March 2005 Voice

Preserve, protect and update our historic Church facility

Staff the Church to encourage and sustain growth, and

Finance the future through a capital and endowment campaign.

Faced with these challenges, clergy and lay leadership have initiated The Campaign for St. John in the Wilderness to fulfill our ministry and realize the parish growth that will assure our future as an independent and vibrant Episcopal community.

We are pleased to announce that $550,000 in gifts and pledges have been generously committed through the Advance Gifts phase of the campaign. As we enter the All Parish Gifts phase, every household will have an opportunity to learn about The Campaign and participate.

As St. Paul tells us in his letter to the church at Corinth, the Spirit works among us, enabling us to bring a variety of gifts to support a common purpose. Through each element of The Campaign, we hope to affirm and renew a depth of shared commitment and touch deeply personal hopes for St. John’s.

As we embark upon this whole-parish effort, we must unite all our enthusiasms, all our resources, all our abilities and energy, for a common good. Or, to use St. Paul’s image, we open ourselves to God’s Spirit, praying that each of us will be given by the Spirit a significant gift to offer, so that our common ministry will be strengthened, and God’s work done more completely, both in and beyond our community.

We are very moved by the gifts which members of the parish have offered already: gifts of financial resources, gifts of wisdom and guidance, gifts of sensitive leadership. This campaign has important dollar goals, and to reach them we will need to sacrifice and stretch. We are confident that the Spirit will equip us to reach these goals, and to add force and flexibility to our common mission. Just as important as the achievement of dollar goals is our conversation with each other as the campaign goes on. Our stories, our commitments, our vision – all these we will share with each other. In these exchanges God’s Spirit will move among us. We are sure that we will be humbled and strengthened by the Spirit’s presence. We are grateful to all of you for your openness to the Spirit’s calling and the Spirit’s many gifts.

In the coming weeks we will be telling you about the Campaign elements in detail, encouraging your participation as volunteers, donors and as parishioners committed in prayer to our success. Thank you in advance for the diverse gifts you have and will bring to the future ministry of St. John in the Wilderness.

Sincerely, Foss and Bev Boyle, Campaign Co-Chairs

Committee: Therese Branby, Anne Hovland, Anne Rogers, Jean Tews, Fr. Mark

Wherever you are on your faith journey.... St. John's welcomes you

Palm Sunday Through Easter

March 20

7:30 am, 9:00 am, & 10:30 am Palm Sunday

March 21

7:00 pm Holy Monday Eucharist (Nursery Care)

March 22

7:00 pm Holy Tuesday Eucharist (Nursery Care)

March 23

12:00 pm Holy Wednesday Eucharist

March 24

6:00 pm All Parish Potluck (Nursery Care)

7:00 pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy (Nursery Care)

8:30 pm Song, Story and Reflection by Youth

9:00 pm Vigil

March 25

9:00 am Morning Prayer

12:00 pm Good Friday Liturgy

7:00 pm Stations of the Cross (Nursery Care)

March 26

5:00 pm Easter Vigil with Baptisms (Nursery Care). Bring a small bell to ring in this child friendly service followed by a light supper and Easter egg hunt.

March 27

8:00 am & 10:00 am Easter Day Eucharist (Nursery Care)

Passages

Baptisms

Emma Jean Jorissen 1/9/2005

New Transfers

Karen Herrera 1/24/2005

Kathryn Smith 2/16/2005

Ministry Is ...

Ministry is people assisting people in Christian faith development.

Ministry doesn’t happen just in the church, but it does happen in the church and through the auspices of the church.

Ministry is the reason the church exists.

Ministry is people offering Christ to one another and serving Christ and one another.

In the church, ministry is accomplished through worship, prayer, learning, service and living generously.

Everything the church is and does is a system that delivers ministry.

Easter Choir Forming

As you read this in the March Voice, the Chancel Choir already will have had two rehearsals of its special music for the 8 and 10 o'clock Easter morning services. This is to alert others who might still like to sing in the choir that day, but must limit their participation to special occasions

Rehearsals will continue each Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. (directly after the midweek Lenten service) through Holy Week. If you are at all interested, please contact me as soon as possible. With Easter so early this year, there is no time to lose!

