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to El Paso in early March to bring home David Bryan, after a placement process that was full of twists and turns. “We are

so excited about the growth of new families in the par-ish,” says Kristyn. “We have been supported, encour-

aged, and prayed for and could not be happier to walk with this group as we raise our children in the faith.” Newcomers Alan and Stephanie Sale, who first walked through our doors on Palm Sunday, welcomed Amelia Claire on April 2.

One reason the Sales have so quickly connected with the St. John’s community is the welcome

and attention they received around the birth of their firstborn.

Ellen Patricia Miller was born to Fr. David Miller and Keeley Chorn on Sunday, April 8. She joins big brothers Pierce and Lawther in filling out the Miller-Chorn clan. On April 24, Trevor and Alexandra Ede welcomed their first child, Greta Judith, into the world. Alex says, “We’ve received so many prayers, texts, calls,

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S t . J o h n ’ s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h N e w s l e t t e r E a r l y P e n t e c o s t

THE YOUNG FAMILIES at St. John’s must be biblical literalists God commands our primordial ancestors “Be fruitful and multi-ply” in Genesis 1:28, and for some reason a number of families, all at the same time, have decided to do just that. The average age of a St. John’s parishio-ner has taken a steep fall from 2017 to 2018. Worshipers have been checking off the list of expecting families, prayed for each Sunday at the Prayers of People, as the periodic “Stork News” emails have welcomed our new arrivals. Drew Ward and Julia McDonald added Leia Austin Ward to their young family on January 8, 2017. Leia is adored by her brother Logan. On October 27, 2017, Anna Pascale Luff was born to Alyssa and Mark, their first. Phillip and Janet Stegner celebrated the birth of Viola May on November 23, 2017. She joins brother Drew and sister Mar-garet in the Stegner home. We all rejoiced as Fr. Andy and Kristyn Johnson trekked out

baby buzz

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IN BRIEF

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Summer CalendarMay 20 EvensongMay 27 Bishop Visitation/ConfirmationsMay 28 Parish Office ClosedJune 13 Organ Concert, 1:00-2:00 PMJune 24 72nd Patronal Feast and CelebrationJuly 4 Parish Office ClosedJuly 7 Tasty Wine & Ugly Art, 6:30 PMJuly 11 Organ Concert, 1:00-2:00 PMJuly 30-Aug 3 Vacation Bible SchoolAugust 6-10 Vacation Choir SchoolAugust 8 Organ Concert, 1:00-2:00 PM August 19 Back to School Blessing of the Backpacks at the Faith@5:30August 22 St. John’s Schcool Resumes

Pictured on the Cover: Alyssa and Anna Luff, Karen Thomas, Keeley and Ellen Miller, Stephanie and Amelia Sale, Janet and Viola Stegner.

THE CLERGYThe Rev’d David Stangebye Houk Rector, x421The Rev’d Andy Johnson Curate, x422 The Rev’d John A. Thorpe School Chaplain, x110The Rev’d Herbert R. DeWees Assisting Priest, x419

THE PARISH STAFFMelissa Newsome Parish Administrator, x411Benjamin Kolodziej Organist, Choirmaster x416Jeneé Oxley-Echard Director of Children and Family Ministries, Communications Coordinator, x444 David Porcheddeu Faith@5:30 Music LeaderPaul Perrone CustodianPatty Boren Director of Child CareImelda Garcia Child Care AssistantAnnie Houk Child Care AssistantDeneé Oxley Child Care AssistantBeatriz Martinez Child Care Assistant Elya Baeza Child Care Assistant

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

848 HARTER ROAD, DALLAS, TEXAS 75218-2791T 214-321-6451 WWW.STJOHNSEPISCOPAL.ORG

Through January 2021Charles BadgettDebbie EuziereDavid ReedMitch Womble

Through January 2019Joe DolenChristopher TielensKristin TodoraCharlotte Wiles

Through January 2020Katherine Britt-PriceTiffany FleckensteinD.R. MarshallBen Thomas

THE VESTRY

St. John’s 411 Brunch St. John’s 411 brunch is an opportunity for newcomers to get to know the parish, our people and ways to get in-volved in worship, growth and service. The next brunch is Sunday, September 16 at noon in the Parish Hall Library

Theology on TapTheology on Tap is a fellowship group for men meeting on the second Thurs-day of the month at The Lot (Gaston Road), 7:30-9:00 PM for beer and friendlydiscussion. The group will meet in Juneand resume in September. For more information, contact David Farrell at david@farrellarchitects.com.

