Annual Ladies Christmas Luncheon - Saturday, December 5th

Please join us for the annual 2026 St. John’s in The Wilderness Women’s Holiday Christmas luncheon at the historic Lake Elmo Inn on Saturday, December 5th at 11 am. The Lake Elmo Inn management is requesting that people do not arrive any sooner than 10:45am that day.

The address for Lake Elmo Inn is 3442 Lake Elmo Ave., Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

Please call /text Barbara Maloney at 414-940-4100 by November 25th to ensure your reservation along with your pre-order menu selection. Please provide your name, phone number and menu item. Reservations are limited to 50.

Wilderness Wednesdays Adult Programs in November -- Restorative Circles

We gather for a shared meal at 5:30, and then at 6:00 we offer a variety of programming for people of all ages, which includes adult formation offerings, youth groups, book studies, and music rehearsals for Heartbeat and Chancel Choir.

Restorative Circles

As the days become shorter, we look inward as a community during November's Wilderness Wednesdays. Join us for a three-night exploration of the restorative circle- a way for groups to reflect, mediate, and make decisions where all voices are heard. Co-facilitated by Colleen Johnson and the adult formation committee.

11/4: Learn about the origins of the circle and how it is used in modern life, and experience the circle first hand.

11/11: We'll use the circle to process the St. John's priest transition. Emily Brunner will join us to help guide the circle and share her experience as co-chair of the transition committee.

11/18: The circle gathers a final time to discuss community and values. We'll talk about where we've been and where we would like to go, centered around what we value the most.

Ready for your close up? Photo op ahead!

We need photos of SJW folks! We are expecting to welcome a new Priest-

in-Charge in the coming months. Our 2019 Parish Directory is sadly

outdated, and missing many folks.

We are starting a Wall of Welcome, just posting photos and names at this

point. Starting November 8, we will have a volunteer photographer to start

building our Wall of Welcome. We will also post your own photos, if you

prefer. Questions? Contact Cindy Kallstrom at directory@stjohnwilderness.com

A Women’s Retreat

The women of the Guild of the Black Madonna/Holy Trinity invite the women of St John's in The Wilderness to participate in our gathering on Saturday, November 14, at Holy Trinity. The retreat’s theme is Seasons of the Spirit, and will be led by the Rev. Kate Maxwell from St. John in the Wilderness, White Bear Lake.

We will gather from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the Undercroft of Holy Trinity. Lunch will be provided. To register, please send your name, email, phone number, and dietary needs to Lars Christensen at admin@holytrinitystpaul.org. Freewill offerings are welcomed on the day of.

A Thanksgiving Eve Feast - Help Needed!

It takes a lot of work by a lot of loving people to feast! Our regular wonderful crew is unable to be present this year. Are YOU able to help? No cooking expertise needed, just people willing and able! Boil water? Yep. Carry plates to the table? Yep. Turn on an oven, put in a pan, set a timer? Yep. Contact Carrie Thomas to get signed up and to find the job perfect for you! We will have a clipboard with specific jobs ready to write your name down.

Just want to haul tables, set em up, take em down? Or just do the dishes? Contact John Brunner!

Lessons & Carols not to be missed

On Sunday, December 6th at 4pm, please join us for our annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. Starting in late 19th Century England, this service is a musical offering of choral music and hymn singing, interspersed with readings that tell the story of creation leading to Nativity. 

Led by the Chancel Choir, this year’s Lessons and Carols will feature well-loved carols for us all to sing together, as well as music from the medieval period, mysterious and contemplative contemporary composers, and even an original composition from St. John’s own William Merrill!

Lessons and Carols is a beloved tradition here at St. Johns, and we hope you will join us in celebrating Advent, and the coming of the light of Christmastide.

St. John's Food Shelf Needs You!

Let's Make November Cereal Month.

The Food Shelf committee is running a cereal drive for November. Bring hot and cold cereal and leave in the food shelf area. Food shelf customers have mentioned they particularly like the small single serve boxes of cereal.

Also, the Food Shelf Committee will be having a meeting the first week of December with a special guest, Perry Peterson, from the White Bear Food Shelf. We will be exploring opportunities and ideas from his expertise with the White Bear Food Shelf.

If everyone worshiping on Sunday morning brought 1 food item for our shelf, we would have a fully stocked food shelf every week! Start a new habit, and bring in something to share when you come to give thanks to God for all you have.

And don't forget, you can follow the QR code below to place an order through Amazon to be delivered directly.

Food Facts: Approximately 20% of Minnesota households face hunger or lack consistent access to adequate nutrition.Children and Families: About 207,830 children experience food insecurity, meaning 1 in 4 households with children are impacted. Emergency Reliance: Roughly 18% to 20% of the state relies on the charitable food system.

Community of Hope Training 2027

St John in the Wilderness, St David’s, St Clement’s and St Mark’s are offering COH training this winter. The training is open to members of ECMN faith communities.

The Community of Hope is at the heart of pastoral ministry in our faith communities. Grounded in Benedictine spirituality, COH offers opportunities for discernment, formation, and the practice of pastoral care. 

COH lay pastoral ministers serve in a variety of contexts. They may make visits to homes, care and rehabilitation facilities, and hospitals. They might bring communion to congregants who are homebound. They are spiritual listeners and companions. They accompany others in their journeys and pray with them and their families.

The COH training offers a basic pastoral ministry tool kit and a supportive community as well as opportunity for personal spiritual growth. The subsequent monthly Circle of Care gatherings provide community, ongoing training and support for the lay pastoral ministers.

For more information or to request an application, contact Kate Maxwell.

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

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: David S., Alex & Carol, Pat P., David G., Megan J., Tony and Amanda, Gladys A., Josh L., Allan B., Louie M., Erika A., Bill M., Baby Theo & Family., Mitch., Terry, Larry & Val., Marilyn C., Jan K., Tony A.

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.

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost



• Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
• Psalm 78:1-7
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• Matthew 25:1-13

Connect! Our Main number: 651-429-5351

Office Hours:

Our parish office is open.... Stop by and say hi!

Monday - Wednesday, 9am - 2:30pm Thursday, 9am-12noon

• 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
• Rising Generations Coordinator: Maggie Howe maggie@stjohnwilderness.org
• Parish Coordinator: Carrie Thomas carrie@stjohnwilderness.org 651-429-5351 ext. 3
• Associate Priest: The Rev. Kate Maxwell, OSB kate@stjohnwilderness.org

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.