The Newsletter of Saint John’s Episcopal Parish, Hagerstown, Maryland

SOUNDINGSFebruary 2016

In This Issue:Music Notes pg. 6Youth Update pg. 8Hats Off pg. 9Birthdays/Anniv. pg. 10Health Ministry pg. 11

So, Who was St. Valentine?Given that the Roman Catholic Church in 1996 demoted his saintly status and the Episcopal Church recognizes others on Feb. 14 (saints Cyril and Methodius), it isn’t all that clear who St. Valentine or Val-entinius actually was or why a day devoted to romantic love, roses and chocolates became his namesake, according to the Rev. Sam A. Porta-ro.

“There was possibly more than one character named Valentine,” ac-cording to Portaro, who retired in 2004 after 22 years as Episcopal chaplain at the University of Chicago.

Portaro’s Feb. 14 meditation in his “The Brightest and the Best” (Cow-ley Publications, 1998) companion reader to Lesser Feasts and Fasts, the Episcopal Church’s calendar of saints doesn’t mention Valentine, but concentrates on Cyril and Methodius instead.

“Some people trace the influence of Chaucer as helping to elevate the prominence of Valentine, and associating him with love,” Portaro added. “In that period he is associated with courtly love which, as we know, is a very romantic view of love that’s not grounded in reality.”

The Rev. Tim Schenck agreed. “It’s, frankly, a bit odd that love is cele-brated on a day named for St. Valentinus,” said Schenck, rector of St. John the Evangelist Church in Hingham, Massachusetts.

“If you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with authenticity, try dress-ing up for your romantic dinner as the martyred saint,” said Schenck.

“Or perhaps just stick with chocolate and roses and tell your beloved about Saints Cyril and Methodius – the 9th century missionaries to the Slavs whom the Episcopal Church actually commemorates on February 14th,” he added.

Some traditions identify Valentine as a priest; others, a bishop. “Most of them tend to center on a char-acter who lived in the 3rd century and was around under the perse-cution of Emperor Claudius II and there are stories of his martyrdom and his life tends to have been cen-tered largely around Rome,” Porta-ro said.

He compared ninth century Rus-sian brothers Cyril and Methodius, missionaries in the area that be-came Czechoslovakia who invented

the Cyrillic alphabet and made liturgy and worship available in the language of that region, to modern-day Canadian brothers Alexandre and Frederic Bilodeau.

Alexandre Bilodeau, who won the gold medal in freestyle skiing at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, dedicated the victory to his older

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brother Frederic who has cerebral palsy, Portaro said.

“They’re such an icon of genuine love, the kind of love that we really do want to lift up and celebrate, a kind of selfless love of one human being for another,” he said. He noted that “Alex clearly and openly identifies his older brother Frederic as his hero.”

He said that the two brothers “exhibit such a beautiful example of the kind of love we should have for all of our relationships but especially in marriage” and that the missionaries Cyril and Methodius’ selfless work “is far more representative of the kind of love we want to lift up within the Christian community than any of the mythologies associ-ated with Valentine.”

- Episcopal News Service, 2014

A Prayer on Valentine’s Day

“Most Gracious Heavenly Father, You gave Saint Valentine the cour-age to witness to the gospel of Christ, even to the point of giving his life for it. Help us to endure all suffering for love of you, and to seek you with all our hearts; for you alone are the source of life and love. Grant that we may have the courage and love to be strong witnesses of your truth to our friends and family and to the whole world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

Mayfest Meeting

The first organizational meeting for Mayfest 2016 will be held on February 7th following the 10:15 service in Sunday School classroom #4. Please join us if you are interested in being a part of the team that puts together this fantastic evening of food, fellowship and outreach fundraising! If you would like to volunteer, but are unable to attend the meeting, please contact Sareen or Kevin Hebb at 301-766-0834 or sareen@myactv.net.

Adult Forum:

You are invited! Sunday morning, following the 8 o’clock service in St. Mary’s Chapel, you are invited to join in adult examination of contemporary issues facing Christians in to-day’s world. Watch leading theologians, authors and church leaders wrestle with ideas and concepts with which we all struggle. Be a part of the vigorous conversation! This week Becky Hogamier will give her presentation on managing Heroin addiction in Washington County. Future topics include, February 7th, “What Gives You Faith?” February 14th, “How do we Right the wrong?” February 21st, “What’s God got to do with Evil?” Febru-ary 28th, “Why Hope?” This is not your everyday Bible study! Everyone is welcome.

