Announcing Our New Ministry Redevelopment Co-Chairs: Skilled Leaders for the Next Chapter

From the Rector

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Dear Ones,

On behalf of the Vestry, I am thrilled to announce that parishioners John Marchione and Barbara Davis have agreed to helm the next stage of our Ministry Redevelopment process. They have already begun their work to build on the significant progress made over the past year, and I invite you to join me in welcoming them into this vital leadership role.

The Work of Redevelopment at St. John’s

Over the course of the last year, work on a Ministry Redevelopment process for St. John’s – an effort to reorient and reconfigure our ministries - has been both advanced and refined so that our mission and ministries become integrated such that each not only serves their respective purpose, but that they do so in ways that serve to:

• Introduce new or aspiring Christians to a lived knowledge and friendship with God and every member of the entire body.

  
  

• Incorporate every member and the gifts of every member into the worship, life, and mission of God through St. John’s.

  
  

• Create the conditions in which every ministry not only performs its duties but does it in a manner that strengthens all other ministries and the entire body.

Specifically, this process seeks to recommission inactive ministries, renew existing ministries, and fully utilize Christian practices – individual and corporate – to guide and nourish our lives and the life of the Body of Christ.

Under the leadership of the Vestry and the Ministry Redevelopment Committee chaired by Jackie Halstead and me, much progress was made on this process. Through review of information, discussion, and deliberation, four focus areas were chosen and work began. Additionally, the mission, activities and desired outcomes for each of areas were defined.

The four focus areas are:

• Formation for Christian Life

• Pastoral Care

• Welcoming and Incorporating Members

• Table Hospitality

  
  

We believe that intentional focus on these areas will strengthen St. John’s core capacity for all areas of ministry.

Join Us on February 1st for the Annual Meeting to learn more about the framework for continuing this process and meet the parishioners leading each of the focus areas. You will also have an opportunity to get involved. Stay Tuned!

Grace and Peace,

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Barbara and John

Bring Unique Gifts for this Work

A bedrock of Episcopal/Anglican spirituality is the lived experience that the Holy Spirit is actively pursuing us, inviting us into a loving relationship with the Triune God and with each other. The self-giving way of Jesus involves processes in which we share our particular gifts for ministry. God has instilled in us a deep longing to share the gifts we’ve received in ways that are useful and pleasing to Him. The following is a fuller introduction to these new leaders:

Barbara Davis

Barbara is a life-long Episcopalian, raised in a clergy family. Her love for the Episcopal church was nurtured by experiencing the ministry of her father—who ended his career as the Diocesan Bishop of Western Mexico—and her mother. For Barbara, ministry has always been a family affair rooted in deep faith.

Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Barbara moved to Washington over 45 years ago. She holds a degree in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry and has spent over 20 years in the non-profit sector. At United Way of Snohomish County, she served as the Vice President of Community Investment, where she honed her expertise in organizational development, group process, and facilitation. A member of our Altar Guild and the ECW, Barbara brings a wealth of professional certifications and a heart for humble service to this committee.

John Marchione

John grew up in Redmond and has a long history of community service rooted in his early years as an altar boy. This foundation led him to a career in public service, most notably serving as the Mayor of Redmond from 2008 to 2019.

With a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Washington, John has led major initiatives involving housing, transportation, and regional growth. His commitment to human flourishing is evident in his continued board service for organizations like Hopelink and Eastrail.

Having joined St. John’s last July, John brings a profound understanding of how collective effort and organized leadership can bring about positive, lasting change in a community.

The Good News of Saint John's: A Pledge to Our Shared Life

A Pastoral Note from Fr. Michael Ryan

The Good News of Saint John's: A Pledge to Our Shared Life

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Dear Ones,

A common saying is that we only truly know our home upon leaving and returning. In contrast, the African concept of Ubuntu (a Bantu word meaning "humanity") suggests we find our place through connection. Archbishop Desmond Tutu defined this lived ethic with the starting point: "I am because we are." If the individual self is inextricably linked to the community, we don't need distance to gain perspective. Instead, our understanding of our place in the world and our inherent worth is fundamentally shaped and affirmed by others.

Consider the funeral of a parent or grandparent—someone instrumental in shaping who we have become. When a stranger shares an unfamiliar story about them, it often uncovers a depth of goodness or character we had previously taken for granted. This new dimension not only deepens our appreciation for the deceased but, invariably, allows us to recognize that same value within ourselves—a quality we possess yet fail to see as special or worthy.

This truth applies to how we see ourselves as a community. So often I run into someone on the street who sees the collar, makes the association with St. John’s, and tells me about something our community did: a gesture, an act of kindness, or an invitation into some part of our shared life. When that happens, I see and appreciate you and our parish community in a new and positive light. It reminds me of how good you are as a parish and how blessed we are to have God and each other in our shared lives.

As you look at this year’s pledge materials, you will find an invitation card that asks a simple question: “What is the Good News of St. John’s?” I encourage you to take a minute to answer that question for yourself and your family and send it in with your pledge. You can also send it in an email to Katy George, this year’s Stewardship Chair, at kgeorgecain@me.com.

We will compile and post all responses—from parishioners and those outside of the parish—along with the ones we’ve already collected. Click here to read what has been shared so far.

Inspired by your own reflection, the voices of your fellow parishioners, and the people in our community who have experienced the Good News of St. John’s, I encourage you to make a pledge today and commit your gifts and energies to the mission and ministry of our good parish.

Our annual stewardship campaign is fundamentally a commitment to the mission we share. St. John’s isn't just a building; it's a collective force for good—a place where every one of us finds strength and where our shared resources transform lives. This collective power was perfectly illustrated by a small, unexpected moment when a neighbor and friend of St. John’s called to ask if he could stop by for a minute as he left town for vacation. He came to the door and was absolutely beaming. He handed me a check made out to St. John’s for $500, but the check was from a person whose name I didn’t recognize. Seeing my puzzlement, he shared this story.

The day before, an old friend whom he had not seen for a while came into the Eagles Club, and they got to talking. In the course of the discussion, his friend mentioned that he was making yearend contributions from his family business and offhandedly asked what nonprofit was having the most positive impact in the community. Without hesitating, our neighbor responded: “St. John’s Episcopal Church!”

In that moment, holding that check, I understood that this gift wasn't just a donation to an institution; it was an external affirmation of the shared life we create here. The positive impact St. John’s has isn't an accident—it's the direct result of every member trusting that by God’s grace, we are stronger together.

Your pledge is the tangible expression of that belief, and it fuels our shared mission to be a light of the Gospel, a Community for Hope.

Peace and Blessings,

Learn more

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,

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