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

SOUNDINGS June 2016

Congratulations to our GraduatesSophie Zell Abeles

Sophia Abeles has graduated from Saint James School in Hagerstown. While a member of Saint James she participated in varsity volleyball, basketball and lacrosse all four years. She was a prefect as well as a senior chorister her 6th form year.

Sophie will attend Boston University in the fall. She will major in Mass Communications with a possible concentration in International Law.

Sophie is the daughter of Stacey and David Ables. She is the granddaughter of Pat and Bill Abeles, and Doris Haines and the late Grant Haines.

David Anderson

David Anderson is graduating from the 5th grade at Maugansville Elementary. He has been accepted into the Magnet Program at Western Height Middle School.

Amelia Skye Bickford

Amelia Bickford graduated from the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts in Hagerstown, MD where she specialized in Musical Theatre. Amelia was honored for serving more than 250 hours of volunteer service while she was in high school. She will attend Lasell

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College in Boston in the fall where she will major in Fashion Merchandising. Ame-lia is the daughter of Pieter & Stephanie Bickford and the granddaughter of Caro-lyn Norris.

Emerson Kathryn Younger

Emerson Younger has graduated from Saint James School in Hagerstown. While a member of Saint James she participated in varsity field hockey, lacrosse all four years and was the Captain for both sports this year, leading her team to win the IPSL Championship for lacrosse. She has been a chorister for the last three years and was a member of thethe CCLAX travel lacrosse team out of Annapolis.

Emerson is attending Northfield Mount Hermon for her Post Graduate year in Mount Hermon, Mass. She will be attending college with the 2017 class.

Emerson is the daughter of Brandon and Haven Younger. She is the grandaughter of Bob and Kay Ames and Ted and Billie Younger.

Celie Gross Celie Gross graduated from Clear Spring Middle School and will be attending the “High School of her dreams,” The Barbara Ingram School of the Arts with a con-centration in instumental music. Celie’s involvement in instrumental music in-cluded both piano and serving as a member of the percussion section of her school band. She was chosen to play percussion in All-County Band in eighth grade. She also participated in the Washington County Solo and Ensemble Festival in sixth, seventh and eighth grades for piano and percussion.

While at Clear Spring Middle School Celie was a student in the Merit and Scholar programs. She was inducted in the National Junior Honor Society. Celie rounds out her involvement in music with playing soccer, video editing, and studying Orca whales. She hopes to work as a Marine Biologist or with Orcas or dolphins.

Music NotesRecital to Feature Premiere Performance

Mark King will perform an organ recital as part of the Music at Saint John’s Series on Friday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. Th e program will include the premiere performance of two pieces written by Mark Cook, parishioner of Saint John’s and Professor of Music at Shepherd University. Other diverse recital repertoire will include works of Baroque German composer, Johann Sebastian Bach; Contemporary American composer, Donald Busarow; Baroque French composer, Louis-Nicolas Clerambault; a setting of a spiritual by Contemporary Australian composer, Rosalie Brington; and German Roman-tic composer, Max Reger. A reception in Trimble Hall will follow the recital. Be sure to invite a family member, friend or neighbor to attend this free musical event with you.

A Big Th ank YouTh ank you to Bruce Massey for coordinating the beautiful and delicious reception following the Music of Eastertide concert on April 24. Additional food contributions were provided by Bev Abeles, Joyce Chabot, Rebecca Connor, Gary Lambert, Gaye McGovern, Deanna Soulis. Cathy Bushey and Betty Markle contributed food and helped tremendously in the kitchen that aft ernoon.

Many Th anksI would like to thank everyone for your conversations, cards, phone calls, emails and text messages related to my mother’s recent health issues and passing.

PairingsIn the Church, we constantly ‘pair” sacred music with occasions and seasons of the church. We sing Silent Night and O come, all ye faithful on Christmas Eve; All glory, laud, and honor on Palm Sun-day; Hail thee, festival day and Jesus Christ is risen today on Easter Day; Holy, holy, holy and I bind unto myself today on Trinity Sunday; For all the Saints on All Saints’.

I do not believe we choose these hymns merely out of habit or tradition. Th ey carry a deep, sacred meaning. Th ey connect us to Christ, to our loved ones, and to each other. Th ey connect us to our past as well as our future.