Monday Night Series:

All adults are invited and encouraged to attend the weekly Monday Night Series book group, that meets in St. Mary's Chapel at 6:30. There is no need to sign up, all you need to do is show up! The book being discussed is The Gift of Imperfection by Dr. Brené Brown. Dr. Brown’s book is available from Amazon for $8.66 in paperback and $3.99 on Kindle.

Giving Envelopes

Envelopes for 2016 are located at the back of the church. Please take your envelopes and review your number as it may have changed. If you do not have envelopes and would like envelopes, please contact the office.

Search Committee Update

The Rector Search Committee met on January 10th. During the session, we discussed criteria for rating potential candidates, and looked over the Diocesan guidelines concern-ing interview questions which are appropriate and those which are not. We were also split into three smaller work groups; each small group will meet independently of the larger search committee on their own to work through specific targeted questions prior to the next whole-group meeting at the end of the month.

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Reach Cold Weather ShelterSt. John’s Week: Feb. 28 - Mar. 5

Winter has finally found us here in Washington County and there is a great need for the Reach cold weather shelter AND for volunteers during St. John‘s week February 28 through March 5.

Thanks to all of you who’ve already answered the call! There are still a variety of tasks, shifts and chores available; SPECIFICALLY on Saturday March 5 – currently a very lonely day at the Shelter with NO sign-ups.

In Trimble hall, on the table below the Service & Outreach bulletin board, is a brochure holder with task descriptions. You can also stop by the table at the Antietam Street entrance, between services and visit with Becca Burford and Teresa Taylor in person or via email: rlburford@myactv.net (Becca) or phone 301-471-1947 (Becca) or (Teresa) 301-471-4512. OR – see Betty Markle following the 10:15 service.

You can also learn more by visiting the Reach website www.reachofwc.org.

AND, last but not least, – ALL volunteers must fill out the annual volunteer form ONLINE! Teresa & Becca will be happy to assist with this if needed!

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Music NotesAn Evening of Jazz at Saint John’s

A concert of jazz will take place on Sunday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m. as part of the Music at Saint John’s Series. Performers will include Mark Cook (piano) who is the Director of Music Th eory and Composition, and serves on the jazz faculty at Shep-herd University; Chris Vadala (woodwinds) who is the Director of Jazz Studies and Saxophone Professor at the University of Maryland, and had a long tenure as stand-out woodwind artist with the internationally recognized Chuck Mangione Quar-tet; Mike Kamuf (trumpet) who is Director of Bands and Orchestras and Music Department Chairperson at John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus, MD, and has become an in demand arranger, clinician and adjudicator for schools, confer-ences and music festivals across the United States; David W. Marsh III (bass) taught acoustic bass, electric bass and electric guitar at the George Washington University, as well as Harbor Academy (Edgewater, MD), Mitchell Community School of the Arts (Bowie, MD) and Shepherd University; Ronnie Shaw (drums) was a member of the United States Air Force Academy Band. He teaches percussion and drum set at the prestigious Landon School in Bethesda, and Shepherd University. Be sure to attend this unique musical event and invite family, friends and neighbors to attend with you.

February Carillon Recitals at Mercersburg AcademyFeb. 7 – John Widmann (Frederick, MD), Feb. 14, 21 and 28 - Jim Brinson (Mer-cersburg Academy). Th e Free recitals begin at 3:00 p.m. and are open to the public to attend.

Biblical Reference to Singing – Part 1Psalm 33:3 - Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.(from � e Chorister, October/November 2015)

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WEAREAGENEROUSPEOPLE(ifyournameshouldbeherebutismissing,pleasecontacttheoffice.)

THANKYOUtoalltheindividualsandfamilieswhopledgetosupporttheprogramsandthepeopleofSaintJohn’sin2016.(Namesbelowareprintedasshownonthereturnedpledgecards.)PatriciaS.andWilliamR.Abeles,Sr.SuzanneAbelesDavidandStaceyAbelesWilliamandBeverlyAbeles,Jr.PegAbercrombieSteveandKyleAdelmeyerJacquelynH.andWilliamT.AlexanderAnnU.AllenTaniaAndersonTinaAngleVernaG.AnsonKathleenArguesoJohnandJenniferAshbaughAnnAshbyRobertandEarleneAyrerRonandCarolBachtellTheRev.SarahE.BaileyKimBakerJamesandMaryBallardPhilandJulieBarlupPhyllisandWilliamK.BeardPieterBickfordLeeandCharlesBriningJimandDoreeBrinsonEleanorandAlanBrown JamesV.Burdett BeccaBurfordandTeresaTaylorBrian,SherrieandHaleyBurkholderCathyandFrankBusheyDoloresJ.Carpenter JohnL.andJoyceB.Chabot CharlesandAnnChaney MargaretClinch RogerandEllenCollins MarkandHelenCook Rev.JohnandRuthCozzoli JohnM.andBarbaraCreager RobertandKarlaDavis DavidDavisandDanMeyer MarkandMimmiDickersonBrendaDuffyD.StuartDunnanFlorenceandWilliamC.ForbesBruceandDeniseForemanCharlesandKatherineForeman

