Click here for an archive of past Voice issues since March 2002.

Click on the icon to download the April 2005 Voice as a PDF file: (936 KB)

Click on the icon to download the May 2005 Voice as a PDF file: (1401 KB)

If you need the telephone number of any contact person in The Voice, please call the Parish Office at (651) 429-5351

The Rector's Page: Raising Rightside Up Kids in An Upside Down World

April 1, 2005

Raising Rightside Up Kids in An Upside Down World

On Wednesday, April 6, from 6 pm -- 8 pm a special program will be offered at St. John in the Wilderness. After having several conversations with concerned parishioners about raising healthy children in these troubling times, I have invited Tiger McLuen to come and offer a presentation to our community on this important issue. Dennis "Tiger" McLuen is the President of Youth Leadership Center for Youth and Family Ministry in Minneapolis. He is an adjunct instructor of youth ministries at Luther and Bethel Theological Seminaries. A veteran of over 30 years in youth ministry, Tiger is in constant demand as a speaker for youth gatherings and adults who work with youth. He is a dynamic speaker with the ability to unite humor and story. Tiger is married to Sue and is the father of three children -- all who have survived adolescence! He is also the author of "The Student Leadership Training Manual for Youth Workers" and numerous magazine articles.

This seminar, Raising Rightside Up Kids in an Upside Down World, will help parents and grandparents of teens and pre-teens think about their role in raising kids in today's fast-paced world. Tiger McLuen will share insights and ideas regarding some collisions experienced in every family: collisions of worlds, of power and control and of an increasingly toxic culture.

This seminar is for all parents, grandparents and caring adults.

Wednesday, April 6

5:30 pm Spaghetti Supper ($3 per person, $10 maximum per family)

6-8 pm Raising Rightside Up Kids in an Upside Down World (Free)

6-8 pm Nursery Care (Cradle through age 3, Free)

6-8 pm Children’s Activity (Age 4 through Fifth Grade, Free)

6-8 pm Youth Activity (Sixth through Twelfth Grade, Free)

Members from the greater metro community are also invited so please bring a friend. Free nursery care will be available. Contact the church office by or 651/429-5351 ext. 10 to make your dinner and/or program reservations with Maureen Vruno. Please furnish the number of adults, number and ages of children and youth, and whether your party will be having the spaghetti supper here.

On God’s Mission,

Father Mark

Click on the PDF icon below to download a flyer on "Raising Rightside Up Kids in an Upside Down World."

(135 KB)

Today St. John’s is at an important crossroads in its ministry and community life. Three critical challenges are facing the church:

• Preserve, protect and update our historic Church

• Staff the Church to encourage and sustain growth, and

• Finance the future through a capital and endowment campaign.

To meet these needs, St. John’s has launched The Campaign for St. John’s. This report offers a brief update on campaign priorities, progress and leadership.

The first priority of the campaign has been to address essential needs for the Church building. When built in 1926, the beautiful sanctuary also included a two-story parish hall. A new wing including education facilities and a new parish hall and kitchen was added in the early sixties. The most significant changes in the past forty years have been the addition of an elevator for the parish hall more than a decade ago and two replacements of the pipe organ, most recently in 2000.

In the past few years, the Church facility reached a point in its life where major work was needed to preserve and protect the building from age and the elements. Primary among these needs was a new roof and major exterior maintenance. These needs were deemed so urgent that the Vestry authorized a loan of $90,000 to undertake these projects in 2004. The Vestry voted to borrow the needed cash in anticipation of a campaign that would repay the loan. Today, a new roof protects us and related essential but deferred maintenance -- like window and plaster repair also associated with age and the elements has been done. Reaching the campaign goal of $150,000 for the facility will allow us to add air conditioning and security features in line with contemporary standards. The need for air conditioning in the sanctuary is no longer viewed as the luxury it once was, but a necessity in an era when few of us live or work in buildings that are not air-conditioned. Our attention to the needs of our beloved St. John’s requires as well that we invest in security and fire protection systems that meet today’s standards.

Our church facility is as much a part of our identity as a parish as is our shared faith and community. The welcoming environment of our spirit must be matched by the care and keeping evident in the condition and amenities of our church. Your support of The Campaign For St. John’s will help us grow as a parish and invest wisely in maintaining our facilities and our parish vitality.

