Announcements for January 27

Annual Reports
2012 annual reports are available on the information tables around the church. If you would like to receive a copy electronically, please contact the parish office.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Lent will be here soon. Mark your calendars for the traditional pre-Lent Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, February 12, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Yarn Ministry
The yarn ministry meets Monday, February 4, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room.

Fifth Annual Lenten Fish Fry
The fish fry is coming Friday, March 8. Once again Smiley Tillman will be providing entertainment. Mark your calendars and invite your friends!

Reflection for January 27

Jesus is both a mirror to our humanity and a window to divinity, a window revealing as much of God as is given mortal eyes to see. When Christians see Christ empowering the weak, scorning the powerful, healing the wounded, and judging their tormentors, we are seeing transparently the power of God at work. What is finally important is not that Christ is Godlike, but that God is Christ-like. God is like Christ. That’s what we need to know, isn’t it? (William Sloane Coffin, Credo).

Announcements for January 20

Annual Parish Meeting
This Sunday The annual meeting of the parish will be held this Sunday, January 20, following the 10:00 a.m. service. All parishioners are encouraged to attend. The 2012 annual report will be available at the meeting.

Loaves and Fishes This Sunday
In conjunction with the annual parish meeting, Loaves and Fishes will be serving Sloppy Joe’s for lunch this Sunday, January 20. Both beef and turkey versions will be available. All are invited.

Join the Adult Sunday School Class
The adult Living Faithfully class meets on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Education Wing. The winter class, using material from the public radio program On Being with Krista Tippett, looks at “Spiritual Heroes, Women and Men on the Frontiers of Faith.” Included are Karen Armstrong, Jimmy Carter, Rumi, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Joan Chittester. You can join the class at any time.

Vestry Elections
Thank you to the following parishioners who have agreed to stand for election to the vestry: Audrey Ongman (Senior Warden), Bill Bestow (Junior Warden), Patti Pohrte, Jim Whitfield and Bob Berner.

No Regular Vestry Meeting in January
As usual, there will be no regular Monday evening vestry meeting in January. The first meeting of the new vestry will be February 18.

Reflection for January 20

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that (Martin Luther King, Jr.).

Announcements for January 13

Annual Parish Meeting Next Sunday
The annual meeting of the parish will be held next Sunday, January 20, following the 10:00 a.m. service. All parishioners are encouraged to attend. The full annual report booklet will be available at the meeting. Copies of the treasurer’s report are available now on the information tables.

Loaves and Fishes Next Sunday
In conjunction with the annual parish meeting, Loaves and Fishes will be serving Sloppy Joe’s for lunch next Sunday, January 20.

Join the Adult Sunday School Class
The adult Living Faithfully class meets on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Education Wing. The winter class, using material from the public radio program On Being with Krista Tippett, looks at “Spiritual Heroes, Women and Men on the Frontiers of Faith.” Included are Karen Armstrong, Jimmy Carter, Rumi, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Joan Chittester. You can join the class at any time.

2012 Year End Statements
Year end contribution statements are in the process of being mailed. Within the last few months we have upgraded both the parish office computer and the membership/contribution software. Please review your statements and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the parish office.

Reflection for January 13

“You won’t be the same again,” the preacher said. “You’ll count.” Then he turned his face to the people and began to preach and Bevel looked over his shoulder at the pieces of the white sun scattered in the river. Suddenly the preacher said, “All right, I’m going to Baptize you now,” and without more warning, he tightened his hold and swung him upside down and plunged his head into the water. He held him under while he said the words of Baptism and then he jerked him up again and looked sternly at the gasping child. Bevel’s eyes were dark and dilated. “You count now,” the preacher said. “You didn’t even count before” (Flannery O’Conner, The River).

Announcements for January 6

Special Vestry Meeting
The vestry will meet Sunday, January 6, following the 10:00 service to finalize the 2013 budget. Meet in the undercroft conference room.

Sunday School Resumes This Sunday, January 6
Children’s Sunday School classes resume this Sunday following the Christmas break. Youth worship also resumes this week.

Join the Adult Sunday School Class
The adult Living Faithfully class meets on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Education Wing. This Sunday the class begins a new unit on Spiritual Heroes.

Mark Your Calendars for the Annual Meeting
The annual parish meeting will be held Sunday, January 20, following the 10:00 a.m. service. Loaves and fishes will serve lunch, followed promptly by the meeting.

2012 Pledge Payments
For tax purposes, clearly marked 2012 pledge payments received through January 6 will be posted to 2012 statements. After January 6, 2012 payments are still welcome, but will be posted to 2013 statements, listed as previous year pledge payments.

Thank You
A special thank you to everyone who helped bring festivity and holiness to the observance of Christmas at St. John’s: Altar Guild, Choir, and all of the liturgical participants including acolytes, readers, lay Eucharistic ministers and ushers. Thank you also to everyone who contributed for the flowers. A listing is included in this Sunday’s leaflet. And thank you to Alison Deniston, who again donated the luminaria for Christmas Eve.

Reflection for January 6 (Epiphany)

It is helpful to be reminded that for many of the world’s Christians, Epiphany is the main event—and that in liturgy, song, food, and gift-giving, Christians mark the arrival in Bethlehem of the Magi.... The late William Placher warned against trivializing and sentimentalizing the Magi. Their part of the larger story is significant. [The] observation that the Magi are probably non-Jews is part of that significance.... The possibility that the Magi were gentiles, and perhaps Arabs, tells us that even here, at the very beginning of the story, Jesus is shattering religious tradition by bringing outsiders inside. Before the story is over, Jesus will shatter boundaries of race, class and gender. And the marginalized—the poor, prostitutes, lepers and Roman centurions—will all be welcome at his table (John M. Buchanan, “Outsiders bearing gifts,” Editor’s desk, Christian Century, December 26, 2012).