St. John’s Episcopal Church E-Newsletter
23 January 2008
Called by God to be a Community that hears
God’s word and does God’s work
TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE:
Fr. Michael’s Message
Bishop’s
Sabbatical
By-Law change
Activities
Epis-ca-chicks
Farewell
brunch
Reports
Stewardship
Calendar
Liturgy Ministries
Contact Us
FR. MICHAEL’S MESSAGE
It is great to be back! When I got to the airport in
Santiago, Chile, it was in the 80’s; when I left the airport in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, it was where we still are! But the reunion that I
was accompanying my parents to was a good one, so I was glad to be with them,
as I am glad to be with you once again.
Our Annual Meeting is this Sunday. I want to mention
the significant “working items” that we need to address.
In addition to receiving the budget, hearing the reports
from the priest-in-charge and the wardens, and electing Vestry members and
wardens, we will also be discussing a handful of other matters.
First, the youth discernment group will review its
recommendations for next steps. They have been meeting for several months
now and have already presented their preliminary recommendations to the Vestry,
who received them with approval. It is now time to present those ideas to
the congregation as a whole.
Second, a significant element in the recommendations of the
youth discernment group is the importance of deliberately involving and making
room for our young people at the various levels of church life. That is
why the second important item at our annual meeting is an amendment of our
by-laws. This would allow our young people to be eligible to be elected
at the same age that they are eligible to vote. According to church
canons and our bylaws, they are adult voting members at 16 years of age.
Our bylaws state that they can be elected to office only once they reach 18
years of age. Ironically, that is when most of them head out for college,
and so are not around to serve on the Vestry. The youth discernment group
urges us to change that, and the Vestry signed off on that change being
presented to the Annual Meeting.
Third, Priscilla Gray will talk about the development of a
committee for Pastoral Care here at St. John’s. That group has been
meeting, and we want you to be informed of its work.
Finally, I will present the idea of forming a task force to
look at action on outreach. I will talk more about this at the Annual
Meeting. I have had a sense that we ought to look at the possibility of
some unified action in outreach, that is, service to our community and
participation in the projects of our denomination nationally and
globally. However, it seems to me that a group needs to survey the
possibilities of involvement here and elsewhere and also to survey your own
concerns or passions (even your uneasy consciences). If our outreach is
exactly what we want it to be already, then we ought to be considering how we
bring it front and center, so that newcomers and visitors can quickly see where
our commitments lie.
I look forward to this meeting and to our time
together. As you know, a potluck is involved, so wear your elastic
waistbands.
Notice
of Bishop Jelinek’s sabbatical
Bishop Jelinek will begin a three month
sabbatical in February. He will study Spanish in Honduras for a month,
spend time working with the Standing Commission on Anglican and International
Peace with Justice Concerns, and visit the Diocese of Northern Michigan to
study their well known Total Ministry plan. The Bishop also hopes to
travel to Japan with Marilyn to visit friends at Oomoto, the Shinto sect at
which he studied in 1991. The Bishop commented,
“This time can be a very fruitful learning period for the Diocese as
well, especially as the search process for the Ninth Bishop gets
underway.” Bishop Jelinek noted that all three elected bodies of
the Diocese have now approved a process leading to the election of the IX
Bishop of Minnesota at diocesan convention, October 31, 2009. The bishop
continued, “My continued commitment is to hand over to the next bishop a
strong and vibrant diocese. I am convinced that will happen.”
During his time away from the diocese,
the Bishop’s staff will continue the day to day operations and responsibilities
of the Diocese, with Episcopal support from the Rt. Rev. Daniel Swenson, as
needed.
Proposed By-Law Change to Article III,
Section 2
The by-law change will be voted on at the Annual Meeting,
January 27, 2008
Proposal
The Youth Ministry Discernment Team, in conjunction with our
vision and recommendations for incorporating our young people into all aspects
of church life, propose that the By-Laws of St. John’s Episcopal Church
be changed to bring them into accord with the Canons of the Diocese of
Minnesota and the Canons of the Episcopal Church. Currently, Article III,
Section 2 of our parish By-Laws reads: “There shall be nine Vestry
Members who shall be qualified voters of this parish and at least eighteen years of age…”
We propose that the By-Laws be changed to read: “There
shall be nine Vestry Members who shall be Adult Communicants in Good Standing
in this parish in accordance with the Canons of the Church and the
Diocese.”
Or alternatively: “There shall be nine Vestry
Members who shall be qualified voters of this parish and at least sixteen (16)
years of age.”
The rationale for this change is posted in the Parish Hall.
ACTIVITIES
Calling all Epis-ca-chicks!
It’s time for a little mid-winter get together. Please come to a
gathering at church, Saturday, February 9, 2008, from 9:00 to 11:30 AM.
There will be coffee, goodies, and fellowship. We will also have the
opportunity to make some Anglican Prayer Beads. Please sign up in the
parish hall to make the prayer beads. It should be fun. Contact
Barb Glader with questions.
FAREWELL BRUNCH. The
women of the parish are invited to a farewell potluck brunch for Linda Dean on
Sunday, Feb. 10, after the second service at the home of Phoebe K. (Linda and
her family are moving away from St. Cloud). The directions to Phoebe’s
home are: Take Hwy 75 south, turn right at 33rd Ave. S., turn right after the
St. Cloud Medical Group onto 15th Ave. S., take the 2nd right onto Crescent
Terrace (says "to 15th Ave. S." under it), follow less than a mile
and take left into cul de sac on 15th Ave. S. We are the 2nd house on the
right, tan with white shutters. 3109 15th Ave. S.
Thanks!
REPORTS
Stewardship
To date we have 69 pledging units. The regular pledges
total $155,074 and the Faith Step totals $15,674 for a total $170,748. Pledge
cards can be turned in at any time during the year. Many thanks to all
for your support of our church.
The Stewardship Committee
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sun
27 9:30 Eucharist- - NO adult
forum or Sunday school
Annual Meeting & potluck follows service
Mon – Fri, 28-Feb 1 Home Delivered Meals
Tue
29 Vestry meets with Canon
Holmberg for Mutual Ministry Review at 6 PM
FEBRUARY
Sat 2 Vestry
retreat, 9 – 4, at the church
Tue
5 Shrove Tuesday Pancake
Supper 5:30 PM
Wed
6 Ash Wednesday services
at Noon and 7 PM
Tue
12 Lunch Bunch Eucharist and
Potluck 11:30
Wed
13 Lenten Soup Supper (6 PM ) and
Bible Study - Gospel of Matthew at 6:30. Compline at 7:30 ish
Program activities also for Sunday school youth and Jr. & Sr. Hi youth.
Liturgy
Ministers 27 Jan 9:30 AM
Chalice
Ministers Tom,
Rosie or Gale
Readers
Alexis, Paul, Hattie or Nancy
Acolytes
Bako & Andezu
Accompanist Denise
B.
Altar
Guild
Kathy W. & Jack
Coffee
Betsy
Communion Bread
Marty P.
Hospitality
Ministers Carrie & Susan
Offering
Recorders Jeanette &
Barb
Ushers Bill
D. & Dorothy
T.
Cleaning Team Deb
K. & Judy H.
CONTACT US!
Sunday Services are at 8:30 and 10:30. (except
Jan, 27).
Father Michael's office hours are Monday
through Wednesday afternoons. Other days and evenings by appointment.
Rector’s e-mail: rector@stjohns-episcopalchurch.org
The Secretary's office hours are usually
Tuesday and Wednesday 9 to 3 and Friday 9 to noon.
Office e-mail: office@stjohns-episcopalchurch.org
Web Address: www.stjohns-episcopalchurch.org