Announcements for May 30

• Instructed Eucharist this Sunday, May 30
  Both worship services this Sunday will include commentary on the meaning of elements of the liturgy. Both will still be regular services with Communion.
  
  
• The Second Annual Jackie Campbell Memorial Blood Drive is next Sunday, June 6
  St. John’s parish blood drive is organized in memory of parishioner Jackie Campbell who died in the spring of 2009. Jackie joyfully served and participated in the life of the parish for 33 years. In her final day of life she required massive infusions of blood. We honor her by giving the gift of life to others. Please sign up now! You may sign up on-line at LifeSource or look for sign up sheets in the west foyer.
  
  
• Parish Picnic and Farewell to Jeff Peterson Next Sunday
  Everyone is invited to the parish picnic next Sunday, June 6, following the 10:00 service. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be provided. If you can, please bring a side or dessert. Weather permitting, the picnic will be held on the south lawn. We will also take this opportunity to thank Jeff Peterson for his music ministry at St. John’s and wish him Godspeed as he heads for his new job at Baylor University.
  
  
• Last, but not least, Mayfair thanks area merchants
  In the last installment of our three-part ‘thanks’ to those behind this month’s successful Mayfair fundraiser, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew would like to acknowledge the generosity of these local businesses who made donations to our charity auction: ArtGlass; The Art Corner; Aurelio's Pizza; Bogart’s; Busy Bee; Care Cleaners; Chicago Dough Co.; Duo’s Nearly Nu Shop; Creative Seeds; Dunning’s; Eden Spa (aka Jonathan Kane); Edible Arrangements; Escape Spa; Fifth Quarter; Flavor; The Great Frame Up; Homewood Florist; Marc Alan Spa; Mama & Me; Northwoods; Omnibus Clock Shop; Prairie Tire & Auto Center; Primet Fluidpower Inc.; Reflections Yoga; Spaahs Skincare & Bodyworx; Sun Center Garden & Gifts; Starbucks (on Halsted, at Cherry Creek, and in downtown Homewood); Tom’s Family Restaurant; and Walt’s Food Centers. On behalf of the Brotherhood, thanks to all of these businesses for supporting our ministry of helping others. -- Rob McManamy
  
  
• Memorial Day Holiday
  The parish office will be closed Monday, May 31, in observance of Memorial Day.
  
  
• Parish Directory Update
  We are in the process of updating the parish directory. Please check the drafts in the church or call the parish office with changes. Note that birthdays and anniversaries are now listed in the back.
  
  
• St. John’s Knitters on Summer Vacation
  The St. John’s knitters will be taking June and July off. They will resume meeting on August 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room.

Reflection for May 30

I, personally, do not enjoy changing up the service just for the sake of novelty. I think that this betrays a very dangerous attempt at entertainment. I think that the onus of paying attention is not on the liturgist but rather on the disciples participating in the service. The service is simply a mirror upon which we can see reflected the Face of Christ. To put it more bluntly, if you find the service boring whose reflection are you seeing in the mirror? --Leo Campos, “How to stay awake in church,” The Episcopal Cafe.

Announcements for May 23

• Brunch Bunch This Sunday, May 23
  Everyone is invited to enjoy fellowship and food this Sunday, May 23, following the 10:00 a.m. service. The entrée will be fried chicken. If you can, bring a dish to share (last name beginning with T – Z, a dessert; everyone else a side). But most importantly, bring yourself.
  
  
• Celebrate Christian Formation
  This Sunday, May 23, we celebrate the conclusion of this year’s Christian Formation classes. During the 10:00 service, the children of the parish will be celebrated for their participation. We will also thank their teachers: Marilynn Enright, Pat Smith-Huntoon, Diane Walsh Madden, Cynthia Turnquest, Patti Pohrte, Kathy Brown, Donica Van Voorhees and Cyndie Knoll. We also thank adult class leaders Mary Agnes Long and Audrey Ongman. Education for Ministry graduates Mary Jean Bond, Steven Russell, Anna Alsman and Bernie and Shirley Nash will receive their certificates.
  
  
• More Mayfair Thanks... this time for our generous donors
  In this space last week, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew thanked all those who physically made this month’s ‘Spring Mayfair’ Charity Auction and Dinner a reality. This week, we thank those parishioners who helped ensure the event’s financial success by donating specialty cakes, artwork and myriad other items for our auction, which ultimately raised some $2,600 for distribution to our designated charities. Those members of St. John’s who this year shared their talents and fortune to stock our auction included Bill & Ann Moser, Larry Boltz, Cyndie Knoll, Donna Blackburn, John Huntoon, Jim Buckman, Deacon Mike Bond, Jack Voigt, Harold Keene, Margi Strombeck, Bob Stevens, Diane Mobley-Foster, Caroline Meliska, Bob Burgwald, Iris & Bill Bestow, Bob Dehn, Steve & Mary Hofer, Lynn Ruschhaupt, Harriet Clowes, Bill Sole & Bob d’Olivera, and the Berner family. Thank you all. Today, the Brotherhood and Mayfair’s direct beneficiaries—St. Mary’s Services and Episcopal Relief & Development—stand squarely in your debt. --Rob McManamy
  
  
• ECW Potluck Wednesday, May 26
  All women of the parish are invited to a potluck luncheon, Wednesday, May 26, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the undercroft.
  
  
• Sign up Now for the Second Annual Jackie Campbell Memorial Blood Drive
  Once again, in conjunction with the parish picnic, a blood drive will be held at St. John’s on Sunday, June 6. The blood drive is organized in memory of parishioner Jackie Campbell who died in the spring of 2009. Jackie joyfully served and participated in the life of the parish for 33 years. In her final day of life she required massive infusions of blood. We honor her by giving the gift of life to others. You may sign up on-line with Lifesource or look for sign up sheets in the undercroft.
  
