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The Word
News from St. John’s, Lafayette Square
The Week of Sunday, January 11
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The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord
Preaching: The Rev. Eric Bailey
8 a.m.
Eucharist with Sermon
Parish Choir (Parish House Fourth Floor)
8:30 a.m.
Nursery—available until 12:30 p.m. (Parish House Second Floor)
9 a.m.
Choral Eucharist with Sermon and Children’s Chapel (Children begin in church)
10 a.m.
Coffee Hour (Plaza, weather permitting, or Parish House First Floor)
Speaker Series (Togo West Parlor; see below)
Church School (Parish House Second Floor)
Youth Group (Parish House Second Floor)
Adult Bible Study (Parish House Third Floor)
St. John’s Choir (Parish House Fourth Floor)
11 a.m.
Choral Eucharist with Sermon and Children’s Chapel (Watch live on Sunday)
Noon
Coffee Hour (Plaza, weather permitting, or Parish House First Floor)
Parish Lunch (see below)
Find all our Sunday reminders, including programming for children, youth, and adults, as well as details about our free valet parking, helpful links, and more, at the bottom of this email.
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2025–2026 SPEAKER SERIES
Most Sundays at 10 a.m.
The Speaker Series is held most Sundays from September through May at 10 a.m. in the Togo West Parlor on the first floor of the Parish House. An audio recording will be available on our website the week after each talk. The fall lineup includes:
January 11: Jeff Selingo (pictured), New York Times best-selling author and college admissions expert, talks about his books Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions and Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You.
January 18: Dr. Yun Sun, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center and Director of its China program, will discuss the state of U.S.–China relations, including the prospect of a confrontation over Taiwan and intensifying competition between the world’s two largest economies.
January 25: Vestry Candidates Presentation. Hear from those seeking election to the Vestry, in preparation to cast your vote at Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 1.
February 1: No Speaker Series presentation—Annual Meeting
ANNUAL PRESIDENTIAL SERIES: THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
February 8: Ronald C. White, best-selling author on Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, will kick off our annual three-week presidential series, this year focusing on John Quincy Adams, our nation’s sixth president.
February 15: Randall B. Woods, author, biographer, and Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas, will share insights gained from the writing of his book John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People.
February 22: Jane Hudiburg, noted Congressional historian, will talk about the post-presidency of John Quincy Adams, who went on to become a highly influential member of Congress and legal advocate.
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PARISH LUNCH
This Sunday at noon | Hosted by the Latrobe Fellowship
Sunday lunch at St. John’s is a longtime tradition in which every member and every visitor can participate. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones—a time for fellowship and for hearing another’s story. The lunch is held most Sundays in the Parish House. Contributions of $5 for adults and young people 13 and over and $2 for children under 13 are requested to help defray the costs of the lunch. All are welcome. Valet parking hours are extended to 2 p.m. any Sunday with a parish lunch.
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CLAYTON MCCLESKEY TO BE ORDAINED AS A DEACON
This Saturday, January 10, at 10 a.m., at All Souls Episcopal Church (2300 Cathedral Avenue, NW)
Clayton came to St. John’s in the summer of 2020 to support our ministry of presence during the time following the killing of George Floyd. He shared his gifts for project management, volunteer organizing, and public relations, which he honed in a career in government in the Department of State and as spokesperson for USAID, and before that as a journalist. In time, Clayton became a member of St. John’s, and soon after formally joining our congregation, he was granted postulancy for ordination and went off to seminary in Boston, where he now lives with husband Jonathan. Although many in our congregation have not had the chance to get to know Clayton, he has been an engaged member from afar, and he has helped in behind-the-scenes ministries during his seminary years.
This weekend, all are invited to celebrate Clayton’s ordination to the transitional diaconate, by Bishop Mariann, on Saturday at 10 a.m. at All Souls Episcopal Church. Deacons play an important role in keeping the gathered community connected to the needs of the world outside our church walls, and the transitional diaconate gives all those seeking ordination to the priesthood a unique period of practical experience rooted in servanthood. It is expected that Clayton will be ordained a priest this summer.
As we are Clayton’s “sending parish,” he will always be part of the broader St. John’s community. He has recently been appointed Canon for Communications, Witness, and Engagement by Bishop of Massachusetts Julia Whitworth, and he will also continue as assisting clergy at Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, Massachusetts.
Please join us in congratulating Clayton on this important occasion, pray for him in this new phase of ministry, and join us if you can for his ordination.
