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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…
Blessing of the Animals October 4 from 5:30PM – 7PM CLICK HERE for a printable flyer. Feel free to share with friends, family, neighbors or even your vet office!
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…
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) on Sept. 26 9AM – 5PM Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered…
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…
11:15 AM Eucharist We’ve given this experimental new service its own name: TAPESTRY You may want to join us at TAPESTRY if: you would relish a style of worship where all ages may fully participate and enjoy each other’s presence (a TAPESTRY woven from the wisdom of God in all ages) you sometimes wish you could discuss with…
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…
A Prayer Calendar for Creation Season 2023 is available for you to pick up from the table in the Narthex starting this Sunday. This calendar was created by Julie Arthur, Creation Care Leader, and is designed to enrich your spiritual journey by guiding your daily prayers towards creations of God. As you utilize this calendar,…
Hi! I’m JJ Renfrow and I’m a member of the St.John’s youth group. Two members of my Girl Scout troop and I are working on our Silver Award community project, creating an LGBTQ+-centered little library in downtown Wake Forest. Silver Award is the second-highest award you can earn in Girl Scouts, with Gold Award being…
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…
CLICK HERE to watch a video of the camper’s performance! 2023 Awesome Arts Adventures Summer Camp I have a wonderful life. It’s full of the Spirit, family, friends, and many talented and dedicated people. The 2023 Awesome Arts Adventures Summer Camp is just one example. What a blessing this week has been to be able…
Our Refugee Resettlement Ministry Update on Welcoming a Ukrainian Family First, thank you for actively loving our neighbors. Not long ago we posted a photo of the Ukrainian family which we at St. John’s have been assisting with resettlement. Two members of the Fostiuk family were able to leave Ukraine via a circuitous route after…
Ministry Spotlight – Children & Family with Jane Hill
Ministry Spotlight Building & Grounds with Bob Hill
We recently celebrated the Moving On Ceremony at the preschool and of course I got emotional. Saying goodbye is difficult after you have poured so much into such sweet relationships. It’s not just letting go of the children that we have cared for so much but also the parents/families that become such a special part of…
It’s graduation season, and there are signs of celebration all around! There are balloons and flowers, candy bouquets and class parties, yard signs and yearbooks, and caps and gowns as far as the eye can see. Social media platforms are exploding with pictures of little ones now all grown up and moving from one level…
BELOW ARE BOOKS THAT COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Stop by St. John’s Library in the Parish Hall during Coffee Hour on Sundays or during the week, Monday – Thursday 10AM – 3PM. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon If you’re looking for entertaining summer reading, I invite you to enter the small town of Mitford,…
Creation Care Ministry Spotlight with Julie Arthur & Ann Weiser Fellowship Ministry Spotlight with Elizabeth Lyon – Hiking Club Fellowship Ministry Spotlight with Cindy Freeman – Book Club
Awesome Arts Adventures Camp! 2nd graders thru High Schoolers welcome Registration is now open – CLICK HERE to register! St. John’s Music Director, Marcia Klinder-Badgley, will be holding a Summer Day Camp at St. John’s from June 19-June 23 from 9-Noon featuring: Djembe Drum Circles, Ukuleles, Visual Art Projects, Games and Snacks. Open to 2nd graders through…
“Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!” Psalm 68:35 Can you feel the incredible energy in the air at St. John’s? It’s AWESOME! God’s presence is heard/felt/seen in all things and the excitement that is generated for worship, formation, outreach,…
Now what? We have arrived at Easter. Our Lenten journey is complete, and we have witnessed our annual reliving of the drama of the Last Supper, Passion, and Resurrection again. Finally, the tomb is empty, Angel’s proclamation is heard, and Jesus lives! What a relief, but now what do we do? In my Sunday sermon,…
What was it like for Lazarus to be resurrected? Our gospel reading last Sunday, and Fr. Stephen’s probing sermon, brought us to the very precipice of the mystery of new life made possible in Jesus. What is it like to see new life spring up in the midst of death? What is the experience of…
I wanted to provide an overview of staff transitions coming up this Spring/Summer at St. John’s and what our Vestry and I are doing to address ongoing parish needs in response. I know many are curious as to what options we are considering, and perhaps a little nervous because we’re facing quite a lot of…
Spiritual Formation Classes I was preparing for tomorrow night’s class about the Holiness Tradition and was struck by the narrative about the Ten Commandments and not only following them, but following the spirit of the law. God desires holiness, purity, and virtue in our lives as a way to make our lives whole and pure. To trust…
Ministry Spotlight – Adult Formation with Beth McCauly
“Making mistakes in the spiritual life is an essential part of growth—as important as forest fires, blow-downs, and insects are to the life of a thriving forest. You grow only in being burnt, bent, and bitten. You have to stumble before you walk…” As one who has spent their life incessantly striving for perfectionism, the…
