Announcements for April 23

Recycle Plastic Easter Eggs
If you have now empty plastic Easter eggs left over from St. John’s Easter egg hunt or others, you may bring them to St. John’s to be used next year. Look for the lilac colored collection box near the parish office.

New Usher “Pins”
Steve and Mary Hofer have recently donated a set of St. John the Evangelist usher “pins” (that attach  magnetically) to be worn by ushers at worship services. They are given in memory of Dick Keller, 8:00 AM usher extraordinaire.

Sunday School Classes Resume
Sunday School classes for all ages resume this Sunday, April 23, after the Easter break.

Easter Flowers
Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed to the Easter flowers in the church this year. A list of contributors is included with this Sunday’s worship leaflet.

Practicing Our Faith Book Club
In May the Practicing Our Faith Book Club will be reading Truth Speaks to Power: The Counterculture Nature of Scripture by Walter Brueggemann, which "invites readers to take a closer look at the subversive messages found within the Old Testament." Read the book, and then join us on Thursday, May 18 at 7pm in the Guild Room for the discussion. New members are always welcome.

Yarn Ministry
The knitting and crocheting group will meet Monday, May 1st at 7:00 PM in the Guild Room. This is the last meeting, until we start up again in the fall.

Announcements for Easter Sunday, April 16

Easter Services
Saturday, April 15:  The Great Vigil of Easter, 8:00 PM.
Sunday, Easter Morning, April 16:  The Holy Eucharist at 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM.

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
Following the 10:00 AM service, all children of the parish are invited to participate in an Easter egg hunt on the front lawn of the church. Bring your own baskets.

Vestry
The vestry meets Monday, April 17, beginning in the church at 7:00 PM.

Sunday School On Vacation
Sunday School for all ages is on vacation this Sunday, April 16. Classes will resume April 23. Contribute to Easter Flowers It’s not too late. Please consider making a contribution towards the lilies and other flowers that adorn the church at Easter time. Contributions may be made in memory or thanksgiving or simply to the Glory of God. Flower contribution envelopes were included with the Easter letter; they are also available in the pews.

Interfaith Presentation for South Side Churches in Frankfort, April 22 
SWIFT co-founder Khalid Mozaffar will be giving an ‘Islam 101’ presentation at the American Islamic Association, 8860 W Saint Francis Rd, Frankfort from 10am to 12pm on Sat., April 22. All interested members of St. John's have been invited to the AIA for what should be a fascinating talk. For more details or to RSVP please contact Rob McManamy by no later than Wednesday, April 19.

Holy Week and Easter Schedule

Palm Sunday, April 9           

7:55 a.m.       Blessing of the Palms; Outdoor Altar

8:00 a.m.       The Holy Eucharist; Church

                          Christian Formation classes will not meet.

9:40 a.m.       Blessing of the Palms; Outdoor Altar and procession around Flossmoor

10:00 a.m.     The Holy Eucharist; Church

Monday in Holy Week, April 10

7:00 p.m.       The Holy Eucharist

Tuesday in Holy Week, April 11

 7:00 p.m.       The Holy Eucharist

Wednesday in Holy Week, April 12

 9:00 a.m.       The Holy Eucharist with Healing

 7:00 p.m.       The Holy Eucharist

Maundy Thursday, April 13

6:30 p.m.       The Holy Eucharist (with foot washing for those who wish), followed by the agape meal and 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 14

12:00 p.m.     The Proper Liturgy for Good Friday

7:00 p.m.       Good Friday vespers

Easter Eve, Saturday, April 15

8:00 p.m.       The Great Vigil of Easter

Easter Day, April 16

8:00 a.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.

Announcements for April 9

Palm Sunday This Sunday – April 9: Come Early for the Procession
The liturgy of the palms begins before each service this week. We will gather at the outdoor altar at 7:55 AM before the early service and at 9:40 AM before the later service. Come be a part of the triumphal procession!

Sign Up for the Watch
A sign up sheet is available in the back of the church for the watch in the garden beginning the evening of Maundy Thursday, April 13, and continuing through noon on Good Friday.

Sunday School On Vacation
Sunday School for all ages is on vacation this Sunday, April 9 and next Sunday, Easter Sunday.