SandraFowler,MDKarenFreitagKathyandGeorgeFuscsickCatherineP.GarvinSaraAnnGodwinWilliamD.GodwinDustyandBillGrahamChadandKristyGrossJacquesHagerMichaelandKayeHarbaughKevinandSareenHebbGaryandIrisHeichelNancyandRonaldHeistonRobertW.HersheyHarveyandRebeccaHogamierElsieH.HollowayFredW.HoseJr.JamesR.IdeLindaGrayJonesMarkKingIvorN.KnightJoanKuikenRebeccaMassieLaneStephnyLietuvnikasWilliamLuchtWilliamandDoloresMaletzkyMr.andMrs.RichardC.MalleryAnnieK.MalloyLeeandGerrieMangumBettyMarkleRussellandKathrynMarksNicoleandDavidMartinAllanandTamaraMartinezL.BruceMasseySusanL.McCardellMissyMcCrayGayeMcGovernDavidMcKinleyBrianandSarahMillerAnneMorinMichaelMummertSueMurrayConnieandBonnaNakopoulos RuthAnnOgleDeniseF.andWilliamE.Pennington,Jr.

GailJ.PetreJoAnnPickettBrendaS.PriceJamesL.andPatriciaH.RandallJoyceP.RathBobandSusanRauthJudyL.RayselyMr.andMrs.BillyRhodesSamuelJ.RichardsJosephA.andNancyScottRickardsJr.JaneRozesChipandJenniferSealingHaroldW.andJaniceM.SeekfordKirkSeekfordMaureenSheridanRobertandKellySlocumElizabethI.SmithMelindaF.SmithBillandDeannaSoulisJerryandSueSowersJillSpeelmanRobertSpeelmanRobinSpicklerSarahJ.StantonHelenStevensPhyllisSturtzAldenandSusanSunnarborgBettyandJackThompsonJoeandChrisTischerKatiWebbandHeidiBecker Jason,Rebecca,DylanandRhysWeibelDonnaandMayaWells RichardandLoisWhisnerHowardWhittingtonRonandEvelynWilliamsMr.andMrs.CarvelWright,Jr.FredandCarolineWrightWilliamP.andFrancesM.Young,Jr.BrandonandHavenYounger

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Youth UpdateYouth Service and Outreach: Sunday, February 7th brings us the Souperbowl of Caring, led by our middle school/high school class. Please join in and support them by bringing cans of soup to their collection bin in Trimble Hall.

Our youth are also beginning the work of funding their service mission trip with Appa-lachian Service Project, or ASP. Glenda Fuller led interest meetings during January to recruit and sign interested youth volunteers up. Starting this month, we will be hosting fund raising events to pay for the costs incurred in doing this week-long service mission.

Parent Partnership Group: I did not have to be at St Johns for long at all before I knew how important the youth are to this parish. I also know that it is essential to hear from many voices as we move forward with our youth program. Over the past several months, I have had time to listen and talk with the youth about their thoughts and ideas, and I intend to keep doing that. I also wish to hear from parents and invested family members within the congregation in an ongoing fashion. I am issuing an invitation for interested parents and adults within the congregation to meet with me on a once a month basis to plan and coordinate all aspects of our youth Ministry. If you are interested in this group, please contact me at maclinch@gmail.com.

Youth Group: Th e fi rst youth group planning meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 7th following the 10:15 service, and will be held in St Mary’s Chapel. Interested youth (grade 6 and up) and adults are invited to discuss what they want to see and do with their youth group as we move forward.

Shout-Outs and Celebration: Youth Leadership Project members spent a bitterly cold Martin Luther King Jr. weekend at a lock-in event at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore, culminating in joining in with the Episcopal delegation for the MLK day march. Hats off to the youth of the Diocese of Maryland for their participation, and espe-cially to the youth of our parish who participated.

