Announcements for March 28, Palm Sunday

• Holy Week Schedule
  The full schedule of Holy Week worship services and activities is listed in an earlier post.
  
  
• Liturgy of Light for Children
  All children are invited for a special Liturgy of Light celebration to be held on the Saturday before Easter, April 3, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Please meet in the undercroft for crafts; we will proceed to the atrium for our liturgy and conclude by resurrecting the A****** banner!
  
  
• The Watch at the Altar of Repose
  The sign-up sheet for the Watch at the Altar of Repose is at the back of the church. Please participate in this meaningful and prayerful ministry. The Watch begins at 8:00 p.m., immediately after the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday and goes through the night, ending at 12:00 noon, right before the Good Friday liturgy.
  
  
• Help Little Hands buy School Uniforms
  Our parish goal is 269 uniforms to help children in developing countries attend school. So far we have purchased 117! Each uniform costs $12.00. Please check out the display in the undercroft put together by St. John’s Little Hands ministry. Or checks payable to St. John’s may be mailed to the parish office.

Reflection for Palm Sunday

Upon the Ass that bore our Savior
Richard Crashaw

Hath only anger an omnipotence
In eloquence?

Within the lips of love and joy doth dwell
No miracle?

Why else had Balaam’s ass a tongue to chide
His masters pride?

And thou (Heaven-burdened beast) hast ne’er a word
To praise thy Lord?

That he should find a tongue and vocal thunder,
Was a great wonder.

But o methinks ‘tis a far greater one
That thou find’st none.

Holy Week and Easter Schedule

Palm Sunday, March 28
7:40 a.m. - Morning Prayer (Church)
8:00 a.m. - Blessing of the Palms (Outdoor altar)
8:05 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist (Church)
Christian Formation classes will not meet.
9:40 a.m. - Blessing of the Palms and procession around Flossmoor (Outdoor altar)
10:00 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist (Church)

Monday in Holy Week, March 29
7:00 p.m. - The Holy Eucharist

Tuesday in Holy Week, March 30
7:00 p.m. - The Holy Eucharist

Wednesday in Holy Week, March 31
7:00 p.m. - The Holy Eucharist

Maundy Thursday, April 1
6:30 p.m. - The Holy Eucharist followed by an agape meal and the stripping of the altar
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Friday) - Prayer Vigil and Watch at the altar of repose

Good Friday, April 2
12:00 p.m. - The Proper Liturgy for Good Friday
7:00 p.m. - Good Friday vespers
7:00 p.m. - The Proper Liturgy for Good Friday (Church of the Holy Family, Park Forest)

Easter Eve, April 3
3:00 p.m. - Liturgy of Light for Children (Undercroft)
8:00 p.m. - The Great Vigil of Easter

Easter Day, April 4
7:40 a.m. - Morning Prayer
8:00 p.m. - The Holy Eucharist
Christian Formation classes will not meet.
10:00 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist, followed by an Easter egg hunt for children on the front lawn.

Easter Letter

Dear friends in Christ:

C. S. Lewis was a 20th century British academic who converted to Christianity in early adulthood. Prior to his conversion he had not been, as many people are, vaguely indifferent to faith and religion; he had been a professed atheist. Following his conversion, he spoke and wrote with deep commitment as a Christian apologist. In Mere Christianity, he wrote:

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about [Jesus]: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was and is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.

Holy Week begins Palm Sunday, March 28. Holy Week is a time to honor Jesus as none other than the Son of God, to fall at his feet in awe and worship. Holy Week is also a time, like no other time, to meet and know Jesus as the Son of God present in our lives today.

Announcements for March 21

• Special Sunday School Event this Sunday
  All children of the church are invited to a special multi-age Sunday School class this Sunday, March 21, at 9:00 a.m. Ms. Pat Smith-Huntoon will lead a re-enactment of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. Meet in the children’s chapel room. As always, nursery care is available for children three years and younger.
  
  
• The Watch at the Altar of Repose
  The sign-up sheet for the Watch at the Altar of Repose is at the back of the church. Please participate in this meaningful and prayerful ministry. The Watch begins at 8:00 p.m., immediately after the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday and goes through the night, ending at 12:00 noon, right before the Good Friday liturgy.
  
  
• Palm Sunday Worship Schedule
  Next Sunday, March 28, is Palm Sunday. For the early service, the Liturgy of the Palms will begin at the outdoor altar at 8:00 a.m. For the later service the Liturgy of the Palms will begin at the outdoor altar at 9:40 a.m., followed by a procession around Flossmoor. If the weather is bad, the times will remain the same, but we will move the services inside.
  
  
• Help Little Hands buy School Uniforms
  Our parish goal is 269 uniforms to help children in developing countries attend school. So far we have purchased 97! Each uniform costs $12.00. Please check out the display in the undercroft put together by St. John’s Little Hands ministry. Or checks payable to St. John’s may be mailed to the parish office.
  
  
• Church Grounds Cleanup Day March 27
  Spring cleanup of the church grounds on Saturday, March 27, 9:30 a.m. – noon, or whatever time you can give us. Raking and cleaning out of flowerbeds will be the focus. All are welcome!
  
  
• Everyone is Invited to the Chrism Mass, March 27
  On Saturday, March 27, Bishop Lee invites the people of the Diocese of Chicago to join together to celebrate the blessing of Chrism for use at Easter baptisms and throughout the coming year. The morning activities will include a Christian formation event and the Chrism Mass. All ages, especially youth, are welcome. Please contact Donica Van Voorhees if you are interested in attending.
  
