Announcements for November 28

• Pledge Reminder
  If you have not yet turned in your pledge card, please do so as soon as possible. You may place it in the offering plate on Sunday or return it to the parish office. Thank you.
  
  
• Holiday Cookie Walk
  Please bring your cookies and candies to the undercroft next Friday, December 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please pack cookies in disposable containers and bag candies in small quantities. Many thanks! And be sure to invite your families, friends and neighbors to the sale on December 4th from 9:00 until 11:30 a.m.
  
  
• Advent Wreath Making
  Everyone is invited to make Advent wreaths in the undercroft this Sunday, November 28, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Bring your own base if you have one. Extra bases, candles and all other materials will be available. Some of our Sunday School children will also offer a special Advent skit.
  
  
• Cathedral Shelter Christmas Baskets
  Once again this year St. John’s parishioners have the opportunity to help provide for others’ needs at Christmas time. Only one (large) family remains to be adopted. Please call the parish office for information on how you can participate. Pick up date is December 9.
  
  
• Lawrence Hall Christmas Gifts
  Since 2004 the Daughters of the King have been committed to sharing the spirit of the Christmas season with the children of Lawrence Hall. Lawrence Hall Youth Services provides greatly needed services and programs to kids and their families suffering from trauma, abuse and neglect. Parishioners are invited to provide gift certificates in increments of $10 to $50 from any book/music store, fast food restaurants, department stores or theaters. Checks made out to Lawrence Hall are also welcome. Please remember that your donation may be the only gift these children receive. If you can help, contact Iris Bestow.
  
  
• Handel’s Messiah December 5
  The Illiana Oratorio Society will present Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. The two-hour presentation will be held at the First Christian Reformed Church, 16248 S. Park Ave, South Holland. Admission is free, but a free-will offering will be received.
  
  
• Joyous Holiday Concert Sunday, December 12
  Grande Prairie Singers present their Holiday Concert at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 12, at Faith United Protestant Church in Park Forest. New director Jo Rodenburg has put together an audience- cheering program of traditional carols, secular favorites such as "Sleigh Ride," and Vivaldi's oratorio Gloria. The St. John's choir performed the exuberant Gloria in January 2008; the Singers will be joined by a chamber orchestra and professional soloists. For more information or tickets, please contact Betsy Burgwald.

Reflection for November 28

The Advent Collect
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 you Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come aging 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.

Announcements for November 14

• Brunch Bunch This Sunday, November 14
  Everyone is invited for turkey and dressing and fellowship following the 10:00 a.m. service this Sunday, November 14. The entrée will be provided. Sides and dessert are pot luck. Last names beginning with A-O, bring a side dish; P-Z please bring a dessert. Even if you can’t bring a dish, you are invited. Please come.
  
  
• Vestry Meeting
  The November meeting of the vestry is Monday, November 15, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
  
  
• Cathedral Shelter Christmas Baskets
  Once again this year St. John’s parishioners have the opportunity to help provide for others’ needs at Christmas time. 7 families and 10 seniors are available for adoption through the Cathedral Shelter Christmas basket program. Please call the parish office for information on how you can participate.
  
  
• Little Hands Meets Next Sunday, November 21
  All children of the parish are invited to gather next Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in the Undercroft for the Little Hands Ministry. We will be making Advent baskets to take to parish shut-ins.
  
  
• Thanks to all those seafood lovers in you!
  The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is pleased to report that its “Brother Al Kromer Memorial Lobsterfest IV” on Nov. 6 was a rousing success. In the end, 180 tasty Maine crustaceans were purchased, enough to raise (after expenses) $2,122 for charity, to be shared among Episcopal Relief & Development, Children's Oncology Services Inc., the Good Shepherd Center, South Suburban PADS, and the Rich Township Food Pantry. In particular, the Brotherhood is indebted not only to the parish, but also to members Bob Dehn, Bill Bestow, Bob Berner, Ted Stone, Bill Sole, Bob d'Olivieria, Sam Otoo, Mark Moxley and Rob McManamy for their many contributions last Friday and Saturday. Also, June Fidanza of the Good Shepherd Center deserves special mention in appreciation of her tireless efforts to promote Lobsterfest beforehand and then to see it through to the bitter end, i.e. cleanup! Finally, thanks also to Marilyn Kromer for lending her guiding support to help us do justice to Brother Al's memory.
  
