The Bridge
July 8, 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.
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Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837
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New Phone Number for St. John's
Please note there is a new phone number for the
church office: 512-580-0200
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Mother Minerva’s Musings
I write this article as I am preparing to go on vacation. I am very grateful to this community to give me the opportunity to be with family and summer. It is a time for rest and reflection. There is a lot to reflect on this year. Many changes have occurred in our congregation and in our country.
Our church continues to grow not only in numbers but in discipleship. We have seen an increase in people from our neighborhood attend services as well as people who have seen us on the internet and have decided to join us in person. We have also had 10 baptisms and 2 confirmations since last July with two more next week.
Faith communities are charged to support new members in deepening their faith. We are called to provide love and support to the people that are members. The question is what experiences or teachings do they need to grow in their faith. How can we best love one another?
Our agenda of issues adopted at the annual meeting is being put into action. Several leaders have attended leadership training. Leaders have met with organizations that work on affordable housing. They have met with council members in support of budget items that help our community. And, they have met with the neighborhood association and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department to learn about increasing park space in our neighborhood. All of these efforts are in response to our congregation’s desire to be more connected in the community we are located so we can better serve our neighbors.
The country has experienced a series of mass shootings bringing to the forefront once again the need for gun safety laws. We have also had a series of Supreme Court rulings that will impact our community in ways we still cannot imagine. So the question for us as it has always been for Christians is what will our response be to events of our day.
Faith communities have also always been asked to care for the most vulnerable when natural and human disaster strikes. We need to find those that will be most affected and find ways to lighten their burden and soften the blow. The question is who are the most vulnerable and what do they need from us.
As a congregation we have many questions to discern. Questions that have complex answers. I invite you to also take this month to pause, reflect and pray. Let us listen to what God is asking of us.
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Pauli Murray Scholarship Fund
Pauli Murray
Hope is a song in a weary throat"
On Sunday, June 26, we celebrated the Feast of Pauli Murray. The offering collection was dedicated to the Pauli Murray Scholarship Fund of the Seminary of the Southwest.
The scholarship provides financial support for African American seminary students and other students of color for living expenses for these seminary students, in addition to a full tuition grant and other assistance provided directly by the seminary.
We are still collecting donations for the fund. You may make a donation by sending a check with "Pauli Murray" in the subject line or making an online donation.
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Family Eldercare Fan Drive
We are partnering with the Family Eldercare Fan Drive from now through July. Each summer the Fan Drive distributes box fans to seniors and adults with disabilities in Austin who are unable to afford air conditioning, and the need continues to grow in the Texas heat. The cost of a 20-inch box fan from Walmart is approximately $25.
Ways to donate:
- Submit a check, written to St. John's Episcopal Church and write FAN DRIVE in the description field at the bottom of the check.
- Put your cash in a donation envelope. Write your name and FAN DRIVE on the envelope.
- Make an online donation.
Mail your check to the P.O. Box address or place your donation in the collection plate on Sundays.
Contact Sandra Ward, 1redsand2@gmail.com for more information.
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New Christian Formation Offerings This Fall
This fall, the Christian Formation classes on Sunday mornings are going to feature new and interesting topics. We will begin with a series on Homelessness which will include speakers from local organizations and reflections on sections of the book Welcome Home(less) by Alan Graham with Lauren Hall.
Other offerings will include a series titled “A Walk Through the Bible” led by Fr. David Beer and another series about angels in the Bible. More details to follow.
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Farmshare Austin
Sunday, from 11am-1pm.
Come shop for fresh, delicious, and affordable fruits and vegetables, local eggs and honey, and a variety of pantry staples!
The market accepts cash, credit, debit, SNAP, and Double Up Food Bucks.
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Coffee and Fellowship
The Parish Hall is open for coffee and fellowship after each Sunday service!
Thanks to our volunteers who make the coffee, set it up, and clean up after. And always, thanks to Sheri Rasmussen who keeps us in iced tea!
If you would like to bring snacks, you are invited to do so.
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Choir Potluck and
Sing-a-Long
On Thursday, June 23rd, the choir held their annual potluck and sing-a-long for the first time since Covid hit two years ago. About 15 people brought delicious dishes including a surprise blueberry and lemon cake made by Laurie Williams in honor of Philip Riley’s birthday.
After dinner, we moved into the church sanctuary and sang many old favorites including Love Lifted Me, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, and Sweet Hour of Prayer.
If you missed the event this year, look for another opportunity around the same time in 2023.
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Prayers of the People
Why are we devoting the Prayers of the People entirely to gun violence?
Many of you are aware that I write the Prayers of People for most Sundays. When it was time to compose the prayers for the Pentecost Season, it occurred to me that they could have a focus on a crucial social justice issue. We all have been appalled with the recent shootings – Buffalo, Uvalde, and now Highland Park. As Christians we are called to prayer. I’m aware that prayer may not seem enough. Yet, prayer is doing something.