  
• Instructed Eucharist May 30
  Both services on May 30, Trinity Sunday, will include narrative instruction on the meaning of the liturgy.

Reflection for Pentecost, May 23

The desert monks recognized that the utter indifference an uncaring desert modeled for them could be an aid in the spiritual life. These men and women were countercultural renegades from the imperial culture of ancient Rome, having turned their backs on the values of a twisted society in which the highest worth was given to consumerism, militarism and the careful cultivation of one’s reputation. They went to the desert to learn not to care about what was unimportant, so as to begin to care about what really mattered. –Belden C. Lane, “Caring and not caring” in Christian Century, May 18, 2010.

Announcements for May 16

• Vestry Meets Monday, May 17
  The regular May meeting of the vestry begins at 7:00 p.m. in the church, Monday, May 17.
  
  
• Brunch Bunch Next Sunday, May 23
  Everyone is invited to enjoy fellowship, food and celebrate the conclusion of the Christian education year with Brunch Bunch next Sunday, May 23, following the 10:00 a.m. service. The entrée will be chicken. If you can, bring a dish to share (last name beginning with T – Z, a dessert; everyone else a side). But most importantly, bring yourself.
  
  
• Pentecost, May 23
  Next Sunday, May 23, is Pentecost. There is a long-time, informal tradition for people to wear red to church on Pentecost. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red, signifying the “tongues, as of fire” that alighted upon the disciples. It is also a traditional date for baptisms and we will be baptizing two new Christians at the 10:00 a.m. service.
  
  
• ‘Mayfair’ Magic Recaptured; Moms to Benefit
  More than 80 parishioners and guests filled the undercroft and Guild Room last Saturday evening for the Brotherhood of St. Andrew’s annual ‘Spring Mayfair’ Charity Auction and Dinner, which ultimately raised more than $3,200. Falling on the eve of Mothers’ Day, this year’s event placed a special emphasis on mothers, targeting at least half of its proceeds to St. Mary’s Episcopal Adoption Services and Maternity Counseling, which provided the night’s guest speaker, Ms. Jan Lynch, a St. Mary’s board member and adoptive parent. The balance will go to Episcopal Relief & Development, which also helps moms and their families around the world. While individual ‘Mayfair’ donors will be thanked individually and formally in the days ahead, the Brotherhood does want to take this opportunity to acknowledge those who gave so generously of their time, not to mention energy and sweat, all of which proved necessary to pull off this rewarding event. Specifically, ‘Mayfair 2010’ is indebted to the brawn and legwork of Margi & Jack Strombeck; Sue & Bob Berner; Iris & Bill Bestow; Cynthia Turnquest; Mark Moxley; Anna Alsman; Ted Stone; Stewart Scott; Alex Fullam; Leighton Whittaker; and Dee, Elliot & Glynnis McManamy. The Brotherhood sincerely thanks you all! --Rob McManamy
  
  
• Daughters of the King Meet Saturday, May 15
  The Daughters of the King will meet Saturday, May 15, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Guild Room. All women of the parish are welcome.
  
  
• Sign up Now for the Second Annual Jackie Campbell Memorial Blood Drive
  Once again, in conjunction with the parish picnic, a blood drive will be held at St. John’s on Sunday, June 6. The blood drive is organized in memory of parishioner Jackie Campbell who died in the spring of 2009. You may sign up on-line with Lifesource or look for sign up sheets in the undercroft.
  
  
• Instructed Eucharist May 30
  Both services on May 30, Trinity Sunday, will include narrative instruction on the meaning of the liturgy.

Reflection for May 16

There is no such thing as “human community” without the earth and the soil, and the air and the water and all the living forms. Without these humans do not exist. There is, therefore, no separate human community. Humans are woven into this larger community. The larger community is the sacred community. –Thomas Berry, quoted by the Bishop’s Task Force on Sustainability

Announcements for May 9

• Ascension Day: Thursday, May 13
  Ascension Day is one of the seven principal feasts, the holiest days in the church calendar. It always falls on the Thursday forty days after Easter. The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 13.
  
  
• “Mayfair” Charity Auction this Saturday, May 8
  The event includes dinner, live music, a bake sale, the traditional specialty cake auction, and a silent auction of donated art, gift certificates, and memorabilia. Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children, and $25 for families, available from the parish office.
  
  
• Congratulations and Farewell to Jeff Peterson
  St. John’s Director of Music, Jeffrey Peterson, has recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Vocal Coaching and the Head of Music for the Opera Department at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Congratulations! His last Sunday at St. John’s will be June 6.
  
  
• Faith in Films: Steel Magnolias on May 14
  For the final show of this season, Faith in Films will screen Steel Magnolias on Friday, May 14, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room. The “steel magnolias” are portrayed by the remarkable cast of Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. Popcorn is served. Everyone is invited.
  
  
• Daughters of the King Meet Saturday, May 15
  The Daughters of the King will meet Saturday, May 15, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Guild Room. All women of the parish are welcome.
  
  
• Second Annual Jackie Campbell Memorial Blood Drive
  Once again, in conjunction with the parish picnic, a blood drive will be held at St. John’s on Sunday, June 6. The blood drive is organized in memory of parishioner Jackie Campbell who died in the spring of 2009. Sign up sheets for blood donation will be available soon.

Reflection for May 9

Collect for Ascension Day
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer]