Adult Education: Isaiah

Sundays at 9 a.m. in the West Wing we will be studying Isaiah as an appropriate Bible study leading through Advent on through the Christmas season. In order to prepare yourself for the first session, please read 1 Isaiah up through the 9th chapter. This is beautiful reading and I look forward to having you present for this study together.
-Fr. Bud Thurston.

Lessons and Carols

Lessons & Carols will be held at 5:00 p.m. on December 11, followed by a delicious Lasagna Dinner. The dinner is a fund raiser for the Youth Group’s Mission Trip to San Francisco next summer. Choices will include meat, cheese, or gluten free Lasagna.

Sermon: Advent 1, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

Today we begin the season of Advent. In the churches year Advent is the beginning of time. In the liturgical sense, today is a birthday. At the same time, Advent is a time of reflection on the coming of Jesus along with Jesus’ concepts of humility and equity, and sensitivity to a world needful of grace.

Over many years I have tried to pursue preaching on a specific topic for this season. The value of this—at least for me, and I hope for you—is that we get to look at one topic in some depth and to view the truth that is spread before us in a way that we look at it carefully and more fully than we might at any other time of the church year.

This year I would like to spend some time thinking about the significance of justice. This is such a timely issue: with all of the unemployment and homes being foreclosed upon, as well as the conflict that exists all across this world as we seek to come to several new understandings of the meaning of peace and justice. Bishop Ladehoff, last Sunday, began a conversation with you that pointed out a number of justice issues that should be, implicitly, part of the way in which we live out our Christian lives.

Sock it to me Sunday

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27th, will be our annual "Sock-It-To-Me-Sunday. Please consider bringing socks, mittens, scarves and hats to church that Sunday as a gift to Rahab's Sisters. The women we serve find winter to be particularly difficult, and a pair of warm socks can make a huge difference.

Readings for the First Sunday of Advent: November 27, 2011

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Confirmation classes to begin for St. John's Youth. Any of our parish youths who are 16 years old (or really close to 16) and wish to be confirmed should call Fr. Thurston for further information. The classes will be held on Sundays at noon for approximately one hour. Attendance is expected. It is also hoped that those who are confirmed will participate in the Storyline program beginning in January. Bishop Hanley will be at St. John's on January 15.

The Altar Guild Flower Brigade is looking for a person to arrange flowers for the altar the second Sunday of each month. Please contact Zee Wilks to volunteer.

Sock it to me Sunday: The Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27th, will be our annual "Sock-It-To-Me-Sunday. Please consider bringing socks, mittens, scarves and hats to church that Sunday as a gift to Rahab's Sisters. The women we serve find winter to be particularly difficult, and a pair of warm socks can make a huge difference.

Readings for the Last Sunday after Pentecost (Christ the King): November 20, 2011

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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If you are interested in being confirmed or re-affirmed when the bishop visits on January 15th, please speak to Fr. Bud about it as soon as possible.

“Thank You Sunday” coffee hour will be hosted by the Vestry after the 8:00 am and 10:00 am services this coming Sunday. Please stop by for coffee, juice and tasty treats provided by the Vestry in thanksgiving for the gifts each of you bring to St. John's.

The Altar Guild Flower Brigade is looking for a person to arrange flowers for the altar the second Sunday of each month. Please contact Zee Wilks to volunteer.

Adult education: Class this Sunday will be the last on the Kairos Palestine Document. Beginning next Sunday for Adult Education at 9 a.m. in the West Wing we will be studying Isaiah as an appropriate Bible study leading through Advent on through the Christmas season. In order to prepare yourself for the first session, please read 1 Isaiah up through the 9th chapter. This is beautiful reading and I look forward to having you present for this study together. Fr. Bud Thurston.

Readings for the Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost: November 13, 2011

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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If you are interested in being confirmed or re-affirmed when the bishop visits on January 15th, please speak to Fr. Bud about it as soon as possible.

The Altar Guild Flower Brigade is looking for a person to arrange flowers for the altar the second Sunday of each month. Please contact Zee Wilks to volunteer: 503-654-6925.

Our pledge ingathering slowed this week. As of the end of week 4, Monday, November 7th, we have received a total of 81 pledges, 67% of our goal of 130 pledges. Those pledges were for a total of $126,030.00, 60% of our goal of $137,010. If you have not yet renewed your pledge for 2012, please return your pledge card as soon as possible. If you did not pledge this year, please consider beginning a pledge for 2012.

Adult education: Class continues on the Kairos Palestine Document, a letter from Palestinian Christians to the world, accompanied by the document A Steadfast Hope, from Episcopal Peace Fellowship.

Sermon: Pentecost 21, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

The minister in the Baptist church I attended in my teens used to ask a question. He said, “What do you think about when you are alone?” I hesitated to answer a question like that as a 16 or 17 year old male teenager.

But another way of putting that question might be “what do you remember?” We make choices when we remember. Out of all the possibilities we choose what is important to us, the things on which our lives turn.

A whole bunch of years ago, a friend of mine died whom I had known in an organization that Chris and I belonged to. He had been a journalist, an editor, a worker for famine relief, and an expert on agriculture. To the end of his life, his mind was agile and he still took an active interest in the issues of life. Near the end of his life I saw him in the hospital. He said, “I guess this is where we all end up, isn’t it?” I said to him, “yes—but you have lived a life well traveled.” He nodded and smiled. During his final week he talked about a lot of things—from his work in Africa on famine relief to remembrances of his childhood.

Readings for All Saints Sunday: November 6, 2011

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

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Time to “Fall Back”…This coming Sunday morning at 2 a.m. we’ll turn our clocks back to standard time.

If you are interested in being confirmed or re-affirmed when the bishop visits on January 15th, please speak to Fr. Bud about it as soon as possible.

Pledge Update, Week 3. It's been another strong week for our pledge ingathering. As of the end of week 3, Monday, October 31st, we have received a total of 72 pledges, 55% of our goal of 130 pledges. Those pledges were for a total of $126,030.00, 60% of our goal of $210,000. If you have not yet renewed your pledge for 2012, please return your pledge card as soon as possible. If you did not pledge this year, please consider beginning a pledge for 2012. With your support, we can be good stewards of God's grace in the coming year.