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The Very Reverend Richard T. Lawson III, Bishop Elect of Alabama | | With one ballot, Rev. Lawson was elected bishop Saturday afternoon at the Cathedral of the Advent in Birmingham. After the required consent by bishops with jurisdiction, he will be ordained and consecrated as bishop on June 27, 2026, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent by The Most Rev. Sean Rowe, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. | | | | |
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CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO OUR NEW VESTRY MEMBERS!
Erika Huber, Alex Adams, Jackie Joiner, Rob Getman, Luke Slaton, and Emily White (not pictured).
It was a great day for a parish meeting! Thanks to all for attending and the delicious lunch.
| | Caregiver Support Meets This Thursday | | | | |
Outreach Committee Grants | | |
The Outreach Committee is happy to report that St. John’s has awarded the following organizations a total of $60,000 in grants for 2026!
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The Arc - to support the acquisition of sensory equipment for children with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
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Banks Caddell Elementary School – to subsidize tuition for Camp McDowell Environmental Center trip.
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Decatur Boys & Girls Clubs – to purchase updated learning materials, expand small-group instruction, and provide enhanced academic support.
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Committee on Church Cooperation - to sustain infant assistance, purchase cold-weather clothing for neighbors, and provide medical supply programs.
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Communitiy Free Clinic - to acquire itms not otherwise funded, such as: dental equipment and repairs, diabetic supplies, medications , and examimation supplies.
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Everyday Sunshine - to support job coaching assistance for employees with developmental, physical, and sensory disabilities.
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Families and Children Experiencing Separation (FACES) - to support the purchase of giftcards for emergency items needed when children are taken into foster care.
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Hands Across Decatur - to support emergency lodging during inclement weather and other assistances to displaced and unhoused persons.
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Habitat for Humanity – to purchase trusses for one (of ten) home(s) to be built in FY2026 so as to provide more affordable housing.
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Morgan County Child Advocacy Center - to support their specialized Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy services to children and families.
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Neighborhood Christian Center (NCC) - to support their food pantry, clothing closet, and utility assistance programs.
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Parents and Children Together (PACT) - to support FACT (Family Assistance through Community Ties) so as to provide case management services to help families at critical points in their lives.
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Tennessee Valley Outreach (TVO) - to support a new 20-bed transient overnight dorm for Decatur’s unhoused population.
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St. John’s Backpack Ministry - to support the purchase of food for children at Banks-Caddell, Eastwood Elementary, and Austin High schools over the weekend when they would not otherwise have reliable access to food.
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St. John’s Beans & Rice Ministry - to support the purchase of beans, rice, and hearty staples which our parish provides to food insecure families each month.
Our continued ability to support these organizations and their ministry is a direct result of your generosity!
Thank you,
The Outreach Committee at St. John’s
(Grant Thompson (chair), Alex Adams, Nina Mae Blackburn, Kathy Landis, Anne Ness, Victoria Tumbleson, Brian White, Kevin Wilson, Sam Burcham, Sarah Watts+)
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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.
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.
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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.
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Now available in the Nave: large-print, spiral bound Books of Common Prayer and magnifiers for hymnals. Ask an usher if needed! | | | | |
Wednesday Evenings in Lent | | |
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.
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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.
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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. | | | | |
Missing Flower Delivery Tray | | Missing: The Flower Deliverers Ministry is looking for their second wooden tray (looks like one in image). It may not have peg sticks with it. If found, please return to the flower guild room. Thank you! | | | | |
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PARENTS NIGHT OUT
Saturday, February 14
4:45 pm - 7:30 pm
Already planning a night out with your sweet pea, but are ready to give up what with the need to find childcare, provide a menu for the little ones, and more?
A night out can sometimes feel like it requires cracking a secret code! But fear not – St. John’s has got you! On Saturday, February 14, from 4:45 pm - 7:30 pm, our top-notch nursery team is hosting a Valentine's Party for kiddoes, giving you the opportunity to get away for a few hours!
Registration closes Wednesday, February 11, at 5:00 pm.
Sign up HERE!
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Common Ground Community Garden | | If each one of us plant just one area with a grouping of natives, we are helping to revitalize the ecological balance needed for a healthy planet, our island home. Which one of these lovelies would you want in your garden? | | | | |
Available dates: February 8, 15; March 15, 29; April 12, 19, 26 | | | | |
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2025 year-end giving statements were mailed last week.
Please contact Vickie with any questions.
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