Upcoming Congregational Activities
Friday, April 22: 10:00am – 4:00pm Read Cross Blood Drive
Saturday, April 23: 10:30am Lecture/Discussion with Maia Kotrosits
Monday, May 9: 5:00 – 6:00pm BREAD Nehemiah Action Potluck @ St Stephen’s
6:00pm Nehemiah Action at the Celeste Center
Wednesday, May 11: 6:30pm Book Club at the home of Jane Hoffelt
Pastoral Care Coverage
Deacon Pam Elwell has graciously agreed to be the coordinator for pastoral care calls. Several clergy will be available for pastoral care: The Rev. Bruce Smith, the Rev Deacon Sherm Everett, the Rev. Karl Stevens, and the Rev. Deacon Pam Elwell. Please call Pam first—she will know who is on call at any particular time. Pam’s contact information is: 614-736-1204 or pamelwell@gmail.com .
Many Thanks!
Many many thanks to all of you who made my retirement/goodbye party so wonderful! Thanks to Lorraine and her crew for the over the top potluck (elegant presentations of food, as well as tasty!), for the lovely flowers and jasmine plants. (Who remembered that I love jasmine tea?!). Thanks for the wonderful picture of St. Stephen’s at night (a la Chris Donaldson, who does such great work), and for the very generous retirement check. I had hoped to spend a little time over the summer visiting some friends in Montana and Oregon, who I haven’t seen in over two years. This will help make that possible. Thanks to Cynthia, who I suspect made the behind-the-scenes arrangements! And many thanks to the staff at St. Stephen’s who work so hard and so lovingly week-in and week-out.
I meant to say a bit about what’s next (I think Cynthia had asked for that when she gave me the floor and I got so caught up in a flood of emotions that I didn’t get past the “thanks”…). My house is under contract with a closing date of May 31. I am still trying to find a place in MN. The market is like Columbus—things are sold in 24-48 hrs. and are going for above asking price. I have lost two bids on Townhouses and am waiting to hear on a third one. If I end up “homeless”, I have lined up a storage pod and will live with my stepmom until I find something! I am hoping to be somewhat settled by June or July…keep my house hunting in your prayers! I met with the Bishop in Minnesota the first week in April and I will be licensed to officiate and will be able to do some consulting and part-time transitional priest work, as it comes available. When I know where I am living, I will send my address to Meghan to make available. Once I have a guestroom, the Perrizo B & B would love visitors!
Again, I am so thankful for the opportunity to have served our Lord alongside of you this past year and grateful for your support of me during the time of my dad’s death, losing Mo shortly after, and recently having lost my ex-husband. During that time, many of you also faced loss of loved ones and serious illnesses and surgeries. What a year of transition for all of us.
May you be blessed as you all go forward into a new chapter at St. Stephen’s. You have been and will remain in my prayers.
Blessings,
Welcoming Maia Kotrosits, April 23 & 24
This Saturday, April 23 at 10:30am Ms Kotrosits will speak on the topic ‘Living in the Middle of Things Falling Apart; Recovering the Gospel of Mark’. If you plan to attend the Saturday discussion and have not yet RSVP’d, please contact Jeff Watters at moose7276@yahoo.com!
Ms. Kotrosits is Assistant Professor of Religion, Queer Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies at Denison University, Granville, Ohio. She has written several academic articles, along with two books, and co-authored a book (with Hal Tuassig) titled, “Re-Reading The Gospel of Mark Amidst Trauma and Loss”.
Ms. Kotrosits will also preach at both services on Sunday, April 24.
AWAKE, AWARE, ALIVE
- AWAKE meets with Rachael Smith, with ideas focusing towards Mother’s Day, which is Sunday, May 8. For any child who wants to remember the Mom in their life, come. Rachael will lead AWAKE on both Sundays.
- On Monday, May 9, the BREAD Nehemiah Action will take place at the State Fairgrounds, at 6:45 pm. Thousands of people from local congregations (churches, temples and mosques) will attend and it is truly a highlight of our St. Stephen’s church year. I am inviting our children to come as well, since they will see social justice in action, happening right here in Columbus. We will meet for a potluck dinner at 5:00 at the church, and then proceed to the Fairgrounds for the event.
BREAD Updates
Mark Your Calendars! May 9: 7 pm, Nehemiah Action at the Celeste Center
The St. Stephen’s BREAD team will be hosting a potluck dinner just before the Nehemiah Action on Monday, May 9th from 5 to 6 p.m. We will provide a few main dishes (vegetarian and carnivore friendly). If you are able, please bring a dish to share.
Following the potluck, we will have a bus heading to the Celeste Center for the Nehemiah Action. We will leave St. Stephen’s around 6:00; registration for the Action begins at 6:15 with a 6:40 program start time. The bus will return to St. Stephen’s after the Action.
We want a great turnout, so please join us! Bring friends, enjoy a great meal, and by all means- get on the bus!
NSI Donations for April
The item for April is any kind of pasta.
Building and Grounds Committee
The buildings and grounds committee is reforming! We need to schedule a workday (maybe after church) to rake leaves, weed, mulch as well as move some plants. If you are interested please contact Jr. Warden Bernie Castell at bic820.bc@gmail.com
Thanks!
St. John’s Worthington invites you to hear “A Hymn and Two Hers”
organ music based on the poetry of hymns
Sunday, April 24, 3:00 p.m.
Organist Sara Seidel will be joined by reader Jo Pascoe to present a program that celebrates the poetry of hymns in both word and composition. Ms. Seidel is Coordinator of Music at St. John’s and holds degrees from The College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) and the Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University, Bloomington) in both Organ Performance and Church Music. Mrs. Pascoe is a parishioner at St. John’s and a regular lector. The program will include works of Tournemire, Bach, and Rogg, among others. We invite you to enjoy excellent music in a beautiful and historic space. There is no charge for admission to the concert; a freewill offering will be taken to support the continued growth of the Music Series. St. John’s is located at 700 High Street in Worthington, on the southeast corner of the Olde Worthington Village Green (High Street at SR 161). Visit www.StJohnsWorthington.org for more information.
Celebrate a Celtic Way of Worship
Sunday, May 1 4:00-7:00pm
St. John’s Worthington
4:00pm –Education: A discussion led by the Rev. K.J. Oh, from Bexley Hall-Seabury Western Seminary of Chicago, on the origins and development of Celtic Christianity, its divergence from the early Roman church, and its place in Christian worship today.
5:00pm – Worship: Participate in a Celtic worship service in the historic St. John’s sanctuary. The liturgy is based on the service used ay the Iona Abbey, the spiritual center of Celtic Christian worship. Celtic music, instrumental and vocal, will be a part of the worship experience.
6:00pm – Fellowship: Join us for hospitality and fellowship after the service.
Book Club News
Everyone is welcome to attend once or regularly. The May book is Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle. The May meeting will be on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 PM at Jane Hoffelt’s home. We’ll share a meal, followed by book discussion. Please bring food and/or beverage to share. Kindly let Jane know in advance if you plan to attend. If you want to get a head start on the book for June, it is Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
Yasue Sakaoka’s Retrospective Exhibition
Highlights of the artist’s works from 45 years in Columbus will be at Upper Arlington Municipal Building Concourse Gallery from May 4-June 26.
Opening reception will be on Saturday, May 14 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. Everyone is
invited. Come one and come all.
Reminder: If you’re mailing something to the church, especially time-sensitive materials, we recommend using the PO Box! St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 82263
Columbus, OH 43202