David Gehrenbeck,

organist/choirmaster

Adult Education & Formation

The Creed: What We Believe and Why It Matters

In March in Adult Education & Formation we will finish our Sunday series on The Creed, using as our primary reference Luke Timothy Johnson’s recent book The Creed. What Christians Believe and Why It Matters, Doubleday, 2003, ISBN 0-385-50247-8. We meet in the Parlor from 10 to 10:50 am, with a break just before the 10:30 am service.

Colossians Remixed

On Wednesday, 2/13, we began a five-part Lenten series based on the new book Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire, by Brian J. Wash and Sylvia C. Keesmaat. As we enter the post-modern era, does the Bible have anything to say to us? If St. Paul were writing letters to our congregation today instead of the church at Colossae, what might those letters sound like? A Lenten soup supper begins at 5:30 pm. Colossians Remixed is held in the Parish Hall from 6 pm to 7 pm. A Healing Service and Eucharist are held at 7 pm

For All the Saints? Remembering the Christian Departed

For all the saints, who from their labours rest

Who thee, by faith, before the world confessed,

They name, O Jesu, be for ever blest.

Alleluia!

- from the hymn by W. Walsham How (1823-1897)

"What I want to know is, where is he now?"

- A young widow's question to N. T. Wright, a few weeks after the funeral of her husband

On March 20, we begin a new four part Sunday series based on the new book by N. T. Wright, For All the Saints? Remembering the Christian Departed. In this series, we will try to clarify our thinking about just who are the saints, what we are doing when we pray for the dead, and what we mean by Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.

The Adult Ed. Schedule

Sun. Feb. 27: The Creed 7. We Believe ... in the Holy Spirit

Wed. Mar. 2: Colossians Remixed 3

Sun, Mar. 6: The Creed 8. One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

Wed. Mar. 9: Colossians Remixed 4

Sun, Mar. 13: The Creed 9. Creedal Christianity

Wed. Mar. 16: Colossians Remixed 5

Sun, Mar. 20: For All the Saints? Remembering the Christian Departed 1. Saints, Souls, and Sinners: the Medieval View and Its Later Developments

Sun, Mar. 27: Easter. No Meeting

Sun, Apr. 3: For All the Saints? Remembering the Christian Departed 2. Rethinking the Tradition.

The Adult Education and Formation web site www.StJohnAdultEd.Org has information on past, present and upcoming series and the latest schedule. To review the overhead transparencies or PowerPoint slides of a presentation, simply download them from the web site.

Anyone with comments, questions or suggestions, or who is interested in joining the Adult Education and Formation Committee, please talk with me or drop me a note, , 651-481-8697.

Bible Readings

March 6. Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 13. Fifth Sunday in Lent

Ezekiel 37:1-3, 11-14

Romans 6:16-23

John 11:18-44

Psalm 130

March 20. Palm Sunday

March 21. Holy Monday

7 p.m.

March 22. Holy Tuesday

7 p.m.

Isaiah 49:1-6

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Mark 11:15-19

Psalm 71:1-12

March 23. Holy Wednesday

Noon

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Hebrews 9:11-15, 24-28

Matthew 26:1-5, 14-25

Psalm 69:7-15, 22-23

March 24. Maundy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-14a

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Luke 22:14-30

Psalm 78:14-20, 23-25

March 25. Good Friday

Noon

March 26. Easter Vigil

5 p.m.

March 27. Easter

Psalm 118:14-17, 22-24

Italicized verses are read during the family service.

Vestry Hilites

The Vestry met on February 8. A Vestry Retreat is scheduled for Saturday April 2. The following motions were approved:

St. Johns will offer on permanent loan the original altar to the White Bear Lake Historical Society.

A set of ‘Festival” Par aments will be added to the Gifts and Memorials approved giving list.

Refurbishing of the church parlor to be added to the approved giving list.

An Ad Hoc Committee will be formed to focus on risk assessment and management planning with a current emphasis on the Parish Cemetery. This committee will work with Ken Whitney to continue the excellent ministry he has provided at our parish cemetery.

Historic Old Altar From the Original Church

The Vestry approved a motion for preservation of our old wooden altar by moving it on permanent loan to the White Bear Historical Society. Our old church, the first in White Bear Lake, was built in 1861 in Cottage Park. In 1874 the little church was moved across the frozen lake to the location at 1st. Street and Clark Avenue. At the new location a new belfry and a tall steeple were added. In 1877 the Fulton family donated a bell which is now in our present church.