Last Sunday afternoon I joined our awesome EYC leaders (Christina Kastendike and Mike Phelps), Father Philip, and about ten of our youth in the Parish Hall to discuss Outreach at St. John’s (AKA “worshiping outside the walls of church”). Most of them were familiar with some of the work we do in the community to…
I arrive at the preschool early each morning to a quiet building filled with promise. The promise of the joy that will fill each classroom when the teachers and students arrive. I walk down the hall and begin to pray. I pray for the health and safety of all our students and teachers. I pray for the teachers…
S – T – R – E- T – C – H !! Stretching and exercise are two key factors in getting and staying healthy! Regular exercise will help you feel better, improve your balance, and contribute to your overall health. We can work on that together at St John’s! Ask your doctor about the…
Parish Care Ministry Spotlight with Kitty Kovacs Parish Care Ministry Spotlight with Kenille Baumgardner Parish Care Ministry Spotlight with Edna Toney & Lynn Bartholomew Parish Care Ministry Spotlight with Court Crosby
Last week Mo. Sarah wrote in her eNews article about the practice of Lent. As she said, our Lenten journey begins this year as it does every year with Ash Wednesday. The practice of having the sign of the cross placed on our foreheads with ashes is a powerful experience. The grittiness of the ashes…
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent… (p 265, Book of Common Prayer) Next Wednesday, the priests presiding at our Ash Wednesday services will say these words as they have been said for centuries in the liturgical branches of the Christian Church. My hope this…
Winter perennial gardens are woefully misunderstood. Messy, drab,cluttered with dead stalks and leaves, they seem to be the opposite of what one expects of a garden. But wait! Before judging that messy garden too harshly, think about what those hard-working plants do for much of the year: they bloom for months, yielding joy to humans…
Priests, I think, are not supposed to have favorite scripture passages or liturgical seasons, kind of like you’re not supposed to have a favorite child. But I do. Advent is my favorite season, and the scripture passages we read in Advent are among the ones I treasure most in all of scripture. (There. You’ve heard…
Message of the Week “There are saints who light the darkness, and the world cannot contain them, For the love of God sustains them, they will never be forgotten. We are blest to have them with us, and we praise the God who made them…” John Ylvisaker, (1937-2017), the author of this text,…
Women’s Retreat — Take some time and space to feed your soul. Click here to reserve your spot now with online registration and payment! We have great news about the Women’s Spring Retreat for St John’s, March 10-12, 2023. The Retreat will again be at Haw River State Park in Brown’s Summit, north of Greensboro, NC. We…
By Ken Marsh (pictured right) and Moe Isenberg (pictured left) From Ken: Moe Isenberg recently shared with me a piece he wrote in the 1980’s titled “What I get out of taking communion to shut-ins?” Moe summed it up in one word: PEACE! In that one word, Moe beautifully sums up all the feelings, emotions and activities…
As Fall settles in, we move from a focus on Creation Season at St. John’s (celebrating God’s gift of Creation and God’s call to steward it well), to a season of reflection on other dimensions of stewardship: First, discerning how we might best serve God and neighbor with our time, and our talents, and our…
“I want to walk as a child of the light.” This simple song we sing every Sunday as the children of St. John’s process to Godly Play grounds us and reminds us of Isaiah’s vision of the peaceful kingdom, which states, “and a little child shall lead them.” As we have entered the Season of…
Printable version: Spiritual Formation Flyer
My favorite memories as a child were back to school shopping for new school supplies, new school clothes, and of course the change of the seasons. We are back to a new year at the preschool with 65 students attending. We have 31 families that are new to St. John’s Preschool this year, many of which…
Over the years I have heard hundreds of times that our congregation cares deeply about food security. Our faith in action has made St. John’s known in the community as a church that works to feed the hungry. Historically and currently, our time, treasure and talents support our deep conviction to feed the hungry and…
To mask or not to mask? (This is NOT the only important question.) Since March of 2020 – going on two and a half years now – this has been a major question; but interestingly, I find the current moment the hardest to manage from my position as a decision-maker on these matters for St.…
The power of nature… where God’s creation surrounds us daily… and we are grateful for this world. Nearly three decades ago, a movement extolling the virtues of experiencing the great outdoors emerged from Japan. Shinrin-yoku (translated as “taking in the forest atmosphere”), promoted the therapeutic benefits of truly observing and experiencing the…
Please let us know if you are coming each week by texting or emailing Mike Phelps 909-896-5900 michaelbphelps@yahoo.com or Christina Kastendike 410-980-2868 cmkastendike@gmail.com. Parents, reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or input on meeting time, location, frequency, etc. Thank you. It is a privilege to get to know and to serve your kids. Upcoming…
. PRAYground Sunday, Sept. 18 @ 5 PM PRAYground is a 30 minute, youth-friendly service that brings all generations together to worship and explore how to follow Jesus’ Way of Love in the real world; and then we hang out and eat around 5:30 PM. We’ll serve Mac & Cheese with various toppings and sauces…
