Announcements for February 7

Ash Wednesday Services
Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday, February 10. The Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes will be offered at 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 7:00 PM.

Shrove Tuesday: Pancake Feast and Burial of the Alleluia
The traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake supper will be held Tuesday, February 9, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children. All proceeds will benefit the youth group outreach projects. And all children of the parish are invited to come help decorate and bury the Alleluia banner for Lent.

The Observance of a Holy Lent
Guidelines for observing Lent (“Lent for Dummies”) and various resources are available on the information tables.

Lent Study Series
This year the Rector’s study series for Lent will explore the use of the Psalms in worship. Classes are Wednesday evenings, beginning February 17 at 7:00 PM.

Youth Group Resumes This Sunday, 4:00 PM
Welcome back from an extended break… just in time for Lent! We’ll take a positive spin on this traditionally dreary church season and see how beautifully we emerge at Easter. Bring a friend. Super-quick service activity. Super-simple planning for a spring party with IJP and Flossmoor Community Church youth. Plus something super-goofy. And all done long before the Super Bowl begins. Preguntas? Dee McManamy or Margi Strombeck.

Thank You from Pets and Their Families
Do our hands still smell like dog treats? Last Saturday, eight volunteers spent a couple of hours at St. John’s packaging treats for dogs whose families are registered at various south suburban township food pantries. The Best Buddies Pet Pantry program provides extra pet food assistance in order to keep pets in homes and out of shelters. Many thanks to our volunteers who did the packaging and to those who donated items over the past couple of months. Now the collection box is empty. When you bring in donations for the Rich Township food pantry, please consider bringing in dog or cat food. You can drop it off in the BBPP box next to the Rich Township baskets. Thank you!

Thank You from the Yarn Ministry
We thank you all very much for your HUGE support of the warm clothing collections we had this winter for PADS and Respond Now. With your and God’s help, we were able to keep many people in need warm this winter.

Reflection for February 7 (Transfiguration Sunday)

The new heavens and the new earth are not replacements for the old ones; they are transfigurations of them. The redeemed order is not the created order forsaken; it is the created order - all of it - raised and glorified (Robert Farrar Capon).

Announcements for January 31

Vestry Elections
At the recent annual meeting, the following slate was elected to serve on the vestry: Senior Warden: Anne Edwards, Junior Warden: Steve Hofer, Vestry Members (3 year terms): Alice Creason, Randy Oyster and Zoltan Sziky. Thank you to retiring warden and vestry members: Diane Walsh-Madden, Bob de Oliveira, Patti Pohrte and Jim Whitfield.

Annual Reports
Copies of the printed annual reports are available on the information tables. If you would like to receive a copy electronically, please contact the parish office.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2016 Lent Fish Fry 
This year’s Fish Fry is scheduled for Friday, March 18. Once again the men of the parish will fry up delicious whitefish straight from DiCola’s and Smiley Tilmon will provide entertainment. See you there!

Last Call: Yarn Ministry still needs the congregation’s assistance
We are still collecting winter clothing articles for people in need. Please keep this in mind as you are cleaning out your closets. Donations of hand or machine made (store bought) scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens for men, women and children are welcome. Coats and jackets are particularly needed, as well as socks. Donated items, if not new, should be clean and only gently used. Collection bins are located in the undercroft and at the office entrance. There is a PADS collection bin located in the undercroft as well. Deposit items in any of the containers. The next collection date is January 31st.

Parish Mailing Address
PLEASE use the PO Box for all mailings to the parish (PO Box 25, Flossmoor IL 60422). Anything else risks delay or non-delivery.

Yarn Ministry
The yarn ministry will meet Monday, February 1, beginning at 7 PM in the Guild Room.

Ash Wednesday is February 10 
Easter is very early this year! The traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake supper will be Tuesday, February 9, from 5 PM – 7 PM. Ash Wednesday services are February 10 at 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM and 7 PM.

Reflection for January 31

The conservatives’ myth of religious beginnings [of the United States] has such a strong hold on the popular conception of our history because it is buttressed by secularists who say the same thing in hope that the first group says in fear—that America was religious at the outset but that reason, science, and progress have made us less religious year by year. Both myths are wrong. Both present the exact opposite of what actually occurred (Head and Heart: American Christianities, Garry Wills, 2007).