  
• Thanksgiving Services
  The annual community interfaith Thanksgiving service with the Viking choir will be held Wednesday, November 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Anshe Sholom, 20820 Western Avenue in Olympia Fields. St. John’s Thanksgiving celebration of the Holy Eucharist will be Thursday morning, November 25, at 10:00 a.m.

Reflection for November 14

Reflections on Giving from the Vestry

Most of the time someone is telling us what we need to give them in exchange for goods or services or whatever. Our only choice is to pay what’s being asked if we want what’s being offered Once a year we have the opportunity to decide how much we’re going to give to St. John’s. Whether to give and how much is completely up to us. How do we make that decision? How do we place a value on what our parish provides for us? How does that compare to what we spend in other parts of our everyday life? —Jack Zielinski

The continuation of St. John’s as we know it depends on us. We need to pay it forward so we can continue the legacy that was given to us here at St. John’s. We owe it to those in the outside altar. –John Huntoon

Announcements for November 7

• All Saints’ Open House at the Rectory this Sunday, November 7
  Everyone is invited to the annual All Saints’ Open House at the Rectory this Sunday afternoon, November 7, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Parishioners and guests of all ages are welcome.
  
  
• Faith in Films: Regarding Henry
  Just as Zacchaeus unexpectedly discovered Jesus and experienced conversion (Luke 19:1-10), Henry Turner is unexpectedly shot and his life is put on hold so that he can discover his true self and change his life. With Harrison Ford and Annette Bening. Gather in the Guild Room Friday, November 12, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Popcorn and discussion are provided.
  
  
• From the Kitchen Genie
  The “kitchen genie”, on behalf of the whole church, would like to thank all the Sunday Coffee Hour hosts, and all the many other folks who use our church kitchen, for helping maintain it so well. In addition, we are grateful to the members who from time to time help us with supplies. Every Sunday morning John or Patti Huntoon picks up delicious sweet rolls at the Highway Bakery in Chicago Heights and we bless them for that caring deed. If you are interested in helping with Sunday Morning Coffee, let us know. Thank you one and all. It has been a very good year. –Audrey Ongman
  
  
• Fall Landscape Work Day, November 13
  Come help tidy the church grounds and “put things to bed for the winter” at the fall landscape work day, Saturday morning, November 13, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
  
  
• Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend
  Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday morning, November 7. Remember to set your clocks back one hour.
  
  
• Brunch Bunch Next Sunday, November 14
  Everyone is invited for turkey and dressing and fellowship following the 10:00 a.m. service next Sunday, November 14. The entrée will be provided. Sides and dessert are pot luck.

Reflection for November 7

Reflections on Giving from the Vestry

As Christians we are called to be generous. Generous with our time, talent and treasure. At. St. John’s we have an opportunity to demonstrate that generosity by supporting the faith community. I am so grateful for all of the people here who contribute in countless ways. It is because of them that I found a home here. It is because of them that I want to be generous in my support of St. John’s. —Cyndie Knoll, Junior Warden

When we have our hearts set on something that we “just have to have” we usually seem to be able to scrimp and save and somehow find the resources. Why then do we hesitate in the sharing of our treasures (money and time) when it comes to our God’s service? As generous as we are, we still need to follow our hearts and give a little more of our time and money. –Bev Keene

Being a part of St. John’s allows me to be a part of a compassionate community committed to serving God’s world. Supporting the church allows me both to grow spiritually in that community and also to play a role in reaching out to fulfill others’ needs that, on my own, I might never have known existed. –R.J. VanSwol.