Applications are now open for the 2026 Martha Lee Kuersteiner Scholarship, which provides financial support to undergraduate students who have participated in worship or parish life at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The scholarship is administered annually by the women of St. Mary’s Circle at St. John’s.

For 2026, $2,000 in grant funds will be awarded based on need, merit, or a combination of both. The application deadline is April 15, 2026.

2026 Scholarship Eligibility

College students may apply if they:

· Have completed at least one semester of college

· Are pursuing an undergraduate degree

· Have at least one semester remaining before graduation

· Have contributed meaningfully to parish life at St. John’s

· Have demonstrated leadership within the Tallahassee community

· Are showing continued academic excellence

Application Requirements

To be considered, applicants must submit a complete digital application, including:

· current college transcript

· written essay

· two letters of recommendation

Applications must be submitted online by April 15, 2026. Award announcements will be made in May 2026. Questions about the scholarship and requests for a downloadable version of the application can be sent to mandyschnittker@gmail.com

Read on for more information about the history of the Martha Lee Kuersteiner Scholarship and highlights from its 28 years of past recipients.

The post 2026 St. Mary’s Circle Scholarship appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

In the Introduction to God Willing, A History of St. John’s Episcopal Church, it says, “In 1829, a handful of Christians banded together under the leadership of a visiting missionary to charter a small Episcopal mission in the frontier village of Tallahassee, FL.”

Tallahassee is no longer a frontier village, and St. John’s is no longer a small Episcopal mission, but we are still Christians banding together to love and serve God. And by the grace of God, in less than 5 years, our congregation will celebrate its 200th year.

In preparation for this important milestone, St. John’s has formed a Steering Committee to keep us organized and energized. The members are:

Jim & Laurye Messer, Co-Chairs
Rollins & Sarah Ball Miller, Co-Chairs
Skip Foster
Sara Merrill
David Proctor
Mary Byrd Sims
Kelly Kibbey Smith
Claire Dodd
Marissa Hall
Fr. Lonnie Lacy
Mtr. Leslie Roraback

2029 will be a year of celebration, thanksgiving, education, and service. If you would like to join in the planning for this momentous milestone, please fill out the sign up form below by Sunday, September 14.

What a blessing to be part of such a significant anniversary. We hope you’ll help us prepare. It only happens once every 200 years!

The post St. John’s Bicentennial Planning appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

Scholarship amount grows and expands to college students at all levels!

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2025 Martha Lee Kuersteiner Scholarship, a $2,000 need- and merit-based award. All St. John’s college students who have participated in worship can apply for this $2,000 scholarship to help support their college education.  Read on for information about the 2025 scholarship award and its history, with a rundown of some past scholarship recipients.

2025 Scholarship Eligibility:  The $2,000 scholarship is a need- and merit-based award.  College students known to have participated in worship at St. John’s are eligible to apply.  To be considered, students must share a completed application, a current college transcript, a written essay, and two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the church rector.  Completed application packets must be mailed to the address provided or returned to the church office, or emailed to mariannebryant@gmail.com by April 15, 2025.

Read on for information about the 2024 scholarship award, a list of past recipients, and the story of how St. Mary’s Circle established this scholarship, which is now in its 26th year!

The post St. Mary’s Circle Scholarship – 2025 appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

Scholarship amount grows and expands to college students at all levels!

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 Martha Lee Kuersteiner Scholarship, a $2,000 need- and merit-based award. Members of St. John’s who have successfully completed at least one semester (or equivalent) of college and are known to have participated in worship are eligible to apply. To be considered for this year’s scholarship, completed application packets must be received by April 22, 2024.

Read on for information about the 2024 scholarship award, a list of past recipients, and the story of how St. Mary’s Circle established this scholarship, which is now in its 26th year!

The post St. Mary’s Circle Scholarship – 2024 appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

It’s hard to believe, but the Lively Café has been serving the Tallahassee community for 25 years! During the month of September, look forward to special menu items and weekly customer drawings marking this special milestone of this thriving outreach ministry.

These specials begin after Labor Day, and include Chef Fran’s favorite sandwich, the “Franwich!” Additionally, each time customers order at the Café in September, they will be invited to fill out a drawing slip. On Fridays (beginning September 8), we’ll draw a winner from the week’s entries!

