Rector’s Annual Address to the Parish of St. John in the Wilderness

January 25, 2026

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruler, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

My Dear Friends in Christ Jesus,

As we come together to reflect on our common life as the people of St. John in the Wilderness, we do so in the midst of a world that seems to be flying apart. And yet, I take great comfort in the above words from Paul’s letter to the Romans. Nothing, he says, has the power to separate us from God’s love. With all that is happening in our country and in our community, our faith community has beared witness to these words and become a haven for many.  

Our parish is comprised of people who have opinions that are all over the map.  As such, there have been and will continue to be disagreements among us, but nearly all in our community are resolute in the determination to continue to pray and grow and serve together. And for that, I am immensely proud.

2025 was a special year for us, being the one hundredth year of the laying of the cornerstone for our church building located on the corner of First Street and Clark Avenue. Instead of one big birthday bash for our beloved building, we stretched our celebration over the entire year.  With the capable and enthusiastic leadership of Emily Brunner, our Centennial Committee planned and executed monthly events to aid us in our recollection of God’s Spirit among us. A winter reenactment of the skidding of the original church building across the ice was held at the Brunner Farm in Grant with the children and youth of the parish doing the heavy lifting (or skidding). Parishioners and other members of the White Bear Lake community enjoyed a special concert celebrating 100 years of fine music offered to the glory of God in the church. Educational programs about our cemetery, our stained glass windows, our history with Native Americans,  and our role in the establishment and growth of our town were superb.  During the Manitou Days Parade, we gave out hundreds of root beer floats to the community. The capstone of our monthly Centennial Celebrations was a Cornerstone Eucharist in which we welcomed back a number of both parishioners and clergy who have worshipped and served with us in the past.  It was such a fantastic and meaningful way to celebrate all of the life and love that has happened in our church building for a hundred years.  .....................................

Read the entire address here!

Find our 2025 Annual Report here!

Sunday, February 8 @ 10am

A Farewell Liturgy and Reception

Dear Art:

As we say good-bye after this ministry well-done,

it is a time to bless you on your way.

May you find time for rest and relaxation after all this work!

May you find time to reflect on what this ministry has meant in your life.

May you find new opportunities for living out your faith

that use your gifts and give you joy.

God has blessed your coming here,

God is blessing this good-bye

and God will bless you as you go from here.

Art's last Sunday with us will be Sunday, February 8th. Our service that morning will be a special one, celebrating and sending him off to his semi-retirement!

So we can gather as one community, we will be having one service at 10am, followed by a special farewell reception. There will be no 8am!

Invite Welcome Connect

February 1, 9:00 and 11:15 in the Parlor

Are you interested in 

• Hospitality to guests at St John’s? 
• Welcoming guests on Sundays?
• Getting to know new people?

Invite Welcome Connect could be for you!

Invite Welcome Connect is an exciting initiative that expands the strengths of St. John’s already welcoming community. The Invite Welcome Connect process has been developed and used in dozens of parishes and dioceses across the Episcopal Church over the past two decades and has an impressive track record of growth of all kinds in congregations.

• We are offering an introduction to IWC on Feb 1 after both services. Members of the IWC core team will be on hand to provide information about the process and answer questions about it. For information and questions before then, you can contact Associate Priest Kate Maxwell OSB.

Adult Wilderness Wednesday: Service and Caring!

Join us for Wilderness Wednesday this winter as we focus on service and fellowship following the 5:30 meal! Over five Wednesday evenings, from January 14th to February 11th, participants of all ages and ability levels are invited to work alongside one another on meaningful service projects such as filling blessing bags with essentials for neighbors, making tie blankets for those in need, and other simple acts of care and compassion. These evenings are an opportunity not only to serve, but to bond together in community and faith. Check out the schedule:

• 2/4 - Tying Blankets for Gillette Children's. Craft cozy blankets for patients in need of comfort
• 2/11 - The Sandwich Project. Assemble meat-and-cheese sandwiches to be distributed by the Sandwich Project

Congratulations to our Warden and Vestry Members

Our Chili Feed and Annual Meeting was a great success.

The slate as presented was approved with unanimous votes!

• Warden: Larry Mahoney
• Vestry: Jackie Danda, Ross Jahnke, Mike Demars

Congratulations!

And the biggest winner of all was our dear Cindy Kallstrom, with her Sweet and Smoky Chili! It was delicious!

SWEET + SMOKY CHILI

 2 lbs Ground beef

 2 tsp garlic powder

 2 TBL minced garlic

 1 tsp ground cumin

 2 tsp paprika

 1 tsp ground cloves

 1 TBL cinnamon

 3 cans Tomato sauce, 8 oz

 2 cans Kidney beans, 14-15 oz

 1 can Black beans, 14-15 oz

 ½ cup Brown sugar

 1 TBL Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

 Brown ground beef in large pan/pot. When meat is mostly browned, but still with a little pink, add both garlic amounts. Stir and incorporate until meat is completed browned.

 Then add next 4 spices, stirring to incorporate, about 2 minutes.

 Add the tomato sauce and beans. Cook 10 more minutes.

