PAGE 1O CTOBER$2015 the V AYA - stjohnsrsm.org

P A G E 1 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

St. John Chrysostom Episcopal Church ~ 30382 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 ~ 949.888.4595 ~ www.stjohnsrsm.org

The Newsletter of St. John Chrysostom

Episcopal Church

CAPS UpdateWonderful Seniors

Page 2

Church OfficeRunning St. John’s

Page 3

Adult FormationOpportunities Abound

Page 3

Snapshots And MUCH MoreInside

Dwight and Joshby Fr. John

Have you ever been at a party, enjoying a conversation with a friend while discovering that you are almost overwhelmingly curious about what two people are talking about just out of your hearing?

It happened to me one recent Saturday morning at Isaiah House, Catholic Worker’s shelter for homeless women in Santa Ana. For over two years, Josh Bradshaw, one of our high school students, has organized our Isaiah House breakfast and fellowship ministry. It’s now scheduled almost every month on the second Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

I was talking to one of the residents about her plans to move back east to rejoin her family. Over my right shoulder, I could hear Josh having an intense conversation with Dwight Smith, who has operated the ministry for nearly 20 years with his wife, Leia. I was dying to listen in.

As the other members of our St. John’s contingent were leaving, I gave Dwight a blessing (he’s having back surgery in early October) and then sat at his knee for half an hour. Dwight’s an authentic prophet, living out Catholic Worker’s mission to comfort the afQlicted and afQlict the comfortable. Reporters call him to Qind out what’s really going on around town. City hall ofQicials see him coming and hide. One leaves a conversation with him feeling indicted, reconstructed, and energized.

I also hoped he would give me a Qlavor of his conversation with Josh, and he did. I’ll leave it to them to tell you in more detail. But it’s no secret that Dwight thinks that people such as Josh who choose to serve the poor face to face occupy a privileged position in the heart and mind of God.

Dwight and Leia work each day in the spirit of paciQist Roman Catholic laywoman Dorothy Day, who cofounded Catholic Worker in New York during the Great Depression. Isaiah House is one of over 200 such communities, mostly in the U.S., that practice hospitality for its own sake. In Orange County, if you’re a woman on the street, and Isaiah House has an opening, you can receive food and shelter indeQinitely as long as you follow house rules.

St. John’s has many historic links to Isaiah House. Our youth leader, Patti

FALL 2015

Mark Your Calendars!Episcopal Schools SundayOctober 11Treasures ExchangeOctober 17, 8 a.m. - noonCorazon BuildOctober 24Galaxy Buck Movie PremiereOctober 24, 1:30 p.m.First Laundry Love November 4Beach Clean Up & EucharistNovember 7Godly Play TrainingNovember 13-15Isaiah HouseNovember 14Fellowship DinnerNovember 14, 6 p.m.Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist & PizzaNovember 25, 6:30 p.m.Advent Wreath WorkshopNovember 29, 11:30 a.m.Youth Christmas ShindigDecember 9Women’s Christmas PartyDecember 10Isaiah HouseDecember 12Advent Quiet TimeDecember 12, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

con$nued on page 2

Laundry Love Begins

November 4 - Ask

Mo. Martha!

Josh and Dwight. Photo: John Taylor

the VAYA Con Dios

http://www.stjohnsrsm.org


P A G E 2 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5


We last heard about the CAPS (Caring about our Precious Seniors) ministry in the November, 2012 issue of the VAYA. This vital ministry began around 2011 by conducting enrichment activities at our local senior living facility, Park Terrace. The Qirst volunteer opportunities were leading the Monday night Crossword Puzzle challenge, and serving at the Wednesday afternoon Ice Cream Social hour. Cheryl Dunn got the ministry off to a great start, engaging a core group of volunteers, organizing the schedule and coordinating with Park Terrace management.

Since then, the ministry has expanded, with more volunteers and new activities, and a new ministry head, Janis Giordano. Janis says what drew her to the ministry: “My love of solving crossword puzzles was a key to what initially brought me to CAPS. I have always enjoyed volunteering. In the past while my children were growing up my volunteering was in the schools and scouts. Now that they are grown and on their own, I wanted to devote my time to senior citizens since I saw how happy my mother would be when I played games with her whenever I visited. Meeting and interacting with the Park Terrace residents is what keeps me returning. They are very special to me and always appreciative of my company.”

