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Inside this issue: Our Way Forward 2 All Saints Sunday 3 Small Groups 4 Recital: Wow & Flutter! 6 Thanksgiving Baskets 7 Music News 8 Children, Youth, & Family News 10 Our International Partners 12 Deacon’s Reflections 14 Mark Your Calendars 15 November Calendar 16 November 2019 November Newsletter November Newsletter Beloved St. John’s Community, Did you know that in any community, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts? From my perspective, the St. John’s community isn’t only made up of individuals like you and me. I truly believe that we are a collection of people gathered by God’s Spirit at this point in history for a purpose. Instead of doing many things superficially, however well intentioned we are, we can choose to do a few things deeply and well, based on carefully discerning where God’s Spirit is leading us. One way to discern the Spirit’s leading is through the focus groups we conducted in September, which I and a team are hard at work to digest and interpret, and which we’ll be sharing with you over the coming months. The theme of our annual stewardship campaign is Our Way Forward: Living into God’s Purpose for Ourselves and the World, and so we’ve been discerning exactly what “God’s purpose” means to us. On September 8, I asked you what “one word” summed up the Way of Jesus for you—and more than half of you responded by saying “love.” We know that we are called to love God, our neighbors and ourselves. But what does that look like in 2019 in Minnesota? Given our nation’s history of systemic racism, the fact of Minnesota’s significant achievement and opportunity gaps based on race, and the current political climate toward immigrants (particularly immigrants of color), how does God call us to “love”? And what will nourish us to do so sustainably, sacrificially, and with joy? Each day in your own life, and each time you are present in this community, ask yourself this: where do you see evidence of God’s Spirit at work? What helps you pause to listen, pay attention, and notice signs of life and healing within and around you? How can you participate with God’s activity, and share your insights with others? In case you haven’t noticed, some St. John’s parishioners have been blogging about their engagement with God’s presence through the seven practices of the Way of Love—read and comment on their posts here. Step by step, we can realize God’s purpose for us—to engage God’s mission of the Beloved Community. God’s Spirit is already hard at work ahead of us—blessing all that exists, reconciling all things, seeking to heal that which is broken, sick, and destructive. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel; we just need to discern and participate in what God is already doing. May God bless you in your discernment and practice of the Way of Love. May God grant us awareness of what the Spirit is leading us to do as a community. May your lives overflow with abundance and blessing. Faithfully, Lisa

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Page 1: November Newsletterstjohns-mpls.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/11.19_news.pdf · Ourselves and the World, and so we’ve been discerning exactly what “God’s purpose” means to

Inside this issue:

Our Way Forward 2

All Saints Sunday 3

Small Groups 4

Recital: Wow & Flutter! 6

Thanksgiving Baskets 7

Music News 8

Children, Youth, &

Family News 10

Our International

Partners 12

Deacon’s

Reflections 14

Mark Your

Calendars 15

November Calendar 16

November 2019

November Newsletter

November Newsletter

Beloved St. John’s Community,

Did you know that in any community, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts? From my

perspective, the St. John’s community isn’t only made up of individuals like you and me. I truly

believe that we are a collection of people gathered by God’s Spirit at this point in history for a

purpose. Instead of doing many things superficially, however well intentioned we are, we can choose

to do a few things deeply and well, based on carefully discerning where God’s Spirit is leading us.

One way to discern the Spirit’s leading is through the focus groups we conducted in September,

which I and a team are hard at work to digest and interpret, and which we’ll be sharing with you over

the coming months.

The theme of our annual stewardship campaign is Our Way Forward: Living into God’s Purpose for

Ourselves and the World, and so we’ve been discerning exactly what “God’s purpose” means to us.

On September 8, I asked you what “one word” summed up the Way of Jesus for you—and more than

half of you responded by saying “love.” We know that we are called to love God, our neighbors and

ourselves. But what does that look like in 2019 in Minnesota? Given our nation’s history of systemic

racism, the fact of Minnesota’s significant achievement and opportunity gaps based on race, and

the current political climate toward immigrants (particularly immigrants of color), how does God call

us to “love”? And what will nourish us to do so sustainably, sacrificially, and with joy?