Help Prepare Easter Eggs
During coffee hour after the 10:00 AM service, everyone is invited to help fill Easter eggs to be used in the children’s Easter egg hunt on Easter morning. The hunt takes place on the front lawn of the church following the 10:00 AM service on Easter.

Worship During Holy Week
The schedule for Holy Week worship services was included with the Easter letter. Copies are also available at the church on the information tables.

Contribute to Easter Flowers
Please consider making a contribution towards the lilies and other flowers that will adorn the church at Easter time. Contributions may be made in memory or thanksgiving or simply to the Glory of God. Flower contribution envelopes were included with this week’s Easter letter; they are also available in the pews.

Fish Fry Success
The St. Barnabas Men's Fellowship of St. John's and Holy Family will hold its regular monthly breakfast meeting this Saturday, April 8, at 7:30 AM at St. John's in Flossmoor. Last Friday, the group hosted yet another successful ‘Episcopal Fish Fry’ for the community, serving some 130 customers and raising $1,000 for the South Suburban PADS homeless ministry. Special thanks to all who turned out, as well as to the volunteers. Lastly, thanks also to the Smiley Tillmon Band for once again making this fundraiser the catch of the season!

Interfaith Presentation for South Side Churches in Frankfort, April 22
SWIFT co-founder Khalid Mozaffar will be giving an ‘Islam 101’ presentation at the American Islamic Association, 8860 W Saint Francis Rd, Frankfort from 10am to 12pm on Sat., April 22. All interested members of St. John's have been invited to the AIA for what should be a fascinating talk. For more details or to RSVP please contact Rob McManamy no later than Wednesday, April 19.

Announcements for April 3

Thank You
Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to the worship services and activities of Holy Week and Easter. Your efforts help make it a holy time for everyone in the parish.

Sunday School Classes Resume
Sunday School classes for all ages resume this Sunday, April 3.

Easter Flower Acknowledgment
A list of everyone who contributed to the glorious Easter flowers this year will be included as part of the worship leaflet this Sunday.

Yarn Ministry
The knitting and crocheting group will meet Monday, April 4, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Guild Room.

Blue Jeans Sunday – May 1
May 1 is our spring landscape workday. Everyone is encouraged to dress casually, bring a rake or some clippers (or we’ll have some to borrow) and stay after church for a bit to help prepare the church grounds for spring.

Announcements for March 27

Easter Services
Easter Services follow the regular Sunday Schedule with services at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.  All are welcome!

Easter Egg Hunt
Weather permitting an Easter egg hunt will be held on the front lawn for the children of the parish following the 10:00 AM service this Sunday, Easter Sunday. Please bring your own collection basket. If the weather is bad, the hunt will be held indoors in the education wing.

Sunday School Classes on Vacation
Sunday School classes are on vacation this Sunday, March 27. They will resume April 3.

Easter Flowers
It’s not too late to contribute to the beautiful lilies and flowers that adorn the church for Easter. Easter flower envelopes are in the pews. Contributions may be in memory of a loved one, in thanksgiving, or purely to the Glory of God.

Holy Week and Easter Services

Palm Sunday, March 20           

                             7:55 a.m.         Blessing of the Palms; Outdoor Altar

                             8:00 a.m.       The Holy Eucharist; Church

                                    Christian Formation classes will not meet.

                             9:40 a.m.       Blessing of the Palms; Outdoor Altar and procession around Flossmoor

                             10:00 a.m.       The Holy Eucharist; Church

Monday in Holy Week, March 21

                             7:00 p.m.       The Holy Eucharist

Tuesday in Holy Week, March 22

                             7:00 p.m.       The Holy Eucharist

Wednesday in Holy Week, March 23

                             9:00 a.m.       The Holy Eucharist with Healing

                             7:00 p.m.       The Holy Eucharist

Maundy Thursday, March 24

                             6:30 p.m.       The Holy Eucharist (with foot washing for those who wish), followed by the agape meal and stripping of the altar

                             8:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Friday)  

                                    Prayer Vigil and Watch at the altar of repose

Good Friday, March 25

                             12:00 p.m.       The Proper Liturgy for Good Friday

                                    (For those who wish to participate in the Proper Liturgy for Good Friday, but prefer an evening service, it will be offered at 7:00 p.m. at Church of the Holy Family in Park Forest.)

