Planning for the autumn programming at St. John's - Rector's Rambling for August 16, 2015

As the summer continues its long march through August, the staff here at St. John’s has been busy getting ready for the programming year, which is generally mid-September through May.

In the coming weeks you will receive information on upcoming offerings of Sunday School (beginning September 20 during the 10:00 AM service) and the Sunday morning Adult Education Series at 9:05 AM.  Additionally, the Thursday evening Bible study series will return, an updated Pub Theology series, an Alpha-related course, and a new film discussion series which is in the planning stages.

One area where we can use YOUR HELP in planning is for Social Fellowship activities this fall and winter!  We need people to be coordinators for an event or outing of your choice.  Everyone who attends the event pays their own way in advance so you are not on the hook for anything financially.  We need you to pick something you want to share with others, get the information on having a group attend, and then help with signups and attendance on that day.  Past events have included brunches at local restaurants or clubs, trips to the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Holocaust Museum, local plays, neighboring church tours, Vespers and dinner at an Orthodox monastery, and a cookout at a parishioner’s home, to name a few.

We would like to have at least one event a month, and it doesn’t have to be on a Sunday afternoon (although many events are planned then).  Harriett Mottley can help you find a date that doesn’t conflict with other parish events, and Rosie Kiley and Harriett can help you with the planning if you are new at such a thing.

The idea behind these events is not only to see and learn something new, but primarily to encourage parishioners to spend time together, getting to know one another.  And it is also an opportunity to invite friends/neighbors to an event and introduce them to parishioners as they think about coming to St. John’s.