Don’t forget the time change coming up this weekend – it’s time to SPRING FORWARD ONE HOUR!!
Congratulations to Linda Mayton, our Parish Administrator, who is celebrating the THIRD anniversary of joining the staff at St. John’s! Back in 2020, one week after she was hired, we sent her home along with all the other staff as the pandemic raged around us! We’re so glad you’re here Linda – thanks for saying “Yes!”
Easter flower orders are now being taken. If you need a form, please call the office at 585-394-4818. The deadline is March 27.
Request from Family Promise Our congregation has been asked to assist Family Promise program participants the weeks of April 2 and September 3. We will be collecting both gas cards (Speedway, Kwik Fill, Exxon/Mobil are most requested) and grocery cards for these dates. They are currently hosting families in seven of our eight emergency apartments – two in Geneva, four in Canandaigua, and one in Bloomfield. Six single moms, one single dad, and 24 children, so a total of 31 people in shelter. They will fill the eighth emergency apartment soon. They also provide assistance, when needed, to “graduate families” for a time to ensure they are able to maintain the housing they have secured. You may have read or heard about the reduction in SNAP (Food stamp) benefits that occurred March 1 This is affecting all of the families involved in the Family Promise program, who were already struggling to make their SNAP benefit last each month Jay Garrett-Larsen, the program’s Community & Landlord Engagement Manager will be coming to speak to us on March 26 about the evolution of the program over the last 3 years due to Covid.
If you have not been made aware, one of our leaders in the Episcopal Church has died. The Most Reverend Frank Griswold, 25th Presiding Bishop, died on Sunday, March 5 in Philadelphia. He was 85. He served in that role from 1998 – 2006. “Known for his ecumenical and interreligious work, Griswold helped to shepherd The Episcopal Church’s full-communion relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The relationship grew out of an agreement passed at the 1997 General Convention during which Griswold was elected.” (Taken from Episcopal News Service) His funeral arrangements are not yet set.
The contract for the bell tower restoration has been vetted by the legal community and by Church Insurance and we are ready to sign this week, which means work can proceed in April. We expect it to take six months till completion.
Interviews for the manager’s position at Gleaners are in process. We’ll keep you posted.
The Pecan Lady, Grace Boudway, will be back on Sunday with the last of the WoSJ pecans for your Lenten/pre-Easter baking. She’ll be set up in the Perkins Room, so stop by!!
Join the clergy of St. John’s – Fr. David and Rev. Keisha – for a six week Lenten luncheon/book study. From March 1 – April 5, join us at 11:30 in the Perkins Room for a discussion of Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry’s book, Love is the Way. We’ll “brownbag it” and go through the bishop’s book together, sharing insights and thoughts rereading this highly regarded book. We’ll put up a sign-up sheet so we know how much table space to make, and if you need the book Rev. K. notes that it’s on sale at Amazon – just $14. Don’t let money hold you back – book grants are available. See Fr. David!! Be ready and read the intro. and chapters 1 & 2!!
We have stopped collecting empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls for Lollipop Farm. They’re down to 100 little rodents and have enough to last!!
We do collect “pop tops” from aluminum soda cans for Ronald McDonald House. We actually have a little competition with our friends at First Congregational and sadly, they are much better pop top savers. Maybe we can beat them this next time. Bring you pop tops in when you can.
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Please submit your long and short term prayer requests to Linda Mayton and she will be certain they get where they need to be.