The Bridge - March 25, 2022

The Bridge

March 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.

How Long, O Lord?

As I struggle to follow a Lenten discipline, I am distracted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. My heart is filled with sorrow and fear for the people trying to evacuate. I am horrified with the images and reports of families, grandparents, children being assaulted or killed. Civilian centers of life being destroyed. I listen to the diplomats, experts, and scholars discussing what could or should be done. I am so distressed by all of this.

The psalmist laments and calls out to God – “How long, O Lord?” How long must I suffer? Will you forget about me? When will you remember me? Rescue me from the ravages of the enemy! It feels like you are angry with me. If you are, for how long? How long, O Lord? (Psalms 13:1, 35:17, 79:5, 89:46)

The cries for help and hope in Ukraine must be echoing the lamentations of the Psalmist. Jesus must have felt something similar when he was in the wilderness – fear for his life, predatory animals circling around him, hunger, exposure to the elements, despair. Yet, he had the strength and the will to not allow Satan to deter him from the work that God called him to do. The people of Ukraine are also determined to uphold their country and protect their families. Along with their lamentations, they are trusting in God’s steadfast love and protection.

After the cry of lamentation, the Psalmist usually offers a response of thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love. In Psalm 13:5-6 – “But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

Along with the horrific stories, there are heartwarming stories. Polish people lining up in their cars to provide transportation to shelters as Ukrainian families cross the border. Communities setting up stations of food and clothing. A man going to a refugee stopover everyday just to sit and listen, to be God’s holy presence.

I believe in the power of prayer, even when I wonder if that really is enough. The Anglican Communion has been called upon to pray for the people and leaders of Ukraine and all those throughout the world who are working toward peace. My Lenten discipline this year is to exercise my belief in the power of prayer by praying daily, and frequently within each day, for peace in Ukraine.

Deacon Victoria

Worship at St. John's

Sunday Services - March 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)

Everyone is invited to come forward to the communion rail to receive the blessed bread and wine. You may receive standing or kneeling. If you need a gluten free wafer, please tell the minister. If you would prefer a blessing, please cross your arms over your chest.

Sip, Dip, or Skip

Many of you have been asking when we will be able to take communion in both kinds. I am excited that we will once again have the common cup during our Eucharists. I also want to emphasize that we get all the benefits of the Lord’s Supper - “forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment internal life”*- by taking only one kind, either the bread or the wine.

On Sunday, March 27, everyone will have the option to drink from the cup, intinct the bread, or consume only the bread. All of these options are valid and will be supported and respected. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mother Minerva

*Book of Common Prayer, pp 859-860

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

Zoom link for 10:30 a.m. service

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).

Why a different translation?

Have you listened to the lessons on Sunday and wondered, “I do not remember hearing it that way before”? Congratulations! You have noticed that we are using a different Bible translation. St. John’s has traditionally used the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation. During the Seasons of Lent and Easter we will be using the Common English Bible (CEB). The CEB is a Bible translation authorized for public worship by the Episcopal Church. (Canon II.2.1)

I believe that using different translations allows us to have a better understanding of the texts. The CEB uses common words that can give a clearer meaning of the author’s intent.

“The CEB attempts to substitute more natural wording for traditional biblical terminology. Notably, where most Bibles use the term "son of man" in the Old Testament (e.g. Ezekiel 2:8), the CEB translates this as "human one". In the New Testament where Jesus uses the Greek version of this term of himself—probably with messianic overtones—the CEB renders it as "the Human One".^[13]

An example of using common present-day vernacular is the substituting of "harass" for "persecute": "If the world harassed me, it will harass you too" (John 15:20).”*

The CEB also distinguishes between Jews and Jewish leaders. This distinction is important as references to Jews in other translations have led to anti-semitic views. During Lent and the Easter Season we will be reading a lot of texts about the relationship between Jesus and his disciples and the Jewish authorities. It is important to have a better understanding of who is actually involved.

Mother Minerva

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_English_Bible#:~:text=translators%20and%20reviewers%20.-,Features,this%20as%20%22human%20one%22.

Consider This

"You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you."

The Book of Common Prayer, p . 379

St. John's Notices and Activities

AGENDA OF ISSUES - ACTION TEAMS

On March 21, the Core Organizing Team met to discuss ideas leading to the implementation of the items identified in the St. John’s Agenda of Issues. You are encouraged to join this team to help plan for actions and ministries important to St. John’s. Please contact John Williams, Sandra Ward, Christi Crow, or Steve Kriechbaum for more information.

The Affordable Housing Committee of St. John's met recently and reviewed several approaches that would help alleviate the lack of adequate housing in the Austin area. The challenges are, on one hand, price. The available supply of affordable housing has shrunk leaving moderate income workers with few choices. On the other hand, despite the wealth and prosperity of the city, pockets of extreme poverty remain.

