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FYI-for your information-October 18, 2018
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48 Middle Street --
(Parking at 33 Wash. St.)
Gloucester, Massachusetts
978-283-1708
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Looking Ahead:
Common Cathedral:
Sunday October 28
Country Cupboard Fair: November 17 from 9-2.
Advent Lessons and Carols: December 2, at 4 pm.
Advent Evensongs: December 6, 13, 20; Thursdays at 6 pm.
Music Notes ♫
I'm delighted to receive enthusiastic recommendations for hymns and even to honor them. We'll sing one of Carl Daw's great texts, #782 in WLP "Gracious Spirit, give your servants joy." A hymn invoking the Holy Spirit and weaving in creation, Jesus' birth and invoking the Trinity. Check out the words. It will be fun to see if folks realize to reach for the green WLP, rather than blue Hymnal 1982! We will also hear a setting of Wondrous Love sung by the choir. We begin singing the music of the Mass (Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei) by Robert Powell. One commentator remarked that this setting of the Gloria, S280 held the Episcopal Church together, it was sung so widely! It's been a while since we've sung the Agnus Dei, so we'll sing it twice during the service. Organ music is based upon the Offertory Hymn 158 "Ah, Holy Jesus." Its great to be able to hear some of this great Passiontide music suggested by the readings outside of the intense and short Lent & Holy Week time.
 Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 3pm classical guitarist Ayman Jarjour will perform at St. John's free of charge and donations of cash and checks (payable to WGTCC) will benefit Cape Ann's refugee families. A reception featuring Syrian treats will follow. If you'd like to volunteer, contact Melanie Murray-Brown at ormmbglouc@gmail.com or 978-697-8546. For more information on Ayman (including video) please click here. Hope to see you there.
 Country Cupboard Fair
First of all, thanks to everyone for responding to our recent requests. The Fair is fast approaching on Saturday November 17th. The banner is going up, the posters going out and advertising is beginning. We'll have a sign-up sheet posted this Sunday, so please check it out for ways you can help. This week's request? Your gently used jewelry for our terrific Jewelry Table. DeeDee has a great variety this year, but more is definitely needed. Just drop it off in the Office. Please remember that while the Fair is a major fundraiser for St. John's, it is also an act of hospitality, welcoming the community into our parish home and family. We are, in many ways, preparing a party, so come and join the fun!
 Request for Silent Auction items
Your donations of new, gently used items such as antiques, household furnishings, rare or unusual books, artwork, china, small furniture, fabric arts, children
'
s toys or what have you will help make this year's auction a success. Contact Catherine McGeary for information or if you have any questions. Please bring your donations to the church office on or before November 11.
Vestry Notes from the 10/16/2018 meeting
- 'Renewing Our Covenant,' St. John's Stewardship campaign, is in full swing. As you consider your pledge for 2019, please prayerfully reflect on the many ministries St. John's offers to each of us, as well as to the community at large. The parish is on the path to financial stability, but success depends on our on-going commitment. The Long-Range Planning Committee has determined that a 5% increase in annual pledge income will ensure that all church ministries remain vibrant!
- 6 members of St. John's joined 2 parishioners from St. Mary's in Rockport for the annual parish retreat, held this year at the monastery of the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge. The monks of SSJE live a deeply prayerful and liturgical life, creating a wonderfully sacred space for silence, worship and reflection. All agreed that this was an extremely illuminating experience, and all were grateful to have participated as a community.
- Representatives of Resonant Energy met with the Vestry to present their understanding of the costs and benefits of installing solar panels on all or a portion of the parish hall, church and rectory roofs. The potential savings to the church over a 25 year period are projected to be substantial, and the vestry is in the final stages of gathering information. Any determination to move forward with the project would require assurance that the project would be revenue-neutral from the outset.
- The 2019 NavajoLand Mission Trip is scheduled for June 29-July 5. This multi-parish event is an opportunity for youth and adults to work together on service projects and cultural exchange with members of the NavajoLand, NM Diocese. Please see Doug Parsons for more information.
- The Vestry elected Paul McGeary as an substitute delegate to the Diocesan Convention, as Jonathan Pope stepped down due to a scheduling conflict. Paul and Rick Britton will be representing St. John's at the Convention to be held Nov. 2-3. Please see Paul or Rick for more information.
Note from the Stewardship Committee
We have begun our month-long Stewardship campaign for 2019, leading up to Ingathering Sunday on Nov. 4. This year's theme is "Renewing Our Covenant."What do we mean by "Renewing Our Covenant"?
In a narrow sense, this year's theme harks back to the commitment we made as a parish last year to increase our support each year for the next five years to put St. John's on a firm foundation.
