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ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH CORE VALUES The fundamental essence of St. John’s core values is this church CARES about its congregation, community, environment and civic responsibilities. How this church and its congregation care is what makes St. John’s special. Here is how St. John’s CARES: Connect – St. John’s connects with people no matter where theyRead more

Most people think of hymns as being songs. However, hymnologists define a “hymn” as a piece of poetry that is meant to be sung. If you grabbed one of our hymnals and wrote out the text, it would be obvious. (in fact, some hymnals in English churches and older American ones display hymns this way,Read more

I’m feeling the weight of disappointment and hurt and suffering these days, and due to some of the conversations I’ve had lately, I imagine many of you are as well. From receiving bad news about our health, to worrying about the health and safety of people we know and love – and people we don’tRead more

Every priest I know is asking the question, “Will people come back to church?” Based on last Sunday, the answer for St. John’s is a resounding yes! Our in person and online attendance were about twice what they have been. It was a glorious Sunday with the start of our new Music Director, John KarlRead more

In my sermon last Sunday I preached about Elijah despairing in the wilderness and praying that God would take away his life (1 Kings 19:4-8.) My focus was on what we learn about faith and resilience from the story of Elijah. The sermon is available on our live stream page and starts at minute 21:00. The audioRead more

It seems strange, in many ways, to write this introduction, as so many members of this congregation have known me since I was just a wee wild redhead racing up and down the aisles. On the other hand, there are also so many of you whom I have yet to meet within this St. John’sRead more

Last Sunday during the 10am we celebrated baptism. It was the first baptism St. John’s has celebrated as a community gathered together in the church in a long time. In baptism, vows are made, priorities are focused, and we remember together who we are as people of faith. The liturgy isn’t just for the personRead more

At the 2019 church staff Christmas gift swap, the Rector came away with the gift deemed ‘least cool.’ It was a dog-eared print showing an alternate Last Supper. (A certain Associate Priest now residing in Boston slipped the gift into the pile of mystery packages.) The print is a reproduction of a painting done byRead more

The Wednesday evening Bible Study has been making its way through the Book of Exodus. We seek to enter into the sacred stories with curiosity, desiring to learn more about the context of our faith, and how these stories shape our worldview, our understanding, our purpose, and the ways in which we live out ourRead more

Oh, wow, where to start? How does one encapsulate six years of ministry with a thoughtful and caring community? First, let me thank the many youth, parents, and parishioners of St. John’s for being a singularly great place to work. As I get ready for my last Sunday, I want to thank the many peopleRead more