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]

Announcements for May 2

• Yarn Ministry Meets Monday
  The St. John’s Yarn Ministry meets Monday, May 3, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room.
  
  
• “Mayfair” Charity Auction set to return May 8
  In honor of Mothers’ Day (May 9), the Brotherhood of St. Andrew invites all last-minute gift shoppers to bring their checkbooks and piggy banks to our Second Annual “Spring Mayfair” Charity Auction, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. Plans include dinner, “live” music, a bake sale, the traditional specialty cake auction, and a silent auction of donated art, gift certificates, and memorabilia. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children, and $25 for families, available at coffee hour or from the parish office. Proceeds will benefit Episcopal Relief and Development nationally, and, locally, St. Mary’s Services for Maternity Counseling. And please be in touch with a Brotherhood member if you have an item to donate for the silent auction.
  
  
• Sunday School Children Complete Course on the Bible
  James Brown, Andrea Barrera, Matthew Francesconi, Caroline Madden, Glynnis McManamy, Madeline Moxley, Hayley Sutherland, Jayden Thomas, Matthew Turnquest and Kira Van Voorhees will be given Bibles this Sunday, May 2, during the 10:00 a.m. service in commemoration of their participation in the Sunday School program, Learning to Use My Bible.
  
  
• Daughters of the King Meet Wednesday
  The Daughters of the King will meet this Wednesday, May 5, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Guild Room. All women of the parish are welcome.

Reflection for May 2

What is also important for all people to realize is that what is literally true is insignificant. What is significant is what is eternally true, and it is eternally true of the Bible that its words come to us not as universal precepts for all time to which we must give assent, but as words directed to eternally human situations in which we must decide. –William Sloan Coffin [Credo]

Announcements for April 25

• Landscape Work Day: Saturday, April 24
  Church grounds spring clean up day on Saturday, April 24. Please come anytime between 9:30 and 11:00 and help spruce up the grounds for the growing season. Everyone is welcome.
  
  
• School Uniform Program Exceeds Goal
  Our parish goal was to donate at least 269 uniforms to help children in developing countries attend school. That’s one for each parishioner. So far we have purchased 271! Thank God for the children of St. John’s and their faithful commitment to this project. For those who have not yet participated, we will continue to receive donations throughout the Easter season.
  
  
• “Mayfair” Charity Auction set to return May 8
  In honor of Mothers’ Day (May 9), the Brotherhood of St. Andrew invites all last-minute gift shoppers to bring their checkbooks and piggy banks to our Second Annual “Spring Mayfair” Charity Auction, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. Plans include dinner, “live” music, a bake sale, the traditional specialty cake auction, and a silent auction of donated art, gift certificates, and memorabilia. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children, and $25 for families, available at coffee hour or from the parish office. Proceeds will benefit Episcopal Relief and Development nationally, and, locally, St. Mary’s Services for Maternity Counseling. And please be in touch with a Brotherhood member if you have an item to donate for the silent auction.