But in a larger sense, a covenant is a promise we make to God, ourselves, and the larger world. It is a statement that we will follow the principles of Christ in our lives as individuals and as a community. It means we try to be good stewards of the world that has been entrusted to us.
I cannot think of stewardship without thinking of
Adele Ervin. Her life expressed the concept of stewardship: of her church, her communities and among her friends. Her many gifts, large and small, known and unknown, were a perfect expression of her faith in God and her neighbors.
One of her favorite passages was Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13. "
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
When you make your pledge, you are increasing that reservoir of love and charity that we are working to create.
Please consider that when your pledge card arrives.
 Did You Know About...Common Cathedral? Common Cathedral is a once-a-year opportunity for Saint John's to reach out to those in need beyond our Gloucester community. The event takes place on the Boston Common and serves the homeless and at-risk folks in the area. This year's event is scheduled for Sunday, October 28, and we need help. There is a sign-up sheet in the parish hall for making sandwiches and/or helping with lunch distribution on The Common. For more information, contact Carole Secrest at 978-290-1630.
First Saturdays:
Oct. 20: 10-1, Shrine Making Workshop; Nov. 3: All Souls Service, 5pm.
Please sign up if you want to participate, by calling Lynn Runnells (978-407-5901), or emailing Marge at marge@stjohnsgloucester.org
ADULT FORUM
is currently reading the very enjoyable book, Vintage Saints and Sinners - 25 Christians who Transformed My Faith, written by Karen Marsh. (You may order from Amazon or Christian Books in Peabody.) Sundays 9:15 in the Thompson Room.
Dónde están
Sue y Martha?
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Sunrise at the monastery
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Update from Sue: Hello friends! Last week we stayed in a monastery where we all prepared a common meal and ate together. We slept on mats on the floor (and slept quite well!). This is the following day's sunrise looking back at the monastery. We continue to have many 'Camino ' moments as when an elderly man showed us how to shake down a tree for fresh walnuts. Otherwise, we are doing fine. Could use a washing machine as our clothes aren't keeping up with hand washing! Hard to get them to dry by days end. Few dryers! Enjoying the other pilgrims, the food and the endless beautiful countryside.
Update from Martha:
(In Burgos, Spain, north of Madrid) we found a great place for tapas. Each one looks like a little work of art. A piece of crusty bread with something on top. Those and a glass of red wine (for) 6.20€ was enough for supper. We went to the Sat. pm mass at this magnificent cathedral. Two of the chapels remain for prayer, but most of it is open for tours, so after breakfast today we paid the pilgrims price for a self-guided audio tour. Really incredible. Because of our late start today, we will likely only do 13 km. The miles have gotten easier as long as the way isn't too steep.
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The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos
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Having had so much time to think as I walk has made me understand more clearly why I wanted to do this walk. It's really so many things wrapped together and all good. I have heard the stories of others we have met and walked with and so many are struggling with big things in their lives. I feel so very fortunate.
BCP p. 831 #53. For Travelers
O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel in particular Sue and Martha; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
What is this image and why is it here?
 This is a stylized version of a 3000 BCE cave painting found in Sicily. A labyrinth is a complicated and circuitous pathway that can serve as a metaphor for the road one travels (pilgrimage) through life. This shape is as large as a cathedral floor, or as small as a piece of wood or paper allowing one to walk, or to trace (with a finger) the pathway to the middle and back out again. Some are outdoors such as the one at St. John's Prep in Danvers. There are other shapes including the square on in the parish hall that the children love to walk! Even Sting
devoted a whole album to the musical implications of the labyrinth and built one for himself at his castle in England.
 A Labyrinth might be seen as a collapsed pilgrimage, such as the famous Camino de Santiago that Sue and Martha are on. These pilgrimages are famous often, marked by the great story cycle "Canterbury Tales." These Medieval tours often substitute for traveling to Jerusalem to walk the way of Jesus first documented by the diary of Egeria in the 380s that tells so much about the devotion and liturgies of the Christians of the early church.
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The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost: October 21, 2018
Presiding & Preaching:The Rev. Bret Hays, Rector
8am:
Lector: Norm Barr
Lay Eucharistic Minister/Intercessor: Al Browne, Jr.
Acolyte: Norm Barr
Usher: Bill Melvin
10:30am:
Lectors:
George Sibley & Sara Stotzer
Lay Eucharistic Ministers:
Cecily Merrell & Marjorie Fergusson
Intercessor: Alex Garcia-Mata
Acolyte: Kim Prentice
Ushers:
Len & Faith Berry
Greeters:
Doug Parsons & Geoff Grow
Musicians: The Parish Choir & Mark Nelson, Director and Organist
Preparing for the Liturgy
Altar Guild: Paul McGeary & Karen Kasper
Flower Guild: DeeDee Bedford
Bread bakers Catherine McGeary, Sue Lupo, Kim Prentice and I
ona & Melanie Murray-Brown.
