But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26
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Inexplicably,
Pentecost is upon us. The end of the story of the Messiah’s life on earth was one of limited guidance and uncertainty, of disciples putting together the pieces of the Resurrection and God’s salvation story, and mostly of waiting and wondering. Jesus ascends, giving his final direction "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Scripture describes the moment as the disciples stand, looking up, watching, waiting, unknowing of their next step. In fact, angels have to appear to tell them to go home.
Pentecost comes, lighting a literal fire in the disciples to finally get them rolling, and we get Peter evangelizing in the streets and the newly commissioned Apostles finally doing the work recognizable as the early church.
Pentecost is often understood as the birthday of the church - the day discipleship of a man became The Way to follow God’s Messiah and salvation.
Normally we celebrate with a big international potluck, representing how the Word spread, like fire, throughout the world, through the work and words of the Apostles. This year, we are required to go back to basics. Our celebration has been transformed into a more intentionally work, once again, of sharing God’s good news in the midst of a world that desperately needs it. So how do we do that at home? There are the simple ways:
Wear red on Sunday. It is the liturgical color of the day, the only liturgical holiday represented by red and fire. I generally wear my red converse every year for the occasion and social distancing will not stop me this year.
Make a birthday cake. There is never a bad reason to have cake and celebrating the birthday of the church seems like a pretty phenomenal reason to indulge a bit.
Light a fire. Enjoy your fire pit or fireplace. Ponder what God wanted to set ablaze when he left tongues of fire on the disciples and they began to speak so to be understood by people all over the world. What does God set ablaze in you?
But the far more complicated and more important work is to consider “What now?” our theme for the summer season. The disciples first had to consider this question at the Ascension of Christ and here we are, over 2000 years later, again pondering the question. What does the church look like in a time of social distancing? What will it look like afterwards? How is the church more than a building? How is the church called to be in and of its community?
The reality is that, like the disciples who found themselves paralyzed, looking up, we can be frozen in our nostalgia for what was or even what should be. But here we are, Pentecost 2020. Christ still leaves us the same direction “therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” On the graduation episode of Some Good News on Youtube, John Krasinski brought on inspiration thinkers to answer questions of new graduates. When asked “What now?” by a young man, John Stewart responded “You stop completing things and start living them.” Discipleship is about following instructions, getting directions and checking off the boxes. When sent into new territory like the Apostles, we are called to set down the check list of “discipleship as normal” or “Church that’s familiar” and ask "what now?" Now we live The Way- sharing food with neighbors, caring for our most vulnerable, working out solutions rather than complaining about the problems.
What does church look like after Pentecost? It looks like apostles two by two on the roads. It looks like Peter, Paul, Lydia, Dorcus and Chloe. The Church looks like a transformed food pantry “take what you need, leave what you can” style. It looks like masks that we know protect others more than our selves. It looks like zoom calls and YouTube church. It looks like households with prayerbooks and phone calls and cards from prayer partners. It looks like chalk messages in driveways and messages written in windows. It looks like meals for medical works and neighbors who are suffering from job turmoil or even tremendous losses, even deaths. It looks like people working together in small cohorts to figure out childcare and schooling when work opens before camps, schools and childcare. Ultimately, the church looks like people, lit up with fire of the Holy Spirit, burning God so brightly.
Pentecost is always a season of “What now?” But this year we get to stop assuming the answer and start living it.
In Christ,
Mo. Shivaun+
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JOIN US VIRTUALLY TUESDAY EVENINGS AT 8pm FOR THE SERVICE OF COMPLINE.
Broadcast live from the homes of Fr. Henry or Mother Shivaun.
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RE-GATHERING SURVEY
As we draft plans for our re-gathering, we would like to have the input of our parishioners. A survey was sent out yesterday
,
if you haven't already done so, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us.
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STJEC ADULT FORUM
Sunday Mornings @ 9 AM
through December 27, 2020
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 833 0378 8008
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Sunday, May 31, 2020
This Sunday's discussion:
MERE CHRISTIANITY
C.S. Lewis
BOOK 1 - Chapters 3-5
In "Mere Christianity"
C. S. Lewis argues the logical validity of Christianity, defends the religion from its critics, and looks at what the life of a Christian is like.
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Thank you for your support and generosity towards St. John's
during these uncertain times.
