This winter St. John’s engaged Ratcliff, a local architecture firm, to help create a master plan for our campus buildings and property. The goal is to develop a long-term plan for our campus, drawing on our prior investments in the invitation bridge and the work of the Campus Committee to optimize the safety, beauty and functionality of our property and facilities.   
 
A search committee of church members selected Ratcliff for this project, based on their excellent reputation, knowledge of the area, and experience working with schools and churches. We expect to provide a full report to the Parish later this summer, with the architects on hand for a report and Q&A, and renderings of proposed improvements.
 
A steering committee, chaired by Debi Stebbins, leads the project for St. John’s. In the first phase, Ratcliff met with the Vestry, steering committee and three user groups to establish priorities that support the Church’s mission and vision, as well as to review the “guiding principles” that inform our campus improvements. Approximately 20 church members participated in these sessions.
 
Based on these discussions and guiding principles, the vestry approved a two-pronged approach. We are prioritizing improvements to the sanctuary and courtyard and a scaled back and less expensive version of the bridge project, which we have renamed the Gateway. Reflecting our guiding principles, the Gateway project dramatically improves the safety, access and approach to out campus. Improvements to the sanctuary and adjacent courtyard will provide a more flexible space that connects to the outdoors and capitalizes on the beauty of our campus.  
 
Ratcliff is working with Sandis, the engineering firm we used for the earlier work, and construction company Oliver & Co. to determine the costs and timetable for the proposed improvements and sequencing of the work.  Concurrently a Project Financing Task Force co-chaired by Vestry member Ed Likely and David Brown, is exploring multiple options for financing the desired improvements. This summer we expect to have more details along with renderings to show possible redesigns. “The project will be multi-year, rather than something we can complete in the next one or two years,” according to Fr. Scott. “We are excited by the wholistic nature of this plan and process, which will give us a roadmap to the future.”

Patricia Harden
People's Warden

After two and a half years at St. Johns, Rev. Jon Owens, associate for ministry development, is leaving St. John’s to pursue other ministry opportunities. In May Jon completed his interim master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University, where he is working on his PhD in Educational Leadership.

Jon’s arrival here in December of 2019 couldn’t have been been more timely! His digital communications know-how served us extremely well as Covid-19 profoundly changed how we worship and communicate. With his leadership, we met the moment, shifting all of our services and gatherings from in-person to online channels. “Jon introduced 21st century communications tools and infrastructure to St. John’s --- assets that were invaluable in peak Covid times and are now an accepted part of church life,” said Tim Johnson, chair of the communications committee and vestry member. In addition to preaching and presiding at services, Jon was instrumental in supporting St. John’s rebranding, redesigning the website, and building our social media and marketing presence in the broader community.  

As a vocational Deacon, Jon brought Saturday evening contemporary services to St. John’s and will preside at the upcoming May 21st service. Check out the great music and intimacy of this 5:00 p.m. monthly service. And be sure to attend Sunday worship on May 29th, when Rev. Scott will recognize Jon’s many contributions to St. John’s followed by a special coffee hour reception in his honor after the 10:00 a.m. service.

Join us in celebrating Jon’s contributions to St. John’s and wish him well as he embarks on his next adventure.

Resolutions for Outgoing Vestry Members 2022
Katie Kroger:
Whereas Katie Kroger courageously chose to join a board whose average age would be impolite to discuss, and whereas in doing so she injected youthful energy and vision in a time when we desperately needed it, and whereas the fruits of that energy and vision led to a beautiful transformation of our grounds under her leadership of the Landscape Committee, and whereas her vibrant spirit also inspired a vibrant re-branding of our church graphics, and whereas she also helped bring a new look to our worship helping design and produce our Saturday evening services, and whereas she did all of this even faster than she puts words together, and whereas she grew up at St. John’s and has continued to return the favor, helping us grow up in a challenging time,
Be it resolved that Katie Kroger has hereby earned the title Saint of Saint John’s.

Laura Kroger:
Whereas Laura Kroger brought a true spirit of family to the vestry being the first person to serve on the vestry with her daughter, and whereas that sense of family is seen in the way she cares for our buildings and grounds, as if they were her own house and garden, and whereas all of her care of our campus and design of our Saturday service liturgy was grounded in her amazing sense of aesthetics, and whereas in bringing beauty to our campus she also faced off with contractors who had more than met their match, and whereas she was always extremely prepared for every meeting, having thoroughly studied each document, and whereas such attention to detail made her our most reliable proof-reader, and whereas she was the model of a team player, applying her amazing gifts to the vision of the vestry even if a given vision was not her cup of tea, and whereas the intensity she brought as she took on big projects was always grounded in a graceful spirit and gentle laughter,
Be it resolved that Laura Kroger has hereby earned the title Saint of Saint John’s.
 
