Readings for the First Sunday after Christmas: January 1, 2012

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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End of year contribution information: Contributions deposited in the collection plate on Sunday, January 1st, are not deductible in tax year 2011 even if the check is dated in December 2011. It will be deductible on your 2012 taxes.
Contributions mailed and postmarked in 2011 are deductible in 2011, even if not received by the church until 2012.
Year-end statements of contribution will be available in mid-January.

Fr. Thurston is interested in knowing of members of St. John’s who would find a grief support group helpful. He has a possible leader for a group who is skilled in grief work and is available for a group meeting. Please let the office know if this is something that would be supportive and helpful to you.

Sermon: Christmas Day, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

In the mid 1940’s my grandmother took me on an annual pilgrimage to view the decorations on display in the windows of the major department store in my hometown. We would take the bus downtown to look at the windows at Knapp’s Department Store which seemed, in my imagination, to have the most awesome Christmas display in the world. My grandmother and I would spend what seemed like hours standing in the slush of melting and re-freezing snow, entranced by the sights before us and the sounds around us.

Hundreds—no, thousands—of kids came each Christmas to press their noses against Knapp’s cold, thick plate glass windows in order to better see the life-like elves, the reindeer whose heads moved from side to side, the lumbering bears, and an actual working model of Santa’s North Pole workshop. It was a magical sight to behold.

Christmas Services

Christmas Eve
5:30 p.m. December 24th, family storytelling service
10:00 p.m.on the 24th: Carols, followed by Holy Eucharist of the Nativity

 Christmas Day
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite 1

Readings for Christmas Day: December 25, 2011

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born this day of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings for Christmas Eve late Service: December 24, 2011, 10:30 p.m. (Carols at 10:00)

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Readings for Christmas Eve first Service: December 24, 2011, 5:30 p.m.

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Fr. Thurston is interested in knowing of members of St. John’s who would find a grief support group helpful. He has a possible leader for a group who is skilled in grief work and is available for a group meeting. Please let the office know if this is something that would be supportive and helpful to you.

There will be no Adult Education or Church School this Sunday nor next Sunday (1/1/12).

The Church office will be closed on Tuesday, December 27, for the Christmas holiday.

Offering Envelopes will be available to those who requested them. It's not too late to request a set of envelopes -- just call or e-mail the office.

Sermon: Advent 4, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

I must admit that when I looked at the lectionary lessons for today, my first thought was that they didn’t have much to with Advent. They look more like Christmas lessons to me.

But then I kept thinking about the meaning of these lessons? What are they about?

An angel makes an appearance to Mary, a young woman of Nazareth—most likely a teen-ager. And we know from other lessons that Mary was troubled by the message of her impending pregnancy. Can you imagine the thoughts going through her head—who is this feathered creature (if angels truly have wings made of feathers) and what’s this that’s going to happen to me? We know from the lessons that ultimately Mary concedes to the angel and finally says, “I’m available." Available to this mystery, available for this birth, available to the persuasion of the Holy Spirit.

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 18, 2011

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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The Greening of the Church will be on December 22 at 2:00 p.m. Please come help decorate the church for Christmas and bring any greens you might have available. We also need three trees.

Lost and Found is being displayed in the parish hall. Anything left after Sunday, December 18th will be donated to charity.

Fr. Thurston is interested in knowing of members of St. John’s who would find a grief support group helpful. He has a possible leader for a group who is skilled in grief work and is available for a group meeting. Please let the office know if this is something that would be supportive and helpful to you.

Sermon: Advent 3, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

This week is the third time that we will be looking at the issues of justice in our world. What I have tried to convey over the last two weeks is the idea that Jesus came into the world—not to fail—not to be a sacrifice for the sin of those of us in the world, but he came rather to succeed –and to succeed in a big way—by changing the nature of human compassion and relationships. And along with the idea of the creation of a more compassionate and equitable world, I said something about what the cost of discipleship is for Christians—especially those working in Third World countries.

My suggestion, last week was that we need to begin to bring some comparison to the sufferings that we experience in life with those who suffer in other parts of our community, our state, nation and world. And I said further that Jesus needs every one of us to help bring about the Kingdom of God—everyone who loves, everyone who has compassion—everyone who in the name of an inquiring faith is willing to bear the cross of justice.

What I would like to talk about are some ideas and some thinking about what a Kingdom of God might just look like.

Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent: December 11, 2011

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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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.

Lost and Found will be displayed in the parish hall for the next two weeks. Anything left after Sunday, December 18th will be donated to charity.

Fr. Thurston is interested in knowing of members of St. John’s who would find a grief support group helpful. He has a possible leader for a group who is skilled in grief work and is available for a group meeting. Please let the office know if this is something that would be supportive and helpful to you.

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 2, The Very Rev. Anthony Thurston

Last week we began a series of sermons on the subject of justice. I did this because of the timeliness of so many difficult issues facing the poor and homeless in our own community and all across our country. My goal is to help us come to some understanding of how we in the church might see the issues of justice that exist all across our globe.

We looked, last Sunday, at the purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world. I suggested there are two understandings of this event: the first is that the purpose of God in sending Jesus into the world was to provide a sacrifice for the sin of humanity. This is called in theological terms, the sacrificial system. It assumes and encourages the idea that the sacrificial death of Jesus, separate from his life and teaching, is the thing that matters.

Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent: December 4, 2011

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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HOLIDAY PIANO CONCERT: Be our guest for an evening of beautiful music featuring Aszemar Glenn. Friday, December 2nd at 7 p.m.

Invitation Only: Willamette Valley Confectionery, your resident candy maker, invites you to our first annual Friends & Family Discount Day, Saturday, December 3rd, 1 pm to 4 pm in the Parish Hall. We’re offering a 25% discount on our full array of wrapped and ready holiday gifts. Stop by and enjoy some delicious samples and snacks and great savings!

Our Young and the Restless/EWOK annual Christmas party and ornament exchange will be Saturday, December 3, 5:00 p.m. at Debbie, Loren, & Ian Mallory-White’s. Please RSVP and sign up for a dish to bring (appetizer, main, side, dessert) at white@wvfc.net. Don’t forget your wrapped ornament to exchange!