                             7:00 p.m.       Good Friday vespers

Easter Eve, Saturday, March 26

                             8:00 p.m.       The Great Vigil of Easter

Easter Day, March 27

            8:00 a.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.

Announcements for April 12

Easter Flowers
Thank you and blessings to everyone who contributed to the Easter flowers this year. A complete list will be included with this Sunday’s leaflet.

Sunday School Classes Back from Vacation
Sunday School classes for all ages, children and adults, resume this Sunday, April 12, following the Easter break.

Blue Jeans Sunday is Next Sunday
Mark your calendars for the spring clean-up landscape work day, coming next Sunday, April 19. Wear casual clothes and stay after church to help prepare the church grounds for spring glory.

High School Youth Group
Raking for beauty: Let's pitch in after church on 4/19 & help clean up St. John's for spring (garden gloves always fashionable). Baking for hunger: Make your favorite baked treats to sell at coffee hour after church on 4/26. All proceeds to benefit CROP Hunger Walk. More details to follow. High School Youth & Their Parents: Watch the mail for a letter outlining our Youth Group's final activities before the summer break, including details about our upcoming bake sale. Our youth have given so much of their time and talent to benefit others this year... now it's their turn to receive. Our gatherings in May will be entirely for fun and fellowship. Be sure to mark your calendars now for the long-anticipated overnight lock-in on Friday, May 29th!

Grande Prairie Singers Feature Mozart… and Michael! 
Sunday, May 17, is the final concert of the Grande Prairie Singers’ season, “Haydn and Mozart: Composers and Friends.” Selections include Mozart's “Ave Verum” (a St. John’s Choir favorite) and “Te Deum in C” and Haydn’s “Great Organ Solo Mass” featuring our own Michael Soto. The concert is at 4:00 p.m. at Flossmoor Community Church. Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and $10 for students and are available from Bob or Betsy Burgwald.

Announcements for April 5

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
An Easter egg hunt for children follows the 10:00 AM service on Easter. Please bring your own bag or basket for collection.

Sunday School Classes on Vacation
Sunday School classes for all ages, children and adults, are on vacation this Sunday. They will resume after Easter on April 12.

Thank You
Thank you to the Altar Guild, Choir, and all of the liturgical ministers whose extra efforts do, indeed, make holy our parish observance of Holy Week.

Easter Flower Contributions
If you would like to contribute to the lilies and special flowers that adorn the church at Easter time, please look for special flower envelopes in the pews.

Yarn Ministry
The knitting group will meet Tuesday this week, instead of Monday. April 7, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Guild Room.

Blue Jeans Sunday
Mark your calendars for the spring clean-up landscape work day, coming Sunday, April 19. Wear casual clothes and stay after church to help prepare the church grounds for spring glory.

Announcements for April 27

Outreach Forum This Sunday: PADS
PADS works to relieve homelessness in the south suburbs. Many St. John’s parishioners have been active in PADS for years. Everyone is encouraged to attend the forum this Sunday, April 27, to learn more about the work of PADS and different ways that we can help. The forum begins at 9:00 a.m. in Classroom 4. Darryl Calhoon from South Suburban PADS will be presenting.

Easter Thank You’s
Thanks be to God for the choir, altar guild and friends, all of the liturgical ministers (especially acolytes, lay Eucharistic ministers and lectors), the Agape supper crew, everyone who kept watch through the night, Pat Smith Huntoon (Saturday youth worship) and the Turnquest men (the new fire at the Easter Vigil) for your ministries during Holy Week and Easter.

St. John’s Youth Group Walking to Alleviate Hunger
Sunday, May 4, our youth will participate in the South Suburban CROP Hunger Walk in Park Forest. Sponsored by Christian World Service, hunger walks raise money to alleviate hunger locally and throughout the world. Please help us help others by donating any amount. There’s a matching donation challenge from the Feinstein Foundation, so your dollars will count for even more! Several parishioners have already given generously. We’ll be collecting after the 10 o’clock service on April 20th and April 27th… OR donate online any time before May 4th! by going to this link: hunger.cwsglobal.org and then click through CROP Hunger Walk > Find Your Walk > Illinois > South Suburban CROP Hunger Walk > Donate > I want to support a TEAM > The Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist.