Food Bank
for next week: SOUP
Coffee Hour Sunday Please sign up for future dates.
Action Shelter Sandwiches
this week are being provided by Mary Jane Sawyer. We need folks for October 27, November 3 & 10. Please sign up!
THE ALTAR FLOWERS SUNDAY
are in memory of the McGeary and Raynor Families given by Catherine & Paul McGeary.
THE SANCTUARY LAMP
burns this week in memory of Larry Veator given by Jean Dyett.
2018 sign-ups for Lamp/Flowers,
etc. are in the parish hall or next to sacristy door in hallway.
St. John's Intercession List:
Patricia Anders, Tim Pierce, Susan Kessler, Jeffrey,
Sr. Judy Fortune
, Charlotte Baxter,
Susan, Malcolm Henderson,
Harold Ercolani,
Margo Lion
, Sally Elwell, Christine, James T. D., Maud & family, Meghan, Charles Curti, Tom Kaito, Katherine Esty, The Riccio family, Sharon Martin, Richard Jefferson, Anthony Shamitaro, Catherine Genovese, David Arnold, Connor Macauley, Simon Woods, Joan Eaton, Jackie Vannah, Susan Richardson, Mary McIntyre, Jane Walsh, Patti Kelleher, Margie Sonthemier, Beni Rose, Jack Ketchopulos, Marie Giacalone, Grace Center, John Fleming.
The Intercession List
is used by members of the congregation to pray on behalf of fellow parishioners or others in need of assistance. The assistance can be needed for any type of problem perceived by the person for whom the prayers are requested and stating the reason for the request is not necessary. Sometimes only the first name of the person on whose behalf the prayers are offered is used. The list is published twice a week, once in the emailed FYI bulletin and once in the Sunday bulletin distributed at the 8:00 and the 10:30 services. There are several sources for the list of intentions. Calls are received at the church office, Bret adds names based on his ministry of pastoral care and other calls are received by the person who keeps the formal, computerized list and whose name is publicized in the two bulletins. Anyone can call with a name for the list. Names are removed when the need for assistance has passed.
Nurture and Challenge Your Spirit with us at St. John's.
Our mission in Christ is to nurture and equip members
for spiritual growth and active participation in ministries
of compassion, justice, and peace in the church and beyond.
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WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sundays
- 8 am Eucharist, Rite 1
- 9:15 Adult Forum (Thompson Room)
- 10:30 am Sung Eucharist, Rite 2 with choir
- 7:30 pm Sunday & Sober Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays
- 9-noon Ms. Fixits Women gathering to tend to the fabric of the church.
- 6 pm Women's Cursillo Reunion Group (1st and 3rd Monday)
- 7 pm Bible Study (First Monday of the month led by Lynn Runnells.)
- 7 pm Psalm Study (Fourth Monday of the month)
Tuesdays
- 5 pm Free Harvest Meals, sponsored by Cape Ann Interfaith Commission.
Wednesdays
- 7 am Men's Bible Reflection, (Bible study)
- 9:30 am Open Space
- 7 pm Fish City Alcoholics Anonymous
Thursdays
- 4:30-5:45 pm Choir School Children from ages 5-12
- 6 pm Evensong (during Advent and Lent)
- 7:15-8:45 pm Parish Choir rehearsal.
Saturdays
- Action Shelter Lunch-Making, Carolyn Stewart
-
5 pm
"
Art Service
"
First Saturday of the month
, October to May.
- 8 pm Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous
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Parish Office Hours
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Monday - Thursday
8am-noon
The Church is open for prayer and meditation during these hours.
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Binky, Parish Mascot
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Staff
The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, Diocesan Bishop
The Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan
The Rev. Bret Bowie Hays, Rector -
e-mail,
Mark Edward Nelson, Music Director -
e-mail
Elizabeth de Veer, Parish Administrator -
e-mail
Marge Bishop, Church Assistant -
e-mail
Martha Whitney, Thrift Shop Manager -
e-mail
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Wardens & Vestry
Wardens: David Stotzer & Paul McGeary
Clerk:Geoffrey Pope
Treasurer: Karen Kasper
Assistant Treasurer: Sue
Lupo
2019- Connie DeSimone, Joan Gorga, Lynn Runnells
2020-Pat Earle, Nancy Harrison, Jim LaBelle
2021-Tom Chmura, Bill Melvin, Dori Mottola
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