Beloved in Christ,

Last Wednesday, June 26th, the House of Bishops gathered at Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville to elect the 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. I have never voted in a diocesan bishop election, so this was a new experience for me. I resolved a while ago that I would not decide who to vote for among the five outstanding candidates until we were in the cathedral together, singing the hymns and saying the prayers, doing my best to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. As I was walking into the cathedral, I found myself thinking, with a sense of deep gratitude: “I trust this group and its discernment completely. Whoever is elected is the right choice.” Indeed, an hour or so later, when we learned we had elected the Right Reverend Sean Rowe on the first ballot, the joy and elation was palpable, overwhelming, and impossible to convey in words. Such a show of unity in discernment is a rare and rich gift. I have known Bishop Rowe for many years, and he will be an extraordinary Presiding Bishop. He is who we need in this moment. 

That sense characterized my whole experience in the House of Bishops this convention. There is a real sense of trust and affection across a large and very diverse body of people, from very different backgrounds, with different sensibilities, and ministering in vastly divergent contexts. 

For democratic governance to be true spiritual discernment, it must be built upon a foundation of trust and affection. I’m more grateful than I can say that such a foundation also exists in and around our diocese in this moment. My favorite part of being your bishop is the delight we take in being Minnesota Episcopalians together. 

That is not true of our national life in this election season. Far from trust and affection, our national discourse is characterized by fracture and fragmentation, scorn and strife. As we seek to discern our role and our voice in the national ecosystem, it is important to remember that Jesus, whom we confess as Lord of lords, does not save the world by becoming one more actor competing for supremacy by winning through violence, power, or snarkier quips, but by remaining firmly planted in the soil of love in the face of the rancor and horrendous evils that human societies are capable of. Our role, and our voice, is not to defeat whoever we see our opponents to be; our role is not to make some cheap and superficial peace. Our role is always to bear witness to a third way, a way that is characterized by actively seeking the good of others, seeing every human being, no matter how vehemently we object to their views, as God sees them: a precious, cherished child, of infinite value and worth. In the months to come, I hope you’ll join me in resolving not to shout louder, but to love deeper. I hope you’ll join me in remembering that our hope is in Jesus, not in any political party or elected leader. We cannot save our nation from itself, but we can point ourselves and others to God’s world-saving way of love, which casts out all fear, overcomes all evil, and defeats even the power of death itself. 

Grace and Peace,

The Right Reverend Craig Loya

Bishop X

Episcopal Church in Minnesota

A Report from General Convention - Sunday, July 21st @ 11:15am in the Parlor.

The 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church is over! They elected a new Presiding Bishop, and so much more! Come hear stories and details from Margaret Thor, what is new, what is old, what does the future of the Episcopal church look like?

Community of Hope

St John in the Wilderness adopted the Community of Hope model of lay pastoral care in 2022. The purpose of Community of Hope (COH) is to create Christian communities of lay volunteer pastoral ministers. St John’s, along with St Mark’s and the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, is sponsoring a COH Training this coming fall. It is for members of St John’s and other ECMN faith communities. 

There will be a brief informational meeting about the Community of Hope on July 28 in the Parlor after each service. Come and see what it’s all about!

Questions or interest? Contact me at 763-329-7394 or via email here.

Learn more about COH at https://www.cohinternational.org/

Come Build a Home

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is committed to building the quality of life, health, and economic prosperity of the seven-county metro region by producing, preserving, and advocating for affordable homeownership – because homes and families are the foundation of successful communities. St. John in the Wilderness has participated in this life-changing program for many years, and our partners in the St Croix Coalition will again be White Bear Unitarian and St. Marys of the Lake. 

This year the build is scheduled for 4 days, July 22-25, and you can volunteer for one or more days. No prior experience is required and all tools are provided. You can sign-up directly at http://stcroixvalley.tchabitat.volunteerhub.com/ . If you want to learn more or have questions please contact Tony Angelo at 651-675-8735.

Back to the Future!

Join fellow St. John in the Wilderness parishioners and Mahtomedi High School students, their families, and friends for dinner and the Broadway touring musical, "Back to the Future” on Sunday, September 22 at 6:30pm at the Orpheum. RSVPs and payments are due Sunday, July 21. Rides are available for anyone that wants/needs them. Complete details, RSVP and payment information can be found at this link: https://forms.gle/ngduBGQHLxft9qoXA

Recommended for ages 6 and up. The show runs 2 hours and 35 minutes including one intermission.