But did you ever wonder about these hymns themselves…Who wrote them…and why? Who were the fi rst people to sing them? Unlike popular music of our day, these hymns we love were not the products of billion-dollar corporations, designed to appeal to the masses. Th ey are the fruits of the faith of our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers in Christ. Many hymns were born out of tragic circumstances and fi ery trials. Many hymn writers/composers were persecuted and oppressed for their faith. Others questioned if God could ever love them. Quite oft en, hymns were created to teach, encourage, to inspire, and to unite.

Music is one of God’s greatest gift s in speaking the Gospel to us and writing it into our hearts and minds. As much as music binds us to God and to each other, our ministry is a song we sing in the world. Our words of kindness and grace, together with our actions of compassion, forgiveness, and peace sing God’s love. Th anks be to God that there is music everywhere—in our hearts, in our churches, our homes and communities, and all around the world!“Pairings”, written by Pastor Jim Arter, First Lutheran Church, Leechburg, PA

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Vacation Bible SchoolSave the date! Vacation Bible School will be held from Sunday, July 17th through Wednesday, July 20th. Our theme for this year is Abundance Orchard: Where Faith Grows and Hungry People are Fed. People interested in volunteering for VBS should contact Margaret Clinch at youthmin.stjohns@myactv.net. A regis-tration form and more details on the VBS program will be forthcoming.

Youth Service and OutreachWhat is Appalachia Service Project? Appalachia Service Project, or ASP, is a one-week long volunteer service program with long-lasting results. ASP youth volun-teers go to a host site in the Appalachian region and help rebuild homes for those experiencing the greatest levels of rural poverty. Th is June, seven members of our parish: fi ve youth and two adult leaders, will be joining with youth parishioners from Rehoboth United Methodist Church to spend the week of June 19th-25th rebuilding homes in Lincoln County, West Virginia. Th is is one of the major mission works of the youth ministries program, and a fantastic way for our youth to live out their baptismal oaths to go out into the world, and to seek and serve Christ in all persons. We invite your prayers and support for all those involved in this program, the youth who are going, the fami-lies we will meet and support in our time there, and all of you who have support-ed us in our ministry.

HARC Hike for Hunger and HopeOn Saturday, June 11th, members of St John’s have been invited to participate in a Hagerstown Area Religious Council’s hike to fundraise for hunger ministries. Registration information is available at harccoalition.org/hike.

Summer Break!Children’s Choirs and Youth Sunday School programs go on our summer hiatus starting Sunday, May 29th. Th ank you again to all the teachers and volunteers who have made this year so rewarding for all our youth. Th ank you to the youth who have showed up and taught their teachers a thing or two about their faith as well.

Youth Update

Rector Search UpdateHitting the Road

Our fi rst search committee travel team is in place for a site visit the weekend of May 20-22, with additional travel for other committee members over Memorial Day weekend and in early June. At each host church, the teams will participate in interviews with the potential priests, meet with Vestry members and other members of the congregation, and of course, attend worship services. Th e site visit teams are planning to share feedback with the whole group at the next meeting, where diffi cult decisions will be made on which priests will be invited to move forward in the search process, and for whom the St. John’s search will end. Th e entire search committee feels very confi dent about the candidates that have advanced this far, and we are enthusiastic about conducting site visits to see these highly-qualifi ed candidates in person. Th ank you all for your continued prayers, and please do keep our committee members in prayer for safe travels during site visits, as well as continuing your prayers for the candidates as they prepare for our visits.

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First quarter statements have been sent out to all known givers of record. Now, almost halfway through the year, these statements together with periodic fi nancial information published in Soundings remind us of the need to maintain regular stewardship. Please consider how you might catch up if necessary as we depend on regular parishioner giving to support our mission. Please consider your pledge to be the fl oor, not the ceiling, adding when you can in thanksgiving for the numerous blessings that we have been given in our personal lives and here at St. John’s.

Mayfest Th ank You!A huge thanks to all of the parishioners who came together to make this year’s Mayfest such a beautiful event. From the planning meeting in January until the last bit of cleanup was completed, many hands worked diligently to make Mayfest a success!

Many gave of their time, talent and treasure. We sincerely appreciate everyone who sent in sponsorships, bought dinner and raffl e tickets, sold dinner and raffl e tickets, prepared the facilities and set tables, decorated, planned for the wine tasting hour, purchased wine, served wine, emceed, prepared the delicious meal, washed dishes, waited tables, and stayed aft er the event to clean.

We are anxious to share with you the total amount raised and will do so as soon as all of the numbers are in.

