NEWS for you...

AUGUST 30, 2024

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

There is still room to join!

GUPPY GULCH Church Outing | Monday, September 2 | 9:30am to 4:45pm

If you would like to join in on the fun, please contact Mo. Shivaun+ by end of day September 1st

Grace and peace,

“What is that?” that simple question that I heard several times on Sunday permitted me the opportunity to tell the story of our Welcome Pole.

Months ago, when our deacon candidate Mary A gathered a team together to begin planning our new garden area, I learned that she referred to the area as a “welcome garden”. That seems a fitting name and the name also helped define the parameters for the garden. We chose to be intentional and only use native plantings, and we also chose to focus on the rainwater catchment feature. These aspects immediately show a guest that we have concern for creation; and the benches offer a welcome area to come and rest. More plantings are in the works so watch for this garden to develop as the seasons progress.

When I heard the name “welcome garden” my mind wandered to the “Peace Poles” that I have seen in other gardens and I thought – why not a “Welcome Pole”. A Google search did not reveal any examples of welcome poles so I approached our school art teacher, Maggie Lewis, with the question. We spoke towards the end of the school year and Maggie offered that her curriculum was completed for the year but still had class time available when the students could work on this project.

What you see in our Welcome Garden is our own interpretation of a “Welcome Pole” created by Maggie and the students of St. John’s. There are 100 +/- languages on the pole all proclaiming “Welcome”.

May this Welcome Pole be a reminder to all of us that God welcomes us as we welcome others in God’s name.

Peace

Fr. Henry+

~ Bible Challenge Celebration ~

To commend those who participated and completed the

Bible Challenge at St. John's for the 2023-2024 year

we will be celebrating your accomplishment with a wrap up discussion and treats on

Sunday, September 1 @ 9am in the Meeting Room.

Anyone not able to be at the Bible Challenge celebration in person is welcome to join via the Adult Forum ZOOM connection listed below under Weekly Zoom Meetings.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th following the 10:30am service

This year’s menu, catered by Origins BBQ will consist of brisket, pulled pork, chicken legs/thighs, and Mac-n-Cheese along with an array of sauces. Please sign-up below to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Drinks will be provided by St. John’s. Everyone, family and friends, are invited to join in for a time of fellowship, games and fun!

PARISH PICNIC SIGN-UP

HOLY HOUSEHOLDS Kick-Off

Sunday, September 8th

at 9:30am in the Parish Hall.

Holy Households is an intergenerational learning opportunity, where we explore lessons and themes that delve into the Christian story and Episcopal traditions. The Sunday morning half-hour is intentionally designed to engage all-ages in fun,

faith and learning.

Please join us every Sunday at 9:30am in the Parish Hall for a time of learning and exploration.

SEPTEMBER 2

Labor Day - OFFICE CLOSED

SEPTEMBER 2 @ 9:45am

Guppy Gulch Church Outing

SEPTEMBER 8 @ 9:30am

Holy Household Kick-Off

SEPTEMBER 8

Parish Picnic

following the 10:30 service

SEPTEMBER 15 @ 9am

Adult Forum Resumes

SEPTEMBER 15 @ 12-1:30pm

Youth Group Kick-Off

SEPTEMBER 15 @ 12pm

Casserole Club Meeting

SEPTEMBER 22 @ 10:30am

Episcopal School Sunday

SEPTEMBER 22 @ 4-6pm

Survival Through Song

Shaare Tefila

16620 Georgia Ave. Olney

~ PRAYER LIST ~

Use this list to pray for the sick, shut-in, bereaved, or those merely in need of prayer.

Sophia Jones

Brian Betts & Family

Craig Grayson

Jere Rowland

Bud Nicholson

Carolyn Shepherd

Gemma

Roberta Ridenour

Harry Brooke

Tim Wittig

Mary Persinger

Joseph Sears

Adult Forum begins its fall study of prayer with the book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson on Sunday, September 15th at 9am in the Meeting Room. Peterson came to realize that prayer and Scripture, or Scripture and prayer, needed to be fused together as prayerscripture or scriptureprayer. He said “It is this fusion of God speaking to us (Scripture) and our speaking to God (prayer) that the Holy Spirit uses to form the life of Christ in us.” Please join the discussions on Sunday mornings @ 9am in the Meeting Room.