Sunday Morning Worship
9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School
9:55 a.m.
(some classes start earlier)

Al-Anon, A

Our budget goal for February is $82,000 in support, although it will cost more than that to operate the Saint John’s facility and offer our ministry & programs.

By February 20th we had received $62,952 for operations and still hope to reach our goal, with one Sunday remaining. Our expenses are planned to be about $94,000 for the month and we have spent $51,083 so far.

Interest on the property loan will add $12,667 to the monthly costs, so we are likely to need another short-term draw at month end, which should be repaid when giving picks up in March.

We are seeing many increase their giving in line with pledges or otherwise. Won’t you prayerfully consider joining them?

Our Life Together

by Liz Stewart

Over the last two weeks Rev. Bobbi Kaye Jones has challenged us with many open-ended and difficult questions about prayer. She opened an intentional conversation with us about the importance of creating a safe environment in our “open house” where prayer and can flourish. We are becoming a praying congregation!

As silly as it seems, it can take courage for us to even open and close church meetings and meals with prayer without a pastor present to handle this responsibility. (Incidentally, the word cor is Latin for heart, and is also the root for the word courage.) One of our family’s recent prayer initiatives is to push ourselves beyond “God is great, God is good…” preceding a meal. The Stewarts are trying, yet we find even in the company of our immediate family it takes courage and intention to pray meaningfully before one another.

What makes it safe to talk about prayer, to contemplate hard questions, to share personal information, to make ourselves vulnerable? Prayer teacher Jane Vennard, author of A Praying Congregation: the Art of Teaching Spiritual Practice raises these questions. (Notice Vennard is speaking of safety in groups. This can apply to any kind of a group, from a church class to a family unit to an entire congregation.) Vennard’s observations for creating safety follow.

• Ask people at the outset, “What makes this a safe place for you?”
• Time can facilitate safety. Some of us just take a while to warm up.
• When we value others and feel valued, safety is increased.
• Talking about confidentiality is another strategy for making us feel safe. Making it clear what we are sharing is private helps us open up. Asking permission to share prayer concerns and assuring others that information is protected increases safety.
• Group size is a factor. If we are in a large group, breaking into smaller groups increases safety. Sharing in pairs is often safer than sharing with more than one other person. Closing the group to new members after an initial start-up time encourages safety.
• Using inclusive language and encouraging openness among members encourages a safe environment. Inclusive language implies feedback such as, “I like the way you said that” or “That is an interesting idea”. It allows people to open up without fear of judgment. Similarly, setting and practicing boundaries creates safety. (For example, “heart listening” and “staying open” rather than allowing “fixing” encourages sharing.) Vennard warns, however, against becoming rule-bound to the point of squelching the movement of the Spirit.
• We need to counter unsafe practice. If someone behaves in a way that harms group safety, we have the responsibility to say kindly and clearly what we see happening so the harmful person is given an option to change behavior, to restore safety.
• The willingness of even one person to risk sharing more may open others up to share freely.

Our family joined Saint John’s three years ago. The most safe “group” environment I’ve ever experienced emerged just months after we joined. Ten of us (plus Charlie Lescher until he moved) were blessed by our participation in a September 2005-May 2006 Companions in Christ class. We laughed and cried together. We shared more deeply than many of us had ever shared before. We grew closer to God. We became more prayerful. We created a life-giving bond for which we are all very grateful. The photo of our group was taken shortly after we completed our class. I hope you can see the joy in our eyes as we celebrated our journey.

Prayer is such a BIG subject (6.49 million Google matches). We have much to learn from each other about this inspiring subject. I hope you’ll pay attention to our sermons and personal witnesses during our prayer campaign. Rev. David Gilliam will speak today about the importance of memorized prayer. Please feel free to be in touch with any of the pastors or me if you’d like to pray together or talk about prayer. Rev. Pat Thomas will be delighted to receive your prayer requests on behalf of the church and ask our prayer groups to pray for your concerns. May we all grow in prayer.

Noon Wednesday Communion Service

Join us for mid-week worship in the Chapel as we share music, scripture, a message and the holy meal of Communion. We celebrate weekly communion at 12:10 p.m. each Wednesday.

John Anderson will provide the message on February 27. Make this worship service a part of your schedule!

