Announcements for October 30

• Stewardship: Annual Fund Drive
  The annual pledge drive mailing, including pledge cards, has been sent out. You will have the opportunity to formally offer your pledge cards during worship on November 20. They may also be placed in the offering plate or returned to the parish office any time before then.
  
  
• Little Hands Work for Clean Water
  Thank you to all who have contributed to Little Hands’ effort to raise money for clean water wells. Over $50 has already been raised. The kids’ “praying” well is still in the undercroft. Please continue to offer your prayers and contributions to help people who do not have easy access to clean water.
  
  
• Prayers for the Faithful Departed
  It has long been the custom of the church to offer prayers for the faithful departed on All Saints’ Day. The focus is particularly on those who have died during the last year, but any prayers for the departed are appropriate. As has been our custom in recent years, we will offer these prayers by name at the Wednesday service closest to All Saints’ Day (November 2). Please call the parish office if you would like to add names to the list of All Saints’ Day prayers for the faithful departed.
  
  
• Prayers for the Parish
  Arising out of its discussion about stewardship, the vestry invites parishioners to share their own prayers for the parish. Praying for the parish is an act of stewardship. Look for sheets in the Sunday service leaflets, or you may e-mail your prayers to the parish.
  
  
• All Saints’ Open House
  The annual All Saints Open House at the Rectory will be held Sunday, November 6, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. All parishioners (and guests), including children, are welcome.

Reflection for October 30

All Saints' Day
The Church is “the communion of Saints,” that is, a people made holy through their mutual participation in the mystery of Christ. This communion exists through history, continues in the present, and endures beyond the grave and gate of death into heaven, for God is not a God of the dead but of the living, and those still on their earthly pilgrimage continue to have fellowship with those whose work is done. The pilgrim Church and the Church at rest join in watching and praying for that great day when Christ shall come again to change and make perfect our common humanity in the image of Christ’s risen glory (Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints).

Announcements for October 23

• Little Hands Work for Clean Water
  In this photo, some of the children who participate in the Little Hands outreach ministry are posing with the model of a well they created. Similar to a wishing well, the well is a “praying” well. Toss in some money and say a prayer for people throughout the world who do not have access to clean water. The money will be sent to the Bishop’s water well project.
  
  
• All Saints Baptisms
  All Saints’ Day, or the Sunday after All Saint’s Day, is one of the times appointed for baptisms in the Episcopal Church. It is a wonderful time to welcome new Christians into the fellowship of saints. Baptism will be offered at St. John’s on Sunday, November 6. Please contact the Rector if you are interested.
  
  
• Prayers for the Faithful Departed
  It has long been the custom of the church to offer prayers for the faithful departed on All Saints’ Day. The focus is particularly on those who have died during the last year, but any prayers for the departed are appropriate. As has been our custom in recent years, we will offer these prayers by name at the Wednesday service closest to All Saints’ Day (November 2). Please call the parish office if you would like to add names to the list of All Saints’ Day prayers for the faithful departed.
  
  
• Presentation on the History of TV
  On Wednesday, October 26, 2011, parishioner Dr. Steve Hofer will present “The History of Television” at the South Holland Public Library, 16250 Wausau in South Holland. The presentation will begin at 7 PM and will discuss early mechanical tv, the development of electronic tv, networks and primetime programming. There will be a question and answer session after the presentation. There will be items of display of primetime tv programs from the late 1040’s to current shows. The program is free and open to the public.
  
  
• Prayers for the Parish
  Arising out of its discussion about stewardship, the vestry invites parishioners to share their own prayers for the parish. Praying for the parish is an act of stewardship. Look for sheets in the Sunday service leaflets, or you may e-mail your requests.
  
  
• All Saints’ Open House
  The annual All Saints Open House at the Rectory will be held Sunday, November 6, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. All parishioners (and guests) are welcome.

Reflection for October 23

[This exhibits] the perfect uselessness of knowing the answer to the wrong question (Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness).

Announcements for October 16

• Vestry Meeting
  The October meeting of the vestry is this Monday, October 17, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
  
  
• Little Hands Meets This Sunday Afternoon
  Little Hands is an opportunity for children to participate in outreach ministry. The projects are designed primarily for grade school aged children, but older and younger children are welcome. Little Hands will meet this Sunday, October 16, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. to work on a project about water.
  