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Van Driver and Van Supervisor Opportunity

We have two openings for individuals on our rotation list of van drivers. Our van drivers provide a service to those who need transportation to and from Sunday services. One is needed now and the other will be needed beginning in August. Additionally we need a replacement for our van supervisor. The duties of the supervisor are to coordinate the Sunday van trips for those needing transportation to and from services and also sees that the van is properly main-tained. Please contact Bob Speelman at 540-247-2482 or rwspeelman@mail.com, if you would like to become a part of this vital outreach service.

The journey is essential to the dream.-- St. Francis of Assisi

Secret Prayer Partners

Please continue to pray for your Secret Prayer Partners until the unveiling which has been moved to August (Date will be announced later).

We will reveal then and then reshuffle the partners for the new school year.

Now’s your chance!

Parents, if you want to have your child prayed for next school year, please fill out the form, and send it to Stephny Lietuvnikas, Karla Davis, or the Parish Office. Even if your child was prayed for this year, please fill out the form again!

Parishioners, if you are willing to pray for a child every day this year, please fill out the other form and turn it in also to Stephny, Karla, or the office.

Thank you, God bless!

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The Shawl Ministry

The Shawl Ministry will meet at a table (or two if needed!) in Trimble Hall ev-ery second Sunday after the 10:15 service. This is to accommodate anyone who might have wanted to take part before but couldn't due to scheduling. As well as making it open to anyone new and of any age or gender! :) Anyone who is handy with a needle or hook and some yarn is more than welcome to jump in!

HARC Hike

The HARC Hike will be held Saturday, June 11 at the C & O Canal near Shep-herd's Spring. Since much of the money raised goes to support Micah's Back-pack, we had hoped to have a team from St. John's walking.. Although the early registration deadline has passed, you can still join us. Our team is small in num-ber, but Stephny and Brynn Lietuvnikas and Karla Davis are walking the 5k Hike. If you would like to contribute to our walk, please make a donation to the HARC Hike. You can give the money directly to Stephny, Brynn, or Karla, or send it to the Parish Office. If you send it to the office, please designate it clearly for the HARC Hike.

Thanks you!

-- Karla Davis

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HATS OFF TO:

• Thanks to all who helped with making St. John’s grounds look Spring ready! Started with Bob Rauth picking up the mulch and delivering it to St. John’s. And continued with a great mulch crew consisting of Charley Chaney, Jerry Sowers, Bill and Deanna Soulis, Bill Abeles, Fred Wright, Jason Weibel and Margaret Clinch as well as Dylan Weibel, Grant Springer, Bob Walton, Christopher Noble and Grace King from St. James School. This group worked hard on May 7 so all could enjoy their efforts. They were rewarded with a delicious lunch provided generously by Ann Chaney and Julie Barlup.

I hope everyone is enjoying Springtime! 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 Laura Dawson 6/1 John Chabot 6/2 Tamara Martinez 6/5 Evvie Williams 6/5 Elizabeth Pennington 6/7 Betty Markle 6/8 Allison Jarrett 6/9 Leighton Younger 6/9 Melissa Hutton 6/10 Jack Thompson 6/10 Linda Jones 6/11 Suzanne Abeles 6/12 Rhys Erwin 6/12 Lou Lamb 6/12 William Perryman 6/12 Yvonne Ritchie 6/12 Juana Snetsinger 6/12 Jessica Day 6/13 Brenda Duffy 6/13 Stephny Lietuvnikas 6/13 Cameron Garver 6/15

Kathy Marks 6/15 Ken Brown Jr 6/16 Mary Ballard 6/17 Mikaela Mummert 6/17 June Burger 6/19 Jim Randall 6/20 Tracey Happel 6/21 Jason Weibel 6/21 David Anderson 6/23 Will Godwin 6/23 Florence Forbes 6/24 Cj Sealing 6/25 Deanna Soulis 6/25 Ethel Kovacs- Myers 6/27 Dolores Carpenter 6/28 Barbara Creager 6/28 Caitlin Fuller 6/28 Billy Rhodes 6/29 John Ashbaugh 6/30 Judy Raysely 6/30

Happy Anniversaries!Chad & Kristy Gross 6/9Jack & Betty Thompson 6/9Larry & Judy Potter 6/10Fred & Caroline Wright 6/11Richard (Buzz) & Lois Whisner 6/12Jim & Patty Randall 6/13Russ & Kathy Marks 6/14 David & Stacey Abeles 6/16 Kati & John Webb 6/16 Ron & Judy Myers 6/17 Paul And Sally Perryman 6/17 Jerry & Sue Sowers 6/17 Bill & Deanna Soulis 6/23 Gaye & Bill Mcgovern 6/29