February 2020 Stated Communication

Fraternal greeting my Brethren, 

The instruction for our January Stated was, I believe, an outstanding opportunity to expand our understanding of both Prince Hall and DC Grand Lodge Masons. As our ending discussion with W.B. James R. Morgan highlighted, it is fraternal opportunities like our invitation for him to lecture which breakdown both the real and perceived barriers between our lodges. It doesn't hurt that the storied history that was laid before us was worthy of a Ken Burns documentary narrated by David McCullough! 

This program was a pleasure to arrange and an honor to host as Worshipful Master. I draw your attention to this, because it is your lodge and your bulletin; we, the officers of the lodge, simply deliver it to you. As I serve my year in the East, I hope to help each of you (even those who do not read the bulletin) find some way in which St. John's Lodge No. 11 adds value to your life. Lectures, such as W.B. Morgan's and other opportunities for education, are only one of our Lodge's illuminations; we've enjoyed paint nights, tours, and even March Madness events (hint: we have another March event in the planning for 2020). But these events are not simply for my enjoyment as Worshipful Master, they are also for your benefit. So please don't hesitate to communicate your ideas and desires with me or any of our senior Lodge Officers; we serve to improve ourselves in Masonry. 

Places and Stations: In the recent past, St. John's Lodge No. 11 has been blessed with a capable and energetic Organist. When available, a Lodge Musical Director or Organist provides a level of gravitas that is truly immeasurable, and one whose history stretches back farther than Mozart and Beethoven. Unfortunately, the length of Bro. Boksan's cable tow has pulled him north to Pennsylvania, but he maintains his fraternal membership with St. John's Lodge No. 11. I do hope to welcome him as a guest sometime soon, and perhaps someday we will add a second musically inclined Brother to our membership. who knows, the next monsieur who asks you the question could find an outlet for their musical talent! 

Sincerely and Fraternally, 
Jason Lee
Worshipful Master 

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January 2020 Stated Communication

Brethren, 

Fantastic installation and my thanks to everyone who helped make December's Stated Communication such a wonderful experience! As illuminated in my first speech to the lodge, my goal for the coming year is the sharing of light through outreach, teaching, and social gatherings. So look to 2020 for events for you, your families and friends to experience many opportunities with our Brethren. 

Places and Stations: There are many "jobs" that keep our lodge running smoothly. But aside from the most notably Pillar and Line Officer positions, many of you may not know what other opportunities exist in the lodge. This month I would like to thank Bro. Colin Timbers, who helps assembly this bulletin for distribution. Without Bro. Timbers, we would not meet our mandatory notification requirements and could very well be at risk of losing our charter for failure to provide due and timely notice! While the length of Bro. Timbers' cable tow prevents him from regular attendance at lodge, he has proven his fraternal obligation still rests with St. John's Lodge No. 11, and we thank him for his continued service. 

Sincerely and Fraternally, 
Jason Lee
Worshipful Master 

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December 2019 Stated Communication

Brethren,

Congratulations to the Brethren as you have successfully elected your 2020 leadership! Bro Senior Warden, Jason Lee, has successfully passed the prerequisites to sit in the East! I know that those tests can be very challenging and your successful passing highlights the commitment to the Craft that you have shown and will continue to show as you guide this lodge forward in 2020.

As you know, at the previous stated communication the 4th Quarter Fellowcraft Brunch was postponed in order to allow the brothers to go and enjoy the World Series Champion Washington National’s Championship Parade! I saw a lot of great photos, and it appeared that the Brethren had a great time celebrating this amazing accomplishment. The Fellowcraft Brunch will be re-scheduled in early January and will serve to set the 2020 schedule, goals, and objectives.

Remember that the December Stated Communication is the installation of the 2020 Officers, which is an open event. This is a great way to include your family and allow them to see some of the ceremony of Freemasonry.

Please remember that dues were due before October. Our Lodge has made it easy to make electronic payments. To do so, please visit the Lodge website and go to the “Store.” You can make your payment there.

