FYI-for your information-January 5, 2017

  Our First Saturday Service this month, Jan. 7th at 5pm, will be a celebration of light.  Please come and bring what you would like to bring into the light, your hopes and concerns.  Come and hear Rick Britton do a dramatic reading of Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, Windhover, and we will be reading other specially chosen prayers and poems.

 
Thanks to all who've prepared the church for these great feasts, from those setting up and serving at the altar, the singing in the choir and congregation, the decorations and the food. A Blessed New Year to you all!
ANNUAL MEETING
follows the single 9 am service on Sunday, January 29. We will begin the meeting with an all parish photo (which we missed in Advent). We will conclude the meeting with a festive coffee hour. Please sign up to bring a contribution of brunch items. Thank you!
 
ANNUAL REPORTS
are due Wed, January 18.  Please e-mail them to the Parish Administrator, Betsy Levick, in .doc format, not .pdf.  Thank you! 
 
MUSIC NOTES ♫
I really enjoyed our 4 full weeks of Advent this year, and we'll experience the shortest Advent next December when Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday that is Advent 4!
I've had a great time with the Choir School kids this year. On the Thursday before Christmas we unpacked the Cr è che set which was purchased in 1997 as part of a parish trip to the Holy Land. The kings have arrived placed by the choristers this last Thursday. Each piece is fitted to a base which proclaims which piece it is. Now there are 3 lovely kings and 3 impressive camels. One of the kings doesn't have a crown, and looks like a lady offing a basket of eggs, or perhaps brioche! Either would probably be more welcome than Myrrh! We also got a chance to learn about Incense too!
            With Santa parades beginning in November and all the partying that continues through December it's great when some of this spills over into the new year. I'm thrilled that Christmas for us this year has actually lasted several days longer than the traditional 12! There is an old tradition that people and churches kept up the Cr è che through Candlemas, 40 days after Christmas when Jesus was presented in the Temple and is seen by Anna, and also Simeon, who proclaims:
L ORD , now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people: to be a light to lighten the gentiles and to be the glory of Thy people Israel ( Luke 2:29-3).

NEW YEARS MESSAGE
Watch the Archbishop of Canterbury's New Years Message on reconciliation in the UK. Our political situation in the US is slightly different, but this message still rings true.
 
 
EPIPHANY HOUSE BLESSING
It has been a tradition in the Church to bless chalk at the Masses for Epiphany, and then use the blessed chalk as part of blessing one's home in the New Year.
The home blessing can be done as follows:
Use the blessed chalk to write:  
20+C+M+B+17
above the doorways: 2017 for the year; C, M, B for the 3 Magi - Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar - and for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, Latin for "May Christ Bless this House."
As you are writing, pray one or more of the following prayers:
 
May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is Lord, forever and ever.
Amen.
 
Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
 
Lord our God, bless this household. May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness, and the keeping of your law. We give thanks to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
 
Do take chalk and mark your doors. It's a wonderful sign to the community as well as an opportunity for interesting conversations with passersby.
CAPE ANN CHOIR SCHOOL
exists for children from ages 5-13 and meets on Thursdays from 4:15-5:45. We have a rigorous training program, and yet a fun way to build self-esteem, talent and social skills. Be begin the Winter Term on this Thursday, January 5. Your child is welcome. For more information please pick up a brochure, speak to the Music Director, Mark Nelson  or visit www.stjohnsgloucester.org/cape-ann-choir-school. 

WHAT: AN AFTERNOON OF PRESENTATIONS ON THE MLK HOLIDAY hosted by the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation
WHEN: MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2017, 1:30-5:30pm
WHERE: THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE (Unitarian Universalist Church), corner of Church & Middle Street, accessible side entrance at 10 Church Street
PROGRAM:
1:30 Mary Ellen Lepionka , Cape Ann Algonquians' first encounter with Samuel de Champlain
2:30 Lise Breen , history of early African-Americans and slavery in Gloucester
3:30 GWC Fish Tales , first-hand stories about injustice and hope
4:30 Mayor Sefatia Romeo-Theken , summation on cultural diversity
5:00 Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers the 'I Have a Dream Speech'on the CAC&S big screen
5:30 Closing , tolling of the Meetinghouse Paul Revere bell for freedom
WHAT'S SPECIAL?   A rare opportunity to gather in community to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, learn about persons of color and diverse identities on Cape Ann, and rededicate ourselves to the American creed that all persons are created equal.
FREE with voluntary donations, all welcome. Refreshments will be available.
MORE INFORMATION:   www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org
January 8, 2016 5 pm
Participating in the Liturgy : The People of God gathered in St. John's Church
Presiding The Rev. David Prentice, Rector
Lectors  Dori Mottola & Lynn Runnells
Eucharistic Ministers Naomi Astyk & Bob Stewart
Intercessor  DeeDee Bedford 
Acolytes Sue Lupo & Steve Jencks 
Ushers Tom & Claudette Chmura
Greeters  Dori Mottola & Nancy Harrison 
 
Preparing for the Liturgy
Altar Guild Ellen Sibley & Marjorie Fergusson
Flower Guild All Hands 
Bread bakers Janet Williams, Catherine McGeary, Sue Lupo., Iona & Melanie Murray-Brown. 
 
