The Bridge
February 25, 2022
The Mission of St. John’s is to be a community of God’s people who heal brokenness, build bridges, and exemplify borderless kindness.
|
|
Mother Minerva's Musings
Once again we will begin our Lenten Season with Ash Wednesday. I am very aware as I write this message that Russia and Ukraine are at war. So how can our Lenten Season be a balm for our worldly cares and occupations?
Lent is an opportunity for us to reflect on our lives as disciples of Christ. Are we following Jesus’ teachings: trusting the Good News proclaimed by Jesus that the Kingdom of God is here? The teachings remind us of God’s promise that as his people we have inherited eternal life. We are called as God’s people to put our trust in God -not princes nor principalities. In other words, not living in fear but living as people led by the Holy Spirit.
Some of you may be thinking, “Sure Mother Minerva, this sounds great in theory, but we are talking about war”. True, however, Jesus never said that following Him would be easy. Christians who have gone before and Christians who will come after will also have to deal with dangerous and fearful situations. The question during Lent is what practices or habits do we need to cultivate or do we need to abandon so we can respond to all situations, including dangerous and fearful ones as a Christian.
One thing I can tell you about myself is that I tend to eat my worry and stress. Instead of leaning on God’s love and mercy, I put my trust in Cheetos. They give me a quick fix of calm. Now are Cheetos inherently bad? No, but when I trust in Cheetos instead of trusting God, I am not living as a disciple of Christ. I am not trusting Jesus’ testimony: “God gave us eternal life”. Sure the Cheetos are a quick fix, but it is not lasting. God’s promise is lasting and I need to put my trust in Him.
Trusting in God’s promise gives us the grace -the power- to live full lives even in challenging times. God’s grace will allow us to
“continue in the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers; persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord; proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ; seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself; strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being”.
In other words we will pray and ground ourselves in God. We will resist going along with the crowd when the crowd is calling for violence. We will proclaim that God is a God of love and our call as disciples is to help those in need even if there is a cost to us. We will look for Christ in every person both friend and foe. And, to have true peace we must work for justice, because justice brings dignity to every human being. We might feel like we cannot do anything at the international level, but we can do things in our local community.
I invite you to reflect on your life and identify one habit that you would like to deepen or abandon. Will your Lenten practice include daily prayer? Will your Lenten practice be to speak kindly even when you disagree? Will your Lenten practice be to be mindful of your comments on social media? Will your Lenten practice be to participate in a local organization that works for equity? Let us join together and encourage one another during Lent to trust in God’s promise following the words of Micah - do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
|
|
Mardi Gras
Loteria Night
6:00pm
Tuesday, March 1
In person and Zoom
|
|
Ash Wednesday at St. John's
March 2, 2022
12 Noon - Ash Wednesday Liturgy with Holy Eucharist in English
7:00 pm - Ash Wednesday Liturgy with Holy Eucharist bilingual
2:30 pm - Ash Wednesday service at Buckner Villas
|
|
Sunday Services - February 27
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (In-Person)
10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (In-Person and Zoom)
1:00 pm Santa Eucaristía Rito II (en persona)
|
|
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
|
|
The video recording of the 10:30 a.m. service will be posted on the St. John's Facebook page, YouTube, and the St. John's website later in the day. Additionally, recordings of the English and Spanish sermons will be available. Links to the recordings will be posted on our website (www.austinstjohns.org).
|
|
"'We all need a reason to keep going,' said the Horse. 'What's yours?'
'Cake,' said the Mole."
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse
Charlie Mackesy
|
|
St. John's Notices and Activities |
|
PRAY FOR YOUR NEW VESTRY
On Saturday, March 5, your Vestry will be on retreat to pray and work together towards a plan for moving St. John’s through 2022.
Please add them to your prayers, jointly and individually – Steve Kriechbaum (Senior Warden), Kevin Flegal (Junior Warden), Maria Caballero (Clerk), Carlos Lugo, Sandy Welles, Maria Angie Hernandez, Sandra Ward, Carolyn Cline, Patricia Mata, Mother Minerva, Deacon Victoria.
|
|
ALTAR FLOWER DEDICATIONS
Donations received during Lent will be used for our Easter Lilies.
You may now sign up to dedicate flowers for the altar either on the flower chart in the narthex or online through our website.
On the website home page, click on “Flowers” in the upper right corner. Dedications may be made in thanksgiving for special times (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.), or in memory of those close to you who have died.
Multiple dedications on any given Sunday are acceptable.
The suggested donation for a dedication is $60. However, we know that some would like to give more, and some can only give less. All dedications will be honored, and any donations will be appreciated.
If you use the flower chart in the narthex to make your dedication and wish to make a donation, please use the provided envelopes. If you are using the form on the website for your dedication and wish to make a donation, please click on the "online donation" box.
|
|
Lenten Formation Series - hybrid
Wednesdays during Lent - 7pm
Continuing on the Wednesdays during Lent, except for Ash Wednesday (March 2), we will focus on an exploration of Christian history. Each 90-minute session will include watching an episode of a BBC documentary series on the “History of Christianity” by Diarmaid MacCulloch, followed by a discussion of the video.
The topics of each episode are:
- The First Christianity
- Catholicism: The Unpredictable Rise of Rome
- Orthodoxy: From Empire to Empire
- Reformation: The Individual Before God
- Protestantism
- God in the Dock
On the final week, April 6th, Professor Dan Joslyn-Siemiatkoski from the Seminary of the Southwest will join us to wrap up our exploration of Christian history.