Each day in your own life, and each time you are present in this community, ask yourself this: where

do you see evidence of God’s Spirit at work? What helps you pause to listen, pay attention, and

notice signs of life and healing within and around you? How can you participate with God’s activity,

and share your insights with others? In case you haven’t noticed, some St. John’s parishioners have

been blogging about their engagement with God’s presence through the seven practices of the Way

of Love—read and comment on their posts here.

Step by step, we can realize God’s purpose for us—to engage God’s mission of the Beloved

Community. God’s Spirit is already hard at work ahead of us—blessing all that exists, reconciling all

things, seeking to heal that which is broken, sick, and destructive. We don’t need to reinvent the

wheel; we just need to discern and participate in what God is already doing.

May God bless you in your discernment and practice of the Way of Love. May God grant us

awareness of what the Spirit is leading us to do as a community. May your lives overflow with

abundance and blessing.

Faithfully,

Lisa

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Page 2 November Newsletter

Our Way Forward:

Living into God’s Purpose for Ourselves and the World

Beloved St. John’s community,

Consecration Sunday culminates our annual month-long pledge drive to secure funding for

next year’s operating budget. As your Rector, one of the high points of this first year has

been the privilege of hearing the talks by parishioners, who share their deep feelings about

St. John’s. This year’s talks were outstanding. If you missed any of the talks, please click on

the links below to read them now.

Jane Gilgun

Steve Schewe

Mark Lindberg

Sue Everson-Rose

Shelly Gill-Murray

Ryan Curl & Kari Rusch-Curl

Thank you to everyone who has pledged so far. Of course, it’s not too late!

If you didn’t receive a pledge card and would like to have one, please contact Rachel in the

office. You may pledge online, instead; just click here. There you will find a variety of options

for payment methods and timing.

Please let us hear from you soon. St. John’s has a long history of balanced budgets. Since

our budget is based on pledges, the Vestry members will be making follow up calls in the

second half of November to those from whom we haven’t heard.

Gratefully,

Lisa

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Page 3 November Newsletter

All Saints Sunday

New! Children’s Saints Procession

Sunday, November 3rd at 9:00 and 11:00am services

This year on the Feast of All Saints, St. John’s is having its first-ever Children’s Saints

Procession. All children (and the young at heart of every age!) are invited to come to church

dressed as their favorite saint and to process with the clergy and ministers in both the

9:00am and the 11:00am services. Children already dressed in saint costumes should meet

at 8:45 in the parish hall for the 9am service, or at 10:45 in the parish hall for the 11:00am

service. After their procession, children will either go to children’s chapel or rejoin their

parents in the pews. Children will also be invited to stand at the altar during communion.

Sunday,

November 3rd

Intergenerational Event

Sunday, November 3rd, 10:00am in the Parish Hall

Come to the parish hall between services for a variety of intergenerational activities

designed to celebrate the Saints, including all of us!

You are welcome to bring photographs of your saints and loved ones, to grace our altar on

during the service, so that their presence may be with us as we pray. We will set up small tables

in front of the altar for you to place your photo before worship.

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Page 4 November Newsletter

Conversations from the Heart Saturday, November 9th, 12:30pm in the Library

Join us for Conversations from the Heart. We will meet from 12:30-2:00pm to share

insights, curiosities and experiences of the seen and unseen sacred in our lives. Please feel

free to join us. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Herbst.

Lunch Bunch Monday, November 18th, 12:00pm in the Parish Hall

Lunch Bunch will gather for a pot luck lunch and a program to meet (or re-meet) our

deacon, Rex McKee. Rex and his family share a history of times together at St. John’s, but

we all look forward to learning more of his experiences as a deacon and what we can share

as a parish with him. All are welcome to bring something to share for lunch and stay to hear

Rex. Contact Barb Risken with questions.

Brown Bag Eucharist Tuesdays, 12:15pm in the Chapel

We offer a weekly Eucharist in which you are invited to bring your lunch -- at 12:15pm every

Tuesday in the Chapel. During this service, during the liturgy of the Word, we eat our

lunches, have a lively conversation about scripture, offer our prayers verbally to God, and

then continue with the liturgy of the table. We conclude by 12:50 so people can get back to

work.

Small Groups

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Page 5 November Newsletter

Adult Forums

Sunday, November 3rd NO Adult Forum

Come to the parish hall between services for a variety of intergenerational activities

designed to celebrate the Saints, including all of us!

