Featured Events

March through May 2010

New All Parish Bible Study, Sundays Beginning February 14

New All Parish Bible Study Group begins 10 am Sunday, 2/14 in the Fireplace Room (adjoining the office). Join Pam Hadley for a 6 week survey of a few key Old and New Testament people and events yielding a fuller, richer picture of the work and person of Jesus the Christ. Planned sessions are:

2/14 Week 1: What Is The Bible? Guest speaker and select Scriptures
2/21 Week 2: Adam, Abraham and Moses: Genesis 1-3; 12; 15 and 18; portions of Exodus
2/28 Week 3: David, Elijah, Hosea: 2 Samuel 5-7, portions of 1 Kings, portions of Hosea
3/07 Week 4: John the Baptist; Matthew's Genealogy; the Cross: John 1/ Matthew 3/ Luke 3; Matthew 1 and 2; John 18-20 and Isaiah 53
3/14 Week 5: The ministries of Peter and Paul: Acts 2,10,11,13,15,16; maybe some of 2 Timothy
3/21 Week 6: The return of Christ (a general fly-by): Revelation 19-22

Weekly reading and preparation before attending will be helpful and enriching. Contact Pam, or 651.481.0249, for questions and readings and/or a syllabus. Then join us with your Bible, coffee and questions!

Themes and Theology of Sacred Music, Sundays Beginning February 21

A new Sunday Adult Formation Series, “Themes and Theology of Sacred Music” will be taught by our own Dr. David Gehrenbeck. From 10 - 10:50 am in the Parlor, David will offer a presentation, music, and reflection, on sacred themes used in our worship. The planned sessions are:

2/21 Out of the Depths
2/28 Friend of Sinners
3/7 Groaning for Redemption
3/14 God's Gift of Liberation
3/21 Rejoicing in Grace

Our Anglican / Episcopal Past, Present and Future, Sundays Beginning February 21

During the Sundays in Lent (February 21 - March 21), your clergy will be offering an instructional class on our Anglican/Episcopal Past, Present and Future ("Anglicanism 101"). From 11:45 am to 12:45 pm in the Gathering Room (located downstairs from the Parish Hall, across from the Child Care Room), we will welcome all newcomers and members to join us for this informal series. Opportunities for dialogue and questions will be made possible at each standalone session. The planned sessions are:

2/21 Identity, led by Rev. Marilyn
2/28 Authority, led by Fr. Mark
3/7 English Reformation; BCP, led by Rev. Joanie
3/14 New American Church, led by Rev. Marilyn
3/21 At Work in the World, led by Rev. Rick

Sin and Redemption, Wednesdays Beginning February 24

Join us Wednesdays from 6 pm to 7 pm in the Parlor for a new clergy-led series on Sin and Redemption. The schedule is:

Feb 24: Sin, Leader: Fr. Mark
Mar 3: Power Over Us, Leader: Rev. Marilyn
Mar 10 What is Redemption?, Leader: Rev. Debra
Mar 17 Preparing for Redemption, Leaders: Rev. Rick and Marilyn
Mar 24 Who / What is the Messiah?, Leader: Rev. Joanie

Care Packs for Kids Ingathering, March 7 and 14

Care Packs for Kids: we are again planning an ingathering of items to support the Children's Home Society Crisis Nurseries, this year on Sundays, March 7 and 14.. We are planning an ingathering of items to support the Children's Home Society Crisis Nurseries. The work of this organization is to provide loving care to children whose parents are in crisis. They also provide support, counseling and referrals to parents to help solve underlying problems. Please bring gifts to the altar steps for a special blessing.

The following is a list of suggested needs:

Spring/Summer outfits (matching top and pants/shorts)
Socks and Underwear
Pull-ups (size M and up)
Formula (Enfamil with iron)
Medical latex gloves (disposable)
Dreft laundry soap
Diapers (size 3 and up)
Household cleaners and Sponges

Project Home, March 8-15

Calling all volunteers for your chance to make a difference! Project Home provides a safe place to sleep for families in need. Many volunteered in November at First Lutheran and really enjoyed it. Mahtomedi's Unitarian Church will host for March. We're committed to covering March 8-15. Evening and overnight shifts are available. There will be a short training session before March. Project Home staff will be present each night to assist with any questions that might arise. Families are welcome to volunteer; plenty of children would love to play with someone before bedtime. Contact: Becky Emerson, 651/653-3883 or .

Great Northern Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) Weekend, March 19-21

TEC is a spiritual renewal weekend for 9th – 12th grade Youth who attend the weekend as a Candidate one time during high school. Candidates arrive at 10 am on a Friday and participate in a weekend that is all about “YOU.” The Candidates are asked to leave all of the worries about school, tests, friends, family, and all the things that can weigh a young person down, and commit to a weekend that for some will transform the rest of their lives. Many Youth remain involved in TEC as a Team Member. The TEC Team provides all of the care of the Candidates over the weekend. The number one rule for the Team is that the weekend is for the Candidates. If you are a high school Youth and have not yet been a TEC Candidate, please consider making this the time. The Spring Northern TEC will be held at St. John in the Wilderness, and we would like to see every youth possible participate in the March 19 – 21 weekend. Registration forms will be available on the Youth Board in the Parish Hall.

