Category: Announcements

Electric Vehicle Charger at St. John’s!

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News For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian Urbaszewski BUrbaszewski@resphealth.org 312.405.1175 or The Rev. Kara Wagner Sherer, rector@stjohnschicago.com 773.960.1889

Electric Vehicle Charging Sharing Platform uses Keeling Curve Prize Funding from Global Warming Mitigation Project to Expand Charging Locations in Chicago’s Urban Residential Neighborhoods: St. John’s Episcopal Church Installs First Charger

St. John’s Episcopal Church at 3857 N. Kostner Ave. Chicago, IL  60641
 
Chicago, IL – July 2, 2021 – EVmatch, the first electric vehicle (EV) charging platform for connecting EV drivers with nearby private chargers through a reservation-based system, has a new publicly-available [level 2] charging station located at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3857 N Kostner Ave in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood. As the charging station host, St. John’s listed its charger on EVmatch to make driving EVs easier for community members – whether it’s neighbors of Old Irving Park, many of whom rent or live in multi-family housing without a reliable place to charge, or other Chicagoans visiting the neighborhood in electric cars and needing a spot to charge up.

The installation was made possible with the experience and technical expertise of Chicago-based BIG CLEAN POWER, LLC, a worker collective incubated by Blacks in Green (BIG, NFP) and its affiliate Green Power Alliance to connect trade professionals to clean energy business deals. EV Match, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and the Community Charging Initiative are pleased to have partnered with BIG, Blacks in Green in identifying energy conscious contractors Arthur Burton of AMB Renewables and Wendell Terry of W. Terry Electric to perform the installation at St. John’s.
 
The full press release is available at this link.

Reserve your spot here!

About St. John’s Episcopal Church
An inclusive congregation committed to Christian worship and service to the community, St. John’s is a vibrant and diverse group of people of all ages, races, abilities, and identities, engaged in anti-racism and other transformative work. We offer three Sunday services, religious instruction for children, and adult and youth choirs. In addition to our annual Darwin Day celebration of science and religion, St. John’s offers a free series of concerts, sponsors a refugee family, hosts an Electric Vehicle Charger for parish and community use, and is actively working to identify, disrupt, and dismantle racism in our church and community. Established in 1883 in Old Irving Park, the church is located on Chicago’s northwest side, on the corner of Byron and Kostner. For more information visit our website at www.stjohnschicago.com.

Capital Campaign Update

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June 2021

We are excited to welcome everyone back to our St. John’s home as we begin to open up the building and resume in person worship. We began our capital campaign in early 2019 with our consultant Leslie Pendleton and held Bungalow meetings in the fall to discuss who we are as St. John’s and where we want to go. A summary can be found at: https://www.stjohnschicago.com/?p=4317

Then the Pandemic hit and delayed our progress, but we did some urgently needed interior work, taking advantage of our building being unoccupied. The Vestry approved spending $28,750 from the endowment for capital repairs and borrowing approximately $50,000 to begin some capital improvements. At least $50,000 will need to be paid back ($13,000 has already been received as a result of asking for pledges during the annual appeal). See the amazing before and after photos at: https://www.stjohnschicago.com/?cat=74

Here’s how we spent the endowment funds:

Capital Repairs 
Asbestos Removal and Testing by Bluestone and NVIRO, packing and moving by the sextons$25,550.00
Replacement of Garden steps and sidewalk by Lopez Concrete$3,200.00
Subtotal spent for capital repairs$28,750.00
  
Capital Improvements 
Three broken sewer pipe repairs by American Home Vintage$10,708.00
New flooring for basement by ACD Floors$13,832.65
Refinishing of second floor, new bathrooms, painting and drywall of reception area and storage room, electrical work, and repairs related to plumbing fix by Dyjewski, Inc.$27,100.00
Project Management Services by Bruce Yeager   $1,542.55
Subtotal spent for capital improvements$53,183.20
Total$81,933.20

With our project manager, the results of our Bungalow meetings and the completion of “pandemic projects”, we have begun to define the scope and estimate the cost of additional projects to consider funding for a Fall 2021 capital campaign. The projects we propose include:

  • Pay back endowment (between $40,000 – $70,000)
  • Front Door Landscaping
  • Kitchen Renovation
  • Replace or Fix Church garage
  • Stained Glass Restoration
  • Sanctuary Accessibility – ramp, removing steps & carpet in chancel, moving altar rail
  • Sanctuary Renewal – floors, carpet, walls and ceiling
  • Air Conditioning – Parish Hall and/or Sanctuary
  • Sound system for Parish Hall and/or Sanctuary
  • Small items: new carpet on Byron Street stairs and new slop sink in Boiler Room

Our next major step will be a Feasibility Study this summer. This will provide another opportunity for congregational feedback. Everyone will receive a survey that will ask questions about a Case Statement that outlines proposed specific projects and costs which connect to our mission and ministries, including:

▪ Does everyone in the parish understand the need and agree with it?
▪ Which projects are a top priority?
▪ Are there any underlying issues that need to be addressed?
▪ Will the members of our parish as well as community partners support us financially?  If so, how much?