Is it just me, or is starting the hardest part?

Sunday, November 10th John Bellaimey

The Way of Love says that "Go" means "Cross boundaries, listen deeply and live like Jesus."

But what does THAT mean? It's hard enough to listen to people who think a lot like we do.

Where do we even start?

Receive the gift of God’s grace, peace, and restoration

Sunday, November 17th Tabitha Kyambadde

Most of us don't get enough rest, however you define it. Our culture might think of rest as

merely "down time," but when have you received God's grace, peace and restoration? How

might a practice of this kind of rest change your life and the world around you?

Why do we call Christ a "King"?

Sunday, November 24th Charles Taliaferro

The language of monarchy can conjure up for us images of patriarchy, empire, and top-down

power. When we call Jesus of Nazareth King, do we perpetuate imperial monarchical power

or does Jesus turn such power upside down? The King of Love Jesus calls us to enter a

Kingdom of healing, reconciliation, and solidarity with each other and God, caring especially

for the most vulnerable.

What helps us grow and be nourished spiritually? How do we connect the dots between

Sunday morning and daily life? Come to the Adult Forum to discuss the Way of Love spiritual

practices, and learn more about St. John’s and our neighbors.

First Nations Kitchen

Sunday, November 10th

Thank you to the confirmation

class for covering the serving

and cleanup at First Nations this

month. We still need volunteers

to chop veggies, pick up bread,

and set up the give-away and

tables. See sign up in the

Gathering Space.

For more information about this

opportunity contact JoAnn

Blatchley or 952-922-0308.

For more information about the

ministry at All Saints’ Indian

Mission, check out their

website.

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November Newsletter Page 6

Featuring our own Aliese Hoesel, St. John’s presents a program of music by Pearson Thomas,

Ravel, Ponce, and the Andrew Sisters. Admission is free (Free-Will Offering is appreciated).

Aliese is joined by musicians Carissa Bussian, Deanna Davis, Hannah Green, Tara Priolo, Jared

Miller, Ashley Sievers, Anne Todey, and Eryn Tvete.

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Page 7 November Newsletter

Affordable Housing Thanksgiving Baskets and Workday

Our work days are the second Saturday of every month, and you don’t have to be a skilled

crane operator or carpenter to participate. Usually our job is to help ‘turn over’ apartments

– interior painting and cleaning so a new family can move in. So if you can paint, clean or

do light repairs, we have a job for you. Our work days are from 8:30am to 3pm - the day

starts with coffee, juice, and treats. We are treated to a terrific lunch and each other’s

company for the day.

If you can come one Saturday a year or every month, we will put you to work.

Please contact John Corlett to sign up.

Next Workday:

Saturday,

November 9th

St. John’s and our affordable housing partner Urban Homeworks are teaming up for the sixth

year on the Thanksgiving Basket Project.

Thanksgiving Baskets are Thank You gifts for the residents of Urban Homeworks properties.

We fill the baskets with household supplies - items like blankets, laundry detergent, and

band aids – everyday items every household needs. UHW staff delivers a basket and the

message of thanks to each of their residents the day before Thanksgiving. How many

landlords do that?

Sign up for your basket on Sunday November 10th or November 17th in the gallery area.

Here’s how it works –

Select a family to shop for on the sign up days - pick up a laundry basket and

a suggestion list.

Carefully consider what a household with an annual income of $12,000 to

$15,000 annually needs.

Shop and fill your basket.

Decorate your basket in a Thanksgiving theme.

Deliver the filled basket on Sunday 11/24.

Questions? Contact John Corlett be email or 612-839-6566 (evenings).

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Page 8 November Newsletter

November Music News

For more on

music at

St. John’s

contact:

Chad Smith

BIG Thanks & Gratitude goes to:

Musician Marcus Jensen for his special musical contribution to our 9am and 11am

services on Sunday, October 6th.

Musician Jo Bolles for her special musical contribution to our 9am and 11am services

on Sunday, October 13th.

Musician Wendy Smith for her special musical contribution to our 9am and 11am

services on Sunday, October 20th.

Everyone who came out in support of St. John’s OPEN MIC event on October 25th

St. John’s Children’s Choirs & Chime Choir for their special musical contributions to our

10am service on Consecration Sunday, October 27th.