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The Parish Office will close at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 16, and remain closed on Monday, January 19, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. | |
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GRACE’S TABLE
Third Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Upcoming Dates: January 17 and February 21
Grace’s Table is an outreach partnership between St. John’s and Grace Episcopal Church in Georgetown. Every third Saturday of the month, a group from St. John’s prepares and serves a meal at Grace to folks who are unhoused or at risk of losing their housing. Volunteers purchase and prepare food (including casseroles, rolls, salad, and dessert) and/or serve the guests. Typically, as many as 60 or 70 guests come seeking food and fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other St. John’s parishioners and to spread God’s loving kindness in our community. Contact Elizabeth Field with questions or to volunteer.
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EPIPHANYTIDE LESSONS AND CAROLS
Sunday, January 18, at 5:30 p.m.
The combined professional choirs of St. John’s, Lafayette Square, and Christ Church, Georgetown, will offer a joint service of Epiphanytide Lessons and Carols at St. John’s on Sunday, January 18. The service includes readings interspersed with seasonal hymns and choral anthems. A reception follows. We hope you’ll join us for this annual collaboration with a neighboring parish as we observe the joyous season of Epiphany.
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Annual Meeting & Election of Vestry | |
Sunday, February 1, at 11:30 a.m.
Worship at 8 and 10:30 a.m. | Reception following Annual Meeting
Please plan to join us in person or online for this year’s Annual Meeting. We will elect Wardens (uncontested) and three Vestry members from six candidates. Absentee ballots will be available starting Tuesday, January 20. Bios for the candidates will soon be posted in the building and will be linked in next week’s edition of The Word.
Candidates for Wardens
Alfred Thesmar, Senior Warden
Julia Koster, Junior Warden
Candidates for Vestry (3 to be elected)
Jordan Baugh
Elizabeth Field
Apiyo Oloya
Brian Schoeneman
John Schutz
Annie Simonds
You will have the opportunity to hear from the candidates during the 10 a.m. education hour on Sunday, January 25, one week prior to Annual Meeting.
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PLEASE MAKE A 2026 PLEDGE TO ST. JOHN’S
As of Tuesday, January 6, we had received 253 pledges, totaling commitments of $1,061,586 toward St. John’s mission and ministry in 2026.
Your 2026 pledge is a commitment of financial support to St. John’s for the upcoming year. It can be a one-time annual payment, or it can be paid weekly, monthly, or on the schedule of your choosing. Pledges enable us to plan for the work we will undertake in the mission and ministry of St. John’s in 2026. You can make your pledge online or return a completed pledge card either by mail to the church office or by placing it in the offering plate on Sunday. Thank you for your financial commitment to our parish!
Pledge envelopes are available for pickup at the reception desk in the Parish House.
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER JOHN STOWE!
John Stowe comes to St. John’s with a background in IT and operations, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at the Institute for Exceptional Care, a nonprofit dedicated to improving healthcare for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. He oversaw IEC’s growth from its 2020 launch to an annual budget exceeding $2 million. Previously, John worked as webmaster and IT consultant at St. Paul’s Parish, K Street, in Washington, DC, and as IT and Lab Manager in Georgetown University’s Neuroscience Department. John holds a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science from Johns Hopkins University.
John is a practicing Episcopalian and a parishioner of St. Alban’s, DC, where he worships with his wife Edith and sons Arthur (12) and Teddy (7). A bass-baritone, he is a staff singer in the St. Alban’s choir. He is already familiar with St. John’s through substitute singing and summer Royal School of Church Music choir courses, which he has attended since his time as a treble chorister in the 1990s. While St. Alban’s remains his parish home, he will occasionally attend St. John’s on Sundays in his new role.
John says, “I have lived in the DC area for nearly 20 years and have long heard wonderful things about St. John’s, its history, and its congregation. I have always felt welcomed during my visits, and that was reinforced through meeting staff and lay leaders during the interview process. I look forward to working with the staff and congregation to support worship and mission at St. John’s.”
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HEARING AID RECYCLING DRIVE
As you may be aware, hearing aids are extremely expensive. One study conducted by the National Institutes of Health determined that hearing aids were unaffordable for three-fourths of Americans with functional hearing loss. And the evidence is clear that hearing affects mental acuity as we age. For his Eagle Scout project, Cooper Thesmar is organizing the collection of hearing aid devices that are no longer needed, which will be cleaned, restored or refurbished, and given to those in need. All brands, models, and ages are welcome, and donation receipts can be provided on request. Please place donations in the box near the reception desk.
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PARISH LUNCH: CAN YOU HOST THIS WINTER OR SPRING?
The Sunday lunch tradition relies on volunteers to prepare and serve the meal—which is why we encourage individuals, families, groups, or ministries to host at least once per program year. Hosts may be reimbursed for expenses or receive a tax receipt. Not sure what’s involved? Want to claim a future date? Contact Parish Lunch coordinator Holly Sukenik.
