Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday, March 29

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

Youth Worship will not meet on Palm Sunday. 
 

Monday in Holy Week, March 30
7:00 p.m. The Holy Eucharist 

Tuesday in Holy Week, March 31
7:00 p.m. The Holy Eucharist 

Wednesday in Holy Week, April 1
9:00 a.m. The Holy Eucharist with Healing 
7:00 p.m. The Holy Eucharist 

Maundy Thursday, April 2
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 3
12:00 p.m. The Proper Liturgy for Good Friday 
7:00 p.m. Good Friday vespers 

Easter Eve, Saturday, April 4
3:00 p.m. Youth Liturgy: Stations of the Cross and Welcoming of the Paschal Light. Followed by the raising of the A******* banner and preparation of Easter eggs. Gather in the Church.
8:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter with Holy Baptism 

Easter Day, April 5
8:00 a.m. The Holy Eucharist
Christian Formation classes will not meet.
Youth worship will not meet on Easter.
10:00 a.m. The Holy Eucharist
Followed by an Easter egg hunt for children on the front lawn.

Announcements for March 22

Palm Sunday
Next Sunday, March 29, is Palm Sunday. The liturgy for blessing the palms will begin at the outdoor altar at 7:55 AM for the early service and at 9:40 AM for the later service. Sunday School classes will not meet on Palm Sunday.

New Parish Directories are Available
Pick up a copy of the newly revised parish directory from any of the information tables.

This Sunday: Sunday School Classes Commemorate the Last Supper
On March 22, during the Christian formation time, the children and youth of the church will be recreating the Last Supper. In order for the Last Supper to be successful, it is important that all who wish to participate arrive by 9:00 AM.

Sign Up for the Watch
Following the Maundy Thursday service prayerful watch is kept through the night with the Reserved Sacrament. Shifts are for two hours. A sign up sheet is available in the back of the church.

Reflection for March 22

Confession
To confess your sins to God is not to tell him anything he doesn’t already know. Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the bridge (Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking).

Announcements for March 15

Vestry Meeting
The vestry meets Monday, March 16, beginning at 7:00 PM in the church.

Make Your Reservations Now for the Fish Fry: Friday, March 20
Once again blues musician Smiley Tillmon will be providing entertainment. The menu includes fresh fried whitefish, roasted potatoes, cole slaw and dessert (or mac and cheese for those who prefer). Dinner will be served from 5:30 – 7:30 PM; tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, paid at the door. Proceeds benefit South Suburban PADS. Please contact the parish office by March 17 to make reservations.

Loaves & Fishes Brunch This Sunday
Everyone is invited to brunch following the 10:00 AM service this Sunday, March 22. If you wish to bring a side or dessert to share, please do, but come regardless. The entrée will be provided and all are welcome!

Wednesday Evening Class for Lent: Reading Assignments
This year the Wednesday evening Lenten class is studying The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Last Days in Jerusalem by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan. Classes meet in the church from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Reading assignments for the remaining weeks are: March 18 – Chapters 6 & 7; March 25 – Chapter 8.

New Parish Directories are Available
Pick up a copy of the newly revised parish directory from any of the information tables.

Sunday School Classes Commemorate the Last Supper
On March 22, during the Christian formation time, the children and youth of the church will be recreating the Last Supper. In order for the Last Supper to be successful, it is important that all who with to participate arrive by 9:00 AM.

High School Youth Group Do-Over!
Let’s try shopping for supplies for the Humane Society this Sunday, March 15th. Meet at St. John’s at 4:00 PM, when we’ll depart for the store. (We’ll return by 5:30.) Please call or text Dee McManamy if you’re coming so we’re sure to have enough car space for you and any friends. Also, come prepared to discuss Youth Group Lock-in dates. Which Friday works best for you (and your family’s calendar): May 1, May 8 or May 29? We’re lining up a great roster of guests and activities for the lock-in. You really won’t want to miss it!

Reflection for March 15

I have heard from several people recently that have taken on a decluttering practice as a way of observing the forty days of Lent. There is even an official “40 Bags in 40 Days De-cluttering Challenge for Lent” program that one can join…. I know others who are observing Lent by practicing a different kind of decluttering. This decluttering is not related to material stuff, but to time. To declutter one’s life in terms of time is to become intentional about slowing down and even stopping for a period of Sabbath time each day…. The word clutter is closely related to the word clot, and it is easy to see why. A clot blocks the flow of something that is supposed to flow freely. And so it is with clutter…. Clearing a portion of our [life] creates an opening for spiritual energy and vitality to flow more freely (The Rev. Scott Stoner, The Living Compass Faith & Wellness Ministry).

Announcements for March 8

Daylight Saving Time Begins This Sunday
Remember to set your clocks forward one hour this Saturday evening, March 7.

Fish Fry: Friday, March 20 
Make your reservations now! Once again blues musician Smiley Tillmon will be providing entertainment. The menu includes fresh fried whitefish, roasted potatoes, cole slaw and dessert (or mac and cheese for those who prefer). Dinner will be served from 5:30 – 7:30 PM; tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, paid at the door. Proceeds benefit South Suburban PADS. Please call or email the parish office by March 17 to make reservations.

Wednesday Evening Class for Lent: Reading Assignments
This year the Wednesday evening Lenten class is studying The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Last Days in Jerusalem by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan. Classes meet in the church from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Reading assignments for the remaining weeks are: March 11 – Chapters 4 & 5; March 18 – Chapters 6 & 7; March 25 – Chapter 8.

Spring is Almost Here
Well, at least musically, as the Grande Prairie Singers present a love-themed concert featuring West Side Story and Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas. It will be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 8, at Faith United Protestant Church in Park Forest. Pianist is our own amazing Michael Soto. See Bob or Betsy Burgwald for tickets.

Reflection for March 8

Imagine that Christianity is about loving God. Imagine that it’s not about the self and its concerns, about ‘what’s in it for me,’ whether that be a blessed afterlife or prosperity in this life (Marcus Borg, Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most).