Wendy Smith, Jodi and Allie Bosacker for their fine teaching & care-filled leadership of

Wednesday evening Children’s, Chime choir, and Children’s Activities.

Nancy Herbst, Ginny Jacobson, Jane Gilgun, Joan and Don Hawkinson, Mary Beth

Crandall, Mary Miller, Lynnell Mickelson, John Bellaimey, Jenny Lindberg, Vickie

Madsen, Jeanne Olsen, and Gerry Lukaska for their good work preparing Wednesday

Choir dinners in September & October this fall!

St. John’s 9am, 10am, and 11am Service Musicians for their faithful service and

participation - leading The People’s Song Sunday mornings through October!

Festival Choir sings during 9am & 11am services on All Saints’ Sunday November 3rd

St. John’s Festival Choir sings the Raymond Wilding-White choral arrangement of Aaron

Copland’s adaptation of a Robert Lowry Shall We Gather At the River, and an Alice Parker

arrangement of Invitation (from William Walker’s The Southern Harmony and Musical

Companion, 1835). A special All Saints’ Quartet sings Jacobi Vaet’s O quam gloriosum est

regnum at the Prelude/Introit; Chad plays Buxtehude’s Prelude and Fugue in D Major,

BuxWV 139.

Recital: “Wow & Flutter” 7pm, Saturday, November 9th

Featuring our own Aliese Hoesel, St. John’s presents a program of music by Pearson

Thomas, Ravel, Ponce, and the Andrew Sisters. Admission is free (Free-Will Offering is

appreciated). Aliese is joined by musicians Carissa Bussian, Deanna Davis, Hannah Green,

Tara Priolo, Jared Miller, Ashley Sievers, Anne Todey, and Eryn Tvete.

Festival Choir practice for Christmas Eve begins 7pm, Wednesday, November 20th

St. John’s Festival Choir prepares anthems to sing on Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December

24th, during 6pm and 11pm services. Festival Choir practice is held from 7 until 9pm on

Wednesdays, October 20th, December 4th, 11th, and 18th. All are welcome to sing (Middle

school age and up). Childcare is provided!! If you’d like to join the choir, contact Chad.

Children’s Choirs sing & Chime Choir play Sundays, November 17th & 24th

St. John’s Children’s Choirs sing during the 9am service on Sunday, November 17th, and

during the 11am service on Sunday, November 24th. St. John’s Chime Choir plays during the

11am service on Sunday, November 17th and during the 9am service on Sunday, November

24th.

There is NO Children’s Choirs & Chime Choir practices/dinner Wednesday, November 27th

September Open Mic

(Next Open Mic: January 31)

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Page 9 November Newsletter

Music Highlight: Theo Mendez

Q: In what ways do you share your musical gifts at St. John’s?

A: I am in my second year of playing in the Chime Choir. I used to sing in the Children's Choir.

Q: What music do you listen to?

A: I listen to the radio. Mostly Cities 97.

Q: Do you have a favorite musical artist, song or composition?

A: My favorite group is Imagine Dragons.

Q: Is there any particular music or musician that has influenced you?

A: My band teacher Mr. Robinson. I like how he teaches me to play music.

Q: What musical endeavors do you pursue outside of St. John’s?

A: I play trombone in the band at my school (Windom Dual Immersion)

Q: If you could meet any musical person, past or present, who would it be?

A: I would like to meet Josh Ritter

Q: What is something people might be surprised to know about you?

A: Starting in daycare, I've only attended Spanish speaking schools.

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Page 10 November Newsletter

Children, Youth & Family News

Sunday School

St. John’s Sunday School meets every week in November EXCEPT All

Saints Sunday (November 3) for the Intergenerational Event! Sunday

School will happen on November 10, 17, and 24.

Youth Group (6th-7th Grade)

The St. John’s Youth Group has two chances to get together during November! First, we’re

going bowling at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park on November 9th! We’ll meet at the church at

3:30pm or at Park Tavern by 4:00pm. We’ll plan to bowl until 5:30 and return to St. John’s

by 6pm!

