Ladies Who Lunch

11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 17,

The Orchid Restaurant

1190 County Road J #100

White Bear Lake

Please RSVP: Janet Kelber (652-484-7193) or Helen Gehrenbeck (651-246-5832)

We hope you will join us!

2023 Maundy Thursday Easter Plants and Flowers

Download the order form here.

Or order and pay online here.



During the Lenten Season flowers are not placed on the altar. Following the Maundy Thursday service on April 6th the Altar of Repose is surrounded with beautiful plants to evoke the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus and his disciples prayed the night before Jesus’ Crucifixion.

At Easter services, in celebration of Jesus’ glorious resurrection, the altar and sanctuary are decorated with beautiful floral arrangements and flowering plants. 

The Altar Guild will order these plants through Hummingbird Floral and Gifts, who will choose the healthiest and most colorful plants. We invite you to purchase plants as a memorial or a thanksgiving. You may take your plant home to enjoy after the 10:00 a.m. Easter service, or we will deliver it to a homebound parishioner.

Order forms can be found on the sign in table by the parking lot entry way or here. Please return the forms to the Parish Administrators mailbox, by mail (2175 1st St., White Bear Lake, MN 55110, or in the collection plate.

Questions, please contact Pris Campbell 651-426-3540 or Shelley Page 651-216-5291.

Rector’s Lenten Study

Rob Bell’s What is the Bible?



Mondays 6pm, 3.20, 3.27, 4.3

at Fr. Art's house, or join via Google Meet here.

bread & soup provided.

Contact Fr Art here for address & more info.

Best-selling author and minister, Rob Bell, dives deep into the Bible, using a fresh perspective to look at old, tried and true stories. He shows us how this ancient library of books is still relevant and revolutionary so many centuries after first being recorded. He argues that we shouldn't ask, "Why did God say . . .?" But instead, we should be asking other questions, such as "What's the story that's unfolding here and why did people find it important to tell it? What was it that moved them to record these words? What was happening in the world at that time? What does this passage/story/poem/verse/book tell us about how people understood who they were and who God was at that time?"

By taking this multi-dimensional approach, he looks deeper into the meaning behind these stories that many often take at face value, revealing new truths that readers might not have considered before. And he invites us to come on this journey of discovery with him to "turn the gem" that is the Bible and find out for ourselves just why and how it's still revealing things to us even today.

Order your copy here and support St. Mark's Cathedral.

The Sunday Gospels

Sunday mornings at 9 am in the Parlor

• 3.19 John 9:1-41 How were your eyes opened?
• 3.26 John 11:1-45 If you had been here…

We live by many calendars – social, seasonal, civil, personal. The rhythm of our experiences and commitments shapes each of us and provides a context in which we can search for meaning in our personal lives, in our relationships with God and others, through our work and play, in joy and pain, in our very living and dying. The church year gives us as Christians this same opportunity.

What in the world is a Lectionary?

The lectionary is a group of readings—four biblical selections for each Sunday of the church year. The readings are ecumenically determined, providing the consoling thought that on a given Sunday ministers all over the world are grappling with the same material. Each Sunday the lectionary offers readings from both the Hebrew scriptures as a whole and the Psalter in particular, as well as readings from both the Gospels and the Epistles.

Holy Week & Easter

Monday 4.3

Taize Evening Prayer @ 7 pm*

Tuesday 4.4 

Tenebrae: From Light into Darkness @ 7 pm

Wednesday 4.5

Healing Service w/Eucharist @ 7 pm

Maundy Thursday 4.6

Foot Washing, Holy Eucharist, 

& Stripping of the Altar @ 7 pm *

Good Friday 4.7

Liturgy for Good Friday @ 12 pm & 7 pm 

Prayers at the 3rd Hour @ 3 pm

Holy Saturday 4.8

 9 am Prayers at the Tomb

 7 pm The Great Easter Vigil*

Easter Day 4.9

 Holy Eucharist, 8 am & 10 am*

*livestreamed

Wednesday Evenings @ 6:45 pm Transformed by the Word

March 1 - May 3, 2023 No meeting on 3/29 or 4/5

Join us in studying the four Gospel accounts of the Passion in Lent, and then

exploring the post-resurrection accounts in each Gospel during Easter season.

Facilitated by Kathy Smith & Sylvia Lovett

We will be using the Little Rock Scripture Series books for these studies which will be available at the church. The studies are $14 each and donations toward the cost are much

appreciated. Please contact Kate Maxwell (kate@stjohnwilderness.org) to obtain

the study guides.

Safe Church, Safe Communities

Saturday 4/1 (along with brunch) from 10-1, and then again on Sunday 4/23 (along with lunch) from 11:30-2:30.

Each of us has a unique part to play in the life of the church and in the life of our communities. We are all part of the body as a whole and we are all important to the work of the church. Each of us has gifts to bring and share. Safe Church Training is an essential part of living out our obligation to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being as baptized members of our community.