Join us as we celebrate the Café’s 25th anniversary during worship on Sunday, September 10. If you volunteered with us at any point over the last 25 years, make sure you’re at our 10 AM service so we can recognize your contribution, enjoy some anniversary cake together, and celebrate our amazing Culinary Director Fran Doxsee!

After 25 Years … we’re making a few changes!

As we begin celebrating the Lively Café’s 25th anniversary this month, look for some exciting changes to our menus. All of your favorite items are sticking around, but you will find these items on different weeks! Please bear with us as everyone gets to know the new Lively Café menus. Click the graphic below to view all four menus (blue, yellow, green, and red).

We’ve flip-flopped some items in order to provide you with a more time-efficient lunch experience.

Our new menus take effect after Labor Day! They rotate weekly and feature a delicious mix of salads, sandwiches, and desserts. Have no fear, there will still be amazing weekly specials. On Friday afternoons, our online order site is updated with the next menu in the rotation and the lineup of featured family dinners for takeout, as well as the week’s special soups, desserts, and a unique panini sandwich!

We are so proud of how this ministry has grown since it was established back in 1998. Here’s to another 25 years, Tallahassee!

The post Lively Café’s 25th Anniversary appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

Eastertide is the season of joy. It’s also full of new life and new possibility. For us, Easter is more than just a day. It’s 50 days of unrestrained joy, all the way to the Day of Pentecost – the day when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and started spreading the gospel.

You’ll notice some changes this season. Every service begins with the words, “Alleluia. Christ is risen.” And, you’ll see the Paschal candle present and lit on the altar each time we gather for worship. Additionally, during Eastertide, every service ends with “Alleluia, Alleluia!” At St. John’s, you will witness unrestrained joy and many new possibilities through this season’s programming. Read on for a rundown of special services, unique musical events, and classes that promise to introduce, engage, and enrich. Alleluia, Alleluia!

“TOWER BELL TUESDAYS” BEGINS
Tuesday, May 2 | 12 PM | Eve’s Garden
Mini bell concerts and tours of our historic bell tower and sanctuary (Tuesdays in May).

*NEW* CONTEMPLATIVE LUNCH
Thursday, May 4 | 12:30 PM | Rutledge Room
Gather in community to deepen your centering prayer practice (1st and 3rd Thursday).

TOUR ST. JOHN’S HISTORY CEMETERY
Sunday, May 7 | 3 to 4:30 PM | Cemetery
St. John’s Historical Society shares all about the parishioners who came before us.

YOUTH END-OF-YEAR EVENT
Sunday, May 7 | 5 to 7 PM | Off-Campus
St. John’s Youth wraps up the year with a pool party at the home of Sarah Beth and Bo Shippen.

SERVICE OF CHORAL EVENSONG
Sunday, May 7 | 5:30 PM | Church
One of the oldest services in the Anglican tradition. The pre-service organ recital begins at 5 PM.

“EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY” (EFM) OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, May 9 | 5:30 PM | Killeen Hall
All about the program that studies scriptural, historical, theological reflection, and relational ministry.

THE GOOD FUNERAL: HOW TO PLAN
Thursday, May 11 | 5:30 PM | Killeen Hall
Join the St. John’s Episcopal Church Foundation to learn about the theology of a funeral at St. John’s.

FESTAL EUCHARIST SUNDAY
MTR. LESLIE’S FIRST SUNDAY
Sunday, May 14 | 10 AM | Church
First graders receive Eucharist together and we welcome Associate Rector, Mtr. Leslie Roraback.

NEW MEMBERS’ RETREAT
Saturday, May 20 | 8:30 AM to 1 PM | Chapel
Half-day retreat on the Episcopal faith and traditions, church history, and getting involved at St. John’s.

BACCALAUREATE SUNDAY
Sunday, May 21 | 10 AM | Church
Sermons will be delivered by our soon-to-be high school graduates, and we’ll celebrate the St. John’s parishioners graduating from the EfM program.

DAY OF PENTECOST
CONFIRMATION SUNDAY
Sunday, May 28 | 10 AM ONLY | Church
Youth and adults will be presented for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation on one of the seven principal feasts of the church year, the Day of Pentecost.

For more information on the events and services above, visit our online calendar.

As we wrap up the spring program year, two of our weekly classes will be wrapping up as well. We invite you to enjoy “Bible Stories for Grownups” on Wednesdays, at 6 PM, through May 31. It will take a break beginning in June. We are also bidding farewell to our dedicated yoga instructor. Parishioner Chris Collins has been teaching our weekly classes since before the pandemic, and his family will be relocating this summer. Please come and enjoy yoga classes on Monday evenings at 5:30 PM through May 22.

