Becoming God's New Thing: Sixth Edition

Perceiving and cooperating with the good things God "is getting up to" in and around our parish.

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you see it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

Discovering and Celebrating Our Musical and Artistic Gifts

Get ready to celebrate! 

Tomorrow's all-parish gathering is a time to celebrate your resilience, perseverance, and creativity in keeping music alive in our worship, even through the challenges of these post-pandemic years. 

Calling Michael Monnikendam as our new Music Director marked a new beginning that opens to us incredible possibilities.  We are not merely bouncing back from a few tough years, we're on the brink of a musical renaissance at Saint John’s that will enrich our worship and lives for years to come!

Here’s what we have planned for tomorrow.  

1. Coffee Hour presentation in Marsh Hall: I will present a model for change and transition that your Senior Warden, Paula Miller, Jim Besaw, and I learned and practiced during our recent week away at the College for Congregational Development.  This model has been instrumental in guiding my own understanding of the transition that we’ve recently undergone in our music program. Paula, Jim, and I are confident that it will benefit all of us as we revitalize existing ministries and establish new ones.
   

2. Michael Monnikendam will give a brief presentation on the impact that music and the arts have had on humanity and its role in our development as human beings and Christians.
   

3. Next, we’ll engage in an enlivening, nonverbal (low-risk), and fun exercise for everyone of every age to discover the gifts we have—as individuals and as a community—to enrich our worship. The goal is to have some fun and expand our imaginations about how everyone has gifts to share that can be used in the worship of God in surprising and edifying ways.  

4. We’ll conclude with a special hymn that looks forward to our future as a thriving faith community.  

And then we’ll enjoy a relaxing and tasty hotdog barbecue. 

I hope you can join in for tomorrow’s gathering. 

Blessings and peace always,  

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Postscript:  This will be the "good-enough" post. There will be times when I won't have the benefit of a good copy editor, and I am slightly dyslexic, so I won't likely catch many mistakes. You may find this off-putting. I find it mildly embarrassing. We'll get through it together. M+

Becoming God's New Thing: Fifth Edition

Perceiving and cooperating with the good things God "is getting up to" in and around our parish.

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you see it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

A Recipe for Community Flourishing

1. Take one plucky Girl Scout Troop

2. Add an abundant measure of Christ's generosity (Saint John's brand works best!)

3. Add a healthy measure of gratitude and friendship

4. Stir in the astonishing, creative power of the Holy Spirit

5. Add a Community Garden

6. Introduce a large helping of neighbors

7. Cooperate with and witness to the kingdom and kinship of God come near

Some of our best friendships develop as the cumulative result of seemingly insignificant acts of generosity and kindness. This is how our relationship with the Girl Scouts and their adult leaders of Troop 45431 has developed.

It began during the pandemic as a one-off request to use Marsh Hall for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon and continued with other weekend events. Last year, it progressed when the Scouts asked if they could supply pet food to the neighborhood food pantry. It's been over a year since we made Marsh Hall available to them twice a month, a home base where they meet, learn, and work on projects together. They are a part of our parish community.

What made this relationship develop so easily is their extraordinary gratitude for our parish. Every month, the Vestry meeting coincides with one of their regular meetings. We end before them, giving us the pleasure of watching these girls have fun as they learn about teamwork, how to treat others and practice virtues like honesty and courage. It's a mutual fan club. The Troop's energetic presence and joyful use of the space on their meeting nights, and special Saturday events infuse the church building with a renewed sense of life and community spirit. The girls, in turn, thrive in this supportive environment, finding a place where their creativity and enthusiasm can take root and flourish.

We have created a place of belonging for them, and the proof of this was shown when two of the scouts approached us to ask if we would partner with them to create and encourage our neighbors to participate in a community garden. One that would grow vegetables to help decrease food insecurity and foster closer relationships among our neighbors and ourselves.

After some preliminary meetings with the two Scouts, Jojo Saint-Jean and Reina Chan, and their parents and troop leaders, Senior Warden Paula Copley invited them to make a presentation to the Vestry. The Vestry conceptually approved the plan and authorized Junior Warden Bruce Pitts to form a working group to find ideal locations for a handful of raised beds.

This Thursday, June 6th, the Troop will do some weeding and garden site preparation as a service project. Next Sunday, June 9th, we've invited them to make a presentation to the parish at coffee hour. I have been so impressed with the comprehensive community engagement strategy they put together.  It includes making presentations and inviting participation at meetings of neighboring HOAs, places of worship, and community groups. For our part, we have connected them to our friends at the IMAN Center to get them involved in the Community Garden. Serendipitously, JoJo and Reina will be working with Mohammad Kazmi (Abba Kazmi's teenage son), a regular member of the Community Dinner Team, to build a neighborhood food pantry at the Center.

