Announcements for March 2

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Shrove Tuesday is this Tuesday, March 4. The traditional pancake supper begins at 5:00 p.m. and continues until we run out of bacon! Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12, available at the door.

Calling All Kids: Come Help Bury the Alleluia
All children of the parish are especially invited to the Shrove Tuesday pancake supper to participate in the burying of the Alleluia. A Lenten church tradition, a festive alleluia banner is “buried” or hidden for the duration of Lent. It is then brought forth for the celebration of Easter.

Ash Wednesday Services: March 5
Ash Wednesday services will be held Wednesday, March 5, at 6:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. All services will include Holy Communion and the imposition of ashes.

The Observance of a Holy Lent
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. “Lent for Dummies,” a guide to the observance of Lent, is available on the information tables. Various resources for daily prayer and reflection are also available.

Lent Study Series: Enriching our Worship
The Lent study series begins Wednesday evening, March 12. Classes meet from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the church. A flyer with more information on this year’s class is available on the information tables. Dent Davidson and Vicky Garvey from the Diocesan staff will lead two of the sessions as we explore many of the supplemental liturgical materials available for our common worship. Underlying all of the classes will be the study of how and why we worship as a community.

Yarn Ministry
The yarn ministry meets Monday, March 3, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room.

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 9
Next Sunday, March 9, remember to set your clocks one hour forward.

Painters and Painting Supplies Needed This Sunday
The choir is spearheading a project to paint the choir room this Sunday, March 2, beginning around 1:00 p.m. Additional painters are welcome! If you can’t help paint, can you lend drop cloths, rollers or paint trays? Just bring them to the choir room on Sunday. All identifiable supplies will, of course, be returned.

Gospel Concert March 9
 Grande Prairie Singers present “I Remember When the Stars Fell,” featuring music of the era of slavery in our country, 4:00 p.m., Sunday, March 9, at Faith United Protestant Church in Park Forest. Selections include “This Little Light of Mine,” “Deep River,” “My Lord, What a Morning,” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Don't miss this inspiring concert! See Bob or Betsy Burgwald for tickets.

Reflection for March 2

The Observance of a Holy Lent

I invite you, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word (Book of Common Prayer, p. 265).

Announcements for February 16

St. John’s Has Heart!
Thanks to our youth and other “youthful” parishioners, St. John’s produced 250 handcrafted Valentines which were delivered to area assisted living and nursing home facilities as well as to a women’s shelter in time for the holiday. Some St. John’s parishioners shared pretty paper, supplies and “crafting guidance” with the women’s and children’s PADS guests this week so they, too, could make Valentines. A little paper, glitter, glue—and an “I Love You”—whose heart wouldn’t rev just a bit? Many thanks to all who brought a smile (and a little excitement to those in need of both!

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 
Shrove Tuesday is March 4. Mark your calendars for the traditional pancake supper, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The children of the parish are also invited to create and bury the Alleluia banner.

Ash Wednesday Services: March 5
Ash Wednesday services will be held Wednesday, March 5, at 6:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. All services will include Holy Communion and the imposition of ashes.

Gospel Concert March 9
Grande Prairie Singers present “I Remember When the Stars Fell,” featuring music of the era of slavery in our country, 4:00 p.m., Sunday, March 9, at Faith United Protestant Church in Park Forest. Selections include “This Little Light of Mine,” “Deep River,” “My Lord, What a Morning,” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Don't miss this inspiring concert! See Bob or Betsy Burgwald for tickets.

Reflection for February 16

(Printed in the Christian Century, February 19, 2014)

Announcements for February 9

Flossmoor Streets and Snow
A reminder from the Flossmoor Police Department: Central Drive and Leavitt Avenue are “snow routes.” In the event of snow (!) it is illegal to park along these streets before they have been plowed. (As they are typically the first streets to be plowed, hopefully this will not present a significant inconvenience to parishioners.) This does not affect other streets near the church.

Have a Heart and Make a Valentine
Join our teens in making Valentines for seniors at local assisted living facilities. Stop by our craft table in the undercroft during coffee hour this Sunday and create your own message of love and caring. No artistic talent required… just a loving spirit and five minutes time.

Calling ALL Junior High Kids
All Junior High kids (including current confirmands and their mentors): Please join the high school teens on Sunday, February 9, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. to make more Valentines for seniors. Feel free to bring friends. Fun, kindness and service hours all rolled into one good time! Call Dee McManamy or Shirley Reilly with any questions!

Gospel Concert March 9 
Grande Prairie Singers present “I Remember When the Stars Fell,” featuring music of the era of slavery in our country, 4:00 p.m., Sunday, March 9, at Faith United Protestant Church in Park Forest. Selections include “This Little Light of Mine,” “Deep River,” “My Lord, What a Morning,” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Don't miss this inspiring concert! See Bob or Betsy Burgwald for tickets.

Rector Installation at Holy Family
The Reverend Rachael Gregory will be installed as Rector at the Church of the Holy Family in Park Forest on February 12. Please keep Mother Rachael and the people of Holy Family in your prayers.

Reflection for February 9

I’m not advocating for a return to expensive building programs. I understand that whatever it is that makes space sacred is very dependent on cultural context. But it isn’t enough to worship simply by talking about the gospel. Even if the church is meeting in a high school gymnasium, there has to be some encounter with beauty because it can never be separated from truth….

Our gospel is not just more words about God. Truth has a twin sister called beauty who beckons us to bow the knee. This beauty may be seen through the icons on the walls of an Orthodox church in Eastern Europe, or the stark white walls and high pulpit of a Congregational church in New England, or the palm leaves intricately woven to form the roof of a sanctuary without walls in the Amazon rainforest. But it all helps worshipers “behold,” which is one of the angels’ favorite words. It doesn’t have to cost much; it just has to attempt the beauty of holiness.

The sanctuary is the place where people gather week after week to remember that the holy is also in the places of their lives that are not so beautiful (M. Craig Barnes, “Truth in beautiful spaces,” Christian Century, February 5, 2014).