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June 1 -30, 2004 St. John’s Episcopal
Church Special Events
Speeders We’re delighted to report that Speeders (our group for those 55 years and older) has taken off again! We’re speeding! For the last two months we’ve had between 20 and 30 people at the 10:30 Worship Service and the following program and lunch. We meet on the third Thursday of the month at church.In May, our program was entitled “Money Matters over 55”. Debbie Reeves, retired bank manager from Bank of America, regaled us with all the pitfalls that can befall senior citizens and how to cope. “Just hang up! Don’t feel guilty” she said. That’s how we must respond to calls we receive of offers for vacations, winning prizes, etc. “And never give your account number to someone on the phone!” All good advice we needed to hear. Our next Speeders gathering will be June 24th at the church. Good food, good company, and the chance to worship together is in the offering. Mark your calendar NOW! June 1—June 30 The Bishop is Coming Bishop Alexander will be with us on Sunday, June 6. He will preside at both services and confirm Nathan Spring and Kathy Green-Phillips at the 10:30 service. Please come and welcome Bishop Alexander. He will be available between the services for a time of questions and answers in the Parish hall. Following the 10:30 service everyone is invited to a picnic. The church will provide hamburgers and hotdogs. All you have to do is bring your favorite side dish or dessert and enjoy the day. We hope to see everyone at church on June 6! Eagle Notes Deadline
If you would like to submit an article or information to be published in the Eagle Notes, all information must be in the church office no later than: June 17 for July publication July 22 for August publication August 19 for September publication September 23 for October publication October 21 for November publication November 18 for December publication December 16 for Jan., 2005 publication Please have information on disk or e-mail to(parishadmin@stjohnscollegepark.com). Thanks for your cooperation! From Family Life Ministries Peanut Butter & Jelly Peanut butter and jelly are always welcome here in the Family Life pantry! Jelly and honey make a great finish to a delicious sandwich. Fan Project The summer heat wave will be here before we know it. Our community is filled with senior citizens who live without air conditioning. We want to help! If you can purchase a box fan or rotating fan for someone, we will make sure it makes it to a needy senior. We will provide you a tax receipt and the Lord will provide you a blessing. You might have noticed that we’ve been praying for Ted Gunter. Jane, his wife, it The director of Family Life. Ted has a very serious medical condition. Please continue to keep Ted, Jane, and Family Life in you prayers. June Birthdays
Church Work Day Scheduled On Saturday, June 6, bring your tools and help prepare the church for Bishop Alexander’s visit and our church picnic. We will be cleaning both the inside and outside of the church. The day will start with a light breakfast at 8:30 and we will work until Noon or until all is done. Hope to see you there! Welcome New Members We welcome Mercedes and Cheryl Gregory into the membership of St. John’s. They are transferring from St. James Parish in Montego Bay, Jamaica.From the Rector Life in a Small Town: Setting the Record Straight I learned recently that a number of people in the community, and a few in the church, are upset with me because of the role I played regarding the recent firing of Christopher Jones as Business Development Manager for the City of College Park. I was told that my guilt was by association since I am an officer of the Southside Ministerial Association (SMA), which endorsed the City Council candidate who later orchestrated Christopher’s firing. I was also told that the SMA had consulted with and advised that councilperson regarding Christopher’s firing. I was told that “some people aren’t coming to St. John’s because of this.”I was stunned. Then amazed. Then saddened. Then disappointed. So let me set the record straight. I think Christopher did a great job, and I was dismayed and upset when I heard of his firing. I continue to think that he was dealt with unjustly (at the least), and that the manner in which his dismissal was handled brought discredit to the city. I have been to almost every SMA monthly meeting and board meeting for the last year. We have never discussed Christopher Jones or the Ward 3 elections. When I called the President of the SMA (the Rev. Shirley Cotton) to discuss this matter, she was stunned and amazed, and wanted to know who Christopher Jones was. The SMA is a tax -exempt 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. By federal law, such organizations (including churches) cannot endorse candidates for political office. That restriction is on the SMA’s letterhead, on which the invitations to meetings are sent. At most meetings, our Secretary reminds us that the SMA does not endorse candidates.I hope this makes it clear that neither I nor the SMA played any role in this episode. I am aware that there is the real possibility that several people then associated with the SMA might have represented that the SMA endorsed a candidate or backed actions against Christopher. But merely saying something is so does not make it so, and a candidate who accepts the endorsement of a corporation without requiring a resolution of the board merely shows his or her lack of sophistication. Had I realized that the SMA’s name and reputation (and my own) had been dragged into this mess, I would have acted sooner to set the record straight, and I might even have been able to help change events (since the SMA’s name was reportedly used to threaten political action against council members). The short answer is this: I had no idea, and neither did most of the officers of the organization. I’ve done things in the last six years that I knew would be controversial, and I’ve been prepared to take the heat. This time, I was not involved. Please help me set the record straight. Finance Update (Total as of April 30, 2004)
YTD Actual YTD Budget Commitment Payments: 69,254 66,168 Total Revenues: 91,544 87,019 Total Expenses: 83,583 89,474 Net Total: 7,961 (2,455) Good News!
