Thanks for reading our weekly email newsletter! We hope that it gives you useful and relevant updates for all the events and activities here at St. John's. Feel free to forward this email to your family and friends so they can be included in the "wider circle" that we're drawing here in College Park.
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A Message from the Priest in Charge:
Dear Friends,
In my humble opinion, this past weekend's services could not have gone any better.
The weather cleared and warmed up a few degrees so that our two outdoor services on behalf of the Southwest Convocation (Saturday and Sunday afternoon) were held as scheduled and without any major hiccups. Thanks to all my colleagues from the Convocation and to David Gibbs and Jorge Darr for helping to make sure all went well. It was an absolute joy to place my hand on Jonathan Johnson's shoulder as the Bishop confirmed him into the church.
Sunday morning's service for the First Sunday in Lent also went very smoothly, at least from my perspective. It felt good to be back inside the church (if only four of us...) and to be able to stand out front and offer a blessed wafer to those who came by after the service. So much to "read, mark and inwardly digest" as we move ahead on our Lenten journey together. While our services will be a little more subdued in this season, we will still be celebrating the "little Easters" each Sunday. Please invite your family, friends and neighbors to join us as they can during this sacred time. One never knows how the Spirit might be working in people's hearts.
Yesterday (Tuesday), we gave away TWENTY-ONE "meals to go" to folks who came to our door seeking some nourishment. That is a one-day record! Thanks to Pat Roberts and David Gibbs for being there to greet our visitors. Thanks to each of you who have contributed food or other offerings to the church to make this ministry possible. There is obviously a need for what we do each Tuesday and Thursday morning. May God's blessings continue to sustain this work.
Peace and blessings
Terri +
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A Plan for Lenten Worship
With the change of liturgical seasons, the structure of our order of worship changes a little. On these remaining Sundays in Lent, we will be using "A Penitential Order" as the opening to our service (as we have done in the past). This liturgical form enables us to say the Decalogue - a responsive reading of the original Ten Commandments - and then moves us into the Confession and Absolution at the beginning of the service rather than having it imbedded later (after the Prayers) in our usual order of worship.
For me, it seems rather "cleansing" to have the confession and absolution early in the service. My heart is at peace and I can be more open to the readings and sermon that follow. In my field placement parish in New York during seminary, the priest there used the Penitential Order just about every Sunday. Perhaps that is where I came to appreciate the change in rhythm. During this season, I would invite you to reflect upon how the subtle changes in our worship pattern affect you and offer a different perspective on coming together in the presence of God. tb+
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Morning Prayer: New Login Information!
Newell Anderson has volunteered to be the weekly host of morning prayer on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. As part of his 'hosting' duties, there is now a new login to the prayer meeting on Zoom. Please see below for details. Thank you Newell!
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Sunday Worship
The Second Sunday in Lent
Join us via Zoom
February 28, 2021 at 10:00am
For the Sunday Worship Service:
You may be prompted to enter the following:
Meeting ID: 890 4465 2335
Password: 704817
(see Zoom instructions below)
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Morning Prayer
Every Tuesday and Thursday Morning
Join us via Zoom
10:00am
(NEW LOGIN ID & PASSWORD!)
For Morning Prayer:
You may be prompted to enter the following:
Meeting ID: 869 7767 5734
Password: 752305
(see Zoom instructions below)
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Compline
Night Prayer
Join us via Zoom
Thursday 7:00pm
For the Compline Service:
You may be prompted to enter the following:
Meeting ID: 843 7684 4017
Password: 848486
(see Zoom instructions below)
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Bible Study
Join us via Zoom
Wednesday 6:00pm
Join us this evening to begin our Lenten study of the extraordinary artwork of John August Swanson, on display at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. This series, entitled "What Wondrous Love," illustrates the stories of Holy Week. Discussion guides are available for pickup or mailing. All are welcome and we hope you will make plans to join us each Wednesday evening during Lent at 6:00pm.