January 11—Latrobe Fellowship
January 18
January 25—St. John’s Book Group
February 1—Annual Meeting and Reception
February 8—Refugee Committee
February 15—Will Yale, Craig & Barbara Burkhardt, Karen Zachary, and Miller Winecoff
February 22—Bishop Walker School
March 1
March 8—Marion Blakey and Friends
March 15
March 22
March 29—No Lunch: Palm Sunday
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SECURITY MEASURES AT ST. JOHN’S
St. John’s identity as a congregation is shaped by our urban location in the nation’s capital. We seek to welcome all to our services and activities with dignity, while ensuring the safety and well-being of those who worship in our facilities. In coordination with the Vestry and our Usher Guild, we have hired security personnel for Sundays and special services to maintain a low-key, proactive presence and to be prepared to respond quickly and respectfully to any needs that may arise. We are also enhancing training for staff and ushers to support how we welcome all while remaining a safe and secure. We are choosing to take these steps prayerfully and proactively, and we will continue to assess what best serves our church’s needs as we go forward.
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CHORAL EVENSONG
Wednesday, January 28, at 5:30 p.m.
Steeped in the beauty of the Anglican tradition, Evensong meets us at the even point between the active day and the restful night. Evensong is sung by the St. John’s Choir and Choristers on the last Wednesday of most months from September through May, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and followed by a reception in Togo West Parlor. Parking validation is available in the Colonial parking garage at 818 Connecticut Avenue, NW; obtain a validation ticket from an usher before or after the service. The service will also be available via livestream on our website.
Shortly after evensong, members of St. John’s Pride will gather for drinks at Opaline at the Sofitel Hotel, just a three-minute walk from St. John’s. Join us if you can, or contact our leaders to learn more about this group.
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SAVE THE DATE! Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 1 (see above) | |
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ST. JOHN’S BOOK GROUP
Thursday, February 5, at 7 p.m.
Please join us via Zoom to discuss Orbital: A Novel by Samantha Harvey. This slender work of fiction depicts the lives of six men and women traveling through space over the course of one day. These astronauts and cosmonauts—from America, Russia, Italy, Britain, and Japan—have left their lives behind to travel at a speed of over seventeen thousand miles an hour as the earth reels below. The book group typically meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Contact Janet Edmond for more information and the link.
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PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT
Saturday, February 7, 5–7:30 p.m.
Kids ages 6 months through 5th grade are invited to play, watch a movie, and eat pizza while parents and caregivers enjoy an evening out. RSVP by Monday, February 2. Questions? Contact the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell.
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Our prayers are requested for the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially:
THOSE WHO ARE SICK, RECOVERING, OR GRIEVING
From our parish: Cay Buser, Pat Czerwonky, Dolph Hatfield, Robert Pahnke, and Mary Wilson.
Friends and family of our parish: Conor Barry (Sarah Wood), Billy Beardsley Conderman (Margo Arnold), Robert Bliss (Katherine Bliss and Mark Dennis), Gisela Block (Sigi Block), Chad (Wendy Fibison), Jim DeBello (Grace Barrett), Walt Eccard (Margaret Depue), Ed Eder (Joanne and Powell Hutton), Sue Edmonds (Sarah and Jeff Agnew), Julie Ellis (Preston Cherouny), Laurie Feldon (Eleanor and Peter Odom), Blair Fiore (Debby Hailey), Peggy Fisher (Debby Hailey), Bob and Heather Gilbert (Andrea Winchell), Chantay Griffin (Charley Griffin and Gee Gee Bryant), Linda Young Gsell (Rick Young), Morgan Hickenlooper (Livy More), Doug Holy (Joanne Hutton), Jack (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), Latithia and Charles Jones (GeeGee Bryant), Sean Josey (Bill and Sara Josey), Charlotte Crowley Junilla (Margo Arnold), Olivia Kehoe (Kat Kehoe), Elizabeth Lee (Clayton Crawford), William hymn to them Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Jim Martella (Livy More), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), Nell Montgomery (Brandon Montgomery), Teri Nelson (Lisa Koehler), Ann Petrosky (Johnathan Miller), Scott (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), Connor Smith (Patrick and Cameron Smith), Pam Snyder (Sarah Agnew), Nancy Stephenson (Ann and John Gardner), Patsy Swain (Margo Arnold), Sallie and William Wilkie Thompson (Cecelia Thompson), Ashley Smith Thomson (Marta Cook and Cal Trepagnier), Mackenzie Toland (Wendy J. Fibison), Caleb Williams (Alfred Thesmar), Darrel Williams (Caleb and James Hays-Reilly), Edward Leland Williams II (Virginia Bader), Bess Williamson (Wendy Fibison), Andrew Woods (Johnathan Miller), Linda Woolley (Blount and Charlotte Stewart), and Judith York (Caroline Fisher).
