Did you ever get the feeling that everyone else got an owner’s manual for life, but it must have been handed out on a day you were absent from school, and you didn’t get a copy? Things that should have been absolute and finished by this stage of life still feel like they are continually…
Everything old is new again— The Cyclical Principle As excitement continues to build for the launch of the TAPESTRY worship service this weekend at St. John’s, one question that surfaces daily is the curiosity about the music for this innovative worship experience. What exactly can worshippers expect when they attend this outdoor service? Let’s begin…
September 17, 2023, was the third Sunday of Creation Season at St. John’s. The Church service was full of hymns and prayers giving thanks for, and asking for the care of all creation, including the skies, the earth, and the waters. These were beautiful messages which made me think, and also worry, about our fragile…
As you likely know by now, starting Oct 1 we have a few big changes coming to our weekly Sunday morning schedule: First, our weekly Sunday School program at St. John’s (using the Godly Play curriculum during the 9:30 am church service) will go on hiatus for a year so we may experiment with a different…
God-incidence I am grateful to Mother Sarah Phelps for her leadership and her confidence in inviting me to fill this role of Associate Rector. When I finished my seminary education, I was torn which direction to go — as a parish priest or into campus ministry. Fortunately, an opportunity came to do both part-time. After…
Next week 59 little children will line up to start St. John’s Preschool’s new school year. Many have never been in any preschool program before or even been separated from their parents. There may be tears, some from the children and some from the parents. When I was raising my own little ones, I never really could appreciate…
The Rev. Philip Zoutendam, Associate Rector and The Rev. Sarah Phelps, Rector First, a message from Fr. Philip: Dear beloved people of St. John’s, I have some bittersweet news, and I’m sorry that the bitter part will inevitably come as a shock. I’ll be moving to New Jersey this fall to follow my wife,…
We’re moving………..the choir pews 😊 Have you noticed how many individuals are sharing their musical talents with the Cantate Vocal Choir at our 9:30 AM Eucharist? The choir pews are filling up and the time it takes us to gather up by the keyboard and altar rail has increased and the risk of choir members…
I am back at St. John’s after 2 ½ weeks of vacation and I’m feeling exceedingly grateful: Grateful for the extended rest and time with friends and family while on vacation; grateful for our Associate “Rev. Drs.”, Lorraine and Jim, who are always so supportive and willing to serve when asked; grateful for Lois Sauer,…
COHESION: the act or condition of cohering; the tendency to stick together. Since returning from the Intergenerate Ministry Conference last month, there is a “buzz” around St. John’s. That “I” word keeps surfacing in conversations, sermons, announcements, the eNews. There is excitement paired with nervousness, right? And that nervous energy is a positive attribute! Imagine…