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Led by the Holy Spirit,
St. John's mission is to inspire people to grow into the heart and mind of Christ by engaging together in worshiping, serving, and spiritual formation.
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Embarking on the Spiritual Journey
Plan now to join us for our fall adult formation series. Read The Rector's Pen beginning August 1st and mark your calendars for our discussion group: September 24, October 1, 15, 22, 29, and November 5. You can find complete information on our website under "Faith Formation". This Sunday September 24 we discuss the Session 2 material!
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BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
Be sure to bring your furry, finned, or feathered friend and join us on October 8th, at both the 7:30 and 9:30 services, for a Blessing! Stuffed animal friends are welcome too!
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Coffee Hour
We envision St. John's as a community
where everyone undertakes
"welcome" and "hospitality"
as an intentional holy practice.
Coffee Hour this week is brought to you by:
Bella Mody
And please sign up to help make Coffee Hour Fellowship happen. Contact Jessica Burnett: (jburnett@stjohnsboulder.org)
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Fox Institute for Creation Spirituality (FICS) is opening October 16th in Boulder, Colorado to offer Certificates, Master's, Doctorates and non-degree graduate-level education. Creation Spirituality is deepening in one's faith tradition while integrating the science of cosmology and the power of creativity to empower the compassionate action that our families, communities and Earth need. In October FICS offers classes by Matthew Fox (Ecological Imperative to Re-sacralize the Earth), Bruce Chilton (Mary Magdalene) and Mirabai Star (Calling the Beloved -Writing) amongst other core faculty. Courses are held in a five-day intensive format and open to degree students and auditors. Learn more about classes and FICS's Open House and Grand opening: www.foxinstitute-cs.org.
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Wednesday Night Adult Forum – Fall 2017
Two evenings 7-8:30
Sept 27 – Oct 4 and an optional 3rd evening on the Oct 11
A study of Marcus Borg’s “Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most”
We’ll meet down stairs in the Youth Room for a book discussion and you’ll need to obtain and read the book prior our first meeting. Contact Bill Ashworth (washwort@gmail.com, 720-352-6456) for more information or to sign-up.
Marcus J. Borg (1942-2015), preeminent theologian and Bible scholar, reflects on his life and how he developed his most bedrock convictions and why they matter. The result is a manifesto for all progressive Christians who seek the best path for following Jesus today. With each chapter embodying a distinct conviction, Borg writes provocatively and compellingly on the beliefs that can deeply ground us and guide us:
• God Is Real and a Mystery
• Salvation Is More About This Life Than an Afterlife
• The Bible Can Be True Without Being Literally True
• Jesus's Death on the Cross Matters—But Not Because He Paid for Our Sins
• God Is Passionate About Justice and the Poor
• To Love God Is to Love Like God
Rich in wisdom and insight, Convictions is sure to become a classic of contemporary Christianity.
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For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
Boulder Homeless Women’s Initiative began, about 5 years ago, when Sarah Hartzell was leading Common Cathedral, an outdoor worship service for homeless folk at St. John’s and volunteering with Bridge House. One Friday evening (Common Cathedral still meets on Fridays at 4:15) one of the homeless men came to her, pointed to the women who were there, and said in a very pointed way, "Sarah you need to do something, these four women can’t be on the streets, they're just too vulnerable.” Sarah had no clue, really, what she could do, but started meeting with Pastor Susan and some of the women. It was at that time that Deacon Jan Dewlen was called and appointed by the Bishop to serve St. John‘s, and joined the leadership of BHWI.
What evolved were two aspects of BHWI; one was a weekly support group for the women; the other was a monthly “Roundtable” meeting for the women, along with care providers and church leaders who had an interest in identifying and meeting the needs of homeless women in Boulder. The purpose of the weekly meeting was to provide a safe, welcoming place for women to experience God’s love. We listened to their needs and advocated for change such as segregated sleeping arrangements at shelters.
With that in mind we’ve done many things; circle conversations and check-ins, arts and crafts projects, programs focused on topics of interest (addiction, mental health, positive focus, goal setting etc.). We were self-supported by our Arts and Craft sales. We also implemented a voucher program where a woman could do volunteer work in the community and be reimbursed at the rate of $10/hr with a gift card for King Soopers or Target. We started out with over 22 women, most of whom have found their way to housing and/or jobs. We have had a leadership team of five women, 4 of whom are St. John’s members, who have managed various aspects of the program; fundraising, snacks, programs, the voucher program and projects. As I’m sure you can imagine there have been lots of ups and downs, moments of pure grace and affirmation, and some pretty hair-raising, deeply challenging moments.
In the last year, attendance has dwindled to about three women each week. In reflecting on the situation we’ve concluded that conditions in the homeless community have changed and resources have changed, mostly for the better. We have met our mission! We have had good success, many accomplishments and feel fulfilled by it. Our last day is Sept. 28, 2017.
Comments From Women in the Group over the last 5 years.
- “I have much thankfulness for the group support and love I have received. I feel joy!”
- “I have moved from the streets, to The Shelter, to Transition, to my apartment.”
- “This group has brought life to me and restored my soul.”
- “I have gone from sleeping by the creek to shelter. I am catching up on Dr. appointments to take care of myself. My life has been enriched.”
- “I slept in bushes with animals and pimps attacking me. I was offered support and accepted it. I have gone from wanting to die to wanting to live. I now can help someone else a little bit and make a difference in their life. I have self-worth now.”
- “My dignity shrunk and is slowly coming back.”
We give thanks to God for wisdom, patience and grace to serve marginalized women in Boulder!
