Notes from the Undercroft May 2020
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Notes from the Undercroft St. John’s Episcopal Church A house of worship for all people since 1845 “We are partners in Christ with the love of God on our lips and in our lives.” Registration is required. There are three ways to May 2020 accomplish that: 1. By phone: 1-800-559-4880; 2. On the web: www.SeniorsForSafeDriving.com ; and 3. Via mail: SFSD, PO Box 505, Lyndora, PA A WORD ABOUT 16045. (Forms are available on the bulletin board in the Undercroft.) SCHEDULES Tuition is $16.00/student. Make checks payable to Since the parish will remain closed for public “SFSD”. services, and since our buildings will also remain Those who take this course may qualify for a 5% closed to meetings, the schedules shown in this discount on their insurance for a period of three month’s newsletter are all tentative. years. If Bishop Scanlan gives permission for us to re- Saturday, May 30 th open prior to her currently-projected re-opening date of May 31 st , we’ll let you know. MAY’S BIKE RIDE May’s outing on the Lower Trail will take place HISTORIC SUPPLEMENT on Saturday, May 30 th . Meeting time in the parish At the end of this month’s newsletter, you will parking lot is 10:00 a.m. find another installment of an historic supplement. Ride pace and length are determined by those Each month’s newsletter in the coming year will attending. feature another installment in this series, and it will If possible, we’ll convene for lunch/breakfast feature articles and information from the Historic following the ride. Book Committee, whose research into the parish’s To sign up, please let the Rector know of your history has resulted in a treasure trove of interest. information about our past. This month’s topic has to do with worship and Sunday, May 31 st liturgy. WEAR RED SUNDAY Wednesday, May 20 th It’s a St. John’s parish tradition, each year on the SAFE DRIVING COURSE Feast of Pentecost, to gather outside on the front steps of the church (weather permitting) to take a RESCHEDULED parish photo. The safe driving course for seniors, originally This year, on Sunday, May 31 st , we’ll be able to scheduled to be held on Wednesday, April 1 st in the do that again (hopefully, the shutdown will have Undercroft, as been rescheduled. The new date is ended on that date), and this year’s photo session Wednesday, May 20 th . Meeting time is 5:00 p.m. will have the added excitement for the parish, for it will be (hopefully) the first time that we’ve been able to conduct a Sunday morning service since the Thank you, St. John’s, for your prayers and middle of March. monetary support, given on the first Sunday of the So plan to wear red on that Sunday (your St. month. And thank you to the kitchen crew. We are John’s tee shirts are ideal for this, if you have one). so blessed to be able to help provide a homemade, hot meal to our neighbors. CHANGES MADE TO THE Our next Soup Kitchen date will be Thursday, June 4 th . SOUP KITCHEN ON APRIL Carol Weyer 2ND DUE TO THE COVID- 19 PANDEMIC The way in which things were done changed JUNIATA CAMPUS again the day before St. John’s was responsible for the Community Soup Kitchen on April 2 nd . We MINISTRY IN THE TIME usually have about thirteen-plus volunteers, Now, OF COVID-19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC allows only four people in the kitchen at a time. Hi St. John's family! Sandy, Joe and Todd made the baked ziti. They At the invitation of Father Tucker, we (Dani and put a generous serving, topped with parmesan Adrienne) wanted to provide a little glimpse of what cheese and a slice of bread and butter, in the take- ministry at Juniata has looked like over the past five out boxes. They fruit was cut up and put in sealed weeks. While ministry at Juniata's campus may be take-out cups. Michelle made the tossed salad and at a standstill, ministry with Juniata students is very packaged it. much alive and well! Of course the loss of face to face relationship and interaction with students in Louise made thirteen dozen beautifully decorated their own spaces of significance (sporting events, Easter cookies and a Texas sheet cake. Pat forums, academic presentations, and other formal McCloskey made a delicious chocolate cake and a and informal events) is disappointing, but we are colorful confetti cake. Amy put the desserts in incredibly grateful that, overall, this has not been a containers. loss in relationship. Our main transition has been to Louise brought a huge bucket of assorted varieties shift our fellowship and discipleship meetings to of yellow daffodils. She asked, as they were given online or other mediums. Juniata Christian out, to say, “These are given