The other opportunity is for the Pre-TEC retreat! Pre-TEC is a 24-hour

retreat for middle school students to gather from Episcopal Churches

from all over the state. Pre-TEC will be hosted at St. John’s from 7pm on

November 22nd to 7pm on November 23rd. It’s a fabulous way to try a

church retreat in a familiar space! You can get more info and register for it

here.

Pilgrimage (8th-9th Grade)

Having spent time discerning our values in October and then coming up with a list of trips

that match those values, the St. John’s Pilgrims will meet twice in November to start to

narrow down their list of trips toward a final destination. Potlucks are scheduled for

November 3rd AND November 17th from 6-8pm. They’ll also spend some time talking about

how to make a decision together as a group and how every voice is important and vital for

the good of the group.

They’ll also be selling Advent Wreaths from 8:30-12:30 on November 24th!

Confirmation (10th-11th Grade)

Confirmation will be doing one of their acts of service and outreach on November 10th,

overseeing the whole process of St. John’s bi-monthly responsibilities at First Nation’s

Kitchen. All Confirmands are invited to be present for the meal (starting at 5:30pm) through

the end of clean-up and a closing conversation about crossing lines of difference at All

Saints from 7:30-8:15pm.

Confirmation Class will also meet on Sunday, November 24th in the Confirmation room

(under the Library) from 10-11:30 to talk about the rhythms of prayer in the Daily Office and

be challenged to pray together twice a day during Advent!

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Page 11 November Newsletter

The thing about being Episcopalian is, most of our Worship is done corporately. It was one of

Craig Lemming’s favorite points to make: We are bound together not by belief or by action,

but by a Book of Common Prayer. We all have different ideas about God and different

callings in the world. But we come together to worship God as a single community, united in

prayer and in worship.

Worship is the place where we praise God for God’s action and presence in our lives. And

doing that in Baptism, the Eucharist, and even at Funerals when we gather at church is

important. But we can also worship any time, and anywhere! Even “eucharist” itself means

“thanksgiving.”

How can you make thankfulness to God a regular practice at home? Sometimes it’s just a

perspective shift. “What was your favorite part of school / work today?” When you hear your

answer, thank God for that! Maybe make or keep a list on your meal table, where you thank

God for things each day for a month. Maybe pause together before work or school and thank

God for the chance to start a new day.

These tiny moments of worship each day can re-orient our focus, and when we start to see

God in the little things, we just might start to hear God in the biggest places of our lives as

well.

Shane Sanders Marcus

Minister for Children, Youth, & Families

Support our beloved bi-annual

Pilgrimage program AND start

decorating for the season!

Our new Pilgrims, preparing for June of

2021, will be selling wreaths before

and after the services in the Gathering

Space starting on November 24th

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Page 12 November Newsletter

Guatemala Update

This year marked our tenth year that

St. John’s has traveled to Guatemala.

Travelers from St. John’s this year were John

and Mary Corlett, Diane and John Erdmann,

Heidi Joos, Jenny Lindberg, Lindsey Mussell,

Sarah Parker, Emily Peterson, Erica Seavey,

Heidi Sundet, and Susan Tapp. Also with us

were James Meyerson (son of Yvonne and

Tim Meyerson, previous St. John’s

parishioners), Robyn Cass (Emily Peterson’s

cousin), and Yvonne Banks and Joseph

Meyer (Yvonne came with us in 2016). Bill

Peterson was also helping when he wasn’t

working.

Since 2011 we have been helping a small

village called Nueve Providencia. This village

was created after a mudslide took out three

villages. The San Lucas Foundation bought

the land and resettled the people there. This

year we continued to create a concrete road

and we also painted the school. We work

with the villagers allowing them to decide

what work is important to them and have

made friends and watched the children grow

and learn in the school that we helped build.

It can be hard work but very rewarding. Take

a look at a few pictures of our work this year

at Nueve Providencia and other things we

did. We don’t just work, we also play as well,

drinking in the beautiful area of Lake Atitlan.

We take breaks and learn about the people

there and then, after a week of work, we go

to Antigua, a 16th century town of churches,

ruins and shopping. We also climbed an

active volcano!

Next year's trip is

being planned

already!

End of July 2020

If you are

interested in

coming please

contact John or

Mary Corlett

We will also have

our annual

fundraiser in

March of 2020

Stay tuned!