Recycle Plastic Easter Eggs
Please bring empty plastic Easter eggs to the church; they can be reused next year. A collection box is in the foyer near the parish office.

Yarn Ministry
The yarn ministry will meet Monday, May 5, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Guild Room.

Announcements for April 20

Vestry Meeting
The vestry meets Monday, April 21, beginning with Evening Prayer in the church at 7:00 p.m.

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
The annual children’s Easter egg hunt will be held on the front lawn of the church following the 10:00 service. Children of all ages are welcome. Don’t forget to bring your Easter basket for collecting.

Outreach Forum Coming to St. John’s after Easter
On the four Sundays following Easter the Sunday morning adult education class will be devoted to presentations by several outreach ministries. The schedule includes South Suburban PADS, Respond Now, the Night Ministry, and St. John’s Parish Garden. A handout with more information is on the information tables.

St. John’s Youth Group Walking to Alleviate Hunger
Sunday, May 4, our youth will participate in the South Suburban CROP Hunger Walk in Park Forest. Sponsored by Christian World Service, hunger walks raise money to alleviate hunger locally and throughout the world. Please help us help others by donating any amount. There’s a matching donation challenge from the Feinstein Foundation, so your dollars will count for even more! Several parishioners have already given generously. We’ll be collecting after the 10 o’clock service on April 20th and April 27th... OR donate online any time before May 4th! 

Christian Formation Classes on Vacation for Easter
Christian formation classes for children and adults will not meet Easter Sunday. Youth Worship is also on vacation. Both classes and Youth Worship will resume next Sunday, April 27.

Grande Prairie Singers Concert May 18
The Grande Prairie Singers present “Forces of Nature” at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, May 18, at Flossmoor Community Church. This season-ending concert features a wide variety of music, including “Singin’ in the Rain,” “All Through the Night,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” and selections from Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and $10 for students. See Bob or Betsy Burgwald for more info or tickets.

Announcements for April 7

Sunday School Classes Resume
After the Easter break children’s Sunday School classes resume this Sunday, April 7, at 9:00 a.m.

Adult Sunday School Class: Surprised by Hope
During the Easter season the Living Faithfully adult Sunday School class will study N. T. Wright’s book Surprised by Hope. We will use a curriculum that utilizes DVD sessions with Bishop Wright and a participants’ guide. The participants’ guide is available for $10. Sessions begin this Sunday, April 7, at 9:00 a.m. in Classroom 4.

Easter Lilies
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Easter flowers. The glorious beauty of the church helps bring joy to our Easter worship. Contributors are listed on an insert to this Sunday’s service leaflet.

Recycle Your Plastic Easter Eggs
If you have now empty plastic Easter eggs please bring them to the church for use in next year’s Easter egg hunt. Look for the lavender colored collection box near the parish office.

Announcements for March 31

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
The annual children’s Easter egg hunt takes place on the front lawn following the 10:00 a.m. service. Bring your own baskets!

No Sunday School on Easter
Sunday morning Christian Education classes will not Easter Day, March 31. Classes for children and adults will resume on Sunday, April 7.

Adult Sunday School Class: Surprised by Hope
During the Easter season the Living Faithfully adult Sunday School class will study N. T. Wright’s book Surprised by Hope. We will use a curriculum that utilizes DVD sessions with Bishop Wright and a participants’ guide. The participants’ guide is available for $10.

Yarn Ministry
The yarn ministry will meet Monday, April 1, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room.

For Reflection - March 31, Easter Day

Easter Message 2013 

Rejoice, rejoice and sing, rejoice and be glad… for earth and heaven are joined and humanity is reconciled to God! [1]

As the Lenten season ends in Easter rejoicing, note what has been wrought in you this year. A remarkable cross-section of America has been practicing Lenten disciplines, even some who are not active Christians. [2] There is a deep hunger in our collective psyche to re-orient our lives toward life and light, healing and peace. We share a holy hunger for clarity about what is good and life-giving, and we yearn to re-focus on what is most central and important in life.