The post The Great 50 Days appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

Scholarship amount grows and expands to college students at all levels!

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2023 Martha Lee Kuersteiner Scholarship, a $2,000 need- and merit-based award. Members of St. John’s who have successfully completed at least one semester (or equivalent) of college and are known to have participated in worship are eligible to apply. To be considered for this year’s scholarship, completed application packets must be received by April 15, 2023.

Read on for information about the 2023 scholarship award, a list of past recipients, and the story of how St. Mary’s Circle established this scholarship, which is now in its 25th year!

The post St. Mary’s Circle Scholarship appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

Annually on February 13, we celebrate the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first African American ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. In 2022, the Feast Day of Absalom Jones falls on a Sunday. On this day, St. John’s will feature liturgy, music, and Christian formation centered around this key figure in our church.

ABOUT ABSALOM JONES:

Absalom Jones was born into slavery in Sussex, Delaware in 1746. He taught himself to read in his early teens from books he purchased by saving pennies given to him by visitors to his master’s home. At the age of sixteen, Jones’ family was separated when his immediate family members were sold and he was taken to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by his new owner. Jones worked as a clerk in his owner’s store by day and was allowed to work for himself and attend an all-black school at night.

Jones saved enough to purchase his own freedom in 1784. He was an active member of St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia and served as lay preacher for the black members of the congregation. In 1786, Richard Allen joined Jones at the church and their futures would forever be intertwined. The black membership at St. George’s increased tenfold as a result of the evangelistic efforts of Jones and Allen.

Jones remained as the leader of The African Church which was formally received into the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania on October 17, 1794 and renamed St. Thomas African Episcopal Church. St. Thomas was the first black Episcopal parish in the United States. Bishop William White (bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania) ordained Jones a deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1795 and as priest in 1804. Jones became the first ordained priest of African descent in the United States.

FEAST DAY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Liturgical Music: In celebration of this Feast Day, the St. John’s choirs will sing music of contemporary African American composers, and the organ voluntaries at our morning services will feature music by composers Ulysses Kay and David Hurd. At the 10 AM service, which is also live streamed, the adult choir will sing “This little light of mine,” arranged by noted musician Moses Hogan. And at the 7:30 PM Compline service, you will hear a composition by Dr. Marques Garrett, a former member of the Compline Choir and currently Assistant Professor of Choral Music at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

• Christian Formation: In celebration of this Feast Day, our Sunday morning “Coffee Talk” will be led by the Becoming Beloved Community group, which includes members from St. John’s and from St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. Conversation at this hybrid forum will focus on the UBE, or Union of Black Episcopalians. Join us at 11:15 AM to learn about this group that formed in the late 1960s and partnered with groups dedicated to the ministry of Blacks in the Episcopal Church. The UBE is now a confederation of more than 55 chapters and interest groups throughout the continental United States and the Caribbean, and on three other continents.

We hope you will join St. John’s on February 13, for prayer and conversation celebrating the Feast of Absalom Jones.

The post Feast Day of Absalom Jones appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

As we look to the future of our church and search for a new rector, it’s a good time to remember St. John’s first rector – the Rev. Jonathan Loring Woart.

Loring Woart was called to serve in 1836. St. John’s was founded in 1829, so there were two parish leaders prior to Woart, but he was the first priest hired by the church itself rather than by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. When Rev. Woart arrived, the congregation was meeting in the Leon County courthouse, but they were in the process of raising money for their first church building.

Despite difficult times in Tallahassee, due to the Seminole Wars, poor cotton crops, a national financial panic, an epidemic of yellow fever, and a terrible fire that almost completely wiped out the town’s business district, St. John’s somehow managed to thrive.

Due to Rev. Woart’s leadership, and with generous financial support from parishioners, ample funds were raised to build the Grecian style, wooden structure that we know as the first St. John’s Episcopal Church. Erected on the corner of Monroe and Call Streets at a cost of $10,000, this building represented a bright future for St. John’s.

When Rev. Woart was hired, he promised the people of St. John’s that he would help establish the Diocese of the Territory of Florida. He kept his word, and St. John’s held the first Diocesan Convention in January of 1838. This ensured our parish could eventually participate in the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in North America.