Upper Room by Jane Randolph For the ten years following the founding of the City of College Park there was no Episcopal church. Then, in 1906, a few people gathered in a second story room above what is now the Il Forno restaurant on Main Street to form St. John's congregation. In 1996, the two story brick vernacular building with its intricate brickwork and diagonal entry, hardwood floors and large windows placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U. S. Department of Interior because of its age and significance and because St. John's church, a strong contributor cultural and religious life of the City of College Park, first met there.Meeting on second floors of downtown buildings was not unique in that time. Earlier, the First Baptist Church held its meetings in a second story room above David's Cleaners' Main Street location. Today that congregation which numbers 20-30 members meets College Park Woman's Club. The First Methodist Church, however, first met in homes. Next time you pass Il Forno's or sit and munch a pizza there, think of the few who climbed the steep stairs in 1906 and the lasting impression that they, who met in that upper room to have us all . From the Stewardship Commission If you have attended an Episcopal Church for at least one year, you know that the fall season, besides being one of winter squash and leaf color change, is also one of stewardship stumping. This year, your stewardship commission is doing things differently—no, we are not asking for money now rather than later. Instead, we are working to keep you informed, on a regular basis, about the financial and talent strengths and needs of St. John’s throughout the year. Along these line the Stewardship Commission has developed a mission statement to guide its thinking and working. It follows: “The mission of the Stewardship Commission is to educate and inspire the congregation to generously share its talents and treasures to further St. John’s mission to “celebrate the Good News of Jesus Christ by word, example, and service to others.” The first small step the Commission has taken is to report three budget line items monthly, in the church bulletin, the first Sunday after the scheduled vestry meeting. The line items will be the ones that summarize how well St. John’s is actually doing in managing its cash flow. Other steps and activities will follow with enough advance notice for you to plan to attend and/or participate. Additionally, we are looking for a few interested individuals who feel called to join us in this foundational ministry of the Church. If you believe that you are such person, please feel free to contact either Carl Franzman or Emile Escalera. Peace The Stewardship Commission Message From Haiti Dear Friends, The second food distribution to some of the poor of Haiti has been successfully completed. It was made at two locations near Terrier Rouge by staff of the St. Barthelemy Center. Pere Bruno purchased rice, tomato paste, spaghetti, red herring and oats in the Dominican Republic and had it transported to Terrier Rouge. Each of 400 families received a food basket sufficient to feed a family of five for one week. Most of the gifts were made to the elderly who do not have relatives to help them in their hunger. The food went directly to those in need of sustenance. Another distribution is planned for June, 2004. Thank you for helping make this possible through your generosity. This comes with the assurance of my prayers. Yours always, J.M. Bruno St. John’s gives $3,600 annually to Bethlehem Ministries, which supports Fr. Bruno’s work. The mission of St. John's Episcopal Church is to be a loving and diverse community celebrating the Good News of Jesus Christ by word, example, and service to others. Graduates Congratulations to Whitney Reeves and Ashley Graham on their graduation from Woodward Academy. Whitney will be attending Miami University of Ohio and Ashley will be attending Clemson University.Adult Education Beginning June 13, we will resume our “Current Events through Gospel Eyes” class. This class was popular when we held it earlier in the year, and we ran out of time. Come with current topics you would like to discuss, question, or explore from a Christian perspective. Odyssey To Hold Camp at St. John’s FYI: Odyssey Family Counseling Center will hold a camp for children at risk June 1-July 16 in Bott Hall from 9-12:30. The sad news: due to budget cuts, Odyssey has reduced the number of children served from 20 to 12. The good news: we’re able to help with this important work! Help Us Get Ready For Another Refugee Family Diana Blosser is once again heading up our effort to resettle a refugee family. Look for a display booth on June 6 (when the Bishop is here) and be thinking of how you can help. God executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. (Deut. 10:18).
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Eagle Notes