Small Voice and Other Weekly News

Welcome!

Welcome guests! See the clergy or an usher for a welcome bag with parish information, and visit www.stjohnwilderness.org to fill out an On-Line "Pew Card", or contact Fr. Mark, Rev. Joanie, or Rev. Marilyn. The church phone number is 651/429-5351.

• Fr. Mark, , ext. 11
• Rev. Joanie, , ext. 14
• Rev. Marilyn, , ext. 16
• Deacons Deb and Rick,
• Receptionist,
• Youth and Children's Minister Sheila Foster, , ext. 12
• Music Minister Matthew Anderson, , ext. 17
• Business Administrator Maureen Vruno, , ext. 10
• Kids Hope USA Ministry,
• Healing Ministry, Dianne DelGiorno,

The Episcopal Church is a branch of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ with his Apostles. It is part of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide fellowship, with its roots in the Church of England. It is a Universal or Catholic Church, continuing in the teaching, fellowship, sacramental worship and prayers according to the apostolic tradition. It is a Church of the Protestant Reformation, firmly rooted on the foundation of Holy Scripture and believing that the Bible contains all things necessary for salvation. It is an Evangelical Church, proclaiming Christ Crucified and Resurrected and affirming the need for a personal relationship with Him. It is a Compassionate Church, bringing the grace and hope of the Gospel to every area of life. As members of the Church, we are all ministers of the Gospel, representing Christ to this broken world, bearing witness to His Love, leading others to faith in Him and according to the gifts given us, carrying out His work of reconciliation.

 

Today

We offer safe and fun Care for children up to age 5 on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Downstairs from the Parish Hall, the Child Care Room opens Sundays at 8:45 am and closes 15 minutes after the last liturgy.

To prevent spreading H1N1 flu virus in church, please feel comfortable if you prefer not to shake hands during worship or fellowship, and you're welcome to cross your arms during Communion to receive a blessing only.

Please wear your nametag to church. If you've become a member and need a new nametag, please e-mail or call 651/429-5351.

If you haven't yet pledged for 2010 please complete a card now from the Church Nave usher stands. Thank you!

The Sacred Cosmos concludes today. Join David Monyak at 10 am for a remarkable program on science and religion.

There is room for you at the Super Bowl Party! Enter your favorite chili in the competition, or bring a side dish or munchies. Please sign up so we can plan for enough food. The Parlor will be a quiet room for football purists. Bring a comfy chair; the fun starts at 4 pm today.

Get on board Saturday, 2/13! We've chartered On Eagles Wings, a motor coach, to Brian Prior's consecration as the DC Bishop of Minnesota. The bus is not 'officially' handicapped accessible, but we've been assured that its stairs aren't high, and they'll help us board. The bus departs St. John's at 10 am and drops us off and picks us up at the Minneapolis Convention Center's front door. We depart around 1:30, returning by 2 pm. Due to a 57 seat limit, you must sign-up and pay $8/each between liturgies today to reserve yours, or be in the parking lot before 10 am this Saturday, 2/13, to see if any seats remain; you can pay and board at that time. Contact: Deacon Deb.

 

This Week

The White Bear Lake Police Department and the White Bear Lake Area School District are sponsoring a free Parent Internet Safety Presentation at 7 pm this Tuesday, 2/9, in District Center Room 112 (4855 Bloom Ave, WBL).

A Mardi Gras potluck and pancake supper at church will start at 5:30 pm Wednesday. The Youth will make the pancakes; bring your favorite dish to share. A talent show will follow dinner so come prepared if you're so inclined. We'll prepare the ashes for Ash Wednesday at the 7 pm Burning of the Palms and Eucharist. Bring any leftover palms from prior years.

6 pm Wednesday: Journey through the Psalms continues. Each week is a new topic, so join when you can.

Our Wednesday Light Supper roster needs volunteers to provide a simple meal for about 40 people or a Lenten supper for 50. Please sign up for any evening. Costs are reimbursed with proper receipts. Contacts: Carole Paddock (651/777-8655) and Kim Johnson (651/484-9215).

Next Sunday's Adult Formation is Part I of the DVD series, The Story of Angicanism: Ancient and Medieval Foundations.

New All Parish Bible Study Group begins 10 am next 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. Week 1: 'What Is The Bible?' a brief overview of how we arrived at the Bible we use today and what it says about itself. We discuss Adam in week 2 and end week 6 with Jesus' return and reign in 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!

 

Ongoing/Upcoming

If you find a minor building issue that needs fixing, please leave a note in the black book in the Sexton mail slot. Date it and sign your name in case we need to call you.

Men and women are welcome to ECW sponsored programs by The Rev. Kathleen Brusco on The Creeds at 10 am February 18 and 25. Child Care will be provided.

Church-wide Lent challenge: We use nearly 1,000 paper cups monthly which costs 1/2 the Hospitality budget! To save money and the environment we ask you to bring your own mug to church and take it home after fellowship hour weekly vs. using paper cups. Place your cup on the cart that will be in the entryway before church beginning Sunday, 2/21, and grab it on the way to the Parish Hall.

For Lent the Youth will place a tree with no leaves in the Parish Hall. Please read through the leaves with suggested environmental actions on them, pick one, and hang it on the tree as a sign of your commitment to the action. We hope the tree will become "Green" by the end of Lent.

St John's has joined the Minnesota Energy Challenge. Go to http://www.mnenergychallenge.org/Teams/Congregations and join St John in the Wilderness' team. We only need 20 households to sign up to be in the top 50 Minnesota churches making commitments to be better stewards of God's creation. If 80 sign up we'll be in the top 10!

Calling all volunteers: 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 .