Thank you to each and every one of you! It was an honor and a privilege to serve all of you from the East this year.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Sean Parkhurst
Worshipful Master

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November 2019 Stated Communication

Brethren,

Wow, what a year it has been. This is my penultimate bulletin as Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge No. 11 – how has a year gone by so quickly.

Thank you to all the brethren who showed up and performed an absolutely amazing Master Mason Degree. In the seven years that I’ve been with St. John’s Lodge No. 11, I’ve seen such growth and commitment amongst the brethren to be able to perform rituals. I congratulate all of our newly raised Master Masons and welcome them as full members of their Blue Lodge. You have received much light but remember that Freemasonry is an individual journey, one that will reward you for the amount of time and effort you put into understanding and honing your craft.

Thank you to everyone that showed up to the Fall Festival at Homestead Farms and who celebrated an amazing Sunday afternoon at Rockland Farms Winery. I believe what makes our Lodge amazing is doing things both inside the Lodge as well as outside the Lodge and events like this open the opportunity for Brothers to get to know one another and their families.

The November stated communication is going to be a very special event because we will be deciding the 2020 Lodge Leadership team.

It has been a pleasure serving you all from the Ornamental Chair this year. We’ve done a lot of fun things and I hope that you have enjoyed this past year as much as I have.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Sean Parkhurst
Worshipful Master

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October 2019 Stated Communication

Greetings Brethren, 

2019 is quickly closing up around us, and what a year it has been. I started out this year focused on two strategic initiatives, communication and engagement. One goal was to schedule five events per quarter: three stated communications, one Fellowcraft brunch, and one social event. To date, there have been three Fellowcraft brunches (including one in September), and three social events including a NCAA tournament watch party at Two Silos, a joint Table Lodge, and a crab fest (partnered with a stated communication). 

As you know, at the October Stated Communication we will be conferring the Master Mason degree. Please note that at the September Stated Communication, it was decided that following the October Stated Communication merriment and celebration would occur at Shelly’s Back Room. I encourage you all to participate in the Stated Communication helping us welcome the new Master Masons and celebrating with them afterwards. It will be a lot of fun. 

A social event is also scheduled for October. On Sunday, October 13, we have scheduled an outing to go apple picking/fall activities at Homestead Farms in Poolesville, MD. This family friendly event is a great way for brothers to bring their families out, enjoy some good wholesome fall fun, and then cool off with some local libations. We plan on shooting over to the local winery after the fun is had at the farm. I plan on being there and bringing my whole family. 

The journey of Masonry is one that we do both alone and within a group. It’s on us individually to be prepared and to show up, but we do this with the help of our other brothers, friends, and families. You will get more out of Masonry every day and year the more you engage with us. 

Sincerely and Fraternally, 
Sean Parkhurst 
Worshipful Master

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September 2019 Stated Communication

Brethren,

Greetings from the East, and I hope that your summer has been filled with laughter and love.

The Lodge held a very successful Crab Fest at the August Stated Communication. We had a coming together of multiple generations of Brothers, parents, and children. I personally felt that the Lodge was filled with warmth and fellowship.

It is these types of events that I believe build bonds between the Brothers through fellowship and getting to know each other and our families. The journey in Masonry is a personal journey, but one that is traveled with friends, family, and other supporters.

We are now on the back side of the Masonic year’s curve. We are in the final stretch, and, as such, we’ll have a lot of important stated communications coming up. Starting with September’s Stated that is Wardens’ Night and each line officer will be moving up one seat. Please be prepared. We’ll follow that with conferring the Third Degree in October, Elections in November, and Installation of Officers in December. Take due notice.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Sean Parkhurst
Worshipful Master

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August 2019 Stated Communication

Brethren,

I hope you are all enjoying your summer break. Coming out of July reminds me of how much I enjoy spending time with all of my brothers. The summer months are a great time for us to spend time with our family and friends enjoying summer activities such as boating, swimming, barbecuing, and other activities.

