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The Bridge
September 30, 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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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.
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Stewardship Campaign 2022 | | |
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Share Something with Someone
Share something with someone. It’s one of my eleven rules for living well. I learned it 20 some years ago when I was suffering from a debilitating depression. We were changing my medication and the new combination hadn’t kicked in yet. I was blue. There was a lecture series at Seton Cove that I thought might help. I wanted to go to but couldn’t afford the registration fee. Then I heard they were looking for volunteers to serve the included luncheon in exchange for attending the lectures. I offered to help. Soon I was leaving my dark house to go put sandwiches on plates and pour ice tea, unload and load the dishwasher. An amazing thing happened. I felt better—not from the lectures but from the volunteer work. I learned that sharing something with someone was a way to feel happier. It’s been part of my rule of life ever since.
That’s my first story about stewardship. Here’s the second.
There once was a village where the people didn’t have enough to eat. One day a man came and said he would make them stone soup. He built a big fire and put on a large pot of water to boil and dropped a stone in it. The people thought he was crazy! One villager said to himself, “Well, that won’t be very flavorful. I have a few carrots to spare. I’ll put those in there.” So he did. Another villager said “carrots are nice but they taste even better with a little celery. I’ve got some celery I can share.” So she did. Another family had some potatoes, another had spices and one family even gave up a whole chicken. And so it went until there was rich, delicious soup for everybody.
My pledge is not enough to pay Mother Minerva’s salary. Your pledge is not enough to pay the electric bill. But together our pledges add up and there is enough for the whole community and beyond. I can’t sing all the parts in the choir—just the alto part. But my friends sing soprano and tenor and bass and pretty soon we are making beautiful harmony together. This is how the Kingdom of God works. Each contributes his or her part and the community has more than enough.
The stone in the soup is stewardship season. It is the catalyst that inspires us to take stock of what we have to contribute. As you think about stewardship this fall remember the value of sharing something with someone and adding to the soup. Together our talent, time and treasure are enough to grow the Kingdom and sharing them makes us feel good.
Lisa Shirah-Hiers
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STATEWIDE MEETING
Last Saturday, leaders from across the state with the Texas IAF Network came to Austin for a statewide meeting hosted by Central Texas Interfaith. Cars and busses from locations ranging from McAllen to El Paso, and Lubbock to Houston, arrived with attendees eager to discuss preserving their children’s education, securing family members’ access to healthcare, and bolstering their communities’ safety from gun violence.
I attended the meeting as a member of St. John’s Episcopal, which is a member of Central Texas Interfaith, and I was blown away by what I saw. The IAF trains ordinary families to organize their neighbors to be a powerful voice in the decisions that affect their lives and communities. I saw that training in action, with members of IAF organizations leading training and breakout meetings.
At the meeting, we discussed risks and opportunities posed by Texas’ upcoming Legislative Session. For instance, a law that allows corporations to receive huge tax breaks at the expense of statewide funding for grade school education is set to expire this year, and we expect big business will try to renew it, at the expense of Texas’ children. We brainstormed plans to keep the law from being renewed. Separately, Texas leads the country in maternal-morality rates, largely because of treatable conditions light high blood pressure and diabetes. We discussed passing a law that will extend Medicaid coverage for new mothers from a meager two months after giving birth to twelve months. We covered other topics, too – important things that affect ordinary families, that our families have the power to fight for, so long as we are organized.
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The Bishop is Coming
October 9th
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The Bishop will be at St. John’s on Sunday, October 9th. The bilingual service will begin at 11:oo AM. Reception will follow after the service.
Attention Volunteers:
We are in need of volunteers to help with the set up and clean up for the Bishop’s Reception on October 9
The 1 PM ladies are providing the main dishes, and we are in need of the following:
1. Fruit Trays
2. Cheese and Crackers
3. Deviled Eggs
4. Desserts
If you can help in any way, please contact Edna Hunter at 512-750-5132, either calling or text.