Bev and Foss Boyle are Campaign Co-Chairs. Bev and Foss have been active in St. John's for all of their 46+ years in the parish. Together they have held nearly all of the leadership roles for lay people, from Vestry committees, to Episcopal Church Women, to Warden positions. In fact, Bev was the first female in the history of St. John's to serve as Jr and Sr Warden. They raised their children in St. John's and saw their grandchildren baptized here. Their children continue to be members of St. John's. "When Father Mark asked us about taking on the Campaign Co-Chair role last fall, we thought we would be gone a lot over the winter, and we declined," said Foss. "But after thinking it over, when Father Mark asked if we had changed our minds, we accepted." said Bev. "The church has meant a lot to us and our family over the years, and we are happy to serve in the role of Campaign Co-Chairs."

Campaign progress as a result of the advance gifts phase has reached $536,000, with pledges from more than 35 households. Campaign canvassers will begin contacting parishioners in April to visit and discuss the campaign, and to ask for your pledges of support. Please welcome the opportunity to learn more and to join in the spirit of renewal, faith and growth that will guide our success in the campaign and in the vision we have for our faith community: Thank you for considering how you can help realize a future for St. John in the Wilderness that will guide and inspire our common purpose as members of the living body of Jesus Christ our Lord.

New Transfers

April 3. Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 22-32

1 Peter 1:3-9

John 20:19-31

Psalm 118:19-24

April 10. Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 36-47

1 Peter 1:17-23

Luke 24:13-35

Psalm 116:10-17

April 17. Fourth Sunday of Easter.

Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a, 51-60

1 Peter 2:19-25

John 10:1-10

Psalm 23

April 24. Fifth Sunday of Easter.

Acts 17:1-15

1 Peter 2:1-10

John 14:1-14

Psalm 66:1-8

Italicized verses are read at the family service.

The Vestry met on March 8.

A Vestry Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, from 8 am -- 1 pm. Krista Sullivan presented a creative vision for revitalization of the Parish Hall.

The following motions were approved:

• Replacement of the Choir Room flooring

• To adopt a new St. John’s membership definition

• To accept the anonymous Vat and Aspergilium gift

• A moratorium on internal fundraising after which requests will need Vestry approval.

On Saturday, April 23, from 10 am -- 1 pm, there will be an all-parish spring clean-up at our cemetery. All hands are needed to help beautify it after the long winter! Bring your own rakes. A light lunch will be provided. Sponsored by: Families Inc., the St. John's Youth & the Cemetery Committee.

For All the Saints? Remembering the Christian Departed

For all the saints,

who from their labors rest

who thee, by faith,

before the world confessed,

thy name, O Jesus,

be forever blessed.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

(1982 Hymnal #287, William Walsham How, 1864)

"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 Sunday, April 3, we begin a new four part series in Adult Education and Formation based on the 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. We will meet in the Parlor from 10 to 10:50 am.

Our tentative schedule:

• Apr 3: 1. Saints, Souls, and Sinners: the Medieval View and Its Later Developments.

• Apr 10: 2. Rethinking the Tradition.

• Apr 17: 3. All Saints, All Souls, and All That.

• Apr 24: 4. Christ the King and the "Kingdom Season." Conclusions.

New Time for Adult Education: Wednesday Evenings

On April 13, we inaugurate a new regular time for Adult education: Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 pm. Our first evening series is tentatively scheduled as an Introduction to Lectio Divina. Please watch the Small Voice and the Adult Education and Formation web site (www.StJohnAdultEd.Org) for further details!

The web site includes information on past, present and upcoming series as well as the latest schedule. To review presentation overhead transparencies or PowerPoint slides , 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.

The Welcoming & Evangelism Committee will host a new members luncheon following the 10:30 service on Sunday, April 10 in the Parish Hall. Along with a delicious homemade lunch, you will have a chance to learn about our ministries from Father Mark, ask questions and tour the building. Be sure to bring the kids, this is an intergenerational experience. For additional information or to reserve your place(s) please call Molly Anthony.

We had an excellent ingathering of supplies and monetary gifts for The Children’s Home Society Care Packs for Kids. Thanks to all!

Our United Thank Offering ingathering will be on April 3rd & 10th.

Our parish has done a wonderful job supporting the White Bear Food Shelf. Look for more ideas in the Small Voice as we continue to travel the alphabet.