 Add brown sugar, then Worcestershire sauce on top of sugar. Stir into mixture, cook another 5 – 10 minutes.

The Sermon on the Mount

A Small Group Study - Jesus' Sermon on the Mount

Dates: Feb 1, 15, 22, Mar 1, 8, 15

Place: Emmaus Room 

Time: ~ 8:50 - 9:45 a.m. (after the 8 a.m. service)

This small group is for those who want to put into practice Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. (Surprise! It begins in the heart...) We'll use the LifeGuide booklet by John Stott. Facilitators: Sylvia Lovett & Kathy Smith.   Contact Carrie at communications@stjohnwilderness.org for a booklet.

Ways to Help Around Our Diocese

Casa Maria Ministry

The ministry of Casa Maria has received an incredible amount of support in the last week as they have increased their capacity to handle the overwhelming need of their neighbors.

We would invite you to continue giving to Casa Maria, and to the Migrant Support Fund. The Migrant Support Fund is being used to respond to on the ground needs of immigrant Parishioners and neighbors across the state for everything from emergency rental assistance to legal counsel and other basic needs. Find out more and donate here.

Other Ways to Support

The ECMN website has a wealth of resources, curated by the ECMN Migration Caucus to support faith communities responding to the surge in immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Resources range from volunteer opportunities with Episcopal ministries meeting basic needs of those who cannot leave their homes to resources to help faith communities and individuals know their rights and what they can do to help keep themselves safe.

You can find resources to mobilize and support by clicking here.

SJW Fellowship & Theater

Join the company of other theater lovers for TWO upcoming theater events.

 

Direct questions to Chantell Knauss at SJWFellowship@gmail.com or 651.387.8288.

Disney’s “Frozen Jr.” performed by Mahtomedi Middle School (MMS)

RSVP Date: Sunday, February 8

Event Date: Saturday, February 28 at 2:00pm

Details & RSVP: https://forms.gle/hHyeGyrz2h5BVw74A

Come support Mahtomedi Middle School students and fellow SJW parishioners, Keegan and Tanner Pasch. Keegan is cast as Kristoff and Tanner is in the ensemble. Optional lunch at Bella Ciao in Mahtomedi, preceding the performance.

SYNOPSIS:

A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen Jr. tells the tale of the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. (Disney Theatrical Licensing)

This production is appropriate for all ages, but its approximate 90-minute runtime (with intermission) makes it best for kids with good attention spans, with some suggesting ages 6 and up.

“Guys and Dolls” at Chanhassen

RSVPs Due: Sunday, February 22

Event Date: Saturday, March 28: 11am-lunch seating, 1pm-curtain

Details & RSVP: https://forms.gle/ja261moQBKsuSJYEA

Join fellow SJW parishioners, their families and friends with a delicious lunch and a matinee performance of the musical and movie classic, “Guys and Dolls” at Chanhassen Dinner Theater (CDT). Transportation is available for those who need a ride to CDT. Main Floor, center stage tickets are $88 each, which includes both the meal and show.

SYNOPSIS:

Guys and Dolls is about a couple of big city gamblers and the women who love them. It tells the overlapping stories of high-roller Sky Masterson, who falls in love with mission worker Sarah Brown, and lovable rapscallion Nathan Detroit, engaged for 14 years to Miss Adelaide, a headliner at the Hot Box Club. Nathan runs a famous floating craps game and an ongoing plot line involves his quest for a safe place for the game as Adelaide continues her quest to convince him to marry her. Meanwhile, Sarah mistakenly believing that Sky set up an illegal game at the mission, tries to fight her affection for the charismatic crapshooter. (Broadway.com)

This production is generally suitable for ages 9 and up. The show runs 2 hours and 30 minutes including an intermission.

Future Live Theater Events:

·            Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 2pm – “Hadestown” at Mahtomedi High School

·            Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 6:30pm – “Wicked” Broadway touring production at the Orpheum

Visio Divina: Wilderness Wednesdays During Lent

Have you ever noticed how art can open a doorway into prayer? On select Wilderness Wednesdays during Lent at 6:15 pm, St. John in the Wilderness will gather for Visio Divina, a contemplative practice that invites us to encounter God through sacred images. Just as Lectio Divina invites us to listen deeply to scripture, Visio Divina encourages us to slow down, pay attention, and let God speak through visual art.

This season, we will spend time with artwork connected to the Stations of the Cross, with sessions led by our resident Intern, Chris Lilley. One example of the kind of piece we may reflect on is Jesus is Condemned to Death by Aboriginal artist John Dunn. The surrounding hands in the image invite viewers to consider human participation in systems of harm, while the presence of animals gestures toward the universal scope of Christ’s redemptive love. Visio Divina invites us to enter these images with openness, to notice what draws our attention, to wonder where we find ourselves in the scene, and to listen for how God might be speaking through what we see.

If this way of praying resonates with you, or if you’re longing for a quiet space to center yourself and reconnect with God, we hope you’ll join us for these Lenten gatherings. 

For questions, please contact Chris Lilley (chris@stjohnwilderness.org).

The Filioque??

