Stewardship Presentation & Conversations for Belonging

From the Rector's Desk

Sunday's Stewardship Presentation and Conversations for Belonging

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Stewardship Presentation & Conversations for Belonging

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WHEN: Sunday, October 26, 2025, immediately following 10:00 am Holy Eucharist

WHERE: Marsh Hall (Enjoy Coffee Hour sweets, coffee, tea, and lemonade, plus charcuterie for conversation participants.)

Part One: The Vertical Beam - Stewardship and Mission

Katy George, Chair of the Stewardship Committee, and Connie Lightbody, Chair of the Finance Committee, will present our operating budget. They will offer a compelling, graphic-based presentation—free of dense spreadsheets—that effectively communicates how we fund our mission and ministries.

The Vestry previewed Sunday’s presentation last week and found this information accessible and helpful for evaluating their respective pledges and contributions in light of what it takes to responsibly and purposefully fund our ministries and mission.

Part Two: The Cross Beam - Conversations for Belonging and Community

What does belonging have to do with Stewardship?

The Cross is a rich symbol that conceptualizes how they intersect. The vertical beam represents our personal response to God’s generous grace: the commitment and sharing of our individual gifts, time, and resources to further God's work in this community.

A core Christian tenet is that we grow closer to God by being authentically present to the people in our lives.

Therefore, we invite you to join in structured conversations designed to expand our knowledge of and affection for each other—accessing the gift of kind friendship and belonging, the most valuable gift we can offer another.

CHRIST is at the intersection fully embodying the divine and human - reminding the Church that God/We and We/Neighbor are synonymous and mutually dependent—we can't be right with God if we are not right with our neighbor(s).

Conversation Details: An Opportunity for Renewal

I will be facilitating three brief conversations for belonging. Small groups will be formed where everyone will be invited to share what is most important to them. We've done this before, and the Vestry has participated multiple times. Great care has been taken to ensure that even people who prefer stable, controlled situations can find safety.

Each conversation will last no longer than 12 minutes.

These conversations are structured to enable each of us to share and receive the gift of sharing without criticism, advice, or feedback. This simple discipline creates a safe space to share, and in that exchange, we experience renewed energy that plants seeds for trustworthy friendship and understanding. You risk sharing yourself, and in return, you receive the grace of being seen, known, and renewed.

A Truly Open Invitation - If you wish only to attend the presentation (focusing on the vertical) and not participate in the conversations, you are most welcome.

If you decide to participate in the conversations, we ask that you follow the simple conversation guidelines and participate in all three short rounds.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and hope you stay to experience how grace-filled conversation deepens our shared belonging.

Grace and peace,

Learn more

Father Michael Shares Memories of Sheila Stanton and Her Community Dinner Leadership

Remembering Sheila Stanton

From the Rector's Desk

Sheila Stanton Remembered

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Sheila Stanton Remembered

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The St. John's family is mourning the sudden death of much-loved member Sheila Stanton, who lost her life in a tragic car accident yesterday. Father Michael spoke with reporters from KOMO 4 and KING 5 news stations this afternoon, sharing his thoughts on Sheila, her life at St. John's, and her role as leader of the Community Dinner. The interviews will be shown tonight on both channels.

Click here for KOMO 4 News, here for KING 5 News, and here for FOX 13.

Blessings and Peace,

Learn more

Deep Gratitude for Your Contributions to Holy Week & Easter

Holy Week and Easter Thanks and an Invitation to Share Memories

From the Rector's Desk

A Heartfelt Thank You!

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A Heartfelt Thank You for a Memorable Holy Week & Easter

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Saint Crispen's Retreat Center

Diocese of Oklahoma

May 8, 2025

Blessed Julia of Norwich,

Mystic and Theologian, c.1417

Beloved People of God,

Even though a few weeks and many miles now separate us from Holy Week, I am filled with immense gratitude for the many hands and hearts that made our observance of Holy Week and Easter so profoundly meaningful.

From the solemnity of Palm Sunday through the glorious celebration of Easter Day, your participation, in countless ways, enriched our worship and strengthened our community.

I want to highlight the gifts that were shared so lovingly:

• Thank you to those who adorned our sanctuary for each of our six services. The magnificent palms and the flowers, praising God and giving thanks for the Resurrection, beautifully adorned our worship celebrations.

• Thank you for sharing your musical gifts. The Palm Sunday choral meditation on the Way of the Cross helped set a pitch-perfect tone for the week's observances and celebrations. The music on Easter Sunday was transformational for me and, from what others shared, for many of you as well. Thank you, choir members, for the time and energy you devoted to rehearsing and offering such a flawless gift. Michael Monnikendam, your work was tireless, and your leadership and musicianship are extraordinary gifts.

  
  

• Altar Guild, you took such care in preparing everything to bring these holy days and events to life. We will never forget your deliberate and loving service, especially the tender and care-filled way you conducted the stripping of the Altar on Maundy Thursday. Thank you, dear Altar Guild.

  
  

• Thank you to our children's formation directors, Diane Perman and Jackie Halstead, and to the parents who worked with them to help our children participate more fully in the Holy Mysteries of that week. Thank you, Melody Bane and Kathy Caldwell and our nursery reading ministry.

  
  

• Thank you to our acolytes and altar servers. Special thanks to the Maundy Thursday foot washers and foot driers. There is something important communicated by our Senior Warden, Paula Copley, washing the feet of the faithful. It is truly a sign of God's right-side-up Kingdom. Thank you all who took an hour to keep watch with Jesus through the darkest hours of Good Friday morning.

  
  

• Thank you to all who offered hospitality, for the kind welcome you extended to those new to us, and for the amazing Easter Brunch which so many of our members stayed to enjoy. A new tradition?

  
  

• Thank you to those who worked tirelessly to keep our building in good order. A special thanks to Dennis Welch and Jon Vicklund, who faithfully attend to small things so they don't become full-blown crises.

  
  

• Thank you to our dedicated office staff and volunteers, especially Donna Murphy, who recruited and scheduled countless hours of work. And a special thank you to Trish Tiura for making this the most well planned and well-organized Holy Week of my 16 years as a priest. And for all your collective hard work producing the many worship booklets needed for Holy Week.

  
  

• Thank you to our lectors who brought the Passion of Christ according to Luke alive for us on Palm Sunday. Thank you to Fr. Brian Lennstrom and James Hurd for their powerful reading and preaching of Good Friday's Passion Gospel according to Saint John. Thank you to Rev. Jane Rohrer for her moving and instructive sermon, unpacking the rich layers of meaning within the Holy Week liturgies. And thank you to all of our readers throughout the week, especially those who shared the history of our Salvation at the Easter Vigil and those who read on Easter Sunday. You are treasures, every one of you.

  
  

• Thank you to those who accepted our invitation to share your memories, images and reflections on Holy Week and the holy moments you have experienced.

  
  

The spirit of generosity and commitment that shone through each of you was a true testament to the vibrant heart of our church. Your willingness to serve, to give of yourselves, and to participate fully in our shared life is a blessing beyond measure.

Please forgive me if I have failed to properly acknowledge here or otherwise overlooked your contribution. Trust that God sees every act of service, big or small, as contributing to God's Glory and the flourishing of our community.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for making this Holy Week and Easter a time of profound spiritual connection and joyful celebration.

Blessings and Peace,

PS - We were not able to use every Holy Week reflection that you submitted, and the ones we published were frequently and significantly shortened for the sake of consistency among the reflections. To enjoy the fullness of the reflection submitted please follow this link. While you are there, share your own fresh reflections and memories from our recent Holy Week and Easter celebrations.

Thank you and bless you all!!

M+