But just as all this progress was being made, tragedy struck. In July of 1838, Rev. Woart and his wife, Elizabeth, accompanied by three St. John’s parishioners all bound for New York, set sail from Charleston on the steamship Pulaski. On the second day of the voyage, the boiler exploded, breaking the steamship apart.

While some passengers died immediately, others – including the Woarts – clung to sections of the boat, hanging on for dear life. Eventually, the sea swept the couple, and two of the other St. John’s parishioners off the ship and into the water just off the coast of South Carolina, never to be recovered. Approximately half the 200 people aboard died, many of them among the wealthiest businessmen and landowners on the East Coast. Only one St. John’s parishioner made it through the ordeal. Eventually, word of this horrible accident and the Woarts’ fate reached St. John’s.

Over the years, divers have continued to search for clues. Just recently, in June and August 2021, surprising new discoveries on the seafloor off North Carolina have added harrowing detail to the legendary explosion which is often referred to as “the Titanic of its time.” Both the elusive stern of the steamship, and now parts of the keel of the ship, were finally found, proving the burning ship drifted out of control for more than three miles — likely dragging desperate passengers with it. It’s a blessing that the Woarts remained together until the end.

At some unknown point in time, an obelisk honoring the memory of this special couple was placed in the front church yard at St. John’s, where it still stands today. It faces Monroe Street on the north side of the front doors. The inscription reads, “Lovely in their lives—in their death they were not divided.”

Special thanks to Virginia Perkins for her contributions to this post. And thank you to Dennis Howard for the exterior photos of the Woart obelisk.

Sources:
God Willing, Carl Stauffer
The Loss of the Steamer Pulaski, Historical Collections of Georgia, Rebecca Lamar McLeod
St. John’s Vestry Records 1836-1874
Joseph D. Cushman, A Goodly Heritage, The Episcopal Church in Florida

The post St. John’s First Rector appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

St. John’s has been through numerous renovations and building programs throughout its history. As the church grew, so did the need to expand, when possible, or to rearrange space.

Our parish’s first endeavor was an overhaul of the church interior and the building of a much-needed wing to house Sunday school classes and an office in 1949. This was followed by the parish hall in the mid 1950s, as space that was named for the Reverend Jeffrey Alfriend (“Parson”) at the time of his retirement in 1959. In the late 1960s, St. John’s added a pre-school building to our property and connected it to Alfriend Hall. This addition served in that capacity for many years. Two other building projects followed with a new Carter Chapel and wing to include the new choir room in the 1980s and a complete renovation of the church interior with the addition of the choir balcony in the early 2000s.

Our latest renovations are a prime example of repurposing rather than building. For the first time in a number of years, we have given these old spaces a new look and new names.

The bottom floor of the former pre-school wing (otherwise known as the Annex) has been completely repurposed into a mid-size meeting room, outfitted with interactive technology to serve larger meetings and has been named Killeen Hall in honor of our rector, Dave Killeen. Accommodating up to 60 people and available for community needs, the room furnishings can be transformed to suit the meeting.

The former Bride’s Parlor, which doubled as a space to prepare for weddings and a room for very small meetings, has now become a well-appointed meeting room equipped with a screen for multimedia presentations and a working environment. It has been named the Rutledge Room in honor of Bishop Francis Huger Rutledge who was called to St. John’s in 1845 and within a short period of time became the Bishop of Florida, serving both the church and the diocese simultaneously.

Another repurposing of space came with the Cobb Library. Converted from a small, home-like setting for meetings into a nursery and pre-school area, it puts young children much closer to their parents during church services. Named for Miss Elizabeth Cobb, a life-long and beloved member of our church, the change is appropriate as “Miss Bessie” worked with children all her life, serving as a teacher and a school principal.

And, Graham Lounge which was created in a earlier renovation and named for former St. John’s rector, Lee Graham, has received a “face-lift” to update the furnishings and provide a smaller reception area for weddings and funerals as well as a gathering spot for other meetings. These beautiful new spaces were all blessed and dedicated by Bishop John Howard at a special service on June 13, 2021.

Through the years, St. John’s has worked to create usable space that will meet the needs of an ever-growing parish. And to paraphrase William Shakespeare, if the past is truly prologue, there can always be changes ahead.

