St. John's Church
boaz and ruth , bacchus

You Are Invited
to Sarah Kye Price’s Ordination
This Saturday

The St. John's community is invited to Sarah Kye Price's ordination to the transitional diaconate (all ordained priests are first and always ordained deacons). Everyone is invited; no exceptions.

 Saturday, November 10, 2018
5:30 p.m.
This Sunday, November 11, 2018
The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
                         
                                         8:15 a.m.     Holy Eucharist (no music)
                                                9:15 a.m.     Adult Forum, Parish Hall
                                                10:30 a.m.    Holy Eucharist
                                                                       & Children’s Chapel, Keeper’s Cottage
                                               11:45 a.m.   Coffee Hour, Parish Hall

                                               Nursery is available in the Parish Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.



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From Amelie, with Love

Dear Friends:
 
As I have pondered the results of this week’s election, I have been thinking about all the categories we as a nation have created to identify our points of view and entrench us more firmly along party lines. To our detriment we arrange the world into opposing types: the educated and the ignorant, the moral and the immoral, the rich and the poor, the teacher and the learner, the powerful and the lowly.

In our gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus warns his disciples to beware of this habit and to look again. He is in the temple precincts, and a widow has just donated her last two coins to the temple treasury while the officials, such as the scribes, go about their business. These scribes, he says, like to walk around in long robes and be greeted with respect and have the best seats, yet they also are known to devour widows’ assets. They say long prayers but only for the sake of appearance.

However, right before this scene, Jesus had actually affirmed one scribe for being very close to the kingdom of God, for understanding that love of God, neighbor, and self outweighs sacrifices and offerings. So, we know he does not lump all scribes together, nor widows. Contrary to the common thought of the day, Jesus shows us a widow who, even in her poverty, is not helpless but has surprising abundance. “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their plentitude; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

For me, this is Jesus' way of reminding us to pay attention to those we might normally ignore — to pause long enough to hear the stories behind the most obvious one. I can almost hear Jesus asking that generous widow where she lived, what routines made up her every day, how long since her husband died, or what finally compelled her to come and give away her last bit of money that day?

Again and again, Jesus warns us not to assume we already know who is who and what is what in this life. Get to know the whole cast of characters. Expect something new. Learn from each other. Be surprised. Delight in the abundance that arises from unexpected sources.
 
In Christ,

 November's Adult Forum:
Prayer From Different Angles

This Sunday's adult forum continues a three-week series on prayer practices from a variety of perspectives and traditions that we hope will enrich our existing prayer life and our relationship with God.

Sunday, visiting facilitator Don Alexander will lead us in Part II of our discussion of the Contemplative Tradition, focusing on the practice of Centering Prayer. 

November 18 No Adult Forum due to Bishop's Visit.

November 25   Bodily Prayer: Yoga, Movement and the Breath as pathways to the Spirit , by Andrea Bleck-Smith
 
Sundays
9:15 a.m.
The Parish Ha ll

Everyone is welcome; childcare is provided.
It's Stewardship Season

For the next week or so, we will continue reflecting upon our many gifts and how we offer them in and through our St. John's community. This year's stewardship theme is "Now into the World," a phrase echoing the commission we accept in our Post-Communion prayer each Sunday. 

During worship each week, you will be hearing from members of the congregation whose engagement in our ministries “Now” witnesses to the work of God’s Spirit in the world we serve.  This world of “Now” at St. John’s includes:

  • Providing 1,464 of food to local food pantries so far this year.
  • Providing hundreds of school supplies and lunches for students at Bellevue Elementary School and Peter Paul Development Center, while offering parent/teacher support.
  • Assisting a monthly average of 50 people with 104 washing loads and 109 dryer loads at Laundry Love
  •  Joyfully welcoming nearly a thousand community members through weekly worship, hymn sings, concerts, special services, and prayer vigils.
  • Creating over 75 opportunities for learning and spiritual growth through weekly Wednesday night and Sunday morning Adult Forum programs.
  • Restoring our Parish House offices and church grounds to be a welcoming place for dozens of visitors, every day.

We invite you to read the stewardship materials you recently received in the mail and to read it prayerfully and consider how you are being called to contribute your time, talents, and treasure to our shared life.

We will conclude this season on November 18 by welcoming the Bishop and celebrating our new members!  
Wednesday Formation Book Study
Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error

Next week we conclude our discussion of the book Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error, by Journalist Kathryn Schulz. In it, the author explores why we find it so gratifying to be right and so maddening to be mistaken, and how this attitude toward error impacts our relationships—whether among family members, colleagues, neighbors, or nations.

Drawing on thinkers as varied as Augustine, Darwin, Freud, Alan Greenspan, and Groucho Marx, Schulz proposes that error is both a given and a gift—one that can transform our worldviews, our relationships, and, most profoundly, ourselves. 

Each evening’s session begins in the Parish Hall with a simple supper at 6:30 p.m. followed by our discussion at 7:00 p.m. Next week, we will cover the final two chapters, 14 & 15.

Copies of the book are available for purchase online in hard copy or in electronic (see below) format. Please contact the Parish Office if you need help with the purchase.  



Wednesday, November 14
Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Study & Discussion 7:00 p.m.
The Parish Hall
Bishop’s Visit
and St. John’s Celebration

The Right Rev. David Jones, retired Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Virginia, will visit St. John’s November 18 at a single 10:30 a.m. service for Holy Baptism, Confirmation, Reaffirmation, and Reception. We hope you will support new members by attending the service. 