One of the new activities being led by St. John’s is Bingo, every Tuesday evening, and twice a month on Thursdays. The residents love Bingo for lots of reasons: there is money on the line, a chance to win for everyone, and an engaging social activity. Paying attention to the calls, Qilling out the card (and helping your neighbor Qill out theirs), and following intricate Bingo patterns on alternate games stimulates the brain and keeps the seniors active. They take their Bingo seriously: saving places at the table before they go to dinner, keeping special wallets for their Bingo money and winnings, and concentrating in earnest once the games begin.

For the volunteer, there is a warm reception by the seniors, and the chance to get to know some of these fantastically interesting folks. Their rich life experiences have given them wisdom to share and a hearty sense of humor. Kristine Williams, a regular volunteer, says, “A few months ago, I found myself reQlecting on how I was choosing to spend my free time, which, as a working mom to two small children, is truly precious to me! I have always had a strong desire to help others, yet I felt I wasn't doing enough. I knew that it was because I simply hadn't made volunteer work a priority since my babies came along. I saw the write-‐up for the CAPS ministry in the Blue Sheet and decided to give it a try. I had no idea that I would fall in love with the sweet residents of Park Terrace! They are smart and funny and kind, and they are always beyond appreciative to see me, which warms my heart. Spending my precious free time serving our community is something that Qills me up and feeds my soul. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as part of this ministry and to let my true light shine through.”

If you’d like to get involved in this rewarding ministry, and gain some insight on aging gracefully, contact Janis Giordano at [email protected], [949] 709-‐5986.

Peebles, takes our middle and high school kids regularly. When he was working as an attorney, Andy Guilford provided pro bono legal services. He still volunteers each month. We also make periodic Qinancial contributions. Isaiah House depends on the kindness of its volunteers and donors as well as the faith, energy, and self-‐sacriQice of its proprietors.

The Smiths (who promised in 1997 that they would give it Qive years) live upstairs. Leia is a cancer survivor, and Dwight had lost signiQicant mobility because of back problems. Serving the poor every day of their lives, they have foregone most of the luxuries we take for granted. And yet they don’t sentimentalize the poor. Working with people on the street, many of whom are suffering from mental illness, is exhausting and sometimes dangerous. But their hearts compel them to remain in relationship with marginal people from whom most of us are tempted to avert our eyes.

As it turns out, the purpose of Josh’s ministry isn’t to feed the women. If it were, we could take up a collection each month and have someone drop off 35 Big Breakfasts. Instead, Josh takes us there to meet fellow voyagers, sit across the table from them, shake their hands, learn their names, say ours, and ask the questions that always work. Where are you from? What were your parents like? Do you have any brothers and sisters? What do you love the most?

These questions also work at the monthly Rancho Santa Margarita food bank and anywhere else St. John’s people make personal (the Christian word is incarnational) contact with the poor. (The questions are just as helpful with newcomers at coffee hour.) An exciting new example of such a ministry is Laundry Love, coming together under Mo. Martha’s stewardship. You may have the mistaken impression (I certainly did at Qirst) that the purpose of Laundry Love is to do poor people’s laundry. Its true, divine purpose is to enable new relationships among God’s people. It is from these gracious little miracles, one built on the other, that all good things come.

Dwight and Josh, continued from page 1

CAPS Ministry Update – Deepening the Relationship with our Precious Seniorsby Linda Allport

THE VAYA -‐ THE NEWSLETTER OF ST . JOHN CHRYSOSTOM EP ISCOPAL CHURCH



P A G E 3 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5



Sure the toner cartridge in the copier needs changing, the phones have to be answered, and the bills have to be paid; these are the tasks found in any ofQice in any type of business. But what makes managing a church ofQice unique? What special challenges exist and what special rewards can be found, in particular, at the St. John’s church ofQice?

Cindy Drennan, our administrator, has been managing our St. John’s ofQice since 2006. Prior to that, she was the administrator for two churches in our Diocese, from 1990-‐2006. In late 2006 when St. John’s was in need of an administrator, Pastor Karen Wojahn and Patti Peebles, who had each worked with Cindy at other churches, enthusiastically recommended her to Fr. John. Before working in full time ministry, Cindy worked as a banker for 17 years, giving her a strong Qinancial background.