Easter celebrates the victory of light and life over darkness and death. God re-creates and redeems all life from dead, dry, and destroyed bones. We are released from the bonds of self-obsession, addiction, and whatever would steal away the radical freedom of God-with-us. Our lives re-center in what is most holy and creative, the new thing God is continually doing in our midst. Practicing vulnerability toward the need and hunger of others around us, we have cultivated compassionate hearts. We join in baptismal rebirth in the midst of Jesus’ own passing-over.

The wonder of the resurrection is upon us once more. May we embrace God’s ever-new life with every cell of our being, every yearning of our soul, and every muscle of our will. Christ is risen, death is vanquished, humanity is restored to holy and creative relationship with God’s ongoing and eternal liveliness. Praise God who brings light out of darkness, life out of death, and newness out of the stale and moribund. Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church

[1] From the Exsultet, Book of Common Prayer pp 286-7
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/us/a-ritual-of-lent-attracts-nonbelievers.html?_r=0

• Good Friday Service
  If you are unable to attend the noon service at St. John’s, the Episcopal Church of the Holy Family (Sauk Trail and Orchard in Park Forest) offers an evening Good Friday service, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
  
  
• Good Friday Offering
  Since 1922, American Episcopalians have dedicated the Good Friday offering to the work of the Episcopal Church in the Holy Land. Special envelopes are in the pews.
  
  
• Children’s Liturgy of Light, Saturday, April 23
  All children are invited to the Liturgy of Light celebration on Saturday April 23 at 3:30 P.M. We will begin by making Easter crafts in the undercroft, proceed to the atrium for the liturgy and conclude by retrieving the A------- banner and sharing refreshments. Thanks to Pat Smith Huntoon and Tracie Moxley for leading this event.
  
  
• Easter Egg Hunt
  The traditional children’s Easter egg hunt will be held on the front lawn following the 10:00 service on Easter Day. Children are encouraged to bring their own baskets for collecting.
  
  
• Sunday School Notes
  All children’s and adult Sunday School classes will not meet Easter Sunday. Classes resume May 1. Children’s chapel will be held and nursery care will be available.
  
  
• Landscape Work Day
  Your help is needed to help spring arrive in its full glory to the grounds and plantings at St. John’s. Please come help rake and prune Saturday morning, April 30, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
  
  
• Yarn Ministry
  The St. John’s knitters will be meeting Monday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room. This will be the last meeting for this season until the fall meeting October 3.
  
  
• Concert with Heart on May 15
  Grande Prairie Singers present "From the Heart of America"--a concert of spirituals, Americana, and more--Sunday, May 15, at 4:00 p.m. The uplifting event will be held at Celebrations Ministries (formerly Hope Lutheran Church) in Park Forest. For tickets, see St. John's choir members Kevin Sprinkel or Betsy Burgwald.

Announcements for April 17

• Palm Sunday: Liturgy of the Palms
  The Liturgy of the Palms will precede both services this Sunday, Palm Sunday. At the early service, the liturgy will begin at the outdoor altar at 7:50 a.m. and process directly into the church. Before the later service, the Liturgy of the Palms will begin at the outdoor altar at 9:40 a.m. followed by a short procession through the neighborhood.
  
  
• April Vestry Meeting
  The vestry will meet Monday, April 18, following the 7:00 p.m. celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
  
  
• The Watch
  A sign up sheet is available in the back of the church for the prayer vigil and watch at the altar of repose following the Maundy Thursday service.
  
  
• Sunday School Notes
  All children’s and adult Sunday School classes will not meet Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday. Classes resume May 1. Children’s chapel will be held and nursery care will be available.
  
  
• Children’s Liturgy of Light
  All children are invited to the Liturgy of Light celebration on Saturday April 23 at 3:30 P.M. We will begin by making Easter crafts in the undercroft, proceed to the atrium for the liturgy and conclude by retrieving the A------- banner and sharing refreshments. Thanks to Pat Smith Huntoon and Tracie Moxley for leading this event.
  
  
• Easter Egg Hunt
  The traditional children’s Easter egg hunt will be held on the front lawn following the 10:00 service on Easter Day. Children are encouraged to bring their own baskets.
  