Children’s ChapelChildren’s Chapel meets on the first Sunday of the month during the 10:30 AM

Choral Eucharist. The children meet in the Undercroft (basement of the church) next to the large cross at 10:15 AM and proceed to the Chapel. When Children’s Chapel concludes, the chil-dren rejoin their parents in the church before Communion. For more informa-tion, please contact Gwen McAllenat gnmcal@sbcglobal.net.

BaptismsThe next opportunitiy for Holy Baptism Is All Saints Sunday, November 4. The deadline for signing up is October 5. Please contact Melissa Newsome in the parish office to register for preparation. For more information about our prep-aration programs, please contact Jeneé Echard at jechard@stjd.org.

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The Miracle of Adoption

Adoption is at once heartbreaking and beautiful, joyous and full of loss. It is a clear sign of the brokenness of the world and yet one of the most vivid images of hope and redemption. The relationship between a child and his/her birth mother changes forever as she chooses a path that she believes is best for her child. The adoptive parents, who have suffered their own losses due to infertility, miss the initial bonding during pregnancy and often know little background about the child. Both families make sacrifices. The wounds and scars do not go away, but they receive a balm of compassion and mercy that helps to soothe the pain and forge relationships that otherwise could not exist.

Kristyn and I received an initial call about David on Febru-ary 12, one week before his due date. We did not know if his birth mom would choose our profile or if she would ultimately choose to parent him herself. By the next week everyone thought the latter, and so we began awaiting the next adoption possibility. But we were wrong. Following David’s birth in late February, we were contacted in early March to see if we still wanted to adopt him. We quickly

planned a trip to West Texas where we received our new son, David, into our arms and our hearts. We also spent some time with the birth mom. Our prayer is that these new relationships would be healing for us all and would model God’s love to the world.

Adoption is among the more beautiful pictures that God gives us in the Bible. As we hear in Romans 8:14b-15 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” We find that the world (and we) are broken beyond repair; that we are unable to have a good relationship with God through any of our own efforts. Through Christ, God brings healing to our brokenness and receives us into his family as adopted sons and daughters. Adoptive parents throughout the Church, including Kristyn and I, participate and model a significant aspect of God’s love and redemption to the world around us. Adoption is a great blessing, and we thank each of you who has helped us and prayed for us along the way.

- Fr. Andy Johnson

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christian Education

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For more information or to RSVP for christian education classes listed here, contact Jeneé Echard (x444) or Father Andy Johnson (x442) at 214-321-6451 or jechard@stjd.org; ajohnson@stjd.org.

Splash Canyon: God’s Promise on Life’s Wild Ride!July 30 – August 3 9 AM – 12 PM

Life is full of thrills and spills! We may not know what’s around the bend, but God does. At Splash Canyon, kids discover that when life is a wild ride, Jesus is by our side. VBS is for children ages 4 to 12. There are so many fun things to do including sing alongs, crafts, games and snacks. Registration is now open. Go to our website at www.std.orgj to register online.

We will have our first volunteer meeting towards the beginning of June. Please consider volunteering and email Jenee Echard, jechard@stjd.org, if you are able to help in any capacity.

Parents’ Day OutMondays and Wednesdays this Summer

9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

We are trying out a new program this summer for children ages 6 months to 5 years. We will implement a Bible-based curriculum and provide a safe, nurturing and fun place for children to begin their first steps towards school. The program takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. We begin Monday June 4 and will continue until Wednesday, August 8. July 4 falls on a Wednesday and is the only day off during that time. Enrollment is open to parishioners, the school and soon to the neighborhood if there are still spots open.

VBS 2018 Splash Canyon

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christian Education

Saturday, June 30The Greatest Showman

The story of P.T. Barnum is one that many people consider the birth of show business. However, The Greatest Show-man also deals with the issues of a society divided by pain, injustice, and systemic discrimination on many levels. Rated PG

Saturday, July 21Inside Out

Ever struggle to deal with your emotions? Yeah, us too. Inside Out portrays the life of a Midwestern girl who was uprooted and moved away from her life as she knows it to the bustling city of San Francisco. In this wonderful film, we see how her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – deal with these changes. Rated PG

Saturday, August 11Babette’s Feast

This Oscar winning film is a story-telling masterpiece that takes to heart the role of kindness in overcoming religious prejudice. It is a story of loss, sacrifice, and finding joy in one’s calling. This film may be hard for many children to follow. Rated G (in the Parish Hall for adults).