Thursday Night Worship
"A Gathering of Spirits" 7:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall

February 28: David brings a message from Luke 15.1-7, The Parable of the Lost Sheep, and what this story teaches us about God. Music from Taize, Peter Pan, MLK’s favorite hymn and other spirit-filled songs led by The Gospel Birds. All are welcome. Bring a friend.

Help Fight Hunger in Austin at Crop Walk, March 1-2

Crop Walk, sponsored by Austin Area Interreligious Ministries (AAIM), raises money and increases awareness about hunger in our community and the world. People go hungry every day in Austin and Central Texas. You can help make a change!

Please join us next weekend for the annual Central Texas CROP Hunger Walk at Roy Guerrero Park. You don’t have to walk both days, only one. Your efforts and contributions help several Austin area organizations, as well as global efforts.

To participate all you have to do is: a) sign up to be a walker or b) sponsor someone who is walking. It’s an easy walk – about a mile and a half – and it is such fun. Come for the music, snacks, and the opportunity to meet new people. It’s also a great way for the kids to work off their energy.

The walk begins at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 2. I’ll be there on both days and I hope to see lots of you there.

All of the information you need is at the table in the gallery. There will be a can for contributions -- spare change welcomed. It goes for a good cause. I can’t wait to see you there. Call me if you want more information.

Pat Stewart, Crop Walk Coordinator; Home – 506-8372; Cell – 565-8702

Newsletter Editor Change

Hilary Marchbanks, our newsletter editor extraordinaire, has resigned this position to attend seminary. Diana Mullin is now humbly trying to fill her shoes. Please submit your articles for inclusion in the newsletter to Diana or bring them to the church office. Articles may be edited for size as required.

Pray As You Can

I was delighted to be asked to share a word as part of our annual prayer campaign. I like prayer, believe it is good for me, and good for the world. I’m pretty sure God likes it when I do.

One of the very best lessons I ever heard about prayer is this: “Pray as you can, not as you think you ought to.” This is great news for me, because I don’t always have words to express what I want and need to say to God. Which leads into the other great lesson I learned about prayer. Memorize some. Often times, when you need prayer the most, you find yourself at a loss for words. So have some in the back pocket of your mind and pull them out when you need them. You might be amazed.

I’ll leave you with one of the best examples I know of. I encourage you to memorize this. You can do it; God can help.

“Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Welcome to Saint John's UMC, New Members

Deirdre Walsh joined Saint John’s on February 10, 2008. Deirdre is in marketing with National Instruments and was invited by her friend, Hilary Marchbanks, to come and visit Saint John’s. On her second visit on Ash Wednesday, 2007 Deirdre was highly impacted by Bobbi Kaye calling her by name. She has been coming every since and has enjoyed being able to “give back” by working the sound booth with Virgil McCullough during the worship services. We welcome Deirdre into our Saint John’s family!

A Future with Hope Campaign Reaches 95% of Goal

Commitment cards continue to flow in for our campaign to support Saint John’s general fund (budget) in 2008. As of February 18th total commitments are $856,982 from 200 individuals and families. This represents 95% of our goal for annual commitments of $900,000, which is well within reach.

There is still time to make your commitment, as the 2008 campaign nears completion. Please ask for a card at the church office or request that we mail (or email) you one. All Saint John’s family members are encouraged to give regularly—and to consider making a commitment, which helps our planning. We indeed have “A Future with Hope” at Saint John’s!

Senior Adults to View Live Musical

How long is it since you have seen a live performance of “Jesus Christ, Superstar”? The Senior Adult Council invites friends of all ages to join them on a Sunday afternoon bus trip to the Georgetown Palace Theater to see the famous rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber on Sunday afternoon, March 9. The seniors’ price, including the bus ride, is $25.00 ($27.00 for non-senior adults). We plan to stop for dinner in Georgetown before we return home (dinner is not included in the price). Please sign up (in the gallery on Sunday or in the church office during the week) and pay for your ticket no later than March 3.

First Sunday Food Pantry Collection, March 2

Each first Sunday, we collect food to support Hope Food Pantry at Trinity United Methodist Church. They provide much-needed food to families in our community every week. The Pantry is a 100% volunteer-staffed and donation-funded non-profit organization, and a fun place to volunteer. The experience of helping the families is very rewarding.