Plan to stay afterward for our annual St. John’s Celebration in the Parish Hall.

Sunday, November 18
10:30 a.m. Eucharist
12:00 p.m.-ish St. John's Celebration, Parish Hall
Hand Over Your Pies, Please

St. John's is continuing our annual tradition of contributing pies to the Community Thanksgiving Celebration at Chimborazo Elementary School, which is scheduled for November 19 at 6:00 p.m.

Please bake or buy a pie to share, and bring it to the Parish Hall by Sunday, November 18. 

We also encourage you to volunteer to help carve turkey and serve dinner the evening of the dinner, beginning at 4:30 p.m., Monday, November 19.

News
from the 224th Annual Convention
of the Diocese of Virginia

Click here to find out what happened at Diocese of Virginia's Annual Convention last week.
Thanksgiving Eucharist
Thursday, November 22, at 10:00 a.m.

Plan to join us at our annual Thanksgiving Eucharist, and bring your friends and family. Attending church on Thanksgiving Day focuses your celebration on thanking God, solidifies your connection to the St. John's community, and gives everyone at your house something meaningful and joyful to do before tucking into their turkey. Please contact Patty Duffy if you are able to serve at this service.
You Are Invited to Shabbat

Members of St. John's are invited to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters by attending a Shabbat service.

If you want to attend, please RSVP by Wednesday, November 28 to David Curtis, so we can provide an estimated attendance to Beth El.

Friday, November 30
6:00 p.m.
As Advent Approaches, Save this Date
The Altar Guild is planning a festive greening of the church for Saturday, December 1 , beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Then, at 11:30 , the Outreach committee, will provide a reverse Advent Calendar Box workshop. 

We hope you can join us for both, as the morning’s activities provide a most suitable way for all of us at St. John’s to prepare the way of the Lord.

Spotlight on Outreach

St. John's is committed to living our Baptismal Covenant
to seek and serve Christ in all persons,
loving our neighbor as ourselves
and respecting the dignity of every human being.
 

Ongoing Opportunities 

Bellevue Elementary needs mentors, lunchroom buddies, and tutors. Scheduling is flexible and during the school-day. If interested, please contact Ms. Charla Armstead . Requirements: background check and orientation meeting.

 Join the $5 Club : Pledge to spend at least $5 a month on non-perishable foods to feed others. Bring your donations on the first Sunday of each month, or deposit them in the basket at the rear of the church at any time.
 
First Fruits Sundays : First Sunday of every month. Bring non-perishable food items to church for donation to the Christ Ascension Food Pantry.  The food pantry especially appreciates canned fruit donations. They always need cereal, canned pasta, tuna, and peanut butter.

This month, you donated 140 pounds of food to the usual monthly collection, plus 67 pounds of tuna and chicken for the deacons’ collection for Annual Convention, making that a total of 207 pounds of food for the month, and…wait for it… l,671 pounds of food for 2018, exceeding our goal of 1500 pounds with a month still left in the year!!!!!!! Congratulations, and thank you for your generosity! 
Next First Fruits Sunday—Sunday, December 2
 
Laundry Love : Third Saturday of every month from 11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Help do your neighbors' laundry at the laundromat at 25th & Nine Mile. Please contact David Curtis for more information.
Next Laundry Love Day— Saturday, November 17

Laundry Love Activity Table The Outreach Team needs new or gently used donations for the kids' activity table at Laundry Love, a place for safe play and learning while parents are busy with clothes. Possible donations include:
  • addition/subtraction flashcards
  • Play-doh
  • simple puzzles
  • picture books, coloring books
  • markers, crayons
  • small Lego sets
  • simple craft supplies (pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, glue, etc.). 

A box for your donations is in the Parish Hall. This is an ongoing collection. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Broda.
Altar Flower Remembrances

We encourage everyone who is a part of the St. John’s community to remember or honor loved ones and special anniversaries and events by sponsoring the flowers at the altar for a specific Sunday. The cost is $30. You may pay via cash or check in the offering plate or in the church office, or through Paypal. Sign up for the Sunday when you want to sponsor flowers on the sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall foyer.
Next Vestry Meeting,
Tuesday, November 13,
at 5:30 p.m.
in the Parish Hall

All members of St. John’s Church are welcome to attend vestry meetings as observers. Minutes of recent meetings are posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall foyer. Please share your ideas or questions about the life of our parish with a vestry member.
Prayer Group & Sunday Prayers
 
Bring your prayers to the Wednesday morning prayer group. Pray with us silently or aloud as the Spirit leads you, and let us surround you with love and prayers. Find sacred silence and hear the still, small voice of God. Simply stop by the Keeper's Cottage any Wednesday at 10:00.

Prayer ministers also offer individual prayer Sundays during communion.

Wednesdays
10:00 a.m.
Keeper's Cottage (to the left of the church)
To learn more,   contact Carolyn Dallas

St. John's Church
2401 East Broad Street







Office: 2319 E. Broad Street RVA 23223
804-649-7938

The deadline for submitting copy for the weekly bulletin insert and parish-wide email is Wednesday morning , but earlier is always appreciated. Please send your content to  Patty Duffy . Please note that content may be edited to accommodate space limitations and style guidelines.