We will share the results with the parish in a comprehensive report before moving to the Capital Campaign Appeal.

Holy Week 2021

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art by Brad Gehrig

Children’s Holy Week Wednesday, March 31, 6:00 p.m. This year we will eat dinner together online with interactive stories about Holy Week. Join us on Zoom. Meeting ID: 836 9059 6525 Passcode: 3857
Download the bulletin.

Maundy Thursday, Thursday, April 1, 7:30 p.m. online and in person. Up to 25 people (masked) are invited to be present for this service, which will include communion. Please sign up here to come in person. The Holy Sacrament and will be reserved in the Memorial Garden. You are welcome to go there to pray anytime between 9 pm Thursday and 11 am on Good Friday. Join via Zoom Phone: 312.626.6799 Meeting ID: 833 4289 2337 Passcode: 3857
Download the bulletin. Listen to the music in advance! Prelude, Offertory, Sanctus, Fraction, Communion, Adoration, and Hymn.

Good Friday, April 2
12:00 p.m. In person (masked), walking the Stations of the Cross in the neighborhood. Meet in front of the church at 3857 N Kostner Ave.
7:30 p.m. Join via Zoom Phone: 312.626.6799 Meeting ID: 853 0196 9847 Passcode: 3857
Download the bulletin. Listen to the music in advance! Sermon Hymn, Offertory Hymn, Closing Hymn.

Easter Vigil, April 3
7:30 p.m. Join us in the garden for the lighting of the new fire, which will also be online. The remainder of the service will be online. Join via Zoom Phone: 312.626.6799 Meeting ID: 847 4317 3287 Passcode: 3857
Download the bulletin. Listen to the music in advance! Psalm, Hymn, Hymn, Hymn, Hymn, The Chord, Recessional, Postlude.

Easter Sunday, April 4
One new link for ALL Easter Sunday services. Join at any of these times. Phone: 312.626.6799 Meeting ID: 882 2966 1337 Passcode: 3857
Download the Easter bulletin. Listen to the music in advance! Prelude, Song of Praise, Psalm, Recessional, Postlude. Communion service music: Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, Communion Hymn, Communion Hymn.

8:00 a.m. Worship online.
At 9:00 a.m. communion will be celebrated online and with up to 25 persons present for this 15 minute service. Please sign up here to come in person.

WHAT? AN EASTER EGG HUNT FOR THE KIDS? OF COURSE! Join us in the garden at 9:15 a.m. with an empty basket. Kids (wearing masks) will search for empty eggs to exchange for treats (candy, non-candy, peanut free options available!) 

10:00 a.m. Worship online.
At 11:00 a.m. communion will be celebrated online and with up to 25 persons (masked) present for this 15 minute service. Please sign up here to come in person.

Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021

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Walk-by-Ashes

You are welcome to come to the front door of the church (3857 N. Kostner Ave.) and receive ashes on Wednesday, February 17 between these times:

7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Please wear a mask. Those imposing ashes will wear masks and face shields.

You may also pick up ashes from the St. John’s Garden on Sunday, February 14 between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. so that you can impose them yourself during our online worship.

Online Ash Wednesday Worship

Download the bulletin for Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Listen to the music in advance!
Prelude, Offertory, Recessional, and Postlude.

Wednesday, February 17 at

7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. via Zoom (Meeting ID: 872 3117 9863 Passcode: 3857)
and
7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. via Zoom (Meeting ID: 847 9465 6906 Passcode: 3857)

Or watch on Facebook Live.

National Bell Ringing in Honor of COVID-19 Victims

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art by Scott Gustafson

Tuesday, January 19 at 4:30 p.m. In a national moment of unity and remembrance, St. John’s sanctuary will be illuminated and we will ring a bell–together with churches across the country–one toll for every 10,000 American lives lost to COVID-19.

City-wide Memorial: At 6:00 p.m. please turn out your lights and stand with a candle at your front door or window for 10 minutes of silence and remembrance.

Antiracism Book Group

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First Meeting is Thursday, January 7, 2021

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Kick off 2021 with the #MeAndWhiteSupremacy 28 day challenge. Join St. John’s antiracism reading group this January for a month of journaling and weekly discussions. We will use Layla F. Saad’s book Me and White Supremacy to go through a step-by-step process to develop a better understanding of our white privilege and participation in white supremacy, so we can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too. It’s not to late to start reading and journaling. Join in weekly Zoom discussions: Link to cut and paste: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83419218446?pwd=WGdiWHBiYUxWc0wvUXNuUWpjL3NTdz09 (Meeting ID: 834 1921 8446 Passcode: 3857) each Thursday in January at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to RSVP email to Laura.t.singer@gmail.com. You can also  RSVP on Facebook.

DIY Epiphany Pageant Wednesday, January 6, 2021

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Shepherds and Kings, 2019

It’s time for the DIY Epiphany Pageant! Join in on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to sign up for a part! Read the draft script in advance. Provide your own costumes and props or request a costume/prop delivery.

Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Cut and paste link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82475815384?pwd=dVBPNUE1blRjdXZnaTNySGNPY0ZuQT09
Meeting ID: 824 7581 5384 Passcode: 3857