Springfed musicians Billy Burke and Tony Norris
Springfed serves up a gratifying spread of tunes from Appalachian ballads to cowboy songs to original compositions from their hundred years of combined musical experience. Bill Burke is a master of the five string banjo and an artful mandolin player as well. Tony Norris’ rich tenor voice is complemented by his sensitive guitar work and he’s prone to telling a good story. They are joined by Elena Gonzalez, a classically trained violinist who is bravely exploring the Dark Side of fiddling. Look for songs of faithful dogs and faithless women and bone rattling dance tunes when they take the stage at the second of St. John’s Advent Concert Series.
On October 6, 2018, from 10 a.m. until Noon, St. John’s Episcopal-Lutheran Church will again host the Blessing of the Animals. this event coincides during the first week of October with the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th (he died October 3, 1226). During his life, St. Francis developed a deep love of nature and animals. Because of this, he is known as the patron saint of the environment and animals. Each October, all around the world, animals are blessed on or near this feast day. 
The slate of candidates who will stand for election as the VI Bishop of Arizona was announced July 13, 2018. The process of electing a new bishop follows Bishop Kirk Smith’s retirement announcement on November 9, 2017. On the same, day, Bishop Todd Ousley, from the Presiding Bishop’s Office of Pastoral Development who oversees the transition process for the Episcopal Church, outlined the next steps. The Standing Committee, with The Rev. Canon Daniel 