Ruben Simpliciano:
Whereas Ruben Simpliciano faithfully answered the call to become the People’s Warden, and whereas his patience, kindness and sense of humor always inspired the people he represented, and whereas he could magically create a sense of calm in the midst of intense conversation, and whereas it didn’t hurt that his one-year-old daughter Lillian often joined our meetings, and whereas he brought our agendas to new heights with his technological skill and his gifts of analysis, and whereas he is committed to supporting our staff, serving on the Personnel and Search Committees, and whereas in Zoom meetings his hair always looked amazing all the way through the pandemic, even as he juggled bottles, high chairs, nap times and computers, and whereas his presence in meetings made everyone feel like it was not just a meeting but a caring community,
Be it resolved that Ruben Simpliciano has hereby earned the title Saint of Saint John’s.
​
Victoria Robinson:
Whereas Victoria Robinson had the courage to say Yes to being Senior Warden, and whereas that spirit of YES has set the tone for leading us all through a pandemic, and whereas her profound gifts and vision for development have inspired development on many levels, and whereas her first agenda item in every meeting is to ask how people are doing, and whereas her compassion and curiosity naturally inspire others to share their opinions, and whereas her humility and care have made her an inspirational consensus builder, and whereas her deep love for St. John’s and care about every detail leads to multiple texts and emails every day, and whereas she has managed to put up with constant meetings with the rector, and whereas she has done all of this with gratitude, humor, and great joy, seeming to get more out of things than she puts in, which can’t possibly be true,
Be it resolved that Victoria Robinson has hereby earned the title Saint of Saint John’s. 

Many of you were present at St. John’s on December 12th, 2021, when Vinnie Pannizzo attended the service and gave a presentation explaining his work with the homeless. He is the “saint” who picks up our donation of meal bags and blankets/jackets every week on Thursdays. There was a craft fair that Sunday and all of the proceeds were given to either our VISION project or Vinnie’s organization: www.missionforthehomeless.org.
Soon after that, Vinnie’s well-used van broke down. The complete cooling system (radiator, hoses, and water pump) had to be replaced. The VISION team was very pleased to be able to cover that expense ($1200) due to the generous donations from St. John’s parishioners. THANK YOU!

The warm camel hair coat that Vinnie is wearing was also a donation from a caring member of St. John’s. 

Our 'Give and Gift Bazaar' last Sunday raised more than $1200 for VISION - and Pastor Vinnie (Mission for the Homeless) was eloquent and grateful!  This benefit sale reflected our commitment to outreach ministries, while strengthening our own church community. ​

From left: Laurie Bennett organized goodies from Silvia Sykes, the Slatoffs, and others, together with vintage gifts from Karen Gleason and Laurie's own grandmother; Sylvia Ahern sold her botanically-printed art scarves; master knitter Sara Evinger sold her creations - and donated 50+ other warm hats knit by her, Judi Marr, and Sylvia Ahern directly to Pastor Vinnie's ministry. ​

The CNC retreat is a time when youth going through the confirmation program learn to set up their own worship spaces and experience God. The do reports on world religions to understand what others believe and what makes that different from Episcopalians. They even have a little fun playing board games.  

Dear Friends,

St. John’s has arrived at a crucial moment in our history. I like to think of it as a rite of passage. Of course, every year is important, but there are times when the stars align and we are invited to consider radical change that also promises great opportunity. We are, without a doubt, in such a time.  

The pandemic proved something once and for all.  St. John’s is determined to not only survive but to thrive no matter what we face.  We saw this determination before the pandemic when, after completing a strategic plan that inspired us to realign our staff, you all stepped up and funded this plan which included hiring a full time Associate for Congregational Development. We determined at that moment to not be part of the 90% of churches in decline, but rather, to invest and start acting like the 10% of churches that were growing. Vision inspires generosity and you all caught the vision and, Wow, were you generous. Giving increased by 20% for 2020. Together, we made a commitment to our future and completed the first step in our strategic plan. 

Now, we have the opportunity to take the next step in our plan: to enhance and deliberately empower our ministry to children and youth. This is especially challenging as Kellor is retiring. But she has graciously offered to make sure the baton is firmly placed in the hand of the next runner. I am optimistic because we have hired Ministry Architects, a national consulting firm that has helped churches across the nation redesign their youth ministries to meet the challenges of future generations, and we have formed a dynamite team of young leaders in our parish to work with them as we renovate how we renew and restructure our ministries. 

Our job in this transition is to make sure that the baton lands in the hands of the right person and that that person is properly supported by the infrastructure of our parish. What is clear to me is that we need to be in a position to do a national search process and attract a full-time youth and family director that will bring the talent we need to put our ministry renovation plan into action. Attracting new families to St. John’s is something we all want. Now we need to step up and fund this desire. What an amazing opportunity we have!

So, as you prayerfully consider your pledge for 2022, I ask you to do two things:

1. Remember how well we have been doing through this pandemic, and remember the role that Jon played in keeping our focus on congregational development through this challenging time. He brought gifts that enhanced our technology and communication plan, developed our social media impact, and even attracted new members to a church that they could not visit in person. I know I am grateful for him and mostly for all of you who believed in the vision and helped fund it.
   

1. Secondly, I want you to imagine a future where more and more families are being drawn to St. John’s because we were committed to a vision for young families and funded it.  We have the opportunity to continue the legacy of our youth and family ministries that St. John’s has enjoyed for decades, by finding fresh ways to meet the needs of emerging generations.  
   

Vision is the bedrock of generosity and generosity leads to gratitude which leads to more generosity.  Now is a time like no other in our history. My prayer is that you will continue to be inspired by the vision so that together, we each can do what we can to assure that St. John’s meets the future with great faith and joy!

Onward,      

The Rev. Scott Denman+
Rector