However, health regulations prohibit the clergy from being informed when our parishioners are in the hospital, so we will not know if you or someone you love is there unless you tell us. W e want to provide support in any time of need or crisis.
Please call the parish offices at 259.1570 or email
An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1
This Week in
St. John’s
Thursday, December 22
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) and Healing & Anointing (Chapel)
Men’s Thursday Bible Study and Lunch
11:45 a.m., Peterson Room
The Men’s Thursday Bible Study and Lunch group continues meeting on Thursdays at 11:45 a.m. at the School’s Middle School campus. The readings the group will study are those from the Revised Common Lectionary for the coming Sunday.
This group will not meet on December 22 or 29.
Please do not park in the Four Green Fields parking lots. Lunch is sandwiches at $5 per person. RSVP todlrncrtpa@verizon.net if you would like to partake.
Saturday, December 24
4:00 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Church) The Children’s Christmas Pageant will take place at this service.
CWBS is studying the minor prophets. After conversation and a light breakfast (fruit & some type of bread) that members take turns bringing, the study starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends shortly before 8:00 a.m.; a few people may leave early if they have to go to work.
CWBS will not meet on Tuesday, December 27.
All women of St John’s and their friends are welcome; the current group includes several valued members from other branches of Christ’s church. For more information, please contact Kathleen Moore at 221.6253 or kathleenmarymoore@gmail.com.
Wednesday, December 28
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
Wednesday Nights In St. John’s
No Meeting This Week
No matter what you believe, no matter how you behave, Jesus invites you to follow In God’s Footsteps. In this eight-session study, best-selling author and pastor Andy Stanley shows you that Jesus’ invitation was really an invitation to relationship and this study explains what it means to follow Jesus.
The Wednesday Nights group will continue viewing this series through February 1, with breaks for the viewing of the movie Godspell on December 21, and a holiday break with no meeting on December 28.
December 28 – No Meeting
January 4 – Follow Where
January 11 – The Fine Print
January 18 – What I Want to Want
January 25 – Leading Great
February 1 – Unfollow
The group invites all parishioners and friends to join them each week in the Parish Hall. Bring a dish to share and an open heart and mind for discussion. Contact Paul and Winkie Game at
There will be one service on Sunday, December 25, Christmas morning at 10:00 a.m. There will be no 8:00 a.m. service this day. There will be no Sunday School for children on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
Also, please note that the parish offices will be closed on Monday, December 26, and Monday, January 2.
EYC Volunteering Brings Joy to Holiday
Shop AmazonSmile this Christmas!
Holiday shopping is easy with Amazon’s Holiday Gift Guides. #StartWithaSmile at smile.amazon.com for your holiday gifts and Amazon donates to St John’s!
2017 Pledge Envelopes
Please plan on picking up your 2017 pledge envelopes on Sunday, January 8, in the parish hall. The vendor who provides us with pledge envelopes has experienced machinery problems, but plans on having them to us the first week of January. Thank you for your patience.
Cursillo Corner
The word Cursillo is short for Cursillos de Cristiandad, literally “a short course of Christianity.” The Cursillo movement began in the laity after World War II in Franco’s Spain; it came to the United States and was translated into English.
We are a group of Episcopalians eager to develop lay leadership across our diocese. Cursillo is one method for training, supporting and ongoing development of Christian leadership. The Cursillo method contains two main components, a 3-day weekend filled with 15 talks, group discussions, worship and fun… and the 4th-day that represents how we live out the Christian life in support of one another.
There are usually three Cursillo weekends a year in our Diocese, two English speaking and one Spanish weekend. The next weekend is February 9 through 12, 2017, Cursillo #135. Our own Sharon Stoll has been called to be the Rectora, to facilitate this weekend to be held at DaySpring Conference Center in the new facility. We have many “Cursillistas” here at St. John’s, i.e. people who have attended weekends and are continuing on their “4th day” in faithful leadership. They are listed below. You can see how their Cursillo experience has influenced their leadership role in our Christian community at St. John’s. If you are interested in attending a weekend, please contact Ray Stoll, our Parish Representative, at sssstoll@aol.com, or Rev. Janet Tunnell, jtunnell@104.237.132.142, for information.
Rev. Chase and Jeanne Ackerman, Robin Adair, Rev. Robert and Evelyn Baker, Paul and Margaret Brokaw, Suzanne Cleckler, Dr. Greg Gaar, Paul and Winkie Game, Donna Gem, Cindy and Richard Hadlow, JoAnna Hall, Carol Ihrig, John and M.C. Jenkins, David and Jeannie Kenyon, Jim and Paulette Lane, Keith Lindquist, Marjorie McDuffie, Carolyn McGinnis, Michael Matthews, Patricia Matthews, Edwin Mills, Deacon Kathleen Moore, Nicholas Nitch, Dr. Ray and Sally Olsson, Danny Otero, Jack and Diana Overton, Melinda Pendino, Rev. John and Kay Peterson, Drs. David and Mary Jane Schenck, Pam Scruggs, Ray and Sharon Stoll, Sally Thompson, Rev. Janet and Michael Tunnell, Jim and Anne Voss, David Wheaton and Sally Wiley.
Children and Youth
Next Mom’s Morning: Thursday, January 19
The next Mom’s Morning will meet on Thursday, January 19 at 8:45 a.m. in Discovery House. Come for as little or long as you’d like and please feel free to bring your little ones. Toys and coffee will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, please contact wwolf@104.237.132.142.
Still Seeking Amateur Photographers and Videographers
We are still looking for some help documenting our Children’s Pageant at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. If you have a decent camera and would like to capture some photos or video of the pageant to share with us for use on the website and other communications, please contact wwolf@104.237.132.142.
Sunday School Volunteers Sought
Do you like what we’re doing in Sunday School? Would you like to be a part of it next year? If you are not currently on our team of teachers, assistants, substitutes, and helpers, but would like to be for the fall of 2017, please contact wwolf@104.237.132.142 to discuss further. We can never have too many dedicated parents helping to bring the word of the Lord to the children of our parish.
Sunday School Schedule
There will be NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on Sunday, December 25, or Sunday, January 1.
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Schedule
Our last rehearsal will take place tomorrow, Thursday, December 22, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Cast dinner will be provided.
The candle in the sanctuary light is available on January 8 and 22. If you would like to take one of these opportunities to honor a loved one and support St. John’s, please call 259.1570 or email parish@104.237.132.142.
Every Member Canvass 2017
The Every Member Canvass for 2017, Living Generously, is now on! We encourage every parishioner to make their pledge by December 31. Pledge safely online by clicking here.
From the Parish Register
Birthdays
December 22, Zigmund Bereday, Helen Hall, Patricia Hancock, Eric Stoll, Stephen Swindal, Anne Williams, Patricia Wilson