In the collect for this Sunday, we ask God to hear our prayers, help us to understand what we can do, and have the grace to follow through. The first step is to pray. Through prayer we can become attuned to what the issue is about, to want to learn as much as we can. To discern what, if anything, each of us can do to fulfill our baptismal promise “to strive for justice and peace among all people.”
-Deacon Victoria
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Our Sunday morning worship and education schedule:
- 8:30am - The Holy Eucharist Rite I (English)
- 9:45am - Adult Christian Formation Class
- 11:00am - The Holy Eucharist Rite II (English)
- 1:00pm - La Santa Eucaristía Rito Dos (Spanish)
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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. |
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Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837
No passcode is required
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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 11:00 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).
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Sunday Morning Bible Study
Sunday Christian Formation classes will study the lectionary readings for the day, led by our clergy.
The readings for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost:
Click on the underlined text to access the reading online. You may also download all the readings as a Word Document here.
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Cornerstone Literary Circle -
Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
On July 6th, we'll be reading a new book. This one is The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.
On July 13th and 20th, Cornerstone will have a hiatus and be back July 27th.
The reading assignments will be found in each week's Christian Formation email sent out on Tuesday. Please contact Laurie Williams for more information
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Meeting ID: 865 2855 1870
Passcode 446185
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Wednesday Night Bible Study - 7:00 p.m.
We will study the lectionary readings for the upcoming Sunday (see above).
The class meets via Zoom:
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Meeting ID: 886 3246 7047
Passcode: 980365
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Thursday Morning Bible Study
We will continue meeting in person and via Zoom on Thursday, at 10:00am.
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Meeting ID: 821 5253 7149
No passcode is required
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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
For more information about this ministry, please contact Kevin Flegal.
Labyrinth Community Garden
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.
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Recent Supreme Court Decisions
The Diocese of Texas and The Episcopal Church and the Union of Black Episcopalians have issued statements regarding the recent Supreme Court decision on abortion. A link to each statement is provided below:
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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 or email Deacon Victoria (512-297-5953) during Mother Minerva's vacation.
We are a church family; when a family member needs assistance we want to try and help that member.
A Prayer for Uvalde
O God our Father, whose beloved Son took children into his arms and blessed them: Give us grace to entrust your beloved children of Uvalde to your everlasting care and love, and bring them fully into your heavenly kingdom. Pour out your grace and loving-kindness on all who grieve; surround them with your love; and restore their trust in your goodness. We lift up to you our weary, wounded souls and ask you to send your Holy Spirit to take away the anger and violence that infects our hearts, and make us instruments of your peace and children of the light. In the Name of Christ who is our hope, we pray. Amen.
The Rt. Rev. David M. Reed, Bishop of West Texas
A Prayer for Those Who Grieve in Uvalde
May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, empower us through your Holy Spirit to be witnesses of your love, compassion and forgiveness in the aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting. We pray that your Holy Spirit will lead those who minister to the grieving and suffering families of the nineteen children and two teachers who died.
Give us, O Lord, the courage to walk through the valley of the shadow of death as we mourn this horrific tragedy. Guide us to to respond according to your will, even as to be Christ’s light to this broken and sinful world. All this we plead through Jesus Christ our Lord who died to set this world free. Amen.
The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., Assistant Bishop of West Texas
A Prayer for Ukraine
God of Peace and Justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow. that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war and peace, for wisdom, discernment, and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
Archbishop Justin Welby
Archbishop Stephen Cottrel
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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
If you are having problems with the online donation system, please contact the treasurer at Treasurer@austinstjohns.org and someone will help you resolve the problem.
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Masks are optional on the St. John's campus. The CDC guidelines highly recommend that all persons who are not fully vaccinated wear masks while indoors. Thank you for your cooperation in these efforts to keep our St. John’s community safe and healthy.
Austin-Travis County's COVID-19 Community Level is currently medium.
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Mr. Steve Kriechbaum, Senior Warden
Mr. Kevin Flegal, Junior Warden
Ms. Maria Caballero, Clerk
Ms. Sandra Welles, Treasurer
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Class of 2023
Mr. Steve Kriechbaum
Ms. Sandra Welles
Sr. Carlos Lugo
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Class of 2024
Ms. Maria Caballero
Sra. Maria Angie Hernandez
Ms. Sandra Ward
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Class of 2025
Dr. Carolyn Cline
Mr. Kevin Flegal
Sra. Patricia Mata
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The Rev. Minerva Camarena Skeith, Rector
The Rev. Victoria Mason, Deacon
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Mr. Philip Riley, Choirmaster and Organist
Sr. Alfonso Hernandez, Spanish Music
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St. John's Episcopal Church
11201 Parkfield Drive
P. O. Box 81493, Austin, TX 78708-1493
Church Office: 512-580-0200
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Regular Sunday Services
8:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:45 a.m. Adult Christian Formation (in-person & Zoom)
11:00 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 - 12 Noon.
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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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