Direct questions to Chantell Knauss at SJWFellowship@gmail.com or 651.387.8288.

SYNOPSIS:

Based on the movie of the same name, “Back to the Future“ follows Marty McFly, a charismatic teen living in 1985, who finds himself whisked away to 1955 thanks to the eccentric Emmett “Doc” Brown and his time-traveling DeLorean. Now, Marty must race against the clock to make sure his parents fall in love, preserve the future, and get back to his life in 1985. Full of catchy songs and incredible stage effects, “Back to the Future“ is an exciting ride for all audience members! (StageAgent)

"Back to the Future" The Musical is the winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical; winner of four WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical; and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical.

Future Fellowship Theater Events:

·         November 2, 2024 at 1pm Curtain; 11am Lunch Seating – Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas" musical at Chanhassen Dinner Theater

·         November 17, 2024 at 2pm – “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” play at Mahtomedi High School

·         December 2024 (exact date/time TBD) – “Book of Mormon” musical at the Orpheum

The 50th Anniversary of Women’s Ordination

Friday, June 26th

Saint Mark’s Cathedral 519 Oak Grove, Mpls, 55407



All Minnesota Episcopalians are invited to join in a day of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church. Led by a cohort of women clergy from around the diocese, this joyful day will include story-sharing, a screening of The Philadelphia Eleven and panel discussion, dinner on the lawn of St. Mark’s Cathedral (bring a blanket!), and a Eucharist. History displays and videos will be available for viewing during the festivities.



• 3:00pm: Screening of The Philadelphia Eleven: Courage and Change
• 4:30pm: Panel Discussion
• 5:00pm: Picnic on the St. Mark’s Lawn
• 7:30pm: Women’s Ordination Anniversary Eucharist

Download our Summer Flyer here!

Men's Summer Bible Study

Join Father Art in a 7 week tour of the book of Acts! We will meet at 6pm on the following Wednesdays: June 26, July 3, 10, 24, 31, August 7, 21. We will be meeting at Father Art's house. Light refreshments included!

Contact Maggie Howe here for event information and to get on her mailing list!

First Aid & Building Safety Workshop 

Sunday July 7 & July 28

11:30am - 1:30pm.

We are asking all volunteers who help on Sunday morning, and anyone interested, to attend one! A light lunch will be provided.

A free training! Learn basic First Aid & CPR from a certified trainer, our very own Tracy Angelo (Certification not provided}

We will also be reviewing emergency procedures around the building.

This is an important training, it will cover basic first aid and CPR, as well as emergency procedures around the building such as:

• Medical Emergencies
• Fire & Smoke Emergencies
• Severe Weather
• Intruder/Safety assessment and response

We highly recommend any and all to attend. It is not just about knowing where the gas shutoff is, it is more about how can we be a safe, welcoming church!

Sign up sheets in the hallway and on the website here. We hope you can fit one into your busy summers.

Help Needed

Hospitality and Special Events Team is currently seeking volunteer(s) to host the 1st Sunday of the month. If you have been thinking about trying hospitality, it is a wonderful way to serve and to get to know people on Sunday mornings.

We are also looking to grow our team of individuals that could be on the “on-call” list when team members are sick or otherwise not available. February and March were tough months and we could use a few more helping hands.

If you can’t commit to the kitchen but enjoy baking or purchasing a special treat sometimes, we would love for you to adopt a Sunday whenever you feel inspired. we will joyfully put out what you bring.

If you have questions please reach out to any member of our team. Also anyone doing any ministry that would like an orientation to the kitchen please stop in any 2nd Sunday for a grand tour. If there is a lot of interest other times can also be arranged.

Peace,

Click here to message Nichole - Hospitality Coordinator

Mailboxes!!

Check out the cleaned up mailboxes!! All ministry team and most leadership have a mailbox, a great spot to leave a note, share a book, all the things that mailboxes are great for! You can find them between the first street door and the office door. If you wonder if you have one, check them out or ask Carrie.

St. John's Security System



Please be aware that St. John's security system is armed every night, 10:30pm - 7am. All doors are alarmed during that time, improper entries will trigger calls to our contact list and/or police being dispatched. Please direct any questions to Parish Coordinator Carrie Thomas.

Don't Get Scammed - The fishing season is open. The phishing season never closes.



