From Wilderness to Community

On Sunday, June 27th, the congregation of St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church invites residents of Flat Rock and Henderson County to celebrate the Feast of St. John with them at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse.

The invitation reads in part:

“St. John in the Wilderness and Flat Rock have stories that are intertwined from their earliest days. Over the decades, both parish and village have grown up and changed, but the connection between St. John and Flat Rock is undeniable. As a parish community, we are overwhelmed with gratitude at the beauty and wonder of this place when we look at Flat Rock and the people who call it home.“

The celebration will include live music, and Hubba Hubba will offer food and drink available for purchase. The event is from 5 to 8 p.m. The featured band is Pretty Little Goat and attendees are requested to bring their own chairs.

Flat Rock Together had the chance to sit down with The Rev. Josh Stephens, Rector for St. John, to talk about the inspiration for this event and the meaning of community to the church. Excerpts from that conversation follow:

Flat Rock Together: Why is St. John in the Wilderness hosting this event and making it open to the public?

Father Josh: The main idea is to celebrate having a chance to gather again after the year we've all been through. Also, the fact that the church has a long history in the center of this incredible place of Flat Rock and even beyond in Henderson County. We want to share our gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this special place.

FRT: How would you describe the relationship between the church and the village?

Father Josh: I often think of Flat Rock as my parish and so it has drawn me to see the village as a spiritual home for all of us, with St. John in many ways being at the center of that, both historically and in the present day.

We are really excited to find ways to celebrate that long history and the way that Flat Rock and St. John have grown up together. The church and the village have told stories together, grieved together, celebrated together, and done all of those things over the long history of this amazing place.

FRT: What do you believe a celebration such as this will mean to our community?

Father Josh: Coming out of the pandemic, there's a sense that these relationships matter more than ever. The fabric of our neighborhoods and our communities is made up of relationships with one another. We’ve been so isolated and we’ve been afraid at times and some of us have even been sick. There's a sense in all of us at this moment to appreciate each other and to be able to gather to celebrate together - to not forget that we are at the center of each other's lives and to not take that for granted. And I think that God made us that way - as relational people - and there's a reason for it.

FRT: How do you see this celebration as being consistent with the mission of a church like St. John?

Father Josh: I think the mission of the church is to provide wholeness to a broken world. We are called to provide relationships to people who are often alone, to provide food to people that are hungry, to provide meaning to those who are looking for it. That is what God is doing in the world and what God has called the church to do. By nature of that very mission, we have to look outward and we have to be able to give away ourselves in service to the community.

FRT: What is the Feast of St. John?

Father Josh: The church has many rich traditions of celebrating feasts and fasts. We all know Christmas and Easter. They are feast days of the church that have been adopted culturally. But within the church calendar, there are lots of feasts and fasts that just go by and we don't celebrate them. I find that these occasions have incredible meaning and that they are instruments of grace. So we want to celebrate those feasts with each other more often.

The Nativity of St. John is a feast on the calendar at the end of June each year. It is a day when we remember our patron saint and celebrate the gift that is Flat Rock and that is this parish.

FRT: Why is building community important to the church and the world?

Father Josh: As a church, our salvation is wrapped up in one another. We find that through our relationships with each other, God is making us whole. And by sharing life together, we actually discover what God is all about. That community most typically happens, I think, within the church, but it is something that also looks outward. We all need to be in a relationship with neighbors, with friends, with strangers because you never know where you might encounter someone who is in need, or someone who is going to show you the love of God, face to face.

FRT: Is everyone invited?

Father Josh: Yes! It’s really neat to think about throwing a party because that's what a feast is - music and food and the opportunity to visit with each other on an important and special day. I really hope that people will join in and help us celebrate.

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The Feast of St. John Celebration

When: Sunday, June 27, 5-8pm (music starts at 6 pm)

Where: Hubba Hubba Smokehouse

Who: Everyone is invited! Yard games for kids!

Featuring: Live Music from Pretty Little Goat

Cost: Free entry. Purchase food and drink at Hubba Hubba

Seating: Limited seating available at Hubba Hubba so bring your own chairs.