Article by Virginia Perkins

The post An Ever-Growing Parish appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

Elizabeth (Bess) Robertson Brevard’s grave in the historic St. John’s Cemetery has received an honorary plaque from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Elizabeth Robertson Brevard was born on August 9, 1876, in South Carolina, and married Dr. Ephraim M. Brevard in 1902.

After the wedding, the couple moved to Tallahassee, where they became active members of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Here the Brevards are pictured in costume with other parishioners at St. John’s Centennial Celebration in 1930. (Photo Credit: Florida Memory)

Two other women buried in St. John’s Cemetery have received a plaque from the Daughters of the American Revolution: Frances Scott Lively (1882-1967) and Caroline Mays Brevard (1860-1920), the sister-in-law of Elizabeth Brevard.

Mrs. Brevard is the great aunt of Mary Call Proctor and Jane Aurell, longtime members of St. John’s. Mary Call fondly remembers their beloved aunt, “Aunt Bess loved hats, cats and baseball … and DAR. Probably DAR first! She would be so pleased.”

Elizabeth Brevard died in 1961. The dedication of the plaque occurred on April 30, 2021.

The Daughters of the American Revolution is a service organization whose members are direct bloodline descendants of a patriot serving in the American Revolution. There have been a million members since its inception. The organization’s mission includes historic preservation, education, and service to veterans.

Thank you to Betty Ashler and Cheryle Dodd for contributing to this article. Photos were taken by Phil Ashler.

The post Special St. John’s Cemetery Honor appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

March is Women’s History Month. It’s a time to celebrate the vital role that women have played, and continue to play, in American history. It’s also the perfect time to honor the women who have played such an important role in the life of of St. John’s over the years.

Today, the women of our parish hold many leadership roles. We have female clergy, and women make up the majority of our parish staff, but that was not the case in the early days of our church. When St. John’s was established in 1829, it was the men who led the church, while their wives and other church ladies supported their endeavors.

THE EARLY YEARS:

We know that the women of St. John’s taught Sunday School, as evidenced by the dedication on the altar cross, which was given in memory of Jane Cary Randolph Whitner by her Sunday School students. Women also served in important roles for weekly worship such as making communion wine, polishing silver and brass, and stitching, embroidering, repairing and laundering altar linens. Each week, they prepared the communion elements for the services and arranged altar flowers from their gardens. Many of those duties continue today. A women’s organization known as the St. Agnes Guild, was established by Dr. Carter, during his time as rector (1879-1908). The guild’s duties included all of the important tasks related to weekly worship and communion. In an effort to ensure a uniform look for the St. John’s Choir, the guild was also asked to make the cassocks and cottas worn by all of our choir members.

THE TURN OF THE CENTURY:

It was around this time that women began to have a voice in the church in more significant ways. In the early 1900s, women weren’t permitted to vote at parish meetings or serve on the Vestry, but they began attend Vestry meetings to request church improvements, especially those they were willing to fund themselves. Such examples of the women’s ideas and generosity were seen in paying half the cost of electrifying the church in 1905; installing a furnace in the rectory in 1915; securing permission to plant flowering plants around the church in 1921.

Many of these projects were accomplished through organized women’s groups. Vestry reports indicate that from 1916-1923, St. John’s had a Women’s Auxiliary with a junior branch; St. Helena’s Circle; the Daughters of St. John’s Circle; the Business Women’s Circle; St. Anne’s Circle; and a few years later, St. Mary’s Circle.

A TIME OF CHANGE:

Although women continued to work for the betterment of the church, they still were not allowed to vote at parish meetings or serve on the Vestry. In the early part of the 20th century, they acquired voting rights at parish meetings but not until 1968 was the first woman, Mrs. Mary Meginniss Harriss, elected to serve on the Vestry.

After this point, more women began to assume leadership positions, and St. John’s never looked back! We grew to have women in the clergy through Cora Partridge, Mary Margaret Saxon and Lila Brown as well as women in Sr. and Jr. Warden positions. Our Vestry these days is often composed of just as many women as men.

Special thanks to parishioner Virginia Perkins for her contributions to this post.

The post Celebrating the Women of St. John’s appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

If you walk through Eve’s Garden, from Calhoun Street towards the church, you’ll pass Cobb Nursery, a brand-new space that was part of the “For All the Saints” renovation and restoration project. What had been a gathering place for adults is now a beautiful, more centralized haven for our youngest parishioners. However, the nursery’s move to this spot off the courtyard meant relocating Cobb Library, a space that had housed books and hosted small groups for ministry gatherings for nearly five decades.