Phishing is a type of online fraud that involves tricking people into providing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers, or buying gift crds and sharing them, by masquerading as a trustworthy source. Phishing can be done through email, social media or malicious websites.

We had a spate of emails in the past few weeks appearing to be from Fr Art asking for help. Remember, no one from St. John's staff or leadership will ever ask for help getting gift cards! And double check the email address, anything coming from a gmail.com address or other address that is not stjohnwilderness.org is not 'official'.

1) Scammers thrive on urgency. Churches' money asks are almost never urgent (even if a tree comes down on a walkway, you probably have to wait for insurance to do their thing before you know necessarily how much repairs will cost, so something that looks like an urgent need won't really be - that sort of thing).

2) Scammers often pretend to be someone known (in a church setting this may be the rector or bishop; outside the church they will play to "hey mom" or "hey grandma"), asking an individual for money directly. The church will generally stick to asking the entire congregation rather than individual donors. There are some exceptions to this, but it would usually not be an email

3) Scammers usually ask for payment that can't be tracked. They work in cash or weird-sounding stuff, like iTunes gift cards. There's a very low chance that the bishop wants iTunes gift cards immediately so they can get out of jail, right?

Rummage Sale News 

Yes, we are planning a Rummage Sale again this year. Please start saving salable items and paper sacks for bagging. Sale week has changed slightly to the last full week of September this year. Plan on helping, too, if you can. More information, such as when we can start bringing in sale items, will follow as the time gets closer. Meanwhile, for your questions, please call Lynn Gadbois at 651-270-8934

Weekly News and a Weekly Message from Bishop Loya

The Episcopal Church in Minnesota also has a weekly e-news, where you can read a message from Bishop Craig Loya, (or sometimes a special guest author), and read about what is happening in the Episcopal Church in MN and beyond! A great way to stay connected and learn about our church outside the walls of St. John's. 

To receive the ECMN news go here, scroll to the very bottom right and sign up.

Parish Family Prayer List

We ask your prayers for:

Angie G. Cindy K. Pat P. Jean T. David G. Larry K.  Megan J. Tony and Amanda,

Kim K. Mark K. Kala K. Landon K. Gladys A. Josh L.



Click the button below to fill out the web form, or email prayer@stjohnwilderness to request prayers and to be added to the parish prayer list. Please let us know if you would like the request to be publicly listed or private. Unless specifically requested, prayer requests will be kept on the list for a month.

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. BCP p. 817

Morning Prayer & Compline

Join us on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8 AM for morning prayer and

Monday and Friday evenings at 8:30 PM for Compline.

Both prayer services are held via Google Meet. All are welcome.

The word liturgy comes from a Greek term meaning “public work or work done on behalf of the people.” Liturgy always referred to an organized community. A work, then, done by an individual or a group was a liturgy on behalf of the larger community.

If you would like to become part of the many ministries that help make our work, our worship, our liturgies, our community, please talk to one of our clergy.

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost:

• Ezekiel 2:1-5
• Psalm 123
• 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
• Mark 6:1-13

We Have a New Phone System!!

The main number, 651-429-5351, remains the same. There are new extensions, a new voice mail system that works, and staff have the ability to have a transferred call go to their cell phone! There are also direct numbers, noted below. 

Connect!

Our parish office is open Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 2:30pm. Stop by and say hi!

• Financial Coordinator: Maureen Vruno | Office hours M,T, Th, 7:30am - 2:30pm maureen@stjohnwilderness.org ext. 4 or 763-329-7415
• Rising Generations Coordinator: Maggie Howe maggie@stjohnwilderness.org ext. 5 or 763-329-7398
• Music Director: David Lim david@stjohnwilderness.org ext. 6 or 763-329-7200
• Parish Coordinator: Carrie Thomas carrie@stjohnwilderness.org 651-429-5351 ext. 3
• Deacon: The Rev. Margaret Thor margaret@stjohnwilderness.org
• Associate Priest: The Rev. Kate Maxwell, OSB kate@stjohnwilderness.org ext. 2 or 763-329-7394
• Rector: The Rev. Arthur Hancock art@stjohnwilderness.org ext. 1 or 763-329-7203

Our current Health & Safety Protocols

• St. John’s encourages all of its members to get vaccinated and boosted.
• If you feel sick or have the typical symptoms of Covid-19, we ask you to worship with us online.
• Masks are optional while inside all parish buildings for those who are boosted and vaccinated. If conditions change and we experience another surge of Covid-19, we may alter our protocols.