2019 St. John’s Guatemala Mission Trip – What we did!

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Page 13 November Newsletter

SAN LUCAS COFFEE FOR SALE!

JUAN ANA COFFEE CAN BE BOUGHT THROUGH THE

SAN LUCAS FOUNDATION WEBSITE: sanlucasmission.org

They have regular coffee – ground, whole bean and dark

(French) roast bean at just $10.00 per 16 oz bag.

Thank You!

Dear People of St John’s,

Thank you so much for your outpouring of generosity towards our partner parish in Haiti. We

have raised over $15,000 towards our goal of $22,000. Teachers are receiving their pay on

time, and students are attending school without paying tuition. Together we are making a

difference in the lives of these young people.

Many Blessings,

Dianne Pizey and the Haiti Committee

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Page 14 November Newsletter

The Vestry is the governing board of St. John's. The Vestry oversees the “business” side of

church life, but it is also a spiritual body that, together with the Rector, supports the

congregation to discern where God’s Spirit is leading us and how we can follow and support

that leading. The Vestry consists of two Wardens along with nine other lay members, and is

presided over by the Rector. Three new Vestry members will be elected for three-year terms

at the annual meeting to be held in January of 2020.

If you have interest in being considered for Vestry nomination and are a pledging member, if

you want to recommend someone for consideration, or if you would just like to learn more,

please contact Lisa Wiens Heinsohn, Rector, or Allen Gooch, Junior Warden.

There are many times in the Gospel when

Jesus sounds very much like a Zen master

teaching his disciples to pay attention and to

practice what he is teaching them. He

praised them when they practiced the way of

love and enabled enacted the reign of

heaven in their lives.

Jesus did not simply want his disciples and

followers to travel with him and listen to what

he said. More importantly he wanted them to

put it into practice in their daily lives.

Repeatedly he asked them, and in turn each

of us, to leave behind old behaviors and to

follow him.

Meister Eckhart writes that God is at once

both a Mary and a Martha; Mary the

immature virgin giving birth to God’s own

self, and Martha the midwife, bringing all

beings back into union with God. We are all

meant to be both Mary’s and Martha’s

mothers of God... for God is always needing

to be born.

God is always ready, but we are very

unready; God is near to us, but we are far

from Him; God is within, but we are without;

God is at home, but we are strangers...

There is a saying from the Hasidic tradition

by Mordecai ‘you are not worthy to be a

righteous person until you can feel the pain

of a women in labor fifty miles away’. This is

what it means I believe to be fully alive, to be

so aware of someone different from yourself

that you can feel a pain that you cannot

experience physically. Such is being

awakened into the way of love, it is at the

core a practice of compassion. Our openness

to diversity, not simply a cliché, but a step

into and beyond compassion.

We are encouraged to turn, to let go of some

of the things that we didn’t think we could

live without in order to discover that we can

still be ourselves, in a new way in a new

place. As Jesus said, those who want to save

their life will lose it, and those who lose their

life for the sake of the gospel will save it.

Jesus calls us to be transformed into both a

broader and deeper perception of our true

self, as mothers and midwives to the seed of

God that dwells within each of us.

Rex McKee

Deacon’s Reflections

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Mark Your Calendars: Advent

Page 15 November Newsletter

2019 Vestry

Senior Warden

Kathy Schweikart

(2020)

Junior Warden

Allen Gooch

(2021)

2020

Jay Hornbacher

Nigel Mendez

Laura Walvoord

2021

Beka Gonzalez-Olson

Jane Gilgun

Kaitlin McDonald

2022

Mark Halley

Shanti Mittra

Stacy Walters

Treasurer

Michael Morrow

(2021)

Clerk

Jane Haakenstad

Sep Actual Sep Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget

Pledges $ 46,380 $ 36,193 $ 377,928 $ 352,199

Unpledged $ 1,223 $ 1,833 $ 11,378 $ 18,250

Bldg Income $ 4,725 $ 7,430 $ 68,867 $ 66,873

Total Income $ 59,280 $ 52,569 $ 700,968* $ 571,328

Total Expenses $ 60,178 $ 61,049 $ 493,575 $ 501,397

Income-Expense $ (898) $ (8,481) $ 207,393* $ 69,931

Financial Statement of Activities - September 2019

* Please note that these numbers include additional principal payments for our Wells Fargo loan,

which were paid out of our Keeping Faith Capital Campaign dedicated account. For accounting

purposes that amount is reflected here.

