The View from St. John's Episcopal Church

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Lent Begins Next Week!

Lenten Dates to Remember

2/17

Pancake Supper at 5:30 pm

2/18

Ash Wednesday Services at 7:00 am, 12:10 pm, and 6:00 pm. Nursery care available at 6:00 service

2/25, 3/4, 11, 18, 25

Wednesdays in Lent; Supper, 5:30 pm; Program, 6:00 pm

SHROVE TUESDAY LITTLE FREE PANTRY FOOD DRIVE

Celebrate Shrove Tuesday and help out our neighbors at the same time by bringing donations for the Little Free Pantry to the pancake supper.

Look for non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items that require no refrigeration. Please avoid glass containers and only donate canned goods with pull tab lids. Best items for the pantry are mac and cheese cups, canned tuna or chicken, peanut butter, pasta and sauce, canned soups/stews, canned fruits and vegetables, crackers, and granola bars.

Learn more about the Little Free Pantry Movement HERE.

EXPLORING PRAYER

Wednesdays in Lent

5:30 pm Dinner

6:00 pm Program

“Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words” (BCP, p. 856)

Prayer takes many forms. Some are quiet and contemplative; others are active, embodied, and creative. This Lent, join us on Wednesday evenings as we explore a variety of ways to pray, ways that invite stillness and movement, reflection and action, as we seek to deepen our prayer lives and our relationship with God.

LENTEN SERIES WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNERS

If you and your family or group would like to volunteer to host one of our Lenten series dinners, please contact Melba Middleton at 256-651-1058 with any questions. Available dates: March 4, 11, 18, and 25.

Outreach Opportunities

SHOWERUP VOLUNTEERS

ShowerUp is our newest Outreach Partner as we aim to help those who are unhoused, without reliable access to water, or who are transient receive a shower at Hands Across Decatur. We will provide showers for the first time on Monday, March 16, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. We will then need to have volunteers for the 3rd Monday of each month moving forward. Whether you want to transport the unit to and from Decatur, from Huntsville, or volunteer onsite, you can read all the details and sign up HERE (additional volunteer slots added)

SHOWERUP TOWEL WASHING & DRYING

While our other signup deals with picking up the unit and volunteering onsite, this signup is for those who might like to wash and dry the towels our neighbors use after showering. Towels can be washed anywhere and be returned anytime after and before the next ShowerUp service date (so, you have a month!). If you would like to wash towels, just select your preferred date HERE.

JANUARY OUTREACH DRIVE FOR SHOWERUP

This month, we’re collecting items to use in our work with our newest partner ShowerUp. Our partnership aims to bring showers to our unhoused and transient neighbors once each month. We need the following items:

wash cloths
underwear
socks
shampoo
razors
toothpaste
toothbrushes
deodorant
shaving cream

Your donated items can be placed in the donation bins located in the narthex and church office hallway.

The Madness Begins February 19!

Complete your bracket and get ready for Lent Madness 2026!

Lent Madness is a daily devotional program that features 32 saints in a single-elimination tournament bracket starting Thursday, February 19, and concluding on Wednesday in Holy Week. While some saint names are familiar, others provide a doorway to encounter new, inspiring saintly souls. Lent Madness participants vote online in each daily match-up, and follow the tournament all the way to Holy Week’s “Golden Halo” finale.

This year, there will be no Saintly Scorecard published in advance. Bios by celebrity bloggers will be posted in each day's match-up to keep things fresh and exciting. Subscribe to receive daily emails from Lent Madness and to learn more about this annual Lenten practice at the Lent Madness website.

To join in the fun with St. John’s clergy, staff, and parishioners, please fill out your bracket with your daily predictions and choice for the Golden Halo, and return a copy of your completed bracket to the church office by Ash Wednesday, February 18. Brackets will be displayed in the Parish Hall, and scores will be shared in the weekly church newsletter. The individual earning the highest-scoring bracket and the Golden Halo will receive a special Lent Madness prize!

Lent needn’t be all doom and gloom. After all, what could be more joyful than a season specifically set aside to enrich and enliven our relationship with the risen Christ.

Pickup bracket sheets from the church or print from the button below.

Lent Madness Bracket

New in the Pew

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE NAVE:
large-print, spiral-bound Books of Common Prayer and magnifiers for hymnals. Ask an usher if needed!

Sunday Morning Hospitality

Cookies and Cocoa sign-up slots are open! And it's easy to host! View the signup Cookies & Cocoa for open dates, then provide 4 dozen cookies (homemade or store bought). The church provides hot cocoa, lemonade, cups, napkins. And our sexton, Paul, makes it even easier to help place supplies in the Parish Hall.

Cookies & Cocoa Signup

Get More Details and Sign-up Here

Outreach Committee Grants

The Outreach Committee is happy to report that St. John’s has awarded fifteen organizations a total of $60,000 in grants for 2026! Read the list HERE.