How to Train Your Dragon

An excellent film that also deals with prejudice and over-coming cultural ignorance, How to Train Your Dragon is an excellent tale of a hapless Viking boy and an unlikely friend who together change the world as they know it. Rated PG (in the Undercroft for kids).

Childcare will be available for children ages 5 and under.For more information, please contact Fr. Andy at the church office (214-321-6451 x422) or by email at: ajohn-son@stjohnsepiscopal.org

Reel TheologySummer Movie Series at St. John’s

Join us in the Parish Hall on the following Saturday evenings at 6:30. Popcorn and water will be provided.

Other snacks and drinks are available for purchase.

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This summer, St John’s music ministries will sponsor Vacation Choir School from August 6-10 from 9am-noon each day. Children age Kinder-garten through sixth grade are invited to a fun-filled, interactive week which, in addition to learning fundamentals of singing, will include arts and crafts and introductions to musical instruments. Vacation Choir School aims to teach the fundamentals of music and singing while incorporating scripture and Bible stories, all while inculcating an appre-ciation for Christian devotion and piety.

Learning music history in an engaging way is a core com-ponent of this week, and we will study the life and music of one of the great composers each day. Children will learn about instruments of the orchestra from guest players and will engage in creative activities as they explore these instru-ments. We will take an up-close look at the pipe organ, harpsichord, and piano. St John’s has a set of choir chimes which we will use to form a little bell choir. We will spend time learning some of the great hymns of the Christian

faith, as well as a more elaborate and elegant anthem or two, which we will showcase during the 10:30 service on Sunday, August 12.

Vacation Choir School allows us to learn thoroughly and fully matters

about music at a slower pace than, say, regular children’s choir rehearsals during the year, and allows church mem-bers to invite friends and neighbors to this fun week. Registration, which is limited to 25 children, is $15 and will include snacks.

Although I will guide and teach each session along with our guest musicians, we will need a number of adult help-ers to assist each day, particularly to coordinate snacks and the like. If you would be willing to help, please let me know. In the meantime, if you would like to register your child, please do let me know: bkolodziej@stjohnsepiscopal.org or bkolodzi@smu.edu.

Benjamin Kolodziej, Organist and Choirmaster

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Summer Choir

Vacation Choir School

Jordon ”Paris” Brown –Paris is graduat-ing from Jesuit College Preparatory School where he was an Honor Roll recipient and a member of the rugby team. He will be at-tending the University of California, Santa Barbara in the fall to study Economics and he will be a member of the Surfrider Battalion and is receiving an Army ROTC scholarship.

Joey Samuel Cook – Joey is gradu-ating from Bryan Adams High School where he was active on the swim team, including being captain during his senior year. After working at Camp All Saints this summer, he will be attending the University of Texas - Dallas majoring in Communications.

Congratulations to all the St. John’s High School Seniors!

Ian Kraemer – Ian is graduating from Richardson High School. He has joined the Marine Reserves and will head out this summer for boot camp followed by the school of infantry and radio operator school. Following this initial training, Ian plans to attend a four-year university, obtain his pilot’s license, and enroll in Officer Candidate School.

Lain Reed – Lain is graduating from The Fulton School. After working at Camp All Saints this summer, he will be attending Austin College on an aca-demic scholarship where he will major in English.

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Baccalaureate, as well as Episcopal School Sunday in October, is a challenge and opportunity for our parish. It’s a challenge because of the sheer number of visiting school families, sometimes outnumbering our churchgoing regulars, and the way in which their unfamiliarity with our worship culture sometimes disrupts our usually Sunday routine. Our guests visit with one another in the nave before the service starts. (By the way, this is the norm in most churches, even some Episcopal churches.) They sometimes bring drinks into the church. (Ditto—think of that megachurch with stadium seating and drink holders.) They don’t always participate in the liturgy or hymnody with full voice, as ours is a tradition not their own. And then, of course, they’re probably going to sit in your favorite seat, your “sacred space” that you value so much week after week. The students know our worship culture, of course. Through-out the school year, St. John’s students are instructed by Fr. Thorpe and me about our Episcopal/Anglican values: silence and prayer before the liturgy, reverence throughout, why we “do what we do.” This year at Baccalaureate, I’m going to try to be just as educationally intentional with the school families, helping them to understand our liturgical approach, connecting it with their graduates’ chapel experience which has shaped their time at St. John’s. Still, we may find ourselves challenged in the usual or unexpected ways. But with the challenge of Baccalaureate we also have some wonderful opportunities. First, you will get to hear reflections