The Out-to-Lunch program has gained a tremendous amount of energy and interest with the able coordination of Gayle Kasmani. We are looking for more volunteers. Call Gayle and she will tell you all about the opportunities to serve.

We are getting lots of magazines, skin care products, snack foods, etc. for the Letters to Iraq program. We hope more parishioners will offer letters. Also, we would like to learn of relatives and friends stationed in Iraq so that we can direct our gifts to them. Please call Dave Seitz if you have such a person in mind.

Rummage Week is Monday - Friday, May 1st - 7th, from 9:30 am with free nursery care. Workers, shop as you sort. Volunteers needed for Saturday cleanup, also!

Free lunches served Tuesday - Thursday.

All Parish Sale: (note new night) Wednesday, May 4th, 6 - 8 pm.

Friday Public Sale: (note new hours) 9 am - 3 pm

Saturday Public Sale: 9 am - noon, $2/bag.

Clean out and bring your usable goodies to the Rummage Sale. DO NOT leave rummage in church entry way. DO stack it neatly in shelves behind Parish Hall screens. NO large items such as TVs, mattresses, microwaves, typewriters, or any electrical items that don’t work. Clear any large furniture items with Lynn Gadbois, Pat Pickering, or Christine Karp.

We have delivered over 250 children's quilts during the past several years to the White Bear Police Department and 3 battered women's shelters. Unfortunately the need continues. Will you help? We need men and women to assemble the kits, sew and tie the quilts. Much of this can be done in your own home if you choose. The kits are available in the parish hall cupboard. Each kit contains instructions, precut fabric ready to sew, batting (filling), the quilt back and cotton yarn for tying. Lessons will happily be provided if you are interested and willing to help. We meet in the parish hall on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. If you have questions please call Nancy Jagusch or Marge Polanek.

Do you knit? Are you looking for a contemplative way to enrich your prayer life? Are you looking for a way to reach out to others? If the answer to any or all of these questions is yes, or even maybe, please join me in exploring a knitting ministry at St. John’s. Members would work on knitting prayer shawls, at home, for members and extended members of our parish family. We would meet once a month for fellowship, prayers and group knitting. All levels of knitters from novice to experienced are welcome. You provide the needles and yarn; we have the pattern (k3 p3). Interested? Please contact Jan MacNally either by phone or .

Not quite, but remember the St. John’s Holiday Bazaar is coming in just a few short months! Save those special items, new and used jewelry, and crafts that you make or come across throughout the summer. Every little bit adds to the uniqueness of the Bazaar. And remember the dates: November 4 - 6.

Thank you to everyone for helping at our pretzel making in February. Check out the Children’s Ministry board in the Parish Hall for additional photos of this event.

As we continue our focus on prayer, watch for prayer cards being sent home with the kids. The cards will be collected on a ring and may be used as a reference for enriching our family’s prayer life. Ask a child what prayer they learned this Sunday!

Our next Children’s Ministry meeting will be on April 3 at 11 am in the large classroom. If you have ideas you would like to share, would like to volunteer, or would like to learn more about our program, please join us. All are welcome!

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.

Thank you.

Name: Jean Stevenson Watson

High School/Grade: Sophomore at Centennial High School

School/Community Activities: Marching Band! wahoo! Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Youth In Government, Swimming and Diving

Church Activities: The Frets!, Senior High Youth Group, & Great Northern TEC.

Favorite Song: Walking In Memphis.

Proudest Moment: Passing my drivers test on the 1st time!

Collections: Junk.

Favorite St. John’s Memory: TEC weekends.

Favorite movie: Fantasia.

Last good book you’ve read: any book with pictures

Best advice you’ve been given: Try Harder

Where you hope to be in 10 years: Alive and done with school

If you could have dinner with any person, whom would you choose? JESUS! because I could think of a bazillion things to ask.

How can church become more youth friendly? I think the church is already very youth friendly; we already have enough activities that youth are included in, and it is their choice to participate or not...which I strongly recommend to participate :-)

If you consider yourself a young adult, please join us for our first event: the cemetery clean up on Saturday, 4/23 from 10 am – 1 pm, and lunch at Ingredients to talk about future event ideas. Please call Alison Feigh at church or Max Stevenson if you plan to join us.