In an effort to restock their shelves with staples, next Sunday, March 2, we are asking each family to bring a can (or more) of green beans! Then next month, we’ll be bringing a different staple.

Place your contribution in the baskets at the entrance to the Sanctuary. If you want to help load the cans for transport, please be at the Sanctuary entrance shortly after the 11:00 a.m. service.

Click here for more information about the food pantry:

The Children’s Ministry STILL Needs You

We still need teachers to teach the 1st-4th graders in Sunday School. The commitment is minimal and the reward is great. We provide you with the curriculum and basic supplies; you plan and teach! Please prayerfully consider supporting this important education ministry! Please prayerfully consider this gift of ministry! If you have any questions, please contact Kim Graley (507-3141).

Current teaching opportunities:

• March 2 and 9: Art Sunday: Two Assistants
• March 16: Video Sunday: Video Teacher and Assistant
• March 24 and 30: Video Sunday: Games Teacher and Assistant, Cooking Teacher and Assistant

March Communion Rail Offering

The Communion Rail offering on Sunday (March 2) will support One Great Hour Of Sharing. This “UMC special Sunday offering” enables the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to reach out through worldwide ministries of food, shelter, health and peace. Share the goodness of life with those who hurt.

Honor or Remember a Loved One with an Easter Lily

It has long been a tradition at Saint John’s to adorn the sanctuary and church building with Easter lilies on Easter morning. These are paid for by donations in memory of or honor of loved ones. Stop by the table in the gallery on March 2, 9, or 16 to purchase a lily for the sanctuary. Donation: $10/lily.

Childcare Providers Needed

We are in need of staff to work in our nursery on occasional evenings and Sunday mornings. This is a paid position. If you are interested, please contact Holly Sudduth.

Growing Nursery Needs Volunteers

We are so happy our nursery continues to grow, but in order to keep costs down, we need weekly volunteers to help in the nursery. It is fun and exciting to spend one hour during the 11 a.m. service and see our adorable children in action. If you are interested, please sign up on the form outside the nursery or email Holly Sudduth.

Garage Sale is Coming May 2-3

Mark your calendars now for May 2 -3, 2008. The annual Saint John’s garage sale is on the church calendar! Now is the time to start cleaning out your garage or your extra bedroom of all the things you haven’t used lately. You can even encourage your neighbors to contribute. All items donated are tax deductible. We take all sorts of items in for this event – clothes, tools, outdoor furniture, etc. Proceeds from the sale go to agencies that support the needs of women, children and families.

There is one thing in particular we need to make this event as successful as previous years. We need volunteers. The days prior to the sale (April 27 – May 1) we need people who can come during the day to help price and sort items. In the evenings we need people who will help sort clothes and arrange items for about 2 hours. This years’ event will be coordinated by committee. We have someone to do publicity (thank you Emma Lea Mayton) and a Saturday team captain (thank you Micheal Harper). We need lots of people to support them, so consider volunteering two or three hours during the week to help out.

Please join the Garage Sale team to make this event as successful as in years past. Call me at home (506-8367) or on my cell phone (565-8702) if you have questions or just can’t wait to sign up to help. We need you, and the agencies we donate to need our funds.

Pat Stewart, UMW President

Vacation Bible School Coming

Mark your calendars for V.B.S., July 14-18. Kids ages 4 (by May 1) through entering 4th graders are welcome. We’re still looking for a coordinator and numerous volunteers for this wonderful week of ministry to children. Contact Kim Graley at 452-5737 for details.

A Happy Nursery

Please help us keep our children happy and our nursery costs down by helping to provide these supplies.

• Goldfish crackers: a favorite among the nursery children!
• Baby wipes
• Lysol disinfectant spray
• Graham crackers
• Plain Cheerios

Please bring items to the church office.

Children’s Palm Sunday Processional

All children are invited to participate in the Palm Sunday Processional, March 16th during the 11:00 a.m. service. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 10:50 a.m. to collect our palms and receive instruction. Children of all ages are welcome — parents of toddlers bring your little ones and participate too! After the processional all children will be instructed to find their parents for the remainder of the service.

Senior Adults Games Day -Thursday, March 6

The first Thursday of every month, senior adults meet in room 208 at 9:30 a.m. for Games Day. Join us for dominos, cards and board games.