This is an opportunity to better understand how Christianity got to where it is today and our place in its two-thousand-year-old story. We hope to see you there! The link to the Zoom meeting can be found in the Tuesday Christian Formation email, as well as in the weekly Bridge.
|
|
Cornerstone Literary Circle - Zoom
Wednesdays at 5:30 pm
Cornerstone Literary Circle is reading Crazy Horse: The Lakota Warrior's Life & Legend, (2016) For our next session, we will be reading Chapters 14-18.
Notice: There will be no Cornerstone meeting on March 2nd, Ash Wednesday. We will resume our meetings on March 9th.
The reading assignments will be found in each week's Christian Formation email sent out on Tuesday.
The link to join the class is here:
|
|
Thursday Morning Bible Study - Hybrid
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
We continue to meet both in person in the Parish Hall and via Zoom. Those of us who attend in person are masked and spread out around a large table. Everyone is welcome to join our conversation - please participate at your personal physical and emotional comfort level as we continue to navigate the pandemic.
|
|
The link to join the class is here: |
|
(please refer to our website www.austinstjohns.org or to the Christian Formation email sent every Tuesday for more information and links)
|
|
WEDNESDAY MORNING GROUNDS CREW
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.
|
|
For more information about this ministry, please contact Hal Hughes.
|
|
LABYRINTH COMMUNITY GARDEN
Annual Meeting/Open House
Saturday, March 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Have you ever wondered what those people were doing in the community garden? Now is your chance to find out! This year, the Labyrinth Community Garden will have a combined annual meeting and open house on Saturday, March 12th from 10:30-11:30. Weather, permitting, we will meet in the garden. In case of weather issues, we will meet in the parish hall. At the meeting, you will have the opportunity to meet the gardeners and find out what we have done the past year and what we plan for next year. We want to make this a potluck event, so please feel free to bring your favorite dish. It is very important that we know who will be attending, so please RSVP (labyrinthcg@gmail.com) as soon as possible. Hope to see you there!
To learn about how our Labyrinth Community Garden serves the community, or for information about obtaining a bed in the Garden for you and your family, please contact Patty Arnold.
|
|
Episcopal Diocese of Texas |
|
Women in good standing at their churches, and who are seeking certification or higher education at recognized institutions, are eligible to apply for the Vera Gang Scott Scholarship from Episcopal Church Women.
The scholarship eligibility requirements are: 1) A female communicant in good standing, 2) Acceptance or enrollment in an academic institution of college rank, 3) Pursuing professional certification or a degree from an accredited institution, and 4) Ability to show real financial need. To apply for this scholarship, click here for a downloadable application.
|
|
Central Texas Interfaith and St. John 's Episcopal Church urge you to vote in the coming primary elections. Primary Election Day is Tuesday March 1st. St. John's will be a voting site from 7am to 7pm.
Your vote is your voice.
|
|
Here are some resources for finding out more about the March primary election: |
|
If you would like to become involved in CTI’s Get Out the Vote effort, please let Monique Vasquez know and we will connect you to efforts to get voters to the polls. And other ways you can help to "get out the vote" can be found by clicking the button:
|
|
Capitol IDEA
Could you help a beginning dental hygiene student as a volunteer patient?
Volunteering for a student in their first year of clinical classes is primarily about sitting in the chair as the student interacts with a patient in good health. This means:
- The patient does not have any complicated dental or other health conditions. They should have some plaque to require cleaning, but not too much. They should not have bleeding gums. (Students will need patients with complications in later semesters.)
- The time commitment is serious: three or more visits of about three hours each.
- The student will conduct a teeth cleaning.
- There is a $20 charge.
If you can help out, please contact Capital IDEA Project Navigator Sara Hernandez at shernandez@capitalidea.org or 512 910 5994. She will then connect you with a student who can offer you two or three options in one of the two schedule windows.
|
|
COVID-19 Related Information |
|
click on the image to access the Austin Public Health website |
|
St. John's requires masks and social distancing for all indoor worship services and gatherings. |
|
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.
|
|
FOR PRAYER AND PASTORAL CARE |
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
for other ways to make a donation.
|
|
Please send mail to the church post office box:
St. John’s Episcopal Church
P. O. Box 81493
Austin, TX 78708-1493
|
|
All First Class Mail, Priority Mail and Priority Express Mail will be forwarded through Dec. 7, 2022.
|
|
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.
|
|
Mr. Steve Kriechbaum, Senior Warden
Mr. Kevin Flegal, Junior Warden
Ms. Sandra Welles, Treasurer
|
|
Class of 2023
Mr. Steve Kriechbaum
Ms. Sandra Welles
Sr. Carlos Lugo
|
|
Class of 2024
Ms. Maria Caballero, Clerk
Sra. Maria Angie Hernandez
Ms. Sandra Ward
|
|
Class of 2025
Dr. Carolyn Cline
Mr. Kevin Flegal
Sra. Patricia Mata
|
|
The Rev. Minerva Camarena Skeith, Rector
The Rev. Victoria Mason, Deacon
|
|
Ms. Fay Jones, Director of Communications
Mr. Philip Riley, Choirmaster and Organist
Sr. Alfonso Hernandez, Spanish Music
|
|
|
|
|
St. John's Episcopal Church
11201 Parkfield Drive
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493
|
|
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
|
|
The Parish Office is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
from 10am - 12Noon.
|
|
For more information about St. John’s Episcopal Church, please visit our website at www.austinstjohns.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
