News & Events
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Open office hours are suspended for the foreseeable future.
Rector's Open Office Hours- ongoing Wednesday's, 3:00-5:00 pm
Check eNews to find out where (or how) Mother Tracy will be holding Open Office
Mother Tracy will be at The Farm Bakery & Cafe (6790 Soquel Dr, Aptos) every Wednesday (unless she is out of town for some reason) from 3-5 p.m. for "open office hours." You'll find her out back if the weather is nice; otherwise, she'll probably be in the section near the back entrance.
Open office hours are a time when anyone can stop by and talk to her about anything. Many people are reluctant to make an appointment with clergy because they think that what they have to talk about doesn't warrant an APPOINTMENT, which sounds so serious. Holding "open office hours" in a public cafe is meant to create a more laid-back and casual atmosphere to encourage you to drop by and do things like:
Sunday's at 9:15- Adult Formation
During the 9:15-10:15 formation hour, we’ll offer an opportunity for those who are interested in going deeper to attend sessions on a variety of aspects of the passages being read each Sunday.
2020 Lenten Series: Christian Perspectives on Climate Change and Creation Care
Our Lenten series for 2020 will take place during the 9:15 Adult Formation hour on Sunday mornings. (On Wednesday nights, there will be a separate program involving a spiritual and scripturally focused discussion over dinner followed by a contemplative Taize service.)
Episcopalians/Anglicans are known for using the "three-legged stool" of scripture, tradition, and reason to analyze and assess any given topic. Our Lenten series this year will look at what scripture, Christian tradition (not just in the Anglican Communion, but throughout the Christian world in Christian history), and reason have to say about climate change and creation care. After reflecting on those things, we will discuss together what we believe God is calling us to do, individually or collectively, to care for the earth.
The structure of this study follows a similar study I did on gun violence at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Franklin, TN in 2013. As with that study, the goal is to address a hot button, politically-charged, current events topic in a prayerful and nonpartisan way. The goal is to create a safe space to discuss these issues from a spiritual perspective with people who may have a variety of opinions on how best to care for God's creation, and to do some soul-searching around what our faith as to say to us on this particular issue.
Session Five, March 29 - What is God Calling Us to Do?
Given everything we've considered over the past four weeks, what should we do
about climate change? What is our responsibility, individually or collectively? What does God call us to do?
Unfortunately, most published material on "hot button, politically-charged topics" have a strong ideological slant one way or the other, and so for this study, as with the gun violence study I led in 2013, we are creating our own program from scratch rather than using a pre-packaged curriculum or book. The facilitators will draw on a variety of resources and would appreciate your input ahead of time if you know of helpful sources on these topics. If you are interested in helping compile resources for any of the five sessions, please contact the Adult Formation Working Group (Mother Tracy, Debra Spencer, Bill Kell, Judith Maxfield, Brian Raney, Jane Dawson, and Liz Lindsley) at adultformation@st-john-aptos.org.
2020 ECW Program Schedule
Save the Dates!
Date of Meeting Theme Host Co-Host
April 20 Lunch Out Anne Sherwood
May 18 Tech Hints Chrys Sparks Sherrie Dewitt & Janet Duncan
June 15 Homeless Mary Karen Greenleaf
July 20 Poetry Barbara Raney
August 17 Visual Art Alliee DeArmond
September 21 Beach Dee Roe
October 19 National Church Educational Programs
Charmion Burns Barbara Raney
November 16 Books Sherrie DeWitt
December 14 (2nd Monday due to Christmas)
Lunch Out Anne Sherwood
Follow the latest news about these services in the eNews.
Holy Week & Easter Services
Palm Sunday (April 5)
8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. (music at 10:30 only)
Holy Wednesday (April 8)
“Prayers to Go” at corner of State Park & Center
6:30-9:30 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.
Maundy Thursday (April 9)
6:30 p.m. - Dinner recalling Jesus’s last meal with his disciples, with foot washing & Holy Eucharist
Good Friday (April 10)
12 p.m. - Three Hours’ Service on the Seven Last Words of Christ (featuring testimonies by lay people instead of sermons by clergy)
Easter Day (April 12)
5 a.m. - Great Vigil of Easter, with incense*
9:45 a.m. - Easter Egg hunt for children
10:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist
*We use a stationary resin stick incense that does not involve burning charcoal or spreading clouds of smoke throughout the church. (It gives the smell of “church” while still allowing you to breathe!) Some of our most incense-sensitive folks have confirmed that it doesn’t bother them.
June 25-29
Annual Big Sur Camping Trip. For over 30 years St. John's has had an annual camping trip.
We stay at the gorgeous Santa Lucia Group Campground on the Big Sur River, a ministry of All Saints Carmel.
See 1/23 eNews for more details. Reservations are limited and required.
Saturday, September 12, 10 am -5 pm
Art of Communication Festival
NVC (Nonviolent Communication) Santa Cruz offers classes in interpersonal communication for home, workplace, and in the community.
The festival opens with Conflict Improv, where teachers from NVC act out conflicts and their resolution taking suggestions from the audience. Breakout sessions take place in the morning and afternoon on topics including:
Free for members of St. John's parish.
More information: NVCsantacruz.org Or contact Bill Kell
Events Sponsored by or Held @ St. John's
Santa Cruz Regional Youth Ministry- Read their Newsletter here
Open office hours are suspended for the foreseeable future.