Sandy Flick, our administrative assistant, has worked three days a week at St. John’s since 2012. Sandy also brings prior experience working in the church setting for several years before coming to St. John’s. Prior to working in the church environment, Sandy was employed by Fluor Corporation as human resources supervisor. Sandy mans the desk in the front ofQice, where deliveries are made, and visitors Qirst enter. She is often the Qirst person that visitors to the church and school will meet. Her joy and laughter are infectious and all who stop by the church ofQice are always welcomed with graciousness.

The decorative Qireplace in the church ofQice (how many church ofQices have a Qireplace?) has a tile hearth that many parishioners may have never seen. The hearth is regularly piled high with See’s Candies or snacks for youth events or handouts for special seasonal activities or gifts for Adopt-‐a-‐Family and so on. If you want to know what’s going on in the life of St. John’s, check out what’s piled on the hearth in the church ofQice!

Sandy, Cindy and of9ice angel, Pat Pearson prepare the bulletins. Photo: Linda Allport

con$nued on page 4

St. John’s Office: A Well-Oiled Machineby Linda Allport and Cindy Drennan

One measure of an active and growing congregation is the number and variety of Adult Christian Formation offerings. New parishes often focus, and rightly so, on getting and keeping a stable Sunday School and Youth Group program going. Adult Christian Formation, or Adult Ed, as many churches refer to it, can sometimes be an afterthought. After all, didn’t we learn everything we need to know about the Bible in Sunday School, and isn’t everything we need to know about our faith found in the Sunday sermons?

Fortunately for St. John’s parishioners, we hold that Bible study and learning about our faith never stops in the life of a Christian. In fact, as we go through each of life’s passages: marriage, child-‐rearing, career, and retirement, we are challenged in new ways to live out our faith -‐ a little education on that front can help with those unique challenges. As Fr. John says, "We call it Christian formation to remind St. John's, and ourselves, that formation in faith is a lifelong vocation. We're not fully formed until we've fully lived. If we ever think we have all the answers, we should probably think again."

St. John’s offers a variety of educational opportunities at convenient times and venues throughout the week. Here is an overview of Adult Christian Formation at St. John’s:

Sunday Adult Christian Formation – held most Sundays between the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services, beginning at 9 a.m., usually in the Bishop’s Room. This traditional time and place offers classes that are anything but traditional, usually topical and/or seasonal in nature, led by talented laypeople and clergy, and always thought-‐provoking. In September we had “Storytellers,” led by Mitch Garcia, which explored how our personal stories deQine us, build community, and intersect with the Gospel story. In October we will learn how to have civil dialogue from a Christian point of view, led by Fr. John and Pam Kelley, followed by two weeks on the book “The Illumined Heart,” which challenges modern Christians to live our faith fearlessly using the example of our persecuted early brothers and sisters, led by Mo. Martha. In November, we explore biblical and traditional concepts of the soul, as well as reQlections of the soul in art, music and literature for three weeks, led by Pastor Lisa Rotchford. We have a one week Advent reQlection on Handel’s Messiah by Fr. John, followed in December by a three week book study of Richard Rohr’s “Preparing for Christmas,” led by Fr. John and Mo. Martha. In January, we bring back our popular Qilm class as we undertake an Epiphany search for God at the movies, led by several lay people and clergy. Going into the Spring, we look at Forgiveness during Lent, and Episcopal Church 101 in April.

Adult Christian Formation Opportunities Abound at St. John’s by Linda Allport

con$nued on page 5



P A G E 4 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5


Cindy and Sandy are your one-‐stop shop for all things St. John’s. Do you have an email address to update, an announcement for the Blue Sheet, a budget item, or an event to schedule? Then you’re on the phone with Cindy. Do you want to schedule a baptism or have a question about your pledge? Then you’re on the phone with Sandy. And that’s just a fraction of the details the church ofQice holds together. Here is a small sample of the regular weekly tasks in the ofQice:

On Mondays, the ofQice staff is clearing the church after Sunday services, providing Wednesday and Sunday scripture readings for our clergy and lectors, setting the weekly staff schedule, clearing email, checking supplies, gathering all the things needed to prepare the Sunday bulletin, recording attendance, and updating some portions of the website including posting Sunday’s sermon.

On Tuesdays, while Sandy is preparing the week’s deposits, Cindy is attending the school’s weekly leadership team meeting, which provides an avenue of communication between the church and school. Preparation for the weekend’s upcoming services continues with bulletin preparation and a myriad of other documents.

