Liturgy of the Longest Night | Special Service of Compline
Tuesday, December 22, 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Online via Zoom
This hopeful service of prayer seeks to make space for acknowledging the darkness we experience in our lives and our longing for light, especially as we approach a Christmas which may be marked by grief and loss. 

Note: We are using the Zoom platform for this service. It is lovely for us all to be able to see the faces of one another and if you would feel more comfortable to have your camera off, you are most welcome to do so. Please know that you can pray with us as you are.
Virtual Angel Tree
This year the annual Angel Tree project faced numerous technical and practical challenges because of the pandemic. Yet members of the parish came through with close to a hundred books for Bishop Walker School students and thirty magnificent gift bags for Communities in Schools. The children and their families will surely feel the love and generosity with which these gifts were sent. St. Johns has helped God’s light to shine in the darkness.
Stewardship 2021
This year St. John's needs you more than ever. While our budget has been under strain from the pandemic, we have forged ahead with our ministries and outreach thanks to the generous support of our members. If you are in the fortunate position of being able to make an early and even increased pledge to our church for 2021, we would very much appreciate it. Any pledge, large or small, is important and provides necessary information as our vestry makes decisions for next year. Thank you for considering this request and for helping to make St. John's a place for healing grace in 2021 and beyond. Please contact the Stewardship Committee here with any questions.
St. John's Sunday Schedule
December 27
Visit www.stjohns-dc.org for more information.
Virtual Coffee Hour
Sunday, December 27 at 10:00 a.m. | Online via Zoom
Join us Sunday at 10:00 a.m. to socialize, catch up, and talk about the service. Send a message here for the link to participate.
Bible Study
Sunday, December 27 at 10:00 a.m. | Online via Zoom
The Bible Study led by Jack Reiffer will be held on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. online via Zoom. Please contact Jack Reiffer for the link to participate.
Church School for Children
There will be no Church School for Children this Sunday, December 27. Please contact the Rev. Savannah Ponder for more information.
Please click below for the Children’s Bulletin with coloring pages of stories from this Sunday’s scripture readings.
Centering Prayer
Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. | Online via Zoom
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian prayer that allows us to experience God’s presence within us. Join us as we quiet our mind and begin our day with 20 minutes of silent prayer together. No experience needed. Contact Thom Sinclair for more information or for the link to participate.
Holy Habits
A new podcast from St. John's Church, Lafayette Square
Journeying through Advent + Christmas
This is Holy Habits, a new podcast from St. John's, Lafayette Square journeying through Advent and Christmas. In these conversations, we explore the disciplines we need to live our faith here and now. This is an exploration into the shape of a life well-lived, that is, a life oriented to receiving the gift of belonging in God's life. 
Youth Group for Grades 6-12
Sunday, January 3 at 11:00 a.m. | Online via Zoom
The youth will meet on Sunday, January 3, at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom. Please contact the Rev. Savannah Ponder for more information.
St. John's Sacred Ground Community Meeting
Sunday, January 17, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon | via Zoom
On Sunday January 17 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, there will be a Sacred Ground Zoom meeting for all participants in all the Dialogue Circles. This will be an opportunity to explore not only what Sacred Ground is doing for us as individuals and in our small groups, but also what its impact is on us as part of the community of St. John's. We will look back, look forward, and have breakouts between members of different Dialogue Circles to share experiences and insights. You will shortly receive a Zoom invitation to participate, and it would be very helpful if you could accept (or decline) the invitation, so we can construct the breakout rooms. Please contact the Rev. Will Morris with any questions.
Baptism at St. John's
If you are interested in having a child baptized, or in baptism for yourself, please contact Kaye Edwards. 
Note that the parents or grandparents of children being baptized must be active, pledging members of St. John’s. Adults interested in baptism for themselves must attend the Rector’s Adult Inquirers’ Class and be active, pledging participants in the life of the parish. 

To give families options during this extraordinary time, and until St. John's is open for full Sunday services, the Rector will discuss options to a church service with families, including baptisms at home (and preferably outdoors) or a private baptism at the church. All baptisms must comply with health and safety guidelines.
COVID-19 Pandemic Service and Giving Opportunities
Direct volunteer service or requests for help:

Please send an email to help@stjohns-dc.org with your name, contact information and details of the type of assistance you would like to contribute or that you need. We are matching volunteers with those requesting help for practical support during the pandemic, such as grocery shopping. 

