Dear St. John’s Family,

“Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

At a January retreat, your Vestry set a goal of making our children and youth ministries a top priority. The most urgent need was to find a new Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries. We searched far and wide only to discover that God was calling someone who is already here among us. Fr. Ben and I are excited to announce the hiring of Lalla Sydnor Johnson!

Lalla’s 20 years in education, her excellent organizational skills, and her strength of relationships at St. John’s makes her the ideal candidate. She will be full-time on our staff beginning on Monday, July 17, 2023.

St. John’s is committed to our young people and our young families. Your support and participation are key to our program’s success. Congratulate Lalla when you see her next and be sure to volunteer to work alongside her in the days, weeks, and years ahead!

I’m also delighted to announce that Fr. Ben’s role as curate will conclude at the end of May. On June 1, Fr. Ben will officially become our Associate Rector for Formation and Day School Chaplain. Ben’s educational background, his fidelity to Jesus Christ, and his excellent pastoral instincts as a priest have served us well and will continue to do so into the future. Please take a moment to congratulate Fr. Ben and let’s give God thanks for bringing him to us.

In Christ our Lord,

Chris

(The Reverend) Christopher J. Roussell

Rector XII