For Bible Study:
You may be prompted to enter the following:
Meeting ID: 291 729 9738
Passcode: 30337
(see Zoom instructions below)
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SUNDAY MORNING CONVERSATIONS
on recess this week
because of a scheduled Vestry meeting on Sunday after the service.. Our plans are to resume in some format with the Sundays in March. Stay tuned for more information and topics.
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By using this link, you can make a one-time donation or set up recurring a recurring gift (such as your pledge) using the automatic withdrawal (ACH) feature from your checking or savings account or by using your debit or credit card.
There will be an option for you to cover the small processing fee that would be assessed to the church (0.90% + 0.35 for ACH transactions or 2.65% + 0.35 for credit/debit card transactions - 3.50% for AMEX). Please know that covering this fee is OPTIONAL for you.
Optionally, you can choose to TEXT to give to St. Johns. Just text 73256 and enter our code 3480. You will be taken to the giving page where you can make your selections.
In both instances, you will receive an email or text confirmation receipt immediately upon processing the transaction. The church receives daily, weekly and monthly summary reports so we can track and help resolve any issues, if they occur.
In January, over $3,400 was given to the church using this feature. Thank you for embracing this new technology.
If you have any questions or encounter any difficulties, please call the office and we will be glad to offer assistance.
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"Second Cup"
an online hangout space for St. John's parishioners
Sometimes you just wanna chat and talk and hear your fellow parishioners voices or see their faces. So, we're setting up an online "hang-out" space for the people of St. John's on the Zoom platform.
Every Monday morning, between 11:00am and noon, you can enter the space by clicking below and just "hang out" in conversation with whoever else is able to join. If you prefer to dial in by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and enter the Meeting ID 882-3460-9376 and Password 510214. Catch up on the weather, the news, opinions about the Sunday service music or sermon (be nice!) or whatever. Come and go as you need to.
We have set this up as a six-week trial, so let's see who is interested and how this works.
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Ministers of Worship for this coming Sunday, February 28, 2021:
First Lesson - Michael Isham
Psalmists - Pat Roberts & Betsy Daniell
Second Lesson - Phyllis Smith
Prayers of the People - Jane Graham
Musicians - St. John's Singers with Cameron Carey, piano & Dock Anderson, organ
** if you have a 'speaking' role in this Sunday's service, please log-in to Zoom by 9:45 for a microphone check and any updated instructions. Thank you!
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To join any of our worship services via Zoom, here's what you need to do:
(1) If you have not already downloaded the Zoom application and if you have a laptop, tablet or cellphone that has a camera, then you can download the Zoom app at no charge. Just go to www.zoom.com to do this, following the prompts to set up your own 'account.' I would suggest doing this in advance of Sunday's service since the app can take a while to download to your device.
(2) Download a copy of the bulletin for the service by clicking the appropriate button above. You can then print and follow along with the service.
(3) Then, at the specified meeting time (or a few minutes before), click on the appropriate button to access the link to enter the Zoom service.
You will then be connected into the video meeting. All participants will be 'muted' upon entry so that we can begin the service in quiet; however, everyone participating via video can see the faces of other participants and will be able to hear the readers/speakers. At various times during and at the end of the service, everyone will be 'unmuted' and all the channels will be left open for a 'virtual' exchange of the Peace (most likely a noisy time!).
If you do not have a 'camera-enabled' device and/or would prefer to join the meeting by simply calling in with your phone, use 1-929-205-6099 as the toll-free number to do so, using the same meeting ID and password as listed above. You will be connected for audio only.
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Journey & Journey’s End
O Father, give the spirit power to climb
To the fountain of all light, and be purified.
Break through the mists of earth, the weight of the soil,
Shine forth in splendour, you that are calm weather,
And quiet resting place for souls.
To see you is the end and the beginning,
You carry us, and you go before,
You are the journey, and the journey’s end.
– (Martyr) Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius 480-525AD
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