from members of the 2018 class, and see the way in which students are indeed being formed in the Christian faith at St. John’s Episcopal School. We are influencing lives for good and pointing them to Jesus Christ. Second, it’s an opportunity for you to offer a warm and proactive welcome to our school families. You may not know, but 2018 has seen the greatest in-flux of school families to the church in recent years—some just worshiping on occasion and some joining the parish. Through our newcomers survey and in conversation with priests and people, these families have all spoken about the way in which they were made to feel welcomed at St. John’s on a Sunday morning. Third, it is an opportunity to show off St. John’s at its best. This may not sound so spiritual, but I’m thinking of nothing more than our mission: to offer beautiful worship with liturgical excellence and choral beauty (thanks to the Cantate Deo choir), to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples, and to offer ourselves in service to others, in Jesus’ name, for the life of the world. Some may want to adjust their Sunday schedule to avoid the crowds. Fortunately, this year you have the choice of coming to Faith@5:30 on Saturday night, the 8:00 AM said Eucharist on Sunday, or the Pentecost Evensong at 5:00 PM Sunday events. Others might embrace the challenge and opportunity of Bacca-laureate, and if so, I’ll see you at the 10:30 AM Sung Eucharist. - Fr. David Houk Rector

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SCHOOL NEWS

St. JOhn’s Episcopal School Baccalaureate

May 20, 10:30AM

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St. Michaels Conference

- By Annie Houk

Nearly every

year for the last six years, I have had the privilege of attending The Saint Michaels Conference, Southwest. When I found out I couldn’t attend last year, as a result of an ankle injury, I was absolutely

devastated. I couldn’t believe that I wouldn’t be able to spend the week with my friends, learning about my relation-ship with Christ, and learning about what Christianity is on a much deeper level. This summer, I am fortunate enough to return to the Conference, and look forward to so many things.

Some of the things I look forward to are the classes, being able to see my friends and the clergy that staff the Confer-ence and attend all the different services that happen during the day. I’ve always enjoyed that St. Michaels has offered different classes that have helped me learn and grow in my

relationship with Christ. One of my favorite classes was a class called The Mass that I took in my first year. It really helped me understand what we do during Mass, and how it signifies Christ’s sacrifice for us. Another thing I’ve always loved about St. Michaels are the incredible relationships I have made with other conferees, counselors, and the priests on staff. I have loved having a network of friends that are in a similar age range that have grown up in an Anglican community and believe the same things I do. I also love all of the services that are offered while at St. Michaels. In the morning, we have morning prayer and solemn high mass, and at night we have evensong and compline before bed. I always appreciated the extra quiet time in the church during morning prayer and compline. While you can get a lot of these things almost anywhere, it’s the combination of all of them at the conference that makes it special.

The Saint Michaels Conference is such an important part of my summer, and something I look forward to every year. Every year, I am able to deepen my faith, as well as explore it through classes and discussions with my friends. I also have the chance to connect with my peers in a new way. I am sad that this year will be my last conference as a conferee, but I look forward to the possibility of being a counselor next year.

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Annual Parish Picnic

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REQUIEM IN ETERNUMJanet Walker February 3, 2018Sally Ann Sell Houk February 28, 2018Trudi DeVreeze March 1, 2018Laurie Moseley III April 13, 2018

BABY BUZZ (cont.) F R O M ?

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hugs and delicious meals. We could not be more grateful that God led us to this church.” Says Trevor, “We feel so blessed to have our first child born into such a thriving community of families at St. John’s who are going through the same stage of life with us.”

St. John’s is ready for this moment. “In the weeks after Easter we’ve had twelve or thirteen kids in the nursery,” says Nursery Director Patty Boren. “The children are excited to get there. They really are building sweet friendships with one another.”

Elizabeth Hamilton, known around St. John’s as the Host-ess with the Mostest, jumped into the leadership of organiz-ing meals for families using the Meal Train online schedule. Future Stork News emails will include a link for how you can support a family when it’s baby-time.

At the time of this article going to press, we are still praying for Ben and Karen Thomas and Justin and Megan Germain in the “expecting” category. When their newborns arrive in the months ahead, and when added to the roster of young’uns listed above, fills up a full nine-man St. John’s softball team!

Now, which young family wants to give birth to the Designated Hitter?

