In this time we will reflect on the Adult Formation experiences offered at St John’s. These might include any classes, bible studies, retreats, prayer groups, small groups, mornings of reflection, trips (Boundary Waters and Camping Trips are formative), service ministries inside or outside the church - anything that has Christian formation and the development and deepening of faith as a component. Think of what has helped or could help you in your own spiritual life. Notice what is a barrier to you in being part of formation events. Notice as well what would excite you. What are you curious about? Join us in the parlor at 9:00 and let your voice be heard!


Let's Communicate! 


Some reminders and information from your Parish Coordinator!


  • The Weekly E-news deadline is every Wednesday by noon, for publication that Friday. Know that submitting something for the E-News does not guarantee  it will be in that Friday, and all material is subject to editing.
  • All meetings and gatherings should be on the public  and/or internal staff calendar! Invite or email carrie@stjohnwilderness.org with all the details so we can make sure your space is reserved and ready, and we can let people know how much wonderfulness we have happening!
  • If you need a hybrid meeting, either on site or off campus, please contact Carrie so we can make sure everything is set!
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Discipleship, Small Groups and Sharing Scripture.


As we settle into a new liturgical year, we invite you and your faith community to continue beginning meetings and gatherings by Dwelling in Scripture together. Please find instructions for Dwelling in the Word and Gospel-Based Discipleship here. This year, we will dwell together in the lectionary Gospel text for the coming week, which can be found  here." Go here for instructions.

Weekly News and a Weekly Message from Bishop Loya


The Episcopal Church in Minnesota also has a weekly e-news, where you can read a message from Bishop Craig Loya, (or sometimes a special guest author), and read about what is happening in the Episcopal Church in MN and beyond! A great way to stay connected and learn about our church outside the walls of St. John's. 


To receive the ECMN news go here, scroll to the very bottom right and sign up.

Read this weeks stories from ECMN
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Parish Family Prayer List



Charlie R, David G, Diane R, Greg B, Holly, Jan G-T, Janet K, Janni K, Jeffrey C, Kathy S, Kimberly, Kurt N, Larry K, Lorna C, Marcella S, Marilyn K, Mark K, Michael M, Melissa S, Nancy H, Pat P, Rick S, Tom H, and all who care for them. We also pray for Members of the Armed Forces.


For those who are mourning.



Click the button or email prayer@stjohnwilderness to request prayers and to be added to the parish prayer list. The list is renewed monthly.

How can we pray for you? Click here to let us know.

Morning Prayer & Compline

Join us on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8 AM for morning prayer and

Monday and Friday evenings at 8:30 PM for Compline.

Both prayer services are held via Google Meet. All are welcome.

Go here to find the Google Meet info for Morning Prayer & Compline
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The Collect

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Readings for Third Sunday after Epiphany


Our current Health & Safety Protocols


  • St. John’s encourages all of its members to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
  • If you feel sick or have the typical symptoms of Covid-19, we ask you to worship with us online.
  • Masks are optional while inside all parish buildings for those who are boosted and vaccinated. For those who are unvaccinated and for your own protection, we recommend that you worship with us online or that you continue to wear your mask while inside our buildings. If conditions change and we experience another surge of Covid-19, we may have to alter our protocols and ask our members and guests to wear masks once again.
  • While seated in the Church or in the Parish Hall, we recommend that all maintain an appropriate physical distance from those outside of your household.

St. John In The Wilderness Episcopal Church

2175 1st St. (Clark Ave. at 1st St.)

White Bear Lake, MN 55110-3462

1 (651) 429-5351

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