August 19^th, 2021

Join us for Worship this Sunday, August 22^nd

Please join us for worship this Sunday when Rev. Hilary Marchbanks shares the sermon, Sacred Spaces: The Temple of Young Jesus.

Our scripture this week is Luke 2:39-52. Prayers will be led by Shelley Walters and Children's Time by Laura Schwarcz. Our liturgist will be Laura Dooley. Music this week is led by Cina Crisara and Ed Snouffer.

We will be broadcasting the service LIVE on Sunday morning at 11:00 am. You will be able to view the live service by going to facebook.com/saintjohnsaustin/live.

After the Facebook Live is over, you will be able to find a recording of the video at facebook.com/saintjohnsaustin/videos to watch anytime after Sunday morning.

Click here to see this week's prayer list.

Your prayer needs are important to us. To make a prayer request, click here or send an email to Rev. Cheryl Broome, Congregational Care Pastor.

Our COVID-19 Task Force has created a phased safety guide for worship. Click here to see the enlarged, PDF version of the chart. We are currently in Stage 5 and will continue to update you using the newsletter and our announcements page on our website. That page will be updated on Mondays with the latest information.

August 22^nd until August 23^rd

Join us in praying for our world, our community, and our families - however big or small our worlds feel today.

With tragic headlines abroad, with our children going back to school, with local hospitals treating many, with anxiety and fear in our minds, God calls us to come in prayer and respond in love.

We invite you to pray with us. Click here to sign-up for a 20-minute time slot during our 24-hour vigil starting Sunday, August 22^nd at 12:00 noon and concluding Monday, August 23rd at 12:00 noon.

Resources for praying and spiritual practices will be available soon at bit.ly/sjprayforourworld

Deadline to sign up is September 1^st

For the upcoming Methodist Build on Saturday, October 2^nd, Saint John's has 25 volunteer spaces. Please follow the link provided by Habitat for Humanity in order to sign up. It's an easy process and Deborah Dorff ([email protected]) is happy to help if you have questions. The deadline to sign up is September 1^st.

Saint John's Volunteer Registration Information:

August 24^th at 6:30 pm

Saint John's Church Council's next meeting will be Tuesday, August 24^th at 6:30 pm via Zoom. The council meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month and all church members are invited to attend. To attend this meeting, please obtain the Zoom link from Business Administrator Duane Roth at [email protected].

August 22^nd 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Come to church on Sunday afternoon, August 22^nd between 2:00- 4:00 pm to receive your back-to-school blessings. This is for all students, teachers and administrators.

August 22^nd

Bring your stuffed animal to the Blessing of the Backpacks event from 2:00 - 4:00 pm on August 22^nd.

Your stuffed animal will enjoy a week of camp at Saint John's enjoying and learning how God is always with us. Please bring your stuffed animal with their name and your name attached and bagged. Each day of that week at 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm, we will post pictures on our social media of your stuffed animal enjoying camp.

On August 29^th: Pick up your stuffed animal from camp from 10:00 - 11:00 am, or 3:00 - 4:00 pm on the Grace Garden playground.

Informational Session on August 24^th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Have an idea for a special project that will support Saint John’s mission or benefit the congregation? Each year, grants from the earnings of the Saint John’s Endowment Fund are awarded to Church organizations to support programs, improve projects, and encourage initiatives not currently funded through the annual budget. Since 2015, 24 projects have been approved for funding by the Endowment Fund Committee. On August 24^th, members of the Committee will be available online between 5:30 and 6:30 pm to meet with individuals interested in learning more about the grants and the process for applying. You can also join us for an online Q & A on Zoom. Click here for that link.

Deadline for submitting applications for 2021 is Friday, October 1^st. All applications must be supported by at least one of the Church’s Standing Committees or an organization created by the Church Council. Guideline for Applying for Endowment Fund Grants and the 2021 Application are available from Committee Chairs, Duane Roth ([email protected]) in the Church Office and the Fund Committee Chair, Karen Ann Norris ([email protected]).

August 29^th 12:30 pm

We will see you on Zoom Sunday, August 29^th at 12:30 pm at bit.ly/sjnewbegin.

Recently we’ve talked about how COVID-19 has created a rise in violence and aggressive behavior over the last year and a half. The emotional struggles most of us have experienced over this stressful time have tended to make us weary and skeptical of others and our future.