In the spirit of these fun summer activities the August Stated Communication is going to focus on fun and brotherhood. At the August Stated Communication we will have a Crab Fest for dinner. We will be providing Maryland’s finest blue crabs, all the fixings, and good beer to wash it all down.

The evening will be a casual event, as I certainly don’t want to have crab all over my tux!

Lodge business will still be held but we will keep it as short as possible to ensure that we have the maximum amount of time to have some fun and fraternity.

Please feel free to invite your friends or potential candidates to the event as well as your significant others. Please email Brother Junior Warden that you plan on attending so that we can order the right amount of crabs.

I look forward to seeing all of you then!

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Sean Parkhurst
Worshipful Master

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June 2019 Stated Communication

Brethren, 

Spring will soon be over and Summer is right around the corner. This transition of Spring to Summer reminds me that there are only six more months that I sit in the East, a little more than half of the year has gone by. We have accomplished a lot over the past six months, but there is still more to accomplish. 

This June we are conferring the Fellowcraft Degree. This is one of my favorite degrees, and I am looking forward to as many of you showing up as possible. Let’s all put on an amazing experience for our worthy brethren. 

As a reminder, we are dark in July. This time away gives us a chance to celebrate the birth of our nation with our family and friends. Enjoy that time. It also provides us an opportunity to get together in July for a family friendly BBQ. If you have any ideas or thoughts as to what or where you’d like to have a BBQ please don’t hesitate to let me know. 

I look forward to seeing everyone in June! Please be prepared. 

Sincerely and Fraternally, 
Sean Parkhurst 
Worshipful Master 

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May 2019 Stated Communication

Brethren, 

I very much missed all the brethren while I was absent at the April Stated Communication. The time away provided me some quality time alone with my wife, away from the kids and away from the stresses and struggles of professional demands, to celebrate our 5th anniversary. While I was thinking about all the things she and I have gone through together over this short five year period, I also realized that she has been with me through my entire journey through Masonry. She was there at the first family appreciation dinner, where I was provided the first pamphlet of Masonry. Masonry isn’t a journey we make alone. It’s a journey we make with our brothers and our family by our side. 

The opportunity to present a 60-year pin to Worshipful Brother Ed Rupert this past month also provided me insight into where I might be in 60 years, and the brothers and family members that I’ll meet along the way. 

There is a great opportunity to celebrate Masonry and to meet and network with other brothers at the Joint Table Lodge scheduled on May 15 at the Odd Fellows Temple on 7th street. Grab your tickets now. I know I’ll be there! 

Sincerely and Fraternally, 
Sean Parkhurst 
Worshipful Master 

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April 2019 Stated Communication

Brethren, 

Greetings and salutations from the East. It is an honor to be the Worshipful Master of this amazing Lodge. Our previous stated communication was an amazing example of dedication, flexibility, and commitment. As many of you know, our March stated communication was very busy. We started the evening off with a tuxedo fitting which was well received. We were then visited by the Most Worshipful Grand Master and the Grand Lodge officers for our annual Grand Lodge Visitation. I provided a report regarding the progress of St. John’s Lodge No. 11 and the great things we’re doing in 2019. We were not done then. We followed up the Grand Visitation with the performance of the Enter Apprentice Degree. Our degree team did an amazing job in front of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia, M.W.B. Chrbel Fahed, and other members of the Grand Lodge. I applaud each and every one of you for putting on a great evening for our Grand Lodge and for our newest Brothers. 

The April bulletin marks the end of our first quarter and the end of my first quarter as a Worshipful Master. These past three months have been busy. We had three stated communications, a Fellowcraft brunch, and we have a social event coming up in a couple of weeks. I hope that this first quarter has been as fun and engaging for you as it has been for me. 

I will not be in attendance at the April stated communication. The April stated will be a Past Master’s Night led by W.B. James S. Parkhurst, P.M.. 

Until then, please remember that we have a N.C.A.A. March Madness Watch Party on March 23 from 12:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the 2 Silos Brewery in Manassas, VA. I look forward to seeing you there. 

Sincerely and Fraternally, 
Sean Parkhurst 
Worshipful Master 

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