Nearly everyone is due for another Safe Church Training! We are offering the updated training on Saturday 4/1 (along with brunch) from 10-1, and then again on Sunday 4/23 (along with lunch) from 11:30-2:30. It is unlikely that the training will take the full 3 hours, and we will release people upon completion of the necessary segments. For example, if you serve on Vestry, you will not be required to complete the later part of the training, which is designated for volunteers who work with children and youth. All are welcome to take the training, no matter their role here at St. John's.

The training is also available online. If you are interested in completing the training independently, please reach out to Maggie for directions. Find a video from the National church about Safe Church, Safe Communities here.

Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance



Starting March 20th, 9:30 to 10:30 am on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

For information or to register call 651.204.0904 or visit here.

As part of the Faith Community Nurse ministry here at St John’s, we are hosting a balance class beginning in March. The title is Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance. The top concern St John members spoke of with the recent wellness screening was balance. This class will directly meet that need. 

This is an evidence-based program that is adapted from traditional Tai Ji into an exercise program to help improve balance, mobility, walking, and physical and mental well-being.Download the flyer by clicking the image.

The class is being promoted in the wider community, and is a wonderful way for St John’s to be an active part of serving the White Bear Lake and surrounding communities.

Women’s Retreat at the Episcopal House of Prayer April 28-30, 2023

Save the date and sign up soon for the Women’s Retreat at the Episcopal House of Prayer April 28-30, 2023 and join other women from St John’s in a weekend of rest, play, prayer, and fellowship. 

We will begin with dinner on Friday evening at 6:00 pm. Saturday will have some time together and personal time to use as you like. The weekend will conclude with lunch on Sunday after our celebration of the Eucharist in the beautiful Oratory.

Meals and linens are provided. Comfortable and casual dress for the weather is suitable. There are walking trails and the EHoP is on the grounds of St John’s Abbey, which has a number of interesting offerings for visitors, including a display of the beautiful and amazing St John’s Bible. Oh, and there is a bookstore!

Places are limited, and will be on a first come basis. Registration will begin Sunday February 12. Completed registration and a check for the cost of the retreat will reserve your place. Cost will be $175, including meals. If you have any issues with the cost, please talk to Kate, financial help is available.

The planning of our time will be done by a small group of women who are attending. If you are interested in helping plan, please contact Kate right away.

Registration forms will be available at church beginning on February 12 or email Kate Maxwell to indicate interest and to get a registration form.

Wednesday, March 22nd, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Games and pizza?! It's on. We had a great time at our first game day, so we're going to have another! Dinner and games will be provided. If you have any games from home you'd like to play, you can bring them. This is an all ages event, and you are welcome to bring any friends you think would enjoy it.

Ring Out With Joy!

Calling all bell ringers, and anyone who is interested in trying out a new instrument in a fun group setting!

If you would like to be part of the Easter Bell Choir, plan to rehearse on Sundays 3/26 and 4/2 at 9:00 in the St. Cecelia Room. The choir will play at the 10:00 Easter service on 4/9.

Not Too Early to Start Thinking Rummage Sale!!

Yes, we expect to have a rummage sale again this year. Please start saving salable items and paper sacks for bagging. Sale week will be the first week of October. More information, such as when we can start bringing in sale items, will follow as the sale gets closer. Questions? Call Lynn Gadbois 651-270-8934.

St. John's Emergency Food Shelf

Nearly 30% of children enrolled in the White Bear Lake Area School District qualify for free or reduced lunch. Some WBL

schools are as high as 70% eligible.

If Minnesota food shelves were open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, more than seven people would visit a food shelf every minute.

Our tiny food shelf in the north entry is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Help us keep it stocked. We need items that can be used by people with possibly no stove, or microwave, or even a refrigerator.

• protein bars and drinks
• prepared ready to eat meals such as tuna & crackers or lunchables
• Peanut butter & other nut butters
• Crackers
• Canned fruit in 100% juice and shelf-stable fruit cups
• Unsweetened applesauce cups
• Dried fruits, vegetables with no added sugar or salt
• Nuts

What we don't need:

× Food in glass jars. × Expired cans and boxed food items.

× Damaged, already opened food items. × Rusty or unmarked cans of food.

× Homemade food items. × Soda and sweetened drinks

× Sweets: cookies, cakes, candy. × Ramen noodles

× Any food you would NOT eat or feed your family.

Items can be dropped off in the entryway, next to the food shelf. Please leave them in a bag next to the shelf and thank you so much.

Lenten Spiritual Practice

This Lent, all Minnesota Episcopalians are invited to prayerfully read your way through Dr. Catherine Meeks's latest book, The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning: Meditations for Racial Healing. Each week, beginning next week, a member of the ECMN Racial Justice and Healing Commission will offer a meditation and spiritual practice in response to Dr. Meeks's writings. You'll be able to find those offerings in the ECMN Newsletter each week.

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.

PercoLAYte

Second Thursdays, 12pm

Register here..

Find recordings of past gatherings here..



All Minnesota Episcopalians are invited to join PercoLAYte. We'll continue to meet monthly to "steep" ourselves in the lay order of ministry.

• Thursday, March 9, 12pm
• Thursday, April 13, 12pm
• Thursday, May 11, 12pm
• Thursday, June 8, 12pm

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 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.

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.

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.