Announcements for January 24

Parish Annual Meeting This Sunday
The annual meeting of the parish will be held this Sunday, January 24. Loaves and Fishes will serve brunch after the 10:00 AM service; the meeting will follow at around 11:30 AM. Everyone is urged to attend.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2016 Lent Fish Fry
This year’s Fish Fry is scheduled for Friday, March 18. Once again the men of the parish will fry up delicious whitefish straight from DiCola’s and Smiley Tilmon will provide entertainment. See you there!

Yarn Ministry still needs the congregation’s assistance
We are still collecting winter clothing articles for the PADS Ministry. Please keep this in mind as you are cleaning out your closets. Donations of hand or machine made (store bought) scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens for men, women and children are welcome. Coats and jackets are particularly needed, as well as socks. Donated items, if not new, should be clean and only gently used. Collection bins are located in the undercroft and at the office entrance. There is a PADS collection bin located in the undercroft as well. Deposit items in any of the containers. The next collection date is January 31st.

No Longer Collecting Plastic Grocery Bags
A big thank you to everyone who brought in plastic grocery bags! We are not looking for additional donations at this time, but those that have been collected will be sorted by the youth group and used to produce mats for individuals who are homeless.

Parish Mailing Address
PLEASE use the PO Box for all mailings to the parish (PO Box 25, Flossmoor IL 60422). Anything else risks delay or non-delivery.

Yarn Ministry
The yarn ministry will meet Monday, February 1, beginning at 7 PM in the Guild Room.

Reflection for January 24 (Annual Meeting Sunday)

For the Parish
Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, p. 817).

Office Manager

Effective February 8, 2016, this position has been filled.

Overview 

Part- time position, reports directly to the Rector. During the school year, 20 hours/week; reduced hours June – August. Pay: $17/hour. No benefits. The Office Manager serves as receptionist for the parish and also performs general secretarial duties, communication, office management and financial bookkeeping. Accuracy and attention to detail are critical components of this position. In addition, proper execution of this work requires a high degree of sensitivity to the needs of people contacting the office. Diplomacy and patience are critical, as is the ability to maintain appropriate boundaries and confidentiality.

Major Duties & Responsibilities 

Administrative Support

• Provides administrative support to the Rector. 
• Provides additional administrative support to staff and parishioners as needed. 
• Files inbound and outbound correspondence; maintains church files and records not handled directly by volunteers or the Rector. 
• Prepares and distributes special mailings and all-parish correspondence – such as the Easter and Christmas letters from the Rector and stewardship materials. 
• Orders office supplies and facilitates ordering of building supplies by volunteer purchaser. 

Reception

• Greets visitors to the church office and directs them appropriately; accepts deliveries; works with vendors. 
• Answers telephone; takes/retrieves messages; responds to email; retrieves mail from P.O. box and distributes mail/packages. 

Communication

• Prepares weekly church service leaflets; special holiday leaflets and leaflets for weddings, funerals, and any other special services. 
• Prepares and distributes monthly acolyte schedule. 
• Prepares and distributes quarterly schedule of weekly lay worship leaders. 
• Prepares/updates the Annual Report of St. John’s. 
• Prepares/distributes the parish directory (approximately every 12-18 months). 
• Maintains community bulletin boards as well as flyers, leaflets, newsletters and sign-up sheets. 
• Maintains all office files and assists treasurer and Rector in maintenance of files. 
• Maintains/updates ACS People Suite membership database.  

Finance

• Prepares checks, maintains check register in Excel. 
• Inputs weekly contributions into ACS People Suite (church membership database); works with treasurer to ensure accurate reporting.
• Provides administrative support to treasurer.
• Prepares/distributes quarterly contribution statements to parishioners and other regular contributors. 

Qualifications

Must be organized and have superior time-management skills.
Must be diplomatic, patient, and sensitive to the needs of others.
Must have a minimum of a high school diploma; college graduate preferred.
Office experience or experience in a professional setting a plus.
Must have above-average computer skills.
Must be proficient in Microsoft Word and have experience/familiarity with Microsoft Publisher and Excel.
Must have superior communication skills, both verbal and written.
Flexibility and willingness to learn are assets.
Familiarity with Episcopal Church polity and practice is a plus.

Resumes will be accepted through January 29, 2016.

Please submit electronically to:
The Rev. Kristin Orr, Rector
The Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist
Flossmoor, Illinois
sje2638@gmail.com