A PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF ST. JOHN’S BROAD CREEK EPISCOPALST. CHURCH JOHN’S WAY APRIL 2018 IN THIS ISSUE THE ST. JOHN’S PRAYER The St. John’s Prayer 1 Almighty and ever living God, ruler of all things Vision/Mission 1 in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for From The Pulpit: St. John’s, Broad Creek. Strengthen the faithful, “What Are You Ordained To Do?” Pages 2-3 arouse the careless, restore the penitent, draw the seekers, and increase our numbers. “April 2018: Bizarre and Unique Holidays” 4-5 “A County Takes Shape” 6-7 Grant us all things necessary for our common “Historic Prince George’s 8-11 life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind African American History” within your Holy Church; through Jesus Christ Palm Sunday 2018 12 our Lord. Amen Doing Onto The Least Of These This Is Us: 13 A Gift For Life, 4 Pillars, Vestry, Prayer Corner VISION STATEMENT Reports, About St. John’s, Finance. We Need You 14 St. John’s will continue to grow as a positive source of comfort and love Upcoming Events, Birthdays, Recycle 15 325Th Anniversary Celebration - Preview- 16 in the lives of our diverse parish family. The surrounding community will The St. John’s Way 17 come to know us as a welcoming, inclusive shelter in a world of Submission Information 17 uncertainty, and a source of help in crisis. ST. JOHN’S BROAD CREEK MISSION STATEMENT EPISCOPAL CHURCH St. John’s Church is an inclusive community of faithful believers and earnest 9801 Livingston Road seekers, where worship is the foundation of our common life, and where Fort Washington, Maryland 20744 Office Phone: 301.248.4290 the Holy Spirit moves us to gather and thrive as a loving extended family Office Fax: 301.248.7838 while reaching out to serve our neighbors with the Good News of God’s www.stjohnsbroadcreek.org Love.www.stjohnsbroadcreek.org 1 ST. JOHN’S WAY What are you ordained to do? The Rev. Sarah Dodds Odderstol Everyone has a ministry! When I do baptismal instruction A governing board in a church is responsible for with the parents of a baby who is about to be baptized, discerning God’s call, identifying and equipping new I tell them that baptism is ordination for lay ministry in leaders, stewardship and development of resources, the Episcopal Church. A baby’s first ministry is to BE AT and creatively visioning for the future of the parish. CHURCH and be cute! (Just ask Sebastian Pratt, he’s an This can be a hard transition in a church! St. John’s needs expert at this!) to change and grow…so we need to adapt our leadership style. Lately, I have been thinking a lot about ministry and ministry leadership at St. John’s. When I’m thinking hard, With the Vestry’s move toward becoming a governing I start to doodle. My “ministry doodle” for St. John’s board, balls will be dropped. Some of the things that ended up looking like a tree – a tree that is ROOTED have ALWAYS happened may not happen exactly as they and REACHING! Our ministries group nicely into 5 have happened in the past. I’m apologizing in advance. ministry branches: Foundations for Ministry, Formation This won’t be fun, it may be painful, but it will help us Ministries, Parish Life Ministries, Evangelism and Welcome to determine what is really important to us. If no one Ministries, & Worship Ministries. We also have a steps up to lead a particular ministry, perhaps it is time specialized branch of ministry at St. John’s. As you may to furlough the ministry. This is where I need your help! recall St. John’s was selected to participate in the Everyone has a ministry. What are you “ordained” to Strategic Financial Resource Commission (SFRC) Pilot do? Study. The Episcopal Diocese of Washington created the SFRC to help struggling parishes become financially St. John’s needs ministry leaders and doers in the self-sustaining. We are privileged to be a part of this following critical areas: In the area of Formation courageous experiment! Ministries, we are looking for an Adult Formation Coordinator, a Children’s Formation Strategist, and a For the past year, your Vestry has been working towards Youth Formation Strategist. If you have a passion for living making the shift from being a “Managing Board” to into your baptismal ordination vows by “continuing in becoming a “Governing Board.” A managing board not the apostle’s teaching,” please give me a shout. only attempts to lead, but also does much of the work of an organization. This style of leadership can actually It is going to take an army of people to cover the work work for an organization that is small and