Theatre Camp 2011

Registration for Theatre Camp is now open! 

The brochure can be viewed online and printed out.  It has more information and the registration form.  Let your family, friends, and neighbors know.....anyone you think might be interested!

We have scholarship money available, so please don't let that stop you from sending children you know!

Volunteers are still needed.  Jr. High and High School kids can help just as well as adults! Even if it's only for a small period of time, every minute is appreciated. Please spread the word!

Family Movie Night

We had a great time at our Family Movie Night in mid-May.  We ate Pietro's Pizza, Yummy Snacks, Popcorn and watched Toy Story 3 on the Big Screen (or wall, as it was). 

Thanks to everyone who came and helped out too!

Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter: May 29th, 2011

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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WHAT A WONDERFUL RESPONSE! You deserve a heap of praise! The assortment and amount of helpful items is wonderful. It's received by shelter staff with pleasure and gratitude and you can be sure the recipients will feel the same way.
The blue bins will be in the Narthex the next two Sundays so, if you choose to participate, they will be ready for you. An informal inventory (a long one!) will be posted in the parish hall shortly after June 5th so you can see the extent of our parish generosity, plus that of some of our friends and families.
A great big "THANK YOU" on behalf of those you are helping.

Complimentary ID Cards for Kids

Drop in on Friday, June 3rd between 4pm and 8pm to get a complimentary ID for your child. 

This is part of the Amber Alert Safe Child ID Project in conjunction with Rotary International Clubs, The Masonic Lodge is providing these to families at no charge! 

We will also have art on display as well as crafts and activities for the kids.  Come check it out!

Sermon: Easter 5, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

It’s likely that many of you recognize a portion of today’s gospel as one of the lessons frequently read at funeral services in our church. The 14th chapter of John’s gospel is read more often than any other of the suggested gospel lessons at memorial services. “In my Father’s house are many mansions…” and this verse concludes, “I am the way, the truth and the life—no one comes to the Father, but by me.”

Each time I read this familiar passage, I am acutely aware that sitting out there among the mourners at the memorial service are persons who may be Jewish, or persons who are unchurched, or persons who are of some religious persuasion other than Christian. So I am often tempted to lower my voice or mumble that last phrase. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one ,mumble,mumble,mumble.”

This verse implies to me that if you don’t come to know God through Jesus of Nazareth, you aren’t going to know God at all. And, of course, this phrase has become the proof text for many fundamentalist Christians—“no one comes to the Father but by Jesus.” As one bumper sticker says, “The Bible says it, I believe it, and that’s the end of it!”

What is true, of course, is that the Bible does say it—but for me it doesn’t always mean I believe it in the same way that some people believe it. And then, as far as I am concerned, that is hardly the end of it.

Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: May 22nd, 2011

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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Annie Ross Davidson’s memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 21, 2011 at St. John’s. A celebratory reception will immediately follow in the parish hall. Annie’s cremains will be interred next to those of husband, Larry and son, Chuck at St. John’s columbarium. In lieu of flowers, for Annie or in her memory, please consider memorials to St. John the Evangelist.

Family Night. Please join us on Friday, May 20th @ 5pm for Family Night in the West Wing. This is a good opportunity for young families to get acquainted and not have to pay for a sitter! We will start with crafts and activities at 5pm, eat dinner around 5:45pm and then show a movie from about 6:30pm—8:30pm. Feel free to wear your jammies and bring blankets/cuddle buddies. We will order pizza for dinner. Please bring a salad, fruit, veggies or movie snacks to share. See you there!

Adult Education

We will continue on Sunday with the topic of the Book of Revelation. A friend of mine—Frederick Schmidt—says “if people read the Book of Revelation at all, they read it with the-Bible-as-roadmap-to-the future view. Over the years that approach has, in turn, spawned a left-behind spirituality and theology, lending still more apparent authority to the approach. Preoccupation with who will and who will not be delivered in ‘the last days’ has to be ‘left behind’ if others are to move into heaven.” In other words, most of us misunderstand what this book is about and what some of its strange language is about.

Come and participate in this study—it promises to be interesting to all of us. 9 a.m. Sunday in the West Wing. Fr. Bud Thurston

Sermon: Easter 3 (Mother's Day), The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

So, with all four of those notable exceptions and qualifications, why bother with Mother’s Day at all? I’ll tell you why—because for all its stumbling blocks, pitfalls and broken dreams; for all the soiled diapers, soiled wallpaper and spoiled plans; we’re talking about a beautiful idea, a natural part of God’s creative plan to bring love and caring to the universe. Motherhood is a constant demand for the gift of love, compassion and caring.

I have never in my life as a priest preached a sermon about mothers on Mother’s Day. But I decided that today I would preach that first sermon—because without the honored institution of motherhood, none of us would be here.

Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter: May 8th, 2011

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sermon: Easter 2, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

There are experiences in life that shatter people, leaving them unable to cope.

Most of us, at one time or another, have had these kinds of experiences. Somehow a trauma has occurred, either physically or emotionally, and we’ve been left depressed, unable to take an active part in life for a while. Or we’ve suffered the overwhelming loss of a person that we love. And in each case, these life-shattering experiences leave us with a lack of self-confidence. Sometimes we lose faith in the existence of goodness. Sometimes—even—we believe that we have lost all hope for happiness or fulfillment again.

For the disciples—and most especially for Thomas—the arrest, crucifixion and death of Jesus was that kind of experience. And so was the resurrection in a peculiar kind of way.

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For the next few Sundays we will be gathering new "undies" to pass along to the women of Rahab's Sisters. If you are able to purchase a package or two of undies, please drop them off in the narthex or at the Mothers' Day Tea. Your support is much appreciated!!

Upcoming Adult Education: We will begin on Sunday, May 8 with the topic of the Book of Revelation. A friend of mine—Frederick Schmidt—says “if people read the Book of Revelation at all, they read it with the-Bible-as-roadmap-to-the future view. Over the years that approach has, in turn, spawned a left-behind spirituality and theology, lending still more apparent authority to the approach. Preoccupation with who will and who will not be delivered in ‘the last days’ has to be ‘left behind’ if others are to move into heaven.” In other words, most of us misunderstand what this book is about and what some of its strange language is about.
Come and participate in this study—it promises to be interesting to all of us. 9 a.m., Sunday, beginning on May 8.
-Fr. Bud Thurston

Adult Education

Upcoming Adult Education: After a short break from Adult Education we will begin on Sunday, May 8 with the topic of the Book of Revelation. A friend of mine—Frederick Schmidt—says “if people read the Book of Revelation at all, they read it with the-Bible-as-roadmap-to-the future view. Over the years that approach has, in turn, spawned a left-behind spirituality and theology, lending still more apparent authority to the approach. Preoccupation with who will and who will not be delivered in ‘the last days’ has to be ‘left behind’ if others are to move into heaven.” In other words, most of us misunderstand what this book is about and what some of its strange language is about.

Come and participate in this study—it promises to be interesting to all of us. 9 a.m., Sunday, beginning on May 8.