Therefore, it is most important for us to be more aware of our feelings and subsequent behavior, i.e., how we respond to one another. At times it may seem like we are not really connected at all. In this era of Zoom meetings, face masks, and social distancing, an era many of us thought was past, we find ourselves stuck on a proverbial treadmill, over which we have little control.

But what we do have control over is a daily active decision to maintain civility, respect for ourselves and for others around us as, well as global respect for all of God’s people. It is easy to blame others for the troubles we continue to have, but focusing on and practicing the loving guidance of Jesus is what we’re called to do. Here are some practical ways to do that:

Reach out to at least one person a day who you haven’t contacted in a while, and let them know you care about them. Reconnecting takes practice, so don’t wait for them to call you. Respect and civility are not difficult practices, they just take intentional focus with God’s help.

Saturday, September 4^th, 8:15 am - 11:00 am

Come out and volunteer with other members of Saint John’s on Saturday, September 4^th at Hope Food Pantry. Ten volunteers are needed from 8:15 - 11:00 am to distribute items to shoppers. The pantry is located at Trinity Church, at 40^th and Speedway. Volunteers can park in the lot across Speedway from the church and enter through the playground gate. Someone will be at the door to let you in. Contact Randy Knighten at [email protected].

At Saint John's UMC, we have participated in the Austin Habitat for Humanity's Methodist Build for many years. This year, we have made a commitment to raise $9,000 toward a home. Along with other area Methodist Churches, we will raise the funds for the home and work side by side with the homeowner.

Mark your calendars:

September 18^th - First day of the Methodist Build and dedication. 8:00 am

October 2^nd - Saint John's Volunteer Day 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Watch for the signup coming soon.

Please email Randy Knighten at [email protected] if you have questions.

September 18^th

The Pedalers are gearing up to ride the Mamma Jamma Ride Against Breast Cancer. Ride day will be September 18th, starting and ending in Taylor, Texas. There are fully supported routes from 15-70 miles. This is a whole family activity! This year's beneficiaries are the Lone Star Circle of Care and the Big Pink Bus.

You can register (or donate directly) at https://fundraisers.mammajammaride.org/stjohns.

Any questions, please contact Chris Sparks at [email protected].

September 25^th

The Saint Johns Steppers will be participating in this year’s NAMI Walk in support of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Central Texas on September 25^th. The walk will not only raise money for NAMI, but will also raise awareness about mental illness. This year’s Walk will be a hybrid walk where you can either “walk your own way” and/or participate in the actual Walk on the 25^th. If you are interested in walking with the Steppers or interested in sponsoring the team or one of it’s walkers, please visit the Steppers webpage at namiwalks.org/team/steppers or contact Paul Mollenhauer at [email protected]. NAMI Central Texas provides free classes, support groups, and information about mental illness, so your support will be much appreciated.

November 5^th and 6^th

Mark your calendar for this year's Women's Retreat. We are hopeful this event can take place this year, but with Covid numbers changing, please stay tuned. We will make a final decision in early October and either reschedule or open registration at that time.

This year's theme "I've Been Meaning to Ask" is all about making genuine connection in community through meaningful conversation and shared joy.

What are the sacred spaces in your life? Join us in August as will explore what makes space sacred, following the Bible's story of holy places. We look forward to giving thanks for sacred spaces together.

August 22^nd: The Temple of Young Jesus, message from Luke 2:39-52, Rev. Hilary Marchbanks. Festival of New Beginnings.

August 29^th: Taking Sacred to the World, message from James 5:13-20, Rev. Hilary Marchbanks. Blessing of the Backpacks.

To explore more about sacred spaces, sign up for our weekly curriculum, Bread for Our Journey, at bit.ly/sjbreadforourjourney

August 19^th: Gary Hallock, Sara Sharp, Susan Collier

August 20^th: Ina Gay Orum, Jack Zieger, Martha Benson, Sarah Doty

August 21^st: Michael Mollenhauer, John Stedman, Lynn Carter, Ava Carlson

August 22^nd: Serena Gielstra, Gina McFarlen, Jo Kretzler, Kap Hui Chong, James McKinion

August 23^rd: Terri Culbertson

August 24^th: Jim Howell

August 25^th: Angela Crisara, Georjean Blanton, Adam Haynes, Madeline Millard, Shannon Larner

You are invited to make gifts to the Endowment Fund throughout the year in celebration of a birthday. To honor your special person, place a check in the specially marked envelopes found in the Gallery or click here to give online.