Financial Assistance: 


  • To support members of parishes in the Diocese of Washington who suffer from food insecurity and other hardships, the diocese has suspended the Annual Bishop’s Appeal for the diocesan budget and has replaced it with a Covid-19 Emergency Relief Appeal.  You can make a gift on the diocesan website at this link: https://www.edow.org/about/giving.
In case you missed it
Visiting Loved One's in the Church Columbarium
If you would like to visit a loved one in the columbarium, please contact us here to arrange a time for your visit.
Prayer List
Our prayers are requested for the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially:

Those who are sick or recovering:

From our parish: Jeff Agnew, Tung-Lin Anikeeff, Tony Anikeeff, Eve Atkeson, Garry Dalby, Bobbie Falk, Susan Herrington, Nelda Johnson, Jim Mullins, Lydia Olson, Bob Patchell, Dace Vidins, and Jeff White.

Friends and family of our parish: Bob Adams and the residents and staff of the Juniper Glen Alzheimer’s Treatment Center (Laurie Adams), Lorraine Barkett (Paul Barkett), Diane Bender (Peter Odom), George Beury (Garrett and Lisa Russo), Barbara Virginia Abalos Branes (Joanne Hutton), Buckley (Chrystal Martin), Carrollann and Thomas Burkart (Pamela Venzke), Caroline (Wendy Fibison), Bill Clark (Clark Ervin), Brian Cohen (Jane Hague), Wayne Crochet (Stephen Crochet), Harry Davis (Mary and Carl Raether), Wendy Addiss Dellar (Joanne Hutton), Karl Dornemann (Deb Dornemann), Bobby Doyle (Alex Pappas), Jimmy Gallagher (Joanne Hutton), Elaine Gravatt (Margo Wiegenstein), Courtney Jordan Hillman (Erika Northcutt), Lucas Hunt (Matthew Taylor), Vera Hyncik (Holly Sukenik), Tom Kiernan (Joanne Hutton), Phyllis Lambert (Will Morris), Howie Lutt (Virginia Bader), Meredith Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), William Markiewicz (Matthew Taylor), Sherill Mason (Kaye Edwards), Betty Maudlin (Susan Welch), Tammy McCleaf (Matthew Taylor), Scott Miller, Jr. (Johnathan Miller), Timothy Mullins (Jim Mullins), Judy Nicola (Cynthia Walker), Jose Obregon (Victor Obregon), Ginger Parra (Leila Taaffe), Charles Pope (John More), Lloyd Poplin (Joy and Dick Nathan), Yvonne Reiffer (Jack Reiffer), Cawley Scott (Robyne Johnston), Ashley Sukenik (Holly Sukenik), Wendy Strothman (Richard Metzger), Zoe Taaffe (Leila Taaffe), Diane Mark and Otis Tomlinson (Andrew Tomlinson), Garland Treadway (Karen Zachary), Richard Van Horn (Kaye Edwards), and Mick Wiegenstein (Margo Wiegenstein).

Those who are in rehabilitative care: 

From our parish: Marcella Odom.

Those who are in the hospital: 

Friends and family of our parish: James Hodges (Matthew Taylor), Julie Howell (Cynthia Walker), Chase Madar (Rob Fisher), Gina Robinson (Matthew Taylor), Travis Rogers (Robert Carroll), Mary Seidman (Nora and Hap Rigby), and Kathryn Zielinski (Richard Metzger).

Those who are in hospice care:

From our parish: Jimmy Lowe.

Those in our parish celebrating a birthday this week: Tony Anikeeff, Logan Arnold, Matt Berlin, Lee Buddendeck, Robert Carroll, Virginia Chew, Gwendolyn Cunningham, Melanie Dalby, Becky Daugherty, Jack Garland, Katherine Green, Frances Hampe, Lisa Koehler, Katherine Kyle, Caroline Littleton, Steuart Martens, Lizzie Rigby, Todd Smith, Shannon Snellings, and Phil Swartzfager.

Those in our parish celebrating an anniversary this week: Lourdes and Carlos Arriaga, Sarah Wood and Rob Fisher, Ann and John Gardner, Becky Schergens and Jack Kinsey, Kenlyn and Collin Klamper, and Anne Stewart and Tony Tambasco.

For those on the frontlines in the coronavirus pandemic, especially:

Friends and family of our parish: Janie Abernethy (Elizabeth Lewis and David Abernethy), Sandra Brown (Becca Brown), Nathan Cobb (Livy and John More), Chris Gardner (Ann Gardner), Yee Houston (Quin Woodward Pu), and Marta Kochanska (Livy and John More).
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