We have begun our “Bury the Debt” campaign to pay off our mortgage on the Education Building. We owe approximately $50,000 and we would like for that to be paid off by November 1st so that this account will not have to be considered when formulating next year’s budget! In addition, we are selling…
“What are you looking for?” That is Jesus’s question to his first disciples in John’s Gospel (Jn. 1:38), and that is my question to you, the people of St. John’s: What are you looking for? My focus as curate at St. John’s this year is discipleship — that is, supporting, initiating, and cultivating…
“GO!” has been one of the guiding principles of Outreach at St. John’s over the last several years. The Episcopal Church has a beautiful way to describe the Way of Love practice “GO:” To GO is to “cross boundaries, listen deeply and live like Jesus. He sends us beyond our circles of comfort to witness…
Won’t you be my neighbor? Recognized by generations throughout the world as a question posed by the infamous Fred (Mister) Rogers, this quote came to mind as this Sunday’s Gospel lesson (Luke 10:25-37), shares the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Reading through this lesson, verse 29 poses the question: “And who is my neighbor?” When…
This past Sunday, Bishop Sam preached on the nativity of St. John. His sermon was inspiring; more than once, he referenced the prophetic voice of the people of our beloved church. Celebrating our patron saint is an integral part of our identity. However, as Bishop Sam pointed out, while we tend to think of the…
As individuals and as part of various communities, we have all felt the impact of the isolation of the pandemic. St. John’s has maneuvered through the pandemic years with the guidance of our Bishop, Diocese and CDC guidelines. Gradually we have begun to make our way back together, still mindful of Covid trends. When we stopped our…
JOHN’S NATIVE PLANT NATIVE PLANT TEACHING GARDEN 2022 LATE SPRING/SUMMER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE This is the seventh growing season of the Native Plant Teaching Garden at St. John’s Church! The Native Plant Teaching Garden was established in 2015 as a collaborative project between St. John’s Church and St. John’s Preschool. It has grown to include…
We are excited to announce that we will have two new youth directors. Micheal Phelps will be working with our youth on the programming and formation side, and Christina Kastendike will be helping to communicate and coordinate our youth activities. Below is some information from them both. We look forward to the work they will…
Over the past few weeks several of you have asked Mo. Sarah and I how the former residents of the Wellington Park Mobile Home Community are doing since their displacement six months ago. Your curiosity as a community about the outcomes for our vulnerable neighbors reminds me of why our church became so deeply involved…
Botswana Appeal Letter For many years I have leaned heavily on Bishop Curry’s “Way of Love” seven practices of Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest to guide my work here at St. John’s and my life. Out of all of these practices, I have a favorite: GO! To me, GO means going beyond…
I have the best seat in the house on Sunday mornings; and it is a privilege I don’t take for granted. We who serve from the chancel (altar area) on Sundays get to see your faces instead of the back of your heads: so, I see you smile as you share the Peace; sing lustily…
Ukulele Adventures Summer Music Camp 2022 June 20 through June 24, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. on the campus of St. John’s Episcopal Church WHO CAN BE A CAMPER? All “Rising” 2nd graders through Middle School students (Campers will be divided into age groups the first day) REQUIREMENTS? Curiosity about music and…a desire…
Covid-19 Protocols at St. John’s Signing up for worship services & masks Sign-ups are not required for any of our services at this point. Masks are optional for those who are fully vaccinated, but remain strongly encouraged in enclosed spaces. Masks remain mandatory for those who are not fully vaccinated (3 years or older.) Please…
You can give online to St. John’s Church GIVE ONLINE or Text STJOHNSWF to 73256 You can mail a check made out to St. John’s Church to: St. John’s Episcopal Church 834 Durham Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587 You can give in-person at church on Sunday or during the week Church office hours…
A Meditation on Grace: Thirteen years ago Grace, our beloved Yorkipoo, entered my family’s world, and like God’s grace, turned our world upside down by offering unmerited favor and unconditional love. Two weeks ago our best friend Gracie crossed the rainbow bridge, and the most fitting headstone/Facebook engraving I could offer to sum up her…
“oo-koo-LEH-leh” = UKULELE Next month, St. John’s Episcopal Church will kick off an inaugural summer arts camp: UKULELE ADVENTURES 2022. From June 20th through the 24th, campers ranging in age from “rising” 2nd graders through Middle School, will have the opportunity to experience a week of music learning and mastery of this fun little instrument. Here are a few facts…
Spring has indeed arrived here at St. John’s Preschool. Our classes are taking walks around our beautiful grounds on scavenger hunts looking for signs of spring, bugs, flowers, and birds. The Three and Four Year Old classes will receive two lessons from the Creation Care Committee. This week the lesson was on “Birds and Their Beaks” and next…
CLICK HERE to see Holy Week Schedule Information with links to watch via Zoom or YouTube.