Easter Eve Agape Meal, April 3

This year again we will celebrate the rising of Christ by having an Agape meal following the Easter Eve service on Saturday April 3. The food is largely ethnic, mostly Greek and Russian, and served buffet style wall-to-wall. We will be roasting lamb on the spit. Other foods include Pascha (makes cheese cake look like a diet food), Kylitch (silo-style Easter bread), and of course a large assortment of salads and ethnic specialty foods. There will not be a shortage of food!

Please plan on coming and invite your friends and neighbors. Guests are free and for everyone else, a nominal free-will donation.

If your are interested and moved to help, please contact George Gorbatenko (653-4699 or ).

Safeguarding God's Children, April 7

The Diocese requires everyone to take Safeguarding God's Children Training and pass a background check before serving on Vestry or any ministry, not just those serving Youth and Children, and renew every 5 years. Many of us are approaching the 5-year mark. We ask all to attend this training Wednesday, April 7, 6-9 pm, regardless of when you last took it so we can get on the same renewal cycle. St. John's will not offer training again until July 17. If you can't attend either training before your certification expires you must find training at another Episcopal church.

The Practice of Prayer, Wednesdays Beginning April 14

The apostles asked Jesus to teach them to pray. St. Paul tells us to pray about everything, but how exactly do we do that? Please join Rev. Joanie and St. John's Healing Team on Wednesday evenings, 6 to 7 pm in the Parlor beginning April 14, to learn and practice various ways to pray. Bring your questions and your stories to share, and invite a friend to join you! The planned sessions are:

Praying with Scripture April 14
Praying with Icons April 21
Praying with Your Body April 28
Praying with Color May 5
Praying with Guided Meditation May 12
Praying with Silence May 19

Spring Rummage Sale, April 28-30

Hey Hey, Ho Ho! Time for Spring Rummage Sale, ya know! Time to share discards with someone who can really use them. Charity? Yeah. Recycling? Yeah. But also, it’s spreading the good around in bad economic times! After Easter, stack rummage neatly to left behind Parish Hall dividers. Nix on computers, microwaves, mattresses, or anything that doesn’t work. Shame on those who leave stuff in the entryway. Questions? Call Pat Pickering, 651/429-0223, or Lynn Gadbois, 651/426- 2302. Schedule:

April 26 - May 1 sort, organize, and shop as you work
Parish Sale Wednesday, April 28, 6-8 pm
Thursday: straighten, reorganize
Public Sales 9am -3pm : Priced as marked, Friday, April 30, and $2/bag Saturday, May 1

Child Care? Maybe, but kids always welcome. Also Soup Lunch: Tuesday-Thursday; Friday: Surprise Lunch.

Fellowship Outing to the Dead Sea Scrolls, May 1

Join fellow St. John in the Wilderness parishioners on Saturday, May 1 to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century—The Dead Sea Scrolls, making a rare trip out of Israel to the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.

Group admission to this event also includes viewing of the brand new Omnitheater film, Arabia. This is the first major film production to be granted access to more than 20 locations across Arabia, giving an unprecedented look at a rich culture, history and religion that has long been hidden from the West.

Group admission is available if we have 15 or more participants. The discounted group admission rates are $28/adult, $24 for Seniors 60+ years and Children 4-12 years, and $13 for Science Museum members.

We will meet on Saturday, May 1 at 1:00 pm (sharp!) and carpool from St. John’s to the Science Museum in St. Paul. Both the Omnitheater and admission to the Dead Sea Scrolls special exhibit are timed entrances. There will also be dinner and informal discussion at a restaurant in downtown St. Paul, after the visit to the Museum, for those interested in staying. All expenses are paid by participants.

Please RSVP and pay for tickets by Sunday, April 18 to Jason or Chantell Knauss, or 651/426-3535, if you are interested in participating in this event.

Hadyn's "Little Organ Mass", Pentecost, May 23

Adults and youth will combine to present Joseph Haydn's Missa brevis St. Joannis de Deo, also known as the "Little Organ Mass." We'll present this music and an anthem for Pentecost on May 23 at 10:30. Haydn's delightful mass setting features strings, organ solo, soprano solo, and mixed choir.

New voices are needed and most welcome to participate! Please contact our if you are interested. Rehearsals will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:15-8:15 pm beginning April 7. Youth will rehearse from 6:00-7:00 pm.

Through all these endeavors, we strive to present beautiful music which deepens our understanding of Jesus Christ at work in the world. Sacred music matters!

Thursday Evenings at Marketfest, June 17 through July 29

Marketfest, WBL’s Thursday evening extravaganza, runs from June 17 through July 29, and our St. John’s booth is a great way to get our name known in the community. Volunteer for an evening and make your neighbors happy with free popcorn! Sign up at the activity table or contact Angela Robinson, Marketfest Coordinator. Welcoming needs a chair/co-chair! If you’d like to help keep us organized while having fun, you’re our kind of person. Please contact Rev. Marilyn, or just join us on the 1st Wednesday after the 7 pm Holy Eucharist.