  
• Little Hands Work to Help Animals
  The children’s Little Hands outreach ministry is sponsoring a collection drive to aid the South Suburban Humane Society. Ask any Little Hands participant how you can help.

Announcements for April 18

• Easter Flower Donations
  Thank you and praise God for everyone who donated money to provide the glorious Easter flowers in the church. A listing of donors and those whom they commemorate is in the Sunday leaflet and will be printed in the next print Evangelist.
  
  
• Vestry Meets Monday
  The April meeting of the vestry is Monday, April 19, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
  
  
• Good Friday Offering
  Every year a special collection is taken on Good Friday to aid the work of the Episcopal Church in the Holy Land. This year $500 was collected.
  
  
• Only 4 School Uniforms to Go
  Our parish goal is at least 269 uniforms to help children in developing countries attend school. That’s one for each parishioner. So far we have purchased 265! Thank you to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew for their recent contribution. If you have not yet purchased “your” uniform, you may do so at the display in the undercroft or by sending a check to the parish office. Each uniform sells for $12.00. Thank you again to the children of St. John’s for coloring the uniforms.
  
  
• “Mayfair” Charity Auction set to return May 8
  In honor of Mothers’ Day (May 9), the Brotherhood of St. Andrew invites all last-minute gift shoppers to bring their checkbooks and piggy banks to our Second Annual “Spring Mayfair” Charity Auction, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. Last year’s inaugural event was such a success that the Brotherhood hopes it can recapture that magic with another potent combination of dinner, “live” music, bake sale, specialty cake auction, and silent auction of donated art, gift certificates, memorabilia and more. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children, and $25 for families. Proceeds will benefit Episcopal Relief and Development nationally, and, locally, St. Mary’s Services for Maternity Counseling, www.stmaryservices.com.

Announcements for April 4, Easter Day

• Thank You
  Thank you to everyone, known and unknown, who has contributed time, talent and care to the parish celebration of Holy Week and Easter.
  
  
• Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
  All children are invited to participate in an Easter egg hunt in front of the church following the 10:00 a.m. service. Bring a basket and join the fun. Thanks to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew for supplying the eggs and Donica Van Voorhees for filling them.
  
  
• From the Kitchen Genie
  Many, many thanks to everyone who is helping keep the kitchen in neat condition. The response for coffee cups was overwhelming. Thank you so much. It would also be helpful if anything you leave in the refrigerator has a note attached so we know what should happen to it. As I write, there are pounds of butter that belongs to someone, large containers of salad dressing that have no date, etc. Please let me know what to do with them. And thanks to a very good suggestion we now have yogurt and some sugarless fruit for anyone that would prefer it to a sweet roll at coffee hour. Audrey Ongman
  
  
• Yarn Ministry
  The St. John’s yarn ministry meets this Monday, April 5, as it meets every first Monday of the month, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room.
  
  
• Daughters of the King Meets Wednesday
  St. John’s chapter of the Daughters of the King resumes its regular schedule, gathering at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 7. The next meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, April 17 (beginning with a light breakfast). All women of the parish are welcome.
  
  
• Still Time to Attend April 10 “Spring Fling”
  It’s not too late to send reply to the luncheon fundraiser for Altrusa International of Chicago’s South Suburbs. The event is 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.” For more information, contact Betsy Burgwald.
  
  
• 167 School Uniforms and Counting
  Our parish goal is 269 uniforms to help children in developing countries attend school. So far we have purchased 167! If you have not yet purchased “your” uniform, you may do so at the display in the undercroft or by sending a check to the parish office. Each uniform sells for $12.00.

Reflection for Easter Day

From A Meditation for Holy Week and the Easter Season
The mission of the church is to align itself more and more with God’s decision to enter our humanity – with all its pain and possibility – and redeem it. We have the astonishing invitation from God to join in God’s project of restoring all creation to right relationship. As Christians we can only do that by realizing our fundamental identification with the dying and rising of the Lord Jesus. As members of his living Body, we are his hands and heart God has given for the needs of a broken and bleeding world. This Holy Week and throughout the Easter season, let us live the words we say. Let us renew our commitment to become who we are. A blessed celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee, Bishop of Chicago.

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.