Of the several approaches considered by the committee, two stood out as being practical for this congregation and as having promise of real effects for the goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing.

First, we plan for volunteer members to join in the efforts of Austin Habitat For Humanity to construct affordable housing in Austin, while we continue to search for other impactful hands-on volunteer opportunities.

Second, we will seek to partner with other churches in Austin to support the efforts of Central Texas Interfaith to advocate for an increase in public funding of housing and other reforms to increase the availability of public housing.

Please join us! John Williams Mike Davis

FARMSHARE AUSTIN IS COMING SOON!

Farmshare Austin's Fresh for Less Mobile Market will return to St. John's Episcopal Church on Sunday, April 3^rd 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.

We are planning to have eggs hidden for our kiddos - members and families - after the 10:30am and 1:00pm services on Easter Day. Maria Angie Hernandez will happily accept volunteers for stuffing and hiding eggs for our searchers!

We need someone(s) to organize the Cookie Party after each of the services on Easter Day. This means inviting our marvelous bakers to provide a dozen or two special cookies, and setting up the coffee and tea. Ideally, this would be outdoors - we can provide help in setting up tables and chairs, and even tents!

Easter Bonnets are so much fun! In the past few years, the men of St. John's have shown that they love hats too! We were asked to give lots of notice this year so you can prepare your best bonnets and hats for Easter Day - April 17.

COFFEE AND FELLOWSHIP

The Parish Hall is open for coffee and fellowship after each Sunday service!

We need volunteers to set up and clean up. Put together a team of 2 or 3 (or more!) to make the coffee, set it up, and clean up after.

If you would like to bring snacks, you are invited to do so. Please take your dishes home with you so you won't have to wonder what happened to that plate Dear Old Aunt Gladys gave you.

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.

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.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION

Lenten Formation Series - hybrid

Wednesdays during Lent - 7pm

Continuing on the Wednesdays during Lent, 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.

For more information, please contact Scott Morizot.

Lenten Formation Program

Cornerstone Literary Circle - Zoom

Wednesdays at 5:30 pm

Cornerstone Literary Circle has just begun John Meacham's book His Truth is Marching On. For our next meeting on March 30th, we will be reading Chapters 2 and 3 (pp. 45-115).

The reading assignments will be found in each week's Christian Formation email sent out on Tuesday.

Please contact Laurie Williams for more information.

The link to join the class is here:

Cornerstone Literary Circle

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. Everyone is welcome to join our conversation - please participate at your personal physical and emotional comfort level.

For more information, please contact Elaine Jackson .

The link to join the class is here:

Thursday Morning Bible Study

(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

Our Spring Work Days will be on Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4. Typically, Saturday covers outside projects and Sunday means working inside the church and parish hall.

For more information about this ministry, please contact Hal Hughes.

LABYRINTH COMMUNITY GARDEN

The garden is getting ready for Spring. Beds are being prepared for new Spring crops. Right now, in the pantry bed, mustard and collard greens are sprouting along with broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Flowers will soon be blooming in the pollinator bed and in the scent garden. Progress is being made on completing our fence.

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

Established in 1921 by the Diocese of Texas, Camp Allen Summer Camp is widely known as the "best week of the year" by countless children each year. And after two years of the pandemic, kids need camp more than ever! Camp Allen offers action-packed and faith-filled one week summer camp sessions for ages 8-16.

Camp Allen video

Bishop Doyle’s 360 Tour –

Be with the People 2022

Please join Bishop Doyle as he visits Austin on April 3!

Sharing our vision and the work we need to accomplish in the next five years through fellowship and information.

Bishop Doyle is visiting the diocese. His visit in Austin will be held at St. James on Sunday, April 3.

St. James' Episcopal Church, 1941 Webberville Road, Austin 78721. The Town Hall will begin at 3 p.m. Coffee & Snacks will be provided following the presentation.
Please RSVP as soon as possible so that food can be ordered
Face masks will be optional
The event will be live streamed - please see St. James' Austin for instructions to access the live stream
Child care will not be available at St. James'
Spanish Translation will be available at St. James'

Please click the button to RSVP

Bishop Doyle's 360 Tour

Caring for Each Other

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.

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 Cottrell

Our Gathering Policy

Based on the new CDC guidelines, masks are optional on the St. John's campus. The CDC guidelines also highly recommend that all persons who are not fully vaccinated wear masks while indoors. Please get vaccinated and boosted to keep yourselves and others safe. Thank you for your cooperation in these efforts to keep our St. John’s community safe and healthy.

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.

COVID-19 Related Information

click on the image to access the Austin Public Health website

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO ST. JOHNS;THANK YOU!

Please visit our website (Austin St. John's)

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.