He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
Luke 1:14-15
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Grace and Peace,
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Children have a wonderful ability to hear stories over and over (and over and over….) again without tiring. They find wonder and new ways to hear the story each time it is repeated. As a parent with a very young child this nuance escaped me, but now I love the possibilities.
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Each year in church we hear the story of the birth of Jesus; over and over again we hear the story. The story continues to inspire wonder and new ways of hearing it. There are many characters in the story, shepherds, inn keeper, other pilgrims, even animals, as well as Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child.
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As you hear this story again for the first time, which character might you find yourself portraying? Are you the inn keeper? And if the inn keeper, did you turn away a young pregnant women and her husband because they might be inconvenient? Did you turn them away because there was no room that they could afford? Or did you, as inn keeper, offer this couple, who were filled with the anticipation of new birth, hospitality and a secluded space in the stable where they would not be bothered by all the other pilgrims?
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Perhaps as you hear this story you find yourself standing in the stable gazing upon your own new born child. What draws you to envision yourself as Mary or Joseph? What emotions are you feeling?
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As you hear this story did you find yourself tightly wrapped in a cloth, secure and warm, surrounded by loving creatures, both 2 legged and 4 legged? Did you have a sense of peace and well as full knowledge of what was to come?
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Hearing this story again for the first time provides us with an invitation to sense God’s loving presence. O come, O come Emmanuel.
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Peace,
Henry +
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Our nice blue table cloths seem to be missing from it's storage place! If you took them home to be laundered, please return them this weekend.
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World Premiere Anthem
Premiered by
St. John's Choir & Ringers
Sunday, December 9th
10am Worship Service
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To commemorate the 175
th
anniversary of St. John’s, Mary Lou McMaster and Jay Lozier have commissioned an anthem for choir, organ, and handbells by Birmingham composer K. Lee Scott. Mr. Scott is widely considered one of America’s top composers of church music. His hymns appear in eight hymnals, and he has published more than three hundred compositions. The St. John’s Choir and Ringers will premiere his anthem “And Christ Shall Be Our Peace” on
Sunday December 9th at the 10:00 service
. The lovely Advent text is based on Micah 5:2 and themes from Psalm 80:1-7.16-18.
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Just in time for Christmas...
THIS
Sunday, December 9th
, African Palms will have items for sale in the Parish Hall. Handwoven totes, beautifully woven baskets, pillows, ornaments, soapstone bowls, and cards. Please stop by and purchase that one-of-a kind gift that gives back to communities in Tanzania for that special person.
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ANNUAL SOUP & SALAD DINNER & Cookie Exchange
Calling All Women!
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Please join us for the Annual Soup and Salad dinner on
Monday, December 10th, at 7:00pm,
at the home of the Downings. Vegetarian
and hearty soups will be provided. Please bring a salad to share. Following dinner, there will be a cookie exchange. If you do not have a cookie tin, one will be provided. This year we will be collecting diapers, any size, for a local diaper drive. Look forward to having you.
Any questions?
Please call Mathy at 301-938-8089.
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EPIPHANY SERVICE & DINNER
Sunday, January 6th
Epiphany service, a service of light features a Eucharist, candlelight and the beautiful music of Taizé. Prior to the service, we invite you to join us for a spaghetti dinner in the Parish Hall at 5:30pm. Fellowship and dine with us and then worship with us at the Taizé service at 7pm.
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Taizé Service
Sunday Evening @ 7pm
Experience love and worship beyond the traditions of Sunday mornings.
Music, Intentional Silence, Prayers and God's Love.
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DECEMBER 7
Advent Dinner @ 7pm
DECEMBER 9
9am Choir Rehearsal
Sunday School @ 9am
11:30am Handbell Rehearsal
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal
following 10am service
DECEMBER 11
African Palms Board Meeting
@ 7pm
DECEMBER 13
STJES Christmas Concert
Mindful Yoga with Lori @ 7pm
DECEMBER 16
9am Choir Rehearsal
Sunday School @ 9am
11:30am Handbell Rehearsal
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal
following 10am service
Esther Deel Meeting @ 11:30am
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DECEMBER 9
8AM
.
Matt Thomas
10AM
.
EM Chalice
Nancy Olkewicz
.
EM Intinction Cup
Mike Salem
.
Lessons
Bree Bruemmer
.
Prayer Lector
Will Lederer
.
Acolytes
Riley McGee
Rachel Peiris
Jason Vincent
.
Ushers
Phil & Lisa Stylos
.
Counters
Julie Bauduy
Aparna Williams
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ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
3427 Olney-Laytonsville Road
Olney, MD 20832
301-774-6999
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