Daily, we strive to be a welcoming Christian community of faith: loving and forgiving, questioning and learning, inviting and serving. Please join us as we seek to know God and live out our mission in the world.
Please join St. John’s sabbatical team, Deb Clark, Bill Robinson, and our deacon and priest, Zarina and Rick, to hear about Rick’s time away and the listening conversations held at St. John’s. The Rev. Angie Emerson, our sabbatical shepherd will facilitate the conversation. You can join the conversation online or in person.
Please see Rick’s short reflection on his time away:
We have started our Annual Adopt-a-Family drive which we call a “Dove Tree”. The tree is set up in the Church’s undercroft, with Doves hanging in waiting for you to take. The tree is accessible Sunday and also Tuesday & Thursday between 9:00am and 2:00pm.
Please, do not return the “Dove” tag with the wrapped gift.
Place your gift under the Christmas tree and label it
“six year old girl ” or “13 year old girl” or “Mom”.
All gifts are due by Sunday, December 11th.
Thanks to All for your generosity and warmest wishes
for a joyous Christmas.
Any concerns please speak with Dick at 888-5880 or
Emily at 802-793-6020.
Help Decorate the St. John’s Tree
This advent season, everyone is invited and encouraged to contribute one Christmas ornament (or more) to the
St. John’s Christmas tree in the undercroft.
Please bring in an ornament and hang it on the tree downstairs. All are encouraged to pick up their ornament after the Christmas season is over. Feel free to tag your ornaments with your name.
Fr. Rick is bringing in his Zamboni ornament!
What ornament would you like to share?
8:00 PM Candlelight, Carols, and Holy Communion: Christmas at St John’s in the Mountains
January
Scheduling Sunday Coffee / Agape Hour
Prior to the Covid restrictions, St. John’s Coffee/Agape Hour was a special time when parishioners and guests gathered in the undercroft to share coffee, tea, a wonderful fare and, most importantly, conversation and laughter. Fr. Rick and Zarina would like us to return to this tradition and reinstitute the scheduling of Coffee/Agape Hour hosts.
If you are willing to host a Coffee/Agape Hour once every month or two, Heidi will set up a schedule. If the date that you are hosting is not convenient, you can swap with another host or contact Heidi to help find a more convenient Sunday. And… Donald Clinton has very generously offered to set up the coffee and tea each week.
We are delighted and moved to share some big news with you: the first-ever greater Stowe Holy Land interfaith journey to Israel!
This unprecedented trip for our community will take place April 16-24, 2023 (just one year from now) for eight days of touring Israel, plus a two-day optional extension to visit Petra, Jordan.
See the traditional site of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Visit the town of Nazareth where he grew up. Explore the Ministry of Jesus around the Sea of Galilee. Follow his footsteps on the Via Dolorosa as he walked towards the cross. Experience an unforgettable Easter morning moment at Garden Tomb in Jersualem.
At the heart of this tour is the opportunity for meaningful connection and learning and relationship-building. In addition to the local friendships you will make, you have the chance to meet directly with Ahmadiyyan Muslims, Ethiopian Jews, Israeli Arab Christians, observant Jews for a home hospitality Shabbat meal, and Israelis and Palestinians taking important steps towards peace and reconciliation.
And of course, there’s the delicious food at the outdoor markets and in Bedouin tents in the desert, and great fun in cosmopolitan Tel Aviv on the beautiful Mediterranean.
Rabbi David Fainsilber, Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, rabbidavid@jcogs.org
Rev. Dr. Rick Swanson, St. John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church, rick@stjohnsinthemountains.org
July 2022 Discretionary Fund Needs
A message from Deacon Zarina
The Discretionary Fund, which is used for emergency assistance for basic needs (food, gas, housing and transportation), has been depleted, and the needs continue apace. During 2020 and 2021, the calls for assistance were much lower because of all the federal and state assistance available for housing, utilities and food assistance. We also had a very generous donation to the fund in 2020. But federal and state emergency assistance is no longer available, and inflation is hitting people.
Please consider a donation to the church earmarked for the discretionary fund. You may put in a check in the offering basket, mail one in, or donate online. Just be sure to mark that it is for the discretionary fund.
Dear members and friends of St. John’s in the Mountains,
Please note these updates following the All-Parish Vestry Meeting on March 20, 2022:
~Masks are optional in the building, at your comfort level.
~ Please do wear a mask during the singing of hymns
~If you’re not feeling well, please stay home, even if you have mild symptoms and join worship via Zoom.
~Agape Hour will take place directly following worship.
