|
|
|
|
The Fledgling--Week of November 27, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
From Mother Megan:
Online, wherever hardcore Episcopalians gather, we engage in the same rigid debate each year: when is it appropriate to decorate for Christmas? What color shall we use for Advent? These arguments are fierce, the combatants confident in their stances. If the wider world claims an ongoing war on Christmas, the internet world has a War to Preserve Advent.
This year, I have noticed that the strife has yet to break out. People have been much more willing to embrace the coming of Christmas decorations, Christmas carols as early as we can get them. I think it's partly that Christmas signals the end of 2020 approaching, and partly that the brightness of Christmas offers to offset the gloom we've been struggling with so much this year.
In many ways, this year has been an exercise in creating and celebrating light in darkness. Over and over, we have had to find the light in the chaos that surrounds us--the small reminders that God is with us even as life transforms into something confounding. The light has appeared at times in the support of friends and family, in the comfort of prayer, in the way we have rallied around each other, in the glimpses of a better future that God holds around the corner.
As Advent approaches, let us open wide our doors to the coming of the light in our midst, and celebrate that God always supplies us with hope even in our dimmest times.
|
|
If you have a submission to the Fledgling, send it to the office by Thursday morning for inclusion on Friday. Bulletin announcements should be into the office by Wednesday morning.
- If you know of someone who would like to receive the Fledgling, please send their email to the office.
|
|
|
|
Prayer for the week
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings for the week (Track 2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Have you had coffee/tea/hot cider with Mtr Megan? Send me an email and we'll set up Skype/Facetime and chat! It's fun (I promise) and we can still meet while we're staying safe right now.
|
|
|
Re-Gathering at St. John's
Good News: Starting on Advent 1 (November 29), we will be live-streaming the Sunday morning services from our sanctuary, with a small team (<5) of worship leaders.
Less-Than-Good News: Due to rising caseloads around the diocese, the bishop has decided to cease in-person, indoors worship until at least January 1, so our Wednesday Eucharists are on pause.
Thankful News (part 2): Thanks to our on-the-spot videographers, Cindy Gration and Sally Clayton, for their inventive and brave camera work, as we tried to get the Thanksgiving service to the internet.
Incarnational News: We will have Christmas Eve services at 5pm and 7pm, and a Christmas Day service at 10:30am. Details forthcoming.
|
|
We are wrapping up our Annual Stewardship Campaign over the next few weeks. If you haven't returned your Pledge card, please drop it by the Office, or put it in the mail. If you need another pledge card, email AnnMarie and she will send you one.
Most of all, thank you to everyone for your prayers, your faithfulness, and your support of the work we do at St. John's.
|
|
|
|
Laundry Love Returns!
We are working to re-open Laundry Love, in a pandemic-safe way. If you would like to volunteer, and help our neighbors obtain clean clothes in these uncertain times, please send the office an email. Because Loaves and Fishes is no longer serving in person, our hours for LL may change from when we were previously open, but by getting on the volunteer list now, you can ensure that you'll be the first to know!
|
|
Schedule this week:
Daily Morning Prayer: 9:30am on FB Live and YouTube Live
Adult Education: 9am: Reclaiming the Book of Revelation: Zoom link here
Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 on Facebook Live or YouTube Live
Wednesday Evening Eucharist: On Pause due to bishop's directive
Virtual Coffee hour Zoom at 11:30am (We have a new Zoom Link! It's below!)
NEW Zoom link here.
|
|
|
Adult Forum is unpacking the book of Revelation! Ever wonder about the apocalypse? Worried 2020 might be it? Come ask any and all questions as we dive deep into the scariest/most misunderstood book of the Bible! The book we will be reading alongside is Barbara Rossing's Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation Everyone is welcome! Zoom link is here.
|
|
|
Important Announcement:
Our parishioner, formerly known as Daniel Ripperton, has over the past year, gone through a process of discovery with regard to gender identity, and has now come to understand herself as a transgender woman, Daniella Ripperton. Daniella’s pronouns are She/Her, her favorite hymn in the Hymnal 1982 is #314 (“Humbly I adore thee, verity unseen”), her favorite LEVAS hymn is #139 (“Pass me not, O gentle Savior”) and her attitude is excited as she continues to work toward God’s vision of beloved community with her fellow members of St. John’s!
|
|
|
Advent 1 Resources
Bulletin is here
Online Prayerbook is here
|
|
|
Resources for Anti-Racism/Solidarity Work:
Are you in need of a new faith based podcast to listen to? Why not choose one from a voice from someone different than you? There's this one, called Prophetic Resistance. Give it a shot!
We're about to hit the new liturgical year, and that means resolutions. If you want to do more intentional anti-racist work, but don't know where to start, check out My Work To Do: an online group for white folks who want to talk about race, but don't know how, or where to start. (Bonus: it's pay what you want, too!)
Did you know about the Episcopal Public Policy Network? This is an office of the Episcopal Church in Washington DC that is responsible for conveying the values expressed by General Convention to federal lawmakers. And you can help! You can sign up to be informed about weekly actions they take here, and write your representatives with your concerns as a faithful member of the church.
We will continue to post information on protests and ways to support in a timely fashion on the parish FB page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