Give
online or by mailing to:
PO Box 187
Olney, MD 20832
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ST. JOHN'S CONNECTED
Connecting You to...
Sunday Worship & Sermon,
Daily Devotions, Children's Worship Resources, link for Prayer Request,
Adult Forum Information, Zoom Meetings and Check-Ins
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"
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".
So that we may acknowledge and recognize ALL of our 2020 graduates, please
EMAIL
us the names of those graduating. To be included in our 2020 Graduate Recognition names must be submitted by
JUNE 7
.
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Thank you to those who responded and volunteered to the request for
"Virtual Recording Readers."
ALL recordings will be done at
9:30am in the church.
Please remember to wear a mask and to resist the urge to shake hands, hug or touch the person recording.
Schedule is below:
Thursday, JUNE 4 - Becca Turrett
Thursday, JUNE 11 - Stephanie Sidella
Thursday, June 18 - Bree Bruemmer
Thursday, June 25 - Mike Salem
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SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS A NEW ZOOM LINK
ONE MEETING ROOM , ONE LINK
SUNDAY, MAY 31
Pre-K Sunday School @ 9:30AM
K-2nd Grade @ 10 AM
3rd-5th Grade @ 10:30 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 967 598 3901
Password: EpiscoKid
Beginning
June 7th - August 30th
There will be ONE Sunday School
@ 9:30AM with Bible Story Time
ONE MEETING ROOM , ONE LINK
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YOUTH GROUP MEETINGS
EVERY OTHER SUNDAY @ 12 Noon
Show & Tell, Check-In, Game,
and Discussions.
Sunday May 31st
June 14th & June 28th
July 12th & July 26th
August 9th & August 23rd
For
THIS
Sunday's meeting, please bring a item to share that for you represents this school year.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 967 598 3901
Password: EpiscoKid
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FAMILY BOOK GROUP ZOOM LINK
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 967 598 3901
Password: EpiscoKid
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FAMILY BOOK GROUP
We are excited to be starting a weekly Family Chronicles of Narnia Book Group on
Wednesday evenings at 7PM.
The first meeting is scheduled for
June 17th.
Book discussion will be no longer than 30 minutes...
and PJs are encouraged.
For the
first meeting, on June 17th,
we will have read Chapters 1 & 2 of
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
This new Book Group and the discussions are
multi-generational and open to all.
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SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR
Sundays @ 10-10:30 AM
through December 27, 2020
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 870 3415 1920
*
ESTHER DEEL COFFEE HOUR
Sundays @ 11:30 AM-12 Noon
through December 27, 2020
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 830 8468 5432
*
MONDAY MISSION SOCIETY
Mondays @ 7-7:30 PM
through July 27, 2020
Join Zoom Meeting
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YOUNG FAMILY COFFEE HOUR
Sunday, May 31st @ 11 AM
BEGINNING JUNE 14th
Young Family Coffee Hour
is moving to EVERY OTHER Sunday
10-10:30 AM
Summer Meeting Dates:
Sunday, June 14th
Sunday, June 28th
Sunday, July 12th
Sunday, July 26th
Sunday, August 9th
Sunday, August 23rd
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 967 598 3901
Password: EpiscoKid
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Dear God,
We ask for your forgiveness when we forget the power that lies within, and trust instead upon our human strength.
Remind us of that glorious day when your Spirit transformed the lives of those
who hid in fear, into people of power.
Renew the hearts of those that have grown cold. Let your Spirit come upon us and breathe new life into us.
Help us to share this new life in all
that we do and say.
Help us to be renewed and refreshed when we are torn down and tired.
Give us the courage to witness boldly to our faith in word and deed.
Strengthen us in our inner being, so that we can know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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STAINED GLASS REFLECTIONS
A few thoughts by Fr. Henry+
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Use this list to pray and to show your love and concern for the sick, shut-in, bereaved, or those merely in
need of prayer.
Samantha
Louann
Paul Littlewood
Chris Prinz
Health Care Workers
Phil Cushman
Catherine Cant
Joanne Brine
Melissa Bank
Craig Schumpert
Lori Billings
Jane Nicholson
Edith Pangisa
Frances Hunt
Marilyn Lee
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Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
How can we pray for you?
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ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
3427 Olney-Laytonsville Road
Olney, MD 20832
301-774-6999
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