MARCH 24, 2023

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand,

that he may lift you up in due time.

1 Peter 5:6

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Sunday Services @ 8:00am & 10:30am

Grace and Peace,


Sunday was the Feast of Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and guardian of Jesus. In scripture Joseph does not say a single word, yet we know much about his saving deeds. 


Joseph takes Mary as his wife, just as the angel of the Lord said to do. Joseph leads Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod and the slaughtering of the innocents. Joseph raises Jesus as his son, teaches him his trade and so much more. 


Throughout all of this, not of word of what Joseph says is recorded in scripture; his actions, however, speak volumes. 


About love, Jesus says “by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” In this passage love is an action verb, not a declaration. Love is shown, not proclaimed. 


It would not be surprising that most of us know someone, perhaps many people, or perhaps the person in the mirror, whose PR machine is running full-time, we know that they are coming by the loud proclamation of their actions that proceeds their arrival. 


Others that we know, those more like Saint Joseph, are known by the results of their actions; we see a trail of their good works.


Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” How many people do we know that might fit the description “Methinks they doth proclaim too much”?


Is what is being done to the glory of God, or to self-proclaimed glory? Do we lift God in praise, or raise ourselves up for adulation? 


Joseph’s actions speak far more than any words; he embodies the phrase “preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary.”


O God, who from the family of your servants David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother; Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Collect for Saint Joseph)


Peace

Fr. Henry+

LENTEN EVENING PRAYER & Soup Supper

Wednesday Evenings

Soup & Bread Supper @ 6:15pm | Evening Prayer @ 7:30pm

Please join us for an Easter season fellowship celebration on Sunday, April 16th at 4pm with worship, the music of Easter, and readings of the Resurrection, followed by a barbecue themed potluck in the Parish Hall. For planning purposes, RSVP HERE and let us know who's coming and what you'd like to bring. Sodas and water will be available. Please bring a few flowers to contribute to table centerpieces as well as to the flowering of the cross.

EASTER FLOWERS & MUSIC

Donate Easter flowers in Memory, Thanksgiving or in Honor of loved ones;

and/or towards the special festive music during worship.

SUBMIT FORMS BY SUNDAY, APRIL 2.

Flowers/Music Form
Easter Donation

TENEBRAE SERVICE | Wednesday, April 5th

A Meditation of Christ's suffering, tracing His passion, pathos and the momentous day.

6:15pm Soup Supper & Evening Prayer at 7:30pm

THIS IS SACRED GROUND

 

On March 16, 2023, six parishioners of St. John’s completed their final This is Sacred Ground circle. The parishioners, Bree Bruemmer, Glen Drew, Julie Metcalf, Alan Simpson, Tom Peto and Gail Rucker, the facilitator, met 12 times via Zoom beginning in September of 2022.

 

This is Sacred Ground is a creation of and for the National Episcopal Church. The catalyst for it came from the 2015 Episcopal Church's 78th General Convention Resolution - Work for Racial Justice and Reconciliation. In 2017, after a year of listening, reflecting, and learning, the Episcopal Church launched Becoming Beloved Community - The Episcopal Church's Long-term Commitment to Racial Healing, Reconciliation and Justice. Since This Is Sacred Ground’s inception in February 2019 there has been over 2,300 Sacred Ground circles held with over 25,000 participants. St. John’s Olney is proud to be part of this program having facilitated two circles since September of 2021.

 

If you would like to learn more about This Is Sacred Ground please talk with the participants or the facilitator, Gail Rucker, or contact the church office.

~ FOOD PANTRY NEEDS THIS WEEK ~


Shelf-Stable Milk

Water

Canned Chicken

Sardines

Pudding

Crackers

Snacks


Please leave ALL donations on the bench outside the Rector's office. We are happy to stock your donations.

Check the expiration date before donating. THANK YOU.

EASTER EGG HUNT VOLUNTEER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday, April 9th


Help needed Easter morning to scatter eggs before the Easter egg hunt as well as in the Parish Hall to run the carnival games.


Contact Mo. Shivaun if interested in helping.

CHOIR REHEARSAL

Sunday mornings at 9am

in the Choir Room

HANDBELL CHOIR REHEARSAL

Sunday @ 12 Noon

in the Choir Room

CHILDREN'S CHOIR

Sunday afternoon at 1pm in the Choir Room.

For more information about any of our choirs, please contact Cambria.

ADULT FORUM

"A Journey with John"

The 50 Day Bible Challenge


Sunday mornings @ 9am

Meeting Room or ZOOM



JOIN ZOOM MEETING

Meeting ID: 833 0378 8008 Passcode: STJEC

COMPLINE

Wednesday Evenings

7pm on ZOOM

+

Thursday Evening @ 7:30pm

through Lent


JOIN ZOOM MEETING

Meeting ID: 892 8549 6618

Passcode: STJEC

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY

"Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter"



Saturdays Mornings @9am

Meeting Room or ZOOM.

 

JOIN ZOOM MEETING

Meeting ID: 856 0058 2904 Passcode: 393887

smiling-woman.jpg

MONDAY MISSION SOCIETY

Prayers for Family & Friends Mondays @7pm

 

JOIN ZOOM MEETING

Meeting ID: 821 4337 7915

Passcode: STJEC

HOLY HOUSEHOLD 

HALF-HOUR




Sunday Morning

9:45-10:15am ~ Parish Hall

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY


~ Grades 6th-12th ~


Contact Mo. Shivaun

for more information.


Use this list to pray for the sick, shut-in, bereaved,

or those merely in need.





Marylouise Roach

Sandi Russel

Bud Nicholson

Matthew Milling

Penelope Seiss

Patti

Sandy Lenthall 

Diane Janeczko 

Dorothy Finneyfrock

David Lee

Tim Wittig

Lu Soukup

~ Jeremiah 17:14 ~


Heal me, Lord,

and I will be healed;

save me and I will be saved,

for you are the one I praise.


~ Psalm 107:20 ~


He sent out his word

and healed them;

he rescued them from

the grave.

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St. John's Episcopal Church

PO Box 187 | Olney, MD 20832

ONLINE DIRECTORY

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ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
3427 Olney-Laytonsville Road
Olney, MD 20832
301-774-6999