has no that Pam Ritter did as the Parish Life Chair on the Vestry! desire to grow or change. WHATARE YOU ORDAINED TO DO? on page 3 2 www.stjohnsbroadcreek.org ST. JOHN’S WAY WHAT ARE YOU ORDAINED TO DO? continued ... St. John’s needs an 8:00 Coffee Hour Coordinator and Then there’s this baptismal vow: “Will you seek and serve a 10:30 Coffee Hour Coordinator…and wouldn’t it be Christ in all persons…?” Outreach is also a Parish Life cool if they could work together! We need a Repast Ministry. The Food Pantry needs support on Wednesday Coordinator to work with families and organize and Friday mornings. Just sayin’… volunteers when we host the repast after a funeral or memorial service. If you volunteer to be the Special Foundations for Ministry is in need of a people who Events Coordinator, you’d put me over the moon! enjoy doing Resource Development/Stewardship. St. We are trying to break Parish Life Ministries down into John’s also needs people who are comfortable working bite size chunks. Do you realize that “fellowship” is a part with computer technology to help implement our new of your baptismal ordination vow?!? membership information system and keep our communications up to date. These are some ways “you can proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ!” Do you have a passion for excellent liturgy and good music? Worship Ministries may be the place for you to serve! Talk to me if you are interested in serving with Libby and me on a Worship Committee. We are always looking for acolytes and lay readers of all ages…it helps if you are big enough to carry a torch and/or are able to read! If St. John’s wants to thrive in the future, we need to work hard at developing Evangelism & Welcome Ministries. Faith Chisholm has agreed to work with vestry member, Sandra Rivera, to begin laying the groundwork. We are looking for people to coordinate and lead Ushers and Greeters. Are you the person who will help us give visitors to St. John’s the best welcome possible? Our roots are 325 years deep. Everyone has a ministry that will help St. John’s to reach and stretch and grow in new directions. What are you ordained to do? www.stjohnsbroadcreek.org 3 ST. JOHN’S WAY HISTORY APRIL 2018: In the initial Roman calendar April was the second month of the year until January and February were added in 700 BC. It is thought that the name April comes from the Latin word “to open” and describes Bizarre & Unique the trees opening at springtime. It could also be that the name comes from the Greek goddess Aphrodite. SOURCES: Holidays http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/april.htm MAIN CELEBRATIONS Week 2 Garden Week Week 3 Organize Your Files Week DATE CELEBRATION Week 3 Medical Labs Week 1 April Fool’s Day Week 4 Administrative Assistants Week 1 Easter Sunday Week 4 National Karaoke Week 1 International Tatting Day 6 National Walk to Work Day (1st Friday) DAILY HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL AND WACKY DAYS 13 Friday the 13th 15 Income taxes due (most years it is due on the 15th) DATE CELEBRATION 16 Patriot’s Day (third Monday of the month) 1 April Fool’s Day 22 Earth Day (U.S.) 1 Easter Sunday (date varies) 25 Administrative Professionals Day formerly 1 International Fun at Work Day “Secretaries Day” (date varies) 1 International Tatting Day 26 Take Your Daughter to Work Day (4th Thursday) 2 Children’s Book Day 27 Arbor Day (always the last Friday in April) 2 Dyngus Day (always the Monday after Easter) 2 National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day MONTH 2 Reconciliation Day National Humor Month 3 Don’t Go to Work Unless it’s Fun Day International Guitar Month 3 Tweed Day Keep America Beautiful Month 3 World Party Day Lawn and Garden Month 4 Hug a Newsman Day National Kite Month 4 Walk Around Things Day National Poetry Month 4 School Librarian Day National Pecan Month 4 Tell a Lie Day National Welding Month 4 World Rat Day Records and Information Management Month 5 Go for Broke Day Stress Awareness Month 5 National Dandelion Day Sexual Assault Awareness Month 6 California Poppy Day 6 National Tartan Day WEEKLY CELEBRATIONS 6 National Walk to Work Day (first Friday of month) 6 New Beer’s Eve WEEK CELEBRATION 6 Plan Your Epitaph Day (a little morbid if you ask me) Week 1 Library Week 6 Sorry Charlie Day Week 1 Read a Road Map Week. 7 Caramel Popcorn Day DAILY HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL AND WACKY DAYS continued on page 5 4 www.stjohnsbroadcreek.org ST. JOHN’S WAY DAILY HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL AND WACKY DAYS continued ..