Tom Spencer to Lead AIMM

I want to thank the many individuals who have expressed their good wishes and congratulations to me as I take the helm at Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. I feel deeply humbled to be here and grateful for your words of support. AAIM is an incredibly valuable resource for the people of Central Texas, one that is truly planting the seeds of hope in our community. As I begin this new adventure, I would like to challenge you to become more involved in our exciting mission of uniting faith and cultural communities in the service of the common good.

Hilary Marchbanks has stepped forward to be one of Saint John’s representatives to AAIM (we can have more than one) and Bobbi Kaye was recently named to the Religious Leaders Council. If you are interested in taking a role please let either of them know by calling the church office.

Last autumn’s Thanksgiving service was a powerful reminder of why AAIM is needed and the genuine beauty of our cause. We repair homes and hearts, we reach out to refugees and the homeless, we build bridges of understanding and respect. All of these things are truly worthy of celebration - of thanksgiving! With your personal involvement AAIM will help Austin become a national model of inter- religious partnership. This is exciting work. It is God’s work. Join us.

May we all grow in peace -- Tom Spencer, Chief Executive Officer

And another thing - Several people have asked for a transcript of Tom Spencer’s “recent gardening as prayer” talk at Saint John’s. It is now on his website. Click here to view the transcript.

And while you’re looking ahead, please participate in Saint John’s longstanding support of the Annual CROP Walk for Hunger, March 1st and 2nd, and the Hands On Housing Bluebonnet Blitz, April 25-27 and May 4th. Read more by visiting the AAIM website.

Lost and Found

• Black frame sunglasses
• Eyeglasses
• Black REI gloves
• Child’s red knit gloves
• Black velvet headband
• Long sleeve blue t-shirt (ConocoPhillips logo)
• Black small cotton-spandex hoodie w/zipper
• Child’s pink, black and white purse with green “L”
• Fisher-Price Doodle-Pro toy
• Various Christmas plates
• Red and black insulated mug w/lid and handle
• Clear Pyrex bowl
• Various plastic containers (Ziploc, take-a-long, etc.)
• Book:The Powers that Be by Walter Wink
• Book:Prayers that Avail Much by Germaine Copeland
• Icicle light clips

If you recognize any of the following jewelry, please see Audrey in the church office.

• Large silver hoop earring
• silver teardrop earring
• Silver James Avery ichthus earring
• Pearl & gold earring
• Long dangling silver and bead earring
• Silver heart charm
• Gold butterfly charm
• Silver ring with mood stone
• Silver and turquoise ring

All 5th and 6th graders are invited to join their crew on Sunday mornings at the Youth House
for a very cool hour of donuts
and fun in Christ!
9:45-10:45 a.m.

Saint John’s staff and prayer group members pray for these people each week. To have your prayers of joys and concerns added to the list, please submit them in writing to the office. Please include your name and phone number.

• Brian Dickson (Shirley and Don Dickson's son) and Amanda Johnson Dickson were married on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Saint John's.
• Bill Longley (Rev. Kathryn McNeely's son) and Meagan Anderson Longley were married on Saturday, Feb. 9 at Green Pastures.

• Amy Wright (Bill Power's wife)(
• Katy Powers (Bill Power's daughter)(
• Jane Starnes(

• Shea Browning (Faye Byers' great grandson)
• Marine Riley Callahan (Jane Wilson's grandson)
• Luc Dauvin (Hilary Marchbank's cousin)
• Wesley Ebbers (Susan Harrelson’s nephew)
• Wesley Iley (Cecil Allert's grandson)
• Brandon Kloppe (Elissa Kloppe’s husband)
• Cpl. Justin Kloppe (Elissa Kloppe’s brother-in-law)
• Damon McCullough (Virgil McCullough's cousin)
• Alexandria Ogg (Elissa Kloppe's cousin)
• Sean Pavelka (Kim Graley’s cousin)
• SSGT Hans Pugh (Tim Pugh's son)
• Brian Rabel (Mollie and John McColpin’s grandson)
• Cpl. Peyton Sackett (Randi Wardian’s friend)
• Jeff Smith (Audra Morgenroth's husband)
• Mark Tilma (Megan Montgomery's fiance)
• Col. Kenneth Tovo (Kathie’s brother)
• Thomas Walker (Johanna’s husband)
• Chester Wall (Karen Young's nephew)
• Scott Zaleski (Judy & Cy Zaleski’s son)