Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Christmas: January 2nd, 2011

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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There will be no Eucharist this Thursday evening, December 30th.

The church office will close at Noon on New Year’s Eve, Friday, December 31st.

SCRIP will resume our regular schedule this coming Sunday, January 2nd. Thank you to all who have been participating in the scrip program. You helped us to earn almost $4,000 for St. John's in 2010!

Thank you to Michele Horgen and the St. John's choir and guest performers.Christmas Eve service was even more special because of the fabulous music that we all enjoyed!

Readings for the Christmas 1: December 26th, 2010

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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This Week in the Parish:

Vestry Positions Available
We are looking for four people to replace those that will be rotating off the vestry. If you are someone who enjoys knowing about the inner workings of our church, someone who works well with others and has a little time to contribute, please talk to Father Bud or Linda Kidd.

The Greening of the Church will be on December 23 at 2:00 p.m.  Please come help decorate the church for Christmas and bring any greens you might have available, especially cedar and fir.

The church office will be closed on Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24th.

Christmas Eve, December 24th at 10:00 p.m.
Our late Christmas Eve service welcomes Garen Horgen on trumpet, Riley Vogel vocal bass and baritone Sheridan Stevens, as well as the St John’s parish choir. Carols from 10-10:30 p.m. with the Christmas Eve service at 10:30 p.m.

Sermon: Advent 4, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

There is a beautiful moment in the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.  A character, named Blanch, is trying her best to hold her life together, but her world is falling apart.  She is looking for some solid ground to stand on, some center in her life.  She needs, desperately, to be loved.  Unfortunately, she is one of those people who talks all of the time and the way she talks repels the very thing she wants most—which is a man to take her into his arms and to love her.

Blanche meets a man named Mitch, who also has a sort of social problem.  Mitch is a great deal overweight and, as he explains to her, he perspires profusely—he sweats a whole lot.  He, too, is a lonely person and much in need of love. The two finally get to the point where Blanche is able to share with Mitch one of the tragic moments in her life.  She tells Mitch a terrible story, and when she is finished, Mitch takes Blanche into his arms:  he says, “You need somebody and I need somebody, too.  Could it be you and me Blanche?”

Blanche stares at Mitch in disbelief.  Her eyes—filling with tears—she reaches for him and says this line---“sometimes there’s God, so quickly.”

And we might just as easily say, “Sometimes there is joy so quickly.”

Over the last few weeks of Advent we have been talking about the elusive topic of joy.  What is joy about?  What does joy look like?  How do we discover joy in the moments when our lives seem to not be working out the way we want them to work out, or when our health is precarious, or when almost everything seems to be going wrong?

Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent: December 19th, 2010

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Vestry Positions Available
We are looking for four people to replace those that will be rotating off the vestry. If you are someone who enjoys knowing about the inner workings of our church, someone who works well with others and has a little time to contribute, please talk to Father Bud or Linda Kidd.

Thank you!
A huge thank you to Michelle Horgen for putting together some fabulous music for the Lessons and Carols last Sunday evening. The choir sounded wonderful, the selection of music was fresh and beautiful, and the guest performers were amazing. Wow!

Scrip update:
This Sunday will complete our scrip participation for 2010. Thank you so much to all who have participated this year. We are coming in at just under $4,000 profit for the year, which is fantastic. Way to go!

It's baby hat time!
Save the Children is once again putting out a request for baby hats. If you like to knit or crochet, please see Linda Kidd on Sunday and pick up a pattern. We will mail them off in January, and they will be sent to Africa, Asia, and South America to help low birth weight babies have a fighting chance!

Sermon: Advent 3, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

Last week we continued our conversation about understanding joy.  And I quoted Rabbi Harold Kushner when he says that part of the problem for not understanding joy is the unrealistic and impossible standards we set for ourselves and for others. 

So here we go with week number three on the topic of joy.

Joy is an elusive and difficult thing to see.  One of the experiences of my ministry is seeing and talking with people—lots of people—who have little joy in their lives.  They may have substitutes for joy—things like plenty of money for entertainment for themselves and their families, or even other transient pleasures in life—but little joy.

Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent: December 12th, 2010

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

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Dec 12 5 p.m. Lessons and Carols

Please join us for a lovely service that blends traditional and contemporary lessons and music. The 15 voice St. John's parish choir will perform, along with musical theater mezzo soprano Rebecca Teran and child soprano Allyson Starke. We also welcome Alan Juza, one of Portland's top oboe players.

Stay for a wonderful lasagna dinner provided by the Youth Group, proceeds to fund youth group activities*.

This is truly an evening with something for everyone.

* A Lasagna Dinner! Advent is a time of preparation. Take time from your busy schedule to join us for a relaxing evening enjoying Advent music brought to you by the choir and guest musicians and listen to both ancient lessons as well as contemporary readings. Then stay for a wonderful lasagna dinner provided by the Youth Group.

Menu: Meat Lasagna

            Cheese Lasagna

            Salad

            Bread

            Desserts

Cost: $5.00 payable at the door

SCRIP:

This Sunday will be the last chance to order scrip before Christmas. If a prepaid gift card is what Santa needs to help lighten the load this holiday season, stop by the scrip table on Sunday.

Indulge your sweet tooth! On the 12^th of December there will be pie available at both coffee hours.

Sermon: Advent 2, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

Last week I mentioned that during the seasons of Advent and Lent I choose a topic to preach on each of the Sunday’s during that season.  And what I talked about, briefly, last week was the opportunity each of us has to follow our bliss as we discover that God loves us unconditionally.  Unconditional love is what brings us joy.  I wish to spend the next three weeks talking about joy and how some of our ordinary experiences of life might be extraordinary to us if we know how to find God in them.
So I begin with a story.  This is a story of a young man who beginning in high school and continuing through the first few years of college had a very strong urge to commit suicide.  The times that were supposedly good in his life were not really very good.  And the times that were depressing were exceedingly difficult to cope with.  On one occasion this young man made a suicide attempt, but didn’t follow through with it because of some close friends who helped to support his young man’s life.  But, even then, there was this gnawing thought in the back of his head:  why doesn’t life work right?  What doesn’t life work right for me?  Maybe some of you have had these kinds of thoughts from time to time.  But the story doesn’t end quite yet.

Help our Sunday School provide a Christmas for a special needy family

Our Sunday School is participating in the Milwaukie Christmas Tree Event, co-sponsoring a Christmas Tree with presents for one of twenty-six local families.  Our decorated tree is at the 8-Bit Café, just around the corner from church.  It would be wonderful if you could drop by the 8-Bit for a cup of coffee and drop off a present.

MOM ** could use diapers or basics for baby.  She said she needs a swing for the baby but felt bad asking for it.  She also said she could use socks.
2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ** is a Nickelodeon fan.  She likes Dora the Explorer.  She needs a coat (size 6T) and boots (size 10).  She could also use gloves and a hat.
7 YEAR OLD SON ** Likes games and is happy with anything.  Really needs a winter coat (size 7) and boots (size 3).  Also needs gloves and a hat.
BABY IS ON THE WAY *** DUE ANY DAY ***
Helping this family is huge.  We can do it.  Please place unwrapped gifts under the tree by Dec. 17th.  Thank you for your help in any way.  -The Children of St. John’s

Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent: December 5th, 2010

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Adult Education at St. John’s:
Bud Thurston will continue his study on the Gospel of John through Advent.  Bring a Bible and learn and discuss this important Gospel writer in the life of the church.

This year we are combining our former Young & Restless group, including the kids, and our new EWOK friends for one gigantic Christmas get-together!  Saturday, December 4th at 5:30 at the Mallory-Whites in Oregon City, we will have a Christmas potluck and wrapped ornament exchange.  Please call Debbie or Loren if you would like to join us, and tell us how many in your party and who, plus whether you would like to bring a main dish, an appetizer, a side dish, or dessert.  This is a fun tradition the kids have asked us to resume, so please come!  To RSVP, you can call 503-518-3028, or email Debbie: debbie.lee.white@comcast.net