The Bridge
December 31, 2021
The Mission of St. John’s is to be a community of God’s people who heal brokenness, build bridges, and exemplify borderless kindness.
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Mother Minerva's Musings
Happy New Year!
I am excited to celebrate my one year anniversary as the rector of St. John’s. I hope you have enjoyed serving with me as much as I have enjoyed serving with you. I can honestly say that it was quite a year. One that I could not have imagined. You have been so welcoming and I have really enjoyed getting to know you better.
A lot has happened in our first year together. We began worshiping on Zoom, allowing people to participate in our liturgy from their homes and see each other during worship. When the weather got better, we started worshiping outdoors and then on Pentecost we were back in our sanctuary. All these changes could not have been possible without the incredible work of the liturgy team, tech team, and altar guild led by Bill Cox, Marvin Rasmussen, and Catherine Turner respectively. And of course with all of your support and cooperation - everyone had to be flexible.
The physical structure also went through some improvements. The parish hall got a new wall and a new paint job. The grounds along with its weekly mowing and trimming got new flower beds, the labyrinth got new stones, and the outdoor lights got cleaned and new bulbs. All this thanks to the Building and Grounds team led by our Junior Warden Hal Hughes.
Christian formation continued mostly virtual throughout the year with lectionary study and the book of Luke and Bible Women. We also had special offerings during Lent, in June we focused on Juneteenth, and the Special Advent series. Over 15 people completed a year-long learning of Sacred Ground. In gratitude to the Christian Formation team who made it possible.
We did all this while we navigated how best to stay safe and stay connected during the pandemic. Our church did its part by helping over 100 people get vaccinated through our partner Aura Pharmacy. We also partnered with El Buen Samaritano and helped give gift cards to Walnut Creek Elementary and McBee Elementary in an effort to support our neighbors.
I am excited for what comes in 2022. On Sunday, January 2, we will be celebrating the feast of St. John the Evangelist, our patron saint. During our services we will be recommitting to our congregation. This will be an opportunity to renew our baptismal vows and commit to live out these vows with the St. John’s community. At our annual meeting on January 30, we will adopt our agenda of issues that has been created through the small group meetings held in December and January. We are doing this work in partnership with Central Texas Interfaith. This will allow us to take our energy into 2022 with a clearer understanding of God’s invitation to us.
I enter this year with the trust and faith that with God’s help we can do more than we can ask or imagine.
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On Sunday, January 2, 2022, we will celebrate the feast day of our Patron Saint, John the Evangelist. We will have Holy Eucharist Rite I at 9:00am, and a bilingual Holy Eucharist Rite II at 1:00pm.
We are sorry to announce that the Potluck lunch originally scheduled for after the 1:00 PM service on January 2 has been postponed due to the very cold weather that is now expected on Sunday and the need for COVID19 Stage 4 precautions.
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Calendar of Events
Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
(updated)
- Sunday, January 2 - Feast of St. John the Evangelist
- 9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I in English
- (no music)
- 1:00 pm Bilingual Holy Eucharist
- (special lessons and music)
- Sunday January 9 – Feast of the Epiphany observed
- Trifles and Roscas at 12:00 noon
- Un-greening of the Church at 2:15 pm
- Sunday, January 16 – MLK Jr. Day observed
- Regular service schedule with special liturgy and prayers
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The Feast of the Epiphany
Sunday, January 9 (observed)
The Feast of the Epiphany has been celebrated on January 6 by the Christian Church since the 4th Century CE. This festival primarily commemorates the visit by the Magi to the infant Jesus – evidence that Christ came for the salvation of the Jews and the Gentiles. We know the evening preceding Epiphany (January 5) as Twelfth Night and it is typically celebrated with special pastries. As the feast day occurs on Thursday this year, St. John’s will be celebrating on Sunday, January 9, with our traditional Trifles and Roscas Party at 12:00 noon (between the 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. services). Join us as we sample some traditional and not-so-traditional but always delicious treats! If you have never made a trifle, or if you have and wish to use your imagination, please feel free to bring your creations to share. We will have “king cake” (rosca del rey) too!
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What goes up, must come down! We will ungreen, undecorate, put the church back to "normal" on Sunday, January 9, at 2:15 pm. We invite any and all who can be with us to help - many hands make light work. We will especially need "strong young men" to climb ladders and carry boxes back to the Annex. And, of course, we will have refreshments for those who are on hand to help!
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Wishing all a safe and happy New Year! |
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Sunday Services
9:00 am Holy Communion Rite I (in person)
1:00 pm Santa Eucaristía bilingüe, Rito II (en persona y Zoom)
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Please refer to the Calendar of Events above for special times and services during the Christmas season. |
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To participate in our virtual Sunday services, you do not need to have a Zoom account or download Zoom. Simply click the link to join.
You may also join the service by telephone -
dial (346) 248-7799 and enter the meeting ID when prompted.
Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837
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The video recording of the 1:00 p.m. service will be posted on the St. John's Facebook page, YouTube, and the St. John's website later in the day. Additionally, a recording of the sermon will be available. Link to the recording will be posted on our website (www.austinstjohns.org).
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St. John's Notices and Activities |
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Coffee after services
The Coffee Trolley will be available outdoors on Sunday - IF someone wants to prepare to have coffee in the cold!
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Christian Formation at St. John's |
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Cornerstone Literary Circle
Wednesdays, 5:30 pm - Zoom
NEW!
