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Lift Every Voice and Sing
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Last Sunday we sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as the final hymn at our 10:00 am liturgy. Though it was a first at SJOTM, it has been the tradition of many parishes throughout the country to include this hymn on this particular Sunday as a way of honoring the work of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" became the "African American National Anthem" because of its strong message of hope and freedom. The poem was first performed in 1900 by a chorus of schoolchildren at the all-black Stanton School in Jacksonville, FL, as a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. It was composed by their principal, James Weldon Johnson to introduce their honored guest that day, Booker T. Washington. The tune was later written by his brother John in 1905. The hymn continues to be popular and its message of hope and freedom continue to ring true.
With thanks to parishioner and chorister Sydney Vollmar, please click here for the recording from the NJ All State Chorus performing a special arrangement of this rousing hymn.
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who h
as by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest, our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest, our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.
(Source: Glover, Raymond, ed., "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The Hymnal 1982 Companion. The Church Pension Fund, 1994.)
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Weekly Offering Envelopes
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The Weekly Offering Envelopes are now available for pick-up (on the table just outside of Parish Hall). If you didn't already request envelopes, but would like them, please call the office 908-766-2282 or email the office.
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Music for Children & Youth
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Sunday, January 22
All children and youth of the parish are invited to be a part of the music program at SJOTM. Beginning on January 22, children in grades 2 and up are invited to join in the new St. John's Boys' & Girls' Choir, which will have its first rehearsal after church, from 11:05 to 11:45 am. We will be singing in church throughout the year on important feast days and will also have fun with some new and exciting interactive apps and curriculum. We have enjoyed having several high school students join our adult choir this Fall and welcome anyone else who is interested to join us to come to our mid-week rehearsal to try it out. For more information, please email Christopher Jennings, Director of Music.
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Annual Meeting
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Sunday, January 29
Please join us for our Annual Meeting, on Sunday, January 29th, when we will have one worship service at 10 am with a meeting to immediately follow in the sanctuary. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Nursery care will be extended until 12:30 pm. Children's Entertainment will be provided during the Annual Meeting. All children ages Pre-K and up are invited to Parish Hall to do crafts, while their parents attend the meeting.
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One Worship Service
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Sunday, January 29
Due to the Annual Meeting, on Sunday, January 29th, we will have one worship service at 10 am with a meeting to immediately follow in the sanctuary. Coffee and refreshments will be provided
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Souper Bowl
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Sunday, February 5
Please join us on Sunday, February 5th, as our Confirmation class makes and serves soup for Souper Bowl Sunday immediately following the 10 am service. Soup will be for available for sale for immediate consumption or to go with take-home containers.
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Stock Donations
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Don't forget that you can donate your Stocks to SJOTM. The tax advantages of giving stock, instead of cash, to church can make doing so very worthwhile. We would be happy to accept stock donations for 2017 as form of pledge payment. To learn more, please email Lisa Keenan or call the office at 908-766-2282 ext 13.
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2017 Baptism Dates
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We baptize primarily on those dates set aside for baptism, as listed in the Book of Common Prayer. Since the presence of the community of faith is essential for welcoming the newly baptized into the church, baptisms take place in the principal service on the appointed Sunday. The next dates for Baptism are:
- Saturday, April 15th at 7 pm
- Sunday, June 4th at 10 am
- Sunday, November 5th at 10 am
Questions about baptism? Please email Mo. Susan.
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This Week on the Mountain
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January 22, The Third Sunday after the Epiphany
8:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite 1, Chapel
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
Confirmation Class, Meeting Room
Nursery Care, Room 2, Lower Level
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II & Baptism with Choir, Church
Sunday School
11:15 am Coffee Hour, Parish Hall
January 25, Wednesday
8:15 am Men's Bible Study, Meeting Room
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
January 26, Thursday
10:00 am Women's Bible Study, Meeting Room
January 27, Friday
10:00 am Grace Soup Kitchen, Plainfield, NJ
January 29, The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
8:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I, Chape
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
Confirmation Class, Meeting Room
Nursery Care, Room 2 Lower Level
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II with Choir, Church
Sunday School
11:15 am Annual Meeting, Church
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