In 1880 Mrs. W. R. Merriam donated this fine wooden altar. The Merriam family had a summer home at Lake and Moorhead Avenues. Mr. Merriam was the Governor of Minnesota 1889 to 1893. The original church was torn down in 1925 and replaced with the present building in 1926. In the new church, the altar was placed in the old Sunday School area where it remained for many years. If you want to look at the old altar it is at the top of the stairs next to the bell tower.

Vestry Approves New Gifts and Memorials

Our Vestry has approved the refurbishing of our parlor and the purchase of a "Festival" set of altar hangings and vestments to be added to the approved Gift and Memorial List. These will be purchased as funds are given as memorials or gifts. If you are interested in funding one of these items or anything else on the approved list, please contact Judy Kroesch. Thank you.

Installation of Altar Guild Members

January 23, 2005

All Are Welcome!

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2

St. John’s has been given the chance to extend hospitality to many guests, newcomers and seekers over the past 18 months. As our family grows remember to introduce yourself to your neighbors in the pews and to extend an invitation to join you for coffee in the parish hall after the service.

Welcome Bags are located in the back of the Church on the bookcase and inside the doors on the right as you enter the parish hall. Please feel free to offer a Welcome bag to a guest and share information about our many ministries from your experience as a member.

We have all been the “new kid on the block” at one time or another. Be the first to extend your hand in friendship next Sunday.

Our Own Father Andrew Jensen

Our own Father Andrew Jensen, Assisting Priest, at the Second Annual St. John in the Wilderness Mardi Gras Celebration

Maundy Thursday Events

Please join us at 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 24^th in the Parish Hall for the Maundy Thursday All-Parish Potluck. Please look for the sign up sheets which will be in the Parish Hall, and indicate what dish you would like to bring to share with others.

The Potluck precedes several other events at church that evening. The Maundy Thursday Liturgy begins at 7:00 pm. Song, Story and Reflection by Youth begins at 8:30 pm, followed by the Maundy Thursday Youth Overnight at 9:00 pm.

Please make time in your busy life for these Holy Week events!

March Birthdays

1 Marguerite Guarnera

1 Jeff Halbert

1 Jenny Lief

2 Samuel Todd

3 Margaret Thor

3 Kevin Todd

4 Hannah Gilbertson

4 Louis Gilbertson

5 Jessica Thoemke

6 Louis Karp

7 Kaitlyn Hagger

10 Cheryl Roden

11 Katelynn Pope

13 Elizabeth Moertel

13 Robert Zierdt

14 Rachel Monyak

15 Mary Jo Lohn

17 Joanie Delamater

18 Barbara Merrill

18 J. Dixon Tews

19 Alexander Zeece

20 Stephen Anthony

20 Fosten Boyle

21 Timothy Cossalter

22 Marcella Kobinski

23 Karen Herrera

24 Andrews Allen

24 Debra Schmit

25 Cathryn Bashore

26 Ruth Mattlin

27 Tyler Canterbury

27 Rosie Hammond

27 Carolyn Kraft

28 Peggy Holper

31 Tiffany Canterbury

31 John Johnson

If you have a birthday this month but are not listed above, please or telephone the Parish Administrator at the church office. Records are not always complete. Thank you.

St. John in the Wilderness Student of the Month

Name: Rona Johnson

School: St. Anthony High School, 11th grade

School activities: Patriots Marching band, jazz band

Church activities: youth group( both at St. Mark’s and St. John’s), Sunday Night Supper (St. M.), acolyting (both)

Favorite song: The One I'm Waiting For by Relient K

Proudest Moment: marching in Philadelphia in the 4th of July parade with Patriots

Collections: purses and shoes

Favorite Youth group activity: the Sr. High lock-in

Favorite Movie: Napoleon Dynamite

Last book I read: How Green was my Valley

Where I picture myself in 10 years: maybe married and a teacher (elem.)

Best Advice: Just to be yourself

If I could eat dinner with one person, who would it be: my grandma because she died before I was born and I want to know what she was like

What could I change about the youth group and St. Johns: nothing really-everyone was very nice and welcoming

Children's Ministry

Children’s Ministry’s focus on prayer will continue during March. The lessons include making a collection of prayers and a visit from Father Mark.

