Coming up at
St. John's Church
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Nathanael Under the Fig Tree, Tissot (1886-1894) | |
Sunday, January 14, 2024
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Nursery care available in the Parish Hall
9:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Sunday Forum
9:15 a.m.
Parish Hall
Holy Eucharist
10:30 a.m.
Live-streaming on YouTube at 10:30 a.m.
Children's Chapel
Parish Hall
10:30 a.m.
Coffee Hour
Parish Hall
11:45 a.m.
Bulletin Draft
Watch services on YouTube
Listen to sermons
Get involved
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From Amelie with Love
Dear Friends,
As I mentioned in my sermon last Sunday, the word Epiphany means “manifestation, demonstration, or appearance.” It is a season of revelation and illumination: a time to see the daily events in our lives and in the world in a new or different light. It is also a time to look out for where God might be calling us to head in a new or different direction.
There are two “call stories” in this week’s readings. The first is from the Old Testament and tells how Samuel, a child, hears God’s voice in the middle of the night but isn’t able to accept its validity until his mentor, Eli, convinces him it is real. The second call story is from the Gospel of John and concerns a fellow named Nathanael who is in the “outer circle” of Jesus’ followers. When Nathanael is told that Jesus of Nazareth is The One about whom Moses and the prophets wrote, he balks: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? In response, the disciple Philip says to him, “come and see.” And when Nathanael agrees to follow along, he is astounded by the Jesus he finds.
These two stories have some definite differences, but also some striking similarities. One of those similarities is that, while both Samuel and Nathanael had encounters with God or Jesus, they were helped along that path by a mentor or friend. Maybe they would have found the way by themselves in time, but an invitation to listen, to go and see, was just the nudge they needed to start in the right direction.
This has had me thinking about the times I have seen or heard something that touched me, but was not able to act on it until someone stepped in to assist me, guide me, pray for me. I am also thinking about the times that I have stepped in to mentor or befriend another person just when they needed it, something I often don’t realize until with hindsight. How about you?
The point is, the journey of life is so much easier if someone assists us along the way - helps us listen, encourages us, walks with us. In a study on friendship that I read years ago, 34 college students were taken to the bottom of a hill and given a weighted backpack, then asked to estimate the angle of the hill’s steepness. The students who were standing alone estimated the hill to be much steeper than those who were standing with a friend. And the longer they’d known the friend, the less steep the hill seemed to them.
When we know someone “has our back,” even if they can’t shoulder our weight for us, our climb is easier, our steps are surer, our load is lighter, our day is less troublesome. We are all capable of being intermediaries between another person and the callings God places in our lives, in good times and in challenging times. We can be intercessors when there are exciting new opportunities just as much as we can when there is trouble; channels of encouragement when days are promising or when they are wearying; agents of peace when worry rules, instruments of hope when life begins anew.
As these days of Epiphany unfold, I invite you to look around and give thanks for those who have been intermediaries for your holy encounters. Then go and do likewise.
In Christ,
Amelie
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This Week's Sunday Forum
Celebrating Epiphany:
Two Visions of Community
While Job in his personal misery reflected on his ideal past, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., amid our racial strife, envisioned an ideal future! Both were illumined by the light of hope.
Join us this Sunday for thoughts generated from the newly published book on Job by St. John's parishioner, the Rev. Dr. Paige Chargois: Living a Job Faith: From Tried to Triumphant.
We will contrast these 2 visions of community – both biblical and cultural – to
discern how Job's reflection and Martin's vision might prompt us to best serve our own community.
Copies of Paige's book will be available for purchase. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to support the ministries of St. John's.
Sunday, January 14
9:15 a.m.
Parish Hall
Nursery care is available.
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Annual Pastoral Care
Dinner and Meeting
The Pastoral Care Committee will have its annual dinner and meeting Thursday, January 18, at 6:00 p.m. at Rita's Driscoll's home.
If you are interested in joining this ministry and in attending the meeting, please contact Barbara Bayler .
Thursday, January 18
6:00 p.m.
Rita Driscoll's home
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Annual Congregational Meeting
and Pot-luck Brunch
On Sunday, January 21, we will attend church at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Pot Luck Brunch and St. John's Church's Annual Congregational Meeting in the Parish Hall.
Church leaders will present the 2024 budget draft and review the accomplishments of our ministries over the past year. If you are a member of St. John's Church, you will vote to elect new vestry members. If you're not a member, contact the Parish Office to learn how to transfer in.
The Hospitality team will provide main dishes of lasagna, vegetarian ravioli, and gluten-free soup; we encourage congregation contributions of side dishes and desserts. If you have any questions or want to become a member of the Hospitality team, email Liz Broda.
Sunday, January 21, 2024
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Immediately followed by Annual Meeting & Brunch (Parish Hall)
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St. John’s Vestry Nominees
Class of 2026
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Cal Buchanan is a lifelong Episcopalian. His family roots are from the Midwest. When he was young, his family moved to Virginia and he was raised on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley. After college, he moved to Richmond and has lived mostly in the Northside. He was a career employee at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, traveling in the mid-Atlantic states as a bank examiner. He raised four wonderful children, two girls and twin boys.
Cal transferred his membership in the latter part of 2022 from St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church to St. John’s after an unfortunate divorce. He has been an active member of the Property and Pastoral Care committees and looks forward to serving the church and congregation.