The library was initially dedicated in 1975, in memory of Elizabeth “Bessie” Cobb, a longtime parishioner who devoted the majority of her 96 years to education in the Tallahassee community and to supporting children and youth programs at St. John’s. When campus renovations began in 2018, and items from Cobb Library were moved upstairs, the new nursery assumed the Cobb name, an appropriate honor as Bessie was known for her dedication to Tallahassee’s young people. This made it even more important to create a joyful space for our little ones.

The Building Committee brought in local artist and St. John’s parishioner Honey Hilliard to liven up the space with indigenous wildlife murals, a project that was funded by a donation from parishioners Charley and Leslie Redding. The continued growth of the St. John’s Children’s Ministry, coupled with their status as new grandparents, inspired the Reddings to help with the murals in the nursery – a space where Charley spent many hours overseeing renovations as our Building Committee co-chair.

Honey Hilliard’s deep connection to nature was the inspiration for the nursery murals. After receiving an art degree from Florida State University, Honey was hired as the wildlife artist for the State of Florida, where she designed conservation materials and painted wildlife. Honey’s bird paintings adorn the state bird identification poster that has been in circulation for more than 20 years in Florida classrooms, state parks and hotels. So it comes as no surprise that she felt “an instant spark” when Fr. Dave suggested wildlife paintings. That inspiration was compounded by Honey’s love for St. John’s and the nursery her daughter, Stella, has enjoyed over the years!

Honey shared that a subtle palette was chosen for the murals, “to reflect the misty, humid, local wildlife habitats, and to provide a calm, muted background for the bright, colorful toys that will be in the nursery.” As you walk in, the welcome wall features a Blue Heron couple guarding their nest, a fitting image for the spot where parents drop their children off for care.  

Honey described the rest of her inspiration, and shared a fond family memory about White-tailed Deer. “It has always been a huge delight and thrill to see the deer families my parents fed near our home, and the horns displayed at our family hunting cabin,” says Honey. “They seem to me to be innately powerful and mysterious.”

Since the Scrub Jay is the only bird species that lives exclusively in Florida, Honey wanted to be sure to include them, as well as a family of Burrowing Owls. She calls them “funny little birds,” and says, “their bright yellow eyes are featured under the mantle where I envision children being drawn to ‘hide out’ in good company, perhaps on some cushions with books!”

To engage our toddlers, Honey painted a few animals right at their eye level. She hopes the younger children will find the Alligator mama carrying babies on her back, and the Florida Panther and kitten, both fun and fascinating. Finally, Honey painted a Manatee family, Dolphins, and a Sea Turtle in the Infant Room where she says “the underwater scenes are meant to have a gentle womb-like feeling.”

St. John’s is grateful for the endless creativity and talent that contributed to this beautiful design, and we are thankful for the many hours of work Honey Hilliard spent on this space. Special thanks also to Dennis Howard for capturing photos of Honey’s artwork so all can enjoy the details from home until we get to see the space it person. This bit of whimsy at St. John’s center is sure to delight the children of our parish for years to come!

More about Elizabeth Cobb:

Elizabeth Cobb, or “Miss Bessie,” as she came to be known at St. John’s, was a life-long resident of Tallahassee. She was one of Leon County’s most valuable teachers and she served as the first principal of Caroline Brevard Elementary School. Her work was so vital that the county named it’s new junior high school for her (now Elizabeth Cobb Middle School). Bessie’s teaching skills enriched St. John’s for many years as well. She taught confirmation classes, established two youth groups, and served as a summer camp counselor. Bessie was also president of the Women’s Auxiliary and resident House Mother at Ruge Hall at the FSCW. When it came time for Miss Bessie to move to a nursing home, she received communion in her room, a practice that soon extended to all who wished to attend. These days, communion is taken to many of our elder members on a regular basis! Elizabeth Cobb was a beloved parish institution, so it’s fitting that her name marks the spot where our youngest begin their journeys at St. John’s.

The post Cobb Nursery: A Space Full of Life appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

Which member of our St. John’s clergy is YOUR money on this Shrove Tuesday? It’s the first annual St. John’s Pancake Race to kick off our 2021 Lenten Challenge! Together, we can relieve the medical debt of residents in some of our state’s most financially vulnerable communities.