Access livestreams via our homepage. Palm Sunday/The Sunday of the Passion, April 10 @ 9:30 AM (Remember to bring in loose coins collected during Lent so we can give some “Laundry Love” to our Afghan refugee neighbors.) One service only at 9:30 AM (7:45 AM is canceled.) In-person & livestreamed. This service begins in praise…
Four years ago Roxanne Johnson and I led a weekly Lenten study entitled “Becoming Beloved Community.” This was a relatively new term for us at St. John’s but we were guided by the Episcopal Church’s structure for a Lenten study by the same name. We provided weekly readings, videos and centered content from the podcast series…
Look around. If you are in your kitchen right now, there’s probably a bit of treasure within finger tip reach. That slimy banana peel left over from breakfast? A greasy pizza box from lunch? Chicken bones from last night’s supper? Molded yogurt from who knows when? They all hold the promise of GOLD…black gold, that…
Learn to Create Ukrainian Easter Eggs (Pysanky) For thousands of years the Slavic people of Eastern Europe have decorated eggs. In Ukraine this art is known as Pysanky. In pre-Christian Ukraine these eggs were decorated in an effort to gain the good will of the many nature gods worshiped by the people. Egg designs were…
“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” Prayed during the Ash Wednesday liturgy, these words bid the church enter into Lent’s season. They are both beautiful and…
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, on March 2. While our staff and other leaders were busy making plans a few weeks ago, someone jokingly asked, “Can’t we just skip Lent this year?! It feels like we’ve been in Lent for two years straight!” To the extent that Lent is about self-denial –…
Our next Soloist social will take us to an entirely different venue: a Six Sundays in Spring concert at Joyner Park! Originally, the concerts were held at the Wake Forest College Birthplace downtown. Excluding the past two Covid years, this outdoor concert series has been ongoing for 27 years. Sponsored by ARTs Wake Forest and the…
Dear members of St. John’s, The weather is improving and Lent is just around the corner! Many of us pay homage to Jesus fasting for forty days in the desert by giving up a particular food. After practicing that ritual myself for many years, I decided to make Lent more of a inspirational practice towards…
No matter where you fall on the Valentine’s Day enthusiasm continuum: binging on chocolates bemoaning the commercialization of a mid February pointless holiday OR extravagantly celebrating the romantic love of your life all decked out in red for the whole world to see- I suspect we all can agree that the Feast of St. Valentine’s has…
No matter where you fall on the Valentine’s Day enthusiasm continuum: binging on chocolates bemoaning the commercialization of a mid February pointless holiday OR extravagantly celebrating the romantic love of your life all decked out in red for the whole world to see- I suspect we all can agree that the Feast of St. Valentine’s has…
My introduction to the Episcopal church came when I was in college. I was new to the state of North Carolina and at a relatively small university. Church had always been a huge part of my life, and with the closest Lutheran church being 20 minutes away, I knew I wanted to be involved in…
A message from the Strategic Design Team Since the end of October St. John’s Strategic Design Team (SDT) has been working hard to formulate a Mission and Values statement and 3-Year Goals for our parish that will guide our identity and direction as we move forward as a parish. We have strived be faithful to,…
Each Wednesday in February, starting on February 2, Music Director Marcia Klinder-Badgley will be offering a class celebrating the hymnody/liturgical contributions of Black poets/composers. This class will be virtual on Zoom and held consecutive weeks beginning at 7:00 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82812268887 Meeting ID 828 1226 8887 Materials in preparation for Song Lovers…
A strummin’ summer comin’ your way… In Fall 2021, multiple conversations were taking place about the direction ministries might be headed as St. John’s envisions the future. One idea that came from my dialogue with members of the Strategic Design Team, was a three-year goal for the creation of a school of the arts that…
On the six Sundays between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Ash Wednesday (1/23 – 2/27), The Rev. Stephen Mazingo will lead a program for kids and families to explore the influence African American’s have had on the Episcopal Church. Each week we will learn about a different African American Saint, remember their life and…
Several years ago, I helped lead a youth group on a pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey. It was a part of a process these young people went through, which included biblical preparation, learning about what pilgrimage means, and fundraising. Traveling to Greece for pilgrimage meant that we had to take a cruise ship to visit…