Deacon Jan Dewlen, Sarah Hartzell, Gail Edwards, Laura Poston, Susan Stephens (Quaker).
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St. John's, YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!
Thank you to the many parishioners who either brought items in for the Whittier Pantry or made a donation to the Pantry!! We are ready to open this week! Yay!
Your Pantry will serve many Whittier families with children who need a little extra assistance with the basic needs of life. Thank you for caring!
-Deacon Jan Dewlen
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The Thursday 5:30 pm Centering Prayer group is going on hiatus, and will start up again on October 19th. We hope to see you then! |
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JOIN US FOR EVENSONG
Wednesdays at 6pm
Contemplative Evensong meets every Wednesday evening at 6p.m. from September through May. Participants are welcome to join the cantor in the beautiful, meditative chant. Includes short periods of silent prayer. Please contact the office at 303-442-5246 for more information.
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Weekly Services
Saturday 5:00p.m. Holy Eucharist, chapel
Sunday 7:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, chapel
9:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, church
11:11 a.m. Children's Eucharist, chapel (when Sunday school meets)
Tuesday 8 a.m. Morning Prayer, chapel
Wednesday 8 a.m. Morning Prayer, chapel
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist, chapel
6 p.m. Evensong, chapel
Thursday 8 a.m. Morning Prayer, chapel
Noon Holy Eucharist and Service of Reconciliation, chapel
Friday 4:15 p.m. Common Cathedral, rotunda
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Youth Group Kick-Off This Sunday, September 24
Parents and their middle and high schoolers are invited to join us on 9/24 in the Youth Room at 11:30 am for lunch and a kick-off discussion of our new Youth Group program. We’ll discuss our draft activities calendar, the new Youth & Parent Advisory Committee, and brainstorm about ways to stay in touch.
Beginning October 1, Youth Group meets on Sundays from 11:30-1:00. Lunch will be provided.
Please join us!
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Thank you!
Paul often affirmed members of the churches he shepherded by telling them he was thanking God for them. In Philippians 1:3-5 Paul writes, "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now."
This week, the staff and leaders of St John's give thanks to God for those listed below, praying with joy that these good people are sharing in the work of the gospel in our parish.
- Thank you to those who served faithfully with the Boulder Homeless Women's Initiative: Deacon Jan Dewlen, Sarah Hartzell, Susan Stephens, Gail Edwards, and Laura Poston
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Sunday Helpers:
Vestry Welcome: Melinda Mattingly
Lectors: Steve Tilson, Rick Collins
Intercessor: Robert Schwartz
Ushers: Tom & Melinda Wirsing, Ren Feldman
Acolytes: Chocie, Gracie, Harry, Arisa
Vergers: Joanie Heard, Tom Brewster
Healing Prayer: Helen Melody Witherill, Kathleen Ferguson
Eucharistic Visitors: Robert Schwartz
Exodus 16:2-15
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?” And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.”
Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’“ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’“
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
and speak of all his marvelous works.
3 Glory in his holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Search for the Lord and his strength; *
continually seek his face.
5 Remember the marvels he has done, *
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
O children of Jacob his chosen.
37 He led out his people with silver and gold; *
in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad of their going, *
because they were afraid of them.
39 He spread out a cloud for a covering *
and a fire to give light in the night season.
40 They asked, and quails appeared, *
and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and water flowed, *
so the river ran in the dry places.
42. For God remembered his holy word *
and Abraham his servant.
43 So he led forth his people with gladness, *
his chosen with shouts of joy.
44 He gave his people the lands of the nations, *
and they took the fruit of others' toil,
45 That they might keep his statutes *
and observe his laws.
Hallelujah!
Philippians 1:21-30
To me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well-- since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
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Prayers of Intercession
Please use this list today and throughout the week praying with special intention for:
All who are suffering in the wake of violence or natural disasters, all who are serving in the military, all who are distressed in mind, body, or spirit, and members of our parish family including:
Michael Chunn, Stu Naegele, Molly Lee, Aldo (Bannert), Bill Woodward, Jared Wheelock (Lawson), Mike (Wells), Janet Brennan, JoAnn Brown, Jere Freeman (Burnett), Pete Jackson, Jerry Maddock, Addie Heuston, Millie Heitman, Mark Odeen, Lynn Post, Don Shields.
Please notify Heather in the church office
(303-442-5246 or hdudok@stjohnsboulder.org)
if there are people who should be added to
or removed from our prayer list.
THIS WEEK:
We pray for the repose of the soul of:
Dale Douglas Wells , Arline Brizendine Ewald, Martha Goss Whitsel, and Louis Curtis Heuston the anniversaries of their death.
We honor Christ’s light within those celebrating birthdays:
Royse Marcoullier, Caley Morgan, Marianne Lee-Dodson, Bea French, Maggie Marcil, Suzanne Angevine, Roxanne Bamond, Matthew Walsh, Genevieve Robinson, Thomas Gebhardt, Kathy Shields, Bruce Swinehart, Thadd Paul, Elizabeth Walsh, Fr. Andy Carhartt, Susan Zimmerman, Katie Melich, Caroline McClurg, Colton Copenhaver, Ginny Strange, Maddie Weisz, Kristina Robinson, Alexandra Brodnicki, Suzanne Myers, George Coupounas, Laura Martin, Philip Verplanck, Carrie Taylor
We give thanks to God for the life and ministry of our brothers and sisters in Christ:
Peter & Jennifer Delamere, John & Kristen Delaney, Margaret DeMichelis, Doug Dennis, Colleen & Scott Denzler, Bill & Paula DeOreo, Tirza Derflinger, Angela des Cognets, Denise & Todd Detrick, Dan & Marti Dever
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