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Reeves McCune was raised in the Methodist Church and participated in many different activities there. She came to St. John’s in the early nineties while living and working in Church Hill as an elementary teacher. She was received in the Episcopal Church in 1995. Reeves has enjoyed serving on the Vestry, both as Junior and Senior Warden, Search Committee, and the Endowment. Additionally, she continues to be a part of Book Club, Pastoral Care, and Altar/Flower Guild. St. John’s is a very important part of her spiritual life-she loves her “little country church” on the hill!
Reeves lives in Westover Hills with her husband, Ashley, and son, John. She loves gardening, cooking, and reading.
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Patty Soileau was raised as a Roman Catholic and left the church in her early 20's. She was as in a wedding in 1982 that was held at St. John's and she fell in love with the place. Since she lived only 2 blocks away at the time, she had no excuse for not attending regularly - so she started to in 1984/1985. The warm welcoming atmosphere and the "neighborhood" feel drew her in. The inclusiveness of St. John's is a big part of why she has stayed for 30+ years
She has previously served on the St. John’s Vestry, The Endowment Board and the Search Committee that called Rev. Bruce Gray as Rector of St. John's in 1997. She currently serves as a Lay Reader, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and usher.
Patty works for a small Investment Advisory company, Kinloch Capital, as Director of Client Services, which means she does whatever needs to be done in the office except for investing of assets and financial planning. She feels very blessed every day when she comes into the office – she loves what she does and she loves who she does it with and for.
She currently lives in Sandston, a lovely neighborhood in the east end, with her black & white cat - Mosby. Patty is widowed but she has 19-year-old twin step-granddaughters from her late husband’s son with whom she loves to spend time.
Patty recently lost her father Gil at the age of 92, but she has 3 sisters and their families that keep her hopping!
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Save the Date
Young Adults Super Bowl Party
Sunday, February 11
6:00 p.m.
Location TBD
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First Fruits
The Christ Ascension food pantry needs the following items: cereal, Vienna sausages, pork 'n' beans, canned tuna, canned chicken, spaghetti sauce, and cream of chicken soup. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry.
Collection Times :
Saturday, February 3, 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Sunday Morning, February 4, during Church
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Thank You for Making a REAL Difference
Thank you to everyone who recently donated cleaning supplies and bed linens to stock and outfit the 12 recovery houses that REAL Life provides to 131 formerly incarcerated individuals in the Richmond area. The organization was thrilled to receive your gifts, which will make a real difference to the residents of REAL Life. Your compassion is a blessing.
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2024 Stewardship Campaign
It Is Not Too Late to Make Your Pledge
We give thanks for the 79 family units who have made their 2024 pledge to St. John’s, bringing us to $222,081 in pledges, which is 89% of our $250,000 goal. Our stewardship theme “Rooted in Abundance" reminds us that we are a mighty forest comprised of ancient trunks and sprightly saplings, each of us contributing our gifts to a world that needs us.
If you are still discerning your 2024 pledge to St. John's Church, prayerfully consider the ministries of St. John’s you feel called to support.
Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself, you are welcome at St. John’s Church, and we are so glad you’re here.
Our campaign this year is as essential as ever in providing the sustaining and lifegiving support to St. John’s as we grow together in our faith and provide the right resources to support the growth within our community.
| Support the Ministries of St. John's Church | |
Got an Extra TV?
St. John's goal is to enable everyone to participate remotely in our programming. To do that, we need the capacity to video-conference Sunday Forum and other formation offerings as well as ministry and committee meetings.
If you can provide one of the following, please contact Daryl Quackenbush:
- 65-inch or larger TV
- speaker
- camera
- microphone
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Episcopal Relief & Development
Responds to Israel-Hamas War
Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Al Ahli Hospital, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, to provide emergency support in Gaza following the outbreak of war in the region. Please pray for peace in the Holy Land as they experience violence, and consider making a contribution to the Episcopal Relief & Development Middle East Fund. Support of this fund will help to provide medicine and other supplies and help our partners tend to the physical and psychosocial wounds of all people affected by this conflict.
Read Episcopal Relief and Development's full statement here.
The Collect for Peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: so mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples, especially those of Israel and Palestine, may be gathered under the banner of peace as children of one God; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
--adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, p. 815
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Sunday Nursery Care Available
9:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Parish Hall Nursery
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Children's Chapel
Children’s Chapel meets each Sunday in the Parish Hall during the first part of the service. Children join their parents in church during the offertory so that they can participate in the Eucharist.
For more information, contact the Rev. Anne Lane Witt.
Sundays
10:30 a.m.
The Parish Hall
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Prayers During Communion
If you have a special prayer concern, a member of the congregation is available to pray with you at the altar in the east transept of the church each Sunday during communion.
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Eucharistic Visits
We invite those who wish to have communion brought to their homes to contact Amelie.
You may also contact Amelie if you are interested in learning about serving in this important ministry.
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Pastoral Care
Opportunities to Assist
Many of you have asked how you can help our Pastoral Care team provide care to our members during times of need.
Here are two very helpful ways to assist:
- deliver meals to members during recovery or illness (they don't need to be homemade)
- drive members to and from appointments
If you are interested in helping, please contact Barbara Bayler, our Pastoral Care Ministry team leader.
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A Note about Pastoral Appointments and Emergencies
To schedule an appointment with our rector, please email Amelie or leave a message on her voicemail at 649-7938; you will hear from her within 24 hours.
And if you learn of a pastoral issue concerning one of our parishioners, please reach out to Amelie as well.
If you have an emergency, please contact Patty Duffy at 649-7938, and she will ensure a more immediate response.
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