Rector's Open Office Hours- ongoing Wednesday's, 3:00-5:00 pm
Check eNews to find out where (or how) Mother Tracy will be holding Open Office
Mother Tracy will be at The Farm Bakery & Cafe (6790 Soquel Dr, Aptos) every Wednesday (unless she is out of town for some reason) from 3-5 p.m. for "open office hours." You'll find her out back if the weather is nice; otherwise, she'll probably be in the section near the back entrance.
Open office hours are a time when anyone can stop by and talk to her about anything. Many people are reluctant to make an appointment with clergy because they think that what they have to talk about doesn't warrant an APPOINTMENT, which sounds so serious. Holding "open office hours" in a public cafe is meant to create a more laid-back and casual atmosphere to encourage you to drop by and do things like:
- tell her a bit about your most recent trip
- check in about a project you're working on for church that you have a quick question about
- ask for recommendations for books or other sources on some religious topic you're curious about
- talk about current events or issues in the wider church
Sunday's at 9:15- Adult Formation
During the 9:15-10:15 formation hour, we’ll offer an opportunity for those who are interested in going deeper to attend sessions on a variety of aspects of the passages being read each Sunday.
2020 Lenten Series: Christian Perspectives on Climate Change and Creation Care
Our Lenten series for 2020 will take place during the 9:15 Adult Formation hour on Sunday mornings. (On Wednesday nights, there will be a separate program involving a spiritual and scripturally focused discussion over dinner followed by a contemplative Taize service.)
Episcopalians/Anglicans are known for using the "three-legged stool" of scripture, tradition, and reason to analyze and assess any given topic. Our Lenten series this year will look at what scripture, Christian tradition (not just in the Anglican Communion, but throughout the Christian world in Christian history), and reason have to say about climate change and creation care. After reflecting on those things, we will discuss together what we believe God is calling us to do, individually or collectively, to care for the earth.
The structure of this study follows a similar study I did on gun violence at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Franklin, TN in 2013. As with that study, the goal is to address a hot button, politically-charged, current events topic in a prayerful and nonpartisan way. The goal is to create a safe space to discuss these issues from a spiritual perspective with people who may have a variety of opinions on how best to care for God's creation, and to do some soul-searching around what our faith as to say to us on this particular issue.
Session Five, March 29 - What is God Calling Us to Do?
Given everything we've considered over the past four weeks, what should we do
about climate change? What is our responsibility, individually or collectively? What does God call us to do?
Unfortunately, most published material on "hot button, politically-charged topics" have a strong ideological slant one way or the other, and so for this study, as with the gun violence study I led in 2013, we are creating our own program from scratch rather than using a pre-packaged curriculum or book. The facilitators will draw on a variety of resources and would appreciate your input ahead of time if you know of helpful sources on these topics. If you are interested in helping compile resources for any of the five sessions, please contact the Adult Formation Working Group (Mother Tracy, Debra Spencer, Bill Kell, Judith Maxfield, Brian Raney, Jane Dawson, and Liz Lindsley) at adultformation@st-john-aptos.org.
2020 ECW Program Schedule
Save the Dates!
Date of Meeting Theme Host Co-Host
April 20 Lunch Out Anne Sherwood
May 18 Tech Hints Chrys Sparks Sherrie Dewitt & Janet Duncan
June 15 Homeless Mary Karen Greenleaf
July 20 Poetry Barbara Raney
August 17 Visual Art Alliee DeArmond
September 21 Beach Dee Roe
October 19 National Church Educational Programs
Charmion Burns Barbara Raney
November 16 Books Sherrie DeWitt
December 14 (2nd Monday due to Christmas)
Lunch Out Anne Sherwood
Follow the latest news about these services in the eNews.
Holy Week & Easter Services
Palm Sunday (April 5)
8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. (music at 10:30 only)
Holy Wednesday (April 8)
“Prayers to Go” at corner of State Park & Center
6:30-9:30 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.
Maundy Thursday (April 9)
6:30 p.m. - Dinner recalling Jesus’s last meal with his disciples, with foot washing & Holy Eucharist
Good Friday (April 10)
12 p.m. - Three Hours’ Service on the Seven Last Words of Christ (featuring testimonies by lay people instead of sermons by clergy)
Easter Day (April 12)
5 a.m. - Great Vigil of Easter, with incense*
9:45 a.m. - Easter Egg hunt for children
10:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist
*We use a stationary resin stick incense that does not involve burning charcoal or spreading clouds of smoke throughout the church. (It gives the smell of “church” while still allowing you to breathe!) Some of our most incense-sensitive folks have confirmed that it doesn’t bother them.
June 25-29
Annual Big Sur Camping Trip. For over 30 years St. John's has had an annual camping trip.
We stay at the gorgeous Santa Lucia Group Campground on the Big Sur River, a ministry of All Saints Carmel.
See 1/23 eNews for more details. Reservations are limited and required.
Saturday, September 12, 10 am -5 pm
Art of Communication Festival
NVC (Nonviolent Communication) Santa Cruz offers classes in interpersonal communication for home, workplace, and in the community.
The festival opens with Conflict Improv, where teachers from NVC act out conflicts and their resolution taking suggestions from the audience. Breakout sessions take place in the morning and afternoon on topics including:
- Practical Strategies for Parenting;
- Couples Getting Closer;
- New Perspectives on Old Wounds;
- Depolarizing Community Conversations; and
- Dropping the Defense.
Free for members of St. John's parish.
More information: NVCsantacruz.org Or contact Bill Kell
Events Sponsored by or Held @ St. John's
Santa Cruz Regional Youth Ministry- Read their Newsletter here