"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:15
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LIGHT A LAMP FOR JESUS
"For Where Your Treasure is,
There Your Heart Will Be Also"
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Grace and Peace,
Slow down - feast days ahead!
As we turn the corner from the current liturgical year to a new year, we find ourselves immersed in special feasts and seasons. First, the feast of Christ the King, this year on 22 November, the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, comes as a reminder of the most gracious rule to which we joyfully submit ourselves. His rule directs our minds, wills, hearts, and bodies. Our bodies, as Saint Paul says, become instruments of justice unto God.
Quickly following Christ the King we come to the feast of Thanksgiving Day; it is actually a church feast day, and not just as a result of the turkey. The church has recognized agricultural festivals for centuries; Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles are all pilgrimage feasts that have been celebrated by Jews since biblical times. Our own Thanksgiving Day, with agricultural origins in Virginia and Massachusetts, is a part of the Book of Common Prayer. In the collect for the feast we give thanks for the fruits of the earth and the labors of those who harvest them, and we ask that we might be good stewards of God’s bounty remembering to share with those in need.
Then we come to, on 29 November, the first Sunday of Advent - a season of expectant and active waiting. This is also the first Sunday of the new liturgical year. Advent is a season of preparation for Christmas, not a season of setting up trees and other decorations, but for preparing a place for God incarnate in our lives, our hearts, and our world.
The rhythm of the liturgical calendar is not affected by pandemics, and it has the power to sweep us from one season into a new season of hope and light. Even as we find the days growing longer, and the nights colder, we know that soon, very soon, the light will over come the darkness and the light of Christ, God incarnate, will brighten the ever lengthening day.
There is a Danish tradition of “hygge” (hoo-gah or hue-guh) that calls everyone to embrace the coziness of the winter, time with family and friends, perhaps even dining outdoors wrapped in a blanket. Making the most of the winter season, as well as being swept along with the liturgical feasts will bring us all to the light of a new day. Advent takes us to The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, then the Feast of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, The Feast of the Holy Innocents, The Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the baptism of Christ. We are swept along in the river of seasons and feasts, illumined by the light of Christ, while giving thanks and praise for all that God has given us.
Thanks be to God.
Fr Henry+
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STJES MINI MOBIL AUCTION
has gone virtual! One of a kind gifts just in time for the Holidays.
Registration starts TODAY.
Bidding opens Monday, November 23rd at noon and closes on December 4th.
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A LOOK AT ADVENT HYMNS
Sunday, November 22nd @ 4pm
Jim Kreger's presentation on great hymns for the season of Advent is THIS SUNDAY at 4pm. To participate, contact Jim at music@stjec.org by noon on Sunday for Zoom info.
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PRAYER PARTNER COFFEE HOUR & ADVENT WREATH MAKING
Sunday, November 29th @ 11am
Gather pine cones and foliage, log on to STJEC zoom, meet with your prayer partner and build your wreath together.
Wreath and candles are available for pickup at St. John's Sunday mornings through the end of November.
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POINSETTIAS FOR SALE
African Palms is selling RED Poinsettias for the holiday season.
With only 100 plants available to sell, we urge you to place your order soon. Plants are 7" pot, red, two plants in each pot for $20. Plants will be delivered to church on December 4th.
Please contact Johnna or Lori to place your order.
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OUTDOOR FOOD PANTRY
With the holidays fast approaching the need to fill the Outdoor Pantry is great. Please help fill the food pantry with non-perishable food items. Food items can to stacked in the pantry at any time.
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AT-HOME EUCHARIST
To receive delivery of
Pre-consecrated Host,
contact the office at 301.774.6999 or request on
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PRAYER-GRAMS
Let your loved ones know you are thinking about them with a special Prayer-Gram.
Order yours today,
African Palms does the rest.
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HOUSEHOLD CHALLENGE
30 days of Gratitude
Each day through the end of the month, find one thing to be thankful for.
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MINDFUL YOGA w/LORI
Due to the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases
Mindful Yoga is being PAUSED effective immediately
until the beginning of the year.
Your safety and well being is our upmost concern.
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MY IN-PERSON WORSHIP EXPERIENCE
The beautiful words of Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) comes to mind:
"Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.
Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices."
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Pam and I have attended several of the STJEC outdoor worship services and now the first two indoor services. I never realized how much I missed just sitting in the pew and gazing at the stained-glass window behind the altar with the Lamb and the Alpha and Omega. And Jim Kreger’s organ music in person was so uplifting. We even found ourselves humming the familiar hymns since no singing is permitted under our masks. In addition, the modified Eucharist service with the breaking of the bread was moving after eight months of COVID fatigue! |
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Of course a very uplifting bonus was seeing my "Prayer Partner" Naomi at both services. Obviously, everyone has to make his or her own decisions about adjusting to our “new normal.”
At first, we were hesitant, however with Father Henry and Mother Shivaun taking every precaution to follow Diocesan guidelines, we felt very comfortable moving to an in-person indoor worship service, knowing full well that it might only be temporary…
Bill Fleming
*photo is pre-COVID
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Sun, Nov 22, 2020 8:00 AM EST
IN-PERSON INDOOR WORSHIP
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Olney
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Sunday Mornings @ 9am
“Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense” by N. T. Wright
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 833 0378 8008
Password: STJEC
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VIRTUAL RECORDING READERS
9am Thursday mornings in the church
*Please remember to wear a mask
Thursday, December 3 - ??
Thursday, December 10 - ??
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IN-PERSON READERS
8am Worship
Sunday, November 22 - ??
10:30am Worship
Sun. November 22 - Mathy Downing
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Zoom has an update that now offers increased protection of meeting data.
The update automatically installs when you join a meeting
so to please allow time prior to the meeting start time.
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SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR
Sundays @ 11am - Noon
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 870 3415 1920
Password: STJEC
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ESTHER DEEL COFFEE HOUR
Sundays @ 12 -1pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 830 8468 5432
Password: STJEC
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MONDAY MISSION SOCIETY
Mondays @ 7pm
Join Zoom Meeting
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PreK-2nd: 9:15AM | 3rd-5th: 9:30AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 967 598 3901
Password: EpiscoKid
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FAMILY COFFEE HOUR
Sunday, December 6th
11:30am - 12pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 967 598 3901
Password: EpiscoKid
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No matter what we face today or find ourselves carrying into this holiday season, we can be encouraged as we ponder the words King David writes in Psalms about the kind of God we have.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people,
the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him
and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through
all generations.
~ Psalm 100 ~
We all have so much to be thankful for!
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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.
Bishop James Almasi
The Loudon Family
Pam Brekke
Shirley Talbot
Michael
Matthew Skube
Rick & Phyllis Baldwin
Tom Boyle
Courtney Cook
Will Bartley
Frances Hunt
Catherine Cant
Peter
John Daniel
Stan Simpson
Linda Niemczyk
Beblon Parks
Cheryl
Mary Persinger
Maura Parker
Chris Prinz
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ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
3427 Olney-Laytonsville Road
Olney, MD 20832
301-774-6999
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