As part of St. John’s Episcopal Church’s celebration of Black History Month, The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. will preach on Sunday, February 6. Dr. Forbes has spent his lifelong, spirit-filled career challenging people of faith and moral courage to stand up nonviolently against hurtful policies that disproportionately impact the poor, the ill, children,…
As I reflect on the last two years of pandemic impacts on our parish life, it’s the impact on our relationships that I most lament. We’ve managed to figure out how to worship online or outdoors when we need to. We’ve come together to serve neighbors in our community, to bless gardens and plant trees,…
Congregations for Social Justice Annual Meeting (aka “Annual Dinner Meeting”) Virtual Annual Meeting – Monday, February 7, 2022 – 6:00 PM Register HERE to attend, advanced registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAocOCorjsjEtWSyIa2GU1EvbbAwGoeuHPA Instead of paying for dinner, we are invited to make a donation to…
PARISH CARE COMMITTEE I have been asked to chair this new committee at St. John’s, which will bring several wonderful volunteer groups under one heading. Please understand this does not mean the many competent leaders for Lay Eucharistic Visitors, the Meal “train”, Birthday recognitions, the Prayer Team, Memorial/Funeral Receptions and Alzheimer’s support groups, among others,…
Join Creation Justice Ministries for a climate revival! CLICK HERE to see the Creation Justice Ministries for climate revival webpage and to register for the event on Jan. 20 at 7:30 PM. After another year of record-breaking climate disasters, environmental injustices are degrading our communities, God’s Creation, and democracy. This year, Creation Justice Ministries…
This will be my final newsletter article as your Senior Warden. My term will expire at the end of this month, as will my tenure on the Vestry, and I simply want to say how thankful I am for having this opportunity to serve you and our parish. The past three years have been a…
ANNUAL MEETING PART 1 DEC 12, 2021 — REVISED REPORT 12/13/21 CLICK HERE TO READ OUR ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2021
The Sounds of Christmas Last year, celebrations of our Savior’s birth included little to no live music due to pandemic restrictions. Holiday conversations lamented the lack of singing, Christmas caroling, bells ringing–the season different from the past. This year, Christmas Eve 2021 will offer all ages—children, youth, adults—the chance to join voices singing as an…
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS EVE AT ST. JOHN’S IN 2021 St. John’s remains under pandemic protocols that limit seating at our indoor services. At this moment, seating for all three of our Christmas Eve services is full except for very limited walk-in seats available on a first-come, first-served basis on Christmas Eve. Please CLICK HERE for warnings…
This Sunday we will light two candles on the Advent Wreath and hear a voice crying in the wilderness. That voice is the voice of John the Baptist, the patron saint of St. John’s parish. While we don’t hear John’s exact words in Luke, whatever he said and did clearly remind the gospel-writer of Isaiah’s…
What I know for sure is that everyone we serve in our outreach ministries also has a deep longing to serve, connect and do good in the world. I witness every week in my work as Director of Outreach: Folks who come through one week to pick up meals at Hope House, stop by to…
Fall has finally arrived in North Carolina. The air is getting colder and crisp, and we can hear the crackle of freshly fallen leaves under our shoes. We are past the excitement of Halloween and the feast of All Saints. Now, our hearts and minds turn toward the annual celebration of Thanksgiving. For the Mazingo family, that…
Approaching this weekend of worship commemorating All Saints/All Souls, we remember those family members and friends who have passed from this life. For many, the classic hymn synonymous with All Saints/All Souls is Sine nomine: “For all the saints, who from their labors rest.” From the opening foundational organ pedal tone, eight hymn stanzas depict…
Every year, when we get to this point in autumn—with leaves crunching underfoot and dusk creeping earlier and earlier—I find myself returning to that incredible classic of poetry, T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets. In “East Coker”, Eliot dwells particularly on the themes of death and life, an appropriate theme for autumn, as we once again remember…
It’s Thanksgiving week, and as often happens this time of year I find myself thinking about Barney the purple dinosaur. You see, when our children were younger, we often read “Barney’s Thanksgiving” together, a sweet little book in which Barney and his friends take turns sharing the relationships, foods and gifts of nature for which…
I am so pleased and thankful to have Fr. Stephen Mazingo joining our staff part-time as Sr. Associate for Family Ministries at the end of this month. (He’ll be ¼ time through Nov/Dec, then goes ½ time in January.) While some internet issues interrupted our “Meet and Greet” with Stephen this week, those who attended…
Growing up in a predominantly first generation Irish and Italian Catholic neighborhood outside of Philadelphia, Christopher Columbus Day was celebrated in my parochial school and the Columbus Day parade was televised on our local TV stations. I loved this holiday that corresponded with my birthday because it meant an extra long weekend! Then I earned a…