Upcoming event

Wednesday, April 6 5:30 pm: spaghetti dinner ($3/each or $10/family) 6 - 8 pm: Raising Rightside Up Kids in an Upside Down World presentation with free nursery care, children’s and youth activities

Fun Family Activity

Saturday, April 23 marks the beginning of Passover, the 8 day festival celebrating the history of Moses freeing the Hebrew people from slavery under Pharaoh Ramses. Consider renting the movie Prince of Egypt to watch as a family to help discuss the story of Moses. (Parents, please preview for appropriateness for your children). Make Charoset (or Haroseth), a traditional component of a Passover Seder meal, to munch on during the movie. Charoset represents the mortar the Jewish slaves used to make bricks.

Charoset

2 peeled, grated apples

1/2 cup ground nuts

1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup grape juice

2 tsp sugar

Mix all ingredients together; it will be thick. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Saint Paul TEC

The Saint Paul Teens Encounter Christ weekend is set for April 15th-17th. St. Paul TEC is open to youth in 10th-12th grade and is hosted by St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Paul. The weekend provides plenty of experiences to discuss your thoughts about the world around you while 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.

Christian Parenting Seminar

St. John in the Wilderness is hosting a Christian parenting seminar the evening of Wednesday, April 6th. Instead of the traditional Confirmation class and Junior High youth group, we will offer a movie from 6 – 8 pm. Please plan to join us for the movie, and bring your parents along for the seminar.

Confirmation Banquet

We will put together a banquet to celebrate all the work our tenth graders put into their two years of personal growth. The banquet, for the tenth graders and their families, will be held on Sunday, May 15th at 6:00 pm. Parents of ninth graders will be contacted about assisting with this special evening, and we ask ninth graders to help serve the meal. Please see Molly Anthony, Deb Schmit, or Alison Feigh with any questions. The Rite of Confirmation will take place on October 2nd here at St. John’s.

Cemetery Clean Up Day

We encourage all St. John’s Youth and their families to participate in the cemetery clean up day on Saturday, April 23rd from 10 am – 1 pm. It’s a wonderful chance for us to give back to our faith community and spend time with each other. Please sign up on the youth board in the parish hall if you plan to help.

Mission Trip Opening

We have room for one more male to join us for our mission trip to Camp Heartland from June 14th-17th. If you are in eighth through twelfth grade and would like to join us, please talk to Alison. Camp Heartland is a camp in Northern Minnesota that provides a positive camp experience for children affected by HIV/ AIDS. We arrive before the campers to clean and set up camp for the summer.

Music Camp

Registrations are now available for 3rd through 10th grade youth interested in attending Diocesan youth music camp from August 14th-20th. Campers 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! Alison will be at camp this summer coordinating activities for the leadership team, made up of youth and young adults aged 17-22. Please see Alison for more information on camp, registration materials, or if you would like to provide financial support to this program.

Congratulations Nate

A special congratulations to Nate Beske for making D.E.C.A. Nationals. We’ll be cheering you on as you head to California in April to compete.

Thought for the Month

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.”

- Anne Frank

As I write this, I’m just beginning to get my voice and energy back after an amazing Teens Encounter Christ weekend retreat in Duluth. In watching our youth serve in various capacities, I was reminded of the St. Francis quote, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." The youth of St. John’s are very diverse in interests, personalities, and beliefs, but they all seem to have a powerful understanding of what it means to be a servant, both inside and outside of our church walls.

To see this spirit of service, one only need look at the improvements to the English Garden made as part of an Eagle Scout project. To see this spirit of service, you can talk to one of the many participants in a mission trip to Camp Heartland or California, and find out what they learned by caulking, painting, or providing childcare. To see this spirit of service, travel to a TEC weekend to see youth and young adults using their gifts in various ways, from performing in a Napoleon Dynamite skit about how God created the world, to giving a talk on “What is Holy?” or by washing dishes in the kitchen. When our youth can see their work having an impact on the big picture, they work with energy and joy that is impossible to describe.

It is important to me that we raise up youth at St. John’s who are empathetic, but it is more important that we teach them to ask the follow up question, “How can I help?” Our youth at St. John’s are being told that the gifts they have been given can make a difference. Our church community is teaching them that they have something positive to offer. As we raise up our youth to be servants, we raise up the hope that the gospel will live beyond this place. They are meeting this challenge. We should all be proud.

- Alison Feigh, Youth Minister

To download the April 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:

(49 KB)

To download the April 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:

(56 KB)