Bishop’s Bash: Th e youth of the Diocese of Maryland are invited to the annual Bishop’s Bash 2016, held this year on February 12th, 6-10 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Ellicott City. Th e Bishop’s Bash is a casual dinner and dance held by the Bishops of our diocese as a way of getting to participate and interact with the youth in a more casual and friendly setting. Entry fee is $5.00, and RSVPs are due to kriley@episcopalmaryland.org. If several of our youth are interested in attending, we can coordinate carpooling to save on transportation..

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HATS OFF TO:

• Joe Tischer was named 2015 Person of the Year by The Herald-Mail . A second St. John’s presence, Frank Wright, was a previous recipient. Quite an honor!

• In December, Samuel Richards was awarded an M.S.Ed. in curriculum from The University of Scranton. Congratulations, Sam!

• Dr Mark Cook and the Shepherd University music students donated 500 lbs of canned goods for Saint John’s Food Pantry. They also donated $2000 worth of toys and cash to Toys for Tots. These busy students also held a Wounded Warriors Concert. Nice job with giving back to the community!

I hope everyone has pulled out their snowboots , stocked up on hot chocolate, popcorn, and a box of brownies! Keep me in the loop by sending information to my email address: uofapsu@verizon.net. Feel free also to pull me aside to share your good news so I may share it with St. Johns.

Kelly Slocum

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY Whitney Jarrett 2/2 Joyce Chabot 2/3 Rachel Hebb 2/5 Christopher Chapman 2/7 Alan Brown 2/11 Mary James 2/11 Daniel Meyer 2/15 Douglas Ridenour 2/17 Matthew Sheridan 2/18 Charles Wagaman 2/20 Camila Perryman 2/25 William Young Jr. 2/26 David Mckinley 2/27 Connie Nakopoulos 2/27 Terrelyn Greszler 2/28

Brian & Sarah Miller 02/07Bill & Frances Young 02/15Alan & Eleanor Brown 02/28

HappyAnniversary!

“A cheerful heart is a good medicine……“ Proverbs 17:22

Laughter is the BEST medicine Laughter is strong medicine for your mind and your body. It is a powerful antidote for stress, pain and conflict. Nothing brings your mind and body

back to balance like a good laugh.

Health Benefits of Laughter and Humor

• Relaxes the body

• Boosts the immune system

• Trigers the release of enorphins

• Protects the heart

• Helps you stay emotionally healthy

Laughing with someone else is more powerful than laughing alone. Be creative finding opportunities to laugh.

• Watch a funny movie or share a funny joke.

• Play with a pet. Puppies and kittens playing are really funny.

• Check what is in the humor section of your paper or bookstore.

• Be silly sometimes. Children will teach you how to do this.

• Smile ! Smiling is contagious.

• Count your blessings.

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February 2016 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday Saturday

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3 09:00 -11:00 a.m. – S

tamp

Card C

lasses 07:00 P

M-C

omm

issions Meet

4 12:10 PM

-Holy E

ucharist w/H

ealing 06:00 P

M E

fM

07:00 PM

-Parish C

hoir Rehearsal

5 06:30 – 9:30 PM

- Party on P

rospect

6 08:00 PM

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10:00 a.m

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A

Program

7 08:00 A

M-H

oly Eucharist

09:00 AM

-Adult Forum

/Sunday

10:15 AM

-Holy E

ucharist- Y

outh Led with C

hoirs 11:30 A

M – Fellow

ship Hour

11:30 AM

– Youth G

roup P

lanning Meeting

11:30 AM

– Mayfest P

lanning M

eeting

8 05:00 PM

-St. Francis C

hoir R

ehearsal 05:30 P

M- C

hoir Dinner

05:45 PM

-Canterbury C

hoir R

ehearsal 07:00 P

M-M

onday Night

Series

9 Shrove Tuesday 5:30 – 7:00 P

M – S

hrove P

ancake Supper

07:00 PM

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Ministers M

eeting

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SH W

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Y 12:00 H

oly Eucharist

7:00 PM

Holy E

ucharist 8:00 p.m

. Parish C

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EfM

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14 First Sunday in Lent 08:00 A

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oly Eucharist

09:00 AM

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School

10:15 AM

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ucharist 11:30 A

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ay O

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w/healing

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10:15 AM

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ucharist –w

/healing 11:30 A

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22 05:00 P

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Rehearsal

05:30 PM

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inner 05:45 P

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Rehearsal

07:00 PM

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10:15 AM

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07:00 PM

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