Seeing these Girl Scouts so engaged and enjoying themselves—lost in the flow of their activities—a quote from an early church father sprang to mind: The glory of God is man fully alive!

Perhaps we can dare to say:

The glory of God is the flourishing of the community by the working of the Holy Spirit through a plucky Girl Scout troop, a neighborhood longing for connection, and a generous, growing parish!

Is nothing too good for God's children? Apparently not!

Blessings and peace always,

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Postscript:  This will be the "good-enough" post. There will be times when I won't have the benefit of a good copy editor, and I am slightly dyslexic, so I won't likely catch many mistakes. You may find this off-putting. I find it mildly embarrassing. We'll get through it together. M+

Becoming God's New Thing: Fourth Edition

Perceiving and cooperating with the good things God "is getting up to" in and around our parish.

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you see it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia Elects

The Rev. Phil LaBelle as Its Ninth Bishop

The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia has elected the Rev. Phil N. LaBelle as its next bishop. Bishop-Elect LaBelle currently serves as rector of St. Mark’s Church in Southborough, Massachusetts. While in the Diocese of Massachusetts, he co-led the Mission Strategy Committee, served on the Executive Committee and Diocesan Council, and directed the Fresh Start program. Bishop-Elect LaBelle will be consecrated and installed as the ninth bishop of Olympia on September 14, succeeding Bishop Greg Rickel, who resigned on December 31, 2022, and Bishop Provisional Melissa Skelton, who serves in the interim.

Karin Ruble, Lupe Reyes, Connie Smith, and Karen Sjostrom represented Saint John’s as electing delegates. Karen and Connie Lightbody were also electing delegates by virtue of their membership on the Diocesan Council (Karen) and the Standing Committee of the Diocese (Connie).   

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Saint John's Parish and City of Kirkland Forge

Closer Ties to Combat Homelessness  

In a spirit of shared compassion and commitment to our community, Saint John's Parish and the City of Kirkland have developed a robust working relationship o address the pressing issue of homelessness. This collaboration, rooted in a deepening awareness of the struggles faced by our unhoused neighbors, has already led to tangible actions and a renewed sense of hope.

Working Together for Change

Over recent months, Saint John's has been actively engaged with City of Kirkland staff who work directly with individuals experiencing homelessness. This has led to a variety of collaborative efforts, including:

Presentations and Dialogue: Ted Ederer and Bob McConnell facilitated a presentation to the Men's Group by Jen Boone, the City's Human Services Manager, and Meli Paulo, the Homeless Outreach Coordinator. This provided valuable insights into the complexities of homelessness.

Direct Support: Through the coordinated efforts of parishioners and staff, Saint John's helped a vulnerable senior and her son access vital resources, including a King County program for indigent seniors.

Fundraising Efforts: Ted Ederer generously donated art for sale, with proceeds benefiting the Baker Homeless Fund.

Hosting Events: Saint John’s has been sponsoring meetings and events in Marsh Hall for Livable Kirkland, a community non-profit working to address affordable housing issues on the Eastside.

Financial Assistance: Saint John's provided funds through the Rector's Discretionary Account to help a blind woman secure temporary housing while her public housing apartment was being prepared.

A Deeper Commitment

Recently, the City’s Homeless Outreach Coordinator, Meli Paulo, approached Saint John’s to help a Kirkland family avoid homelessness by supporting their relocation within Kirkland to a smaller, less costly apartment.  Remaining in Kirkland was essential for the family’s stability, as one of the children is significantly autistic and has been flourishing in school and accepted by his classmates. 

After consulting with Bob McConnell, Ted Ederer, Gary and Sandi Rose (all of whom have taken an active interest in the Baker Fund’s utilization), the Vestry unanimously approved up to $4,000 to be deployed to support this family’s relocation. 

Looking Ahead: A Ministry of Compassion, Action, and Justice

In the coming months, Saint John's Vestry will engage the parish in forming a ministry dedicated to addressing homelessness through direct aid and a deeper exploration of the individual, societal, and economic factors contributing to this complex issue.

Your participation and input are essential as we seek to embody Christ's love for all by working together to create a more just and compassionate community.

Thank you, and may God bless you!

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Postscript:  This will be the "good-enough" post. There will be times when I won't have the benefit of a good copy editor, and I am slightly dyslexic, so I won't likely catch many mistakes. You may find this off-putting. I find it mildly embarrassing. We'll get through it together. M+