Our Season of Stewardship Camille Stell, Stewardship Committee Stewardship is an ethic or a moral principle that guides our behavior. In the Christian tradition, stewardship manifests itself in the way we use our time, talents, and material possessions for serving God. At St. John’s, we are entering our Stewardship Season. Our Walk in Love stewardship…
I recall that in one of my earlier articles last spring, I mentioned that one of the things I really missed during Covid was hearing the “squeals of children laughing and playing” and the observation that “young children are such exuberant learners and always in awe of the many gifts from God”. Well, they are…
As we approach this Labor Day weekend, I’ve had some interesting thoughts pop into my mind. A quick search on Wikipedia tells me that the first Monday in September was designated as a Federal holiday in 1894, to “honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development…
Hi St. Johns! My name is Kendall Bauer and I am excited to be joining you all as the new EYC Director (Episcopal Youth Community)! I am originally from the Jersey Shore and moved to North Carolina for college. I am an alumni of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and I graduated in…
Well, we had a brief moment this summer when it seemed life might return to some version of pre-pandemic normal – at least for those who are vaccinated and not seriously immuno-compromised. But sadly, with case numbers rising rapidly once again, that moment appears to be passing. At this point, our diocese has reinstituted an…
In my last column, I shared that the Vestry would be working to identify candidates willing to serve on the “Strategic Design Team” that will lead the Ministry Architects report implementation process. Today, I am thrilled to announce that this group has been named and will soon begin its important task. In addition to Mo.…
“Christians Taking Seriously What Jesus Took Seriously” On Saturday evening over 200 people gathered at Wellington Mobile Home Park to listen to the stories of and show support for the residents there who face losing their homes in the impending sale of the land their mobile homes are on. Residents diverse in age, ethnicity and…
From The Rev. Sarah Phelps, Rector Past, Present & Future In early 2019, St. John’s made an historic decision with parish-wide participation and financial investment, to hire a half-time minister to lead our children and family ministries for the first time in our parish history. We hired Sarah Bentley Allred fresh out of seminary at…
It is the middle of summer and not the most opportune time for a parish meeting, but I know many of you are curious and interested (concerned?) to have a status update on various areas of our life and ministry at St. John’s as we continue to navigate many changes in our life together. I…
Things often get kind of quiet at church in the summer since lots of people are away for vacations or weekends at the beach; and this summer especially, many of us are absolutely itching to get away since we’ve been homebound for so long with the pandemic. While Covid-19 continues its rampage across the globe,…
Being in close proximity to marginalized people always challenges and clarifies my faith. Listening to the stories of the poor, those experiencing food insecurity, those dealing with chronic health problems and mental illness is messy and time consuming, and I almost always reflexively play the old tape in my head that questions, “Where is God…
Hello St. John’s! I am so excited to join you as your curate for the next year through the Reimagining Curacies Program. As you all know, the three of us curates (Mawethu, Philip, and I) spend a year at each parish, and then rotate to our next placement. I’m eager to get to know all…
What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth (“June” plus “nineteenth”) commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston,Texas and informed enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. This announcement gave voice to the written words of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued more than two and a…
There are so many people I’ve been grateful to have in my life this past year. Being part of a church family, even when we’ve been physically separated for much of the year, is one of the many things for which I’m thankful for and appreciate more and more as time goes on. Upon learning…
It is so hard to say farewell to this loving and welcoming community called St John’s Wake Forest. As I depart, I want to encourage you to continue to be who you are. St John’s knows how to love and I felt that love from the beginning until these last days at St Johns. I…
Tomorrow is the Feast of Pentecost, and I had a choice to make when planning our Eucharist this year: I had to choose between the classic Pentecost reading from Acts where the Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples in the sound of a rushing wind and tongues of fire, or Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of the…