On Wednesdays, bills are paid and information for the Narthex video presentation is gathered. Flyers are created and the Blue Sheet is crafted. Thursdays will Qind the staff gathering items for the weekly e-‐Vangelist, preparing a large print version of the Sunday bulletin – a special gift to our members with difQiculty seeing the print in the regular Sunday bulletin and the hymnal – and printing items needed for the weekend. The Narthex video presentation is uploaded.

Fridays the staff prepares the prayer list and prints the rest of the weekend’s documents. One of our wonderful ofQice angels joins the ofQice staff to assemble bulletins and the church is prepared for the weekend’s services. Meanwhile, back in the church ofQice it’s time to clean the kitchen and water the plants. Whew! Add to that the monthly responsibilities and special seasonal tasks, and you’ve got a very, very busy two-‐person operation. During particularly busy liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter) the rest of the church staff, Fr. John, Mo. Martha, and Patti, always jump in to lend a helping hand in a thousand different ways. Teamwork is the sign of a healthy environment, and the St. John’s staff is extra healthy!

When asked how being a church administrator differs from working in a “regular” business ofQice, Cindy said, “The purpose of most businesses is to make a proQit. Working in full time ministry has a different purpose. Our purpose is to make it possible for the clergy and lay leaders of St. John’s to do what they need to do for their ministries. Everything has a purpose, even if it just making a deposit, it ultimately is for the glory of God and his kingdom.”

This is the Qirst time both Cindy and Sandy have worked at a church with a school environment so it is very different for them. “There is excitement on campus all the time, there is always something going on. When it’s just a church it’s pretty quiet during the week.” And having a school adds other tasks to the normal workload. Chapel services and Religious Education are supported by the church ofQice, meaning class handouts, chapel bulletins, scheduling, etc. is coordinated between the chaplain’s ofQice, the church ofQice, and the school.

There are special challenges to running a church ofQice: “It’s important for us to remember that 99% of the people that we work with are volunteers. The work they are doing is out of the desire of their hearts. And we understand that, and love and nurture and care for those people in a way that maybe doesn’t happen in an everyday job.”Editor’s Note: While Cindy helped with the writing of this article, and even though she is quite musically talented, she is too modest to sing her own praises. Allow me. You’ve heard that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but it’s also important to know the opposite: that a well-oiled machine runs so smoothly, it makes no sound while getting the job done in an apparently effortless fashion. This fact makes it easy to take such a smooth, quiet machine for granted. Let us all be thankful for the way this ofHice holds the heart of St. John’s together, and enables us to grow as a community!

St. John’s Office: A Well-Oiled Machine, con$nued from page 3


AUTUMN ABUNDANCE

Fellowship Dinner

Saturday, November 14, 6 p.m., Gym

Join us at our next St. John’s fellowship dinner for a night celebraBng harvest food and fun!The Women's Ministry will provide the ambience, main course, table seHngs, and the music. We ask that you bring a dish to share -‐ appeBzer, salad, vegetable, or dessert. It is an all-‐adult evening of fellowship, so arrive alone, with a friend, or with a date -‐ it maMers not. To RSVP, please contact DJ Gomer at [email protected] or look for the sign-‐up sheet in the narthex, beginning October 11.

Editor’s Note: The View from Above column will return in the December issue of the VAYA!



mailto:[email protected]


P A G E 5 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5


If the variety and depth of these topics does not whet your appetite, remember that the Sunday classes are a great way to meet and interact with other parishioners and your clergy in a smaller group setting, and snacks are often available!

Tuesday Tune-Up – offering both the contemplative type of formation as well as a straightforward bible study, our Tuesday evening gatherings are a mid-‐week refresher for both men and women. We begin at 5:30 in the Bride’s Room with Lectio Divina, a monastic practice for reading and meditating on the scriptures. It’s a short and simple practice rewarding us with deep insights and a peaceful encounter with God. We take a short break at Starbucks in the Lowe’s Center for coffee and conversation, and reconvene at 7 p.m. in the Bishop’s Room for our Bible Fellowship. We are currently studying the Gospel of John, but in the past have studied the Gospel of Mark, Genesis, Exodus, Romans, and Isaiah. We take our time with each passage, bringing in historical details, and theological interpretations, but most importantly, look at how the message informs our day to day faith. We have lively and interesting conversations and enjoy the fellowship of a small group. The study is co-‐facilitated by Fr. John and Linda Allport. Participants can enjoy one, two or all three of the Tuesday activities, there is no homework required, and no commitment to attend every class.

