Last summer, I was on my way to a women’s group lunch at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson, Wyoming, when I passed a local resident speaking to a walking tour group he was leading. The fellow was probably about my age, dressed in western wear, and one might surmise, a local. While I cannot quote him directly, I was stunned to hear him refer to the beautiful church building and campus with this message: “It’s a shame that this property, in the middle of town, is wasted on a building that is used for only an hour a week.”
I considered stopping and correcting the fellow, then, as is my wont – and probably that of many – I figured it wasn’t my business. I have been bothered ever since that I did not have the courage to correct him, politely but firmly. St. John’s belongs just where it is because it has long been at the heart of this community. One hour a week? Nothing could be further from the truth.
The site of the main sanctuary and connecting rooms is where St. John’s Hospital resided until it was relocated. As a hospital, it welcomed and did its best to comfort and heal everyone who entered its doors. St. John’s Church continues that tradition. I am quite sure that I am not aware of all that St. John’s does to support the Jackson Hole community, but the following projects and activities take a great deal more than an hour a week:
The campus facilities, including the sanctuary, Hansen and Donnan Halls, are open to all who are involved and provide space for:
- Browse and Buy
- One-22
- AA and other support group meetings on a daily basis
- Jackson Food Cupboard
- Bright Beginning PreSchool
- Various meetings and discussions as requested by the larger community
- Free family portraits for those who cannot afford them (provided by local photographers)
- Monthly Mindfulness for Mamas meetings
- Suicide prevention programs
- Santa Fund
- Angel Tree
- Jewish community services
- Grand Teton Music Festival monthly free concerts
- Day of the Dead celebration and dinner presented jointly with local schools and Latino community
- Partnership with Community Safety
- Network: Movie and Discussion Nights
- Free summer concerts featuring local musicians
Ongoing Church outreach projects include:
- Hands-on support for Habitat for Humanity
- Period Project
- Blue Bag Project every November: Blue cloth grocery bags are filled with household needs and donated to families
- If You Need Me, Take Me Coats (new and gently used coats are hung around the campus for those who cannot afford to buy their own)
- Adopt A Family for the Christmas season
- Laundry Love (donations of money and time allow locals in need to meet at the laundromat one night a week, where church volunteers provide detergent and coins to operate the machines)
- Wind River Reservation Projects
- Diapers and toys for babies and children
- Tea and Talk at Legacy
- Afternoon snacks at the library for school children
- Season of Light Project with Lower Valley Energy
In short, there is never a need, identified by the greater community, to which St. John’s does not respond with open doors and open hearts. Had I shared even some of the above with the group of tourists gathered, not to mention the ill-informed guide, I might have opened another heart, another door. I should have stopped.
Glass Full 
What a vibrant wonderful church. You are more politic than I. I probably would have interfered with his talk and told him all that . Must be the Capricorn in me.
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