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER You are invited to join a conversation with a diverse group of faith communities in Wake Forest on race and housing. Inspired by the work of Habitat for Humanity, we will gather on Zoom to watch the short film Segregated by Design (which you can also view ahead of time at…
Spring has brought many gifts to St. John’s such as our EYC gathering in person for fellowship and worship outdoors, warmer and brighter evenings to serve food at our Community Meals Program on Monday and Wednesday nights, thriving new walking groups within our parish, time together working in our native garden and the new Northeast…
St. John’s Vestry has enlisted Ministry Architects to help us remain healthy, connected, and centered on what matters most as we adapt to a prolonged season of growth and change. Please join us for a 1-hour Zoom Listening Session in mid-May to help our friends from Ministry Architects learn who we are and what we…
Did you feel it, too? Several weeks ago, Ministry Architects presented a report of their findings from a series of “listening sessions” conducted in May. Those sessions were intended to give Ministry Architects, as the consultants we have engaged to assist us in charting a course into the next phase of growth for St. John’s,…
When we teach Godly Play to the Church School children, we always light a candle before saying the Lord’s Prayer. After the prayer, we tell them that we are “changing” the light, not extinguishing it. This past year on Zoom, the children take turns lighting the candle and leading us in prayer. As we change…
“You’re packing a suitcase for a place none of us have been A place that has to be believed to be seen” -U2- Walk On An oracle to which I frequently turn to answer life’s big questions are the lyrics of Bono, lead singer for the band U2. In our Parish Survey on Regathering and…
Earth Day at St. John’s! Join us on April 25th to celebrate Earth Day at St. John’s at 10:15am following the Zoom Worship service. We will gather in the native Teaching Garden between the church and the education building for a garden blessing. All ages are encouraged to participate in a “Wonder While you…
Eastertide as the Way of Love: A friend of mine is expecting their first child this week, his wife is tired of being pregnant and can’t wait to be released from the heartburn and difficulties of sleeping. While my friend can see his wife’s body changing and knows that ‘they’ are expecting, he definitively knows…
As our spiritual attention is focused this week on the great drama of Holy Week, we also find ourselves peeking ahead toward the new resurrection life of Easter. Similarly, while we’ve spent the last year figuring out how to worship while “physically distant,” we now find ourselves looking at how to safely return to in-person…
Spring has arrived, with all of its promise of hope, renewal and rebirth! If you haven’t been to St. John’s recently, you may not be aware of the buzz of activity taking place. It’s subtle, it’s still growing, but it’s palpable. And it’s a sure sign that St. John’s is emerging from a long winter…
Adult Education – The Way of Love: Living Our Baptismal Promises In this Easter Season we invite our parish to practice the Way of Love by participating in Formation, Outreach and Fellowship offerings for all ages. In April we will begin the journey by examining Environmental Justice together on Wednesday evening 4/14 for a discussion…
As I reflect on this last year, I’ve thought about what I’ve really missed that I’m sure I have taken for granted in the past; spending time with my grandchildren, family, friends, and worshiping in our sanctuary with my church family. The list goes on and on. For me, one of the things I’ve especially…
I prayed for you all and for our ministry together this week as I spent 3 1/2 days on personal retreat. There is much in flux during this gradual entry into post-pandemic reality, and I treasured this time to step back from the daily tasks in order have uninterrupted time for prayer and reflection. Thank…
Lenten Art Project: The Stations of the Cross Several St. John’s parish artists have created original works of art as they’ve reflected on Nouwen’s Walk with Jesus and contemplated the Stations of the Cross. We will display these artworks at St. John’s during Holy Week. On Display thru Holy Week Mon 3/29 – Thurs…
Is it just me, or does Lent feel different this year? As we pass the one-year mark under the grips of the COVID pandemic, I can’t help but think “where was I when…?” For example, I realized that this week marks one full year since my last business trip – the longest I have been…
If you grew up in another church tradition, or none at all, you may be a candidate for Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church. The rites of Confirmation and Reception mark a formal, public decision to walk the Way of Jesus with others on the “Episcopal branch” of the Christian family tree. These rites…
As we “Walk with Jesus” this Lent by studying the Stations of the Cross together, we focus on Station 5 this week: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. For me, the genius of Henri Nouwen’s little book on the Stations of the Cross is that he invites us to relate the well known…