THOSE WHO ARE IN ASSISTED LIVING:
From our parish: Milton Chamberlain, Janet Helgert, Marcella Odom, and Becky Schergens.
Friends and family of our parish: David Brown (Lisa Koehler), Bob Chrystal, Sr. (Chris Jones), Veronica Jones (Chris Jones), Lori LaPoint (Brent Erstad), Yvonne Reiffer (Jack Reiffer), and Carl Wright (Frank and Nancy Klotz).
THOSE WHO ARE IN HOSPICE CARE:
Friends and family of our parish: Wilma Daubs (Kay Gilley).
THOSE WHO HAVE DIED:
Friends and family of our parish: Evonne Pegues, January 2 (Anthony Pegues).
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK:
Douglas Burt, Zac Copeland, Bonnie Dewitt, Beth DuMond, Lizzie Ehrich, Susan Feaster, Kenner Gutterman, Brad Harbaugh, Jack Herzog, Gabriela Koch, Jack Kozlowski, Kevin Kozlowski, Zack Lindsey, Julie Lippman, Matthew Paeffgen, Cami Pease, Ray Petniunas, Natalie Popovic, Kenneth Starling, Teddy Underwood, and Renee Yancey.
THOSE IN OUR PARISH CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK:
Kate Bedingfield and David Kieve, and Emily and John Lucio.
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES:
Friends and family of our parish: Janie Abernethy (Elizabeth Lewis and David Abernethy), Philip L. Faris (Caroline and Steve Faris), and Charles Lewis, Jr. (Charles Lewis, Sr.).
Please click here to add, remove, or change the status of someone on the prayer list.
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
We typically offer the following midweek services, except when precluded by a special event, funeral, federal holiday, or office closure:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday at 12:10 p.m.: Eucharist
Friday at 12:10 p.m.: Noonday Prayer
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BAPTISMS
The next dates for Baptism and required pre-baptismal classes with the clergy at St. John’s are as follows:
Sunday, February 15, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, February 14, at 10 a.m.)
Sunday, April 12, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m.)
Sunday, May 24, at 9 a.m. (Class: Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m.)
If you are interested in baptism for yourself or a child, please contact Lisa Koehler. Please note that the parents or grandparents of children being baptized must be active, pledging members of St. John’s. Adults interested in baptism must also attend an Adult Inquirers’ Class, offered each fall and spring, and be active, pledging participants in the life of the parish.
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FOR CHILDREN
Children are welcome at all worship services.
A nursery for infants and children up to age three is available most Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Parish House.
Children from birth through grade 5 are invited to participate in Children’s Chapel, a special liturgy just for them most Sundays during the sermon at the 9 and 11 a.m. services. Parents may accompany their children, and are encouraged to do so for those younger than three.
Children’s Bulletins with coloring pages of stories from this Sunday’s scripture readings are posted here each week in time for Sunday services.
Most Sundays from September through May, from 10 to 10:50 a.m., children in pre-K through fifth grade may participate in Church School on the second floor of the Parish House.
Our Chorister Program runs from September through May. Young singers receive training in sight reading, vocal production, music theory, liturgy, and leadership, and become part of a vibrant community of music makers. Contact Brent Erstad for more details.
For more information about our children’s ministry, please contact the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell.
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FOR YOUTH
Most Sundays from September through May, from 10 to 10:50 a.m., middle and high schoolers are invited to Youth Group on the second floor of the Parish House for an exploration of life and faith with their peers.
From September through May, youth in sixth grade and above are also invited to join the Acolytes ministry. Acolytes assist with worship services by serving as torch bearers or crucifers and by helping set the altar for communion. To learn more, contact Vincent Scauzzo.
From September through May, youth with unchanged (treble) voices are invited to join our Chorister Program. Through a custom-made curriculum, singers receive training in sight reading, vocal production, music theory, liturgy, and leadership, and become part of a vibrant community of music makers. Contact Brent Erstad for details.
For more information about opportunities for youth, please contact the Rev. Eric Bailey.
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ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Sundays at 10 a.m.
During the program year, this group gathers most Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. using a hybrid approach, with some joining via Zoom and others in person. Conversations explore the connections with the Sunday lectionary lessons and sermons. We are currently studying the first chapters of Matthew, and the book of Genesis. For information, please contact Jack Reiffer.
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FLOWER MEMORIALS AND THANKSGIVINGS
The flowers that enhance the beauty of the Church and Parish House are made possible by gifts from our community and are often dedicated to the memory of a loved one or to mark a birth or birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, a graduation, or another special event. To make a dedication, pick up a flower card at the entrance to the Church.
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GET INVOLVED IN A MINISTRY GROUP
Want to get more involved at St. John’s? Hoping to make some new friends? Check out our ministries at www.stjohns-dc.org and contact leaders via our online Ministry Directory for more details or to sign up.
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