Thank you. -Edna
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Serving Christ
In All Persons
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A few members of our church have been helping a young man who was homeless. We’re very happy that he is moving into a new apartment in about 2 weeks. We are helping him with some things for his new apartment. We already found a couch, kitchen items (dishes, silverware, pots, and pans), and a kitchen table and chairs
We could use your help with getting a few more things for his new home. We're still searching for a dresser, bed (full or queen), sheets, bedspread, blanket, bath towel set, kitchen towels, hangers, 2 bar stools, and other things to make his new apartment feel like home. He would also like a tv and laptop. His favorite colors are blue and black.
Cash donations will be converted into a Walmart gift card to shop for any other items he needs. Please designate "Darius" on your donation. We will also need access to a truck to move the furniture items.
Please contact Paula Foy to coordinate any donations.
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Christian Education Offering Sundays Aug 28-Oct 2
St. John's Adult Christian Education team is presenting a six-part series based on Welcome Homeless, a book written by Austin philanthropist Alan Graham with Lauren Hall. Graham started Mobile Loaves and Fishes to feed the Austin homeless. He also helped organize Community First! Village to give shelter to homeless Austinites. Each hybrid session will occur from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m on Sundays starting August 28th.
This Sunday, October 2 -- Special Guest, Walter Moreau from Foundation Communities
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Blessing of the Animals, This Sunday!
October 2nd
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Sunday, October 2nd from
3:00-4:15 pm we will have our annual blessing of the animals. The service will begin at 3:15 pm.
If you are not able to come then, you're invited to bring a picture of your pet to a worship service earlier in the day.
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Daughters of the King Installation
October 23rd
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St. John’s Woman at the Well Chapter of the Daughters of the King will install four new members on Sunday, October 23rd at the 11am and 1pm services. If you are interested in learning more about the Daughters of the King contact Lisa Shirah-Hiers.
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St. John’s Talent Show
October 23rd
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St. John’s will hold our annual talent show on Sunday, October 23rd at 6pm in the church sanctuary.
Come share your talents and bring ice cream to share afterwards!
Contact Phillip for any Inquiries
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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.
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. | |
Meeting ID: 879 9502 6837 No passcode is required | |
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 Christian Formation
St. John's Adult Christian Education team is presenting a six-part series based on Welcome Homeless, a book written by Austin philanthropist Alan Graham with Lauren Hall. Graham started Mobile Loaves and Fishes to feed the Austin homeless. He also helped organized Community First! Village to give shelter to homeless Austinites. Each hybrid session will occur from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 840 2173 3267
Passcode: 295084
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Cornerstone Literary Circle -
Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Ann and Glenda are hosting the next book. It comes in 3 formats.
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook – June 30, 2020 by Alice Wong
Our hosts have provided a syllabus for this. So if you have not been part of Cornerstone before, but would like to join us as Ann Foxworth and Glenda Born host the reading, please contact Laurie Williams so that she can send the syllabus to you.
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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:
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.
For more information, please contact Elaine Jackson.
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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.
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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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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.
We are asking those of you who have get well or bereavement cards with no words or in English and Spanish to donate them to the church. We will have baskets for them in the parish hall and in the church narthex.
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Support Hurricane Recovery Efforts
What can you do?
| Episcopal Relief & Development is mobilizing with partners to provide assistance to those affected by hurricanes. Your donation to the Hurricane Relief Fund will support affected communities in the Caribbean and southern United States. Visit episcopalrelief.org for more information. | | |
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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 email Mother Minerva.
We are a church family; when a family member needs assistance we want to try and help that member.
Click on the links below for Prayers for Uvalde and the Ukraine.
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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 low.
For more information: Austin Public Health
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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
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
Mother Minerva
The Rev. Victoria Mason, Deacon
Deacon Victoria
Maria Angie Hernandez, Parish Administrator
Maria Angie
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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-Friday
from 10am - 2 pm.
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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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