This Week at St. John’s
May 7, 2023
Youth Lock-In – Saturday, May 6 – Sunday, May 7 – We will meet at St. Stephen’s at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 (you can come late, but please try to get to the church by 9 p.m.). We will have a picnic on the OSU campus, play some improve games, talk about holy listening, and watch a movie / play board games! We’ll sleep in different rooms in a few different rooms at the church – bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and toiletries. Then, the next morning we’ll have breakfast and go to church at St. Stephen’s at their 10:30 a.m. service, where youth from both St. Stephen’s and St. John’s will serve, where St. Stephen’s youth leader Darien will read, and where David will preach! please RSVP to David if your kid would like to come to either or both of these events – you can also talk to David if you have any questions about either of them. David’s email is davidb@stjohnsworthington.org. This event replaces the usual youth group gathering on May 7.
All-Ages Worship — As this is the first Sunday of the month, our 9:00 service will be all-ages worship.
Sunday School — Children ages 3 through 5th grade, meet us in the Atrium at 10:00 for Sunday School! We use the interactive Godly Play program to teach stories from our tradition in a hands-on manner. We’ll be in Classroom 2, on the 3rd floor by the unfinished room.
The Parish Cycle of Prayer begins today. As a means of strengthening and deepening relationships within our parish, we will pray for several households each week, alphabetically by last name. You are invited to include these names in your personal prayers.
Coffee and Conversation: The Sociology, Anthropology, and Theology of Evil — Join Sarah Iles Johnston, who teaches in OSU’s religion program, and Gia Hayes-Martin for a three-part series exploring evil. Sarah will introduce us in the first week to one of the methods that sociologists and anthropologists use to understand the various ways in which societies try to explain “the problem of evil.” In the second week, she’ll take us through some of the history of the European witch craze, which stretched across several centuries, discussing the ways in which attributing evil to witches and the Devil enabled Christians at the time to avoid confronting other theological issues. She’ll also talk about the fact that nowadays, we get many of our images of evil from fiction, and raise the question of how that affects our belief in it. In the third week, Gia will follow up on Sarah’s perspective with a look at the theology of evil. Is spiritual evil “real”? (Spoiler alert: yes.) How do Episcopalians understand evil? What do we mean when we renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness and the evil powers of this world in our baptism? The series will meet on Sundays, May 7, 14, and 21, at 10:15 a.m. in Kilbourne Hall. All are welcome.
Celtic Service, Sunday, May 7, 5 p.m. — Please join us in the Atrium for a Celtic Service contemplating God’s Creation. This is a quiet, meditative and intimate service with music and liturgy based on the Iona Abbey Worship Book, followed by a time of fellowship and hospitality. We welcome all St. John’s parishioners and friends from outside our church family to join our Celtic circle to mark the conclusion of our Lenten journey toward Easter. ~ The Celtic Fellowship
Worthington Chamber Orchestra’s spring performance “Love, Songs, and Broadway” will include songs from Puccini to Gershwin to Rogers & Hammerstein. Debbie Price is the principal viola, supported by Nancy Elkington and Ted Dziemianowicz. 5:00 on Sunday, May 7, at the Worthington United Methodist church. Tickets are available on the WCO website, worthingtonchamberorchestra.com.
Protests and Changes in Iran — Monday, May 8, 7:00 p.m. Old Worthington Library, Owl meeting room. Learn more about Iran’s current state of affairs, following widespread protests that began last fall after the death of a young woman in police custody. Dr. Mehrak Kamali-Sarvestani, (https://nesa.osu.edu/people/kamalisarvestani.1) Persian language program coordinator at The Ohio State University’s Department of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures, will share insight into the societal forces behind the protests. Presented in partnership with the Worthington International Friendship Association, learn more at https://www.worthington.org/333/WIFA.
Gia Is Away on continuing education from Monday, May 8, through Thursday, May 11. David is available to attend to pastoral emergencies in her absence.
The Funeral for Barbara Brooks, a longtime member of this parish, will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2:00pm at St. John’s.
St. John’s t-shirts are back by popular demand! Don’t miss your chance to order a St. John’s t-shirt. Order forms can be found in the Atrium. All orders must be placed by May 14th. T-shirts are available in red, lime green and ocean blue with the St. John’s logo in white on the front, in adult sizes small, medium, large, x-large, and 2xl. The cost of the t-shirt is $20.00 with all proceeds going to our outreach and social justice ministries. Consider purchasing shirts for yourself, a friend, or as a donation to the congregation. E-mail Jean Duncan at jeanduncan59@msn.com to request an order form if you view services on-line or if you have any questions. Orders will be available for pick up in the Atrium in early June. Hope to see you in your St. John’s spirit wear soon!
Clothing on Coat Racks in Atrium and Hallway outside Library – some clothing has been there for a long time. If you are missing any coats or clothing, please check. The items left on the racks will be donated around May 15.
