Weekly e-News from St. John’s

The latest news from St. John’s is always available in the Weekly News.  Click below to subscribe to the Weekly e-News or read the latest issue.

The Latest from St. John’s

Holy Week @ St. John’s 2023

Access livestreams via our homepage. Palm Sunday & The Sunday of the Passion, April 2 7:45 AM – Spoken Eucharist – No Music 9:30 AM – Eucharist with Music (9:30 is Livestreamed on Zoom & YouTube) This service begins in praise and ends in reflective silence, re‑tracing the arc from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem…

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A Message from Marcia Klinder-Badgley, Director of Music Ministry

“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…

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A Message from Joy Shillingsburg, Director of Outreach & Wake Forest Community Table (WFCT)

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…

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A Message from The Rev. Stephen Mazingo, Sr. Assoc. Family Ministries

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…

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A Message from The Rev. Stephen Mazingo, Sr. Assoc. Family Ministries

“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…

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A Message from Joy Shillingsburg, Director of Outreach & Wake Forest Community Table (WFCT)

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…

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A Message from Marcia Klinder-Badgley, Director of Music Ministry

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…

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PRAYground Worship Service

. 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…

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A Message from Marcia Klinder-Badgley, Director of Music Ministry

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…

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A Message from The Rev. Stephen Mazingo, Sr. Assoc. Family Ministries

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…

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Native Teaching Garden

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…

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Botswana

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…

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Botswana

 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…

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Ukulele Adventures Summer Music Camp

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…

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Covid-19 Protocols at St. John’s

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…

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Ways to Give

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…

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A Message from Marcia Klinder-Badgley, Director of Music Ministry

“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…

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Message from Lisa Girimonte, Preschool Co-Director

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…

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Holy Week @ St. John’s 2022

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…

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Compost Now!

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…

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A Message from The Rev. Stephen Mazingo, Sr. Assoc. Family Ministries

“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…

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The Soloists

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…

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Saint John’s Song Lovers

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…

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A Message from Marcia Klinder-Badgley, Director of Music Ministry

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…

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A Message from The Rev. Stephen Mazingo, Sr. Assoc. Family Ministries

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…

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The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Preaches at St. John’s on Sun, Feb 6 to Kick Off Black History Month

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,…

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Congregations for Social Justice

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…

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Parish Care Committee

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,…

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A Message from Marcia Klinder-Badgley, Music Director

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…

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A Message from The Rev. Stephen Mazingo, Sr. Assoc. Family Ministries

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…

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A Message from Marcia Klinder-Badgley, Music Director

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…

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July 2021 Status Update on Children, Youth, and Families Ministry at St. John’s

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…

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Message from Joy Shillingsburg, Dir. Youth & Outreach Ministries

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…

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Celebrating Juneteenth!

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…

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Earth Day at St. Johns!

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…

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Message from Sarah Bentley Allred, Director of Children & Family Ministries

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…

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Lent @ St. John’s 2022

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…

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St. John’s Financial Update

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.…

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