The Bridge

May 19, 2023

The Mission of St. John’s is to be a community of God’s people who heal brokenness, build bridges, and exemplify borderless kindness.

Events and Announcements

The Bishop is Coming!

May 20, 2023

Bishop Doyle will visit St. John’s tomorrow, Saturday, May 20, 2023 for Baptisms, Confirmations, and Receptions. We will have a single bilingual service at 5:30 PM followed by a reception.

Meet the Baptism Candidate

Jose Abraham Giron Lopez

Baby Jose is a very happy baby. His mother Karina says he loves cocomelon. Enjoys playing with siblings.

Meet the Confirmands Candidates

Oscar Rojas

Hi,

My name is Oscar Rojas and I have been attending St. John's Episcopal Church since moving to Austin, TX in March of 2022. I moved to Austin from South Florida, where I had attended the Bethesda by the Sea Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach, FL. Words can't express my gratitude for the warm and caring welcome, and the great love that St. John's has shown me and my 4-year-old daughter, Liliana - who loves Madre Minerva and going to church with her dad! My faith continues to grow stronger at St. John's and I am truly happy and feel blessed to be able to receive my confirmation here. And to share this experience with Liliana, to share God with her, is a true blessing - she reminds me constantly, "Jesus loves us dada"...Amen

Nathalie Martinez

Hola mi nombre es Nathalie artinez soy estudiante de elgin high school tengo 17 años y mi color favorito es el rosa tengo 2 hermanas y me gusta enprender ago postreria con la alluda de mi mama y estoy estudiando para ser maestra me gusta mucho poder alludar a los niños poreso creo que esa será mi carerar

Ronda Hall

I have been attending St. John’s Episcopal Church for several years with my partner, Paula Foy. I joined the choir a year or so after we started attending, and I recently became part of the Altar Guild. Even from the beginning, when Sheri Rasmussen offered to fill out a visitor’s card for Paula and me, I have felt welcomed by all the kind people in the church. Mother Minerva recently asked if I had thought about being confirmed, and I decided I was ready to take this official step.

I grew up in Indiana with my parents, an older sister, and a younger brother. We were raised in the United Methodist Church, in which I was baptized and confirmed in fifth grade. I have attended church all my life except for a few years in middle age when I felt the need for a break. During that time, I found spiritual nurturing through yoga and time spent outside in my garden. I’m glad it will include continued worship and fellowship with the St. John’s community.

Meet the Candidates who will be Received

Loly Andrade y Manuel Gonzalez

Hello to all brothers and sisters in faith.

My name is Loly Andrade de González; I'm 38 years old. I was born in San Sebastián, El Salvador. I have been married to Manuel González for 13 years. Manuel was born in Usulutan, El Salvador. We form a beautiful family and we have two children; Erickson and Brandon González Andrade. Which we have an arduous task for the education and upbringing of our two children. We were raised in the Catholic Church, but for more than 1 year now we have been congregating in the Episcopal Church of St John. In this community we have found that family union, love and compassion towards others. I am a reader and I like to help in whatever way I can at St John's Church. In it we are teaching our children respect, responsibility, humility and above all love towards others, just as God left us the commandment. Love each other.

Adan Leonel Lopez Paiz

My name is Adan and I am 30 years old. I want to be part of this congregation that has now become family. I also wanted to thank God for all he has given me that's why I came to St. John's. I have a friend who invited me to come to the Spanish Service. I am hoping to be received in this welcoming congregation

Save the Date

Graduation Blessings,

May 21, 2023

Join us to celebrate the 2023 graduates! Graduated are invited to receive a blessing on Sunday, May 21st during our services.

English Services 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM

Spanish Service at 1 PM

GRADUATION BLESSING

Holy Redeemer, Bless the lives of these graduates with goodness and success. Inspire them to use their gifts wisely and in service to others. Give them your grace to walk into the future with faith, hope, and unwavering love. May your light guide them and assure them of your generous gifts, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Our Community

Farmshare Austin

Sunday, from

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

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.

Coffee and Fellowship

The Narthex 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.

Let's also be good stewards of our land and recycle! There will be signs in the Narthex with items that are recyclable.

Worship at St. John's

Our Sunday morning worship and education schedule:

8:30 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist Rite I (English)
9:45 a.m. - Adult Christian Formation Class
11:00 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist Rite II (English)
1:00 p.m. - La Santa Eucaristía Rito Dos (Spanish)

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.

Zoom link for 11:00 a.m. service

Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837 No passcode is required

Go to our website to download the bulletin

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).

Christian Formation

Sunday Morning Christian Formation

9:45 a.m. - in person in the church (nave).

Please mark your calendars for each Sunday in May where we will discuss the Book of Acts. These Adult Christian Education classes will last from

9:45-10:30 a.m. They will involve a presentation plus discussion. The schedule is:

Sunday, May 21 -- Acts 15:36 -Acts 21:16

Sunday, May 28 -- Acts 21:17-Acts28:31.

Please contact Mother Minerva for more information.

Cornerstone Literary Circle -

Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Cornerstone Literary Circle is currently reading "Caste: The Origin of Our Discontent" by Isabel Wilkerson. A reviewer for the NYTimes wrote: "Wilkerson’s book is about how brutal misperceptions about race have disfigured the American experiment. This is a topic that major historians and novelists have examined from many angles, with care, anger, deep feeling and sometimes simmering wit."

Please contact Laurie Williams for more information.

Zoom Link to Cornerstone Literary Circle

Meeting ID: 865 2855 1870

Passcode 446185

Wednesday Night Bible Study - 7:00 p.m.

We will study the lectionary readings for the upcoming Sunday:

The class meets via Zoom:

Zoom Link to Wednesday Night Class

Meeting ID: 886 3246 7047

Passcode: 980365

Thursday Morning Bible Study

10:00 a.m. - Thursday

Thursday Morning Bible Study continues in our hybrid format at 10:00 a.m., via Zoom and in the narthex. We begin meeting the women of the New Testament and will hear what these women have to say to us. We will find many of them more familiar than the Old Testament women were, and look for both similar and very different themes.

Meeting ID: 821 5253 7149

No passcode is required

Zoom Link to 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.

Ministries

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 the Parish Office.

Card Ministry

St. John’s Episcopal Church is starting a new card ministry that will involve sending handwritten cards to our members who are suffering illness and/or bereavement.

Please let Henry Welles, Sandra Ward or Christi Crow know if you have a need or if you know of someone who does. Thank you.

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 email Mother Minerva.

We are a church family; when a family member needs assistance we want to try and help that member.

The Episcopal Church has a Rite of Reconciliation (Confession). Please contact Mother Minerva to schedule an appointment for Reconciliation.

Donations

Please visit our website (austinstjohns.org) 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

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.

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

Fill out a pledge card here!

Gathering Policy

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 low.

For more information: Austin Public Health

Submit to the Bridge

You are invited to send pictures and articles to the Bridge! Please note the deadline: Noon, Wednesday preceding the Friday of publication.

Send to mariaangie@austinstjohns.org with "For the Bridge" in the subject line. Be sure to note the date of the issue in which you want to publish the information or article.