Fr. Eric shares his monthly ponderings!

Saturday, February 22, was a chilly morning outside, but St. John’s Vestry was warm inside Mathes Hall at St. Matthew’s for our Vestry Retreat. Your Vestry gathered Friday night at Dave DeBolt’s home for food and fellowship to connect, form bonds of affection, and build trust as a leadership team. St. John’s, we have an extraordinary 2025 Vestry, members of which are listed on the back page of the Interchange.

SAGA @ St. John’s invites families, allies, and community members to a special three-part learning and discussion series designed to equip participants with the skills to better understand and support LGBTQ youth. This welcoming and interactive series is open to all ages, including youth and their support networks.

Sunday, January 26, we had over 70 parishioners eager to hold space for conversation about St. John’s ministries! That is quite incredible if I do say so myself. Brian Hamra and Maggie McCabe provided us with pizza for our appetites, and Vestry made themselves present at each table to listen and take notes during our table conversations. I have sat through and presided at many an annual meeting, and I was ecstatic with the level of engagement I witnessed in Hunter Hall.

Dear beloved of St. John’s, the night falls upon us much earlier these waning November days and early December days. As I write, we’re preparing to host a large family Thanksgiving at our new home in Charleston. My mind is on Advent, our Bishop’s visitation, and celebrating our first Christmas together as new rector and parish.

Bishop Cowden will be visiting St. John’s for his annual visitation on Sunday, December 15, the third Sunday of Advent.

On Sunday, November 10th worship will begin in the parking lot with a blessing of the lot, and a procession into the Church for the rest of the liturgy (think Palm Sunday, but with pavement instead of palms!).

We are in the midst of our fall pledge drive. Why do I use the words, ‘pledge drive’ instead of stewardship drive or season? As followers of the Risen Christ, stewardship is a way of living.

This bishop is coming!  The bishop is coming!  Greetings, friends.  This isn’t a drill; this is an invitation.  Bishop Cowden is coming for his annual visitation to St. John’s on Sunday, December 15, the third Sunday of Advent this year.  

For decades now Episcopal churches have been having ‘adult forum’ time on Sundays, either before or after worship. I remember my childhood parish, Church of the Good Shepherd in Parkersburg, held adult forum regularly throughout the program year; I’m also aware that St. John’s has held adult forums for at least the last thirty or so years.

Greetings, St. John’s family. Rosemary and I are ecstatic to attend the first “party with the padre (and Rosemary)” at our Senior Warden’s home. We are hoping this will be the first of many small group gatherings so that we can get to know all the saints of John much better.

Beginning Tuesday, October 1 at 7:00 pm, St. John’s will be hosting a marvelous Political Education Series produced by “SACReD’s Woven Together Series.”

I write to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for St. John’s parishioners and staff for such a beautiful and joy-filled “Celebration of New Ministry” Sunday, September 8.

My family and I were overcome with how welcome you made us feel on August 4th. We were ecstatic to witness so many in attendance, both for worship and during the beautiful reception put on by Brian Hamra and friends. We appreciated that you wore nametags; that was tremendously helpful.

Dear Saints of John, I can’t wait to begin ministry with all of you in August!