  
• Electronics Recycling
  The H-F Green Team is offering a free, community-wide electronics recycling program Saturday, October 22, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the parking lot at Parker Jr. High School. Parker is 1.5 blocks west of St. John’s on the other side of Leavitt Park (2810 School Street); enter the parking lot from Flossmoor Road. Computers, TVs, Game Consoles, Handheld electronic devices and other items will be accepted. Look for posters around the church or call 708.957.0300 for more information.
  
  
• Field Trip to See Saint John’s Bible
  The St. John’s Bible (www.saintjohnsbible.org) is the first illuminated, handwritten Bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in modern times. It is a spectacular work. A portion is currently on display at the Loyola University Museum of Art downtown. Parishioner Steven Russell is coordinating a field trip Thursday, October 20. Please contact him if you would like to participate.
  
  
• Caregiving and Spirituality: A Quiet Day for Those Who Care for Others
  Offered by the Spirituality Network of Chicago, this quiet day will be led by St. John’s parishioner Dr. Anne Edwards, psychologist and director of the Gerontology Institute at Purdue University, Calumet. Saturday, October 22, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palos Hills. For more information or to register, call (708) 497-9699 or e-mail info@SpiritChicago.org.

Reflection for October 16

"But do you preach for a decision?” The question has haunted me. We preachers proclaim good news and speak about all the amazing ways that good news penetrates, comforts, challenges and transforms lives. But my questioner had a point: proclaiming good news ought to in some way lead to a response, a decision of some kind. Otherwise proclaiming the good news of unconditional divine love can be an exercise in what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace.” Preaching ought to lead to people caring more, giving more and living more. It is the assurance of God’s presence, to be sure, and it is testimony to God’s healing love. But it is also an invitation to do something (John M. Buchanan, “Editor’s Desk,” Christian Century, October 4, 2011).

Announcements for October 9

• Little Hands Meets Next Sunday
  Little Hands is an opportunity for children to participate in outreach ministry. The projects are designed primarily for grade school aged children, but older and younger children are welcome. Little Hands will meet next Sunday, October 16, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. to work on a project about water.
  
  
• Faith in Films: See The Power of Forgiveness Friday, October 14
  The 2011/2012 Faith in Films season begins with "The Power of Forgiveness" a film that won the Best Documentary Award at the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival in 2007. The film highlights included on the DVD cover state: "To forgive someone can be simple. But this simple act can have powerful consequences – and may lead to a personal and spiritual transformation. Over the last 20 years the study of forgiveness has come into its own. Clinicians now help guide people to forgive transgressions and get on with their lives. From Northern Ireland to Ground Zero to the Amish countryside, featuring Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh, best selling authors Thomas Moore and Marianne Williamson, the Reverend James Forbes and others, The Power of Forgiveness explores this important work, and reveals how forgiveness can transform your life." Gather in the Guild Room at 7:00 p.m. for the film, popcorn and discussion.
  
  
• Sing Handel’s Messiah
  The Illiana Oratorio Society begins the first of seven rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah on Monday, October 17, at the First Christian Reformed Church, 16248 South Park Ave, South Holland, from 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. Performance dates are Sunday, December 4, in South Holland and Saturday, December 10, at Trinity Christian College. For further information, contact Gale Michael.
  
  
• Field Trip to See Saint John’s Bible
  The St. John’s Bible (www.saintjohnsbible.org) is the first illuminated, handwritten Bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in modern times. It is a spectacular work. A portion is currently on display at the Loyola University Museum of Art downtown. Parishioner Steven Russell is coordinating a field trip Thursday, October 20. Please contact him if you would like to participate.
  
  
• Caregiving and Spirituality: A Quiet Day for Those Who Care for Others
  Offered by the Spirituality Network of Chicago, this quiet day will be led by St. John’s parishioner Dr. Anne Edwards, psychologist and director of the Gerontology Institute at Purdue University, Calumet. Saturday, October 22, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palos Hills. For more information or to register, call (708) 497-9699 or e-mail info@SpiritChicago.org.

Reflection for October 9

Laws for the Journey
If the Ten Commandments were written today they would probably be different, argues Old Testament scholar Terence Fretheim. He points out that Deuteronomy revises the Ten Commandments recorded in Exodus: A wife is no longer listed as property and the neighbor is not necessarily male. The law was first given when the people of Israel were on a journey, and it became a compass for their wilderness wanderings. Over time their circumstances changed, and therefore the law had to change too. “Just because laws are from God does not make them unchangeable; the texts witness to a God who makes changes in the law,” so that God can be true to God’s own character and to the relational commitments made to Israel through changing times and places (Christian Century, October 4, 2011, from Word & World, Summer).