Women’s Bible Study – a Wednesday morning gathering of the women of St. John’s, this group has been meeting for over 15 years! Though the faces may have changed over the years, the spirit of sharing, laughter, support, study, and prayer remains the same. The women most often study a book of the bible on their own, but occasionally have guest teachers who may present topical studies as well. The group meets at 10:30 a.m. at DJ Gomer’s house. If you are new to the St. John’s family, this is a great group of ladies who will welcome you with open arms.

Thursday Small Group – occasionally during the year, a Thursday class or small group is presented for St. John’s members, usually at 7 p.m. In the past, we have had discussions of art and music from a Christian perspective, and this year will also feature a continuation of the “Storytellers” class from September. Watch the Blue Sheet for details about these classes as they are offered.

There are multiple opportunities for Christian formation at St. John’s to entice every taste and meet every schedule. We can all take advantage of these classes to grow in our understanding of our common faith!

Tuesday Bible Fellowship. Photo: Linda Allport

G E T R E A DY T O G E T R E A DY !

Save these Dates for a Blessed Advent Season at St. John’s:

Handel’s Messiah - Sunday Adult Formation - November 29, 9 a.m.

Advent Wreath Workshop - November 29, 11:30 a.m.

“Preparing for Christmas” - Sunday Adult Formation three week study of the Richard Rohr book, December 6, 13, and 20, 9 a.m.

Women’s Christmas Party, December 10

Advent Quiet Time - Saturday December 12, 2 - 5 p.m.

Adult Christian Formation Abounds, con$nued from page 3




P A G E 6 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5



Summer evening labyrinth walk at the Spiritual & Physical Muscles Workshop

Photo credits (Clockwise from Top): John Taylor, John Taylor, Linda Allport, John Taylor, Erin Schwarz, John Taylor

St. John’s Snapshots

Great turnout for VBS 2015!

Enjoying good food and fellowship at the Welcome Home and Thank You Picnic

twentysomethings’ gathering at DohenySummer Beach Blanket Fellowship Dinner

Altar Guild has an adventure with the VBS set up!



P A G E 7 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5


THE VAYAThe Newsletter of St. John Chrysostom Episcopal Church30382 Via Con DiosRancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-1518

The Rev. Canon John H. Taylor, Vicar[714] 319-4421 (cell); [714] 970-7206 (home)[email protected]

Dr. Michael Pratt, Head of School[949] 858-5144 x222 ~ [email protected]

The Rev. Martha D. Johns, Associate Vicar[949] 888-4595 x239 ~ [email protected]

Patti Peebles, Youth Pastor and School Chaplain[949] 888-4536 or [949] [email protected] Bob Miller, Organist and Choirmaster[909] 633-0181 ~ [email protected] Sheryll Grogan, Sunday School Director[949] 858-5144 x344 or [949] [email protected] Lorraine Kamholz, Assistant Sunday School Director[949] 766-1504 ~ [email protected] Cynthia A. Drennan, Administrator[949] 888-4534 ~ [email protected]

Sandy Flick, Administrative Assistant[949] 888-4595, x206 ~ [email protected]

Clergy and Staff of St. John’s Church

The Rev. Canon John H. Taylor, Vicar

Tim England, Bishop’s Warden Gregg Stempson, People’s Warden

Joanne Bradshaw, Treasurer Paul Hinson, Clerk

Phil Bowman Gene Giordano

DJ Gomer David NicholsPaula Neal Reza Eleanor Salvanera

Erin Schwarz Loreen Guilford, Chair, Parish Council

Linda Allport, Vaya Editor

Bishop’s Committee of St. John’s Church

[949] 888-4595 ~ [949] 858-1498 facsimile

www.stjohnsrsm.org ~ Youth website: stjohnsyouthgroup.org

copyright, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2015


w w w . s t j o h n s r s m . o r g ~ w w w . s t j o h n s y o u t h g r o u p . o r g ~ w w w . s t j o h n s - e s . o r gL i k e u s o n F a c e b o o k // F o l l o w u s o n T w i t t e r @ s t j o h n s _ r s m // F i n d u s o n I n s t a g r a m @ s t j o h n s _ r s m







Documents

PAGE 1O CTOBER$2015 the V AYA - stjohnsrsm.org