One of my favorite Godly Play stories (although it is hard to choose!) is “The Circle of the Church Year.” With words, color, and gesture this story explores the Christian view of time. “Some people say that time is in a line,” the storyteller explains. But as Christians we know that “for every ending there is a…
Wake Forest Community — Covid Memorial What: All are welcome to use the large outdoor labyrinth at St. John’s Episcopal Church (a circular meandering path meant for walking and reflection that leads you to a center point and guides you back out to an exit point) to honor and remember all who have been…
Springing into Lent: A Way of Worship for the St. John’s Family during the Lenten Season Soon we will “spring forward”. As we turn clocks ahead and anticipate the brighter, lighter weather of Spring, let us also couple this with a spirit of “springing” into Lent. Instead of thinking of Lent, Good Friday, and Easter as…
I have a bunch of gangly hydrangea bushes along the fence in my back yard and a few camellia bushes that have gotten very leggy. They need to be pruned back now so they’re ready for the burst of growth coming this spring. If I don’t do the pruning, the bushes just get more unmanageable…
March 18 hike update and information on upcoming hike on April 15 On Saturday, March 18, St. John’s hikers enjoyed a smooth and easy trek around the Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve, otherwise known as AWL, located off Raven Ridge Road in N. Raleigh. We were happy to welcome several “new” trail lovers, several heretofore…
I am now officially one month into my journey as your Senior Warden, and what a rewarding month it has been. We worked … we played … we planned … and we prayed. All in all, I’d say it was a pretty typical month for St. John’s! We began the year trying to make sense…
Did you know the word “Lent” means “spring”? Some people think Lent is a “downer,” but it’s true aim is joy — the joy of a deeper experience of God. In the western church the forty days of Lent extend from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, omitting Sundays. Christians are invited to the observance of…
The Church of the Awakening: Services Begin Around 3:00am. For the last ten months, I have been regularly attending a new church, and I venture to guess that many of you have too. Looking back, I have been a faithful member of this new church since I started teaching high school, and until an “Awakening”…
Mentorship and Leadership Matters!!! Having lived my formative years during the struggle against apartheid, I learned some important truths about leadership and mentorship. Often it looked different than the mentorship and leadership we are most familiar with. Because leadership was not endorsed by an institution, at times needed to be discreet, often came at great…
I’ve continued to reflect deeply this week, as I imagine you have also, on the violence visited upon the Capitol on January 6 – what it means about that state of our democracy, the state of race relations, the state of our political relationships, and the role of religious extremism in this country. I mentioned…
You might not know this about me yet, but I love a good list. And I have a lot of them. There is the grocery list, the “to do” list for each of my jobs, our home improvement wishlist, my list of personal “to do” tasks, the leftover staycation “to do” list still hanging on…
Greetings to all, and Merry Christmas! I am absolutely thrilled to be taking the reins as your Senior Warden, and I appreciate the kind words that so many of you have shared. The first thing I’d like to do is to offer a huge thank-you to Lois Sauer, our out-going Senior Warden. I may be…
The Annual Report is a written compilation of lay and clergy leaders’ reflections on St. John’s ministry and mission in 2020. Certainly, 2020 is a year for the history books! The Rector’s Report Submitted by The Rev. Sarah H. Phelps In early 2020, we were busy adding new parking spots, moving ministries into larger meeting…
This past week the Community Council through the Town of Wake Forest named its Citizen of the Year and Organization of the Year. This committee and ceremony have many ties to St. John’s including members of the committee, the Mayor who announced the winners and a beautiful painting by our beloved Shirley Matheny that has…
Dear Beloved People of St. John’s, Where to begin? Last Sunday marked the beginning of Advent…really?? Already?? We have entered into an Advent and Christmas season like none we have ever known, significantly reshaped and reimagined in the midst of the challenges of the ongoing pandemic. I suspect for most of us…
Our Annual Giving Campaign for 2021 has “officially” concluded, but it is never too late to let us know your “estimate of giving” (or pledge) for the year ahead. It is how we build a responsible budget for our ministries. 2020 v. 2021 Comparison In 2020, St. John’s received 140 financial pledges totaling $366,235.…
Worship With Us Christmas Eve Thurs., Dec. 24th from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm — online , live via YouTube only (not Zoom), with consecration of Holy Eucharist Thurs., Dec. 24th from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm — in-person administration of the Communion Host at St. John’s Given the prediction of rain and wind, Mo.…