Singles Dining Out – In May, Singles Dining Out will gather at Cafe Istanbul on Wednesday, May 17, at 6:00 pm. Cafe Istanbul is located at 6125 Riverside Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43017. You can find Cafe Istanbul’s intriguing menu at https://www.cafeistanbuldublin.com/menu2/. Please RSVP to Tricia Herban at mtherban3@gmail.com or 443-454-0684 so she can let Café Istanbul know the size of our group. Singles Dining Out is an informal group of St. John’s parishioners and friends, always happy to welcome new participants. Singles and married individuals who will be attending without their spouse are welcome to participate, and feel free to invite a friend who is not a member of St. John’s. We hope you can join us for Turkish fare at Cafe Istanbul on May 17! ~Mary Bailey
Blessings for Graduates on May 21 – We’ll celebrate and give thanks for 2023 graduates at both services on Sunday, May 21. Please send names and schools of graduates to Virginia Nussbaum at virginian@stjohnsworthington.org by Wednesday, May 17.
Cabaret! The choir will be holding its first annual end of season Cabaret on Sunday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m. This will be a fun evening of music making. We’ll be serving dinner, songs, and laughter. Come and see the talented musicians of St. John’s performing sacred and secular music with our brilliant accompanist Stephen Sollars. All ages are welcome! Please RSVP to music@stjohnsworthington.org or text 304-374-1666 (Nick Taylor) so we can make sure we have enough food and seats.
Vacation Bible School – Kids aged 3-11 are invited to join us for Vacation Bible School this year! We’ll meet at the church from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays in June (that’s June 5, 12, 19, and 26). The theme will be diversity in the Body of Christ – how God calls many different people to be in community together. Kids from St. John’s or outside St. John’s are welcome! Please register no later than May 23. Here’s a link to the sign up sheet: https://www.stjohnsworthington.org/participate/for-children-and-youth/vbs/register-for-vacation-bible-school/
Upcoming Baptism Dates — St. John’s will celebrate the sacrament of Baptism on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, and also during Bishop Wayne Smith’s visitation on Sunday, June 25. Preparation involves a conversation with a priest. If you are interested in Baptism for yourself or your child, please contact Gia or David.
St. John’s Book Club – is meeting again on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m on Zoom click HERE. Christian short stories are our focus at this time; The Best Christian Short Stories, edited by Bret Lott. The book can be purchased from Amazon’s selection of used book sellers. Please join us for some scintillating conversation. If you have any questions contact Teri Foley-Nelson, at foleynelson1@sbcglobal.net.
The Readings for Next Sunday Are – Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:7-18; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21.
Centering Prayer – Mondays, 1:00 p.m. Click this Zoom link (Meeting ID: 876 4837 0994; Passcode: 408290; One tap mobile +13126266799,,87648370994#,,,,*408290#). If you are interested, contact Teri Foley-Nelson, at foleynelson1@sbcglobal.net.
Suggested Grocery Items – for next week: pasta or rice side dishes; toothpaste. You can place your food and toiletry donations in the food baskets in the atrium. You can also give online at www.worthingtonresourcepantry.org/donate/ or www.gladdenhouse.org/food-pantry. Another way to help is by volunteering yourself – check out www.worthingtonresourcepantry.org/volunteer/ to learn about volunteering at our local pantry, or www.midohiofoodbank.org to learn about the needs and opportunities at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.
Do You Have Family or Friends Who You Want Included on the Weekly Prayer List? If so, please contact Virginia at VirginiaN@stjohnsworthington.org or 614-846-5180 ext. 306, with their first names. Names will remain on the list for three weeks unless there are additional instructions. If you want longer term prayer by the intercessory prayer group, please contact Jo Pascoe at 614-885-1773 and leave a message or twopas@aol.com.
Pastoral Care Concerns – If you have a pastoral care concern, please contact one of the clergy. Gia may be reached at 614-846-5180, ext. 302, 220-219-1880, or GiaHM@StJohnsWorthington.org. David may be reached at 614-846-5180, ext. 308, 220-219-1880 or, or DavidB@stjohnsworthington.org. 220 area code is a local number.
If you are seeing this as a paper copy, the links are available on: https://www.stjohnsworthington.org/news/announcements/
People for whom prayers have been asked
And we pray for:
Monroe III
Elaine
Larry
Ralph
Joyce
Lu
Dick
Valerie
Frank
Amanda & Jammy
Max
Amanda
Sarah Jane
Myasha
Jo
For our service men and women and all first responders
(Allow time for
others to pray)
For all those affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, here and throughout the world
For those who are
unemployed or
underemployed
(Allow time for
others to pray)
For all who experience fear or exclusion
(Allow time for
others to pray)
For those in prison or bondage – in body or spirit
(Allow time for
others to pray)
For peace, and for all those who suffer from war
The people of Ukraine
Parish Cycle of Prayer
The Adeyanju family
The Margaret Allen family
The Russell Allen family
Joe & Carol Alutto
The Anaba family
Nneoma Anaba
The Departed
We Give Thanks
For the people of St. John’s and for their ministries
Notes:
St. John’s has two separate prayer lists.
To add names to the “public” prayer list as seen above, please call the church office at 614-846-5180, or send an email to VirginiaN@stjohnsworthington.org. Names added to that sheet will remain on the prayer list for three weeks, or shorter if requested. Last names are not used. If you wish prayers to be continued, simply list the name on the prayer list again. Of course, you may always add names aloud during the prayers of the people.
There is also a “private” intercessory prayer group staffed by several volunteers from within the parish. To have your prayer request included on the prayer chain, please contact Jo Pascoe at 614-885-1773 and leave a message or twopas@aol.com
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