Join us on Sunday, March 1, 11:15am in the Parlor, for an engaging Adult Education session exploring the Nicene Creed and the much‑discussed phrase “and the Son” — the filioque. Led by our Intern Chris Lilley!

We’ll look at why the Nicene Creed has held such a central place in Christian worship for more than 1,600 years, why we recite it in our liturgy, and how it shapes our shared faith. From there, we’ll turn to the history of the filioque: how it entered the creed in the Latin West, why it was never adopted in the Eastern Church, and why this small phrase has carried such significant theological weight.

As the Episcopal Church continues to deepen its ecumenical relationships with Eastern Orthodox communities, many Anglicans are discerning whether to omit the filioque in our liturgical recitation. This session will provide context, clarity, and space for thoughtful discussion of what such a change would mean.

All are welcome, whether you’re curious about church history, passionate about ecumenism, or simply want to understand the creed we say each week more deeply.

Lent Sundays - Mark your calendars now!

3.1 and 3.15: An Indigenous view of the Christian faith with the Rev. Brad Hauff. Watch for more info soon.

We need to keep our food shelf stocked.

Please help us keep it stocked. 

You can find out more about Food Assistance Funding and connect with the White Bear Food Shelf by clicking here.



Make it a habit to get a few extra items on your regular grocery run, and drop it off on Sunday mornings! Check out the list below. As you think about what to get, keep a few things in mind. What would you have on your pantry shelf? What are the staples you always have on hand? Is what you are buying shelf stable/non-perishable? Treats for kids are always welcome! And really important, is it something you would feed yourself or your family?

• Shelf stable milk
• Juice boxes
• 100% fruit juices
• Vegetable juices
• Lunch packs - applesauce, fruit cups, jello
• Nut butters other than peanut butter
• Protein drinks
• Protein bars
• Healthy Snacks: Nuts, granola bars, etc
• Treats for children
• Ready to eat meals
• Whole-grain hot cereals like oatmeal, cream of wheat and grits
• Whole-grain crackers
• Corn or whole-wheat tortillas that don’t need to be refrigerated
• Bushs' Baked Beans
• Cooking Essentials: Oils, spices, etc
• Baby Formula
• Female Hygiene Supplies
• Personal Toiletries

Rice, beans, condensed soups, boxed macaroni & cheese are not fast moving items on our shelf. Keep in mind that many people may not even have a kitchen, or do not have the time or extra items needed to make a tasty meal of of those items.

Please do not bring anything past the expiration or used by date, we will remove it and dispose of it.

Contact Maggie Howe here for event information and to get on her mailing list!

Office Hours

Our parish office is open:

• Monday, Tuesday, 9 am - 2:30pm;
• Wednesday 9am-5pm,
• Thursday, 9am - 11am.

Stop by and say hi!

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.

Parish Prayer List

We ask your prayers for: Cindy K., Pat P., Jean T., David G., Larry K., Megan J., Tony and Amanda, Gladys A., Josh L., Allan B., Louie M., Jane, Erika A., Bill M., Baby Theo & Family., Mitch., Terry, Tom H.

Email prayer@stjohnwilderness to request prayers and to be added to the parish prayer list.

Click the button below to fill out the web form, or email prayer@stjohnwilderness to request prayers and to be added to the parish prayer list. Please let us know if you would like the request to be publicly listed or private. Unless specifically requested, prayer requests will be kept on the list for a month.

For the Parish (BCP p.817)

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven

and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen

the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent.

Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring

us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCP p. 817

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.

The word liturgy comes from a Greek term meaning “public work or work done on behalf of the people.” Liturgy always referred to an organized community. A work, then, done by an individual or a group was a liturgy on behalf of the larger community.

If you would like to become part of the many ministries that help make our work, our worship, our liturgies, our community, please talk to one of our clergy.

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

• Isaiah 9:1-4
• 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
• Matthew 4:12-23
• Psalm 27:1, 5-13

Connect! Our Main number: 651-429-5351

Our parish office is open:

Monday, Tuesday, 9 am - 2:30pm;

Wednesday 9am-5pm,

Thursday, 9am - 11:30am. Stop by and say hi!

• Financial Coordinator: Maureen Vruno | Office hours M,T, Th, 7:30am - 2:30pm maureen@stjohnwilderness.org ext. 4 or 763-329-7415
• Music Minister: Alec Watson alec@stjohnwilderness.org
• Intern: Chris Lilley chris@stjohnwilderness.org
• Rising Generations Coordinator: Maggie Howe maggie@stjohnwilderness.org
• Parish Coordinator: Carrie Thomas carrie@stjohnwilderness.org 651-429-5351 ext. 3
• Deacon: The Rev. Margaret Thor margaret@stjohnwilderness.org
• Associate Priest: The Rev. Kate Maxwell, OSB kate@stjohnwilderness.org
• Rector: The Rev. Arthur Hancock art@stjohnwilderness.org ext. 1 or 763-329-7203

Our current Health & Safety Protocols

• St. John’s encourages all of its members to get vaccinated and boosted.
• 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. If conditions change and we experience another surge of Covid-19, we may alter our protocols.