The Bridge
June 24, 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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We continue to be grateful to Fay Jones for being the creator of the newsletter for the St. John’s community. We have all become dependent on receiving The Bridge and El Puente regularly.
I want to thank Lisa Shirah-Hiers for volunteering to produce the newsletter during the interim period until the new staff person is ready to take over. I also am grateful for the assistance that Deacon Victoria is giving to help Lisa learn the Constant Contact application and creating a smooth transition.
We’re going to have a more flexible publication schedule this summer. We look forward to bi-weekly issues with a couple exceptions to accommodate vacation schedules.
Mother Minerva
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Pauli Murray Scholarship Fund
On this Sunday, June 26, we will celebrate the Feast of Pauli Murray. The offering collection will be 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.
In addition to the Sunday offering, you may make a donation by sending a check 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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Leadership Training
The leaders of St. John’s recently participated in two leadership training sessions. This is part of our efforts to develop skills that will help us better engage our community and create positive effects to improve the lives of our parishioners.
On May 20 and 21, six leaders attended a two-day Central Texas Interfaith training. Leaders learned about power, identifying leaders, and congregational development.
On June 17 and 18, six leaders attended the Hispanic Lay Leadership Conference with nearly 300 Hispanic Lay Leaders representing 16 congregations across the Diocese of Texas. They attended different workshops around children ministry, health advocacy, ministry through photography and plenary sessions on evangelism.
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Black West Austin Tour
A group of St. John’s members took a historical tour of west Austin with an emphasis on black history stories in honor of Juneteenth. The tour began at the historic Neill Cochran Mansion on San Gabriel Street, which dates to well before the Civil War. Behind the mansion stands the only slave quarters known to remain standing in Austin.
Haskell House is a historic residence in Clarksville, an old freedman settlement in what is now west of downtown. The land was originally a cane thicket, purchased in 1871 by Mr. Clark, a former slave. Clark cleared the land and sold parcels to other freedmen for home sites.
Sweet Home Missionary Baptist is a church established in the Clarksville Freedman’s settlement soon after the founding of the settlement. It remains an active congregation 150 years after its founding.
Although Black people were forced out of west Austin by the City’s discriminatory 1928 Master Plan, the congregation to this day remains mainly majority African American, many of them descendants of early congregants. One of the congregants was nice enough to allow us in and give us a personal tour.
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Movie Night – My Name Is Pauli Murray
We had a great time at church and on Zoom watching the Pauli Murray documentary, “My Name Is Pauli Murray.” A fascinating and inspiring story of the first African American woman ordained Episcopal priest and one of the most significant human rights activists of the 20th Century. A great way to finish up our Christian Formation programs saluting Juneteenth!
“It was a real eye-opening movie, what an amazing woman.” – Steve Kriechbaum
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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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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 Second 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.
We are reading The Kindness of Color by Janice Munemitsu. Mary Hutka will host this book recommended by Kim Evert.
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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The Senate will vote today on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major legislation to address gun violence in several decades. We ask all Episcopalians to take action and to urge their members of Congress to pass this important piece of legislation.
To read a statement from the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the President of the House of Deputies, Gay Clark Jennings, on the Supreme Court's NYSRPA vs. Bruen decision click here.
On Friday, June 24th at 1 pm EDT, we will be hosting Ruben Cantu and Zachary Tarro from the Prevention Institute, who will provide information about ongoing gun violence prevention efforts at the local and federal levels.
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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 Deacon Victoria (512-297-5953) or email
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
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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
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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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