  
• Spring for a Good Cause
  Altrusa International of Chicago’s South Suburbs, a women’s service organization, presents its “Spring Fling” Luncheon Fundraiser Saturday April 10, at Flossmoor Country Club. Featured speaker is Linda Morris of Northwestern Memorial Hospital on “Tales from the Light: A Look at Near-Death Experiences.” Donation: $40. For more information, contact parishioners Fran Schrader or Betsy Burgwald, who are Altrusa members.
  
  
• Daughters Meet Saturday, March 20
  The St. John’s chapter of the Daughters of the King will meet in the Guild Room on Saturday, March 20, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (beginning with a light breakfast). All women are welcome—we’ll save a place for you.

Reflection for March 21

A Prayer of Ludwig von Beethoven
We must praise thy goodness, that thou hast left nothing undone to draw us to thyself. But one thing we ask of thee, our God, not to cease thy work in our improvement. Let us tend towards thee, no matter by what means, and be fruitful in good works, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [From A Barclay Prayer Book by William Barclay]

Announcements for March 14

• Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday
  Please remember to set your clocks forward one hour this Sunday, March 14.
  
  
• Help Little Hands buy School Uniforms
  As part of our ongoing effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals, Bishop Lee has challenged each Episcopalian in the Diocese of Chicago to purchase one school uniform for children in developing countries. The children in St. John’s Little Hands ministry are spearheading our parish effort. Our goal is 269 uniforms. Each uniform costs $12.00. Please check out the display in the undercroft. Or checks payable to St. John’s may be mailed to the parish office.
  
  
• Episcopal Fish Fry, March 19
  Next Friday, March 19, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew will be cooking up its second annual “Episcopal Fish Fry,” from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the church undercroft. Now a fun, new tradition at St. John's, the annual Lenten meal claims to offer “all of the flavor, and none of the guilt” associated with the meatless fare served by some of our friendly church rivals. Now on sale in the church office, tickets are priced at $10 for adults, $7 for children, and $25 per family, and may be purchased in advance, or at the door. However, if you already know that you will likely attend, please alert the Brotherhood by March 17, so that we can be sure to order enough fresh fish for all. To place your order, see your nearest Brotherhood member.
  
  
• Church Grounds Cleanup Day March 27
  Spring cleanup of the church grounds on Saturday, March 27, 9:30 a.m. – noon, or whatever time you can give us. Raking and cleaning out of flower beds will be the focus. All are welcome!
  
  
• Everyone is Invited to the Chrism Mass, March 27
  On Saturday, March 27, Bishop Lee invites the people of the Diocese of Chicago to join together to celebrate the blessing of Chrism for use at Easter baptisms and throughout the coming year. “We will pray with particular focus for those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ and who are preparing to be baptized.” The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with a Christian formation event for all ages, “Anointing with the Spirit”, followed by the worship service. Cyndie Knoll and Donica Van Voorhees will lead a trip for anyone in our parish interested in attending. Youth are especially welcome. More details will follow. Please contact Cyndie or Donica if you are interested in attending.
  
  
• Daughters Meet Saturday, March 20
  The St. John’s chapter of the Daughters of the King will meet in the Guild Room on Saturday, March 20m 9:00-11:00 a.m. (beginning with a light breakfast). All women are welcome—we’ll save a place for you.

Reflection for March 14

Even now, some Christians have trouble listening to God. Many of us prefer to speak. Our corporate prayers are punctuated with phrases such as “Hear us, Lord” or “Lord, hear our prayer,” as if the burden to listen were on God and not us. We name our concerns, giving God suggestions on what to do about them. What reversal of power might occur if we turned the process around, naming our concerns and asking God to tell us what to do about them? “Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.” [Barbara Brown Taylor, When God is Silent]

Announcements for March 7

• Little Hands Saturday, March 6
  Children of St. John’s are invited to participate in the Little Hands ministry Saturday, March 6, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the undercroft. We will work on the Bishop’s challenge to us all to help provide school uniforms for children in developing countries. Lots of little hands are needed!
  
  
• Brunch Bunch this Sunday, March 7
  Everyone is invited to join for fellowship and brunch following the 10:00 service. Ham will be provided as the entrée. If you can, bring a dish to share (last name beginning with L-P, a dessert; everyone else a side dish). But most importantly, come and share yourself.
  
  
• Faith in Films; Bonhoeffer, March 12
  The movie Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace (2000) tells the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young Lutheran pastor who opposed the Nazi regime from its beginnings. That opposition cost him his life. The movie begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room on Friday, March 12. Popcorn is provided. Everyone is invited.
  
  
• Lenten Soup and Study on Wednesdays
  The Lenten study series on C. S. Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters continues on Wednesday evenings. Soup is offered in the undercroft at 6:00 p.m. No need to sign up for soup; just come. Class begins in the church at 7:00 p.m.
  
  
• Ecumenical Lenten Worship Services
  Tuesdays during Lent the South Suburban Ministerial Association will offer services of prayer and reflection on the “I am” statements of Christ. Various local ministers offer the reflections. The services begin at 12:10 a.m. at Homewood Presbyterian Church (17929 Gottschalk Ave). Lunch follows.

Reflection for March 7

In the devil's words:
Do not be deceived, Wormwood, our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy’s will [God’s will], looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys [C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, ch. 8].