Advent is a time of waiting and preparing as we make our homes and hearts ready to

celebrate Jesus’ birth. One of the most visible ways that we do this is through the use of an

Advent wreath. We’ll also have opportunities to think and explore the four themes of Advent:

Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love.

The gatherings and festivities of the holiday season are a poignant reminder of losses of all

kinds. St. John's invites you, your friends, your neighbors--any who seek companionship and

consolation in this season. Cellist Greg Nelson and pianist Chad Smith will provide a

beautiful music backdrop for this special annual service.

St. John’s will celebrate its first-in-a-long-time traditional service of Advent Lessons & Carols.

Join us to hear the stories of God’s healing work in the world from creation through the birth

of Jesus, to sing beloved Advent carols, and sink more deeply into the spirit of longing and

hope at the heart of Advent.

Do you have a favorite holiday cookie or treat? Bring a plate to share for this fun coffee hour

the Sunday before Christmas! St. John’s will provide the coffee and juice.

Page 16: November Newsletterstjohns-mpls.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/11.19_news.pdf · Ourselves and the World, and so we’ve been discerning exactly what “God’s purpose” means to

Calendar of Events Nov 2019 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1

2

3

All Saints Sunday 8:00, 9:00, 11:00am Holy Eucharist 10:00am Inter. Event 6:00pm Pilgrim Grp 7:00pm Cont. Prayer

4

5

10:30am Staff Mtg 11:00am Tai Chi Chih 12:15pm Brown Bag Eucharist 5:45pm Chair Yoga 7:30pm Polaris/Alanon

6

11:00am Yoga 12:00pm Spirit Grp 5:15pm Choir Dinner 6:00pm Children Choirs 7:00pm Chime Choir 7:00pm Liturgy Mtg

7

1:00pm Alive & Aware 6:30pm Inquirer’s Dinner

8

3:00pm Our Saviour’s Meal

9

8:30am Afford. Housing workday 12:30pm Conv. From the Heart 4:00pm Youth Grp 7:00pm Recital

10

8:00, 9:00, 11:00am Holy Eucharist 10:10am Educ. Hour 11:00am Cent. Fund 1:30pm FNK 1:30pm Confirm Grp 7:00pm Cont. Prayer

11

12

10:30am Staff Mtg 11:00am Tai Chi Chih 12:15pm Brown Bag Eucharist 4:00pm Planning Mtg 5:45pm Chair Yoga 7:30pm Polaris/Alanon

13

11:00am Yoga 12:00pm Spirit Grp 5:15pm Choir Dinner 6:00pm Children Choirs 7:00pm Chime Choir 7:00pm Liturgy Mtg

14

1:00pm Alive & Aware 7:00pm COH Mtg

15

Newsletter Deadline

16

9:30am Justice & Service Mtg

17

8:00, 9:00, 11:00am Holy Eucharist 10:10am Educ. Hour 12:30pm Forum Mtg 6:00pm Pilgrim Grp 7:00pm Book Grp 7:00pm Cont. Prayer

18

12:00pm Lunch Bunch

19

10:30am Staff Mtg 11:00am Tai Chi Chih 12:15pm Brown Bag Eucharist 5:45pm Chair Yoga 7:00pm Vestry Mtg 7:30pm Polaris/Alanon

20

11:00am Yoga 12:00pm Spirit Grp 5:15pm Choir Dinner 6:00pm Children Choirs 7:00pm Chime Choir

21

1:00pm Alive & Aware

22

7:00pm Pre-TEC

23

Pre-TEC all day

24

8:00, 9:00, 11:00am Holy Eucharist 10:00am Wreath Sales 10:00am Confirm Grp 10:10am Educ. Hour 7:00pm Cont. Prayer

25

26

10:30am Staff Mtg 11:00am Tai Chi Chih 12:15pm Brown Bag Eucharist 5:45pm Chair Yoga 7:30pm Polaris/Alanon

27

11:00am Yoga 12:00pm Spirit Grp

28

Thanksgiving Office closed 1:00pm Alive & Aware

29

Office closed 30