Cornerstone will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm on Zoom and is open to anyone who is interested. (Use link below)
On January 5th, the Cornerstone Literary Circle will begin a discussion of Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me." To be prepared for the discussion, please read pp. 1-64 (stopping at the break). Our discussions on that Wednesday will center on content on those pages.
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Wednesday Evening Bible Study - Zoom
Wednesdays at 7:00pm
The lectionary Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
The link to join the class is here:
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Thursday Morning Bible Study - Hybrid
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. - Hybrid
The Thursday Morning Bible Study will resume on Thursday, January 6, 2022.
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(please refer to our website www.austinstjohns.org or to the Christian Formation email sent every Tuesday for more information and links)
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Wednesday Morning Grounds Crew
Although winter in Austin doesn't often mean ice and snow, it does mean that dry leaves continue to blow, and these warm days convince the grass to grow.
There are projects to be done all year, and your participation would be very welcome! We start about 8:00 a.m. and finish about noon.
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If you have questions about this ministry, please contact Hal Hughes.
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If you are interested in obtaining a bed for you and your family, please contact Patty Arnold.
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SAVE THE DATE!
St. John’s Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the church on Sunday, January 30, at 12 Noon. Please plan to be there to learn about our plans for 2022!
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COVID-19 Related Information |
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St. John's requires masks and social distancing for all indoor worship services and gatherings. |
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Masks and vaccines are our best protection against COVID-19. Please get vaccinated to protect yourself and others.
Thank you very much for your cooperation in these efforts to keep our St. John’s community safe and healthy.
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Vaccination and Testing
Because some of our readers and/or their families may be traveling during the holidays, here is where to find information from the CDC no matter where you are:
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and here is information about testing: |
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Dr. Brian Metzger, medical director of infectious diseases at St. David's HealthCare has the following information to share:
Are vaccines working against omicron?
Yes. Metzger sees hospitalizations of mainly unvaccinated people who are usually in their 40s and 50s...Breakthrough infections of people who are fully vaccinated and even boosted are happening, but those cases are not likely to end in hospitalization or death...Having had a previous infection, though, is not as good as having been vaccinated. Because of the immune evasiveness of omicron, natural infection from an earlier strain doesn't provide as much protection against this strain, Metzger said...That's why getting a booster is important if it has been six months since the last mRNA vaccine or two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine..."Three doses provide significantly more protection both against breakthrough infection and against hospitalizations," Metzger said...People who suffer breakthrough infections often are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, but there is a spectrum, Metzger said. Some could be miserable for a few days or even need to be hospitalized.
Should we still gather for Christmas and New Year's Eve?
We really need to lean on testing, [Metzger] said. Take a rapid test, either one done by a clinic or pharmacy or one that you can do at home on the day of the gathering before you arrive...Continue to do all the things we know help: masking, washing your hands, social distancing, getting vaccinated and improving ventilation by using an air filter, opening up windows or being outside — the high temperature in Austin is expected to be in the 80s on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Consider your own health risks, who is in your household or with whom you're in contact.
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click on the image to access the Austin Public Health website |
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Community Precautions Urged
Cases and hospitalizations are surging in Travis County. During Stage 4, vaccinated people should take precautions and wear masks during all activities. Get your booster once eligible.
Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated people should wear masks, avoid gatherings with people outside of their household, only travel and shop if essential, and choose takeaway/curbside options for dining. Get fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
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For Prayer and Pastoral Care |
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If you find that your situation is causing financial, spiritual, or emotional difficulties, or if you are in need of food, do not hesitate to call Deacon Victoria (512-297-5953) or email Mthr. Minerva (RevMinerva@austinstjohns.org).
We are a church family; when a family member needs assistance we want to try and help that member.
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St. John's gathering policy continues to be updated as conditions change relative to the COVID pandemic. St. John's holds the health and safety of our community as a top priority.
Your understanding and cooperation are very much appreciated.
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for other ways to make a donation.
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Please send mail to the church post office box
St. John’s Episcopal Church
P. O. Box 81493
Austin, TX 78708-1493
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Stories and Photos for The Bridge
You are invited to send photos and stories about yourself, your family, and our parish for inclusion in The Bridge. As we come back together, let's share our experiences! Please send your ideas, stories, and photos to Fay Jones, (newsletter editor) by 12:00 pm on Wednesdays.
Running event announcements two weeks prior to the date is recommended.
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Ms. Paula Foy, Senior Warden
Mr. Hal Hughes, Junior Warden
Ms. Sandra Welles, Treasurer
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Class of 2022
Ms. Paula Foy
Mr. Hal Hughes
Sra. Rosalinda Rodriguez
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Class of 2023
Mr. Steve Kriechbaum
Ms. Sandra Welles
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Class of 2024
Ms. Maria Caballero, Clerk
Sr. Alfonso Hernandez
Ms. Sandra Ward
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The Rev. Minerva Camarena Skeith, Rector
The Rev. Victoria Mason, Deacon
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Ms. Fay Jones, Director of Communications
Mr. Philip Riley, Choirmaster and Organist
Sr. Alfonso Hernandez, Spanish Music
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Fay Jones, Editor (fay@austinstjohns.org) |
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St. John's Episcopal Church
11201 Parkfield Drive
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493
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Regular Sunday Services
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II hybrid (in-person & Zoom)
1:00 p.m. Santa Eucaristía, Rito II
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The Parish Office is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
from 10am - 12Noon.
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For more information about St. John’s Episcopal Church, please visit our website at www.austinstjohns.org
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