Please join us after the Vigil on 3/26. We will serve a light supper, and have an egg hunt for the kids. Just a reminder, no learning time on Easter Sunday.

Families Inc.

All are invited to church at 6:30 pm on Holy Wednesday, March 23^rd, to bake Communion Bread for Easter with Families Inc. This group plans activities which are friendly to families with children from cradle through 5th grade (pre-Jr. High Youth Group age!) but we welcome all to participate with us! Sign up on the Families Inc. board in the Parish Hall, or contact Linda Carpenter.

The Youth Voice

Senior High Youth Group

There will be a change in the Sr High youth group meeting dates for March. We usually meet on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, but those dates conflict with TEC and Easter Day. As a result, senior high youth group will meet on Sunday, March 20^th from 6:00-8:00 pm. We will use that meeting to plan for the Maundy Thursday liturgy, so all Confirmation students (9^th and 10^th graders) should plan to attend.

Maundy Thursday Overnight

Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to church to participate in the Maundy Thursday vigil. We will arrive at the church at 7:00 pm for the service and then begin the youth service of “Song, Story, and Reflection” at 8:30 pm. We encourage you to invite family and friends to this special liturgy where we walk through what Jesus experienced on the Thursday of Holy Week. Following the liturgy we will have traditional fun lock-in activities and take turns staying awake in the garden to prepare for Good Friday. You will be ready for your parents to pick you up at 9 am. All Confirmation Students are expected to take part in planning for the liturgy on March 20^th and in the overnight. If you will be out of town for Spring Break, please ask your parents to call Alison before March 7^th to make other arrangements.

Junior High Diocesan Youth Event

Forms are now available for the Junior High Diocesan Youth Event which runs Friday, March 11^th – Sunday, March 13^th in Minneapolis. The youth will gather together for an Urban Immersion Experience, serving in a variety of social service agencies throughout the weekend. It’s a wonderful way for Junior High Youth to understand the idea of mission. We will need a Safe Church trained chaperone for this event

Great Northern TEC

If you plan to participate in your first TEC weekend, please turn in your forms by March 7^th. This TEC is hosted by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Duluth and will run 3/11-3/13. TEC is a wonderful way to learn about God in a supportive and energetic community. If you are interested in attending, please call Alison at church for more information.

A reminder to those working the weekend: we will leave together on Thursday, 3/10 at 4:00 pm and return Sunday evening.

Saint Paul TEC

The Saint Paul Teens Encounter Christ weekend, set for 4/15-4/17, is open to 10^th-12^th graders and is hosted by St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Paul. Like Northern TEC, it provides plenty of experiences to discuss your thoughts about the world around you and explore what role God plays in your life. If you are interested in attending as a candidate please talk to Jordan Warchol or Deb Schmit for application information.

Music Camp Leadership Team

Applications are available for youth and young adults (11^th grade in fall of 05 through age 22) interested in applying for the Leadership Team at Diocesan Music Camp held at Camp Heartland in Willow River, MN from 8/14-8/20. Alison coordinates this group of twelve who add energy, excitement, and spiritual growth to the campers’ experiences. Space is very limited and applications are due by April 1.

If you are entering grades 3-10 next fall you are eligible to attend as a camper. We get musical instruction and put on a musical, while still having time for traditional camp activities like arts and crafts, waterfront, and canteen. It is a wonderful camp experience! Please see Alison for registration materials.

Photos

Deacon Rick Todd and son Wayne really bring the Gospel to the Wilderness for the Boy Scouts on January 30^th! (above)

The Rite of Affirmation for our Eighth Graders, also on January 30, 2005 (below)

Senior High Youth Group Overnight, 1/22/2005 (above), & making valentines for collegiate parishioners on Super Bowl Sunday at the Schmits’ home (below)

March Lay Ministries Schedule

To download the March 2005 Lay Ministry Schedule as a PDF file, click on the PDF icon, or right click on the icon and choose "Save Target As" from the menu:

(19 KB)

March Calendar

To download the March 2005 Monthly Calendar as a PDF file, click on the PDF icon, or right click on the icon and choose "Save Target As" from the menu:

(21 KB)