with love and prayers.” Fellowship, the weekly campus fellowship group, She thought they would brighten the clients’ day has now had four weeks of meetings via Zoom. The and make them smile. transition, under Dani's leadership in her advisory The containers of food were placed on the serving role, has been gamely led by the club's four student table and handed out by Amy and Michelle, the Co- leaders, and they have responded capably and directors. Folks came in the parking lot door to the resiliently to the challenge of staying connected and church, ten at a time, were given a bag and handed caring for their fellow students in this season. As a the take-out containers. They went out by the fellowship we've discussed perseverance in seasons Mifflin Street door. Social distancing was of disruption and dryness (digging into Psalm 84), maintained. the events leading up to and surrounding Palm Sunday in the gospel narratives, and the concept of One hundred and two boxes of each item were God as protector. Conversations have been rich and prepared. Sixty-two people signed up online. Most students have been engaged! We've also continued of the regular clients came. There were a lot of new discussions on Genesis with a group of students faces. Michelle and Amy are determined to keep the who were previously spending the semester at Soup Kitchen open. Some churches are having Juniata's Raystown Lake Field Station. We are trouble getting volunteers and a few aren’t coming. grateful that we've also been able to continue It is understandable with this COVID-19 pandemic regular discipleship and mentorship meetings with going on. individual students, either online or on the phone. Just as there seems to be a drive to connect within our society as a whole during this season, we have Perhaps as a result of this misconception, the also found in students a desire, willingness, and number of clients who were coming to the Food even more flexible and free schedules to be in these Pantry had dropped off. conversations of significance together! Through it Fortunately, steps have been taken to correct the all, we are moving forward, with hope, to plan for misinformation. The Food Pantry is, indeed, open the fall semester, in our individual and joint work as for receiving donations, and they are, indeed, well as alongside the Campus Ministry department serving those in need. at Juniata. St. John’s continues to support this vital ministry Though technology is not our favorite medium, in this time in which the need has increased we are grateful for the opportunity it presents to markedly. Please be generous in your support, as stay connected to students. And while we greatly you are able. miss being able to worship in a weekly space together and share about these things with you over Little Free Pantry delicious coffee hour snacks, we are grateful for The LFP has been quite busy lately. your fellowship and support from afar and for this invitation from Father Tucker to share more directly We’ve noticed a significant increase in the with you about this unique season. You are in our amount of items that are being donated by the thoughts and prayers as you weather your own community. (So, that makes us wonder if the uptick challenges, shifted patterns, and losses of this time. is due to the misconception that the Huntingdon We look forward to being together again soon! Area Food Pantry had been closed.) With love in Christ, When donations are made by the community, the Dani and Adrienne task of managing the LFP changes a bit: Items that are likely to be taken out, opened up and scattered are removed (two items in this category are A SUMMARY OF OUR uncooked beans and uncooked rice). In addition, OUTREACH WORK items whose containers are opened are removed, as are food stuffs which have passed their expiration Huntingdon Area Food Pantry dates. In April we contributed a total of 67 items to the Due to the large number of people who are now Food Bank: 40 cans of fruit, 9 cans of soup, 5 cans out of work, the expectation is that demands on the of vegetable, 2 packages of noodles, 1 bag of rice, LFP will increase.) and 10 other items. Designated Offerings The food bank continues to be open and to provide this essential support to the community The most recent monthly financial report shows during the current health emergency. Thank you all that the parish donated the following amounts to for your gifts! If you would prefer to send a those entities that are supported by each Sunday’s monetary donation, you can send it to St Johns, with designated offerings: "Food Pantry" in the memo line, or send it directly Huntingdon County Food Pantry: $353.00 to the Food bank, in care of the First United St.