Special thanks to St. John’s parishioner Charlie Belvin, of Charles Belvin Productions, for volunteering his time to produce this fun launch video. #covidcreativity

A Bit of Background: The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Shrove Tuesday, a time to indulge before the beginning of Lent. At St. John’s, Shrove Tuesday has often featured pancake suppers to raise outreach funds. In the UK, some communities hold pancake races on Shrove Tuesday, a tradition that dates back centuries. In recent years, these fun community races have raised money for charity, which is what prompted our clergy to race with pancakes to kick off a parish-wide outreach effort to relieve medical debt.

The post Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

This week, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany. As always, we marked this date with a special Epiphany Pageant, where we retell the Christmas story one last time for the season and sing Christmas hymns.

Since we weren’t able to gather as a parish for this much-anticipated tradition, we asked for your Epiphany Pageant memories. How fun it has been to see how the Epiphany Pageant (and St. John’s!) has changed over the years. Enjoy!

Mid-1970s Pageant (submitted by Cameron Lewis Barton)

Late-1970s Pageant (submitted by Virginia Perkins)

1984 Pageant (submitted by Sarah Ball Miller)

2007 Pageant (submitted by Mary Byrd Sims)

2009 Pageant (submitted by Mary Byrd Sims)

2013 Pageant

2014 Pageant

2015 Pageant

2016 Pageant

2019 Pageant

2020 Pageant

2021 Pageant

Our shepherds were storm troopers (don’t ask), there were three wise (wo)men, and our pageant was pre-recorded and streamed on Facebook and YouTube due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our parish regathering guidelines. But we were still able to celebrate the arrival of the three kings with beautiful virtual hymns shared by the St. John’s Choir. This is a tradition worth keeping … no matter the hoops we must jump through!

The post Epiphany Pageants … a look back! appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.

This is the week when dozens of volunteers would typically be buzzing around church, preparing to host this beloved annual event, which has a long history at St. John’s. Here’s a look back at a few Market Memories. Hope they make you smile!

Thank you to Dennis Howard and Mother Abi for capturing these fun memories! Several of YOU sent in memories as well!

Below, Linda Carter reflected upon one of the newer Market booths to join the lineup. “The Man Cave” was an idea her late husband, Frank Carter brought to life. The booth was coordinated for several years by Frank, along with Roger Rumenik and David Wheeler. Thankfully, David says he will carry the torch, hosting the Man Cave when Market is held next.

“Frank would come and help wherever he was needed. He began to notice that most men who were not involved with the market were just following their wives around, looking totally bored. In 2011, Frank decided that the men needed something of interest to look at while visiting the market. He created the Man Cave.” – Linda Carter

We have some great photos of our chicken pilau chefs in Eve’s Garden. Shelby and Dan Augustyniak recently took over these duties with help from the couple who started this Market booth, John and Teresa Dean. The Augustyniaks use John’s cookers and recipe to carry on the tradition! How did the Deans come up with their recipe? Teresa shares below in her own words.

There’s no pilau to buy this year, but John and Teresa are sharing the recipe! They’ve reduced the 10-gallon recipe to a 2.5-gallon recipe that they say can be cooked on your kitchen stove. All you need is a large pot of any kind. If anyone is interested in giving it a try, simply email John and Teresa Dean and they’ll send you the recipe.

Last but certainly not least, is a wonderful reflection on the growth of the Outdoor Garden booth from longtime chair Linda Harkey, and some amazing photos from our 1987 St. John’s Market, shared by Virginia Perkins.

What great Market Memories!

Over the past ten years, the Outdoor Garden has grown from several dozen plants that filled two benches along the walkway in Eve’s Garden to hundreds of bedding plants, shrubs, house plants and trees that cover the walkway and a fourth of the garden. As shoppers leave the bustle of Alfriend Hall and come into Eve’s Garden, they reminisce about plants they or their ancestors once had. They talk about new situations—retiring and downsizing, moving to live with a grandparent, or setting up a garden after moving to Tallahassee for a new job. After the Market, the remaining plants go to other Tallahasseans in transition—to Habitat for Humanity and to the International Rescue Committee. The most enjoyable part of the Outdoor Garden for me is seeing how much St. John’s parishioners love plants and how important gardens are in people’s lives.

– Linda Harkey

The post St. John’s Market Memories appeared first on St. John's Episcopal Church.