FOOD BANK  for Sunday is Soup

FLOWER & LAMP sign-ups for 2017 are available.
 
Coffee Hour sign-ups are needed.
 
Action Shelter Sandwich making sign-ups are available.

Your 2017 pledge envelopes are available in the parish hall or office. 
 
   
St. John's Intercession List
Short term:
Carl Levick, Marie Giacalone, Vivien Gardner Hannon, Connor Macaulay, David Richardson, Samuel Adams, Jack Ketchpulos, Chris Koller, Beni Rose, ,Fran & Mary Alice Wafrate, James Lacroix, Jackie Vannah, Jean Dyett, Jane Walsh, Pam Belcher, Mary Lu Walker, Judy Gay, Julie Wilson, Jay Wilson, John Fleming, Larry Veator, Margie Sonthemier, James John Davies, Alexis, Abby Browne, Cloe, Bill Braunlich, Paul Seavey, Mark Brophy, Meghan Stricher, Maddy, Margaret, Rebecca Young, Sue Kessler, Laura Boddie, Denise McKenzie, and Tamara Moulton.
 
Long term: Grace Center, Brian Tarr, Hans Morsink, Janet Williams, Jody Shirley, Jim Britton, Joe Lacroix, Patti Kelleher, Kai McKenzie, the Senft family, Allen Williams, Elvira "Mary" Spinney, Eric Runnells, Ruth Campos, David Arnold, Dick McGinnis, Annette Biggar, Neil Woodberry, Ben Shepard, Guy Maychszak, Glo Richardson, Nancy Poland, Susan Richardson, Mary McIntyre, Elizabeth Kaul, Nancy Feldman, and Anne Brantley Betts.
 
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sundays                
  • 8 am Eucharist, Rite 1
  • 9:15 am Adult Forum (Thompson Room)
  • 10:30 am Sung Eucharist, Rite 2 with choir
  • 7:30 pm Sunday & Sober Alcoholics Anonymous

Mondays              
  • 9-noon Ms. Fixits Women gathering to tend to the fabric of the church.
  • 6 pm Women's Cursillo Reunion Group (1st and 3rd Monday)
  • 7 pm Bible Study First Monday of the month led by Lynn Runnells.
Tuesdays                  
  • 5 pm Free Harvest Meals, sponsored by Cape Ann Interfaith Commission.
Wednesdays       
  • 7 am Men's Bible Reflection, (Bible study)                     
  • 7 pm Fish City Alcoholics Anonymous
Thursdays     
  • 4:30-5:45 pm Choir School Children from ages 5-12
  • 6 pm Evensong First Thursday of the month 
  • 7-8:30 pm Parish Choir rehearsal.
Fridays
  • 8:30 am Grace Center, an open drop-in center for people from the community, providing a warm place as well as advocacy for living issues
Saturdays              
  • Action Shelter Lunch-Making, Carolyn Stewart 
  • 5 pm " Art Service "
    First Saturday of the month.
  • 8 pm Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous
Parish Office Hours
Monday - Thursday; 8am-noon
The Church is open for prayer and meditation during these hours.

Staff
The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, Diocesan Bishop  
The Rt,.Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan

The Rev. Bret Bowie Hays, Rector - e-mail,
Mark Edward Nelson, Music Director - e-mail
Jay DiPrima, Director of Youth Ministry - e-mail
Betsy Levick, Parish Administrator - e-mail
Marjorie I. Bishop, Church Assistant - e-mail
Cloe the Dog - Parish Mascot
Wardens & Vestry
Wardens: Gwen Kopka & Paul McGeary
 
Clerk:Geoffrey Pope  
Treasurer: Karen Kasper
Assistant Treasurer:  Sue
Lupo  
VESTRY
2017 - Norm Barr, Sara Stotzer, Ian Bedford
2018- Len Berry, Carole Secrest, Tom Chmura
2019- Joan Gorga, Jen Flanigan, Lynn Runnells  

Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.