Late Buzz:Trevor & Alex Ede welcome their

new daughter Greta born on April 24

“I love hearing the sound of cooing and crying babies during the service. A family

friendly atmosphere is being encouraged and supported by all ages.” -- Karen Thomas

Did you know that St John’s has a set of handchimes? These little instruments are meant to be played by a group. To that end, if you are interested in trying out hand-chimes, we will rehearse from 11.45 - 12.30 PM on Sundays starting on June 10th. If we get good enough, we might even play in church at the end of summer! You don’t have to be able to sing or even read music, but a basic ability to count and manage rhythm is helpful. Let Benjamin Kolodziej know if you are interested. (bkolodziej@stjohn-sepiscopal.org)

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Vestry Voices

Most of the people at St. John’s do not know me. For those who do not, I am Donald R. Marshall. For those who do, I am DR Marshall. My wife Diane and I have a blended family of three boys, one girl, six grandchildren, and two great grand-children. I am “retired” from the US Army and the Dallas Police Department and am currently working part-time as a security officer for the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. Diane is a teacher. We live in a small two-block enclave east of Forest Hills. Diane grew up Baptist, and I, Church of Christ. While in the Army and stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, I pastored a small church in Lawton. While on the Dallas Police Depart-ment, I met and married Diane, who led me to become an Episcopalian.

We came to St. John’s on the recommendation of Fr. “Sandy” Herrmann, St. David’s of Wales in Denton, Texas. He was my spiritual advisor while I was attending the Bishop James M. Stanton School for Ministry Formation. There are myriad reasons for being a part of St. John’s. A few of these are the arrival of Frs. Thorpe and Johnson, the addition of Faith @ 5:30, the development of acquaintances whom we have met via the Supper Club, work days at church, and the opportu-nity and appreciation to serve in various ministries.

This is the beginning of my second year on the Vestry. I serve as the chair of the Outreach Committee. It has been a learn-ing experience. It is an exciting time for St. John’s with all that is taking place, including the trip to Uganda and provid-ing material support for Church of Our Savior, Suez, Egypt

(our sister church in Egypt). There have been several other new and exciting ministries, such as Faith Filled Families, Children’s Choir, Tasty Wine & Ugly Art and Good Wine, the musical productions by our music minister, the Lunch Bunch, and the Sunday Morn-ing Breakfasts by Jeanette Prasifka and her teams.

What I am most excited about is growth at St. John’s, physical-ly, fiscally, and spiritually. After Fr. Houk’s sabbatical, he came back with fresh eyes, renewed strength, spirit, and vision. This, along with all the other staff and involved members, re-sulted in calling Ministry Architects for assistance and holding meetings with the entire Parish. This is what really excites me -- to be a part of this renewal.

It is my prayer that in the years ahead St. John’s will continue on the path which God has laid out and return to the “Glory Days” of its beginning, from the house church, through the “Chicken Coop,” to where it sits today. I am honored to be a small part of fulfilling its “great commission” to make disciples of Jesus Christ in the entire world.

- By Donald R. Marshall

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A note from the Planned Giving Chairman:

Do you have a will?If not, your property may not go where you want it to go when you depart this life, and probate costs may eat up a lot of it. With a will, you appoint an executor, who distributes your assets as you specify, with comparatively low expenses.

If you die without a will, several undesirable things can occur:• Someone may need to ask a court to appoint an administrator of your estate.• The administrator may not be someone you would have trusted to make decisions about your property.• The estate administration probably will cost more than if you had a will.• The law or the administrator may give your property to persons you didn’t want to have it.

• Your estate may pay more taxes than if you had a will.• Your survivors may argue about “who gets what.”• A judge may decide who will take care of any minor children you leave behind.

And so a will is something you owe your family, to provide clear instructions about your assets and to save your loved ones from the trouble, expense, and potential acrimony of administering your estate without the benefit of a will. Please be sure to make that last loving gift to the ones who survive you.

Ann WardPlanned Giving Chairman

Postscript: Be on the lookout in the coming months for information about St. John’s planned giving program.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH848 HARTER ROADDALLAS, TEXAS 75218-2791

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

REFLECT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE UPDATEGet ready for the next two priorities of our REFLECT capital campaign to take place this summer. The Implementation team has been working hard to finalize two very visible projects that will refresh our campus and church in a major way. First, the nave lighting initiative will see the replacement of long-lasting, brighter bulbs throughout the nave, making our worship space more vibrant. Second, the campus signage project will be complete by summer’s end, giving much needed direction to campus buildings for newcomers and well-established parishioners alike. Lastly, while not technically one of the REFLECT initiatives, the Vestry is moving on the sanctuary flooring, removing the long worn out carpet around the altar. Look for a resurfacing that restores beauty and dignity to the most important part of the church.